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Tom Cooper zipped to the top of the Sheffield Shield batting aggregates with a chanceless, unbeaten 203 to help South Australia fight out a draw against New South Wales

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-2011
ScorecardTom Cooper’s three matches against NSW this summer have included scores of 100*, 98 and 203*•Getty Images

Tom Cooper zipped to the top of the Sheffield Shield batting aggregates with a chanceless, unbeaten 203 to help South Australia fight out a draw against New South Wales in the match at Bankstown Oval in Sydney.Resuming at 1 for 59, SA quickly slipped to 4 for 79 and the precipice of defeat, but Cooper and the allrounder Dan Christian added a determined 260 for the fifth wicket to take SA to 5 for 373 and so frustrate the Blues in their pursuit of a first outright win of the season.Christian was denied his century, edging behind for an obdurate 96, but by then the Redbacks were safe. Cooper reached a deserved double with a six over long on followed by a deft late cut in the same Steve Smith over. The match was called off an over later.Smith, who made 106 in the first innings, had a difficult time with the ball, returning match figures of 1-146 from 27 overs.More heartening was the bowling of Josh Hazlewood, gleaning 4-65 from 33 overs for the match as he continued his return to top rhythm after a lengthy absence through injury.

Michael Clarke has conceded that Shaun Marsh is in doubt for the second Test in Johannesburg after he struggled with a stiff back on the first two days in Cape Town

Brydon Coverdale at Newlands10-Nov-2011Michael Clarke has conceded that Shaun Marsh is in doubt for the second Test in Johannesburg after he struggled with a stiff back on the first two days in Cape Town. Marsh did not field on the second day and batted at No.10, clearly hampered as he walked to the crease and faced his only two deliveries, including a delivery that kept low and trapped him lbw.The problem arose on Wednesday during the latter stages of Marsh’s first-innings 44, and the issue worsened on Thursday. The Wanderers Test starts in a week and Clarke, as a man who has suffered serious back problems himself over the years, said the most important thing was to ensure Marsh was not forced to play if he was not quite right.”I’m a little nervous, no doubt,” Clarke said after play on Thursday. “I know the feeling when you do your back, it’s always a couple of days of mending time and treatment to try and get it right. I’m confident if he does get it right in this period before the second Test then he’ll be fine to play.”But I need to trust the judgment of Alex Kountouris, our physio, who has had a lot of experience on backs, unfortunately. Shaun knows his body pretty well. He’s a big player for us, he’s in all three forms of the game. He’s a wonderful guy with a lot of talent, so I want to make sure we make the right decision.”Should Marsh be unavailable for the Johannesburg Test, it would mean a call-up for Usman Khawaja, the back-up batsman in the squad. While Khawaja is a fine prospect, Marsh has been one of the shining lights for Australia during their past three Tests.He scored a century on debut in Pallekele in September and made 81 in his second Test, before starting his South African trip with a pair of half-centuries in the tour match in Potchefstroom last week. In the first innings in Cape Town, he was the only one of Australia’s specialist batsmen who showed the centurion Clarke any support.Marsh has had ongoing back issues throughout his career. He was ruled out of the third ODI against Sri Lanka last November and the Australia A game against England that followed due to back trouble, and a similar problem also ruled him out of the tour of New Zealand early last year.

The first edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will kick off on February 9, 2012 with the final to be played on February 29

Tariq Engineer28-Dec-2011The first edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) will kick off on February 9, 2012 with the final to be played on February 29. The 20-day tournament will feature six teams that will play each other twice each in a round-robin format over 33 matches to be held in Chittagong and Dhaka.Teams will be allowed to field five foreign players in their XIs, as opposed to four in the IPL. Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Kamran Akmal are among at least 25 foreign players who have made themselves available for the tournament.”The main thing is the Bangladesh players have to be available,” Arun Lal, a consultant to Game on Sports, the tournament organisers, and also a former India opener, told ESPNcricinfo.As in the first season of the IPL, each team will have an icon player. The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced yesterday that Tamim Iqbal will be the icon player for Chittagong, Mohammad Ashraful for Dhaka, Alok Kapali for Sylhet, Shahriar Nafees for Barisal, Mushfiqur Rahim for Rajshahi and Shakib Al Hasan for Khulna. The players will be paid 5% more than the amount received by the highest paid player of each franchise.The franchise auction will take place on January 5, either in Dhaka or the sea-side town of Cox’s Bazar. Companies wishing to bid for a franchise will submit their offers on the same day, and bids will be opened in front of all those present, with the franchises going to the highest bidder. The player auction is scheduled to take place 10 days later. Each team will have to spend a minimum of US $2 million and can spend up to a maximum of $5 million.The BPL will be televised on a new sports channel in Bangladesh and the organisers are believed to be in discussions with Ten Sports to broadcast the tournament in India. However, India’s domestic 50-over tournament begins on February 20 and therefore could restrict Indian participation. “India is a problem,” Lal said. “In the first six or eight games, they [India players] could play.”The organisers are also hoping that the winner of the BPL will be given a place in the Champions League Twenty20 next year.Game on Sports paid US$44.3 million for the rights to the BPL for six years. This article was amended on January 4 to remove James Anderson’s name

Brendan Taylor’s 58 was the only resistance the New Zealand bowlers faced, as they bowled Zimbabwe out cheaply to secure a 90-run win

The Report by Andrew Fernando02-Feb-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMartin Guptill’s brisk 70 earned him the Man-of-the-Match award•Getty Images

Brendan Taylor’s 58 was the only resistance the New Zealand bowlers faced, as they bowled Zimbabwe out cheaply to secure a 90-run win in the first one-dayer in Dunedin. Pace and bounce were the visiting batsmen’s bane once more, with the New Zealand seamers sharing four of the top seven scalps between them. But Zimbabwe’s own bowlers had enjoyed those same conditions, having dismissed New Zealand for a spluttering 248 in the 49th over.Taylor had spent two months playing in the HRV Cup prior to his side’s arrival, and the experience clearly showed, as only he mastered the hosts’ steady seam on a lively, green-tinged track. With three batsmen perishing in 6.1 overs, in what seemed a continuation of Zimbabwe’s rolling collapse in Napier, Taylor counter-punched with a volley of calculated straight boundaries, while Tatenda Taibu groped his way past early jitters to help erect a 52-run partnership.The pair first averted another top-order collapse before Taylor began hauling in a rapidly rising run-rate, with boundaries to the leg side and some hurried running. Taibu perished attempting aggression, but Taylor found the rope when he looked for it, hitting debutant Andrew Ellis for two successive leg-side boundaries to close in on a 25th ODI half-century, which he completed in 59 balls.Zimbabwe’s hopes of successive one-day wins over New Zealand effectively ended with Taylor, who holed out to long-off to leave his side at 97 for 5 in the 26th over. Taylor had hit Rob Nicol out of the University Oval off the previous delivery, but the bowler’s bravery in flighting the ball once more brought him his first scalp, and all but secured the result.Malcolm Waller had struck a match-winning unbeaten 99 in the sides’ last encounter, in Bulawayo. But rarely seemed comfortable here, and though the tail added late runs and entertainment after his demise, New Zealand simply stayed patient to close out the Zimbabwe innings at 158.Zimbabwe had repeatedly threatened to derail New Zealand in their innings, but managed only to contain them. The hosts’ innings never found fluency following the loss of two early wickets, with regular blows thwarting hopes of a commanding total. But Zimbabwe never closed in for the kill, with inconsistent bowling allowing New Zealand’s inexperienced batting order to lurch their side to an underwhelming, but competitive total in spurts.Martin Guptill’s 66-ball 70 at the top of the order was the only notable score for the hosts, as he and Kane Williamson rescued New Zealand who threatened a familiar collapse at 4 for 2. Opener Rob Nicol was undone by a Meth’s outswinger on zero, before Brendon McCullum padded up to a Kyle Jarvis indipper three deliveries later, with the ball shown to be clipping the top of off stump on review.Zimbabwe should have had Guptill soon after too, had they been more patient. Having been stifled by early movement, Guptill lashed out at Meth with a lofted drive over mid-on and Tatenda Taibu saw enough cause in the batsman’s first boundary to move up to the stumps. He regretted his decision the very next delivery, when he spilt an edge he would have comfortably pouched in his regular position. A chance that would have restricted New Zealand further and perhaps changed the match’s outlook.Placement and sharp running was the hallmark of Guptill’s association with Kane Williamson, as the pair put on 88 to rebuild, then consolidate after early losses. Both men eased runs through the leg side as the Zimbabwe seamers strayed straight too often – perhaps spurred by early success to look for big swing. Guptill’s fifty came from 44 deliveries as he punctuated singles and twos with regular boundary blows, particularly to the off side.None of his team-mates though, could convert starts into innings of substance. Five of New Zealand’s middle-order batsmen failed to reach fifty having made more than 15 in not unfriendly conditions. Promising partnerships were crimped just as they sought to wrest the advantage, with an occasionally lively pitch and canny limited-overs bowling from Zimbabwe hauling the hosts back at regular intervals.Shingi Masakadza bagged 4 for 46 from his 9.3 overs, while Elton Chigumbura was also effective through the middle overs, taking 2 for 46. Both bowlers bowled a consistent off stump line and found slight movement on occasion, as well as uncomfortable bounce and carry to prevent the hosts’ batsmen from settling.Nathan McCullum and Ellis put on 57 at almost a run a ball to reverse a wicket-induced mini stagnation towards the end of New Zealand’s innings. But though Zimbabwe dismissed them and the tail without much ado, their batsmen failed once more and New Zealand take the early lead in the three-match series.

Kyle Mills has warned against underestimating Zimbabwe, after the tourists suffered heavy defeats in the one-off Test and the first ODI

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2012New Zealand seamer Kyle Mills has warned against underestimating Zimbabwe, after the tourists suffered heavy defeats in the one-off Test and the first one-day international. Ahead of the second ODI in Whangarei, Mills said he expected Zimbabwe to be better acclimatised with the seamer-friendly conditions and be more competitive in the remaining games.”There’s no doubt they are going to come back a lot better, harder and stronger in Whangarei,” Mills told. “That’s the general theme in most series around the world. The waters are tested in the first game but as the series progresses, both teams get a better read on each other and what they’re trying to do and get a better understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses.”Zimbabwe lost the Napier Test by an innings and 301 runs within three days, their worst ever Test defeat. They were rolled over twice on the same day, for scores of 51 and 143. The Test finished on the third day, with a bulk of play on the second day lost due to rain. The team fared marginally better in the first ODI in Dunedin, bowling out a new-look New Zealand for 248, but the batsmen failed yet again, scoring 158.Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor top-scored with 58 but the next-highest was Raymond Price’s unbeaten 26 at No. 10.During New Zealand’s tour of the country last year, the hosts pulled off a surprise win in the dead-rubber third ODI in Bulawayo, successfully chasing down 329 in a thrilling climax. A victory in Whangarei will give New Zealand the series, with one match to go, but Mills said the hosts are capable of bouncing back to keep the series alive.”It’s a must-win game for them and they did that up in the series in Zimbabwe as well – they progressively got better,” Mills said. “It’s really important we stay on our game in Whangarei because there’s no doubt they will be a lot stronger and mentally prepared for it.”

Kruger van Wyk, the Central Districts wicketkeeper, has been added to New Zealand ‘s squad for the South Africa Tests as cover for BJ Watling

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2012Kruger van Wyk, the South Africa-born Central Districts wicketkeeper, has been added to New Zealand’s squad for the South Africa Tests as cover for BJ Watling, who has a hip injury. The first Test starts on Wednesday. van Wyk himself hadn’t batted on Sunday in CD’s Plunket Shield match against Auckland due to an illness.”Watling has been suffering from some irritation around his hip joint,” New Zealand’s physiotherapist Paul Close said. “We’re monitoring it closely and will know more in the next 24 hours, after he has completed training and had time to rest.”Watling and van Wyk had both been in contention for the wicketkeeper’s spot before the Test against Zimbabwe in January. Watling was picked for the final XI and scored his maiden Test century to reinforce his position as the current first-choice gloveman.Edited by Siddarth Ravindran

Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, ending a career that underpinned India’s rise to the top of the sport

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2012Rahul Dravid formally announced his retirement from international cricket on Friday, saying he was leaving the game sad but proud. It wasn’t an easy decision, he said, but he was comfortable with it because it was time to move on and let the next generation take over.The announcement was made at a press conference in Bangalore on Friday that was also attended by N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, and Anil Kumble, the KSCA president and Dravid’s former team-mate and captain.”You know that when you leave playing for India and the life that I have lived for 16 years, and five years before that of first-class cricket, it is tough,” he said. “It is all I have known all my grown life. From that point it was a difficult decision, but it wasn’t a difficult decision for me because I just knew in my heart that the time was right and I was very happy and comfortable in what I had achieved and what I had done. You just know deep down that it is time to move on and let the next generation take over.”It wasn’t a sudden or overnight decision, he said. “I don’t think that I made this decision made just on one series, it’s a culmination of a lot of things. Of course it would have been very nice to contribute and do well in the last series and play really well. These decisions are based on a lot of other things, not on one series.”I don’t think there was a eureka moment for me that said that this is the time I have to go. For each one it comes differently, for me it’s come with a bit of contemplation, a bit of thought, with friends and family. It is difficult … but you recognise that this moment has to come to everybody some day. While it will be difficult I have loved every moment of playing for India and for the Indian cricket team. In some ways it’s been an easy decision, because I just know that the time is right.”Dravid became the first of India’s senior-most cricketers – including Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman – to quit the game after a season of speculation surrounding their future. His decision follows a poor tour of Australia but he enjoyed a prolific run through 2011, scoring five centuries – including four in the Caribbean and England. However, he is set to captain Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL season.The first public tribute came from Tendulkar, who said no tribute was enough for the “one and only” Dravid. “There was and is only one Rahul Dravid. There can be no other. I will miss Rahul in the dressing room and out in the middle,” he said.Dravid, who made his debut at Lord’s in 1996, scoring 95, ended his career as one of the greatest players of his generation and among the most accomplished ever. He scored 13,288 Test runs – behind only Tendulkar – in 164 matches, with 36 hundreds at an average of 52.31. His ODI career, which effectively ended in 2008 with a brief reprisal in 2011, was scarcely less successful – it yielded more than 10,000 runs and 12 centuries. He also has 210 catches, a Test record, in addition to 196 catches in ODIs.Behind the statistics, he will be remembered as the consummate team player, moving around in the batting order to suit the team’s requirements and keeping wickets when necessary – most strikingly in ODIs, when his double role gave the team balance on its way to the World Cup final in 2003. His remarkable fitness allowed him to play 93 consecutive Tests from his debut to December 2005.He will be remembered as one of the last classical Test match batsmen, renowned for his technique and a willingness to bat through difficult circumstances – and over prolonged periods – yet able to stroke the ball around when the mood struck him. He was the anchor of India’s famous middle-order, keeping the innings together while the strokeplayers – Tendulkar, Laxman and Ganguly – played a more attacking role. He appeared to especially flourish in partnership with Laxman, never more so than in the Eden Gardens Test of 2001.His batting qualities and efforts were often overshadowed by the flair of his team-mates yet they were brought into sharp focus over the past year with India’s Test team struggling through a period of transition. Dravid showed his class on the tour to England in 2011. In a series in which India were completely outplayed and none of their other batsmen scored more than 275 runs in the Tests, Dravid amassed 461, including three hundreds, two of them when opening the innings against a high-quality pace attack. However, that was followed by a poor series in Australia, which reopened the debate about his retirement.As a captain Dravid had mixed success; he led India in 25 Tests, winning eight and losing six. Under him India cemented a newly won reputation for being good travellers, winning Test series in Pakistan in 2003-04 – he captained in two out of three Tests – West Indies in 2006 and in England in 2007. His captaincy coincided with Greg Chappell’s controversial term as coach, though, and Dravid was clearly uncomfortable with the role.Yet he was seen as one of the game’s thinkers, meriting a place on the MCC’s cricket committee and delivering the Bradman Oration in December 2011 – the first cricketer from outside Australia to do so.Edited by Jayaditya Gupta