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Derbyshire have signed Robin Peterson, the former South Africa left-arm spinner, as a Kolpak player for the 2010 season

Cricinfo staff01-Dec-2009Derbyshire have signed Robin Peterson, the former South Africa left-arm spinner, as a Kolpak player for the 2010 season.Peterson, who has played six Tests and 35 ODIs for South Africa, holds the unenviable record of conceding the most runs in a single Test over, after Brian Lara took 28 from his left-arm spin at the Wanderers in 2003.Peterson plays for the Cape Cobras in South Africa and was due to play for South Africa A in the warm-up game against England at Potchefstroom. However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) pulled him out of the squad after he declared his intentions to play for Derbyshire which made him ineligible for future international duty.Derbyshire struggled to make much of an impact last season, finishing sixth in the second division of the Championship despite a late promotion bid, bottom of the North Division in the Twenty20 Cup and seventh in the Pro40. John Morris, the head of cricket, hopes Peterson’s experience can bring better success.”We are delighted and excited by the capture of Robin who is an all-rounder of international quality and plenty of experience,” he said. “Good quality spin bowlers are a valuable commodity in the modern game, as are explosive batsmen. Robin brings both of those attributes to the party and I am thoroughly looking forward to working with him in 2010.”

Graeme Swann admitted England had “messed it up” with their use of the review system

Andrew McGlashan at Centurion16-Dec-2009Graeme Swann admitted England had “messed it up” with their use of the review system while Ashwell Prince, who earned a reprieve through the technology, said he was the one South African player not in favour of the process.The most controversial moment for the enhanced decision review system (DRS), on the opening day at Centurion Park, came when AB de Villiers swept at Swann and England were adamant that he had under-edged the ball to Matt Prior. Steve Davis, the Australian umpire, thought otherwise leaving Swann and Prior to immediately signalled for a review.The replays were inconclusive and with the absence of Hotspot for this series – due to the lack of cameras and a cash-strapped host broadcaster – the TV umpire, Amiesh Saheba from India, was quite right to say the decision couldn’t be overturned even though it left England fuming.It didn’t cost the visitors any runs as de Villiers soon fell to Swann without adding to his 32, but it meant they had no reviews left having earlier wasted their first one. James Anderson thought he’d trapped Jacques Kallis leg before on 35 but he was marginally outside the line of off stump, the type of decision the system isn’t designed for.”We keep messing it up – we’ve got to get better at it,” Swann said. “We had a quick confab over the lbw and we all thought it had to be out – but it wasn’t.”Then the caught-behind, we all knew it was out and the system said it wasn’t. We said ‘we’re not going to call for caught-behinds unless we’re certain’. Everyone round the bat was certain, so we called for it.”But the system as it is, without the ‘snicko’ and whatever the thermo sensor is called, was inconclusive – so once again, we’ve wasted them.”South Africa also benefited when they asked for a review as Prince was granted a reprieve after being given out lbw to Graham Onions on 19. Davis was again the on-field umpire involved and this time the TV evidence clearly showed the ball heading over the stumps so Saheba had easy advice to offer his colleague.”I didn’t think I was out,” Prince said. “I knew the ball struck me quite high. I’ve got brand new pads and I looked down and saw a mark well above the knee roll. I knew I was a little off the ground as well and Hashim confirmed that with me and we went for the appeal.However, Prince said he wasn’t in favour of the system and believes cricket should remain how it has always been played. “I’ve benefited today but yesterday when we discussed it in the team meeting I was the only player who said he’d prefer not to have it. So it’s ironic that it benefited me. It’s still up for debate, it’s still early stages. I’m comfortable either way.”It’s a personal preference. I just feel cricket has been played for years and umpires make mistakes. I feel sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth.”

Intikhab Alam has called for separate teams for Twenty20 internationals as a possible means of arresting his side’s current decline in the Test format

Cricinfo staff08-Jan-2010Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has called for separate teams for Twenty20 internationals as a possible means of arresting his side’s current decline in the Test format. Intikhab echoed the comments made by captain Mohammad Yousuf after Pakistan’s defeat in Melbourne, when he said the players in the Test squad were struggling to adapt to the format largely due to volume of Twenty20 cricket they played.When asked if a separate team for the Twenty20 format was the way to go, Intikhab told the : “I think we will have to do that. If you play too much Twenty20 cricket then it becomes almost impossible for you to have the sort of patience and temperament that you need to shine in Test matches.”In Twenty20 cricket all you have to do is to hit the ball out of the park. But in Test matches, it is all about staying on the wicket. It is hard work and needs a lot of character.”Pakistan lost the Test series against Australia in Sydney, as they were beaten by 36 runs in their chase of 176. They had secured a first-innings lead of 206, but their batsmen capitulated to the spin of Nathan Hauritz while batting last. Intikhab said the lack of world-class batsmen was hurting Pakistan. “You can’t go out and beat top teams like Australia when you don’t have any world class batsmen in your team,” he said. “There is Yousuf but he is already 35 and does not have much time left in international cricket. Apart from him, there is nobody who can claim to be a world class batsman.”

Daniel Vettori may have several responsibilities within the New Zealand team’s set-up, but believes that his role is not very different from that of other international captains

Cricinfo staff02-Feb-2010Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain has said his role in the functioning of the national side is restricted to events and performance on the field.”On the field is my domain and the manager and coaches look after everything else,” Vettori was quoted as saying by AAP.In addition to leading the side, Vettori enjoys selection powers and has also filled in as coach in the interim between Andy Moles’ resignation and Mark Greatbatch’s appointment. However, Vettori believed that despite the additional responsibilities, his role was not very different from those of other international captains such as Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting.”It doesn’t differ apart from the fact that my selection role is official,” he said. “I think theirs [Smith and Ponting] is unofficial and they have a huge say in their team and what goes on.”Vettori said that like all the other players, he was answerable to the management team led by Dave Currie. “Like any manager, he takes control of most things, but when we step out on the field, like every captain, it’s my role to lead the team.”He rejected any talk of player power within the team, saying that their power was restricted to managing on-field performances. “They have to perform and stay in the team, and they have to win. That’s the only way this group of guys is thinking,” he said.

The winners of the ICC’s Development Programme annual awards have been announced

Cricinfo staff01-Mar-2010The winners of the ICC’s Development Programme annual awards have been announced, with individuals and initiatives from associate and affiliate member countries from around the world being honoured.While Nepal celebrate their victory in the final of the World Cricket League Division 5, Binaya Raj Pandey, president of the Cricket Association of Nepal, received the programme’s Lifetime Service award. Namibia’s cricket development programme won Best Overall Cricket Development Programme, while the Deutsche Cricket Bund picked up the Best Women’s Cricket Initiative award.The Israel Cricket Association won the Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative for their programme, in partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF, which has introduced cricket as a means of bringing together Jewish and Bedouin children in the Negev Desert to promote co-existence and tolerance among those caught up in the Israel-Arab conflict.”It is wonderful to see so many of our Associates and Affiliates being recognised for all the hard work and effort they put into their cricket programmes,” said ICC global development manager Matthew Kennedy. “Everyone who has won and those who were not successful this time round should be congratulated for their continuing effort and dedication to improving cricket in their nation.”Ireland’s James Bennett and S Gopalkrishnan of Indonesia shared the Volunteer of the Year Award for their dedication and contribution to the game in 2009. The Photo of the Year also came from Ireland and was taken by Rob O’Connor. His picture captured the celebrations following the match-winning run out in a game between Leinster and West Glamorgan Under-13s.”This is great news for Irish cricket and I’m delighted for both winners, said Arthur Vincent, Cricket Ireland’s president. “Jim Bennett is a dedicated and tireless volunteer for Irish youth cricket, and it’s thanks to the likes of stalwarts like Jim why our youth system is the envy of many countries. He is quite simply a fantastic servant to the cause of cricket in the country and the award is richly deserved. Jim is a gentleman and a great ambassador for Irish cricket.”Rob O’Connor is involved with Irish cricket at many levels, and is a superb photographer,” he added. “His image captures for me the essence and the unspoilt sheer exuberance and enjoyment of young cricketers playing the game. It’s a great honour for both to have won these prestigious awards and a marvellous reflection on the healthy standard of cricket here.”The judging panel for the awards featured current ICC President David Morgan, former presidents Ehsan Mani, Malcolm Gray and Ray Mali, and Keith Bradshaw, MCC’s secretary and chief executive.

Mediocrity met mediocrity on Sunday night, and somehow produced the first tie of the third edition of IPL

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga21-Mar-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outThe reverse-sweep that won Punjab their first game in the IPL this year•Indian Premier League

Mediocrity met mediocrity on Sunday night, and somehow produced the first tie of the third edition of the IPL, leading to a Super Over, which gave Kings XI Punjab an unlikely victory. Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh managed 82 runs in the 10 overs they faced between them, but the others batted poorly to score just 54 in the other 10. In the chase, even after a 65-run opening stand, the Chennai Super Kings batsmen contrived to be needing 10 runs off the last over. Fittingly for a match of low quality, the last over of the regulation game – bowled by Irfan and faced by Albie Morkel and R Ashwin – read: edge for four, missed slog for two byes thanks to an overthrow, single, another edge for two, a missed waft, and a powerful, nervous hit straight to mid-off with one needed off the last ball.Juan Theron, playing his first IPL match and Punjab’s bowling hero in the regulation time, bowled Matthew Hayden off the second ball in the Super Over, and despite a slogged six from Suresh Raina, once again 10 were needed in the last over. Muttiah Muralitharan was hit for a six first ball by Mahela Jayawardene, but he came back with a wicket and a dot to set the match up again. Yuvraj chose that extremely nervous moment to execute a delicate reverse-sweep, a shot he hardly ever uses, to finish the game off with two balls to go.By halftime, though, Murali, the second Sri Lankan spinner to bowl the losing Super Over in as many tied matches in IPL, wouldn’t have expected to play any further role in the game, let alone bowl the pressure over. In regulation time, he was the perfect spy, taking out two of the most prolific batsmen from his country, with 3 for 16 in his four overs. It wasn’t as if Chennai needed any extra-ordinary bowling effort: the Punjab batsmen were hapless again.Irfan, promoted to open the innings, and Yuvraj would have felt the rest of the team had turned on them. They got zero support from the other end, and the two batted together for only nine deliveries. There was a time when Irfan had scored 29 off 17 balls with five crunchy boundaries, but thanks to the struggling Ravi Bopara and Kumar Sangakkara, Punjab were 30 for 1 after five overs. Yuvraj, too, scored 43 out of the 70 runs that came while he was at the crease. He got to face only 28 out of 64 deliveries bowled when in the middle.Between those spells of ordinary cricket from Punjab came Murali’s genius. In his first over, inside the Powerplay, he beat Sangakarra twice in the flight, but the real beauty came in his second. This time he didn’t bowl it flat when he saw Sangakkara charging down, just got it to dip more and then the bounce left him high and dry.Jayawardene was made to look poorer than that. Murali first beat a late-cut with a topspinner from round the stumps, and then got a flighted offbreak to turn enough to beat the bat and get an lbw decision. At 64 for 4 after 11 overs, Punjab were looking at a freak innings from Yuvraj to keep them alive.Yuvraj hit four fours and two sixes, but Mohammad Kaif and Manvinder Bisla at the other end wasted too many deliveries. The trend for Punjab, until this game, had been for one aspect of their game to do well, and the other to let it down. Still, to defend 136 against an in-form Hayden was too much to ask for. What’s more, they had dropped their only bowler who could produce wickets, Sreesanth.Hayden was not at his murderous best, but he was good enough he overtake Yusuf Pathan for maximum sixes in the IPL so far, and leave Chennai only 72 to get off the 68 deliveries. Punjab, the whipping boys of the tournament until then, used to letting matches slip after getting into winning positions, were about to turn one around from a losing position.Their newest player, Theron, a medium-pacer, provided the turning point. Parthiv Patel dropped one at his feet and called Suresh Raina for a single, but Theron ran faster than Raina and kicked the ball into the stumps, from a good-length area on the pitch. Umpire Daryl Harper, who had earlier called a clear six a four, joined in the fun, sending M Vijay off when the ball was clearly sliding down leg.About five overs later, the six call was corrected, and Parthiv was seeing Chennai through with what seemed a sensible fifty. Then came the rush of the blood. Just after having hit a boundary, he jumped out to Piyush Chawla and was stumped, leaving Chennai 16 to get off 16. Morkel and Manpreet Gony, who had earlier bowled poorly to give 20 runs in two overs, started slogging as if the requirement was sixty and not sixteen.Theron, bowling the 19th over, only had to be straight when Gony produced the worst bit of cricket on a night that had had its fair share already. Throwing his front leg out of the way, and his head up, he slogged and lost his middle stump. An injury had confined Justin Kemp to the dressing room and Ashwin, like a hare in the headlights, couldn’t do much with the last two deliveries of that over, setting up an exciting finale.

A parliamentary committee in Pakistan has ordered an inquiry into alleged misappropriation of more than USD 3.5 million of the country’s cricket funds, officials said on Tuesday

Cricinfo staff23-Mar-2010A parliamentary committee in Pakistan has ordered an inquiry into alleged misappropriation of more than $3.5 million of the country’s cricket funds as listed in an auditor-general’s report for the period 2003-2008.The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) met on Monday and formed a sub-committee to look into the charges of irregularities, including spending without proper authorisation or planning. “PAC president Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has appointed a committee under parliamentarian Khawaja Asif to investigate and give a report in 30 days,” a PAC spokesman was quoted as saying by AFP.The committee recommended that the name of former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf be put on the exit control list as he was being investigated for alleged embezzlement worth Rs. 260 million ($3 million).Ijaz Butt, who took over as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in October 2008, also attended Monday’s meeting in Islamabad. “We have left the matter in the hands of the PAC, who have formed a committee to look into these facts which are an eye-opener for everyone,” Butt said. He pointed out that the irregularities were reported during the tenure of Ashraf, his predecessor.

Northamptonshire have signed Durham seamer Luke Evans on loan for an initial one month period

Cricinfo staff14-Apr-2010Northamptonshire have signed Durham seamer Luke Evans on loan for an initial one-month period.Evans will travel to Northants on Wednesday and join up with the squad ahead of their four-day fixture against Gloucestershire which starts on Thursday.Geoff Cook, the Durham coach, hopes Evans will be able to get an opportunity for first-class cricket, something unlikely in a Durham side packed with the most powerful pace attack in the country.”Luke really impressed in our pre-season preparation and this is a great opportunity for him to play some first-class cricket and further develop his game. He has put in some excellent performances for our Second XI in previous seasons and his experience at Northants will undoubtedly be of real benefit.”Evans echoed this sentiment and hopes that regular cricket will leave him in good stead for when an opportunity arises at Durham. “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to play some first team cricket for Northants,” he said.”I’ve been in good form and I want to continue to progress and improve so that when an opportunity does arise at Durham I can grab it with both hands and have the experience to produce a first class contribution. The schedule for the next month is really intense and this will be a really good test for me.”

Jacques Rudolph continued his remarkable run of good scores as Yorkshire gained a hard-earned victory over the Netherlands at Headingley to make it four consecutive wins in Group B of the Clydesdale Bank 40

15-May-2010

ScorecardJacques Rudolph continued his remarkable run of good scores as Yorkshire gained a hard-earned victory over the Netherlands at Headingley to make it four consecutive wins in Group B of the Clydesdale Bank 40.Chasing a target of 201, Yorkshire got there by four wickets with just three balls to spare, Rudolph leading the way with an unbeaten 83 to go alongside his previous scores in the competition of 101 not out, 83 and 26.Once again, Yorkshire were given an excellent start by skipper Andrew Gale and Rudolph, who put on 81 in 20 overs before Gale, having made 38, stepped out of his crease against the impressive spin of Mohammad Kashif and was neatly stumped by Atse Buurman.Rudolph, who had made rapid progress off the new ball, was forced to treat the spinners with greater respect and Adam Lyth hit five fours in his 29 before he attempted to steer Mark Jonkman to third man and was bowled off-stump.Kashif had Gerard Brophy caught at short mid-wicket in his final over and, with 60 still required from the last ten overs, it was Joe Sayers who boosted the scoring by taking two fours in an over from Pieter Seelaar which cost 13 runs.The visitors’ hopes were kept alive as both Sayers and Adil Rashid fell lbw and when Richard Pyrah became Michael Dighton’s second victim Yorkshire still required 12 from 13 deliveries. David Wainwright relieved the pressure in the penultimate over with a lofted boundary back past the bowler and Rudolph saw Yorkshire home with a four through mid-wicket which brought him his seventh boundary off the 100 balls he received.Put in to bat, the Netherlands lost a quick wicket when Nick Statham chopped Tino Best into his stumps but the West Indian paceman was then slammed for three fours during the remainder of the over by Dighton, the Tasmania batsman who is the Dutch side’s overseas player.Best had to be temporarily removed from the attack but returned later to dismiss the hard-hitting Dighton and his fourth-wicket partner, Bas Zuiderent, the former Sussex batsman, in consecutive overs.He bowled Zuiderent, making room to cut, for 26 after the pair had added 56, and then knocked back the stumps of the dangerous Dighton for 62 from 64 deliveries with six fours and a six.Best and Steven Patterson each finished with three wickets but they were unable to prevent a late burst of scoring from Mudassar Bukhari, who cracked the last ball of the innings from Patterson for six to finish unbeaten on 49 from 40 balls with four fours and three sixes.

After defeat to Sri Lanka sent India crashing out of the tri-series early, their captain Suresh Raina has said his team of youngsters hadn’t be convincing in the entire tournament

Cricinfo staff05-Jun-2010After defeat to Sri Lanka sent India crashing out of the tri-series early, their captain Suresh Raina has said his team of youngsters hadn’t been convincing in the entire tournament.Following two embarrassing losses to Zimbabwe, India fielded three debutants in their must-win match against Sri Lanka, but the change in combination didn’t work as Raina’s men were easily defeated by six wickets. The lackluster campaign, combined with South Africa’s whitewash of West Indies, has resulted in India slipping one place to third in the one-day rankings, with Graeme Smith’s side moving up to second.”We haven’t looked good throughout the tournament,” Raina said. “I am not happy at all. We scored around 270 but we didn’t bowl well, especially with the new ball. R Ashwin bowled well, and he batted well too.”The star of the day was Sri Lanka’s 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal, who made a sparkling century to steer the chase. “All credit goes to Sri Lanka, they batted really well, especially Dinesh,” Raina said. The Sri Lankan captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, also lauded the youngster. “I’m really happy with Chandimal’s batting, playing so well in his second game.”Dilshan was also thrilled that his side had clinched a spot in the finals with a match to spare, and singled out the fielding for praise. “I said in the morning, we want to finish it off today. Our players did really well. We kept the pressure up through the fielding, keeping the fielders up,” Dilshan said. “I told the players we needed to improve the fielding, and they did a really good job in the field, stopping good shots, taking difficult catches.”