England to play seven ODIs in Sri Lanka

The first ODI, a day-night encounter, will be staged here at the Premadasa Stadium while the third and fifth match will be played in Hambantota in the south and Pallekele in the central hills.

   

The second and fourth ODIs, both day games, will be played at the Premadasa while the sixth game will be played at Pallekele.

   

England will also play two warm up one day games in Colombo on November 21.

England name squad for first Test against Sri Lanka

Uncapped trio Sam Robson, Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali have been named in the England squad for the first test against Sri Lanka, starting at Lord's next Thursday.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire seamer Liam Plunkett was recalled having last played Test cricket seven years ago. Matt Prior, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury, was passed fit to keep wicket.

   

And that meant there was no place for Jos Buttler, who made a blistering century for England against Sri Lanka in the fourth one-day international at Lord's on Saturday or Jonny Bairstow, the man who replaced Prior during England's 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.

   

England, with pace bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes deemed not to have had enough bowling following injury, also included Warwickshire's Chris Woakes in their squad for the first of a two-Test series.

   

Robson is set to open alongside England captain Alastair Cook after Michael Carberry was dropped in what was Peter Moores' first Test squad since he returned to the job of England coach.

England lost the one-day international series to Sri Lanka 3-2 ahead of the two-match test series.

             

Run-out row will 'spice up’ Test: Cook

England captain Alastair Cook said he expected the controversial run out of Jos Buttler during the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka to "spice up" the forthcoming Test series between the teams.

Cook insisted a "line had been crossed" after Sachithra Senanayake ran out England's Jos Buttler as the non-striker backed up during Sri Lanka's 3-2 series-clinching six-wicket win in the fifth and final one-day international at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, asked by the umpires if he wanted to uphold what was a legitimate appeal, didn't call Buttler back and the wicketkeeper, whose blistering 121 had so nearly taken the hosts to victory in their seven run fourth ODI defeat at Lord's on Saturday, was out for 21.

"I've never seen it before in a game," Cook told a post-match press conference.

"I was pretty disappointed with it to be honest with you. You don't know what you'd do if you were put in that situation, the heat of the moment, until you are. I'd hope I wouldn't do it," he said.

But Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews insisted Buttler had been repeatedly warned before Senanayake took the bails off to send Buttler on his way. This was only the eighth reported instance of a batsman being run out backing up in an international match and the first since South Africa's Peter Kirsten was dismissed by India's Kapil Dev in a one-day international at Port Elizabeth in 1992/93.

Yet even though 'Mankading', the term coined after India's Vinoo Mankad ran out Australia non-striker Bill Brown during the 1947/48 Sydney Test, remains a legitimate dismissal, there are those who regard it as against the 'spirit of cricket'.

"This is just different," said Cook. "For some reason it's different. In my opinion there's a line and that line probably, I think, was crossed today," he said. 

"If he was properly trying to steal a single, I could possibly understand it," he added.

England and Sri Lanka meet in the first of two Tests at Lord's next week and Cook added: "Probably, it [the run out] will spice it up a bit, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just important you let your cricket do the talking as well."

The fact it was Senanayake, reported on suspicion of a suspect action by the umpires at Lord's but was still allowed to play in this match under International Cricket Council rules at Edgbaston, who ran Buttler out only added to the row. But senior Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jawywardene, who made 53 as the tourists chased down a target of 220 which Cook, for all the Buttler furore, admitted was "20-odd runs short on that wicket", insisted Senanayake had done nothing wrong in dismissing Buttler and defended he offspinner's action.

"We gave him a fair chance twice - before the first warning as well, we told the umpires that they're taking too much of a lead," Jayawardene said.

"He was told not to take a start and then warned again, so it's fair enough. At Lord's, they took 22 twos in the last 12 overs. Ravi and he ran riot, and most of the time they were taking starts - which was not legal by the written law," he said.

England Test Squad:

             

Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Sam Robson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes.

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Faulkner to lead Australia A for 4-day series against India A

Faulkner, who has been a part of IPL in 2011 (Pune Warriors), 2012 (Kings XI Punjab) and 2013 (Rajasthan Royals), has stood in 19 ODIs for the Aussies and played a single Test.
   
CA chairman of selectors Rodney Marsh expects Faulkner, 24, to perform well. "James is a young man with plenty of character and possesses a great desire to win," Marsh said.
   
"He is still developing as an all-rounder but we believe this captaincy provides him an opportunity to do that as well as develop his leadership skills," he said.
   
Meanwhile, middle-order batsman Cameron White will lead the one-day squad in a quadrangular series post the two unofficial Tests. Marsh believes White's huge experience in limited-overs cricket will benefit the ODI team.
   
"Cameron White has been selected as captain of the one-day team for the quad series in Darwin. Cam White is a very good captain with loads of experience and will set a fine leadership example to the younger players," Marsh said.
   
Some known Australian players including Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Phillip Hughes, Chris Lynn and Mitchell Marsh are part of both the sides.

Australia A take on India A in two four-day matches from July 6-17 in Brisbane, then move to Darwin for the one-day series from July 19 - August 2 before concluding with two four-day matches against South Africa A in Townsville from August 7-17.
   
Squad:
   
Cameron Boyce, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner (c), Peter Forrest, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Phillip Hughes, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Sam Whiteman.

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ICC-appointed adjudicator clears Haroon Lorgat of BCCI-related charge

David Becker, who was the ICC legal adviser throughout Lorgat's tenure as CEO of the world body, had last year issued a statement suggesting that the BCCI's flouting of the FTP could have legal implications and that it was "improper" to allow a member body to "blatantly disregard an ICC resolution".
    
In his October 2013 statement, Becker, also a former legal adviser of Cricket South Africa, had said that he had resigned from his ICC post because of what he considered "questionable governance" at the ICC and listed three examples, all relating to the "dominance of BCCI President N Srinivasan".
    
Lorgat was accused by the BCCI of having the knowledge of Becker's statement and, in fact, of its preparation, prompting the ICC to commission an inquiry into his role in that statement.
    
The controversy had also threatened to derail India's tour of South Africa December last. BCCI had agreed to a shortened tour only after the CSA agreed to bar Lorgat from dealing with matters related to India and from attending ICC Executive Meetings as CSA representative.
    
The adjudicator, in a joint statement issued by the ICC and CSA, said that there was "no evidence to support the allegations made against Lorgat".
    
As a result, any restrictions on Lorgat's ability to act as CSA chief executive were removed. He can now resume acting as CSA's representative on the ICC Chief Executive's Committee and deal with affairs involving the BCCI.
    
"An independent Adjudicator, appointed by the ICC to look into the content and distribution of media comments made about ICC Board by David Becker, who at that time was acting as a legal consultant to CSA in respect of their ongoing dispute over FTP Schedule, and the subsequent attempts to have them withdrawn, and, in particular, role of Haroon Lorgat, CEO of CSA, in these matters has found no evidence to support the allegations made against Lorgat," the statement said.

(Agencies)

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Virat Kohli a combination of Sachin, Sehwag and Dravid: Crowe

Crowe feels that Kohli is the "beacon in this rebuilding team" who will need to rapidly learn to become a true leader and a role model for millions.

    

"In some ways, this young giant (Kohli) is a combination of all those three (Sehwag, Tendulkar and Dravid), learning a bit from them all to shape his own unique creation. He is the next chosen one. He exudes the intensity of Rahul, the audacity of Virender, and the extraordinary range of Sachin. That doesn't make him better, simply sui generis, his own unique kind," Crowe wrote in his column.

    

"At present, he is a beacon in this rebuilding team, while some of those around him who have come in to fill the void left by the big three struggle to cope. Already he is the leader of the batting line-up, with just 22 Tests to his name, and so a huge responsibility beckons," Crowe pointed out.

    

Crowe reckoned that Kohli has quickly grown from being a "pupil to teacher" from the time he saw a precocious but immensely talented teenager as the coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore during the first edition of IPL.

    

"In many ways, he follows the essence of life: loving what he does and doing what he loves, and learning all he can, often at a rapid pace. Kohli has gone from pupil to teacher quickly, and his next level is to become a master. That he will achieve. It's in his eyes,” he said.

    

"I watched this young 19-year-old when he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008, for the inaugural IPL. Often he fell victim to his own seduction, his growing, glowing image, mixed in with his confusion about who to bat and be like, as he had so many choices. I often encouraged him to simply play straighter, be wiser in shot selection, put the odds more in his favour," Crowe said.

 (Agencies)

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Srinivasan has agreed for Indo-Pak bilateral series, claims PCB chairman

"Mr Srinivasan has reassured me they are serious about playing a bilateral series with us even at neutral venues of our choice, but eventually we will need some written assurances and firm guarantees that this series will happen," Ashraf told the media in Lahore.

    

Ashraf termed the offer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a positive gesture.

    

"We want to be sure that this proposed series against India will actually take place, because you have to keep in mind that India had avoided playing regular bilateral series with us in recent years," he said.

    

Ashraf pointed out that, in contrast, Pakistan had gone out of its way to play against India and had toured India in 2007 and 2013 but in this period India only came to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

    

The offer from the BCCI for a bilateral series at a neutral venue has come after Indian cricket board along with its Australian and England counterparts moved a draft proposal paper at the ICC, which proposes to restructure the governance model of the world body and also revise the distribution of finances and revenues among member nations.

    

Ashraf said that as far as relations with India were concerned, PCB would seek guarantees and written assurances from the BCCI for any future series.

    

He admitted that the BCCI had told Pakistan before the ICC meeting late last month that they needed to sign the draft proposal by the three boards but since then India's stance had changed for the positive.

    

Ashraf also said that the PCB was in talks with the South Africa and Sri Lankan cricket boards to have regular series with them.

    

"With South Africa we are looking to have a regular series named the Jinnah-Mandela trophy," he said.

    

Asked about the Umar Akmal road rage incident and his subsequent arrest by the police, and his time in lock up, Ashraf said the board would be inquiring into the matter to find out what actually happened and why the incident took place.

 (Agencies)

India need to draw Test series to retain second position in ICC rankings

A 2-0 series win will fetch India one rating point to take them to 118 points with no change in the table.

    

While a 1-0 result would see India losing five points to end on 112 ratings points, just one ahead of third-ranked Australia, though they would still remain on second position.

    

A 0-0 or 1-1 draw will allow both the teams to maintain their pre-series rankings.

    

In case New Zealand, who are currently on eighth position with 82 points, win the series 2-0 then they will jump to 88 ratings points, while India will fall to 110.

    

New Zealand will leapfrog the West Indies into seventh position if they win the series 1-0.

    

In fact, the Black Caps can move ahead of Sri Lanka in sixth place, provided they beat India 2-0 and Bangladesh win the second Test against Sri Lanka to draw the series 1-1.

    

A 1-0 series win for New Zealand will mean it will join West Indies on 87 points but will be ranked in seventh position when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

    

India's Cheteshwar Pujara (5th) and vice-captain Virat Kohli (11th) have excellent opportunities to climb up the ladder in the ICC Test batsmen's table.

    

It will be golden chance for in-form Kohli to enter the top-10 for the first time in his career.

    

Ravichandran Ashwin, at seventh spot, starts off the series as the highest-ranked Indian Test bowler.

 (Agencies)

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Sri Lanka lose early wickets in second Test against Bangladesh

Bangladesh, looking for a series-levelling win after losing the first Test by an innings and 248 runs last week, appeared set for a long haul after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.

    

But they struck in quick succession just after the drinks break to share the honours in the morning session.

    

Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva managed just eight runs in the first eight overs and plodded to 30-0 after 15 when Bangladesh broke through.

    

Off-spinner Sohag Gazi, who shared the new ball with Al-Amin Hossain, claimed first Test century-maker Silva leg-before for 11.

    

Left-hander Karunaratne settled in to score 31 when he slashed at a wide ball from Al-Amin and was caught at point to make Sri Lanka 49-2.

    

Kumar Sangakkara (15 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (10 not out) were together at the crease when lunch was called.

    

Sri Lanka went into the Test without frontline left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and seamer Shaminda Eranga, who were both ordered to return home due to injuries.

    

They were replaced by off-spinner Ajantha Mendis and paceman Nuwan Pradeep, the only changes from the side that won the first Test.

    

Bangladesh brought in batsman Imrul Kayes, all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak in place of Marshall Ayub, Rubel Hossain and Robiul Islam.

 (Agencies)

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Indian squad for Test series against New Zealand

Pacer Ishwar Pandey is the only new face in the Test side. The two Tests will be held at Auckland (February 6-10) and

Wellington (February 14-18).

The Indian top-order failed to convert good starts but Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane struck morale-boosting fifties ahead of the Test series as the visiting team's two-day practice match against New Zealand XI ended in a tame draw on Monday.

The lanky Ishwar Pandey finally got a chance to play a match on this tour of New Zealand in a two-day tour game and his three-wicket haul in 14 overs would surely make him happy after waiting in the wings for three weeks since India landed in this country.

However, Dhoni said that after the last fifth ODI that there is still some work that needs to be done with Pandey's bowling.

    

"Regarding Ishwar Pandey, we thought that there is some more work needed on his bowling before he can be tried," Dhoni had said.

India Test Squad:  

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishwar Pandey.

 (JPN/Agencies)

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We aim to dominate Indian cricket for next decade: Vinay Kumar

"We have a great bunch of guys who are very young and hungry to perform. I feel we have it in us to keep winning and our goal is to dominate Indian cricket for the next ten years," Vinay told reporters at felicitation ceremony of his team members for bringing home the coveted trophy after a 15-year gap.

    

Vinay said his team-mates were pumped up for the finals as they wanted to put behind the sour memories of narrowly losing to Mumbai in the finals four years ago.

    

"The narrow loss to Mumbai four years back in Mysore hurt us, so when we got to the final, all of us were so keyed up and said to each other that we should play as if the cup belongs to us, and we did," he said.

    

KSCA Secretary Brijesh Patel announced Rs one crore reward to the team. Yesterday, Karnataka government had also announced Rs one crore prize money.

    

Earlier, the players were welcomed with garlands and greeted by firecrackers at KSCA after they beaten Maharashtra in the final by seven wickets.

 (Agencies)

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