Pakistan have recalled Azhar Mahmood and Taufeeq Umar to their squad for the VB Series, the triangular one-day tournament which also features Australia and West Indies. Mohammad Hafeez and Iftikhar Anjum have also been included, while Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Asim Kamal, Imran Farhat and Mohammad Asif will return home after the Test series.Mahmood has been a star performer for Surrey over the last couple of seasons, but has struggled to make a permanent place for himself in the Pakistan team. He last appeared an ODI in 2003-04, when Pakistan toured New Zealand, and has played only 13 of them in the last two years. His return will be especially pleasing for Bob Woolmer, who has often spoken highly about Mahmood’s allround ability.Taufeeq and Hafeez, meanwhile, return after being dropped due to poor form. Taufeeq, a left-handed opener, was earlier seen as a Test specialist, but has slowly been part of the mix for the one-dayers as well – the last of his 18 one-dayers came against India at Lahore last year. Hafeez, an allrounder who bowls offspin, made an impressive start to his international career in a triangular tournament in Sharjah immediately after the 2003 World Cup, but was then dropped after a string of dismal performances.A media release from the Pakistan board also announced that Inzamam-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq would be fit for the tournament. Both missed the ongoing Sydney Test – Inzamam failed to recover from a back injury while Razzaq was struck with a mystery ailment during the second Test at Melbourne.The VB Series starts on January 14, while Pakistan play their first match against Australia a couple of days later.Pakistan squad for the VB Series Salman Butt, Taufeeq Umar, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Hafeez, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Akhtar, Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Khalil, Iftikhar Anjum.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium at Chennai has hosted eight one-day internationals so far, of which four have been day-night matches. India have a 50% win record in the four ODIs they have played here.
New Zealand’s only ODI here – a quarter-final match of the 1996 World Cup against Australia – was a high-scoring game with two memorable batting performances. Chris Harris smashed 130 off just 124 balls as New Zealand amassed 286, but Australia found their man for the moment in Mark Waugh, whose beautifully paced 110 took his team to a six-wicket win with more than two overs to spare.
Past record suggests that the toss doesn’t have much of a bearing on the result of a day-night match at Chennai. In the four games played under lights, captains winning the toss have won two and lost two. Also, batting first seems as good an option as batting under lights, with both options achieving a success rate of 50%.
The first ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was also the most thrilling of the eight played here so far. In a league match of the 1987 World Cup, Australia scored 270 and scraped through by one run after India’s middle and lower order fluffed their lines and made a mess of an excellent start provided by the top three. In fact, Chennai has been a particularly favourable ODI venue for Australia, who have won all four matches.
India’s other defeat here came courtesy a stupendous effort by Saeed Anwar, whose 194 – still the highest score in an ODI – allowed Pakistan to notch up 327. Rahul Dravid led India’s reply with 107 – the only Indian centurion at Chepauk – but Pakistan still eased to a 35-run win.
Sachin Tendulkar, in the throes of a horror run with the bat, hasn’t had as much success in ODIs in Chennai as he has had in the Tests. In three one-dayers, Tendulkar has scored just 80 runs, 68 of them coming in one match against England in 2001-02.
The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced a 16-man squad to tour New Zealand this winter.With Andrew Caddick returning to the squad and Andrew Flintoff retained after playing in all three Tests before Christmas, Martyn Ball and Richard Johnson are the players omitted from the party which toured India.Ball and Johnson were called up into the squad for India after Andrew Caddick and Robert Croft chose not to tour following heightened fears about security in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York.Croft, who was named in the original 16-man Test squad announced last August, is not included in the squad for New Zealand. James Ormond has been included subject to passing a fitness test on a shoulder injury.Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said: “In picking this squad, we werekeen to retain the nucleus of the team which exceeded many people’s expectations in India before Christmas in drawing two Test Matches and losing one.”Andrew Flintoff made a significant impact with the ball on the sub-continent and he thoroughly deserves to retain his place in the squad. Andrew Caddick is a high-class bowler of proven pedigree at Test level and we are delighted to have him back in both the Test and One-Day squad.”It was always our intention to reduce the number of spinners in the party from three to two for the second leg of this winter’s tour as we expect to encounter more seamer-friendly surfaces in New Zealand.”While Robert Croft remains in our thoughts for the future, Richard Dawsonshowed great promise in India and we are keen to give him an opportunity todevelop his international career still further.”England Test Squad to tour New Zealand – 2002
1. Nasser Hussain (Captain) Essex 28.3.682. Usman Afzaal Nottinghamshire 9.6.773. Mark Butcher Surrey 23.8.724. Andrew Caddick Somerset 21.11.685. Richard Dawson Yorkshire 4.8.806. Andrew Flintoff Lancashire 6.12.777. James Foster Essex 15.4.808. Ashley Giles Warwickshire 19.3.739. Warren Hegg Lancashire 23.2.6810. Matthew Hoggard Yorkshire 31.12.7611. James Ormond Leicestershire 20.8.7712. Mark Ramprakash Surrey 5.9.6913. Graham Thorpe Surrey 1.8.6914. Marcus Trescothick Somerset 25.12.7515. Michael Vaughan Yorkshire 29.10.7416. Craig White Yorkshire 16.12.69
Coach – Duncan Fletcher Assistant Coach – Graham Dilley Operations Manager – Phil Neale Physiotherapist – Dean Conway Physiologist – Nigel Stockill Media Relations Manager – Andrew Walpole Scorer – Malcolm Ashton
Struggling at lunch time on the second day to save the follow on, the target was achieved more easily than expected, due in the main to an innings of patience coupled with an array of fine stokes by Hampshire wicket-keeper Adrian Aymes. His three hour innings of 71 brought an air of respectability to the home sides reply. Hampshire finishing 38 runs behind on the first innings, a score that looked a long way away at the lunch break.He soon lost Robin Smith shortly after the interval but found Dimitri Mascarenhas as foil to a 52 run partnership. Mascarenhas was bowled off stump trying to drive, and Aymes was joined by the left handed Alex Morris and together they brought Hampshire their one batting point with a gathering of 54 runs for the ninth wicket.Aymes eventually fell to a diving catch from wicket keeper Burns, his 71 had lasted three hours and was by far the leading scorer of the innings. Morris pulled a loose ball to deep square leg where Ben Smith took the catch to conclude the innings.The Leicestershire bowlers minus their main attack acquitted themselves admirably. Boswell and Wells each took three wickets. Dakin who dismissed both openers in the morning looked an excellent prospect for the future.When Leicestershire started their reply with 17 overs remaining in the days play, Maddy and Sutcliffe looked in little trouble against four Hampshire bowlers in the evening sunshine to advance to 42 without loss, a useful a lead of 80.
As per Claret & Hugh, there has now been a fresh update on West Ham United’s efforts to tie down midfielder Tomas Soucek to a bumper new contract.
The Lowdown: West Ham hold talks over Soucek…
The insider recently claimed that West Ham and GSB were set for discussions over fresh terms for the 26-year-old this week as David Moyes priorities tying down the club’s most crucial players.
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This comes amid reports of the club also eyeing new deals for the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice, but despite Soucek’s worrying form in parts over 2021/22, the Czech ace is still considered an important member of Moyes’ squad.
The Latest: Insider drops fresh update on Soucek…
According to Claret & Hugh, a fresh midweek update has come to light as West Ham and Moyes, who was present at the table, were unable to find an agreement with Soucek following a new round of negotiations.
However, a close source has explained that more talks are scheduled as both sides agree to keep discussions going.
The informant explained: “We have been unable to come to terms to day but we’ll continue talking towards and at the end of the season”.
The Verdict: Get it done…
The 2021 Hammer of the Year has been a revelation overall since signing from Slavia Prague in 2020, regardless of some sticky patches this season.
Soucek’s towering physical presence has been a real asset for Moyes both defensively and going forward, as he finished 2020/21 as West Ham’s joint-top Premier League scorer.
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He also won an incredible 6.2 aerial duels per 90 on average in England’s top flight last term and it’s safe to say that, if Soucek rediscovers such form, he could come good again for the Irons.
Taking this into account, it’s little wonder that former Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has said that it would be a ‘massive statement’ for GSB and Moyes to secure the 26-year-old’s future at the London Stadium.
In other news: Insider: West Ham exit now on the cards for ‘extra threat’ who Moyes called ‘really important’, find out more here.
Kumar Sangakkara’s century gave Sri Lanka reason to cheer but they still faced a huge challenge to avoid defeat after Brett Lee grabbed two wickets in two balls to bring Australia’s 14th consecutive win closer. Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu had guided Sri Lanka towards base camp in their Everest-like chase of 507 before Lee’s strikes pushed them off course.At stumps there was still a massive mountain to climb for Sri Lanka, who required a further 260 to win on the final day, having reached 3 for 247 with Sangakkara on 109 and Sanath Jayasuriya on 33. They need Sangakkara to lead the expedition into uncharted territory as they attempt to stop Australia securing a 2-0 series win.Sangakkara appears well equipped for the job, having registered his first Test hundred against Australia in his sixth match. He was helped by some poor bowling from Stuart MacGill, who served up a rank full toss that allowed Sangakkara to take a baseball-like swipe down the ground for four to bring up his century from 178 deliveries.It was his seventh boundary off MacGill, but Sangakkara also looked composed against the fast men. His cover drives were typically elegant and he did not appear too rusty after missing the opening Test with a hamstring injury. The only times he seemed to be in danger were with a couple of inside edges that shot past the stumps off the fast bowlers.He combined with Atapattu for a 143-run partnership that made their enormous task look remotely possible and left Ricky Ponting with a slight headache, pondering possible alternative routes to the anticipated triumph. In the end the successful tactic was fast, aggressive bowling from Lee, who also extracted some reverse swing that proved particularly useful on a pitch that had not offered major assistance to the fast bowlers.The most important breakthrough came when Lee moved Phil Jaques to deep square leg from the infield and immediately Atapattu, who was on 80, fell for the trap and hooked it straight to Jaques, who was pleased to clutch the chance after missing a sitter in Brisbane. Lee followed with a superb fullish inswinger that Mahela Jayawardene completely misjudged, leaving it to crash into his off stump. Jayasuriya survived the hat-trick ball but Sri Lanka’s progress had been significantly hindered as they fell to 3 for 158.The double-strike provided major relief for Ponting, who began the match eyeing the record of 16 straight Test victories set by a Steve Waugh-led Australia. While Sangakkara and Atapattu built their stand, Ponting might have worried that he could steal another piece of history from Waugh, who captained Australia when West Indies scored a record 418 in the fourth innings to win at St John’s in 2003.
But Atapattu returned from the tea break looking like he had overindulged at the Bellerive buffet, and was sluggish in his reactions and nowhere near as sharp as earlier in the day. It nearly cost him his wicket on 75 when he defended Michael Clarke to leg slip where Jaques realised Atapattu had lifted his foot out of the crease. Jaques flicked the ball to Gilchrist but by the time he removed the bails on his second try Atapattu was back.Prior to tea Atapattu was highlighting the reasons that he should be in the Sri Lanka team despite nearly two years out of Test cricket. His timing was outstanding and he managed nine fours on a ground whose outfield hadn’t allowed balls to rush to the boundary. He was especially effective against MacGill, who struggled to send down anything that seriously threatened the batsmen.Too often MacGill dropped short or overpitched, and Atapattu took 12 from one of his overs, striking a trio of boundaries with an excellent cover drive, a well-timed cut that brought up his half-century, and a textbook pull in front of midwicket. Nothing went right for MacGill, who might have had Jayasuriya caught in the deep late in the day had he not overstepped and been called for a no-ball. He finished with 0 for 93 from his 16 overs and his spot in the team far from secured for the long term.Australia’s only bowling joy in the first two sessions came when Michael Vandort (4) miscued an attempted pull and skewed Mitchell Johnson to point, where the substitute fieldsman Rhett Lockyear took a simple catch. The initial signs pleased Ponting, who decided to make Sri Lanka bat for eight overs prior to lunch having declared at 2 for 210.Australia added 99 in the morning with little drama as Ponting finished with 53 and Michael Hussey with 34. Jaques missed the chance to strike his third consecutive century, falling for 68 as Australia batted for nearly two hours and were more concerned with consuming time than rattling up quick runs. Whether they needed more runs only time, and Sangakkara, will tell.
Pakistan have left out Shoaib Akhtar from their 17-man squad for the upcoming series against South Africa, although the door remains open for the fast bowler to return for the ODI matches later in the tour. Mohammad Asif, who along with Shoaib only recently returned to full-time cricket following the overturning of a drugs ban, has been included in the squad.Iqbal Qasim, a member of the selection committee, told Cricinfo, “Shoaib has been left out because we felt his full match fitness hasn’t yet returned after the break he has had from the game.” There had been considerable speculation in the run-up to today’s announcement that Shoaib would miss out, selectors and team management apparently not happy with his fitness levels.But Qasim said the door remains open for a call-up as the series progresses. “For longer matches, we think the fitness isn’t ready yet. But there will be first-class matches in Pakistan that he can play in and work back towards maximum fitness and hopefully make it in time for the ODIs.”Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan captain, told Bigstarcricket.com, “It was a shame Shoaib (Akhtar) couldn’t make it but he hasn’t played any cricket for three months and even before that he only played a few one-day matches in England, when he had waited about nine months to play cricket after injuries. So he will get his chance now to play some first-class cricket in Pakistan and hopefully he will prove himself and be ready to join us for the one-day series.”Mohammed Asif has been bowling really well in practice and I’m pleased to have him back with us. Our bowling attack is stronger for having him back. He’s a clever bowler and everybody will want him to play in the Test series, though there is plenty of competition for places.”Shabbir Ahmed, who has only recently returned from an ICC-imposed ban for a suspect action, was also not selected. “He has only just returned to cricket and we have pace bowlers like Gul and Nazir who have done really well recently for us, so there wasn’t really any place for him right now. He will play more first-class matches and we’ll take it from there,” said Qasim.Mohammad Sami emerges as the winner from the travails of Shoaib and Shabbir, but it is the return of Asif that really gives the bowling its sting. Qasim said, “Even now, I think our bowling is stronger than India’s pace attack and they have done really well in South Africa. So I think the bowlers we have selected should do well there.”The other selection of note is that of Zulqernain Haider, the 20-year-old from Lahore, as reserve wicketkeeper behind Kamran Akmal. Akmal’s form behind the stumps and with the bat has been poor for much of the year and the idea of taking a reserve had been publicly mooted on several occasions, including once by Bob Woolmer.”We’ve picked Zulqarnain as cover for Akmal,” said Qasim. He is still our first-choice but just to ease a little pressure off of him and also in case he picks up an injury, we felt we should have some cover. This is an important season beginning now, with the World Cup, and we want to make sure our best players are available for that.”
Haider was wicketkeeper in the Pakistan U-19 team that won the World Cup in Dhaka in 2004 and has appeared for the Pakistan ‘A’ and Academy sides a number of times since. He has been in the national squad before, picked for the 2004 home series against Sri Lanka, as understudy to Moin Khan. Incidentally, in the second Test of that series, Akmal was chosen ahead of Haider as replacement for Moin, since when he has established himself as the number one choice.With Abdul Razzaq injured and Shahid Afridi out of form, the number six spot becomes the domain once again of a specialist batsman, as opposed to all-rounders. Faisal Iqbal will be in contention, but so too will Asim Kamal, the doughty left-hander, who is back, ready to tour the country against whom he made such an impressive Test debut in 2003. “As a left-hander, in the middle order, he provides us some variety as well as stability.”Overall, I think this is the most balanced squad we could have picked. These guys, if they play to their potential, can do well in South Africa,” Qasim said.Squad for South Africa: Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Shoaib Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Zulqernain Haider (wk), Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.
Michael Holding, the former West Indian fast bowler, has called for the reinstatement of Dwayne Bravo, the allrounder, to the West Indies team.Holding said Bravo would bring more options to the team in the series against Australia and should replace the out-of-sorts Jermaine Lawson. “I think Bravo just offers more in terms of consistency and pressure because Jermaine is just not into gear at the moment,” the quoted Holding as saying. “Corey Collymore was outstanding. He hit the seam and made the batsmen play and really troubled them. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalise on that because the other guys just let the pressure off at different times. Having Bravo in the team just gives the bowling a better balance in my opinion.”Bravo has managed to establish himself as a genuine allrounder in his seven Tests for the West Indies, taking 20 wickets and scoring 397 runs, including one century. He was however overlooked by tour selectors as West Indies sought to field four fast bowlers for the opening Test at the Gabba.Holding said the West Indies bowling was lacking the edge necessary to stamp its authority on the batting side. “Our inability to finish a side or really take advantage once we get on top is certainly a problem. Our batting looks very settled at the moment but our bowlers are still pretty inexperienced.””It showed on the first day and it showed against the tailenders. Against the top order they kept the ball up and in the right area most of the time but once they got to the lower order and the batting got a little unorthodox, [Darren] Powell, [Fidel] Edwards and Lawson just lost their line and length completely.”Holding said Edwards was the only one of the current West Indies battery with genuine pace and should be encouraged to bowl quickly. “He is probably the only one with the genuine, raw pace and you never want to take that away from a young fast bowler. You can work on things like line and length, but you can’t teach speed. You either have speed or you don’t.”
The bowlers continued to toil with little reward on a placid Green Park track at Kanpur. South Africa had the satisfaction of restricting the runs, but they managed just four wickets as India – despite Virender Sehwag’s electrifying 164 – scored only 216 in the 72 overs bowled in the day. With one day to go, and India’s first innings still some way from completion, a boring draw, and an avoidable last day, was in prospect.While only four batsmen were dismissed in the day, the contest between bat and ball was far more even than yesterday – except for a brief period in the afternoon when Sehwag launched an astonishing assault – largely because of South Africa’s greater discipline in the field. Their bowling was more accurate, and, crucially, all their seamers extracted reverse-swing in varying degrees, which prevented most of the batsmen from hitting through the line of the ball. Gautam Gambhir was an early victim of the seam and swing, while Rahul Dravid (52 not out) and Sourav Ganguly (57) had to exercise plenty of caution early on, and it was only when the second new ball was taken that both became more comfortable.One batsman, however, was completely unperturbed by the sideways movement. Sehwag had been in fairly watchful mode yesterday, and started off in similar fashion today, but in a 40-minute period immediately after lunch he launched into a blistering attack on the South African bowlers, adding 56 off a mere 35 balls. Sehwag’s technique was simple: he stayed still, with feet on leg stump, as the ball was delivered. That allowed him the room to execute the strokes to incoming deliveries. If the ball went the other way, Sehwag still trusted his hand-eye co-ordination to do the job. Andrew Hall was tonked for an audacious six over long-on, while anything pitched up around off was belted over or through the off-side cordon. And against Robin Peterson’s completely innocuous slow stuff – it wasn’t spin, since he hardly turned the ball at all – Sehwag was utterly disdainful, reverse-sweeping, driving inside-out through the off side, or lofting boundaries to leg almost at will.In eight overs after lunch, India piled on 59, during which period Sehwag passed 1000 runs for the calendar year. Then, a dubious decision by Simon Taufel ended it all. Hall got one to swing in prodigiously, and hit Sehwag on the pad in front of leg stump. The ball seemed to be drifting down leg, but Taufel thought otherwise, ending a gloriously entertaining innings (294 for 2).With Sehwag gone, normal service resumed. Sachin Tendulkar struggled to cope with the low bounce, and was bowled off his pads for 3 by another Hall inswinger, while Dravid and Ganguly struggled to get the ball off the square. Dravid was particularly bogged down. Unlike Sehwag, Dravid shuffled across his stumps, which often got him into a tangle with the indippers. Probably mindful of his dismissals in the series against Australia, even half-volleys were patted back with exaggerated caution.The second new ball, taken immediately after tea, eased his misery somewhat, as it came onto the bat quicker, and without that late movement. Ganguly prospered too, executing some delectable drives through the off side en route to his half-century. He finally became Zander de Bruyn’s first Test victim, miscuing a pull to Peterson at fine leg (394 for 4), but Dravid continued with his painstaking effort, and had faced 169 deliveries by close of play, which, again, was brought forward by almost an hour by poor light.Earlier, Gambhir missed out on his maiden Test hundred, edging Shaun Pollock to the wicketkeeper when just four short. Gambhir had hammered 85 off just 114 on the third day, but, with a century in sight, he was understandably cautious. The bow;ers kept an excellent line to him as well, and the persistence finally paid off, ending a first-wicket stand of 218. Sehwag briefly seemed set to take the game away from the South Africans, but his unfortunate dismissal made it a good day for the visitors.
Paras Mhambrey, the former India and Mumbai mediumpacer, will assist John Wright in the six-day coaching camp that starts in Bangalore on September 1. Although unsure about the exact role he would play, Mhambrey told Wisden CricInfo: “I’ve got a letter from the Board saying that my services were required and that I should report to John Wright on September 1. I’m not entirely sure what is expected of me, but I’m happy to work with Wright and the Indian team in any way required.”Mhambrey retired from first-class cricket after leading Mumbai to victory in the Ranji Trophy in May this year. While he still plays club cricket, coaching is now Mhambrey’s number one passion.Wright watched Mhambrey in action when he was working with Frank Tyson. Curious about Mhambrey’s track record, Wright quickly asked around, and when informed about his achievements for Mumbai and India, he grew interested. The fact that Mhambrey was a Level II qualified coach and had recently assisted Tyson in conducting examinations and evaluations for the same qualification clinched matters. Mhambrey has also worked with the Karnataka Under-19 and Under-17 teams.”I’ve worked a lot with Frank (Tyson) and that has really helped me each time. For me as a coach, just implementing his methods is an amportant thing,” said Mhambrey. “Ever since I retired in May I’ve been concentrating on coaching, and I’m just happy for the opportunity to work with the national coach and the team.”The fact that Mhambrey is the sort of person who would not interfere too much or look to impose his own views goes strongly in his favour. Moreover, the camp is likely to feature at least seven mediumpacers, and this is where Mhambrey will come in handy. With Tyson, he has worked on several specific drills designed to work on various aspects of bowling such as accuracy, swing and variation.Star players have had numerous disagreements and ego clashes with several of the coaches and assistant coaches in the past. Mhambrey prefers to keep a low profile and has played with people like Sachin Tendulkar and Ajit Agarkar for over 10 years. “I’m sure there wont be any problems on that count,” he said. “I’ve got a job to do and I’m happy to assist Wright in any way he wants.”At the moment, it’s merely a one-off appointment for the six-day camp, but Mhambrey will take heart from the growing number of players who fell just short of the big-time in their heyday before turning into successful international coaches.