All posts by h716a5.icu

Rajasthan Royals registered their eighth win in Jaipur beating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets and rose to No. 2 on the points table

The Report by Devashish Fuloria12-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsStuart Binny had a rapid 93-run stand with Shane Watson•BCCIAt the mid-innings break, Michael Hussey had thought the 141-run total put up by Chennai Super Kings was competitive because the pitch was aiding seam bowling, but he was wary of the “Watson factor”. In the end, it was Shane Watson who turned out to be the difference with a 34-ball 70, as Rajasthan Royals registered their eighth win in Jaipur – a cleansheet – and rose to No. 2 in the points table, behind the Super Kings only on net run rate.Royals had been left scarred by 10 overs of menacing bowling by the Super Kings’ seamers and were left looking at a mountain to climb. With 93 required off the last 10, and Rahul Dravid already back in the dugout, a way back looked difficult. Then Dhoni introduced R Ashwin in the 11th, and the match turned on its head. The third ball of the over was slog-swept by Stuart Binny and it just cleared Ravindra Jadeja at deep midwicket, but it was the fifth and the sixth deliveries that signalled the start of the onslaught. Watson swept both comfortably over the midwicket boundary, making it 23 runs of that over, Ashwin’s most expensive in all IPL. It was the first over of spin in the game.It seemed like a switch had been flicked on, and Dhoni’s immediate reaction to go back to his seamers in the next over didn’t really make a difference to the batsmen. Binny cut and flicked Morris for a couple of boundaries, and then Watson took over. He first drove the impressive Jason Holder for a six over long-off, then bludgeoned two of Dwayne Bravo’s next over. The switch in gears left everyone gobsmacked. Morris lost his line in the next over and was duly hit for four boundaries in all directions, the first of which brought Watson’s half-century, off just 25 balls. Royals scored 81 between overs 11 and 15. By the time Watson was dismissed, the job had been done. Binny finished the chase with six over long-off to remain unbeaten on 41.The start of the innings had been nothing like the finish. Royals were peppered with pace and bounce from the Super Kings fast bowlers and they struggled as MS Dhoni maintained pressure with slip fielders. It was only Dravid who seemed adept enough to handle the bowling, similar to how Michael Hussey had steered the first innings for Super Kings, but even he edged a lot.Royals, who had won five straight matches chasing, had asked Super Kings to bat on a spicy pitch and Hussey and Vijay played the initial period watchfully to thwart the bowlers, then raised the 11th half-century stand between them to set up a strong base for the hitters to follow. But Kevon Cooper struck twice to remove Suresh Raina and Dhoni, derailing the Super Kings’ innings and the pitch was too hot to handle for the rest. Had it not been for a brief cameo by Bravo, Super Kings would not have had a competitive total. In the end, however, Royals won with 17 balls to spare.

The preview for the third ODI between West Indies and Zimbabwe at George’s

The Preview by Vishal Dikshit25-Feb-2013Match factsFebruary 26, 2013
Start time 0930 local (1330 GMT)Craig Ervine and Hamilton Masakadza would have to play big roles for Zimbabwe if they are to avoid a whitewash• WICB Media/Randy Brooks PhotoBig PictureGoing by the series scoreline so far, 2-0 in favour of West Indies, nothing out of the ordinary and unexpected has happened. A convincing 156-run victory in the first ODI and a seven-wicket win in the second. The second margin sounds comprehensive, but it wasn’t. Zimbabwe showed a marked improvement on Sunday and halfway through the match, would have even thought of leveling the series. What they are left with now, is to play for a solitary win in the final ODI and win their first one-dayer since October 2011, when they chased 329 against New Zealand. West Indies will be brimming with confidence after a forgettable summer in Australia and look set to complete a whitewash.
After being thrashed in the first ODI, Zimbabwe put up a strong batting display in the second, which stretched the hosts to the 49th over. Their bowling and fielding went up a notch, but they failed to pick wickets despite the pressure they created. They have picked only seven wickets in nearly 100 overs and have conceded 611 runs at a dismal average of 87.29. They will rely on Kyle Jarvis and their most experienced bowler, Prosper Utseya, to give them breakthroughs, especially in the opening overs. The 22-year old Natsai M’shangwe has been the most economical in the two ODIs, but it’s the wickets they need to win matches.West Indies, meanwhile, would not want to be in the pressure-cooker situation they found themselves in on Sunday. Even though their batsmen have done their job, curbing Zimbabwe to a lower score would be ideal for them. If they win the third, it will be their first whitewash over a Test-playing nation since beating Bangladesh 3-0 in 2004.Form guideWest Indies WWLLL
Zimbabwe LLLLLIn the spotlightDespite scoring two consecutive fifties, Kieran Powell threw his wicket away in both the ODIs. Against a feeble Zimbabwe attack and in the absence of Chris Gayle, this will be the apt time for Powell to convert a start into a three-digit score and boost his confidence before the Champions Trophy in June.Hamilton Masakadza was Zimbabwe’s top performer on Sunday with a fifty and figures of 2 for 27 from seven overs. If Zimbabwe have to win, he will have to extend his stay on the pitch to chase or set up a big total for the in-form West Indies batsmen.Team newsWest Indies are yet to announce their squad for the third ODI. Gayle and Darren Sammy were rested for the first two matches. With the series to their name, West Indies may want to give a chance to the left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (if available), who has been in fine form for Guyana with 13 wickets in the last two Regional Four-Day matches.West Indies: (probable) 1 Kieran Powell, 2 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Narsingh Deonarine, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Dwayne Bravo (capt), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Tino Best, 11 Sunil Narine/Veerasammy PermaulZimbabwe: (from) Brendan Taylor (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Tino Mawoyo, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Keegan Meth, Craig Ervine, Chamu Chibhabha, Tino Mutombodzi, Natsai M’shangweStats and triviaThe last time West Indies and Zimbabwe played a bilateral ODI series, West Indies won the series 4-1 in West Indies in 2010.West Indies have won six and lost six of the 12 ODIs they have played at St. George’s in Grenada.Quotes”I felt a burden lifted when I reached my hundred. I was lacking a little confidence before this performance so I have my confidence back now.”

A man has been fined after racially abusing three young spectators during the ODI between England and South Africa at West End in August

George Dobell14-Jan-2013A man has been fined after racially abusing three young spectators during the ODI between England and South Africa at West End on August 28.John Guinelly, a 44-year-old from Portsmouth, was ordered to pay each victim £500 by Southampton Magistrates’ Court, with his actions towards the children described by magistrates as “threatening and abusive”.Hampshire Police launched an investigation after the incident when the three children, aged 11, 13 and 14, returned to their seats having purchased food during the match only to find that Guinelly and two other men had taken their places.Guinelly first pretended he could not understand the children – the court heard he said “are they talking Dutch or something?” – and then used racist phrases when stewards asked him to move. Later, as Guinelly was being spoken to by stewards and police, he spotted one of the children and delivered another racist insult.While Guinelly did not attend court, he send a letter stating that he would plead guilty to racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress. He claimed his comments were “friendly banter”. He was also ordered to pay £65 court costs.

Perth Scorchers have catapulted to second on the Big Bash table after a thumping nine-wicket win over the lacklustre Sydney Thunder

The Report by Alex Malcolm in Perth04-Jan-2013
ScorecardBrad Hogg’s spell of 4-29 was his most productive this season•Getty ImagesPerth Scorchers have catapulted to second on the Big Bash table after a thumping nine-wicket win over the lacklustre Sydney Thunder.Thunder’s loss was a result of a dismal batting performance. Their captain, Chris Rogers, was out of the game before the toss with a fractured finger, and they lost their way not long after the coin fell in Chris Gayle’s favour.The Thunder slumped to their worst powerplay score of the tournament, just 2 for 23 after six overs. 22-year old left-arm swing bowler Jason Behrendorff, in just his third game, used the pace and bounce of the WACA to his advantage. Gayle guided a catch to slip from a good length outswinger. Matt Prior fell for the third match in succession trying to loft over mid-off. Alfonso Thomas took a spectacular catch running back with the flight.Thunder’s position worsened when Michael Beer induced mistakes from Simon Keen and Ryan Carters to leave them at 4 for 33 after nine overs.Usman Khawaja was called upon to mount another rescue mission. After his classy, unbeaten, 66 against the Sixers, the left-hand batsman backed it up with another half-century. He started slowly, with a couple of streaky leading edges through point. He clicked into gear against Beer in the 13th over, using his feet twice to find the rope at midwicket and then clear it at long-on.Khawaja and Mark Cosgrove combined to score 47 before the latter cut Nathan Coulter-Nile to deep point.Without Khawaja’s efforts the Thunder would have failed to reach a three-figure score. He passed 50 with a magnificent lofted six over cover from the miserly Thomas. Extraordinarily, it was only Khawaja’s third six of his T20 career, equalling his tally of half-centuries. He fell in the last over to Brad Hogg, the first of three wickets in the over. The Thunder posted their lowest total of the tournament thus far.The Scorchers made light work of the chase, despite losing Herschelle Gibbs early. Gurinder Sandhu, in just his second game, bowled well to collect his first wicket at this level. The 19-year-old conceded just 18 from his four overs.After that Shaun Marsh and Marcus North took control. Marsh cruised to his third half-century of the tournament, and superseded Aaron Finch as the BBL’s leading scorer. Marsh’s unbeaten 56 allayed any fears about his thumb injury, having been struck by Doug Bollinger on January 1 in Hobart. Marcus North found some much-need touch, scoring an unbeaten 39 from 30 balls. The partnership was trouble-free, and helped by a 12-ball over from Scott Coyte, who delivered 5 wides and a no-ball before leaving the ground with an elbow problem.The win moved the Scorchers from sixth on the table, thanks to enormous boost in net run-rate, and they now have a chance at hosting another BBL semi-final. The Thunder, meanwhile, have lost 12 consecutive matches as a franchise, with this arguably their most disappointing.

India’s spinners, R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, dismissed England for 191 on the third but the visitors fought back in their second innings

The Report by David Hopps17-Nov-2012
Scorecard and ball by ball detailsFile photo: R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha bowled splendidly on an increasingly responsive surface (ESPNcricinfo is not carrying live pictures due to curbs on media)•Associated PressAhmedabad has suffered a steep drop recently in the number of vultures circling the city, but those not affected by urbanisation and poisoning will find plenty to encourage them as long as England’s malady against spin bowling persists.India took England’s last seven first-innings wickets by tea, with their spinners R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha hunting down eight wickets in the innings, and as the follow-on was confirmed, a lone vulture loomed overhead as if in expectation of a quick kill.England sorely needed a remedy second time around that might not save the Test but would pronounce themselves still redoubtable opponents in the three Tests to follow. Alastair Cook and Nick Compton provided it with a contemplative, unbroken stand of 111 as the spinners failed to find the same purchase second time around.India still lead by 219 runs with two days remaining, but here at last was an England batting pair, neither of them natural players of spin, working earnestly to come up with their own individual solutions. Cook was a captain leading by example, the more expansive as he picked off the bad balls; Compton, although more cautious, showed impressive resolve on debut.Ojha came close to dismissing both, having Compton dropped in the gully on 23 by Virat Kohli, a tough chance by his boots, and seeing Aleem Dar refuse a convincing lbw appeal when Cook was 37. The BCCI will not accept DRS until it is 100 per cent efficient. Instead they got Dar, a fine umpire having a bad day, operating at a percentage he will wish to remain unrecorded.England have no problems with spin. Psychologically, they have to say that. The evidence, though, remained contrary in their first innings as Ashwin and Ojha, taking four wickets on an exacting morning, became the latest combination to harry them to destruction in Asia.Ojha, looping up his left-arm slows at a gentle pace, bowled Kevin Pietersen and had Ian Bell caught in the deep first ball – one of the most misconceived dismissals by an England batsman since Mike Gatting had a dabble at the reverse sweep in the 1987 World Cup final.Ashwin accounted for Cook, whose accession to the England Test captaincy has come at a most unpromising juncture. Cook’s methodical resistance took him to 41 before Ashwin caused him to reach for one that turned and edge to Virender Sehwag at first slip.It was a gruelling morning for two highly-experienced umpires and with no review system in place the fear of giving a faulty dismissal in favour of the spinners seemingly soon crept into the consciousness.Smart stats

India’s first-innings lead of 330 is their second-highest in Tests against England. Their highest is 355, at Headingley in 2002.

Previously, India’s three highest leads against England were all in overseas Tests, including 319 at The Oval and 283 at Trent Bridge, both in 2007.

Pragyan Ojha’s 5 for 45 is his fourth five-for in Tests, all of which have come at home. In 13 home Tests, Ojha has 68 wickets at an average of 26.83.

Since the beginning of 2008, Kevin Pietersen has been dismissed 24 times by left-arm spinners in Tests. He averages 35.58 against them during this period; against all other types of bowling, his Test average is 56.40 since 2008.

In 32 Test innings in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UAE, Ian Bell has scored 888 runs at 28.64. Since the beginning of 2006, Bell has played 26 Test innings in these countries and averages 23, with a highest of 83.

Patel, on 4, looked stone dead, when he played across a delivery from Ashwin and was struck in front of middle. You did not need a predictive path, which the BCCI disallows television from showing, to know that Dar had erred. When Dar did give out Patel lbw to Umesh Yadav, in a flirting appearance of pace bowling, you did not need a predictive path to know that the ball was slipping down the leg side.There had been enough clues on the second evening, never mind the past year, to suggest that England would face a troubled morning and so it proved to be. Ashwin and Ojha bowled splendidly on an increasingly responsive surface, finding more turn than Graeme Swann had achieved in what was virtually a single-handed assault for England on the first two days.Right from the outset, England were up against it. Pietersen was at his most frenzied, bent upon using his feet to the spinners, but if he was constantly on the move it was not necessarily in the right direction. He nearly yorked himself in Ojha’s first over and had to dive back into the crease as Gautam Gambhir tried to run him out from silly point. In Ojha’s next over, he charged again and MS Dhoni missed a leg-side stumping.When umpire Tony Hill turned down an lbw appeal from Ojha, he faced an interrogation from bowler and captain alike as to whether Pietersen had played a shot, probably on the grounds that a player of his quality could not conceivably miss the ball by such a distance.It all ended when Pietersen, this time remaining in his crease, tried to stay inside the line of the ball and was bowled, missing one that turned only slightly by quite a distance. Left-arm spin gets into his head and likes what it finds.Bell’s first-ball dismissal was mental frailty dressed up as aggressive intent, an attempt to dance down the wicket to strike Ojha down the ground ending in a mis-hit off the bottom of the bat to Sachin Tendulkar at mid-off. To call it rabbit-in-the-headlights stuff was an insult to rabbits. It has yet to be proved that a rabbit sits in its burrow proclaiming: “I am going to be a tough rabbit, I am going to be an adventurous rabbit. I have no idea about the speed of the car or the lie of the road, I am going to take on this car from the start, come what may.” Or maybe they do and they are the ones that get splattered.Cook and Patel, although finding few scoring opportunities, did at least have the wherewithal to try to unravel India’s spin-bowling mysteries. Cook’s tendency to fall over on leg stump was probed, but he survived it, swept with certainty at times, and was the one England player who could be dismissed with pride intact.England could also have lost Matt Prior to an inviting full toss when he pulled straight to deep-square leg where Zaheer Khan was unable to hold a running catch. England were at least spared that embarrassment.Prior marshalled some late-order resistance against the old ball – 94 for the last three wickets – until he became the fifth victim for Ojha, bowled seeking a boundary to raise his fifty. Swann, the best player of spin in England’s lower order, found himself coming in at No. 11 and faced two balls, his chief involvement to check with India if they intended to make England bat again.

Women cricketers have appealed for a one-time payment from the BCCI, inline with the board’s recent gesture where former Test and first-class male cricketers benefitted

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2012India’s women cricketers have appealed for a one-time payment from the BCCI, inline with the board’s recent gesture where former Test and first-class male cricketers benefitted from an approximately Rs 70 crore ($13 million) giveaway. Current and former women cricketers said that the benefits should be extended towards them too. Women’s cricket has been under the BCCI umbrella since 2006.”The BCCI runs women cricket now, and it should honour and reward the former women cricketers in whatever way it can,” India captain Mithali Raj told . “There was, after all, hardly any money in women’s cricket till sometime back, so any such move will certainly be a big help to many.”India’s women’s cricketer of the year and fast bowler Jhulan Goswami agreed. “The BCCI has changed the face of women’s cricket in the last few years,” she said. “I am sure they will look into it and reward former women players too, sooner rather than later.”Former India player Sandhya Agarwal said that although the women cricketers have benefitted from BCCI’s pension scheme, a one-time benefit should be considered as women cricketers have enriched the sport just as the male cricketers.Recently, former India cricketer Diana Edulji had raised the issue with IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla and the BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale and a decision on the issue is awaited.”It is good that the board is helping the former players and it would be great if they include women cricketers also in the benefit scheme,” Edulji said. “In fact, it is great that the widows of the former players are also part of it. It is a small amount for the board and a big boon for us women players.”

Paul Collingwood has admitted he wondered if he had the will to continue playing after England dropped him from their one-day teams last summer

Jon Culley04-Apr-2012Paul Collingwood has admitted he wondered if he had the will to continue playing after England effectively ended his international career when they dropped him from their one-day teams last summer, in the process stripping him of the Twenty20 captaincy.”It came right out of the blue,” Collingwood said. “There had been no inkling, so when Geoff Miller came to see me to tell me what had been decided I felt it was very, very harsh. It took me a while to get my head around it. You look at all the options and there was a point when I had to ask myself if I wanted to carry on.”Collingwood, under whose leadership England won their first international one-day trophy in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, retired from Test cricket in January last year after helping England win the Ashes in Australia.But after subsequently playing in the 50-over World Cup he believed he could continue his international career in one-day competitions and had not given much thought to what he might do if he was not given the chance.”When you are in the England bubble your concern is only with playing and giving your best and you don’t really focus much on the future. Suddenly I was out of that bubble and in the big wide world again.”But I thought it was important to give myself time and not make a rash decision. Cricket is my skill, the career I had been working towards since I was 14 or 15 years old and going down a different route is not something you can do immediately.”Instead, Collingwood – who will be 36 next month – gave himself until the end of the season to determine how he felt, and found his appetite for the game at county level remained keen enough to accept the offer of a new three-year contract with Durham.He has not given up hope yet of an England swansong, although he accepts that it would take “some miraculous performances” to force his way back into contention.”I’m not bitter about what happened,” he said. “I am a realistic man and accept that times move on and there comes a crossroads in everybody’s career where the hierarchy are going to make decisions about you.”I don’t bear any grudge towards the management or the selectors. If you put yourself in their position you understand that they have to make calls that they consider to be in the best interests of the England team in the long term. But I think I need to keep it as a goal, to get back in the England side. It is a big motivational factor. There are things about being in the England side that I really, really miss and it would be silly to say I’ve retired.”I realise I’m going to have to put in some miraculous performances but I still feel young, I still feel fit and I still feel I can contribute. You never know what might happen.”With that goal in mind, it has not helped that the planned third leg of his winter Twenty20 itinerary has effectively been cancelled after IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, to whom he was contracted for a second year, told him he had little chance of seeing any action.”Rajasthan called me up two or three weeks ago and said they had made four new signings, which gave them about nine or ten overseas players,” he said. “They said they would fly me out immediately if they had a couple of injuries but said rather than drag me round India for seven weeks I should stay at home and play some cricket.”They did not want to release me from the contract but I think it highly unlikely I will be going out, the way they were talking. I told them I would like to fight for my place but they were honest enough to say I was well down the pecking order. It is disappointing. If you are out there you can at least be in the nets and try to make an impact.”Collingwood had a more successful time in Australia, where he helped Perth Scorchers reach the final of the inaugural Big Bash League, and captained the newly-formed South African franchise Impi.

“It is the first April I’ve had in England for seven or eight years but it is exciting to be focusing on Durham”Paul Collingwood

“Perth was brilliant. Having the family out there was great and playing competitive cricket in front of big crowds was fantastic. Every game attracted about 20,000 spectators – and getting to the final means we will be in the Champions League.”South Africa was different. There weren’t the crowds and the team I captained consisted mainly of fringe players from other franchises and the challenge was to make them competitive. But I loved both competitions and hopefully there will be more opportunities next winter.”The change in his IPL plans makes Collingwood available for Durham for their opening County Championship match against Nottinghamshire next week, when he will reacquaint himself with playing cricket in England in April – his warm anticipation of which may have been cooling a little as snow fell at Chester-le-Street.”It is the first April I’ve had in England for seven or eight years but it is exciting to be focusing solely on Durham. There were a couple of other offers and Derbyshire was one of the places mentioned but coming from the north-east, where my family is, and being a Shotley Bridge lad, I want to play for Durham.”Durham are the people that gave me the opportunity to play international cricket. You want to give something back and hopefully I can pass on to the younger players some of the knowledge I have gained from playing around the world. But it isn’t just about that because obviously I want to continue playing, win games for Durham and win some silverware.”

A round-up of the second days’ action of the One-Day National Cup Division Two matches

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Feb-2012Group ALahore Lions were routed for 81, owing to a combined bowling performanc, led by the right-arm seamer Asad Ali at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) finished the chase in just 11.1 overs to register their maiden win in the tournament. Early strikes by Asad and Imran Ali left the Lions tottering at 5 for 5. Farhan Asghar and Saad Nasim were the only players to pass 20. Asad finished with the best figures of 4 for 14, while the other three bowlers took two wickets apiece. The SNGPL openers Ali Waqas and Imran Ali (the opener) ensured they attained the target without any loss of wickets.A half-century by Musadiq Ahmed and a five-wicket haul by Mohammad Fayyaz set up Peshawar Panthers’ 28-run win over Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in Peshawar. Musadiq hit 66 off 96 balls with five fours to take the Panthers to 227. Mohammad Irfan took 3 for 35. KRL began their chase steadily, taking the score to 100 for 2. But the Panthers hit back, taking four wickets for 29 runs. Bazid Khan was the top scorer with 60 but was dismissed by Fayyaz, who ran through the middle and lower order to finish with 5 for 26 off six overs, his maiden five-for in domestic one-dayers.Group BA century by Bismilliah Khan set up Quetta Bears’ 140-run victory against Multan Tigers in Karachi. Bismilliah scored 142 off 141 balls and was supported by Abid Ali, who made 73, in an opening stand of 177. Quetta finished on 326 for 5 in 50 overs, the only wicket-taker for Multan being Haziq Habibullah, who claimed 4 for 64. Multan floundered in their chase, and collapsed from 109 for 2 to 186 all out in 39.5 overs. Mohibullah took 3 for 19 and Arun Lal 3 for 36 for Quetta. Moinuddin and Maqbool Ahmed top scored with 40 each for Multan, woefully inadequate contributions when chasing such a tall target.Lahore Eagles restricted Karachi Zebras to a below-par 199 for 9 and completed a five-wicket victory at the National Stadium. Lahore struck early and repeatedly after winning the toss, reducing Karachi to 69 for 5, before the lower-order batsmen rallied and prolonged the innings until the 50th over. The opener Behram Khan top scored with 71, the next best being Sohail Khan’s 39 at No. 9. Lahore stumbled from 50 for 0 to 63 for 3 in their chase but Rana Adnan cored 58 and Usman Salahuddin 42 to take their team towards victory. The target was achieved with nine overs to spare.

Cricket Ireland has set out its strategy to bring full Test status by 2020

David Hopps24-Jan-2012Cricket Ireland has set out its strategy to bring full Test status by 2020. Targets include an increase in the number of people playing the game in Ireland to 50,000, reaching eighth in the world rankings and establishing a domestic first-class structure.A number of commercial deals have been secured, allowing Ireland to unveil their strategic plan to 2015 and target their ultimate ambition of securing Test status. As part of that process Cricket Ireland want to have three first-class teams in place by 2015.Warren Deutrom, Ireland’s chief executive, said: “We have set ourselves a very clear long-term ambition – to become a full Test nation by 2020, nothing less. This is not a dreamy aspiration but a real ambition founded on the playing talent being developed on this island, the growing passion and profile of the game here, a sustained and proven track record of achievement on and off the field and a clear roadmap set out by us for how to get there.”Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, has also agreed a two-year extension to his contract which will take him through to at least the end of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign late next year.Cricket Ireland has offered a record 23 professional contracts to players, in three categories, for 2012, a development Simmons says is vital for their continued improvement.”A key part of our success to date has been the move to professionalism,” Simmons said. “With so many players on full or part-time contracts we now have a structure supporting the senior squad to make sure we can maintain our competitiveness on the international stage.”Initiatives to swell participation numbers to 50,000 will include the establishment of regional academies; a Get Into Cricket scheme which will seek to attract six to 12-year-olds to take up the game in clubs and schools; a Better Clubs Initiative, which will encourage clubs to improve their facilities; and the Cricket Ireland national awards which will recognise contributions ranging from players to volunteers.”Our commitment to the game at grassroots level will hopefully make a real difference on the ground,” Deutrom said. “We want to give as much attention to the domestic game as we have to the international teams in the last four years.”Contract awardsCategory A Trent Johnston, Alex Cusack, Kevin O’Brien, John Mooney.Category B William Porterfield, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, George Dockrell, Gary Wilson, Boyd Rankin, Ed Joyce, Andrew White.Category C Albert van der Merwe, Nigel Jones, Max Sorensen, Shane Getkate, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Andrew Poynter, Andrew Balbirnie, Tom Fisher, Peter Connell, Rory McCann.

Michael Clarke does not believe Pat Howard’s lack of cricket experience will be a problem after he was appointed as Cricket Australia’s general manager of team performance

Brydon Coverdale14-Oct-2011Australia’s captain, Michael Clarke, does not believe Pat Howard’s lack of cricket experience will be a problem after he was appointed to one of Cricket Australia’s most senior positions. Howard, a former rugby international, was on Thursday unveiled as the general manager of team performance, a newly-created role in which Clarke and the head coach will report to him.A self-confessed “terrible legspinner” whose main cricket experience came at school, Howard will be responsible for installing Australia’s new coach and full-time selector, and faces the challenge of helping the team rise back up the Test rankings. Clarke said Howard’s off-field record, which included a high-performance position with the Australian Rugby Union, was impressive, and his new job was not a role that required someone with cricket expertise.”His job is not to be the head coach or the captain, he’s been very successful in this role and he’s done it before [in rugby],” Clarke told reporters in Sydney, before flying out for Australia’s tour of South Africa. “He’s played a lot of sport and he knows his cricket well enough, so I’m not concerned at all that he hasn’t played cricket at the highest level. Now it is about communication between the CEO, James Sutherland, the head coach, the chairman of selectors and the captain to work out what we need to do to continue going forward.”The most pressing issue now is the appointment of a coach, after Tim Nielsen stepped down following the tour of Sri Lanka. The expanded head coach position features much more responsibility, in line with recommendations from the Argus review, with the new mentor set to direct the coaching strategies throughout elite cricket in Australia as well as within the national side.The former South Africa coach, Mickey Arthur, and Australia’s fielding coach, Steve Rixon, are likely to be among the leading candidates, although it could take up to two months for an appointment to be made. On Thursday, Howard indicated the importance of ensuring Clarke and the new mentor could work well together, and Clarke confirmed he would have some input into the appointment.”I’ll probably have an impact in regards to the coach, and it is down to James [Sutherland] and the general manager to make these decisions, but I’m confident there will be communication as we try and get the best people for the job,” he said. “We all want to see Australian cricket get back to being number one in all forms of the game and whoever gets these selection roles will have that mindset.”