Stuart MacGill and Brad Hogg will have to wait a while longer to find out who gets the spinner’s spot after Australia named both in a squad of 13 for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka. There were no surprises in the squad, which includes Phil Jaques as opener.The third fast bowler’s spot will also be decided later with Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson, who is in line for his debut, both included. Johnson has spent a lot of time learning over the past year, including long stints on the sidelines as he waited for openings in the Test and one-day teams. In India, though, he took 11 wickets at 19.45 in the one-dayers last month.The first of two Tests begins on November 8 in Brisbane, with Australia aiming to maintain their unbeaten record at home against Sri Lanka. The squad will be reduced to 12 on Wednesday, and the 12th man will subsequently be released to play for his state.MacGill, who has had success at the Gabba with 11 wickets at 26.45, was thought to be Shane Warne’s natural replacement but Hogg bowled himself into contention following his performance in this week’s Pura Cup. While MacGill had match figures of 4 for 280 from 55 overs at the SCG, Hogg took 8 for 83 in 31.3 overs at the MCG to bowl Western Australia to the win.Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said: “Stuart MacGill is an excellent legspinner with a great record for Australia and Brad Hogg, despite limited four-day experience due to his outstanding one-day record, is coming off a very strong performance for Western Australia in the Pura Cup.”Having both of them in the squad gives us the opportunity again to assess the conditions and decide on what selection is best for the team.” He confirmed that the way the Gabba usually plays means they will almost certainly pick only one of them. “We will see how they’re going in the build-up. There’s not much prospect of [playing] two spinners.”On the fast bowlers, he said: “It is fairly standard to select four fast bowlers in the Australian squad. The bowlers we have chosen are all different and all bring exciting aspects to the team. Again the conditions in Brisbane will play a large role in determining the final makeup of our fast-bowling line-up.”He said Jaques thoroughly deserved the chance to open following Justin Langer’s post-Ashes retirement in January. “These are very big shoes to fill but we are really quite excited about the new era. This is a richly deserved opportunity for Phil after years of excellent Pura Cup performances, an extremely impressive Australia A tour of Pakistan and another strong start to the 2007-08 season.”Squad Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait, Brad Hogg, Stuart MacGill.
Habib Bank Limited (HBL) gained a lead of 114 with three wickets remaining at the end of the second day’s play of the fifth round of the Patron’s Trophy against Pakistan Customs at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex Stadium.After the bowlers had cleaned up Customs for 194, the Habib Bank openers, Rafatullah Mohamand and Taufeeq Umar, pushed for the advantage and got half-centuries each. Khaqan Raja, the No. 3 batsman, also managed a half-century while Farhan Iqbal, the wikcetkeeper ended the day at 49 not out. Pir Zulfiqar, the Customs left-arm spinner, got four wickets in his 33 overs.Habib Bank have qualified for the Quadrangular Stage, that starts on December 5, after collecting the full 27 points from their first three matches. Customs with a mere three points to their credit are not in contention.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) were 146 runs short of gaining the first-innings lead, as they ended day two of the fifth round of their Patron’s Trophy match against Attock Group, at the United Bank Limited Sports Complex Ground in a precarious state.Chasing a rather modest total of 225 runs, ZTBL lost four wickets with only 79 on the board by the day’s close.Khurram Shahzad (82) had lifted Attock Group after Manzoor Ali, the opener, added just three more runs to his overnight 55. Five wickets were gone for a mere 82 but Khurram and wicketkeeper Sajid Mahmood (38) helped add 110 runs for the sixth-wicket stand.Mohammad Khalil, the Pakistan left-arm pace bowler, continued his successful run with 6 for 44 as Attock Group’s last four batsmen added only 33 runs.ZTBL then got rattled by the Attock Group bowlers. Opener Atif Ashraf was out for a duck with the scoreboard showing seven. Umar Javed, the No. 3 batsman, was 36 not out at the end of the day along with Adnan Raza at 10.
Pakistan have received a timely boost ahead of their preparations for the first Test against England in Multan with the news that Mohammad Sami has been passed fit to play.Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, confirmed to that Sami would be available for the Test, starting from 12 November. “Sami is clear to play the Test, which is good for us as we will be without Abdul Razzaq.” An elbow injury resulted in Razzaq being ruled out of the first Test and he has been advised by doctors to rest for ten days.Reports last week suggested Sami was doubtful for the match after picking up a groin injury during a practice match in Lahore, but the niggle did not turn out to be as serious as expected.The news that he is fit will be a relief for Pakistan’s management as it is likely to result in their preferred first-choice new ball attack – Sami and Shoaib Akhtar – being picked for the match. The two last appeared together for Pakistan in the Melbourne Test against Australia in December last year; they have rarely had a prolonged run together due, mainly, to injury problems to either player.Sami has not appeared for Pakistan since the India tour early this year, since when he has been sidelined with a heel injury. And although he has flattered to deceive for much of his international career – he has 58 Test wickets in 21 matches at 47 runs per wicket – his performances on the flat tracks of India suggested he might be coming to terms with the demands of international cricket. He has already taken a Test and ODI hat-trick in his short career.The news also allows Pakistan, for the first time in a couple of years, the luxury of choosing from a fully fit crop of fast bowlers. Despite picking three specialist spinners in their squad for the first Test, the fact that England have struggled so far against seam bowling is unlikely to have gone unnoticed by the team management. Pakistan have picked Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Sami in the squad.Pakistan also considered picking other fast bowlers for the squad. Umar Gul, despite returning from a career-threatening back injury and looking impressive, was overlooked eventually while others who have impressed, such as Mohammad Asif and Najaf Shah, were also said to be in the running.Woolmer also said that Pakistan’s preparations for the Tests were on target and that both teams would go into the series with high spirits. “People may have made England favourites for the first Test, but as far as I am concerned both sides start with an equal chance of doing well.”
They say Dizzy Gillespie, the great jazz trumpeteer, played the trumpet in a way that was nearly impossible to recreate. At the forefront of the golden age of jazz in the 1940s and 50s, he shone among legends such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. But even within this group of mavericks, he stood out – his goatee, his beret and glasses and above all, his blowfish cheeks when playing the trumpet hinted at an eccentric among eclectics.Jason “Dizzy” Gillespie, no jazz but all mulleted Antipodean, may yet come to occupy a similar position in this era of cricket. His hair, his sharp features and his bag of tics – the stretches during his walk back to the delivery mark – and his Aboriginal background, embellish his uniqueness. But even more than this, Gillespie and his batting embodies the craving for self-improvement that runs through the side he plays for.Consider the evidence; in the last two series before this, Gillespie, previously perceived a handy but limited tailender, has altered the course of two matches with his batting. His rearguard with Damien Martyn in Chennai was the stuff of legend, and his fifty against New Zealand that of folklore. His reassured presence today might be overshadowed by Martyn’s sublime century, but it turned a tight match, finally, in Australia’s favour. And it will sit comfortably along both the aforementioned innings.When he came in after lunch, Pakistan were buzzing, on top and sensing a sizeable lead on which to build. They had toiled hard during the morning session,keeping Martyn quiet and getting rid of Adam Gilchrist. Gillespie then began the squeeze. It wasn’t that he scored at an exceptional rate for he never does. But he never looked troubled, and ball after ball he repelled; short, quick and to the body was expertly shepherded down off the top of his toes, turn and bounce was suppressed with the forward defensive, tempters outside off were left on their way,untouched. With each delivery, he dutifully chipped away at Pakistan’s spirit. Martyn didn’t farm the strike, there was no need and each time Gillespie pinched singles of the last ball to retain strike, he sent a message to Pakistan. When he scored his fiftieth run today, an easy drive to long-off for a single, he celebrated it, unlike against New Zealand, in a manner more in keeping with that of an establishedbatsman; a low-key, professional salute to all parts of the ground. Job done.After Martyn’s dismissal, in a twist, he farmed the strike and added a final flourish. The fastest bowler in the world was despatched for a couple of fours, but the shot of the day, the most damning affirmation of the tourniquet he had become, was his six over long-on off Mohammad Sami.That he hit it off Sami added a fitting note to the context of this match. There are few cricketers, from Pakistan in any case, who are as naturally gifted as Sami. Ostensibly, he has everything, a graceful athleticism in the field, a smooth untroubled action, frightening pace and a deep reservoir of stamina. Additionally, he possesses a natural aptitude with the bat, a greater one perhaps than Gillespie.Yet, he has had more days like today, when he is limp, insipid and utterly ineffective than he has like the first day at Perth and even yesterday, when he wasdesperately unlucky for most of the day. He growled there, but he backed it with actions. Today, his glares at Martyn after having been hit literally around the park, held an emptiness. His impotence furthered the burden on a weakened attack, and for keeping the Australians within touching distance, the plaudits must go to Danish Kaneria, the gangly leggie. He is not endowed with the natural gifts of his fellow Karachiite, but in his tremendously infectious and willing attitude and Gillespie’s application and determination to better himself, may lie a telling clue to Sami’s frustratingly halted career.For over two days now, Pakistan has competed manfully with Australia. The collapse after tea suggested a disappointing conclusion to a wonderfully taut andtense match, but after Gillespie’s intervention, it somehow seemed predictable. Sami was at the crease at the close, but unlike Gillespie’s presence, his doesn’t suggest a match-turning moment.
Ian Ward has joined the new County Champions, Sussex, on a four-year contract, after opting to move on from Surrey at the end of last season. Ward, who celebrates his 30th birthday today, played for England against Pakistan and Australia in 2001, and has since expressed a desire to add to his five Test caps.Ward chose to leave Surrey, whom he joined for one season in 1992 before earning a second opportunity four years later, because they couldn’t afford to offer him a well-deserved pay-rise. He was a pivotal member of the side that won both the National League and, especially, the inaugural Twenty20 Cup.With a helmet-cam strapped to his head, Ward scored 99 runs in Surrey’s two matches on the Twenty20 finals day at Trent Bridge, including 50 from 28 balls in the final itself. Over the course of the year, he has developed into an impressive anchorman for the Sky Sports commentary team, but today’s news shows he is not ready to move upstairs on a permanent basis just yet.He had been linked with a move to Somerset, who were tempting him with the prospect of the captaincy. But Ward eventually opted for Sussex, a team that is made up of few big names, but one that shares Surrey’s work ethic and desire for self-improvement. Peter Moores, the Sussex coach, was understandably delighted with the decision."This is fantastic news and will be a great boost to all at the Club," said Moores. "Ian is a proven performer who will bring not only his talent as a batsman, but also the wealth of knowledge and experience from his years at Surrey. He is still hungry to improve and regain his place in the England team and to help Sussex use the successes of this season as a launching pad for the future.”
England have arrived at Bangalore, where the final Test against India starts on Wednesday, with their captain Nasser Hussain convalescing after becoming the latest victim of a stomach bug.The virus also affected Mark Butcher and Michael Vaughan during the Ahmedabad Test, but both recovered within around 48 hours, so Hussain’s availability for the final Test should not be in doubt.Meanwhile the England coach Duncan Fletcher was full of praise for the way the team stuck to their task in Motera, and singled out Ashley Giles, who recorded Test-best figures of five for 67 on his return from injury.”It’s one hell of an achievement. It proved that Ashley has worked really hard at his fitness,” Fletcher said.”That is the most pleasing part as other cricketers previously would have come here unfit. I can’t believe how many overs he got through in the first innings and how well he bowled. From our point of view it justifies the decision to bring him out here.”Fletcher also believes that confidence is high in the England camp ahead of the Test at Bangalore, where the pitch is expected to turn more than in either of the previous Tests.”Since I have been involved with this England side I have never known a period where that has come into question. The character is there, they are prepared to work in practices and get themselves right and lift themselves after a disappointing performance and it all comes down to team spirit.”I think we proved a point to some degree that we are no walkover. Having seen them not go for that target in Ahmedabad I think they must be a little wary of their position.”Consideration of whether the Test squad should be altered at all for the New Zealand tour later in the winter will also occupy the minds of Fletcher and Hussain in the coming days.Amongst the names in the frames are those of Andrew Caddick and Robert Croft, who decided not to tour India because of security fears. Graham Thorpe, who flew home from India for personal reasons just before the second Test, will be given time to consider his availability for the Test tour and the one-day series which precedes it.”There is some doubt. But he might say he wants to get away and play somecricket,” said Fletcher.
Bihar took a pincer grip of their Super League tie against Railways atthe MECON Sail stadium in Ranchi after opening bowler Mihir Diwakarhad devastated the visitors for 130 on the opening day today. With twoand a quarter hours of play lopped off due to rain and bad light,Bihar had made 14/0 from five overs at stumps.After being put in to bat, the Railways innings lasted just 41.1 overswith the top score being Abhay Sharma’s 27. Seventeen year old Diwakarran through the innings, taking 7-47 in 18.1 overs. Seven batsmenfailed to reach double figures. Diwakar was ably supported by his newball partner Dhiraj Kumar who finished with 3-64.In the brief time that Bihar batted, opener Ratan Kumar was forced toretire hurt for seven. N Ranjan and Aamir Hashmi were the not outbatsmen.
ScorecardRikki Clarke played a key role with bat and ball as Birmingham won a close game•Getty Images
A fine all-round performance from Rikki Clarke saw Birmingham through to an impressive victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road.Having hit 46 from 36 balls after Birmingham batted first, the experienced Clarke then produced the most economical figures of the T20 competition so far this season, bowling his four overs (three of which formed part of the Leicestershire Powerplay) for just ten runs and picking up the wicket of opener Ned Eckersley.Leicestershire captain Mark Cosgrove hit 74 off 56 balls to keep his side in the hunt but he was run out in the final over, from which 19 runs were required. The result leaves Birmingham top of the North Group, while Leicestershire may now need to win their final three games to qualify for the quarter-finals.Earlier, the home side had shown few ill-effects from their long and fruitless trip to Durham the previous evening, from which they did not get back to Leicester until close to 3am.Ben Raine struck with his first ball, Birmingham captain Varun Chopra going leg before wicket playing across a straight delivery, but the wicket Leicestershire craved came in the following over.Clint McKay, clearly relishing bowling on a pitch with a little more pace than some at Grace Road this season, had already discomfited Brendon McCullum with a rising delivery when he pitched one up and the New Zealand skipper, who had scored an English T20 record 158 against Derbyshire at Edgbaston on Friday evening, mistimed an attempted drive straight into the hands of compatriot Grant Elliott at mid-off for just 6.There was no panic from Clarke, however, and in company initially with Tom Lewis and then with Tim Ambrose, he steered Birmingham towards a competitive score before finally holing out off the bowling of Ollie Freckingham.Clarke’s bowling spell kept the Leicestershire chase in check, but with Cosgrove going strongly in company with New Zealand international Grant Elliott, they looked to be favourites at the 15-over point, when they were 111 for 2. At the same stage of their innings, Birmingham were 111 for 5.But Elliott, who had been playing calmly, surprisingly lifted Recordo Gordon high to Lauire Evans at deep midwicket and, not for the first time this season, Gordon’s well-disguised slower balls ensured the required rate kept rising until it was beyond the home team’s reach.”It was a good win,” Clarke said. “It was not a complete performance by any means and we were not at our best but we have come away with two points which is the sign of a good side. We have that winning formula.”We were perhaps 15 or 20 runs shy of what we wanted but we are a good bowling and fielding side and have defended that sort of total before and did so again. I was very pleased with my bowling. I had seen the way the ball nipped around for their guys so just tried to keep it simple, stand the seam up and get it through to Timmy Ambrose.”
Taking to Twitter, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has an update for Tottenham Hotspur fans involving in-form loanee Dejan Kulusevski.
The Lowdown: ‘Decky’ shines for Spurs…
Currently on an 18-month temporary spell from Juventus, the Sweden international has been seriously impressing under manager Antonio Conte in recent weeks.
Indeed, ‘Decky’ has starred as part of a front line alongside marquee players Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, racking up two goals and four assists over Tottenham’s last six Premier League matches (Transfermarkt).
This has led to reports of a major Spurs decision by transfer chief Fabio Paratici, with Juve Live recently claiming that the Lilywhites are already ‘more and more convinced’ over signing him permanently.
Sharing an update, Romano has now posted what he knows about the 21-year-old.
The Latest: Romano shares Kulusevski update…
According to the reporter, Tottenham are ‘more than happy’ with Kulusevski as part of Conte’s ‘long term project’. He also goes into detail on the conditions of a potential permanent move, shedding light on the mandatory purchase clause and how the club can seal him indefinitely ‘this summer’.
Romano explained:
“Tottenham are more than happy with Kulusevski as part of long term project.
Reminder:
▪️ Mandatory buy clause in case Tottenham will qualify to UCL next season/15 appearances as starter;
▪️ €10m loan fee until 2023. Buy clause worth €40m (£33.5) next summer, €35m (£29m) this summer.”
The Verdict: A must?
There is an argument to be made that is early days yet for him at Tottenham, but based on what we’ve seen so far, Kulusevski is clearly a player with huge potential.
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It is little wonder that those within Spurs are overjoyed with the 21-year-old so far and potentially sealing him on a permanent deal for £29m, depending on certain conditions, could actually come as great value for money.
Still young and adapting to the Premier League very quickly, this could certainly be one to watch out for.
In other news: Tottenham make pre-summer bid to sign ‘phenomenal’ £168,000-per-week man, club likely to accept! Find out more here.
The ICC Europe Cricket Committee have confirmed Ireland as the host for next year’s European Division One Championship.They lasted hosted the tournament in 2002 when 12 teams participated. In the past five years, however, six more countries have joined including Europe’s four High Performance Program countries: Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. Norway – who won Division Two in 2006 – also join Italy.The previous championship, hosted by Scotland in 2006, crowned Ireland as the European Champions and 2008’s event will also feature three official one-dayers.Meanwhile it was also confirmed that Guernsey will host the Division Two Championship in August, a six-team tournament which includes France, Germany, Gibraltar and Jersey. The sixth place will be decided later this year when Croatia meet Israel on November 18.