ESPNcricinfo previews the fifth ODI between India and New Zealand in Chennai

The Preview by Sriram Veera09-Dec-2010

Match Facts

Friday, December 10

Start time 14.30 (0900 GMT)
James Franklin provided a perfect end to the positive approach showed by New Zealand in the fourth ODI. Can they carry on in the same vein?•AFP

The Big Picture

The fourth ODI hinted at a New Zealand revival. Their approach was certainly different and refreshing. It was visible in their batting and bowling, and they were just about pinned down only because of Yusuf Pathan’s brutality. Their fans will hope that New Zealand continue with this positive approach in the final ODI. Despite being put into bat under overcast conditions in Bangalore, they weren’t circumspect. They didn’t focus on survival, as they had tried to do but failed earlier in the series, but chose to attack. It didn’t feel like a desperate attempt either – they never swung wildly – but a positive strategy to turn their fortunes around. Their bowlers too, nearly did the job, but were shoved out of the contest by a violent knock. They haven’t won an ODI in nearly four months and something had to give. This new approach might well be the right path to lead them out of the hole.For their part, India are likely to view the top-order collapse in Bangalore as an aberration and revel in the fact that the situation produced the best out of Yusuf, and raised hope of removing a weak-link in the lower order. They might also see their death-over bowling woes in the last game – 63 runs in the last five overs – as an aberration as it was Ashish Nehra, normally their best bowler in such situations, who gave away 38 in his last two overs. And even then, just like New Zealand didn’t account for Yusuf, India were blindsided by James Franklin.

Pitch and conditions

The good news is that Chennai, which had heavy rains earlier in the week, hasn’t seen a downpour since Wednesday. The bad news, though, is that the forecast suggests that it might rain on Friday.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)
India:WWWWW
New Zealand: LLLLL

Watch out for…

Is Martin Guptill on the cusp of breaking free from his old failing of throwing away his starts? Or is he still stuck in the same rut? He played a skillful knock in the previous ODI, using conventional shots as attacking options, but fell when set.Ashish Nehra is no Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis, of course, but he is a capable bowler in the end overs of an innings. He is the man MS Dhoni turns to during both bowling and batting Powerplays, and in the final overs. If he had got complacent – there is no evidence to suspect that – the fourth ODI would have been a wake-up call.

Teams

New Zealand could focus on one change: Jamie How hasn’t grabbed his chances and might be replaced by Kane Williamson, whose offbreaks provide another option. The case against Williamson, articulated publicly by former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, is that he is not a perfect fit for No. 3. The view is that Williamson slows down the run-rate as he is the type of batsman who needs time at the crease to get going. Is it just a perception? Can Williamson, given enough experience in that slot, change his game? Or is this not a good time to extend him that opportunity as the World Cup is around the corner? He could be pushed lower down the order, but would that role fit him?New Zealand (probable): 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Jamie How/Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Scott Styris, 6 James Franklin, 7 Daniel Vettori (capt), 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Andy McKayIndia, too, will probably make one change: they will most likely give Zaheer Khan a rest and bring back Munaf Patel.India (probable): 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Rohit Sharma, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Saurabh Tiwary, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Munaf Patel, 11 Ashish Nehra.

Stats and trivia

• Nehra conceded 70 runs in nine overs in the last game. It was the ninth time he had leaked more than 70 in an ODI and he holds the dubious record of doing it the most times.Three other bowlers – Waqar, James Anderson, and Naved-ul-Hasan – have given more than 70 runs seven times.
• Yuvraj Singh took his 75th catch to dismiss Guptill in the fourth game of the series. Only six other Indians – Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, and Virender Sehwag – have caught more.

Quotes

“We will look at it as we do every game – to win it. I know that’s hard to say after losing so many games in a row but we still think we can do it. The batsmen showed how good they can be. If we get that performance again we hope our bowlers can do better.”

A round-up of the first day of the tenth round in Division One of the Quaid-E-Azam Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Dec-2010The seamers had a ball on the opening day of the contest between Habib Bank Limited and National Bank of Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Eighteen wickets fell with NBP edging out the day, 74 runs ahead and with two wickets in hand. HBL, currently leading the Division One table, were skittled out for 116, with Hasan Raza, the captain, managing a top score of 24. Medium-pacer Uzair-ul-Haq led the wickets tally with four, and was supported by Wasim Khan and Mohammad Talha who took three each.The NBP reply began on a positive note with openers Nasir Jamshed and Rashid Riaz adding 50, but wickets then fell at a steady pace with only Qaiser Abbas, in the middle order, being able to measure up to the bowling. He counterattacked in his 34-ball 46, but seamer Sajid Shah picked up a five-for to limit NBP to 190 for 8 at stumps.Sialkot held a slight edge over Islamabad at the end of the first day at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. Islamabad, being put in, began poorly, losing their openers for zeroes. But the middle order launched a recovery with Faizan Riaz and Rashid Amin adding 101, with more assistance down the order as Imad Wasim and captain Rauf Akbar put together an unbeaten 74 for the ninth wicket. Prince Abbas, the seamer, grabbed four wickets, and Asim Butt chipped in with three to leave Islamabad at 291 for 8 at stumps. However, they would rue not breaking the ninth-wicket stand which got together at 219 for 8.No surprises with Multan, as they were yet again bowled out for a score under 100 and appear to be on their way to a tenth straight defeat in the tournament. Karachi Blues ended the day at the National Stadium in Karachi in a dominant position, leading by 129 in the first innings with five wickets still in hand. The fast bowlers, again, made merry, with Tabish Khan and Babar Rehman taking five wickets each. Wicketkeeper Waqas Khan was the top-scorer for Multan, with 18, and it took only 24 overs for the Karachi bowlers to get the job done. Opener Asad Baig guided the Karachi reply with an unbeaten 82 and even though the Multan bowlers made inroads, taking five wickets, defeat still looms large for their side.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited held the advantage over Pakistan International Airlines at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Shoaib Malik continued his good form in the tournament, top-scoring with 108 and rescuing the innings via an 89-run stand with Sheharyar Ghani, who chipped in with 70. At 221 for 5, PIA would have hoped for a substantial score but left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir ran through the middle order to restrict PIA for 297, seize the initiative and put ZTBL in a good position going into the second day.Sadaf Hussain picked up a five-for to help skittle Faisalabad out for 153, but he was upstaged by Nasir Hayat, who also took five wickets as Rawalpindi limped to 94 for 8 by the close of play. Opener Farrukh Shehzad rattled along to 79 from 108 balls, with 15 fours, but the rest of the batsmen on both sides found it tough going at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with no one else even reaching 20. Sadaf ran through the the top and middle orders, taking the first five wickets to fall, as Faisalabad slumped to 37 for 5, and it took a seventh-wicket stand of 56 between Shehzad and Hasan Mahmood to carry the visitors past the three-figure mark. Sadaf finished with figures of 5 for 64. The Rawalpindi batsmen then showed even greater ineptitude, with Nasir and Ahmaed Hayat running riot. Nasir picked up 5 for 32 from 11 overs, while Hayat had figures of 3 for 23, also from 11 overs.Asad Ali and Yasir Shah took four wickets apiece as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited dismissed Water and Power Development Authority for 227 at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground . SNGPL chose to field and WAPDA’s openers added 43 before Adil Raza struck to remove Rafatullah Mohmand for 25. The next three wickets fell quickly, with Yasir taking two of them, to leave WAPDA struggling at 79 for 4. Sohaib Maqsood and Ali Azmat then came together to add 118, before Yasir prised out Maqsood for 69 and Asad had Azmat caught behind for 38 with the song on 197. Asad then ran through the tail as the last four wickets added just 30 runs. In reply, SNGPL limped to 25 for 2, with Kashif Raza picking up both wickets

Sean Ervine has pulled out of Zimbabwe’s squad for the World Cup, and will remain at Hampshire in 2011

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2011Sean Ervine has pulled out of Zimbabwe’s squad for the World Cup, and will remain at Hampshire in 2011. Ervine, who had been named in both the preliminary and finalised squads for the tournament, had a change of heart shortly before the national team were due to depart for a training camp in Dubai.”After having had time to reflect on all of the circumstances, I have realised that this is not the right time to leave Hampshire,” said Ervine. “I have a great relationship with this club and its supporters and I feel like part of a family. I feel Hampshire is my home; so much so that I am planning to get married there next year. I do not, therefore, want to be away for long periods of time.”It had appeared certain that Ervine would part ways with Hampshire to reignite his international career, which he described as his “ultimate goal”, but his decision not to play for Zimbabwe means he will not be considered an overseas player – a position filled by legspinner Imran Tahir at Hampshire – and will therefore be eligible to play for the county in all forms of the game in 2011. Ervine had proved a success in his six years with the club, helping the team to three trophies, scoring 3,956 first-class runs and taking 118 first class wickets in the process.”We are very happy that Sean has come to this conclusion,” said Hampshire manager Giles White. “He is an important and highly-valued cricketer who is popular with everyone associated with The Rose Bowl and central to our plans for the future.”Alistair Campbell, the head of Zimbabwe’s selection panel and former national captain, expressed his disappointment at Ervine’s withdrawal. “Zimbabwe Cricket was very excited about Sean coming back into the setup. However, he may not have realised that international cricket is a lot harder than he remembers,” Campbell said in a ZC statement.”He has lived a very comfortable life in county cricket for the last six years and obviously decided at the last minute he might not be up to the challenges of international cricket after all. A lot of people have gone to a lot of effort to make it happen for Sean. Although is very late in the day to change his mind, it is better than realising his mistake during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.”ZC has approached the ICC Event Technical Committee to seek approval for batsman Tino Mawoyo to replace Ervine in the squad. An opening batsman, Mawoyo played two one-day internationals against Bangladesh in 2006 and is a regular in the Zimbabwe A line-up. He had been named as a non-travelling reserve for the World Cup before Ervine’s last-minute departure. Craig Ervine, Sean’s younger brother, remains part of Zimbabwe’s squad.

MS Dhoni, the India captain, has said performing under pressure has become India’s strength and that will hold them in good stead for the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2011MS Dhoni, the India captain, has said performing under pressure has become India’s strength and that will hold them in good stead for the World Cup where he admitted expectations will be high.”What we have done in the last three years is that we have changed the meaning of pressure to responsibility and we take it as an added responsibility,” Dhoni said. “Cricket is the biggest sport in India and it is widely followed. Everybody wants us to do well and we take that in a positive way. We just stick to the basics, prepare well for the game and at the end of the day we know we have got the potential to do well on the field.”One of the questions facing the India team, who play their first match on February 19 against Bangladesh, is how they will deal with the pressure of being tournament hosts along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India have failed to get past the semi-final stage in previous World Cups played on home soil. But Dhoni said he was concentrating just on the preparation. “I am ready to prepare well for the World Cup and that is what is in my hands right now.”Dhoni dodged the question of whether India were favourites for the tournament by saying: “For a change we won’t be considered underdogs.” He stuck to what has become almost a mantra for him in his time as captain in saying “processes” would take precedence over results. “I never predict much when it comes to cricket. We believe in each of us, and the support staff members are also there to help us. We believe in doing the process, so I have no prediction about the World Cup and we will just give it our best shot.”A day after England batsman Kevin Pietersen termed his side’s hectic schedule leading up to the World Cup as ‘ridiculous’, Dhoni admitted arriving at a balanced schedule was difficult. “The biggest thing in cricket is that we do criticise a lot. When we lose a game, even I have said in the past that we play too much cricket. To get the perfect balance is a very difficult task because there is a very thin line and it is not like technology where we can be close to perfection. It is an issue that will always be raised that either it will be a cramped schedule or there is too long a gap between games.”India have selected seven batsmen, four seamers, three spinners and just one wicketkeeper in their 15-man squad for the World Cup, and Dhoni said there were always players bound to miss out when you have to pick just 15 players. “We have tried to keep the best squad but you can’t accommodate everyone. You can only select 15 players, so you may miss some players who are key in some areas like a left-arm spinner or maybe a legspinner. It will always be a point of discussion, but what is important is that the 15 players who are selected right now make an impact on the World Cup.”Dhoni said he wasn’t thinking about the disappointing loss to Bangladesh – who are India’s first opponents in the 2011 tournament – in the 2007 World Cup. “I am certainly thinking about the match [against Bangladesh] positively. We may have lost in 2007, but there are plenty of positives that we can look for like the 2003 World Cup and the entire tournament we played then.”As far as the gaps between the games are concerned, we all know that it is there so what is best for us is to make a good plan to utilise it in the best possible manner. Of course, we play throughout the year, which means that in between these tense games the players will get time to relax themselves and at the same time if there are some niggles you can get over it.”It is the biggest tournament and it is the biggest thing that happens in cricket, so it is very important that you play with the best XI that your team has. You don’t want to miss many players because of injuries.”

Ireland veteran Trent Johnston says the first-class structure needs to be in place before the country gets Test status

Brydon Coverdale in Bangalore03-Mar-2011The Ireland veteran Trent Johnston does not believe his country is ready for Test cricket despite Wednesday’s triumph over England, which he described as “the greatest performance that Irish cricket has ever put on”. However, Johnston said the Ireland team should be playing far more ODIs against the leading countries, and that they were spurred on by the ICC’s decision to cut the next World Cup to 10 teams.Johnston, 36, was captain of the Ireland side that upset Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup, but he said the win over England was a greater moment considering the size of the chase and the need to prove the Associates belong at the tournament. Ireland began with a fighting loss to Bangladesh and they are now a realistic chance to make the quarter-finals, but Johnston said talk of Test promotion was premature.”I think Test cricket is probably a good while away,” Johnston told ESPNcricinfo on the morning after Ireland’s win. “We need to get things set up back in Ireland, the infrastructure and first-class setup and that sort of stuff. But one-day cricket and Twenty20, definitely, I think we proved yesterday that we can mix it with those guys.”Without a World Cup in our season I’d say we’d play those guys two or three times a year, where we should be playing them 10 times a year. If we’re doing that then we’re beating Bangladesh in our first game because we know how to win those games. That’s a big factor for us and Warren Deutrom, our CEO, has got a massive job on his shoulders to try and get us into that programme.”Last year, Ireland played four one-day internationals against Test-playing sides, two in Belfast against Bangladesh and one each against Australia and West Indies. The previous year, a one-off ODI against England, which Ireland lost by just three runs, was their only 50-over exposure to a full-member country, and this year they are scheduled to play another ODI against England in Dublin in August.But it’s at the World Cup that Ireland have really made their mark, after their St Patrick’s Day triumph over Pakistan in 2007. In that tournament they also tied with Zimbabwe and in the Super Eights beat Bangladesh, but the Irish players could be watching the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from a pub in Dublin, with pints of Guinness in hand.”We have to prove that we want to be at the top table, it spurs us on a little bit more,” Johnston said of the ICC’s decision to reduce the number of teams. “At the end of the day it’s a world game. It’s not just the elites that play at World Cups. I think we warrant our selection there and warrant being there. I think we proved that against Bangladesh and we proved it yesterday against England, and hopefully we can do the same against India.”We want to mix it with the big boys. We want to play those guys 10 or 20 times a year … We just go out there and enjoy each other’s success. I think that’s the biggest thing, we go out there as a team. Whether we go out and get flogged or we win comprehensively or we get over the line like we did last night, we enjoy each other’s success. That’s what it comes down to. We play for each other, and I honestly couldn’t say there’s too many teams in the World Cup could do that.”Johnston was speaking at the team hotel in Bangalore, where the Irish celebrations had lasted into the small hours of the morning after Kevin O’Brien’s record-breaking 50-ball century set up their three-wicket win. Phones were ringing all through the night, calls coming from friends and family back home, as well as a host of interview requests from Irish radio stations.And the success couldn’t have come at a better time for Ireland, a country that has struggled with a serious financial crisis over the past couple of years. At the same time, there has been plenty of support for a cricket team that has gone from being made up almost entirely of amateurs to now being a thoroughly professional outfit.”It’s been a tough 18 months or two years for Ireland,” Johnston said. “The economy is not doing so well and what have you, but sporting wise it gets the nation together. Yesterday would prove that. There were radio stations ringing left right and centre, and TV stations. It was just like four years ago, and that’s great. That’s one thing that we spoke about when we first came out here, was let’s try to lift a nation, let’s try to win a few games out here and it’s not all doom and gloom.”Four years ago we had two guys on central contracts and the rest of us were amateurs. Now we have 13. That makes a massive difference and we can only do that through sponsorship and great support and that sort of thing. The big thing is that it’s great for Irish cricket that we can get out there and perform on the world stage and put ourselves out there.”As long as the ICC lets them keep mixing it with the big boys.

Ricky Ponting is expected to announce his resignation as Australian captain later on Tuesday

Daniel Brettig28-Mar-2011Ricky Ponting is expected to announce his resignation as Australian captain later on Tuesday. Time has been reserved at the SCG for a “major announcement involving a senior Australian player” at 1pm Sydney time.The team for the Australia tour of Bangladesh is not expected to be named until Wednesday, but Ponting’s announcement should allow Michael Clarke to assume the captaincy on the trip, before difficult assignments against Sri Lanka and South Africa later in the year.On his arrival home from an unsuccessful World Cup defence, Ponting had said he was prepared to give up the captaincy and also move down the batting order if it was in the interests of the Australian team.”If that is what they and I believe is the best way forward for Australian cricket, that’s the way it has always been,” Ponting said, “Whatever I have done in the role to this date has always been with Cricket Australia backing – it is not as though I pick myself as captain. I am picked as captain every tour we have been on for the past six or seven years and thoroughly enjoyed that.”But if there is someone out there better and more suited to the role than me right now then I have no problems at all about that.”Glancing towards Bangladesh, Ponting was adamant in his enthusiasm for the sort of tour he might have been rested from in earlier years. “I will go to Bangladesh if selected, the team hasn’t been picked yet, and I will look forward to that tour then have a decent break after that to prepare for Sri Lanka and South Africa and the Australian summer.”As I have said for a number of months now I have never seen a finish line, I have never come up with a time or a date or a game that might be my last. What I want to do is focus my time and energies to be the best player I can be.”At 36, Ponting believes he can still enjoy the type of renaissance that has sustained Sachin Tendulkar in recent times.”I will know the right time for me not to be playing but I haven’t found that time just yet; I guess with making runs in this last game and getting that good feeling back about my batting again might be the kick start for a bit of a Tendulkar-type rebirth if you like.”Ponting has held the Australian Test and limited-overs captaincy since he took over from Steve Waugh in 2004, beginning his tenure with a 3-0 defeat of Sri Lanka. But his fortunes have waned along with those of the team as a series of retirements weakened its resources, culminating in the humiliation of a 3-1 home Ashes defeat in 2010-11.

West Indies Under-19 secured the three-match series against Australia Under-19, after winning the deciding game by 18 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Apr-2011
Scorecard
West Indies Under-19 secured the three-match series against Australia Under-19, after winning the deciding game by 18 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.With the previous two games being won comfortably by the team batting first, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite chose to bat in the decider, but did not follow up well, getting dismissed for a duck. When No. 4 batsman Anthony Alleyne went for a golden duck not too long after, West Indies were in trouble at 19 for 3. The lower-middle order recovered, though, carrying their side to a competitive 229 for 8 on the back of an unbeaten 98 by Kyle Mayers, and cameos from Kavem Hodge and Derone Davis. The last five wickets put on 134 runs in the final 19 overs. The Australian bowlers shared the wickets around, with Taylor Scott, Corey McMahon and Nick Stevens picking up two each.The Australian top-order batsmen got starts in reply, but with none of the top four kicking on to make a big score after getting in and the West Indies attack turning out a disciplined bowling performance, the chase went off track. No. 7 batsman Stevens got his side close with a quickfire 33, but with no support the innings folded for 211 with nine balls going unused.”When I went in we were in some trouble so I knew I had to bat for the team and get a good total on the board. I was not really looking at the score too much. I was looking to bat time, and I knew once I batted to the end of the innings the team would get the score we were looking for,” Mayers said. “Missing out on a hundred was not a big thing to me. I was just happy to do my job and help the side build a winning total.””Everybody in the squad is very happy with today’s victory. It is a great feeling to perform this way and win for the people back home in the West Indies. A win like this in the match and in the series puts us all in a good frame of mind for the upcoming three-day match.”The teams will play a three-day match from April 24.

Shakib Al Hasan, Iqbal Abdulla and Yusuf Pathan tied Pune down, exploiting the generous spin available on the DY Patil Stadium surface, and Gautam Gambhir ensured that his side motored to victory in the 17th over

The Bulletin by Abhishek Purohit19-May-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSourav Ganguly managed just 18 against his former team•AFP

It was billed as Sourav Ganguly’s payback game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Instead, it proved to be a stern examination on a turner for the Pune Warriors batsmen, and called in to question the home side’s decision to play only one specialist spinner as Shakib Al Hasan, Iqbal Abdulla and Yusuf Pathan exploited the generous spin available to tie Pune down. Kolkata, anchored by Gautam Gambhir, and under no pressure with an asking rate of below six, motored to victory, taking a big step towards making the play-offs.Unless they lose badly to Mumbai Indians in their last league game, and Kings XI Punjab manage another big win in their last match, Kolkata should be through to the knock-outs.The comfortable victory was set up by the Kolkata spin trio, who picked up five wickets for 51 runs in 11 overs, but more than that, preyed on the minds of the Pune batsmen, who struggled to score on a pitch that would have been a good test of batsmen’s skills in a Test match against quality spin, but looked out of place in a Twenty20 game.Right from the first ball that Abdulla bowled, it was clear that the batsmen were in for a hard grind. It was flighted, drew Manish Pandey forward, and spun sharply across as he missed the ball by a long way. The third was the typical left-arm spinner’s sucker ball, making Pandey push forward outside the line for the turn and going straight on to strike him in front. This was after Jesse Ryder had targeted the second ball of spin in the game, trying to smash Yusuf Pathan for six but only finding mid-off. It was the beginning of Pune’s problems.Callum Ferguson came in ahead of Ganguly, and the relative ease with which he played during his short innings made one wonder again what he had been doing in the Pune dugout for most of the season. It was the spinners’ night though, and Ferguson was left clueless as he skipped out to Shakib, only for the ball to turn a long way past his bat for Shreevats Goswami to do the rest.There was a time when left-arm spin from both ends would never be tried against Ganguly, but that time is long gone. Ganguly led a charmed life today, almost edging the ball on to the stumps and also escaping a stumping chance. He showed one glimpse of the batsman he once was, lofting Abdulla for a very straight six, but clearly, sustained big hitting on a difficult pitch was too much to expect. He departed on another failed attempt to break free, sweeping Shakib to Yusuf at backward square leg.It was not until the 13th over that Pune’s most explosive batsmen, Robin Uthappa and Yuvraj Singh, got together. A run-rate that had remained stuck below six after the opening over forced Uthappa to go hard at Yusuf in the next over, but he swung it to deep midwicket where Lee took a sharp catch. Yuvraj was left playing the tragic hero yet again, but even he could not do much, ultimately top-edging a pull off L Balaji, who came on to bowl for the first time in the last over.Alfonso Thomas got Pune the breakthrough in the first over, getting Goswami caught behind with one that took off. That was as close as Pune came to entertaining hopes of an upset, and Kolkata’s line-up proved to be too powerful, not even requiring the services of Jacques Kallis, who had injured his finger in the field.Gambhir, as always, showed how to tackle a turning pitch, repeatedly using his feet against Pune’s spinners, Rahul Sharma and Yuvraj. He also played two delightful extra cover drives off successive deliveries against Thomas. Yusuf wasn’t far behind, making room to cut Rahul’s skiddy deliveries from off stump through short third man.That it wasn’t to be Pune’s day was evident when consecutive throws from Ferguson ran to the boundary, the latter after hitting the stumps. Not that it mattered in the end, as Kolkata were simply the superior side by a long margin.

Shane Warne has told of his tearful farewell to his spin mentor Terry Jenner, who died on Wednesday, having been in failing health since suffering a massive heart attack in England in April last year

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2011Shane Warne has told of his tearful farewell to his spin mentor Terry Jenner, who died on Wednesday, having been in failing health since suffering a massive heart attack in England in April last year. Warne has also described how a spray from Jenner back in 1992 helped transform him from an overweight fringe Test player into the world’s greatest legspinner.”When I spoke to TJ on the phone a few weeks ago – we said goodbye to each other – it was a very difficult thing to do and chat as it was so unlike all our others – this was it for the last time after 20 odd years,” Warne wrote in a tribute on his website. “We both didn’t say too much as we both didn’t need too [sic] – we just knew.”I did thank him though for everything he had done for me and tried to express how much his patience, advice, love and above all his friendship has meant to me and my family. We both shed a bit of a tear and said goodbye.”Long phone conversations had become a routine for the pair over the years, ever since they met at the Academy in 1990. Jenner had played only nine Tests for Australia during the 1970s but his understanding of legspin and cricket tactics, and most importantly his no-nonsense attitude, had appealed to Warne.”TJ became my Dr Phil on all matters and levels – wherever I was around the world we would call and chat – we would plan to bring down the opposition batsmen, laugh and I would hang up feeling good,” Warne wrote. “His knowledge of the game, not just spin bowling was amazing.”Throughout his career, Warne was famously dismissive of the role coaches played in the team environment, especially John Buchanan. But the exception was Jenner, who had spent time in prison for stealing from an employer and was trying to rebuild his life as an Academy coach under Rod Marsh when he first encountered a 20-year-old Warne.”TJ, like his fellow players of that era are very straight and also very blunt – the best way to be in all aspects of life – no bull shit or fluffy rubbish,” Warne wrote. “But, you did need a thick skin – mine was luckily – or shall we say had to develop very quickly, which looking back now and reflecting – has held me in good stead for all my life situations not just cricket.”Underneath the ample frame and all that bravado was a very charming, caring, loving family man who was a giver to cricket and life. I think we met at exactly the right time in each other’s lives, we where [sic] good for each other – maybe all the stars and moons where [sic] aligned, because we clicked instantly.”Warne recalled spending many hours bowling on Adelaide Oval’s No. 2 under Jenner’s watchful eye, and he remembered the encouragement Jenner gave after Warne took 1 for 150 on his Test debut against India.However, there was also the occasional reality-check. In the winter after his first Test, Warne, 22, drove from Melbourne to Adelaide, bought a slab of beer and knocked on Jenner’s door. Warne had been picked for Australia’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, and he wanted to learn more from his mentor.”Well the next 4-5 hours where [sic] life changing – I went to get 2 beers and he said what are you doing? I said as usual a few beers together! He said listen – you are so lucky to be selected to tour again and represent Australia, why don’t you get serious, I said like how? I’m working hard!”Rubbish he bellowed out, your [sic] fat, drink way to much beer and smoke like a chimney and have never had to sacrifice anything – bit rich I thought coming from TJ as he sucked back a beer and took a massive puff on his cigar!!! Ok then – what do I need to do you think? To start with give up drinking excessively every night, get fit, drop weight and at least look like a sportsman. Wow I thought, cop that! I said ok I will, you wait and see.”The rest of the chat was an old fashioned honest heart to heart about life. I woke up feeling energised and started training hard. Every day I ran, did push ups, sit ups, ate properly and bowled for hours. Fast forward 3 to 4 months and I weighed 79kg, I had managed to lose 20kg and was ready for Sri Lanka I thought!”Within a year, Warne was on an Ashes tour and bowled the so-called ball of the century to Mike Gatting, and he went on to amass 708 Test wickets. Even in Warne’s final Test series, the 2006-07 Ashes, by which time he was 37 years old, he still listened to Jenner in the nets as Australia completed their 5-0 whitewash.Jenner’s funeral will be held at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, May 31.

In the final Test, Sri Lanka cling to the prospect of pulling off a drawn series while England have their sights sets on establishing a clear margin between the teams

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan15-Jun-2011

Match Facts

June 16-20, Rose Bowl
Start time 11.00am (1000GMT)Stuart Broad has the backing of his captain but needs to start taking more wickets•PA Photos

The Big Picture

It’s been a strange Test series in many ways. Frequent interruptions by the weather and two matches that have drifted for large periods (except, of course, the stunning final session in Cardiff which gave England their 1-0 lead) means the contest hasn’t really bubbled up. Now, at the final Test, Sri Lanka cling to the prospect of pulling off a drawn series while England have their sights set on establishing a clear margin between the teams.The odds suggest the latter aim is more likely. Sri Lanka have been hit with the major loss of captain Tillakaratne Dilshan due to a broken thumb which will means Lahiru Thirimanne has to be drafted in for his debut and Kumar Sangakkara, reluctantly to say the least, resumes the leadership. Dilshan is so pivotal to Sri Lanka – as he showed with his 193 at Lord’s – that it will take a mighty effort for the tourists to overcome his absence.While the batting line-up has twice competed impressively in the first innings – which makes their capitulation for 82 even more surprising – they have not looked like bowling England out twice. The one chance they had to embarrass the hosts came on the opening day at Lord’s with England 22 for 3 but the attack couldn’t maintain the pressure. Although Dilshan’s near double put pressure back on the home side a victory push always looked a little distant.England, though, were some way off their best at Lord’s and will want to put that right over the next five days. Such high standards have been set that the collective disappointment of the bowling last week caught many by surprise. James Anderson’s return will bring a senior figure back to the attack, but this is an important week for Stuart Broad.As it is for Andrew Strauss. Not that he should be feeling any undue pressure right now, but he was twice lbw to Chanaka Welegedara at Lord’s and, given he only plays one format these days, won’t want to endure too many lean series. Also, a scoreline anything less than 2-0 will be a missed opportunity for England.A word, too, on the venue. Not much more than a decade ago the area now home to the Rose Bowl was home to grazing animals. It’s been an impressive transformation into a fine venue. Unsurprisingly there were teething problems in the early years, but Rod Bransgrove is right to be proud of what has been achieved. Hampshire deserve a Test match fitting of the occasion.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
England DWWWL
Sri Lanka DLDDD

Watch out for…

James Anderson was sorely missed at Lord’s as England’s tall pace bowlers struggled to match his consistency. Ideally Anderson would have had at least a short run out before returning from a side strain, but is confident that he is fully recovered. With the likelihood of some cloud cover around Anderson could enjoy conditions on the south coast and reaffirm why he is worthy of consideration as the second-best pace bowler in the world after Dale Steyn.Kumar Sangakkara has plenty on his plate. He hasn’t exactly jumped feet first back into the captaincy after his departure from the role little more than two months ago. There is often more to these sorts of situations than straight cricket decisions, with outside influences common in Sri Lankan cricket. The other issue for Sangakkara is his form. He hasn’t been able to improve on a poor record in England during this series, although 153 against Essex will have been a timely boost. In the absence of Dilshan he must lead from the front with the bat.

Team news

Barring any last-minute problems Anderson will slot back into England’s side at the expense of Steven Finn who took wickets at Lord’s but was expensive. After Kevin Pietersen’s 72 in the second innings last week Strauss is the one batsman without a significant contribution in the series.England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 James AndersonLahriu Thirimanne is the favourite to replace Dilshan at the top of the order after his hundred against Essex, but Sri Lanka’s other problem is how to take 20 wickets. Farveez Maharoof has been ineffective at No. 7 and with victory a must Sri Lanka could be better served by either Thisara Perera’s extra pace or Suraj Randiv’s offspinSri Lanka (possible) 1 Tharanga Paranavitana, 2 Lahiru Thirimanne, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt) , 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 7 Farveez Maharoof, 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Chanaka Welegedara

Pitch and conditions

For a long time the Rose Bowl had a reputation as being a nightmare for batsmen, but the pitches have since bedded down and often provide plenty of runs. Sadly, it doesn’t look like this Test will escape interference from the weather with Friday currently having the worst forecast.

Stats and trivia

• The Rose Bowl becomes the 10th British Test ground with nine still currently active.
• Eoin Morgan has scored the most international runs on the ground with 253
• Sri Lanka have played two previous internationals at the ground – a one-day international during the 2004 Champions Trophy and a Twenty20 in 2006.

Quotes

“We are determined to make it 2-0 and finish the series off. There’s been some good cricket played by both sides amongst the showers we’ve had but we want to build on what we’ve done so far.”
“Whether you lose 1-0 or 2-0 you’ve still lost a series, but if we scrap and perform the way we can, we have opportunity to tie series. We have to show no fear and be as positive as we can but at the same time execute all we’ve spoken about properly on the field.”