Warwickshire Cricket

Root and Cook have Similar Mentality- Gooch

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 13:42:00 +0000

Ominously for the rest of the cricketing world, Graham Gooch believes that in Joe Root England have unearthed a similar talent to Alistair Cook and that the two openers both have similarly steely mentalities.

Root and Cook have opened together during the first two tests of the Ashes series and the young Yorkshireman has really grown into the role, notching up a hugely impressive 178 in the second Test at Lord’s.

Despite many commentators expecting Root to struggle under the weight of expectation, he has proved the selectors right for showing faith in him and, having also nurtured Alistair Cook through his development at Essex, this comes as no surprise to Gooch.

“They are both mature for young men, and Alastair Cook had a similar mentality when he was Joe’s age,” Gooch said. “He was mature in the mind – he knew exactly how he could score runs– and I think anyone who saw Joe saw that too.”

Root made his international debut against India in December last year and since then he has gone on to make two centuries and two half centuries in eight tests. At just 22, Root has established himself as a fixture in the England side and he cuts a confident figure at the crease. He is currently favourite in the Ashes betting to top England’s run-scoring charts throughout the series.

For Gooch, Root’s success is to down to his attitude and his hard work in the nets. “Joe, from the first time we saw him in India, was an impressive young character,” the England batting coach said. “I’m not surprised at all that he’s moving forward with his skill levels, the way he works at his game and all the disciplines that are in place.”

England fans who bet on the Ashes will certainly hope that Gooch is correct and that Root can continue to develop in the way that Alistair Cook has over the last few years. If Root turns out to be half the player that Cook has then England can expect many more years of international success.

England buoyed by a better Broad

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 29 May 2013 22:29:00 +0000

Stuart Broad's timely return to top form in England's win over New Zealand in the first Test of the summer is great news for Andy Flower's side because they need the pace bowler at his best if they are to hold on to the Ashes.

Recently, Broad has been a pale shadow of the player that was one of the stars of the last Ashes success on home soil back in 2009 but he announced himself back to somewhere near his optimum level at Lord's and, if he can build on this most welcome of starts to a busy few months, then most Ashes Tips writers will believe retaining the Ashes is very much within England’s grasp.

Broad finished the first Test with best-ever figures of 7-44 as the tourists were skittled for a measly 68 in their second innings and it was this devastating spell that turned an otherwise tight clash England's favour. It was the type of assured pace bowling performance that Broad used to turn in regularly and he really proved to be his country's matchwinner in a game that was much closer than many had predicted.

Broad, who is still only 26 and therefore has plenty of time yet to develop further, has been a big-game performer for England for some time now despite accusations of inconsistency. He has suffered alarming dips in form and appears very much a confidence player, who truly operates at a world-class level when his head is right and he is injury-free but, when it matters most, he can usually be relied upon.

Alongside Jimmy Anderson, Broad remains one of England's most potent weapons and, when at the top of his game, can scare the very best sides in the world.

His performance against an admittedly weak Kiwis side should not be one anyone gets too carried away with but it certainly bodes well for the summer, with the First Test against Australia only six weeks away. Because England stand little chance of Ashes glory unless a fully-firing Broad is around.

Sri Lanka Champions Trophy effort hit by injury

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:53:00 +0000

Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning a maiden ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales this summer have taken a hit after medium pacer Chanaka Welegedara suffered a foot injury during a warm-up match on Saturday.

Welegedara, 32, lasted just 2.4 overs for Rest of Sri Lanka against Sri Lanka A in Pallekele before hobbling off complaining of pain in his right foot and ankle.

"Welegedara came off immediately and is currently unable to put any weight on his right foot," said a Sri Lanka Cricket statement.

It is yet unknown if he will recover in time to play for his national side in the one-day tournament this June but if he is absent from the squad many cricket betting fans have voiced their concern over Sri Lanka’s title chances.

For Welegedara is one of Sri Lanka’s main attacking threats and his absence is likely to inspire the team’s three group opponents England, Australia and New Zealand to attack at the crease.

There was real hope in the international cricket world Welegedara would make an impact at the ICC Champions Trophy, for the paceman deserves more than the 10 previous ODI appearances for his country.

Figures of 5-66 against India three years ago proved just how lethal Welegedara is on his day and the Test team have suffered from his absence through injuries over the past 12 months.

With Welegedara a doubt, Sri Lanka must rely on specialist fast bowlers Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga and Nuwan Kulasekara to do the job this summer – an unlikely trio that will find it hard against the world’s best ODI batsmen.

Most ICC Champions Trophy betting tips says you should back Sri Lanka to make the semis if he plays, but if he is absent they won’t win a bean against three impressive batting units.

Bresnan reveals op risk

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:11:00 +0000

Yorkshire seamer Tim Bresnan has revealed his career could have been over when he went under the knife earlier this year but insists he is now 100% fit and ready for action.
Bresnan has been dogged by an elbow complaint for the past two and a half years, originally having surgery on the issue in December 2011.
He continued to experience discomfort and decided to undergo a second operation over the winter, ruling him out of the tour of New Zealand.
Though it was a relatively straightforward procedure, Bresnan admits it was one was that could have forced him to retire.
When asked whether he feared for his career ahead of the operation, Bresnan said: "I think you do. A couple of hours before the op, it's like 'Well, this could go one of two ways.
“I might never play for England again, or play cricket again, or I might be back better than ever. You've got to weigh up that risk and then just sort of decide 'Yep, eff it' and get on with it really.”
Thankfully for the 28-year-old everything went to plan and he was able to take part in pre-season training with Yorkshire before returning to competitive action in April.
He earned a recall to the England squad for the return Test series with New Zealand, with the first Test at Lord’s due to start next Thursday. The Cricket betting odds again place the hosts as heavy favourites, just as they were in the reverse series earlier this year, which resulted in a0-0 draw.
Speaking after meeting up with his international team mates ahead of the first England v New Zealand Test, Bresnan added: "I probably lost three or four yards. But I feel as though I've got that back. I can sit here and say whatever...but it's just as easy to show you.
"I'd love to play. I'm down here. I'm not here to carry the drinks. I'm here to play in the game, throw my hat in the ring for selection. The next two practice days will probably tell the management a lot about where I'm at and what I can do.”

Pietersen recovery hands England major Ashes boost

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:01:00 +0000

England have been handed an early Ashes boost after it emerged key batsman Kevin Pietersen should be back in action sooner than expected after recovering well from his knee injury.

Pietersen is being lined up to play for his county Surrey on June 12 and he now appears on course, barring any further setbacks, to be available for England in The Ashes, that begin on July 10 at Trent Bridge.

The news is a great pre-Ashes boost for England and should give them renewed confidence of retaining the famous urn on home soil because, make no mistake, Pietersen remains the stand-out, world-class performer capable of putting the Aussies to the sword on his day.
The South Africa-born star can be unpredictable at times but when he fancies it, he is the man that can lead his side to glory. If Pietersen was absent, it would have given the tourists hope of wrestling the Ashes away from England and his influence on the side should not be underestimated.
The 32-year-old will be eased back into action over the next month and he should feature in three first-class games before the big summer battle begins, giving him ample time to fine-tune his game and be 100 per cent fit for the Nottingham opener.
England are usually a much more daunting prospect with Pietersen in their side and his big-hitting style could prove decisive in the Ashes, adding to the threat already posed by Alastair Cook at the top of the order.
His inclusion in the side should severely enhance England's odds in the Ashes betting and the fact Andy Flower can prepare for the matches safe in the knowledge Pietersen is on board is a major boost for the home side.
England are rightly cast as favourites for the Ashes and those odds should only shorten with Pietersen playing.

England confident over injured trio

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

National selector Geoff Miller has revealed the signs are positive regarding three players hoping to be fit in time for England’s busy summer. Graeme Swann, Tim Bresnan and Kevin Pietersen all had their winter’s cut short due to injury, but Miller has admitted all three could be ready for the home series against New Zealand which kicks off England’s summer.

Spinner Swann and seamer Bresnan are both recovering from elbow injuries, while Pietersen was forced to return home from the tour of New Zealand with a worrying knee problem. Swann is expected to be able to return to training by the end of the next month, and Pietersen and Bresnan will also be both aiming to prove themselves in time for the first Test against the Kiwis next month, series which should be relatively straightforward, according to betting news reporters.

With the series against New Zealand and the Champions Trophy coming up before the first of back-to-back Ashes series, England will know they may have to manage all three, especially Pietersen and Swann, extremely carefully over the next few months.

For the time being, however, all three are on course to be able to return action during the opening part of the English summer, but Miller did make it clear he was comfortable in the ability of the squad handle the gruelling schedule over the next few months.

"I talked to Graeme Swann the other night and he's fine, and Bressie will be starting with Yorkshire very soon. It was a nasty injury for Kevin but it's been rectified and the medical staff will continue with that. He'll be fine,” admitted Miller to cricket betting news reporters.

"We will be ready when New Zealand come around, we have strength in depth to cope, then we've got the Champions Trophy, and the public can be sure we'll be ready for Australia when they arrive."

Modest Wright praises bowling unit

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:34:00 +0000

Match-winner Chris Wright hailed a team effort after Warwickshire blew Durham away on the final day at Edgbaston to secure their first win of their title defence.

The County Championship Division One champions dismissed the visitors for just 94 in their second innings to record an emphatic 318-run victory.

Durham simply had no answer to England-hopeful Wright, who gave the selectors a nudge with an impressive haul of 6-31 from 16 overs.

Wright was keen to deflect praise onto his fellow bowlers, who gave Warwickshire a chance of victory in the first innings, with Keith Barker and Chris Woakes particularly impressive in restricting Durham to 284.

"We bowled exceptionally as a unit. A lot of the guys bowled seriously good spells – I think at one stage I was the expensive one, going at one and a half runs per over," Wright said.

"The great thing about our attack is that we share the wickets around. In the first innings it was Barks and Woakesy and in the second I picked up a few. That's how we work."

The 27-year-old felt Warwickshire benefited from improved conditions in the second half of the match. Wright, who took 62 championship wickets in 2012, admitted he is striving for even greater consistency this season – meaning punters should consider using their free online bets to back the Bears for further glory in 2013.

"I have been trying to start spells well and it came out nicely in the second innings. There wasn't a gale-force wind today, unlike earlier in the match, which made it a struggle to swing the ball. The weather was kinder and that helped us but we took advantage really well," he added.

Wright will look to pick up where he left off when Warwickshire travel to Somerset for a four-day match on Thursday. Another match-winning display could push him into contention for England's two-Test series against New Zealand.

Root pleased with comeback despite lack of runs

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:26:00 +0000

England batsman Joe Root was pleased to get back out in the middle with Yorkshire, even though he failed to make a significant contribution in the first innings of the three-day Roses friendly against Lancashire.

The 22-year-old has come a long way since he last pulled on his Yorkshire whites at the end of last season. He burst onto the international scene in India before Christmas and earned rave reviews throughout the winter.

Root is set to make his first Test appearance on home soil in next month's two-match series against New Zealand, with one eye undoubtedly on this summer's Ashes. However, Root must first score runs in the County Championship to ensure he keeps his England place.

The Yorkshire opener only managed 11 runs in a total of 381-8 against Lancashire. He accepted the early-season conditions mean he will not score runs every time he goes out to bat.

"It was great to be back out there and good to be back at Headingley, although it was slightly disappointing today. But on a team front it was an excellent day," said Root, who is making his first appearance since last month's final Test in New Zealand.

"I felt fine out there, but it's all part of playing in England in April. It seams about a bit and as an opener sometimes you get a good ball."

One player who could join Root in the England line-up for the first Test of the summer is Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow. He did his chances of continuing to deputise for the injured Kevin Pietersen no harm with a fine 131 and punters may want to use their free bet online to back Baristow to do the business for England next month.

Like Bairstow, Root will hope to make the most of his time with Yorkshire as he looks to nail down a place in the Test side ahead of the visit of Australia.

Anderson not writing off Australia

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:08:00 +0000

Pace bowler James Anderson has made it clear England won’t be underestimating Australia in this summer’s Ashes series despite being heavy favourites to retain the urn again. The fast bowler has been on both winning and losing England teams in the Ashes, but it’s been more good than bad for Anderson in recent series against Australia.

Australia will go into the Ashes on the back of a disappointing 4-0 series humbling in India, which was as embarrassing off the field as it was on it. Despite a number of exciting youngsters coming through the ranks, Australia are still a shadow of the team that dominated Test cricket for so many years, not least against England.

England will be well aware that form usually goes out the window when it comes to the Ashes, and Alastair Cook’s men won’t be taking the Aussies lightly in the first of back-to-back series against Australia.

"Form kind of goes out of the window a little bit with an Ashes series. Australia are always competitive regardless of what form they've been in leading up to an Ashes series, they always fight hard and make it difficult for us,” insisted Anderson.

"Every team we play against we respect them and we'll prepare as well as we always do for any Test series. We'll prepare with a lot of detail and hopefully we'll be fighting fit and produce a good Ashes series."

Before taking on Michael Clarke’s Australia team, England will first welcome New Zealand for the return Test series, coming shortly after returning from a tough three-Test series against Kiwis during the winter.

While England will be looking to rediscover their form against the Black Caps in preparation for the Ashes, there will also be a certain amount of caution that nobody picks up any injuries ahead of such an important few months.

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Cook – Aussies still a Real Threat

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:18:00 +0000

Despite suffering a miserable 4-0 Test drubbing in India last month, Alastair Cook has made it clear Australia still can’t be written off ahead of this summer’s Ashes series.

It wasn’t just on the field in India that Australia were left embarrassed, as head coach, Mickey Arthur’s decision to suspend four players for failing to submit a feedback report left many conceding this was a squad in disarray ahead of the Ashes.

The England captain knows his side will go into the first of back-to-back Ashes series as favourites in many peoples’ eyes, but Cook has refused to draw too much from Australia’s recent troubles.

Despite Australia’s clear problems going into this summer, England skipper, Cook, knows that form is not as important going into an Ashes series as it may be with other series.

"I wouldn't read too much into what happened in India with Australia. The conditions were very different to what we are going to experience in England,” said Cook.

"They are going to be a very tough side to beat”, Cook said to cricket betting news pundits. “The Ashes is a unique event so hopefully it will bring the best out of both sides. The favourites stuff is all off the field. You can read all you want about that sort of stuff but it is irrelevant."

While Cook couldn’t really say anything else, there is no denying that this has to be the weakest Australia squad an England side will have faced in a good few years.

England might not be in the best of form themselves, a point attested to in the betting news, but it would still be hard to picture anything other than Cook’s men retaining the Ashes by the time the fifth and final Test finishes in August.

Compton still Competing for Ashes Spot

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:33:00 +0000

Despite scoring back-to-back Test match centuries, England batsman Nick Compton has played down talk he has cemented his place in the team for this summer’s Ashes series.

The 29-year old has burst on the international scene during England’s tour of New Zealand, scoring his maiden Test match century in the first drawn game in Dunedin before adding his second in the washed out second match in Wellington.

While only a few months ago it had been Compton whose place in the team appeared least secure, the Somerset batsman has now made it virtually impossible for the selectors to leave him out for the return Test series against the Kiwis at the beginning of the English summer, with the first of back-to-back Ashes series soon after.

Despite it appearing as though he is in the driving seat to face the Aussies this summer, Compton has admitted he still has plenty to prove if he is to fulfil his dream of representing England in an Ashes series.

"I've done well, but do I feel established? No, I still feel a long way off. I think it's great to be a part of this team and contributing but it's still early days. It's my second series,” maintained Compton.

"I've dreamed about the Ashes since I was a little boy. It's something that now feels a bit more tangible but it's not something I'm thinking about at the moment.”

There certainly isn’t a shortage of young batsmen coming through the ranks, but the Joe Roots, Jonny Bairstows and Jos Butlers of this England squad will have to wait for their next chance in the team. Compton has definitely done enough with his chance to warrant keeping his place for the foreseeable future.

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Aussie media savages players

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:49:00 +0000

The Australian cricket team has come in for some heavy criticism after they were whitewashed by India in their four match Test series.

India’s victory in Dehli on Sunday means that Australia have lost a series 4-0 for the first time since 1970.

It represents a new low in Australian cricket, that has been in steady decline ever since the first members of their golden generation began to retire around seven years ago.
With no Warne, Gilchrist McGrath or Ponting to turn to, the new generation of Baggy Greens are floundering.

The young side certainly possesses talent, but the manner by which they gave away their wickets repeatedly during this India v Australia tour suggests they may lack the mental toughness required to be successful at this level.

With back-to-back Ashes on the horizon – the next Test they play will be at Trent Bridge in July - there is genuine concern among the media.

Not that they showed it in the aftermath of this defeat, choosing instead to savage the players, including stand-in captain Shane Watson.

"It's official. Australian cricket's class of 2013 are the worst to tour India ... and the nation's worst Test outfit in 34 years. That is the macabre reputation Michael Clarke's battered troops will bring home," wrote the Telegraph.

"...If any player should forensically analyse their form on this shambolic tour, it is Watson.
"The struggling all-rounder can no longer be a selection untouchable after his form slump hit a crisis point during Australia's latest batting collapse.

“In the ultimate indictment, No.11 Nathan Lyon (244 balls) managed to survive more deliveries on this tour than Watson (239). Lyon (18) also finished with a superior batting average to Watson (16.5),"

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Messi can also play cricket?

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Davies) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:21:00 +0000

I dunno that bowling action looks a bit suspect.

No more confusion, Finn must sort out his game

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:39:00 +0000

The confusion over whether or not a bowler disrupting the bails at his end while bowling leads to a no ball will finally be resolved after the Marylebone Cricket Club confirmed it would amend the cricket laws.

Currently, it is within the umpire’s discretion to give a dead ball or not should the bowler interfere with the bails on his run-up, a situation that led to confusion with the England side over their recent tour this winter.

Steven Finn was twice denied wickets against India, the umpire calling a dead ball after England’s paceman ran into the bails on his delivery. It cost his team vital wickets and left Finn with much explaining to do, the paceman himself confused over the laws of the game.

Thankfully, this confusion will end on 1 October when a new law comes into place, insisting that the ball is dead should the bowler interference.

The law also means that Finn must sort out his game if he is to make the England Test squads for New Zealand and Australia this summer. As he wrote in his Michael Vaughan tips column, former England skipper Vaughan knows that current captain Alastair Cook cannot afford to have a meandering bowler in his midst that could cost the team a match.

Finn has already claimed he is working hard on his stride and even shortened his run-up to try and cure the problem. However, having taken just one wicket from his last two ODIs against New Zealand this spring, changing his game has clearly taken longer than expected and he may suffer a reduction in delivery pace because of it – something that has affected the England cricket betting.

Sadly, this could cost Finn his place in the side, so the 23-year-old needs to concentrate on his action over the next few months. With three Tests against the Kiwis coming up he has the stage to perfect a new game but will be given no leeway from umpires should those bails come off at the wrong end.

Woakes eyes England progress

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:39:00 +0000

Following their defeat to New Zealand in the opening ODI encounter in Hamilton, Chris Woakes is hoping he can help his side level up the series in their second clash on Wednesday.

The Warwickshire bowler, who worked under now national head coach Ashley Giles at Edgbaston, produced a decent performance against the Kiwis, recording bowling figures of 2-52 and contributing 17 runs with the bat at more than a run-a-ball.

England, slender favourites according to the cricket odds, eventually lost the game by three wickets and Woakes, who was pleased with his performance in the opening ODI, believes there were areas he can improve on for the second encounter with the Black Caps in Napier.

He said: "I thought it went okay.

"It would have been nice to have stayed in till the end with the bat, and put some more runs on the board.

"Obviously, we thought we were slightly short with the bat. So it would have been nice to contribute there a little bit more.

"With the ball, I didn't finish as well as I'd like to. But to pick up two wickets in the middle was pleasing."

Punters who want to know how to bet on cricket will note that Hamilton has not been a happy hunting ground for England and they will be looking to fare much better when they make the trip to Napier.

A loss for the tourists on Wednesday would see them lose the ODI series before the final encounter on Saturday, after which the Test series will soon following against New Zealand.

England will then be looking to build on their Test success in India when they face the Kiwis in a three-match series, starting in Dunedin on March 5.

Watson back on Song for Aussies

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:22:00 +0000

Shane Watson returned to action with a real bang as he hit a sensational century to help the Aussies secure a series-clinching victory against West Indies. Chasing 330 for victory, the Windies fell 39 runs short as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 series lead.

The batsman, returning to the side after a four-week injury lay-off, set Australia on the right track with a well-crafted 122 from 111 balls, taking his time to settle back into his rhythm before really taking the West Indian bowlers to the cleaners with some typically ruthless stroke-play to finish with 12 fours and two giant maximums.

Australia captain, Michael Clarke, heaped praise on Watson for his man-of-the-match performance, admitting to the sports betting news that it was a huge boost to the team to have the influential all-rounder back in the fold.

"Shane Watson led from the front. Good wickets and fast outfields help, but it doesn't matter how flat the wicket is if you're facing good bowling, you've got to hit the ball sweetly and he (Watson) did that from the first ball.

"Watto is a very good player and it's great to see him back to his best,” added Clarke.

Watson’s return to the one-day side may be important but the real question will be whether or not he will manage to stay injury-free in the run-up to the Ashes.

While the cricket betting news seems to be writing Australia’s chances off ahead of the upcoming Ashes, Shane Watson remains as one of the few current players that England will be extremely wary of.

Having the 31-year old fully fit and in-form will be essential to any hope Clarke’s men will have when they arrive on English soil later this year.

Woakes given chance on New Zealand tour

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:35:00 +0000

Chris Woakes has been given the chance to stake an early claim for an Ashes call-up after being drafted into England’s touring squad that faces New Zealand this February.

Woakes replaces the injured Tim Bresnan, who will return home when England finish their tour of India and seek medical advice regarding an elbow injury to his right arm.

If the hurt proves bad enough to keep Bresnan out for a while, he may find it difficult to force his way back into the England fold when they play the Kiwis in the summer – for Woakes may have solidified his place in the squad.

Woakes, has an excellent chance to prove himself worthy of a Test place after making a number of games for England’s short-form teams. The all-rounder made his debut for England in a T20 international against Australia in January 2011 and has since gone on to make seven ODI appearances, crucially taking six wickets for 45 in England’s fifth one-dayer against the Aussies two years ago in Brisbane.

The all-rounder has proven competent with the bat and ball at club level, hitting over 2,800 first-class runs at an average of 38; while his 254 wickets in 128 innings proves this medium-pacer can bowl at a consistent level.England’s T20 cricket odds will certainly not be hindered by his inclusion.

Although he scored a duck in his most recent England outing – against India in Kochi this January – and was sunk for 1-60 in his nine overs, he nevertheless deserves a chance to prove his worth in New Zealand and may even earn a Test cap should Alastair Cook’s side waver in their first match in early March. Though the England Cricket Betting suggest they should win the Test series with relative ease.

If Woakes can prove a valuable asset to this England side the all-rounder could secure his place in the reverse tour in England come May. All things going well, he will fight with Bresnan for a place in the squad when Australia visit later this summer and could develop into a major player of England’s Ashes series.

England should leave out Patel for New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:21:00 +0000

England selectors should seriously consider omitting Samit Patel from the England squad that tours New Zealand next month after the all-rounder again proved unreliable both at the crease and with ball in hand.

Patel fell for one during England’s humble one-day defeat to India in Mohali, a loss that sent them 3-1 down in the five-match series and deflates the confidence built from a superb Test effort before Christmas. Although the India v England betting briefly swung in the tourists’ favour after the first match, their hopes have mirrored Patel’s decline. With his duck in Ranchi and this single on Wednesday effectively seals his fate for selection next month.

For Patel has been too inconsistent over this tour of India and has not always proved the reliable middle-order batsman captain Alastair Cook requires, while his bowling figures are way askew.
Having recorded 0-85 in his last four ODI outings, it is clear this reserve spinner is not capable of moving the ball enough to warrant a first-team place and his batting has again exposed an unreliable middle-order contributor.

He was rightly subject to squad rotation in the final Test in Nagpur last December having made meagre totals of 10, 0, 26 and 33 in his four innings at the crease.

One of his uses on Indian soil was that he offered good spin cover on a turning pitch, but now England are heading to New Zealand, where they T20 odds have them as favourites.

They are expecting to use just one spinner – Graeme Swann - and after Monty Panesar’s impressive form this winter, the reserve spin spot in the 15-man touring squad is filled. With Jonny Bairstow, Nick Compton and Joe Root also in the squad there is no place for Patel in the order.

Patel shouldn’t be too surprised, for his form hasn’t warranted a place in the team, but with a long 2013 ahead for England there is still a chance he can make it back into the squad before the Australians fly north for the Ashes this summer.

Treadwell calls for improvement

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:21:00 +0000

England spinner James Treadwell concedes that the side need to improve quickly ahead of the first one-day international against India in Rajkot on Friday.

Ashley Giles’ side crashed to a six wicket warm-up defeat against Delhi on Tuesday, just three days after they were heavily beaten by India A in Mumbai.

With the first of five one-day internationals just days away, Giles knows his experimental side need to get to grips with sub-continent conditions or risk yet another limited overs series defeat.

England have not won a one-day series in India since 1984 and have one just one of their last 17, taking in two successive whitewashes. It is little wonder then that Betfair England markets are tipping the hosts to win once more.

However, they can at least take heart from the Test side, who won their first series in India 28 years in December.

England have also entered an experimental era , with the role of coach now split, with Giles taking charge of the limited overs sides, while Andy Flower remains responsible for the Test side.

There has been changes among the playing staff as well, with the likes of James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad left at home in order to rest up ahead of later tours.

Treadwell is one of those expected to step up in the absence of more experienced stars and he knows there is plenty of scope for improvement given their performances in the warm-ups.

"It's obviously not been ideal,” he said. “We like to go in and win these games but we've not hit our skills in the way we'd have liked,"

"We need to make some improvements in the next couple of days. We didn't hit our lengths consistently enough to build pressure over periods of time. That's what it boils down to.

"To be able to turn it around in the next couple of days going into the first ODI is crucial.
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The 10,000 club welcomes a new member

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:52:00 +0000

Exactly a year after Mahela Jayawardene become the first Sri Lankan to reach over 10,000 Test runs, fellow national Kumar Sangakkara has also shot into the record books – becoming the 11^th man in history to make that coveted Test target.

During an intense opening day of the Boxing Day Test with Australia, Sangakkara hit a neat cover drive off Mitchell Johnson for four to ensure his place in cricketing history. He went on to make 58 in the first innings, a respectable score considering Sri Lanka mustered just 156 from their first assault.

Despite Australia finishing day one of the second Test in complete control, the day was reserved for Sangakkara, who received a warm reception from the Melbourne crowd when that four finally flicked over the boundary rope.

What makes Sangakkara’s feat so special is the speed in which he reached this milestone. For although he joins an elite group that boasts Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis in its ranks, Sangakkara becomes the joint-fastest ever player to record the feat. He sits alongside Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar as men who have reached 10,000 runs on their 195^th innings.

Ponting was just one innings short of that record when he made the required runs against West Indies in May 2008, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul needed 239 innings to make the target.

At 35 years of age, Sangakkara is unlikely to mount an assault on Tendulkar’s all-time record of 15,645 Test runs, but his feat nevertheless confirms his status as a true legend of Sri Lankan cricket. Along with Jayawardene, Sri Lankan fans have a player they can not only be proud of, but who will hopefully inspire a new generation of batsmen to take up the Test helm.

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Pietersen deserves new England deal

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:51:00 +0000

Kevin Pietersen is to be rewarded for an outstanding tour of India with a new contract from the ECB that will banish any suggestions over a wavering commitment to the England Test side.

Pietersen was superb in the England whites during their tour of India this autumn, scoring two half-centuries and a staggering 186 in Mumbai to win the second Test. Such a positive influence has the right-hander been on the squad that the ECB have rightly decided to extend his contract.

The contract wont be a problem, said selector Andy Flower. Kevin has been excellent in every way.

For him to score as quickly as he did there and put such pressure on the opposition bowlers really helped us turn the series around.

Indeed, Flower is right to praise Pietersen after some sublime performances with the bat against India. Before that Mumbai Test England were on the ropes. They had just lost by nine wickets in Ahmedabad and looked completely lost on the turning wicket. Pietersen came in and, along with Alastair Cooks century, steadied the ship.

There were certainly doubters in the betting world who suggested KP would not be given the chance to fully redeem himself after exile from the squad over the summer. Hopefully that Mumbai Test silenced these critics for good, for he was rightly called back into the team for the tour of India and had he not been present England would not have won that series.

We can now expect KP to be given a deal that at least extends to the end of the 2013/14 Ashes series. Over that time he will have his work cut out, with a tor of New Zealand, a home Ashes and a series Down Under to look forward to, but if Pietersen can keep his head down and perform like he did in India then the ECBs decision to bring him back will be vindicated.

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Anderson starts thinking about Ashes

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:28:00 +0000

James Anderson will be a crucial part of England’s hopes in this summer’s Ashes series, and the fast bowler has admitted he is already beginning to think about the prospect of taking on Australia again.

The seamer again proved his importance to this England team during the recent series victory in India, bowling over after over on pitches that were in no way suited to fast bowling and playing a key role in the tourists 2-1 series victory.

Head coach Andy Flower decided to rest Anderson for the one-day series, which is a break the bowler has definitely earned over the course of a gruelling four Test series in India. Anderson was the only England pace bowler to play in all four matches, and England will know keeping their premier bowler fully fit for 2013 will be critical to the team’s hopes of reclaiming the number one spot in the Test rankings.

While allowing the Ashes to enter their thoughts, Anderson has made it clear the squad is more focused on the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

"The guys are going back to India for the one-day series and then we've got a tough tour to New Zealand first. We've got to worry about the present rather than the future too much, but there's always an eye on the Ashes when it's less than six months away,” insisted Anderson.

The win in India was the perfect way to end a mixed year for England. The signs certainly look positive under Alastair Cook’s leadership, and there are a number of exciting young players knocking on the door looking to earn a chance to impress ahead of the Ashes.

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Afridi challenged to earn Pakistan spot

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Shahid Afridi has been challenged to win back his place in the Pakistan one-day side after the former captain was dropped from the squad ahead of the three-match series against India. The all-rounder has kept his place in the T20 squad that will play two games against the Indians, but a disappointing year in the 50-over format has resulted in Afridi being overlooked for the ODI party.

Despite making nearly 350 one-day appearances for Pakistan, Afridi has been told that he needs to rediscover his 50-over form if he is going to be able to break back into the squad. A dismal run of form this year has seen the 32-year old record just 182 runs from his 16 ODI appearances in 2012.

Chief selector Iqbal Qasim has admitted Afridi needed to show he was still committed to playing ODI for Pakistan if he was going to return to the team, revealing the team were looking to blood a number of younger options during the upcoming matches against India.

"If he performs in the Twenty20s then he can make a comeback into the one-day team. It was a difficult decision. He is a great player who can win matches, but in the interest of the team we have decided to left him out,” revealed Qasim.

"We have tried to infuse new blood into both teams as we feel the way forward in these formats is to try out new faces. We want to give exposure to more young players."

The upcoming series, the first between the two nations since 2007, gets underway with Twenty20 clashes in Bangalore and then in Ahmedabad. Following that, Chennai will host the first one-day international on 30 December, followed by matches in Kolkata (3 January) and New Delhi (6 January).

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Absent pair unlikely to trouble stuttering England

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:06:00 +0000

The news that both Steven Finn and Ian Bell are out of the second Test in Mumbai later this week is unlikely to upset England’s preparations for the match after a dismal performance in the first clash against India left a lot to be desired.

Finn picked up a thigh injury against India A, two weeks before the first Test in Ahmedabad, yet was only in slight contention for a place in the bowling attack anyway.

And, after England’s appalling seam-bowling display last week that saw just one wicket taken in 72 overs, captain Alastair Cook is unlikely to add another seamer to his arsenal and instead is expected reduce his pacemen to two in place of another spinner as he looks to defy the latestcricket odds in Mumbai next week.

Bell, meanwhile, returned home for the birth of his first child following a poor display at the crease in the first Test. The right-hander was caught first ball to spinner Pragyan Ojha before being nicked lbw for just 22 in the second innings. With both Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root on hand as competent replacements, Bell’s presence at fifth man shouldn’t be missed.

In fact, these two absentees should ease Cook’s selection decisions as the pressure builds to eradicate the mistakes of the first Test. England, who are now vast outsiders according to the latest Betfair India v England odds, need another spinner in their ranks and Finn’s absence means selecting Monty Panesar is now a straight-forward decision to make. Bell’s absence also means there is no pressure to drop Samit Patel, who’s ability to bat and bowl could be crucial to England’s fortunes this week.

Indeed, selecting either Bairstow or Root as Bell’s cover will do wonders for either youngster on the toughest tour on the planet. India’s turning wickets are like few others in the world and for one of this pair to get the chance to bat on the subcontinent will only enrich their international pedigree.

Returning Duo Critical to England

noreply@blogger.com (guestblogger) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:11:00 +0000

England fans placing a bet on sports are still waiting to discover whether or not they will have Stuart Broad and Steven Finn available for the first Test against India in Ahmedabad.

The fast bowling duo returned to the nets following their respective injuries, but England will have to leave it late before deciding to include either or both for the first Test.

Broad has been struggling with a heel injury, with Finn suffering a thigh strain soon after arriving in India.

While the back-up bowlers all did their best to strengthen their cases during the drawn warm-up clash against Haryana, there is little doubt the selectors will be desperate that both Broad and Finn are able to play the first Test if possible.

Alastair Cook admitted he would have liked Finn and Broad to have been able to get more practice time under their belts before the first Test, but the skipper made it clear it would be a huge boost to the team to have both fast bowlers in the line-up.

"In an ideal world, I'd certainly have liked them to have had more match bowling. The one part of this preparation period that has not quite gone right is those two not getting some overs under their belt.”

"But what we do know is they are quality performers, world-class bowlers. It'd be great if they were fully-fit, and had some overs under their belt, but they haven't,” admitted Cook.

It will be interesting to see just how effective either bowler would be should they play the first Test.

Neither has manage to get many overs under their belts since arriving in India, and it certainly weakens an area of England’s team that will need to be firing on all cylinders if the tourists are going to have their best chance of success.

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