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London, May 02: England coach Andy Flower persuaded Paul Collingwood to become captain of the team’s World Twenty20 squad, weeks after he insisted that he would never lead England again.
Flower, appointed last month as full-time team director, persuaded him to change his mind.
“I said I’d take a lot of persuading to do it again. But this is for only three weeks — chances like this don’t come round every day. Andy was superb in what he said. It was clear he wanted me to do it. When you get someone like him backing you, it’s great,” Collingwood said.
“When I was one-day captain, there was a lot of stuff behind the scenes that I was constantly thinking about. I wanted to get back to being a foot soldier.”
“This is a different situation. Andy and I discussed how the job might affect my game. But I can’t see it taking much away from Test and 50-over cricket,” he added.
Collingwood, 32, stood down as one-day captain last August, the day pal Michael Vaughan quit as Test skipper. It ended a miserable period in his career.
He was condemned for allowing a run-out appeal last year after Kiwi Grant Elliott collided with bowler Ryan Sidebottom.
Collingwood was banned for four matches because of a slow over-rate and he presided over England’s disastrous 2007 World T20 in South Africa.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Flower persuaded Collingwood to become English captain again
Former Oz bowlers want Lee, Tait to play
Melbourne, May 02: Former Australian fast bowlers Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz want their cricket board to not be over-cautious, and allow Shaun Tait and Brett Lee to play.
Lee was scheduled to return from a four-month absence due to dual foot operations in Thursday’s Twenty20 clash against Pakistan in Dubai. The 31-year-old pacer is desperate for immediate match-conditioning to press for Ashes selection.
Tait, 26, has this week been striving to convince Cricket Australia physio Alex Kountouris that he has recovered sufficiently from hamstring tendonitis to feature in the latter stages of the Indian Premier League with the Rajasthan Royals.
“Shaun wants to prove he is fit for the Twenty20 World Cup in June. He needs to play some cricket,” said Gillespie of Tait, who has not played since February 1.
“Get him over there! First and foremost there’s no cricket in Australia. He may as well do it in the form of game he is going to play for his country in.”
Kasprowicz wants Lee to feature in Sunday’s one-day series finale in Abu Dhabi before being cleared to play IPL with Kings XI Punjab and county cricket.
He remains adamant that Tait must be unleashed “after a long spell” out.
“I am wondering if the selectors and the medical staff at Cricket Australia are being overly cautious about the players and resting them, not wanting players to go out and play and get the miles in the legs in matches,” Kasprowicz said.
Yousuf eyes Pakistan return after quitting ICL
Lahore, May 02: Former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf said he had snapped his ties with the Indian Cricket League and was available to play for the country.
The 34-year-old joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) last year, on the same day as he was named in the squad for Pakistan`s three-match series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi.
As the ICL was not recognised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), Yousuf and his fellow players were barred from playing for Pakistan.
The Sindh province high court suspended the bans on the ICL players in February this year, paving the way for them to play in domestic matches. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said ICL players can only play for the country if they quit the league.
“I am available to play for Pakistan which has always been my priority,” said Yousuf. “I have resigned from the ICL and have spoken to captain Younus Khan about my playing for Pakistan,” Yousuf said.
Yousuf, who played the last of his 269 one-day matches in Karachi in July last year, first joined the league in protest after he was omitted from Pakistan`s team for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.
The then PCB management persuaded him to abandon the ICL contract and instead got him a contract with the Indian Premier League, sanctioned by both the BCCI and the ICC.
However, Yousuf rejoined the ICL in November last year and played for them in their second tournament.
Yousuf said he returned to the ICL after developing differences with the then captain Shoaib Malik.
“I had a problem with the captain at that time so I left. I had issues with the previous board administration as well,” said Yousuf, who set a world record of most runs in a calendar year with 1,788 in 2006.
“Now I have no problems at all with (present captain) Younus (Khan), or this board. The country comes first and this board has offered me to play for Pakistan once I leave the ICL.”
Yousuf has so far scored 6,770 runs in 79 Tests besides a tally of 9,242 in 269 one-day internationals. He was declared best batsman of the year by the ICC in 2007.
Team spirit carrying us through, says Warne
Port Elizabeth, May 02: Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne said Saturday that it was team spirit that was helping the defending champions win close matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A depleted Royals have won three of the seven matches they have played in the Twenty20 league. Barring the five-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils, the wins against Kolkata Knight Riders and Saturday`s three-wicket win here at the St George`s against table-toppers Deccan Chargers have been close.
Against Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals won through the Super Over after the match ended in a tie while against Deccan Chargers they scampered home with just two balls left.
“The batting hasn’t been good in the first six overs. But it is the team spirit that is winning matches for us. From last year to this IPL our team spirit has been excellent,” said Warne.
Warne lauded his boys for showing incredible courage to pull off close matches. “We are peaking at the right time and hopefully will make the semi-finals,” he said.
Asked why he promoted himself up the batting order, Warne said: “Our top order is not batting well. So I wanted Yusuf (Pathan) to come later on in the innings and finish off things. He is a good finisher and a clean hitter of the ball.”
Pathan hit a 14-ball 24 and picked up one for 19 to pick up the Man of the Match award.
“It was a good wicket to bat on and the ball was coming on nicely and made stroke playing easy,” he said.
Godbole holds GM Zinchenko to draw
Mumbai, May 01: India's Atharva Godbole on Friday caused a flutter by holding GM Yaroslav Zinchenko of Ukraine to a draw on the opening day of the 2nd Mayor's Cup International Open Chess tournament at the Goregaon Sports Club.
The Pune-based Godbole, with a low ELO of 1793, forced his Ukrainian rival, who has an ELO of 2531, to agree to a draw in 43 moves after both were left with five pawns each.
Ukrainian top seed Evgenij Miroscnchenko, ranked 51st in the world with an ELO of 2680, defeated India's Leuva Pruthviraj (ELO 1814) in 38 moves to start his campaign in the Rs 12 lakh prize money tournament on a winning note.
The 31-year-old Miroscnchenko, playing with black pieces, forced his Indian rival to his knees by finally bringing his king to promote his centre pawn after all the major pieces had been exchanged in the middle game.
Mumbai's Sudhakar Rokde upset Woman Grandmaster Saumya Swaminathan of Pune in another first round tie.
Miroshnichenko and his Ukrainian compatriot Alexander Areshchenko, world no 68 with ELO of 2657, are the top two players in the fray in the tournament that offers Rs 2.75 lakh for the winner.
The runner-up of the tournament, sponsored by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, ONGC and LIC, would take home Rs 1.90 lakh while the third and fourth placers would receive Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 75,000 respectively.
The tournament has attracted 25 GMs, 35 International Masters and women GMs from ten countries.
The Pune-based Godbole, with a low ELO of 1793, forced his Ukrainian rival, who has an ELO of 2531, to agree to a draw in 43 moves after both were left with five pawns each.Woods slips one stroke behind halfway lead
North Carolina, May 02: Tiger Woods struggled over the difficult final stretch to slip one stroke from the lead after the second round at the USD 6.4 million Quail Hollow Championship on Friday.
Woods was far from his best for most of the round, and it finally caught up to him as he bogeyed the par-four 16th and 18th holes on a breezy afternoon, yet still posted an even-par 72 to finish the second round in a four-way tie for third.
Woods is one stroke behind long-hitting American Bubba Watson, who stormed home in 30 strokes, and South Africa's Retief Goosen on eight-under 136.
"I didn't hit it very well," said Woods, who is tied with fellow Americans Zach Johnson (67), Jim Furyk (66) and George McNeill (68) on seven-under 137. "I didn't drive the ball particularly well, didn't hit my irons as well as I'd like.”
"I was hanging in there and if I could have posted nine (under) I would have probably gotten the most out of that round.”
"It just didn't work out that way but overall it's not that bad, considering the way I was hitting the ball."
Watson was not even assured of making the cut at the turn, before he recorded four birdies and an eagle on the front nine, his inward half, to shoot 65, the day's best score.
"My caddie kicked me in the butt a few times and kept telling me to stay focused, because I wanted to pout a few times," Watson said.
"I'm trying every day to be the best golfer that ever walked this planet but once I putt out on the last putt I'm the happiest guy in the world."
Goosen (68) credited his share of the lead to good putting.
"I'm putting very well, making a lot of good up-and-downs, and I made a few good long putts for birdies as well today."
Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, caught fire mid-round, running up seven birdies in eight holes to open a handy lead, but he then bogeyed his final three holes.
"It's very disappointing but at the same time I can't be too upset. I did a lot of good things," Johnson said.
"I got off to a good start and just didn't make any putts. Eventually I settled down and started to roll the ball really well (on the greens).”
"My execution of my shots was perfect (until the 16th hole)."
The cut fell at even-par 144 with Masters champion Angel Cabrera and Ireland's Padraig Harrington both missing out.
Els back at European Open for first time in 15 years
London, May 02: Ernie Els will make his first appearance in the European Open for 15 years when he lines up at the London Club this month.
Among the popular South African's title rivals will be world number three Sergio Garcia, 15th-ranked Lee Westwood and number 17 Rory McIlroy.
Els last played at the European Open when it was held at the East Sussex National in 1994, the year he claimed the first of his three majors with victory in the US Open at Oakmont.
"It's been a while since I last played in the European Open so I am very much looking forward to playing in Kent and getting my first taste of the London Club," the 39-year-old said in a news release.
"I have heard great things about the set up and the wonderful atmosphere last year and I'm looking forward to having a crack at the title."
Spectators will get free admission for all four days of the May 28-31 tournament.
Last year fans were allowed in for free for the first round only, attracting a crowd of almost 24,000.
Pennetta knocks out Jankovic in Stuttgart
Stuttgart, May 02: Italian Flavia Pennetta caused an upset by beating third seed Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Stuttgart Grand Prix quarter-finals on Friday.
The unseeded Pennetta's reward is a last-four meeting with Dinara Safina after the world number one swept aside Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-2.
Russian Safina, who went to the top of the rankings last week, dominated the eighth seed with a series of thunderous ground strokes.
Second seed Elena Dementieva went through with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Marion Bartoli of France.
The Russian next meets countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova after the fifth seed overwhelmed Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-2.
Dementieva and Bartoli traded early breaks before the world number three started going to the net more often as she clinched the first set in 31 minutes.
Bartoli produced some deft baseline play to break serve twice in the second.
However, there was no looking back for Dementieva after she raced into a 4-0 lead in the deciding set.
ITF ban on TA can end my Davis Cup career: Hewitt
Melbourne, May 02: An utterly disappointed Lleyton Hewitt says his Davis Cup career could be over if the Tennis Australia (TA) was banned from competing in the tournament next year for boycotting the tie against India.
"Now, once again, we are in the hands of the ITF regarding any sanction they may impose on Tennis Australia and the Australian Davis Cup team," Hewitt said.
"That decision could have severe ramifications for me as a player, and could effectively end my Davis Cup career," he wrote on his blog.
"Whilst I have been a winning team member twice, I would be devastated if this was the way for my career playing for my country ended. As far as I'm concerned I still have unfinished business in Davis Cup, including getting Australia back into the World Group," he added.
The 28-tear-old said the ITF's failure to move the May 8-10 India tie from Chennai to a neutral venue was "possibly the most disappointing of all".
"I had made the commitment to forgo my French Open preparations to play in India even though I am trying to re-establish myself in the world rankings following an injury," Hewitt said.
"It's a bit like a red rag to a bull, risk wise, in my opinion, yet the ITF have showed a lack of protection and concern for the safety of the players," Hewitt said. The Australian tennis ace said he felt let down by the ITF for a few more decisions.
"However, I must say I feel very let down by the ITF with a few decisions lately relating to Davis Cup," he said.
"The first has been their awarding of ATP ranking points to the competition to try to attract certain players to take part in the competition.”
"The problem is they have only awarded them to the World Group section. In my opinion a player shouldn't require the incentive of ranking points to represent their country in a competition that has been running for more than 100 years."
Hewitt also criticised the scheduling of the zonal ties, a situation he said was "creating an uneven playing field for players and is completely lacking in consistency".
"By creating this new date in May, the ITF is forcing players in the zonal sections to choose between their own personal ranking and representing their country, again for no points," Hewitt said.
Kyle Busch overtakes Edwards to win at Richmond
Richmond, May 02: Kyle Busch passed Carl Edwards on the first lap of a restart with 22 laps to go and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Friday night at Richmond International Raceway.
Busch, who led four times in the Lipton Tea 250, made the move that counted in the third and fourth turns on the 229th trip around the 0.75-mile oval. Edwards led the previous 71 laps, with Busch seemingly the only other driver with a car to contend.
Busch's Toyota, he said, "was right when it mattered most."
The Sprint Cup star proved it by passing Edwards to the outside to grab the lead and then twice more on the final restarts — with eight laps to go and again with five laps remaining.
Busch pulled away easily the second time, and Edwards never really challenged.
The victory was Busch's third in nine starts this season and 13th since the start of last season, when he missed five races but won 10 and finished sixth in the point standings.
Busch led 115 laps in his third career victory in the series at Richmond.
"I feel like tonight was a good night to get back on track," Busch said. "Tonight was a race that mattered and we had our biggest challenger behind us in Carl, so it was nice to beat him out, straight up, and we had some other issues with the car that we fought through."
Edwards held on to finish second, followed by Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski.
"He smoked me on the restarts," said Edwards, second to Busch in the series standings. Edwards remained winless and has finished behind Busch in five consecutive races.
Busch's lead over Edwards in the series standings grew to 82 points.
For a while, it looked as if the 2007 series champion would turn the tables.
Edwards was running second and gaining on Busch when a caution slowed the pace just past the midpoint. It went back to green on lap 138 and it took Edwards 20 laps to take the lead.
They were still running 1-2 when another caution flew on lap 204, and they quickly separated themselves from the field along with Mark Martin, who was running 11th but fighting to stay on the lead lap after pitting under a green flag just before the caution came out.
Martin, the career leader with 48 series victories, wound up seventh.
"Maybe we'll have a contender tomorrow night," Martin said.
Busch's victory was his 24th in the series, pulling him into a tie with Kenseth and Tommy Houston for fifth on the career list. Kenseth said he never had a chance on Friday night.
"I had a pretty solid car. I just could never get it quite right to be able to run with those guys," Kenseth said. "It would be nice to be able to win one of these things, too."
Kevin Harvick finished fifth, followed by Joey Logano and Martin, giving Sprint Cup Series regulars the top seven spots at the finish. Nationwide regular Michael McDowell was eighth.
Brad Keselowski, the surprise Sprint Cup winner last weekend at Talladega when he and Edwards made contact on the final lap, sending Edwards' car airborne into the fronstretch, had another incident Friday night, costing Jeff Burton a top-10 finish.
Keselowski was running third and Burton was in the top five and gaining with 17 laps left when Keselowski made contact with Jason Leffler, with Burton getting caught up in the accident and hitting the wall. Keselowski continued on unscathed and finished fourth, while Burton wound 31st, 17 laps off the pace.
Force India want to build on Bahrain showing
Chennai, May 02: Force India are working on upgrades to their cars as they look to build on their double finish in Bahrain last Sunday, the Formula One team's co-owner Vijay Mallya said.
"We have another update coming in Barcelona, more particularly an improved version of this interim diffuser, and some further aero upgrades," Indian millionaire Mallya told the team's official website.
"I'm not naive enough to believe that other teams aren't improving, I'm sure everybody is going hammer and tongs trying to find better performance.”
"But we're there and we're racing, and it's so competitive. In the midfield everything is separated by hundredths now, and to be in the hunt is quite an impressive achievement."
In Bahrain, Giancarlo Fisichella finished 15th and Adrian Sutil was 16th, after both the Mercedes-powered cars ran in the midfield at times with Fisichella moving as high as 10th.
The Italian's race ended in pain with his seat chafing against his hip while Sutil collided with Kazuki Nakajima of Williams but climbed back to 11th by his late first stop.
Their performances have raised Mallya's hopes ahead of the May 10 Barcelona grand prix.
Although the team have yet to score a point following a barren first season in 2008, Mallya said they had become more competitive.
"I'm satisfied that we were racing, and we were racing some of the best teams in the business," he said. "We beat the BMWs, which is not something I could have predicted with any degree of certainty last year."
I was nervous to replace McGrath: Nannes
Centurion, May 01: He is responsible for Glenn McGrath`s `no show` in the on-going Indian Premier League so far, but Dirk Nannes admitted that he was little nervous to replace the legendary Australian pacer in Delhi Daredevils` playing eleven.
Nannes has come of ages since his debut in the IPL and played an instrumental role in Daredevils six-wicket win over Deccan Chargers yesterday.
The left-arm pacer, who claimed the crucial wickets of Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs yesterday to finish with a match figure of 2/16, said he was delighted with his performance and thanked his team management for backing him even when he was not doing well.
"I think it was great. I am delighted to contribute to the team`s success. I am enjoying my bowling and the Indian Premier League has been going well for me till now.
"I didn`t do too well in the last match but the guys backed me and it is good to live up to the expectations of the team," he added.
The 32-year-old Victorian, who started his career late at the age of 29, calls himself a reluctant cricketer as his first passion is skiing. He, however, refuses to draw a comparison between the two sports.
"To be honest I never wanted to play professional cricket. Hence, I said that I was a reluctant cricketer. But now it is the number one sport for me. I am not someone who has come into first class cricket through school level or university level.
"It is a tough one. Skiing is an individual sport and cricket is a team sport. Since, I have started cricket a bit late, my body still feels young for the game. It is very hard for me to draw comparisons between the two sports but I enjoy both of them. It`s a great feeling to be a part of a team," Nannes said.
Although, the door to Australia`s Twenty20 World Cup squad is shut for him this time around, he was hopeful of donning the national colours, provided he continues to impress the selectors with his performance.
"I don`t think I can make it since they have already announced the probables. So, may be next time. I will try to impress everyone and let`s see how the things pan out."
SA's ICL players may return to official fold
Johannesburg, May 01: Taking a cue from Indian Cricket Board`s amnesty offer to players aligned with Indian Cricket League, Cricket South Africa may also take their ICL players back into the official fold.
SA Cricket Players` Association CEO Tony Irish is confident that the CSA executive which is scheduled to decide on the issue on Wednesday at a general meeting will re-instate the ICL players to official cricket next season.
"Even before the BCCI made their decision we had placed the inclusion of the ICL players back into South African domestic cricket on the agenda of the meeting next Wednesday.”
I am confident of a positive outcome, especially in light of the BCCI`s decision," Irish was quoted as saying.
While only 31-year-old Kemp has a realistic chance of representing the Proteas again, Irish believes CSA will see the value of the others returning to domestic cricket.
"The ICL players are some of the most experienced players in South African cricket. Their experience will be invaluable to franchise teams around the country. Their input can only be of benefit to any young South African cricketer coming through the ranks," Irish said.
Jones questions Lee's chance for Ashes cricket
Abu Dhabi, May 01: Former Australian batsman Dean Jones on Friday questioned Brett Lee`s selection for the Ashes, saying he did not deserve a place in team`s fast establishing pace attack.
The 32-year-old Lee, who joined the squad here on Tuesday, will have his progress towards full fitness assessed by the team management and has an outside chance of playing in the Twenty20 match against Pakistan in Dubai on May 7. The match follows the ongoing five-match one-day series.
Australia will announce their Ashes squad -- to be played in England from July 8 -- in three weeks. Jones said Lee was in trouble in forcing his way back.
"He knows he is in serious trouble. He knows his replacements have done a better job than he hoped in his absence," said Jones of the Australian pace attack led by Mitchell Johnson in Lee`s absence since the Boxing Day Test last year.
Lee, who so far has 310 Test and 303 one-day wickets, claimed only 21 wickets in his last eight Tests.
Jones, who played 52 Tests and 164 one-days for Australia, believed Lee`s age was catching up.
"Lee is coming back from stress fractures to his ankle and he is now on the wrong side of 30. His pace is dwindling, which is putting pressure on his ability to move the ball around," said Jones.
On his arrival here, Lee said he hoped to be at his best by the time Australia defend the Ashes in England but Jones believed he was being unrealistic.
"Lee has said that he is ready to assume the lead role for the Ashes Tests. I think he needs to get out of the bubble that he is living in and look at the real world that is about to confront him.”
"Simply, the No.1 bowler for Australia is Johnson. The heat that this guy is bowling is frightening. On the recent tour of South Africa, I honestly thought I was watching an old tape of the great West Indies bowlers."
Kamran Khan reported for suspect action in IPL
Pretoria, May 01: Rajasthan Royals pacer Kamran Khan has been reported for suspect bowling action and the issue has been referred to the team management and the Technical Committee of the Indian Premier League.
After the Rajasthan Royals match against Chennai Super Kings yesterday, on-field umpires Rudi Koertzen and Gary Baxter felt Kamran had a suspect illegal bowling action on certain deliveries.
After the match was over, footage was obtained and examined by all the three umpires, including TV umpire Amish Saheba, and they felt further action was necessary under the MCC`s Laws of Cricket section 24/3 that governs the game.
The matter has now been referred to the Rajasthan Royals management and the IPL Technical Committee as per the MCC`s Laws of Cricket.
"I have officially received a copy of the match umpires report duly signed by all the three umpires and the video footage for the game at the Centurion," IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said.
"The matter has now been referred to the team management of the Rajasthan Royals and the IPL`s technical committee as per the Laws of Cricket that govern our game. I now await the report from the Technical Committee and will then decide on the future course of action," Modi added.
