All posts by csb10.top

Ben Hilfenhaus says an off-season refresher with Troy Cooley has helped him refine his action as he aims to extend his explosive form to the international stage in South Africa. Hilfenhaus was a late replacement for Shaun Tait in Australia’s 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Championship next month in what will be his first tour with the national side.Tait’s slow recovery from an elbow injury has left the door open for Hilfenhaus to resume his brief international career that began in January. The ICC’s technical committee approved Hilfenhaus’ inclusion in the squad on Wednesday.Despite his outstanding 60-wicket haul in the Pura Cup last season, Hilfenhaus wanted to keep improving and has tweaked his technique with Cooley at the Centre of Excellence. “I spent most of last year at the Centre of Excellence with him and went up for a couple of weeks just recently and spent some time working on some technical things,” Hilfenhaus told . “He’s been getting me to make little changes in the action for variety – he’s fantastic on that perspective.”The opportunities for Hilfenhaus in South Africa will probably be limited as Australia have also chosen Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson. However, Hilfenhaus is desperate to prove his value and he will draw on his experience in South Africa with the touring Academy side last August.”You’ve got to give the selectors a reason to keep you,” Hilfenhaus said. “It is just about doing the best you can and putting performances on the board.” Hilfenhaus impressed in his Twenty20 international debut against England when he claimed 2 for 16 from four overs.

Bermuda batsman Lionel Cann has been sent home from the tour of Africa and the Middle East after the Bermuda Cricket Board chose to increase his suspension for showing dissent when he was given out lbw against Kenya on Saturday.Cann took his time leaving the crease after being given out for a golden duck then hit a trash can with his bat as he left the field. The ICC has already dealt with the offence – handing him a two-match suspension from one-day-internationals after finding him guilty of showing “serious dissent at an umpire’s decision”. That ruling had meant Cann would have been eligible for the two four-day Intercontinental Cup games against Kenya and the UAE.But the BCB announced that they had upped his suspension. In a short statement the executive voard announced its decision that Cann should play no further part in the tour and revealed it was making arrangements for him to fly home as soon as possible.BCB president, Reginald Pearman said: “I am particularly disappointed with Lionel’s reaction to his being given out as he is an experienced and senior player. Lionel has a vast amount of international experience, including the recent World Cup, and he understands exactly what is expected of a player at this level. This tour has already had some very positive performances from a number of our younger players as we continue our preparation for the World Cup Qualifier in Dubai in 2009. We expect that our senior players will lead by example, particularly in professionalism and behavioral matters.”The board considered reports from ICC relating to the two-match suspension imposed by match referee Mike Procter. It also reviewed reports obtained from tour management during their deliberations.Cann, who had been in good form so far on the tour and had targeted a century in one of the four-day games, said in his Bermuda Sun column this week – before the BCB ban was handed down – “I admit I was wrong, I went up for it, I got banned and now I have to put it behind me. Basically I got a bad decision and I exploded. As I was walking off the field I hit the trash can with my bat. It was just out of frustration. I hit my kit-bag, too, when I got back in the dressing room, but it was the trash can that got me in trouble because everybody could see.”My big fear was that I would be banned for the rest of the tour, but my ban is for ODIs so I am eligible to play in the four-day games. I have to put it behind me and try and do a good job against Kenya this weekend.”Now, it seems, he will not get the opportunity to do that. And with Stephen Outerbridge also winging his way back to England after suffering a knee injury Bermuda are down to the bare bones in the batting department.This article first appeared in the Bermuda Sun

Johmari Logtenberg is the only prominent name missing from South Africa women’s squad announced to participate in the World Cup qualifiers in Stellenbosch during February after quitting cricket.The 18-year Logtenberg was vice-captain for the team that was to tour Pakistan for the qualifiers in November. However, unrest in Pakistan saw the tournament being postponed; subsequently, the ICC decided to shift the matches to South Africa.Now Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed to Cricinfo that Logtenberg, one of two players nominated by CSA for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2007, has opted to stop playing cricket in order to pursue other sports. Allrounder Alicia Smith replaces Logtenberg in the 14-member squad, while Claire Terblanche will be the deputy to captain Cri-zelda Brits.Logtenberg burst on the scene with an impressive 74 on her Test debut in 2003, when she was just 14. She was named Women’s Cricketer of the Year at the South African Cricket Awards in 2006.South Africa are one of the favourites to qualify from the tournament, where the top two sides go through to join the major nations who will contest the World Cup in Australia in 2009. South Africa are in the same group as Bermuda, Netherlands and Papua New Guinea.The qualifiers will be held from February 18 to 24.South Africa squadCri-zelda Brits (capt), Claire Terblanche, Olivia Anderson, Susan Benade, Trisha Chetty (wk), Dinesha Devnarain, Mignon du Preez, Shandre Fritz, Ashlyn Kilowan, Marcia Letsoalo, Sunette Loubser, Annelie Minnie, Alicia Smith, Daleen Terblanche.

New Zealand have announced their 15-player squad for the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia next month. There are five players with experience in first-class and provincial cricket, while several impressed at the recent national Under-19 championship.The captain is yet to be decided, although it was Kane Williamson in the recent match in Hamilton. There are two wicketkeepers in the squad – Michael Guptill-Bunce and Michael Bracewell.”The competition gives our emerging players the opportunity to test their skills in a tournament environment against world’s best,” said coach Dipak Patel, one of four selectors alongside Lance Cairns, John Wright and Kaushik Patel. “It is a stepping stone for potential future Blackcaps, giving players a chance early in their careers to experience a high level of tournament play.The squad assembles on Thursday 31 January before attending a camp in Queensland, moving on to Malaysia on Sunday 10 February. New Zealand will play Malaysia, Zimbabwe and Pakistan in the first round.Squad Corey Anderson, Nicholas Beard, Harry Boam, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Tamati Clarke, Fraser Colson, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Greg Morgan, Jeet Raval, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Anurag Verma, Kane Williamson, George Worker.

South Africa’s build-up to their two-Test series against Bangladesh has hardly been ideal. Firstly there was the selection row before the team left home, then the bowlers took a hammering during their warm-up match against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI.The Test attack was taken for 412 in a little more than 100 overs with only Johan Botha coming out with anything like complimentary figures. However, coach Mickey Arthur believes his side are shaping up nicely ahead of the first Test on Friday despite Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel returning combined figures of 5 for 219 from 57 overs.”We had a long chat soon after we arrived from Fatullah Stadium. We opened up to speak about all aspects of our game and that included the plans for the two Tests that we are heading into from Friday,” Arthur told the . “We have come to the realisation that Bangladesh will not roll over and die in their conditions. They will be a difficult batting side to dislodge if we approach the Tests in the manner we played their Board XI.”Arthur said the team’s fast bowlers will have to adapt and can’t expect to run in and blast sides out as they might do on the surfaces back in South Africa. “We spoke about our bowling and have decided that we have to be a little more defensive in our approach to field placings. The bowlers will have to be a lot more circumspect about their lines and lengths and the channels they bowl to gain success.”Although there wasn’t time for South Africa to gain much of a second innings, Arthur was pleased with the warm-up match. “I believe we got a lot out of the game, but there’s still a lot to do. We’ll be working hard over the two remaining days before the Test to get to where we want to be.”Andre Nel, recovering from a hamstring injury, was restricted to eight overs against the BCB XI as he recovers from a hamstring injury and Arthur said he will be assessed closer to the start of the Test.

The arson trial of Mark Vermeulen got underway at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Friday afternoon, where the former Zimbabwe Test cricketer was reprimanded for breaching one of his bail conditions.Vermeulen was reprimanded by Harare provincial magistrate, Mishrod Guvamombe, after admitting and apologising for contravening a bail condition in which he is prohibited from entering or using facilities at the Harare Sports Club. He was spotted at the HSC on the first day of the four-day match between the touring Sri Lanka A and Zimbabwe Select on October 16. He also proceeded to the nets, where he practised with some schoolchildren.In defending Vermeulen’s action, his lawyer, Eric Matinenga, also made an application to have his client’s bail restrictions wholly lifted. The application will be heard following consultations with a forensic psychologist, Dr A. Rajkovic, who is now overseeing Vermeulen.The case was adjourned to November 12.Vermeulen, now the Old Hararians club captain, is accused of setting fire to the Zimbabwe Cricket boardroom at Harare Sports Club on October 30, 2006. He is also charged with setting another fire the following day, which destroyed property worth millions of dollars at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy at the Highlands Country Club in Harare.

Sri Lanka will go for a 3-0 whitewash of the Test series against Bangladesh in the third and final Test starting on July 11 at Kandy’s Asgiriya International Stadium.”That’s the only way to look at it. We’ve played some really good cricket the last two weeks or so and we are 2-0 up in the series. We don’t want to have any hiccups at this stage,” said Mahela Jayawardene.”We want to make sure that we concentrate and play the same brand of cricket and have the result going our way so that it will be good for us going into the one-day series as well as for the season which is coming up for us.”If Sri Lanka win at Kandy, it will be their 50th victory in 170 Test matches. With Chaminda Vaas having returned to England to see out his contract with Middlesex, Jayawardene stated that young all-rounder Farveez Maharoof would fill his vacancy in the team.”Maharoof is our next best in the line up. He deserves his place. He’s one guy who’sperformed really well,” said Jayawardene. “We are also floating with the idea of giving Sujeewa de Silva an opportunity as well since we have wrapped up the series. He deserves an opportunity having performed well. If we take a decision to play him then either Lasith [Malinga] or Dilhara [Fernando] will be rested depending on the amount of cricket they have played and which of them we feel needs a break.”Also set to return for his first Test of the series is opener Upul Tharanga, who has recovered from a fractured left heel. “Upul has been our No.1 choice going into the Test series,” said Jayawardene. “Injury kept him away. Everybody who has been given the opportunity has done well. What we have to realise is we cannot think right now but look to the future. The next six months there is a lot of cricket coming up and Upul’s definitely going to be part of that. He needs to come in as quickly as possible and start playing good cricket and get into the stride. He will definitely play in this Test. We have to make a toughdecision on Michael [Vandort] and Malinda [Warnapura].”Jayawardene said he expected the pitch to be slower than that at the SSC and theSara Stadium but added: “There would probably be a bit of movement as well as carry.I am not sure whether it has the same pace as the Sara Stadium but it will definitely have a little bit more movement given the fact that the conditions here are usually moist.”Mohammad Ashraful, the Bangladesh captain, said he hoped his bad luck with the toss would change in Kandy. “Luck has not gone my way and I am expecting it to change here.”On both occasions he lost the toss, Bangladesh failed to top 100 in their first innings and this had led to the team being defeated by an innings in three days. Bangladesh have made two changes to their side with middle-order batsman Tushar Imran replacing Mehrab Hossain and fast bowler Syed Rasel replacing Mohammad Sharif.Ashraful said that Mehrab was dropped after just one Test because he was not a middle-order batsman but a specialist opener. “Tushar has been scoring runs for the A team as well as in domestic cricket that’s why we got him down early for the final Test.”Bangladesh will hope to avoid their second 3-0 whitewash in history. In their only previous three-Test series they lost to Pakistan.Teams:Sri Lanka from: Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, KumarSangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan,Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, MuttiahMuralitharan, Sujeewa de Silva.Bangladesh from: Javed Omar, Nafees Ahmed, Rajin Saleh, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Tushar Imran, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Syed Rasel, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Shahadat Hossain.

Surrey are hoping to confirm the signing of the Pakistan paceman, Mohammad Asif, as their overseas player for 2008.Asif has taken 50 wickets at 21.66 in his ten Tests to date, and starred at Surrey’s home ground, The Oval, last year, taking 4 for 56 in the final Test against England before the game degenerated amid the Darrell Hair controversy.His career has been hampered by injury and controversy – he was suspended for 12 months last year after testing positive for a banned steroid, only for the decision to be overturned on appeal – but since the retirement of Glenn McGrath, he is rapidly emerging as the world’s leading seam bowler.”We are negotiating and things are going well,” said Surrey’s cricket committee chairman, Roger Harman, who also confirmed that the West Indian left-arm seamer, Pedro Collins, had joined the club as a Kolpak player on a two-year deal.The former Australia seamer, Matt Nicholson, could also return to The Oval in 2008 as a Kolpak player, if Australia and New Zealand finalise an EU trade agreement.

South Australia will offer four New South Wales players contracts before the end of the week in a bid to boost the struggling state’s batting stocks. Greg Mail, Aaron O’Brien, Tom Cooper and Grant Lambert could all be heading to Adelaide if the Redbacks coach Mark Sorell, who flew to Sydney on Monday for talks, has his way.South Australia deliberately targeted players on the fringe of the Pura Cup-winning New South Wales squad that includes ten Cricket Australia-contracted players. “We’re feeling pretty confident,” Sorell said. “They’re at a very strong state where lack of opportunity has been an issue and we think they will fit in very nicely here.”Mail, 29, played only four Pura Cup matches for the Blues last season despite making nearly 300 runs. Lambert, a useful 30-year-old allrounder, was used six times for 163 runs at 27.16 and nine wickets at 30.77. O’Brien did not feature at all, following semi-regular appearances over the previous six seasons, and Cooper is an uncapped rookie. Sorell said Cooper, 21, would be an investment for the future.South Australia must also find a captain for next summer after Nathan Adcock lost his Pura Cup position mid-season. However, none of the New South Wales players have been offered the job. “We have some good internal candidates at the moment,” Sorell said, “and we’ll address leadership when they sign.”The Redbacks have already picked up Michael Klinger from Victoria and are not chasing any other players. However, Sorell was disappointed to have lost out to the Bushrangers on Chris Rogers.Sorell also wants to keep the spin duo of Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey even though squeezing both of them into the side in 2007-08 was almost impossible. “I’m confident that that will happen,” Sorell said. “It’s a priority, there’s no doubt about that.”He is also hoping to retain Ryan Harris, the allrounder, but questions over his status have been raised after he used his British passport to sign as a local player with Sussex. South Australia want to speak to Harris over his intentions for the next Australian season.

Boosted by the absence of Graeme Smith, West Indies will approach the first Twenty20 international against South Africa in Port Elizabeth with confidence.Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has made optimistic noises since landing in the country and, despite falling behind the Duckworth-Lewis target in the warm-up match against Makhaya Ntini XI, West Indies can be expected to put up a stiff fight.With three straight wins against Zimbabwe, after suffering a loss in the opening ODI, West Indies have some momentum on their side. Gayle will also take confidence from the opening match of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, where he lashed a 57-ball 117. It didn’t prevent a defeat but definitely provided a big early scare.”We respect the South Africans,” Gayle said, “but we don’t fear them. They are a good team and are playing good cricket at the moment, so we know the challenge at hand. But we are confident and we believe in our ability. We played well in Zimbabwe and we are here in South Africa to continue the good work. They will be in for a fight.”Chasing 177 in the practice match on Friday, West Indies started off shakily, losing their top three batsmen for 34, but were to be steadied by Shivnarine Chanderpaul. His rollicking 44 set the platform but the onset of rain, at 101 for 5, did West Indies in, falling short of the D/L target by five runs.South Africa, though, will be hard to beat. Smith, who has been advised three week’s rest after contracting an infection during the tour of Pakistan, will be replaced by Shaun Pollock as captain. Morne van Wyk will fill Smith’s absence at the top of the order. They are currently the second-best ODI side, according to the ICC rankings, and are usually buoyed by their local support.The first Twenty20 match will be followed by the three Test matches (Port Elizabeth from 26 December, Cape Town from 2 January and Durban from 10 January). The second Twenty20 is scheduled for January 18 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.