All posts by h716a5.icu

Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka’s batting coach, has said his team’s batsmen have been lacking in confidence on the tour of the UAE

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2011Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka’s batting coach, has said his team’s batsmen have been lacking in confidence on the tour of the UAE. Sri Lanka were beaten 0-1 in the Tests and were skittled out for 131 in the first ODI in Dubai.”I really think it is nothing to do with the technique and application but its about the confidence which they are lacking,” Atapattu said. “We have played so much cricket and if it happens at a stretch then it’s important you get out of it. When you get out for low scores, when you are not doing well as a batting unit, then it’s a matter of confidence.”The tracks have been quite flat for the bulk of the tour so far and Sri Lanka’s batting, barring Kumar Sangakkara, has been below-par. “You cannot justify (failures) after looking at the personalities in the dressing room, its just that they come out thinking that its a brand new game and we are not continuing what we did on Friday or maybe two months ago,” Atapattu said.Atapattu, a former Sri Lanka opener, praised the Pakistan team, saying it’s among the best he’s seen from the country in the recent past. “They looked very fresh from the start and they are a very good side, having lots of allrounders and have options. This Pakistan side is one of the best I have seen in the recent past having played against their best teams in my days.”He also complimented Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain. “Misbah is a very cool and calm character and what I saw in the Tests was very impressive, he handles things well and is somewhat like [Arjuna] Ranatunga and he has the patience to wait until he achieves what he wants to.”The teams play five ODIs in all. The second one takes place in Dubai on November 14.

Jason Roy hit a brilliant century while Jade Dernbach and Chris Schofield took four wickets each as Surrey Lions beat Leicestershire Foxes by 141runs at Grace Road to clinch a home tie in the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40

21-Aug-2011
ScorecardJason Roy hit a brilliant century while Jade Dernbach and Chris Schofield took four wickets each as Surrey Lions beat Leicestershire Foxes by 141runs at Grace Road to clinch a home tie in the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40.Roy blazed his way to a career-best 131 off 99 balls to lead Surrey to a formidable total of 292 for six. It was the 21-year-old’s second successive century in the competition having scored 101 last week against Warwickshire. Then Dernbach, named in the England one-day squad for Thursday’s game against Ireland, took four wickets for seven runs and leg spinner Schofield bagged four for 26 as the Foxes were bowled out for 151 in 25.5 overs.Once an opening stand of 75 was broken the hosts collapsed dramatically, losing nine wickets for 76 runs in 16 overs – the last seven of them falling for just 25 runs in nine overs – to hand the visitors a 10th win in the competition this season. To add to the Foxes’ problems, left-arm seam bowler Harry Gurney was unable to bat having come off the field with a side strain midway through his sixth over.Gurney has been one of Leicestershire’s key bowlers in their successful Friends Life t20 campaign, which has taken them to finals day at Edgbaston on Saturday. Surrey made a disappointing start to their innings, losing two wickets for 12 runs in the first three overs before Roy took centre stage producing a sublime knock.He raced to 50 off 35 balls with six boundaries plus a straight six off Wayne White and shared a third wicket stand of 120 in just 16 overs with Tom Maynard. However, it was Roy who dominated the partnership with some superb shots both sides of the wicket.The pair were separated when Maynard was finally bowled by Josh Cobb, having made 33 in the partnership. Roy continued to lead the Lions’ charge for a big total, reaching back-to-back centuries in the competition off 79 balls with eight fours and three sixes.It was a fabulous innings and with Matthew Spriegel also blasting a 35-ball half-century the home attack continued to leak runs. White finally claimed Roy’s wicket, bowling him as he tried yet another big shot. By then, however, it was too little too late for the Foxes and they faced the daunting target of 293 to win.Cobb and Jacques du Toit gave them the perfect start with a stand of 75 in 10 overs with Cobb racing to a half century off 29 balls, hitting two sixes and seven fours. But once Dernbach had dismissed both of them in the same over the Foxes capitulated with wickets falling at regular intervals.Even James Taylor, also in the England squad for the Ireland match, could do little about it, falling to Schofield for 21 as Surrey cruised through to victory with 14 overs to spare.

England, the reigning World Twenty20 champions, have been unveiled as the top T20 side as the ICC launched their rankings for the shortest format of the game

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2011England, the reigning World Twenty20 champions, have topped the ICC’s inaugural rankings for the shortest format of the game. England batsman Eoin Morgan tops the batting ratings, Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis is the top bowler and Australia’s Shane Watson the No. 1 allrounder.England have 127 points and are ahead of Sri Lanka, who have 126 in the rankings, announced on Monday. If England win their T20 against India at Eden Gardens on October 29, they will have a four-point lead over Sri Lanka. If they lose, though, they will slip below Sri Lanka and India.”The introduction of rankings for international Twenty20 cricket provides real context to the various series played between member countries on an ongoing basis,” England’s team director Andy Flower said. “Until now we haven’t had the chance to play a large number of Twenty20 Internationals so this will offer a benchmark as to who is performing at international level.”The next four teams – New Zealand (117), South Africa, India and Australia – were separated by only six points. Pakistan, who won the World Twenty20 in 2009, were ranked seventh followed by West Indies, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.Bangladesh, along with Associate Members Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland, which have T20 international status, will join the table as soon as they have played sufficient matches (at least eight T20s since August 2009) to qualify for a ranking.Since August 2009, England played 20 T20s, winning 12, losing six and two no-results. Pakistan played the most matches (24) during the same period, but lost more than 50% of its matches, which contributed to its low rating.Brendon McCullum and Kevin Pietersen were No. 2 and 3 behind Morgan in the rankings for batsmen, while spinners occupy seven of the top ten spots for bowlers. “I believe spin bowlers have adapted to T20 cricket better than most,” Daniel Vettori, who has retired from T20s, said. “To see spinners succeed in a tough environment is great for the game and means bowlers can enjoy Twenty20 cricket, most of the time!”Watson, the No. 1 allrounder, is followed by Shahid Afridi, David Hussey and Mohammad Hafeez. Abdul Razzaq, at No. 10, is the third Pakistan player among the top ten allrounders.

Western Australia have finalised their revamped squad for next season after naming a 17-man contract list

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2011Western Australia have finalised their revamped squad for next season after naming a 17-man contract list. The key changes for the Warriors had already been confirmed earlier in the off-season, with the axing of Steve Magoffin, David Bandy, Aaron Heal, Matt Johnston, Michael Swart and Luke Towers, while Ashley Noffke and Brett Dorey both retired during the summer.The coach Mickey Arthur last week confirmed the addition of the Tasmania batsman Travis Birt, the Queensland fast bowler Nathan Rimmington and the New South Wales fast man Mark Cameron to the group in an effort to force strong competition for places. There were no other surprises in the final list, with the fast-bowling pair Matt Dixon and Joel Parris added to the rookie list.The impressive left-arm fast man Ryan Duffield was upgraded from a rookie deal to a full contract after a summer in which he collected 33 Sheffield Shield wickets at 22.90, while the opening batsman Marcus Harris was also promoted. Arthur said the squad was one he and the captain Marcus North could put their stamp on.”I am really comfortable with our new signings and the list that we have put together,” Arthur said. “We cut seven players from the squad and lost two to retirement at the end of 2010-11 and have only recruited three players from interstate, so we are backing our outstanding local talent to return the Warriors to the top of Australian cricket.”We have brought in some experienced players in Travis Birt, Mark Cameron and Nathan Rimmington and they will play big roles for us, but we must not forget that we have an exciting bunch of young cricketers as well. I feel that we have got our list almost right with a mix that will set us up for years to come, and in the next year or two we will have it spot on. I am really confident with the direction we are taking WA cricket.”The Warriors finished fourth on the Sheffield Shield table last season, Arthur’s first in charge, and they were also fourth in the Ryobi Cup. But there were some positive signs, with Duffield, Harris, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Tom Beaton emerging as players to watch.Western Australia squad Michael Beer, Travis Birt, Mark Cameron, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Davis, Ryan Duffield, Marcus Harris, Michael Hogan, Michael Hussey (Cricket Australia contract), Mitchell Johnson (CA), Brad Knowles, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh (CA), Marcus North, Martin Paskal, Luke Pomersbach, Nathan Rimmington, Wes Robinson, Luke Ronchi, Adam Voges.Rookies Tom Beaton, Jason Behrendorff, Matt Dixon, Michael Johnson, Joel Paris.

Pascall Roberts, the former Trinidad bowler and selector, died on June 20 at the age of 73

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2011Pascall Roberts, the former Trinidad bowler and selector, died on June 20 at the age of 73. Roberts played 67 first-class matches and represented Paragon Cricket Club in the 1960s and 1970s, and after his retirement worked towards the development of Trinidad cricket. He was part of the West Indies squad that toured England in 1969, but never got his Test cap.Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath said Roberts was an icon of T&T cricket. “Pascall Roberts contributed much to the development of the club and helped establish Trinidad and Tobago as a regional powerhouse. The cricket fraternity has lost one of its loyal servants.”Dinanath Ramnarine, president of the West Indies Players’ Association and a former T&T player, praised Roberts’ contributions as a national selector. “Roberts always remained involved in the game in Trinidad and Tobago and would always have good, sage advice for young men like myself who wanted to dedicate our lives to cricket the way he did.”Roberts started his career as a left-arm seam bowler and took 5 for 79 on his first-class debut, against Barbados. He later changed to left-arm spin, and formed a partnership with offspinner Jack Noreiga. He took 211 wickets in 67 first-class matches in a career spanning almost 20 years.Ronald Faria, who played alongside Roberts in the Paragon team, said he was a hard-working cricketer. “I played with Pascall at Paragon for close to 15 years and he could always be relied upon to give 100%,” Faria said. “He formed a deadly spin attack in tandem with Jack Noreiga and helped Paragon win Championship titles three years in a row.”

While chasing might not be the favourite thing to do at the Premadasa, a relaid track and new floodlights mean it is not quite the devil either

Sidharth Monga23-Mar-2011On first look, the R Premadasa stadium doesn’t seem to be the ideal venue for the knockout games of a tournament as big as the World Cup. Or any day-night ODI for that matter. Far too often are the odds stacked heavily against sides chasing under the floodlights, when the ball starts doing the kind of crazy things it hadn’t in the first half of the game. In the last decade, 29 out of the 38 finished games featuring the top teams here were won by the team winning the toss, second only to Newlands in that aspect. There is no guessing what teams do here the moment they win the toss.With the World Cup, however, like many other aspects in quite a few of the other stadiums in the subcontinent, there seems to have been a massive improvement. Already it is there for all to see that while chasing might not be the favourite thing to do here, it is not quite the devil either. Even if the games involving the minnows in this World Cup are not to be included, the league game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan is a big indicator. In the good old days of the Premadasa, Pakistan’s 277 would have been a difficult target, but Sri Lanka seemed to be on track until they lost their way towards the end.The most important thing, both in that game and Pakistan’s successful chase against Australia, was that the new ball didn’t jag around as much as it used to do in the classical Premadasa-under-the-lights days. Anuruddha Polonowita, Sri Lanka’s chief groundsman, has an explanation for why this used to happen and why it is less likely to happen now that the square has been relaid.”We have raised the pitch three-and-a-half-feet from the perimeter of the boundary,” Polonowita said. “Earlier we had a problem those days. This is a low-lying area. This was a marshy land, which was filled with garbage. So in the evening we used to get a little bit of moisture coming out. So we raised it by three-and-a-half feet, and I think it has settled down now. In the evening, that moisture is not coming out. That was the main reason [for the drastic change in conditions under lights].”Mahela Jayawardene, who has played a fair amount of his ODI cricket here, has another reason. “The floodlights were one of the reasons teams struggled to chase at night at the ground, as they couldn’t pick the ball on occasion,” he wrote in his column. “Since the revamp, with new lights and a relaid track, things have certainly eased out.”Trevor Bayliss, Sri Lanka’s coach, shares the view. “In the past it [the toss] has been important,” Bayliss said. “The wickets since have been relaid. They are a lot better now, a lot easier to bat second than it was two to three years ago. We batted second against Pakistan, and made 260, but we had a bad 20 overs. Whatever score is made in the first innings, the team batting second is quite capable of knocking those runs off.”Whether it gets a little bit cooler and atmosphere makes the ball move around a little bit, there is no real evidence of that. It is a bit more difficult to bat second. I think the wicket probably slows up a little bit, makes it more difficult for batting, but more than anything it’s the mindset. We were happy to score 260 runs against Pakistan in that first game. Even though we did lose, we knew there was improvement, and it gives us confidence for this game.”A target of 225 and over against a major opposition in a day-night game at the Premadasa has been a fortress that has not been conquered often, but over the next week or so that frontier might be no more. Even if that doesn’t happen – although it will be a great stage to do so in a knockout game of a World Cup – the players are a bit more assured of the fairness of the conditions.

South Africa’s 2011 World Cup campaign was fundamentally flawed by a suspect middle order, former coach Mickey Arthur has said

Daniel Brettig31-Mar-2011South Africa’s 2011 World Cup campaign was fundamentally flawed by a suspect middle order, former coach Mickey Arthur has said. Considered tournament favourites after a mostly storming run through the pool phase, South Africa crumbled under the pressure of a run chase against doughty New Zealand in their quarter-final, exposing all the wounds of past failures in knockout events.Watching from Perth where he is now the coach of Western Australia’s state team, Arthur reasoned that the decision to choose JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis and Johan Botha in the middle had cost his old side dearly.”People underestimate how difficult it is [in the middle order in the subcontinent],” Arthur told ESPNCricinfo. “Five, six and seven are your crucial, crucial batting positions in one day games, especially on the subcontinent, because you’re invariably starting against a soft ball and invariably starting against spin.”In the engine room at five, six and seven we had JP Duminy who’s still a young, maturing player, Faf du Plessis in his first year and Johan Botha who is a bowler first and then a batter, and I think that cost us at the end of the day.”In 2006-07 [when Australia won the Champions Trophy in India and the World Cup in the Caribbean], Michael Hussey was down at seven for them. “In those conditions five, six and seven end up winning you games, and we didn’t have any experience there.”Arthur’s view was supported in the aftermath of the match by Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain. “We were desperate to get into that middle to lower order; that was our whole game plan, do whatever we can to get down there,” Vettori said. “It was always about getting past AB de Villiers. Their top four has proven themselves over a long, long time. They’ve got fantastic records, and I thought if we could break through that, particularly getting down to No. 6 and Botha at No. 7 meant they had a longish tail.”Given that the captain, Graeme Smith, and the coach, Corrie van Zyl, have both chosen to give up their posts after the Cup, it will now be up to yet another leadership axis to pick the lock that seems to separate South African sides from Cup success.”Until South Africa win an ICC event it’s always going to be there,” said Arthur. “The monkey’s almost become a gorilla now and until we win an ICC event it’s always going to be there I’m afraid. They’ve just got to get out there and do it. We’ve always been the most prepared and I remember in my five years, we could never, ever nail it right at the end, and that to me was one of my regrets.”We got to No.1 in the world in both forms of the game over a period of time because we played the most consistent cricket, but there always seemed to be something missing when it became a knockout game, and I just can’t put my finger on it.”

Australia’s selectors were made to look foolish again when Shaun Marsh hit 110 against England two days after being left out of the World Cup squad

Andrew McGlashan in Hobart22-Jan-2011Australia’s selectors have had a difficult summer and they were made to look foolish again when Shaun Marsh hit 110 against England two days after being left out of the World Cup squad. He may yet make the trip because Michael Hussey, the man he has replaced for this series, remains a major doubt due to his hamstring injury.Marsh made a strong case that he should have been there by right, but his hopes of making the 15-man World Cup party weren’t helped with the selectors able to select Tim Paine as a reserve keeper-batsman. Given Australia’s batting woes this season, it’s difficult to think why Marsh isn’t playing a part across all formats. Mickey Arthur, his coach at Western Australia, rates him as talented as any batsman he has coached, although a first-class average 37.97, lower than his ODI mark, doesn’t do him any favoursBut even though his route to the subcontinent next month rests on the fortunes of others he isn’t dwelling on being overlooked. “I’m never one to worry about selections,” he said after Australia’s 46-run win in Hobart. “I was disappointed not to get picked, but I see these games as an opportunity to improve my game at international level. It’s given me a lot of confidence. I’m sure the guys who go over will do a great job.”England were due to face Marsh when they played Australia A, also at Hobart, in November but he pulled out due to injury. Andrew Strauss said they would need to come up with some new ideas. “He had a nice mix of getting ones and hitting boundaries,” he said. “He’s a player in good form and we’ll have to look at how we could have done things differently.”By trade Marsh is opener, like his father Geoff, but his immediate chances for Australia appear to be in the middle order and he showed his adaptability in Hobart when he came in at No. 6 with the score 4 for 33. He added 100 with Cameron White then an unexpected 88 with Doug Bollinger for the ninth wicket to give Australia a defendable total.”It was just a great opportunity for me,” he said. “Huss going down was very unfortunate but it gave me my chance. It didn’t matter where I batted for Australia, I just wanted to play. It’s obviously different to opening but I knew once I got myself in, and started feeling good, I could play some shots. It was a lot of fun out there especially with Dougie at the end. We got our team to a competitive total and defended it well.”Marsh had plenty of praise for his unlikely tail-end partner. Bollinger had only batted four times in his previous 27 ODIs with a top score of three, but unfurled two cover drives during his run-a-ball 30. “Dougie was loving it out there,” Marsh said. “It was a lot of fun. I was trying to tell him to rotate the strike and keep the ball on the ground. He played some wonderful shots, it was fantastic the way he went about it. Without him we probably wouldn’t have got to 200.”Although Marsh is unlikely to break the opening combination of Shane Watson and Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke made it fairly clear that he wants to make use of Marsh’s impressive form by using him higher up the order. “Shaun will definitely be playing in the next three games,” Clarke said. “It’s unlikely he’ll be batting at No.6 as well, especially when he’s hitting the ball as sweet as he is. He’s in wonderful nick at the moment. He’s certainly going to get opportunities if he plays like that.”

Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias has now shared a major update on Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon star Joao Palhinha.

The Lowdown: Tottenham in mix?

The Lilywhites have been linked with a move for the Sporting midfield powerhouse since as far back as last summer with former boss Nuno Espirito Santo allegedly green-lighting a move in 2021.

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Since then, reports have suggested that Tottenham remain very interested long into the Antonio Conte era, coming as the Italian eyes a plethora of new additions over a major summer rebuild.

Palhinha is also attracting Premier League interest from the likes of Manchester United and Wolves, but according to a new report, it’s Spurs who are signalling the most intent.

The Latest: Spurs set for bid…

According to Jornal de Notícias, via Sport Witness, Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici will make a bid for Palhinha ‘within the month’.

The newspaper adds that Conte personally sees Sporting’s star as the ‘ideal element’ to upgrade his Lilywhites midfield.

The Verdict: Perfect man?

Tottenham’s head coach is apparently keen to add two new midfield signings in the next transfer window and we believe Palhinha would be a more-than capable fresh face.

The 6 foot 3 midfield mountain, called a ‘sensational player’ by Islington Gazette reporter Josh Bunting, has also averaged more tackles per 90 in Portugal’s top flight than any Spurs man has in England (WhoScored).

Going by his numbers, Palhinha could add even more steel to the Spurs midfield alongside the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp (when fit) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

As the summer fast approaches, we believe the Lilywhites should make an attempt at the very least.

In other news: Conte green-lights exit for ‘perfect’ Spurs player who ‘100%’ wants to quit! Find out more here.

Leeds United will target a new centre-back this summer, according to fresh claims…

What’s the word?

The Yorkshire giants appear to have narrowly avoided the drop this campaign after they replaced the iconic Marcelo Bielsa with Jesse Marsch back in February but their defensive problems still remain as one of the Premier League’s leakiest backlines.

However, come the off-season, it appears that a new central option will sit high on the agenda, as per journalist Pete O’Rourke, who told GIVEMESPORT:

“It’s definitely a position Leeds will be looking to strengthen this summer. We all know how many goals they’ve conceded this season, it’s been way too many.

“That’s not just down to injuries, they’ve been way too open as well, so they’ll be looking to bolster their defensive options in the summer transfer window.”

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Good news for Marsch

Indeed, the Whites’ struggles defensively this campaign have been no secret.

With four games left to play, Leeds sit five points clear of the relegation zone and prior to the weekend’s games, no team had conceded more goals (68) than Marsch’s side.

Even rock-bottom Norwich City had kept out more goals before their defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Things have started to improve recently, coinciding with the return of club captain Liam Cooper, who had missed the bulk of their matches from November through to March.

Diego Llorente’s form has also somewhat transformed in recent outings, whilst the American’s only other options in the role are Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch – the latter has been something of a sicknote ever since his arrival.

At times, their injury list has been so severe that vice-skipper Luke Ayling has gone into the middle to help out the team.

Therefore, it is certainly great news to see the Yorkshire side mooted with a move for a new option as Marsch is certainly going to need further quality in the area heading into next season, where they absolutely cannot flirt with the drop once again.

Leeds have already been linked with some interesting names, including the manager’s former Leipzig star Josko Gvardiol and fellow Bundesliga colossus Timo Hubers.

It’s a sign of encouragement heading into what should be a busy summer of business for Victor Orta and co.

AND in other news, Orta must launch Leeds bid for “complete” £72k-p/w gem, he could be their Luis Suarez…