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Preparing for his first first-class game since being dropped from the Test side, Virender Sehwag gave everyone an injury scare in Shimoga

Sidharth Monga in Shimoga01-Oct-2013Preparing for his first first-class game since being dropped from the Test side, Virender Sehwag gave everyone an injury scare in Shimoga. After hitting everybody in the spinners’ nets around, Sehwag was hit by the first ball of pace he faced, a nippy delivery from Dhawal Kulkarni. Immediately the bat went out of the hand, off came the gloves, and on his knees Sehwag began to tend to his right index finger.To allay fears of a serious injury, Sehwag got up about an hour later and batted in the spinners nets again. Cheteshwar Pujara, the India A captain, said Sehwag had looked fine when he batted again, but he wasn’t sure if Sehwag would need a precautionary x-ray. While Pujara might not assure you of Sehwag’s availability as India A try to erase the 1-0 deficit in the three-unofficial-Test series, he gave enough hints that Sehwag might bat in the middle order. Asked specifically about opening options, Pujara pointed out they had Kerala’s VA Jagadeesh too.Similar uncertainty hung around the star attraction in the West Indies A side, Fidel Edwards, who has not played a first-class game in nearly a year. He has been drafted in after injury to Sheldon Cotterrell. His namesake and captain, Kirk Edwards, said “we have to wait and see” when asked if Fidel Edwards would play.Four-day pitches are not ideal for results, and A tours are usually seen as ones to get good long innings and spells under your belt. Leading 1-0 in the series, West Indies A can afford to think so more than India A can. “A huge part of A-team cricket is about developing players and stuff like that,” Kirk Edwards said, “but at the same time when you play a cricket game it is always good to win. So if you can do both at the same times, that’s brilliant.”Pujara and India A want to win. The return of Zaheer Khan, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir is going to hog the headlines, but Pujara is hurting both from the loss in Mysore and his own twin failure. “I had a good series against South Africa but I was disappointed with how I got out in both the innings in the last game,” Pujara said. “I always like to score runs in each and every game I play. Now I am focusing on this series, and I want to perform in this game.”We don’t know how the pitch will behave, but going by how the practice strips behaved and a few overcast spells during the day, scoring the runs Pujara wants might not be the easiest. “It looks a good wicket, and whatever we saw in the practice pitches, there was a bit of help for the fast bowlers,” Pujara said.Squads
India A: Cheteshwar Pujara (capt.), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sheldon Jackson, Abhishek Nayar, Paras Dogra, Uday Kaul (wk), Parveez Rasool, Bhargav Bhatt, Dhawal Kulkarni, Zaheer Khan, Ishwar Pandey, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Kaif, VA JagadeeshWest Indies A: Kirk Edwards (capt.), Kieran Powell, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Ashley Nurse, Miguel Cummings, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Jahmer Hamilton, Delorn Johnson, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Veerasammy Permaul, Chadwick Walton (wk), Fidel Edwards

The New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is set to launch defamation proceedings against John Parker over a document concerning the way Ross Taylor’s removal as captain was handled

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2013The New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is set to launch defamation proceedings against John Parker over a document concerning the way Ross Taylor’s removal as captain was handled. The law firm Chapman Tripp is expected to file proceedings in the High Court in Hamilton next week over the document titled “The Taylor Affair”, which they claim was written by Parker.McCullum said in a statement released by his lawyers that he had “no option but to take legal action”. “Mr Parker’s paper makes some very serious attacks on my integrity, my honesty and my ethics as a professional sportsman,” McCullum said. “I have endeavoured to resolve these issues with Mr Parker but have been unable to do so. He has left me with no choice but to defend myself and my reputation this way.”McCullum said he was not seeking monetary damages but wanted Parker’s “acknowledgment that the claims he makes are completely false”.Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, is also believed to be considering legal action against Parker and issued a statement on Friday that said he was aware of McCullum’s comments. “I have similar concerns to him regarding the comments made by John Parker about me,” Hesson said. “I have taken legal advice and the matter is currently being dealt with by my lawyers. I have nothing further to say regarding the matter.”Parker, who once captained New Zealand, has been critical not only of Taylor’s removal as captain but also the wider governance of New Zealand Cricket.

Ravindra Jadeja moved to a career-best third place in the bowlers’ and allrounders’ lists in the ICC ODI rankings after playing a starring role in India’s win against England in the Champions Trophy final

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2013Ravindra Jadeja moved to a career-best third place in the bowlers’ and allrounders’ lists in the ICC ODI rankings after playing a starring role in India’s five-run win against England in the final of the Champions Trophy at Edgbaston.Jadeja scored an unbeaten 33 off 25 after India were 66 for 5 and picked up two wickets for 24 runs in his four overs. He finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets, which helped him move up a place in both the categories. His team-mate, R Ashwin, moved up six places to ninth rank among the bowlers.James Tredwell jumped up 15 places to 28th rank while Steven Finn dropped down two places to fourth after playing only one match in the tournament.Among the batsmen, Jonathan Trott, the second-highest run-scorer with 229 runs, moved up a place to fourth while MS Dhoni dropped down to fifth. Shikhar Dhawan, Man of the Tournament and the leading run-scorer, jumped 21 places to finish on 29th position.There weren’t any changes in the team rankings as India were already at No. 1 and runners-up England were No. 2 before the tournament started. India (123 points) consolidated their position by staying unbeaten during the series to gain a lead of 10 points over England (113). Australia are a fraction of a point behind England at third place; South Africa are fourth (111) and Sri Lanka fifth (108).

Michael Hussey was denied a century as South Australia squeaked to first innings points over Western Australia on a tense day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2013
ScorecardMichael Hussey was denied a century as South Australia squeaked to first innings points over Western Australia on a tense day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the Adelaide Oval.John Botha’s five wickets had put SA on the path to a comfortable lead as the visitors subsided to 9 for 166, but Hussey and Michael Hogan added a stubborn 69 to take WA to the outskirts of the lead.However, Chadd Sayers coaxed Hogan to drag an expansive drive onto his stumps in the final over of the day, consigning Hussey to an unbeaten 99 and the Warriors to a 13-run deficit. SA can go top of the table with an outright win.Hogan had earlier claimed his own five-wicket return as SA’s tail was quickly accounted for in the morning.

German media labelled Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho 'the worst' after an uninspiring display in Borussia Dortmund's defeat to Hoffenheim.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

German media slammed SanchoHas two assists since re-joining Dortmund on loanDortmund went down 3-2 against HoffenheimWHAT HAPPENED?

Sancho has failed to make a mark in Germany having returned to Dortmund on loan from United in the January transfer window. He started his second stint in the Bundesliga on a brighter note as he recorded a couple of assists in his first two appearances. But since then, the winger has not made any goal contribution and also failed to make a mark in the club's recent 3-2 defeat to Hoffenheim in a league clash.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

After yet another uninspiring performance for the Black and Yellow where he spent 75 minutes on the pitch, German media wrote: "BVB was so happy when Jadon Sancho was brought back during the last winter transfer period. The prodigal son is finally back. He really sent the fans into a state of euphoria. A few weeks later there is no sign of it anymore.

"Against TSG Hoffenheim, the supporters hoped that the 23-year-old would finally score his first goal. But they were disappointed once again. The BVB star showed another poor performance against Hoffenheim and was probably the worst player on the pitch."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The England international decided to start afresh in Germany after being frozen out at United for his public fallout with manager Erik ten Hag in August 2023. The Red Devils may look to offload the player in the summer, although the German club are unlikely to sign him as they cannot afford to pay his high transfer fee.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR JADON SANCHO?

The 23-year-old needs to be much more consistent if he wants to stand any chance of being picked by Gareth Southgate for the England squad ahead of the upcoming Euro 2024. For now, he will be next seen in action on Saturday as Edin Terzic's side take on Union Berlin.

The Queensland fast bowler Alister McDermott is set to follow his father Craig in becoming an international cricketer after being added to the squad for Australia’s ODIs against Pakistan in the UAE

Brydon Coverdale16-Aug-2012The Queensland fast bowler Alister McDermott is set to follow his father Craig in becoming an international cricketer after being added to the squad for Australia’s ODIs against Pakistan in the UAE. McDermott has replaced Clint McKay for the one-day portion of the tour after McKay suffered a hamstring strain during an intra-squad practice match at Australia’s team camp in Darwin at the weekend.McKay’s fitness for the Twenty20 matches in the UAE remains uncertain but he has been named in the 15-man squad for the ICC World Twenty20, which starts in Sri Lanka in mid-September. McKay has been Australia’s leading wicket taker in one-day internationals this year, with 27 victims at 23.88, and was also the best performer in their attack during the recent ODI series against England.”Clint sustained a hamstring strain during the first intra-squad practice match in Darwin and will not recover in time to play in the one-day component of the series in the UAE,” Alex Kountouris, Australia’s physio, said. “He will be reassessed over the week to determine his availability for the T20 component of the UAE tour against Pakistan.”The three-match T20 series against Pakistan begins in Dubai on September 5, after three one-day internationals in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Those matches will provide McDermott, 21, with his first opportunity to represent Australia, and if he makes his debut he will become the fourth Australian after Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh and Ben Laughlin to follow his father into ODI cricket.Craig McDermott played 71 Tests and 138 one-day internationals for Australia and until May this year was the team’s bowling coach. Alister McDermott has proven himself a valuable fast bowler for Queensland since making his debut at the age of 17, and topped the Ryobi Cup wicket tally last season with 16 victims at 18.87.”Alister was impressive in all formats last summer and bowled very well for Australia A against Durham last week,” John Inverarity, the national selector, said. “He is a very fit and disciplined young man who bowls with good sense and good control.”

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has expressed frustration at the careless dismissals of his team’s batsmen

Mohammad Isam in Khulna25-Nov-2012The shot selection of Bangladesh’s batsmen contributed to their failure in the Test match. A lot has been said about on the subject in the past, and captain Mushfiqur Rahim brought it up again after the defeat, saying that while the batsmen should not alter natural approach too much, better judgement is required.”We should play natural cricket depending on the situation. Chanderpaul also plays the lofted shot but when he does that, there is little risk. The team, including myself, have to learn from these things, when to play low-risk and high-risk shots. We have to understand that the team comes first, and not individuals,” Mushfiqur said after the Khulna Test.They have banked on batting aggressively at most times and this Test was no different. But this approach isn’t working. They delivered two below par batting performances in Khulna, and one in the first Test in Mirpur. The first innings in the previous game, in which they scored 556, was an exceptional performance as they were playing this format for the first time in eleven months. But the same talent didn’t prove to be good enough to last four consecutive innings in this Test series.”All the wickets that fall in a Test match are not entirely down to the bowlers’ credit. Batsmen are at fault too. But in our case, the batsmen gift them the wickets regularly without the bowlers earning it, that’s the most terrible thing,” Mushfiqur said. “We have to work on avoiding soft dismissals. We have been doing it for a long period during which many of us have scored runs as well. Sometimes situations are such that a single dismissal turns the game away from us. Questions are justifiably raised and we are concerned about it.”The balance between the batsmen’s instincts and the demands of the situation hasn’t been achieved, seen in Mushfiqur’s dismissal in the second innings here; he had skipped down the track only to be beaten and bowled by spinner Veerasammy Permaul.”I don’t even know [if] I’ve got out like that before. I don’t remember getting out to a nothing shot like that. It was my fault. I wanted to play a long innings and forge a partnership with Shakib, but it didn’t happen,” Mushfiqur said.He was also upset with his team’s unspirited comeback from the first Test defeat. “It is quite frustrating because we played well in the first Test. In the first innings here, Abul [Hasan] played outstandingly or we could have been out of the Test very early. He kept us in the game and we scored almost 400.”We also missed some chances and it is important to hold on to them on such pitches, because it becomes difficult to get [batsmen] out. In the second innings, there wasn’t much help for the bowlers. As it happens most of the times, we played bad shots to get out. If that didn’t happen, you saw how Shakib and Nasir [Hossain] batted – there were no demons in the wicket.”Bangladesh play their next Test in Sri Lanka in February next year, in another two-Test series. Judging by the number of limited-overs matches they have scheduled at all levels in the interim, the repeat of these mistakes cannot be ruled out.

Daniel Brettig at Lord's05-Jun-2012
ScorecardCorey Collymore took the first wicket to fall but injured his knee while bowling later in the day•Middlesex CCCIf the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend had coaxed out the most curmudgeonly of English summer weather, then Middlesex and Somerset were grateful for a momentary break in the overhead “festivities” at Lord’s. Friendlier skies allowed for 48.5 overs on day one, the visitors scrapping to 130 for 4 by the time rain turned up in mid-afternoon to prevent any further play.The covers had not been down for long when the RAF fly-past skirted the ground, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight able to salute Elizabeth II because the weather was kind enough for a plane’s take-off as well as a bowler’s run-up. The sight of the venerable Lancaster bomber made for majestic viewing, somewhat more so than the battling of Somerset’s top six against a seaming and occasionally swinging ball in the hands of Corey Collymore, Tim Murtagh, Toby Roland-Jones and Gareth Berg.Collymore was typically austere in the rations he afforded the batsmen, but he did not see out the day, complaining of what the captain Chris Rogers termed “knee pain that he hadn’t felt before” after bowling the first ball of his 12th over. Collymore’s fitness will be monitored closely, for Middlesex have only four specialist bowlers among their XI, and none with the West Indian’s breadth of experience. Berg was summoned to complete the over, and was rewarded for his readiness by claiming Somerset’s acting captain James Hildreth, pushing at a ball that bent subtly away and edging behind.Jos Buttler had only one ball to survive before the showers set in around 3pm, more or less on the forecast cue. They began so gently that Rogers was visibly irritated at having to go off and he debated the point with the umpires as they marched for the pavilion. This is a pivotal fixture for both sides, Middlesex having the chance to vault above Somerset into third, while victory for the visitors would keep their promoted opponents at bay and close the gap on Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire at the top.Hildreth and the wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter had fared best of the batsmen, mounting an 80-run stand either side of lunch after the new ball had accounted for the top three with only 45 runs collected. Alex Barrow’s stay was particularly brief, squared up by Collymore and edging behind for a third-ball duck.After reaching 1,000 first-class runs at the start of June, Nick Compton has faltered a touch. Having made 7 against Notts in the CB40 fixture at Trent Bridge on Monday, here he shouldered arms and gave Murtagh free passage to bowl him for a single, leaving Somerset 1 for 2 in the third over. Arul Suppiah at least managed to stave off the worst excesses of the early movement, but his stern occupation was ended by the first-change bowler Roland-Jones. Unsure whether to play or leave, Suppiah was ultimately too late on one that seamed back and clipped off stump.That brought Kieswetter to the wicket with Hildreth, and together they repaired some of the damage, helped by the ball ageing a little and Roland-Jones offering greater latitude for scoring than Murtagh or Collymore had done. Kieswetter was 20 when he survived a beseeching lbw appeal by Berg, but otherwise played some handsome strokes through the offside. He also took advantage of the short boundary in front of the Tavern and Mound Stands, the match strip on the south-eastern side of the square compelling Rogers to place two men on the fence at times even as the ball continued to seam.Hildreth’s was a composed, steady innings in challenging circumstances but Collymore’s exit took his mind from the task sufficiently to let Berg claim his outside edge. Rogers’ annoyance at exiting the field soon after will be compounded by the weather outlook for the next three days, which promises about as much rain as was dumped upon the Thames Jubilee pageant.

The Sri Lankan Cricketers’ Association (SLCA) has contacted the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) seeking assistance over the delay in the cricketers’ salaries for series following the World Cup this year

Kanishkaa Balachandran30-Nov-2011The Sri Lankan Cricketers’ Association (SLCA) has contacted the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) seeking assistance over the delay in the cricketers’ salaries for series following the World Cup this year.Sri Lanka have played three series since the end of the World Cup in April and the players are still awaiting payment, including match fees and contract payments. Tim May, the FICA chief executive, stated in a release that the association had been contacted to ensure the payments were made as soon as possible.”We are aware that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is undergoing some cash flow difficulties at present as it awaits its final payment from the ICC for World Cup hosting fees,” May said. “But SLCA and FICA will be looking at possible ways of ensuring the monies owed by the ICC, which are due to be paid in late December 2011 or January 2012, are released with urgency, and on condition it is used to pay the players forthwith.”SLC is expecting to receive payments from the ICC to the tune of US$4.3million for co-hosting the World Cup.May also expressed concern that the long wait for payments could lure players towards lucrative options such as playing in global Twenty20 tournaments, at the expense of playing for the country. “With the IPL and other Twenty20 competitions emerging as a realistic alternative to international cricket for players, the SLC urgently needs to address this situation with its players,” May said.”The players have been incredibly patient to date and continued to play in the interests of their country, but this is now reaching a critical point.”The ICC is expected to disburse payments only after they complete the World Cup audit. “This is a matter for SLC, not for the ICC. In terms of standard policy, the final payments due from the World Cup is only paid on completion of the audits, which is expected to be signed off at the next ICC Board meeting,” an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo.An SLC official said the board is aware of these concerns and that steps are being taken to ensure the situation is under control. “The sports ministry is making arrangements to resolve this issue,” the source told ESPNcricinfo. “The players will be paid very soon. They need not worry.”SLC has been in a financial crisis in recent months following the construction of new stadiums in Hambantota and Pallekele, and the renovation of the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the World Cup.Upali Dharmadasa, the chairman of SLC’s interim committee, was critical of the previous administration for spending expansively on those stadiums. All three were handed over to the military earlier this month because the board was struggling to maintain them. The World Cup had left SLC in debt to the tune of $23 million and the board had to ask for a grant from the Sri Lanka government.The payments crisis has coincided with team’s plunge in form – since August, they have failed to beat Australia at home and Pakistan in the UAE. The team heads to South Africa next month for three Tests and five ODIs.

Jimmy Adams’ task is to raise the temperature among Kent supporters. Kent have slumped from title-contenders at the turn of the century to second-bottom of the pile last season: the third-worst finish in their history.

Alex Winter30-Mar-2012When Jimmy Adams arrived in Britain, the country was gripped by a cold snap that brought snow to the garden of England. With the mercury having jumped 15 degrees, Adams declared t-shirt weather for his first day as Kent’s new head coach.His task is to raise the temperature among Kent supporters. Kent have slumped from title-contenders at the turn of the century to second-bottom of the pile last season: the third-worst finish in their history.Charged with reviving one of the most famous counties, Adams is unconcerned about what has gone before. “There is lot of history here,” he said. “But I’m sure every county would gladly roll out the history books. A lot of fantastic players have come through this club; I wouldn’t use that to burn the players.”Adams plays up to all the stereotypical impressions of a laid-back West Indian as he slumps against a wall inside Kent’s indoor school, but it belies a determination to get things done. “I’ve got to get stuck in, nose to the ground,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done – in a good sense – we’ll try to construct something here that will hopefully bring us results.”The environment and culture around the squad is something that Adams seems keen on, getting the values and discipline right to be able to get a young squad working for each other. This focus endeared him to Kent chief executive, Jamie Clifford, during a three-month recruitment process to replace Paul Farbrace, who has since moved on to Yorkshire’s coaching staff.”Jimmy is quite big on culture. He’s got a very clear idea about how he wants the cricket part of the club to run which is what we wanted: a clear sense of direction,” Clifford said. “He is coming into this role fresh, he’s never had a county role, so we’ve got the chance to freshen it up. Jimmy stood out from what was a very strong shortlist; there were some guys on there with quite strong coaching pedigree and big names in the world of cricket.”Having survived a thorough recruitment process involving psychometric testing and independent interviewers, Adams has the chance to make his name in coaching with his first major role. He had been technical director for Jamaica, a role Adams describes as “a bit of everything” with all the cricket programmes running through his desk. He thinks that all-encompassing experience will lend itself well to county cricket.”At this stage in my life I’ve mixed it pretty much with every age group over a period of time,” Adams said. “There a lot of talent here but I’m just happy that we have lads that seem to want to get better individually and would like to be a part of a successful team. Once that attitude is there, it makes my job a lot easier, instead of trying to push people you’re trying to hold them back.”Kent’s squad has undergone significant change with Joe Denly departing for Middlesex and Martin van Jaarsveld retiring. Mark Davies, Ben Harmison, Charlie Shreck and Mike Powell have all arrived. But the man who Adams says everything revolves around has been at Kent for 24 years: captain Rob Key. His experience and leadership will give Adams the chance to focus on developing Kent’s crop of youngsters – including England Under-19 captain Adam Ball and batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond – than immediate results.”There are a lot of intangibles when you talk about the game of cricket,” Adams said. “The opposition might just outplay you totally but in that three or four days you might have made progress along the way, depending on the players that you have.”Kent begin their new season at Headingley against Yorkshire, who were relegated from Division One of the championship last season and who are strong favourites to bounce back immediately. Faced with such a stern opening assignment, Adams’ reduced emphasis on winning from the start might yet prove advantageous.