ICC mulling on Tendulkar's ODI-splitting idea

When Sachin Tendulkar speaks, the world listens and International Cricket Council is now planning to split one-day matches into two innings of 25 overs each, an idea mooted by the Indian batting great earlier this month.

In order to spice up the one-day format, Tendulkar had proposed that every team should play two innings of 25 overs each and ICC Cricket Manager Dave Richardson said the governing body might soon conduct a trial.

"I quite like that idea. I believe South Africa may try something along those lines," Richardson told BBC Sport.

"This might work in day/night cricket where one team has to bat in the day and the other at night. It provides something different and reduces the effects on the team who loses the toss and has to bat first on a damp wicket, for example," he said.

Even though Tendulkar aired his views earlier this month, Richardson said the idea had popped up in the past as well and came up for discussion at the annual ICC Cricket Committee meeting in May.

One-day cricket is already facing a tough challenge from Twenty20 and the England and Wales Cricket Board scrapped Friends Provident trophy, the only 50-over domestic tournament, in favour of a Twenty20 event.

Richardson, however, is concerned that splitting a match into two innings would mean less centuries, as batsmen would have less overs to bat.

"I don't necessarily like the idea of playing two matches of 25 overs each with the openers batting again. The charm of one-day cricket is seeing someone batting at four and scoring a good hundred," Richardson said.

"If you bat in the middle order of a Twenty20 or a new 25-over innings, you're not going to get much of an opportunity to hit three figures, one downside of the Twenty20 game," he said.

He, however, made it clear that such an experiment should be conducted at the domestic level before pushing it into international cricket.

"If it has been tried successfully at domestic level, it may be possible to give it a go-ahead at international level," he said.

"The ICC has been proactive with ideas and innovations, like the powerplays. The idea of the 'super-sub' wasn't as successful and got rid of quite quickly. One of the criticisms was that we trialled things at international as opposed to domestic level.

"Our tactics going forward are member countries trial changes first domestically and if they are successful, then we can take them on board at the international level," Richardson said.

The ICC Cricket Committee will discuss the result of the experiment when it meets next year.

Source; Rediff

India beat New Zealand by six wickets; climb to No. 1 spot in ODI rankings

Colombo, Sept. 11 -- Saturday's match against Sri Lanka becomes of only academic interest - and of this there is no shortage as India temporarily took the No 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings. From an aesthetic point of view, though, what is even less edifying is watching quality batsmen struggle and ordinary bowlers sneaking wickets because of the pitch.

In a strangulated ODI where bowlers ruled, India got the better of New Zealand by six wickets, knocked the Kiwis out of the tournament and assured themselves of a place in the final.

Saturday's match against Sri Lanka becomes of only academic interest - and of this there is no shortage as Indiatemporarily took the No 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings.

India, with 128 points are technically ahead of South Africa, who have 127, but to stay at pole when the rankings are officially announced in a week the men in blue have to ensure they don't lose either of their two matches against Sri Lanka.

In the ICC's complex method of determining points, India receive considerably less points for defeating New Zealand orSri Lanka than would be the case if the result went the other way, on the basis that India are higher ranked than both.

None of this had any bearing on the play, though, as Daniel Vettori won a crucial toss and watched helplessly as his batsmen fluffed their lines. Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott managed to do worse than in their opening game of the tournament, being reduced to 66 for 5 as opposed to Tuesday's 69 for 5.

Ashish Nehra picked up three wickets to take his ODI tally past 100 and Yuvraj Singh winkled out as many with his loopy left-arm spin. In the end, New Zealand managed 155.

Dinesh Karthik was unlucky to be given out lbw to a ball that appeared to strike him high on the pad and be heading down leg. Rahul Dravid's return seemed anything but auspicious as he struggled to get the ball away. After a tortured hour and five minutes that yielded 14 runs from 45 balls, Dravid failed to get bat to an attempted flick and was trapped in front by Jacob Oram.

Sachin Tendulkar (46), who had been largely purring along, working the ball off his toes with elan and piercing the off-side field with controlled cuts, was out to a soft dismissal, presenting Guptill at cover with the simplest of catches.

Yuvraj then sent the ball up in the air and was caught by Guptill. At 84 for 4 India's top-order had done their bit to keep the game alive, but Dhoni (45 not out) and Suresh Raina (35 not out) kept their heads and walked India past the target.

Scoreboard:

New Zealand: B McCullum lbw b Nehra 3, J Ryder lbw b Nehra 0, M Guptill c Dravid b Yuvraj 22, R Taylor c Dhoni b RP 11, G Elliott c Dhoni b Yuvraj 22, J Oram c & b Ishant 24, N Broom c Raina b Yuvraj 21, D Vettori b Ishant 25, K Mills b RP 6, I Butler c Harbhajan b Nehra 6, S Bond not out 10

Extras (lb-4, w-1) 5

Total (all out; 46.3 overs) 155

Fall of wkts: 1-1, 2-4, 3-19, 4-51, 5-66, 6-101, 7-116, 8-134, 9-142, 155.

Bowling: Nehra 8.3-0-24-3, RP Singh 8-2-22-2, Ishant 10-2-26-2, Yuvraj 10-0-31-3, Harbhajan 8-0-39-0, Raina 1-0-4-0, Yusuf 1-0-5-0

India: D Karthik lbw b Mills 4, S Tendulkar c Guptill b Vettori 46, R Dravid lbw b Oram 14, Yuvraj Singh c Guptill b Vettori 8,MS Dhoni not out 35, S Raina not out 45

Extras (lb-3, w-1) 4

Total (for 4 wkts; 40.3 ovs) 156 Bowling: Mills 5.3-1-25-1, Bond 10-3-30-0, Butler 4-0-25-0, Vettori 10-0-33-2, Oram 7-1-19-1, Elliott 2-0-9-0, Guptill 2-0-12-0

Source: Yahoo News

Nanao Singh crashes out of World Championships

New Delhi Thokchom Nanao Singh became the fifth Indian boxer to crash out of the World Championships after losing to Thailand's Pongprayoon Kaeo in the light fly weight (48kg) second round in Milan, Italy.

The 18-year-old Asian silver medallist, competing in only his second senior international event, was out-punched 4-16 by Kaeo late last night.

Kaeo had earlier beaten the Indian in the Asian Championship finals.

The Thai was in control of the contest right from the start and took a 4-1 lead in the opening round. The diminutive Indian found the going tough against his taller opponent, who notched up 10 points in the second round. Having chalked up the massive lead, Kaeo took it easy in the third and final round before wrapping it up 16-4.

Source: India express

Umar Akmal and Iftikhar script crushing win

Umar Akmal’s maiden international hundred, a rousing unbeaten 102 from 72 balls, and Younis Khan’s first half-century as captain took Pakistan to a large total and set up their first win on tour. Batting first has been distinctly advantageous at the Premadasa and so it proved as Pakistan put up a mammoth score and then pressured the Sri Lankan batsmen into self-destruction. Iftikhar Anjum played a major hand, claiming career-best figures as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 175, losing their last seven wickets for 45 runs in 12.3 overs. The pace was set early by Umar’s elder brother Kamran, who ensured the tempo did not flag despite Imran Nazir’s early dismissal, but Sri Lanka’s spinners struck thrice in less than six overs. Young Umar walked to the crease when Pakistan were 130 for 4, with a struggling captain searching for a partner and only Shahid Afridi to follow. He took the opportunity to prove that not all is as made to believe about Pakistan’s domestic set-up. His effervescence complimented Younis’ solidity and their 176-run stand paved the way. Where Nazir, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah-ul-Haq struggled against a combination of tidy bowling and a slow track, Umar appeared comfortable from the get-go. He showed he wasn’t going to get bogged down, swinging his seventh delivery - from Ajantha Mendis, no less - over long-on for a six and flicked almost effortlessly. His was a sensible approach, poaching the odd boundary and turning ones into twos while also dominating the perceived weaker bowlers. Finding the narrowest of gaps in the field and always sprinting hard between the wickets, he began rebuilding. Credit is due to the man at the other end. Younis’ innings contained crisp drives and wristy flicks and stolen runs but most importantly it was an effort that allowed Umar to flourish. Around his captain, Umar could play his own game and Pakistan didn’t feel the pinch. Pakistan had been hurt in the series by Younis’ indifferent form. Today they realised just what a difference runs from him can mean. Importantly, he quickly assessed conditions and played with a welcome smoothness. Younis’ innings was controlled, he ran hard between the wickets, and Pakistan’s run-rate lifted to nearly five-and-a-half an over. With Umar rattling along Younis too changed his game. Soon defence turned to single hunting, gliding and efficiently flicking in the gaps. Umar’s half-century came up from 46 balls, after which he upped his strike-rate. Always keen to get back and across and then mow the ball over the on-side, he took consecutive fours off Mendis and then clubbed Lasith Malinga for 13 in the 46th over. Another effortless six off Malinga followed in the 48th over, the back leg once more lifted to gain power. Younis departed for 89 in the 49th over trying to get six but Umar reached three figures with two balls to spare. You can argue the pressure of winning the series wasn’t there, but maiden ODI centuries don’t come cleaner than this. To chase 322 under lights in Sri Lanka a team needs something near a batting miracle. Upul Tharanga (80) played a cool hand to try and keep the required run-rate in check but there was little support. Pakistan’s bowlers began by bowling too short - in particular Naved-ul-Hasan - and Tharanga and Sangakkara added 65 in good time. Sangakkara sped away to 39 from 33 balls before he was early into a drive against a slower ball from Anjum and scooped a catch to point. From here the attack tidied up, Anjum sticking to a decent length and the spinners taking as much pace off the ball as possible. Thilina Kandamby went next, slashing Saeed Ajmal to slip, and a one-handed effort from Naved in the deep took out Chamara Kapugedera. Anjum bowled a lot of deliveries on an awkward length, too short to drive but too full to pull, and was rewarded with 5 for 30. Ajmal tossed the ball up into the rough with good control to take two wickets. Tharanga played an extension of his half-century in the previous game, accumulating most of his runs by soft-handed steers through the arc between cover and gully. Third man proved a productive area for Tharanga, who didn’t take the aerial route much. With his dismissal, feathering Anjum to Kamsran, went Sri Lanka’s chances. From here on it was a steady procession of wickets and Sri Lanka fell way short of the target.

PCB likely to appoint Saeed Anwar

Chairman PCB today had a discussion with Saeed Anwar regarding utilisation of his services for cricket.The chairman and Saeed Anwar will meet in the coming week to discuss the plan in detail, PCB said in a statement yesterday.PCB chief Ijaz Butt is hopeful that Saeed can use his vast experience for the benefit of Pakistan cricket.’’I am thankful for Saeed’s encouraging response and his offer to assist PCB and Pakistan players. I am sure Saeed will be able to contribute a lot to Pakistan cricket,’’ Butt said.The 40-year-old former batsman had scored 4052 runs from 50 Tests but it was his exploits in the one-day arena that made him a shining star in Pakistani cricket. In 247 One-dayInternationals, Saeed has piled up 8824 runs with 20 centuries.

I will not apologise

Younus’’I accept the responsibility of defeat, but will not apologise to anyone nor will I resign as captain because it’s part of the game to lose and win,’’ Younus was quoted as saying by ’The News’.The Pakistan skipper lashed out at his critics, saying there were some people who were trying hard to oust him as the national team’s captain.’’I am trying my level best to lead the team and achieve the best results but some people want me to relinquish the captaincy, which I won’t.’’ ’’Am I not a good captain, or do I lack leadership qualities?’’ he said.Younus concurred that Pakistan’s success in the last two one-dayers showed that his team have the potential to win in Sri Lanka.

ICC World Twenty20 2009

ICC World Twenty20 Women's final, Lord's: England 86-4 (17 overs) beat New Zealand 85 (20 overs) by six wickets

A devastating spell of high-class swing bowling from Katherine Brunt helped England beat New Zealand comfortably to win the Women's ICC World Twenty20.

Brunt, swinging the ball into the left-handers and seaming it away from the right-handers, took 3-6 as the White Ferns were bowled out for just 85.

Player of the tournament Claire Taylor hit an unbeaten 39 as England won by six wickets with 18 balls to go.

England now hold the Ashes, the 50-over World Cup and the Twenty20 trophies.

In contrast to their nervous performance in the field in the semi-final at The Oval, when Australia hit 163-5, this was a highly-polished display by all the bowlers and the fielders, not least wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor who took a stumping and two fine catches.

The early start, at 1030 BST, may have helped Brunt find swing, and she was quick to cash in, bowling the dangerous left-hander Aimee Watkins (scorer of an unbeaten 89 in the semi-finals), and then adding the wickets of Lucy Doolan - caught behind attempting a paddle-sweep - and Rachel Priest, who was caught and bowled.

Against Australia, Brunt had been brought into the side at the expense of Isa Guha in an attempt to rattled the opposition with pace and bounce. The ploy failed when she went for 39 runs, but England's management intelligently persevered with the woman from Barnsley and here she repaid their loyalty in dramatic fashion.

Laura Marsh (R) after taking the first wicket for England

As important as the wickets was her superb economy rate, in a match in which the other bowlers all cost at least four an over.

After eight overs, the score was 23-4, Laura Marsh having set the ball rolling with a wicket in the very first over with her bravely flighted off-spin, and New Zealand did not know whether to stick, twist or fold.

Medium-pacers Nicky Shaw and Jenny Gunn helped themselves to two wickets each, and the scoring was of the ones and twos variety until the 18th over, by which time England must have felt they had done enough.

By then Holly Colvin had got through her four overs of left-arm spin safely, and it took a burst of 21 runs from 11 balls towards the end, with Sophie Devine and Kate Pulford finally putting some pressure on the fielders, to take the White Ferns past 80.

Lydia Greenway, who had earlier held a fine catch running in from the boundary, produced a deadly accurate throw to run out Devine from the final ball.

England's chase got under way with a lovely cover-drive from Sarah Taylor for four, and skipper Charlotte Edwards took the left-arm seamer for two off-side boundaries in the fourth over.

But Edwards was over-confident. Backing away to leg in a bid to hit Sian Ruck for another boundary, she was defeated by the inswing, and New Zealand had a wicket to celebrate.

In the seventh over, an outside edge from Claire Taylor, off Pulford, was dropped by wicketkeeper Priest before she had scored. The ball escaped for four and a massive opportunity to have England's best batsman back in the pavilion was lost.

England's best batsman Claire Taylor was voted player of the tournament

New Zealand kept attacking field settings, forcing England to hit boundaries, and the tactic had some effect in making the host nation feel pressure that wasn't really there.

Sarah Taylor nicked an attempted cut to fall for 23, before Claire Taylor slipped gears, biffing Pulford down the ground for four and then whipping Suzie Bates through square-leg.

Beth Morgan was dropped once, before holing out to midwicket, but by then Taylor, the Oxford graduate and former hockey player who has become a thorn in the side of so many teams, was in full flow.

Ten runs came from Doolan's first over, and just 14 were needed from the last five overs with seven wickets in hand.

Just as they had done in the World Cup final - when New Zealand were again the opposition - England did not make things entirely straightforward, losing another batsman when Greenway was bowled slogging across the line.

But Taylor was determined to see the job through to the finish, sealing the deal with a lofted straight drive for four off Nicola Browne

Vettori reaches Test double mark

Second Test, Colombo, day one:

Sri Lanka 263-3 v New Zealand

New Zealand's Daniel Vettori became only the eighth player to achieve the 300 wickets-3000 runs double on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Kumar Sangakkara was the left-armer's 300th victim on a day which ended with Sri Lanka on 263-3.

They were 75-2 earlier in the day put an unbroken stand of 147 between Mahela Jayawardene (79) and Thilan Samaraweera (78) put them in a strong position.

"I still see myself as a bowler, rather than an all-rounder," said Vettori.

"As a spin bowler, I did not think a feat like this would happen, so it's a very special feeling."

The left-arm spinner is the second player from New Zealand after Sir Richard Hadlee to achieve the double and joins a list that also includes the likes of England's Sir Ian Botham, India's Kapil Dev and Australia's Shane Warne.

But the Kiwis still face a tough task in trying to level the series after losing by 202 runs at Galle.

Vettori used himself as first-change and the move paid off when opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who failed twice in the first Test, pushed forward and edged to Ross Taylor at slip, departing for 19.

Seam accounted for Tillakaratne Dilshan in the third over after lunch when he lobbed a return catch back to Iain O'Brien after making 29.

But home skipper Kumar Sangakkara looked in good touch as he struck nine boundaries, only to sweep Vettori to Jacob Oram at mid-wicket just after reaching 50.

It proved to be New Zealand's final success of the day, however, and although the pitch was "extremely flat", according to Vettori, he professed himself slightly disappointed by the match situation.

"We were ideally looking at five wickets, but Mahela and Thilan are seasoned players and are at the top of their game," he said.

"I hope our batsmen will take a leaf out of their book and put up a big score too."

ri Lanka poised to defeat Kiwis

Second Test, Colombo, day four (close):
Sri Lanka 416 & 311-5 dec v New Zealand 234 & 182-6

Captain Kumar Sangakkara completed his 20th Test century as Sri Lanka closed in on a 2-0 series victory over New Zealand in Colombo.

Sangakkara made 109 as the home side, who won the first Test by 202 runs, declared their second innings on 311-5.

It left New Zealand with a target of 494 and despite 50 by Daniel Flynn, they struggled to 182-6 at the close.

Spinner Rangana Herath dismissed Jesse Ryder (38) in the penultimate over of play to finish with figures of 4-73.

For once, Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's record wicket-taker, was outbowled and had to settle for a single success, achieved when Brendan McCullum (13) played on as he attempted to drive.

McCullum's exit came just five overs after Flynn had been trapped lbw on the back foot by Herath after battling to keep the home attack at bay for almost two hours.

And the loss of Ryder, who was leg-before after missing an attempted sweep shot, meant the Kiwis ended another tough day on a low note, although Sri Lanka have yet to reach the tail, with Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori not out at the close.

The home side batted through the morning session with Sangakkara and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene extending their third-wicket partnership to 173.

Sangakkara reached his century - his sixth in Tests at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground - off 164 balls, with a six and 11 fours, but eventually departed when he was caught at slip by Ross Taylor off Jeetan Patel.

First-innings centurion Thilan Samaraweera was lbw to Vettori for 25 shortly after lunch and Sangakkara called a halt when Jayawardene followed for 96, with Taylor taking another catch from the bowling of Patel - this time a superb low effort.

New Zealand made a solid start to their reply before openers Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill fell in quick succession, McIntosh bowled for seven when he offered no stroke to a ball from Dammika Prasad and Guptill caught behind off Herath for 28.

Flynn and Taylor added 56 for the third wicket before a flighted delivery from Herath lured Taylor (27) into an error and Jayawardene accepted the chance at first slip.

Taylor's downfall left New Zealand on 97-3 and the loss of three further wickets left them needing either inspired batting by Oram and Vettori or an intervention by the weather to save them on the final day.

Coach Andy Moles described his side's batting as "very disappointing and very frustrating".

He added: "These are very talented cricketers but they make the same mistakes over and over again."