All posts by csb10.top

Somerset will not be taking legal action against Chris Gayle for breach of contract. Gayle had signed to play for Somerset in this season’s FLt20 competition but, after resolving his differences with the West Indies team management, has made himself available for the limited-overs section of their tour of England.”We have taken legal advice and we have decided that it is not in the best interests of Somerset or cricket to take legal action,” Somerset’s chief executive, Guy Lavender, told ESPNcricinfo.”We wish Chris well and hope to see him back playing for the West Indies this summer.”While Somerset felt they did have strong grounds for action, they also felt the cost of proceedings – both financially and to the reputation of cricket – would outweigh any benefits. They have also acknowledged Gayle’s honesty and communication throughout.Somerset have already agreed a deal to bring in South Africa allrounder Faf du Plessis as a replacement for Gayle.

Chris Gayle and the WICB have reached an understanding that paves the way for the former West Indies captain to return to the national team as early as the upcoming tour of England, Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has reported. However, the deal’s success will be tested by an ongoing lawsuit – to which Gayle is a party – between the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and the board. Gayle hasn’t played for West Indies since the 2011 World Cup.The agreement between Gayle and the WICB was brokered by CARICOM (the Caribbean Community) and had the involvement of St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. According to the report, a meeting will be convened between the two parties to “tidy up residual matters” after both parties expressed regret for their actions. “In the light of all of this, the WICB and Mr Gayle agree that the way is now clear for his active return to West Indies cricket, subject to all necessary fitness considerations,” the report quoted from the agreement. “A date is to be set for this meeting, convenient to all parties, including Mr Gayle who is currently in India,” Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and the chairman of the Prime Ministerial sub-committee of cricket was quoted as saying.Gayle has reportedly said he will be unavailable for West Indies duty for the entire duration of the IPL, which ends on May 27. West Indies are due to tour England for a full series between May 5 and June 24 and Gayle’s participation in the IPL means he will miss the Test series. However, he was prepared to forego his contract with Somerset and play for West Indies in the one-day and Twenty20 games on that tour. He also said he was available for the World Twenty20 this year and that he was not seeking to “cherry pick” the series he played.In a statement dated March 29, the board said it was “disappointed” over Gayle’s unavailability during the IPL but in the “spirit of compromise and subject to agreement being reached on all outstanding residual matters” it would convey Gayle’s unavailability to the selectors.The board hoped Gayle would drop the lawsuit concerning No-Objection Certificates filed by the WIPA against it, though Gayle, in a statement last week, said he could not “possibly contemplate withdrawing unilaterally from proceedings”, especially when such a move would affect all West Indies players. The board, though, has since written to Prime Minister Gonsalves, arguing that Gayle’s participation in the lawsuit was not consistent with the agreement reached with the board.It also questioned why Gayle could not withdraw from the lawsuit unilaterally. “As the lawsuit was started by WIPA without him, and his claims are set out separately, we do not understand why Mr Gayle says he cannot contemplate withdrawing from the lawsuit without WIPA.”Our efforts must surely be focussed on bringing about the resolution of all outstanding matters between the Board and Mr Gayle.”

Luke Wright, the Sussex allrounder, has announced on twitter that he has signed for IPL franchise Pune Warriors. The deal means he will miss the start of the English season and could be unavailable for six County Championship matches.Wright, 27, said on twitter: “I’m delighted to be going to the IPL with Pune Warriors. I’m disappointed to miss the start of the Sussex season but it’s an amazing opportunity few could turn away.”His stock rose significantly when playing for Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Big Bash League 2011-12 in which he scored the fastest hundred in the competition’s history, off 44 balls against Hobart Hurricanes. He has scored over 2,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket with two centuries.Wright has ambitions to win a place back in England’s one-day team. He has played 46 ODIs and 30 T20s but his last cap came in England’s T20 defeat against Sri Lanka at Bristol in June 2011. Last season Wright scored 341 runs in T20s for Sussex at 34.10.Pune Warriors have now filled all their spots for overseas players, with Australia allrounders James Hopes and Steven Smith, and West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels also having signed ahead of the fifth IPL season. Warriors begin their IPL campaign against Mumbai on April 6 while Sussex open their season away to Surrey on April 5.Edited by Alex Winter

New Zealand Twenty20 squad

Brendon McCullum (capt), Michael Bates, Doug Bracewell, Andrew Ellis, Colin de Grandhomme, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson

Canterbury allrounder Andrew Ellis, who made his international debut in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, will replace the injured Dean Brownlie in the New Zealand Twenty20 squad to face Zimbabwe. Brownlie fractured a finger while fielding in the second one-dayer in Whangarei. He will miss both the ODI and Twenty20 series against South Africa after a hand specialist confirmed he was likely to be out for a month.Ellis made a vital 33 in New Zealand’s win in the first ODI, and followed it up with a wicket as Zimbabwe failed to chase 249. New Zealand then took an unassailable lead in the series after winning the second match comfortably, following up on their triumph in the one-off Test.John Wright, the New Zealand coach said: “We would like to give Andrew the opportunity to show us his hitting power as he has not had the chance to spend a lot of time at the crease in this series.”The two Twenty20s against Zimbabwe will be played on February 11 in Auckland, and on February 14 in Hamilton.

The sentencing of Mervyn Westfield, the former Essex pace bowler who pleaded guilty to spot-fixing last month, has been adjourned for a week until February 17 due to “administrative matters.”The hearing had been scheduled to start at 11am but was put back as representatives of the prosecution and the defence discussed details relating to the case. Eventually the session began at around 12.15, at which point Westfield’s counsel, Mark Milliken-Smith, asked for the adjournment. The prosecution offered no objection and Judge Anthony Morris agreed to the request.Westfield, 23, became the first English cricketer to be convicted of spot-fixing after submitting a guilty plea at the start of his trial at the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court, on January 12. He admitted to accepting £6,000 in return for conceding a set number of runs off an over in a Pro40 match against Durham in September 2009.Westfield was paid despite failing to give up the agreed 12 runs – Durham managed just to score 10 from the over, the first of the bowler’s spell, in a game which Essex went on to win. The truth only came to light in 2010 when Westfield confessed to then team-mate Tony Palladino, now of Derbyshire, and showed him the money he had received.Palladino had been due to be the prosecution’s main witness in the case before Westfield decided to admit his crime, despite previous denials.

Match facts

January 14, East London
Start time 10:00 (8:00 GMT)It was all smooth sailing for AB de Villiers on his captaincy debut, but things can change very fast in ODI cricket•Getty Images

The Big Picture

Sri Lanka, like their fellow World Cup finalists, find themselves tumbling down a seemingly endless abyss. And like with India, the big question is whether Sri Lanka are doing anything to arrest their descent. The Durban Test suggested a revival, but in reality that win was down to a magnificent exhibition of in-the-trenches grit from Thilan Samaraweera, and an equally large-hearted effort from Rangana Herath. Sri Lanka responded by leaving Samaraweera out of the ODI squad, and Herath out of the starting XI for Paarl. Their presence may not have altered the result in that game, but nonetheless they were missed.There’s only one way Sri Lanka can go from 43 all out, but a revival will require application from the big three at the top. Tillakaratne Dilshan has been the biggest culprit, attempting million-dollar strokes too early, and falling for single-digit scores five times in seven innings so far on the tour. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, between them, have managed just one century in 14 efforts. Even that would not have transpired had Mark Boucher not dropped a regulation catch from Sangakkara early in his second-innings effort in Durban. Sri Lanka’s attack will be desperate for their batsmen to turn the corner in East London, where the conditions are expected to be similar to Paarl’s.Everything South Africa tried worked in the first one-dayer. The batting clicked in unison to leave the Sri Lankan attack with figures much worse than they deserved. AB de Villiers attempted radical 7-2 fields, only for his bowlers to back him up and the Sri Lanka batsmen to play into his hands. At some point in his tenure, de Villiers will be confronted by tougher circumstances, and given the capricious nature of the one-day format, it could happen in the very next game.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
South Africa WLWLL
Sri Lanka LLLLW

Watch out for…

Albie Morkel‘s short stints with bat and ball in Paarl did not do much damage in the context of the game, but were good indicators of the form he is in. Coming in at No. 5, he slugged two monstrous sixes in the end overs, and bowled two overs of menacing seam for no reward later in the evening. If the top order performs well again, South Africa could consider promoting him even higher in the batting line-up.Nuwan Kulasekara was unlucky not to pick up more wickets in Paarl, after producing a bunch of prodigious inswingers with the new ball. Like several of his team-mates, he will be hoping for a change of fortune in East London.

Team news

Dilhara Fernando had a knee concern on the eve of the match. Ajantha Mendis, who had a recurrence of a back niggle, has been ruled out of the series. Sachithra Senanayake has been named Mendis’ replacement, and could be available for the third ODI. Thisara Perera or Dhammika Prasad could come in for Fernando.Sri Lanka: (probable) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Thisara Perera / Dilhara Fernando, 8 Kosala Kulasekara, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Rangana HerathRory Kleinveldt, who was benched in Paarl, has been ruled out of the series with an injured quadricep muscle. South Africa are yet to name a replacement. Hashim Amla is waiting on the birth of his first child, and might pull out of the game at the last moment. In case he does, Johan Botha will have to step in, forcing South Africa to rejig their batting order.South Africa: (probable) 1 Graeme Smith, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Robin Peterson, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Morne Morkel

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have lost only four times at Buffalo Park, and the last of those defeats came in 1999
• Sri Lanka have a 2-1 win-loss record here. The victories came against New Zealand and Zimbabwe, and the defeat against South Africa

Quotes

“It bothers me when I am not the one run out. If somebody else gets run out it bothers me more than anything.”

“We were very disappointed with our performance in the first one-dayer and we apologise to our cricketing family in Sri Lanka.”

Jimmy Neesham’s all-round effort helped Otago pip Wellington by six runs at the Basin Reserve and pick up their second straight win in the Ford Trophy. Otago had lost their top six for just 97 by the 23rd over, and Wellington looked to have control of the game at that point. However, Neesham, batting at No.8, smashed his way to 55 from 51 balls, hitting seven fours and a six to lift his team to 219. He built a 60-run partnership with Derek de Boorder (31) for the seventh wicket and a 45-run partnership with Neil Wagner (21) for the eighth. Still, Otago were bowled out with 10.1 overs to spare – New Zealand seamer Andy McKay took 4 for 34 – and Wellington had a gettable target to chase.Neesham would not be denied though, despite Wellington appearing, once again, to be ahead at 157 for 5. Neesham took three of the last five wickets to fall – including that of New Zealand allrounder James Franklin, who top scored for Wellington with 58 – to earn his side the victory. Neesham ended up with figures of 5 for 44, as Wellington lost their last five wickets for 56 runs. Fittingly, it was Neesham who finished the game, dismissing Franklin and Scot Kuggeleijn off consecutive deliveries to wrap up the innings in 39.4 balls, one fewer than Otago faced.The game between Northern Districts and Canterbury at Blake Park in Mount Maungauni was called off because of rain after Canterbury had made 267 for 9. Former New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton top scored with 66.The Auckland v Central Districts game in Auckland was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Match Facts

India v England, October 29, Kolkata
Start time 1830 (1300 GMT)Graeme Swann takes over as England captain for the Twenty20 game•AFP

Big Picture

England have not won a match against India in India since 2006, and this Twenty20, strangely scheduled after the one-day series, is probably their best opportunity. The India players would have enjoyed the festivities over the three-day Diwali break. MS Dhoni visited his home in Jharkhand for the first time in four months after the fifth ODI, and his tweet on arriving at Eden Gardens on Thursday – “Kolkata, back on national duty” – did not reveal a great deal of enthusiasm at the prospect of this one-off game.England’s biggest weakness over the five one-dayers was that their batsmen struggled against India’s spinners, and will hope that the reduced number of overs will make R Ashwin and co less effective. They will also have a new captain, and will need Graeme Swann’s famed wit to lighten the spirits of some visibly frustrated players. Swann reckons England should just enjoy the match, after a testing series so far, and that may be their best bet against an India side that may struggle to find meaning in the match after having already battered England over the one-dayers.The big test during this Twenty20 could well be for neither team, but for the Bengal Cricket Association. The sparse crowds that marred the ODI series were typified by the half-empty Eden Gardens stadium for the final one-dayer. The Diwali season may have been an excuse for that poor turnout, but with the festival now over, the number of people the organisers can bring through the gates on Saturday could be an indicator of where cricket in India is headed.One thing that will not work in their favour is the odd scheduling of the match. The significance of a one-off Twenty20 games is debatable in any case, but at least when scheduled before an ODI series they may act as something of a preview to the series. Now, with India fans already high on the euphoria of the 5-0 drubbing and Diwali, it is questionable how many people remember England are even still here.There are a few points of interest in the match, though. This is the first Twenty20 international since the ICC announced the official Twenty20 rankings. England are currently ranked first, but a loss will take them down to third, while India will want to improve their No. 5 ranking.

Form guide

India: LWWWW (completed games, most recent first)
England: LWWLL

Spotlight

Robin Uthappa has not played for India since 2008 but has been dominating domestic attacks in recent times. Innings of 92 off 36 balls and 64 off 20 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy suggest he belongs at a higher level. Parthiv Patel’s failures in the one-day series mean this is a good time for Uthappa to make a case for himself as a reserve opener in the limited-over formats.Less than a year ago, Yusuf Pathan hit a couple of one-day centuries that seemed like they would cement his place in the India side for some time to come. A mediocre World Cup and a poor West Indies tour later, Yusuf found himself out of not just the playing XI but the squad. He too has been bludgeoning attacks in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and will have a real point to prove if he plays in Kolkata.Since bursting onto the scene with 41 off 21 balls against India in Cardiff, Jonny Bairstow has had a poor run in internationals, and managed just 49 runs in four innings in the one-dayers in India. With a few other young dynamic batsmen coming into contention for the Twenty20s, Bairstow will want to ensure he is still head of the pack.

Team news

Both Yusuf and Uthappa should make it to the XI, in place of Ravindra Jadeja and Parthiv Patel, who is not in the Twenty20 squad. Gautam Gambhir is also missing the game to get married, and Manoj Tiwary should play in his place. Rahul Sharma was included in the squad on the back of his performances in the IPL so it would make sense to try him out in the Twenty20 format.India (probable): 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Robin Uthappa, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Manoj Tiwary, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt and wk), 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 R Ashwin/ Rahul Sharma, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 R Vinay Kumar, 11 Varun AaronAlex Hales and Jos Buttler are in India specifically for the Twenty20 and should play. Jade Dernbach was replaced by Stuart Meaker for the final ODI, but has a decent Twenty20 record and could return to the side. If Kevin Pietersen doesn’t recover from his thumb injury Ian Bell could slot in having previously been dropped for Twenty20 cricket.England (probable): 1 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Ian Bell/Kevin Pietersen, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Tim Bresnan, 10 Jade Dernbach, 11 Steven Finn

Pitch and conditions

The pitch at Eden Gardens for the fifth one-dayer was slow and started to offer considerable turn as the match wore on. There will not be as much deterioration over 40 overs, but if the matches here during the IPL were any indication, the Twenty20 may not be as high-scoring as some might hope.

Stats and trivia

• This will be the first Twenty20 international England will play on Indian soil. The two have played each other three times in T20s, with England leading the head-to-head 2-1
• This will be the first Twenty20 international played in India since 2009. There have been just three completed T20Is in India before, and the home side have a 2-1 record
• With 1011 runs, Kevin Pietersen has the second-most runs in Twenty20 internationals among all batsmen. Only Brendon McCullum has more

Quotes

“We don’t play enough Twenty20 internationals in a tour. I would look forward to the time when every tour would have at least a three-match Twenty20 series.”
Graeme Swann is not pleased that England will play just one Twenty20