Rajasthan’s strategy, according to franchise officials, will be to use players such as Rahul Dravid and Shane Warne to attract and mould younger, talented domestic players.

Tariq Engineer10-Jan-2011Faced with a reduced budget of $7.1m at the IPL player auction, the Rajasthan Royals were limited to buying just eight players (of which only two were Indian) and now face another problem – how do they fill out the rest of the squad? The solution, according to franchise officials, will be to use the star power and proven leadership qualities of players such as Rahul Dravid and Shane Warne, and the presence of two current national Twenty20 captains, to attract and mould younger, talented domestic players.Rajasthan were widely considered to have the weakest team on paper in 2008, but their combination of experience and young talent gelled under Shane Warne’s inspired leadership, and they confounded the pundits to lift the trophy in the tournament’s inaugural year. The same blueprint will be in place this time around, which is why Sean Morris, the Rajasthan chief executive, says they honed in on players who have captained their national Twenty20 sides, such as Johan Botha and Paul Collingwood.”We had to be focused and have specific targets,” Morris told ESPNcricinfo. “I think we’ve got the kind of dressing room you would build if you wanted a dream dressing room of leaders. We’ve surpassed our expectations. [There is] lots of talent that we can bring in to the dressing room that is full of international experience, creating a blend of incredible experience with the young, local players.””All these Indian boys can have Dravid as a mentor,” Raghu Iyer, spokesperson for Rajasthan, said. “The strategy is to have a blend of youth and experience. That is what delivered for us in season one. Yusuf [Pathan] was not the star he is now. [Ravindra] Jadeja was not the star he is now. They have all delivered for us and done extremely well.”There is a second incentive the team can offer talented, young players that other franchises might not be able to match – the opportunity to play regularly in the IPL. Over the first three years, a number of domestic players merely sat on the sidelines and watched while the more established players in the squad were picked for matches. They still benefitted from training with and being exposed to international players, but there is no substitute for competitive games.”Our players are going to be playing a lot of cricket for us,” Morris said. “The young Indian players will be looking at all the teams and players and thinking who am I going to compete with and when I am going to play? And they will look at Rajasthan and will be thinking I have a fantastic chance of playing.”The franchise plans to begin augmenting its squad with players from Rajasthan’s Ranji Trophy team, which has had an excellent domestic season, knocking off heavyweights Mumbai and Tamil Nadu on their way to the finals against Baroda. “The domestic players from Rajasthan are going to get a lot of focus,” Iyer, said. “They have done very well this season. There is a loyalty there and talent as well. We need to be riding that wave.”Among the players the franchise is looking at are 18-year-old Deepak Chahar, who made a huge splash on his first-class debut by taking 8 for 10 to dismiss Hyderabad for a Ranji record low-score of 21, and 20-year-old Ashok Menaria, who captained India in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2010, after which he bagged an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Rajasthan’s wicketkeeper, Rohit Jhalani, is another player the franchise has its eye on as they failed to pick up a keeper in the auction. In addition, the team is hoping to re-sign players that were part of its development squad for the first three years.Naturally, the franchise is also attempting to sign some of the more prominent domestic players, such as the Mumbai pair of middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane and seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, by offering them the same carrot of regular cricket alongside established stars.”At the end of the day, the domestic players are going to make a lot of difference,” Iyer said. “It [the squad] is going to be lean and mean. Everybody has learnt that.”

Cricket South Africa’s board has passed a vote of no confidence in President Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka at a special general meeting on Saturday

Firdose Moonda12-Feb-2011Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) board has passed a vote of no-confidence in president Mtutuzeli Nyoka at a special general meeting on Saturday. The motion was not unanimous but was passed by a majority vote and Nyoka was removed with immediate effect.Nyoka’s ousting is the culmination of an ongoing spat between him and chief executive Gerald Majola, which reached its peak during the bonus scandal. Nyoka was in favour of an external inquiry into the R4.7 million (US$ 671,428) that was paid out to Majola and 39 other CSA staff members after IPL 2 and the Champions Trophy in 2009.CSA initially announced that they would have an external commission evaluate the situation but then moved the investigation internally in order to exhaust its own procedures first. Majola was cleared of all charges of wrongdoing by the internal commission, although it did recognise that he had made an error of judgement, and Nyoka said he accepted the findings.That spat was believed to have caused a “general breakdown” in the relationship between Nyoka and Majola, according to an insider, who also said that it became apparent that there was “only room for one of them” in CSA. Two months after the findings of the internal commission were made public. Nyoka was served with written notification of a motion of no-confidence proposed against him that was signed by all 11 CSA affiliate presidents.Four days after Nyoka received the letter, South Africa’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula intervened in the conflict, because the ministry felt it may negatively impact the country’s World Cup campaign. The minister met with the CSA board sans Nyoka, who was unavailable, and reassured the public that the cricket fraternity was not in crisis and the ministry would meet with the board again on February 12, to receive a report on the commission inquiry and the actions of Nyoka.That meeting took place today, again with Nyoka an absent party. He chose not to attend on the advice of his lawyers. The motion of no confidence was passed by the board, with an insider confirming that the split was “more than 8-3.”Nyoka is the second successive CSA president to leave office in this fashion. Norman Arendse, his predecessor, also had a motion of no-confidence tabled against him before he resigned. Vice-president AK Khan will take over as acting President until the next election, which is scheduled for CSA’s AGM in August.

Southern Rocks remained rooted to the bottom of the Logan Cup table after slumping to a 98-run loss against Mid West Rhinos at the Kwekwe Sports Club

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2011
ScorecardVusi Sibanda’s second-innings century proved the difference between the teams•CricInfo

Southern Rocks remained rooted to the bottom of the Logan Cup table after slumping to a 98-run loss against Mid West Rhinos at the Kwekwe Sports Club.It’s their fourth defeat in 10 matches and means the Rocks continue to be winless in the tournament. They were well in the game after bowling the Rhinos out for 181 but Justin Lewis’ seven wickets restricted their first-innings lead to just 18. Vusi Sibanda’s second-innings 104 took the Rhinos 309 runs clear and it proved too tough a chase for Rocks to pull off, despite a heroic 324-ball 93 from Rocks captain Stuart Matsikenyeri.Rocks final-innings chase did not get off to the best start, with three wickets – two more for Lewis – falling in the first 14 overs. Matsikenyeri desperately held up one end but was powerless to intervene at the other as wickets continued to tumble. Offspinner Simon Mugava, removed Sikandar Raza and wicketkeeper Robertson Mutumbami until Matsikenyeri finally found some support in Chinyengetere again. In 50 overs the pair added 105, dragging their team towards safety until Roland Benade snared Chinyengetere three short of a well-deserved half-century. His dismissal signalled the slide and Rocks fell 98 runs short.It had all looked so optimistic for Rocks after being asked to bowl first. Rhinos were soon struggling at 88 for 5 before Remembrance Nyathi built some resistance with the lower order. Nyathi hung around for 136 deliveries, striking five boundaries to reach a valuable half-century and help hoist the total up to 181. Though hardly imposing, Lewis’ heroics stormed Rhinos right back into the match. He took six of the first seven wickets to fall, leaving Rocks tottering at 71 for 6, before Robertson Chinyengetere’s painful resistance stopped the rot alongside Blessing Mahwire. The pair built an impressive 119-run stand, with Mahwire hitting two sixes and five fours in his 66. At the other end Chinyengetere was a picture of stoicism, striking a solitary boundary in an epic 194-ball 46. It was enough to earn his side a slender lead.The response from Rhinos top order was imposing and proved the decisive move in the game. Gary Ballance and Friday Kasteni put on a careful century opening stand before Sibanda stroked his way to fluent century. Ballance hit nine fours before becoming Hilary Matanga’s second wicket. He captain, Sibanda, was then supported by the middle order as Rhinos pressed ahead. He struck nine fours and a six before edging behind to Matanga for 104. He had laid the foundation for the 309-run lead which proved enough for his team.

Zimbabwe’s coach, Alan Butcher, thinks it’s unlikely his team will beat the defending champions on Monday. The captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting, is not expecting a surprise loss

Brydon Coverdale in Ahmedabad20-Feb-2011Zimbabwe’s coach, Alan Butcher, thinks it’s unlikely his team will beat the defending champions on Monday. The captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting, is not expecting a surprise loss. The bookmakers have Australia as almost unbackable favourites. But somewhere in the back of the minds of this Zimbabwe group is a sliver of hope, the knowledge that upsets can happen.And that if their three spinners can make use of an Ahmedabad pitch that could provide assistance, it might be just enough to bring Australia back down to a more even footing. Of course, everything must go right for Zimbabwe, who have not beaten Australia in an ODI since their shock win at the 1983 World Cup. Everything would also need to go wrong for Australia, who have not lost a World Cup match since 1999, back in the era of Steve Waugh and Alistair Campbell.”The longer a winning run goes, the closer it must be to coming to an end,” Butcher said on Sunday. “It may not be us that ends it but someone has got to. All we’ve done is tried to prepare as well as we can, on the basis that if we play as well as we can in six matches during this World Cup, we can’t do any more than that. If on the way one or two of the big sides have a bad day and slip up, hopefully we will take advantage of that.”If we play confidently, play our best cricket and Australia don’t, then we may have a chance. Let’s be honest, if both sides play their best cricket, it’s very likely that we’ll lose.”Butcher is nothing if not a realist. But the Zimbabweans have kept an eye on Australia’s performance during the warm-up matches, when they struggled against top-quality spin. Ray Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer are not quite the same as Harbhajan Singh, but spin is the strength of Zimbabwe and Australia will need to force the pace for much of their innings.It’s nearly seven years since the teams have met in a one-day international, although the Australians will remember with frustration being upset by Zimbabwe at the 2007 World Twenty20. In the past year, Zimbabwe have had ODI wins against India, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Bangladesh, so they know how to beat good teams, but Ponting is confident his side will have their measure.”We had a good team meeting last night and talked about all their players, individually, and went through batters and bowlers,” Ponting said. “They’ve got a lot of spin options, even a couple of part-time spinners and a quality left-arm offspinner and a legspinner as well, that I wouldn’t be surprised if they play.”We’ve had a good look at them. We know what their strengths and weaknesses are. We’ve also seen their record, and their record is not that strong either, and that’s against some of the smaller nations. We’d expect to play well tomorrow and hopefully get the tournament off on the right note.”And after powerful performances from India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka against weaker sides in the opening matches of the tournament, it seems likely Australia will continue the trend. Zimbabwe’s most ardent fans might say that it means a surprise is due.

Ireland, who have been controversially excluded from the next World Cup, could still play up to 15 one-day internationals against Full Members each year between now and 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-2011Ireland, who have been controversially excluded from the next World Cup, could still play up to 15 one-day internationals against Full Members each year between now and 2015. Cricket Ireland chairman David Williams, who visited India last week and met with BCCI chairman Shashank Manohar, confirmed that he had received support from several of the ICC’s Full Members willing to accommodate Ireland.”One of our ambitions is to increase our ODI exposure against full members to between 10 to 15 per annum, and we received some support from Full Members to accommodate us,” Williams said. “There is, without question, among all the Full Members chairmen I spoke to, considered to be very clear water between us and the rest of the Associates.”Both South Africa and Bangladesh reportedly lent support to Ireland’s push for more games against Full Members, but chances of a bilateral series against world champions India remain slim, and Zimbabwe have withdrawn an invitation for a repeat of Ireland’s trip to the country in September last year. Zimbabwe cited the lack of a gap in their programme due to playing commitments as the reason for the cancellation, although the ICC’s Future Tours Programme does show that they have no international cricket scheduled between the end of October and the beginning of December.”We had hoped to play a four-day game – an unofficial Test match – against Zimbabwe and three ODIs. That would have been a very nice tour. But that tour will not take place,” Williams confirmed.However, Ozias Bvute, ZC’s managing director, insisted that Zimbabwe’s priority in that period was their domestic programme, rather than furthering their international commitments.”We have taken a deliberate decision to try and ensure that all our players turn out for the respective franchises, we have thus tried to separate our international calendar with our domestic fixturing on that basis,” Bvute told ESPNcricinfo. “Our strategy moving forward is to grow our domestic cricket to a point where in itself it becomes financially viable and sustainable. To attract the crowds and sponsors we need all our players in attendance.”Williams, who was re-elected as chairman for a fourth year at Cricket Ireland’s annual meeting, had travelled to India with the intention of securing a qualifying tournament for the next World Cup, ensuring a promotion and relegation system in ODI leagues and canvassing for support for more ODIs for Ireland. “I didn’t get the first, but the second was delivered and I am hopeful that the last will happen,” he said.”Mr Manohar was charming, as expected, but he said he felt the Full Members did not have time to adjust to a qualifying tournament for the 2015 World Cup and it would disrupt the Future Tours Programme. But I don’t think they are arguments which could not be overcome.”There will be qualifying for the 2019 tournament but that is six years away, but the promotion and relegation between ODI leagues is a very significant step for us as well. In the meantime, though, you are handing an opportunity for our best players to go to England because they have no alternative [if they want to play in the next World Cup].”We have all gone into print expressing our disgust but now we must move on and, in association with our Associate friends, we will leave no stone unturned in seeing what our options are in having this iniquitous decision overturned.”Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom believes any action to get the decision overturned will have to be inclusive of all the Associate nations and multi-lateral if it is to be successful. “We need to work with the other 94 Associate countries,” Deutrom said at Cricket Ireland’s annual meeting.”They feel disenfranchised and it is not just the High Performance countries that have been in touch. Sports lawyers have also been in contact with me but that will be the last resort. All other remedies must be exhausted first and the first opportunity to challenge the decision is at the annual conference in June.”

Gloucestershire clinched their second win in three County Championship Division Two games with a 45-run success over Kent at Canterbury

29-Apr-2011
ScorecardGloucestershire clinched their second win in three County Championship Division Two games with a 45-run success over Kent at Canterbury.Will Gidman proved the West Country hero with a return of three for 37 including the scalp of Azhar Mahmood, who had looked capable of seeing Kent home to an unlikely victory target of 291.Mahmood, the former Pakistan Test all-rounder, hit 10 boundaries in a 119-ball innings of 70 as injury-hit Kent made a brave tilt at their target. Number 10 Robbie Joseph, hampered by a thigh strain, came out with a runner to help the cause and then last man Joe Denly, who broke his thumb in the field on Tuesday, emerged to try to help Azhar to the winning line.With 45 needed Azhar worked across a good length ball from Gidman only to be given out leg before and give Gloucestershire their 21-point win. Resuming on their overnight total of 52 for 2, Kent appeared to be set for the long haul as Martin van Jaarsveld and Geraint Jones dug in, adding only 49 in the opening hour.In all, the third-wicket partners added 64 in just under 19 overs before Kent’s run chase quickly unravelled with the loss of four wickets for seven runs in the space of 16 balls. Jones (40) missed an expansive drive to be bowled by promising left-arm seamer David Payne then Darren Stevens (three) was squared up on the back foot by Hamish Marshall to spoon a catch to short extra cover via a leading edge.Van Jaarsveld’s 89-minute stay for 32 ended when he opened the face and attempted a run-down to third man against Payne, only to be superbly caught one-handed at second slip by Ian Cockbain to make it 124 for five.After a change of ends, Cockbain was in action again to catch the very next ball at slip, this time at the second attempt, after James Tredwell’s firm-handed push at a Marshall leg-cutter. Azhar and Adam Ball (13) survived until lunch but soon after the resumption Ball’s audacious attempt to pull through mid-wicket against Ian Saxelby ended up in the hands of Jon Lewis at mid-on.Simon Cook then joined forces with Azhar to add an entertaining 70 in 20.4 overs for the eighth wicket but, with 69 still needed to win, Cook got an inside edge to a Gidman delivery that jagged back off the seam and Jonathan Batty pulled off a sharp catch.Batty was again at his best to hold on to a thin edge off Gidman from Joseph, then opening bat Denly emerged as an emergency number 11 despite his fractured thumb as Kent pushed all the way. But it proved in vain as the hosts ended up with just four points from the match.

Australian cricket’s marketing experiment with split innings limited overs matches has been thrown out.

Daniel Brettig01-Jun-2011Australian cricket’s marketing experiment with split innings limited overs matches, and a bevy of exotic proposed rules for next summer’s expanded Twenty20 competition, have been thrown out by the Cricket Australia playing conditions committee.The committee, which serves a similar function to the ICC’s cricket committee by deliberating on issues within the game, will forward these conclusions to the CA board for final approval at its next meeting. Committee members observed that the global body’s commitment to 50-over cricket for the 2015 World Cup, and the success of the 2011 tournament on the subcontinent, made further split innings experimentation redundant.Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association, sat on the committee alongside the CA chairman Jack Clarke, Greg Chappell and Mark Taylor – Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne were absent – and said that no other decision could have been made.”It was really the only decision the committee could take from our perspective given that the ICC have now elected to push forward with the 50-over format towards the next World Cup,” Marsh told . “It wouldn’t have made sense to have our players playing a different format domestically, heading into the next World Cup, so it was a sensible decision.”The remit of the playing conditions committee, there’s various things we look at but one of them is that it has to be a realistic chance of getting up at international level, but there’s a time to trial things, and last year was that time. While we [the ACA] didn’t think it should’ve been trialled, it was and now we’ve got to go back to keeping ourselves in-line with what the international format is.”Clarke noted that other elements of the domestic competition, “such as using two balls, one from each end, reducing restrictions on the number of overs bowlers can deliver or increasing the number of bouncers allowed”, had been accepted as possible innovations by the ICC.However a raft of outlandish proposed rules for next summer’s T20 competition, presented to the public via a survey, were given short shrift by committee members, who reasoned that gambits like letting the crowd keep the ball or overs worth double runs were simply unnecessary.”Common sense prevailed there,” Marsh said. “The committee I know from the ACA’s perspective we’re supportive of initiatives that will promote the Big Bash and get the most people through the ground, and we’ve talked through a few alternative things there to help achieve that.”The matter of domestic playing surfaces was also addressed, and while general assessments of pitch conditions last summer were favourable, often achieving scores of 4.33/5 or better, groundsmen will be reminded of the need to prepare surfaces that reflect the challenges of Test cricket. Numerous players, coaches and the CA chief executive James Sutherland, have all pondered whether or not last summer’s pitches did not help to equip Australia’s players for the Ashes, where England’s batsmen repeatedly ran up tall scores.”The focus should most certainly be on trying to have wickets or pitches around the country that are as close to international pitches as you can get, that’s the best preparation for players,” said Marsh. “But there’s no doubt the weather played a part in it last year, we’ve thought in some cases that states are prioritising result pitches over preparation for international cricket.”

Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough have been promoted to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, replacing Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2011Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Kettleborough have been promoted to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, replacing Daryl Harper and Asoka de Silva. Dharmasena and Kettleborough, who had been serving on the International Panel of ICC Umpires, were chosen by the ICC Umpires Selection Panel as part of their annual review and selection process.Harper and de Silva, both of whom have controversial umpiring histories and, it would seem, particular troubles with the Decision Review System, have come in for some criticism over their decisions in recent times, in the light of which their demotions are hardly surprising.Harper was one of the umpires to officiate on England’s trip to the Caribbean during the trialling stages of the DRS in early 2009 and soon ran into strife. His problems came to a head during England’s South Africa tour the following winter when, as third umpire, he turned down a caught-behind appeal against Graeme Smith that had been referred to him. Harper upheld the on-field umpire Tony Hill’s decision because he could not hear a sound on the replay and it was suggested that he had not increased the volume setting on his monitor which would have made the edge evident. However, after an inquiry following a complaint by England coach Andy Flower the ICC said the lapse was caused by “technical failure”.A couple of months later Harper was left out of the World Twenty20 in West Indies, reportedly for “general performance reasons”.De Silva’s most recent, and controversial, gaffe came during the World Cup in India when he gave Ireland’s Gary Wilson out despite replays showing the batsman had offered a shot to a delivery that replays clearly indicated had hit him outside the line. The decision came in for some intense criticism, particularly from Ireland captain Will Porterfield, and it was decided that de Silva would not officiate in a couple of key group games that he was originally marked for. At the time, he was the only umpire among the 18 deployed whose success percentage in reviewed decisions was less than 50% during the tournament.As it is the prerogative of the relevant home boards to nominate replacements on the international panel, de Silva could well move to fill the vacancy left by Dharmasena’s promotion as the decision would rest with Sri Lanka Cricket. Harper’s situation is a touch more uncertain. His existing contract expires in July and as it will be the England and Wales Cricket Board, rather than Cricket Australia, nominating a replacement for Kettleborough, Harper could well be out of a job.At 38, Kettleborough is now the youngest umpire on the Elite panel. The Yorkshireman played 33 first-class matches from 1994 to 1999 for Middlesex and Yorkshire before he was included in the ECB panel of umpires in 2006. He made his international umpiring debut in the Twenty20 between England and Australia at Old Trafford in 2009 and to date has umpired in two Tests, 16 ODIs and two international Twenty20s. Like Dharmasena, Kettleborough was also in the panel of 18 umpires for the World Cup earlier this year.The 40-year-old Dharmasena made his international umpiring debut in 2009 and has since umpired in two Tests, 25 ODIs and three T20Is. As a cricketer, he played 31 Tests and 141 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1993 and 2004 and was part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup-winning squad in 1996.”I am honoured and delighted to have been selected,” Dharmasena said. “To umpire alongside the most respected names in this noble profession and be included on the elite panel is something I wanted to achieve ever since I started umpiring. My next target is to continue to work hard, make good decisions and justify my inclusion.””Their promotions are a result of hard work and impressive performances and will act as an inspiration to other umpires,” added Dave Richardson, ICC’s general manager – cricket and convener of selection panel.Elite Panel of ICC Umpires: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Kumar Dharmasena, Billy Doctrove, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Richard Kettleborough, Asad Rauf, Simon Taufel, Rod Tucker

Cameron White has been dropped from Australia’s ODI squad but remains captain of the Twenty20 side for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka

Daniel Brettig and Brydon Coverdale06-Jul-2011Cameron White has described his demotion from Australia’s ODI squad as a “kick in the guts”, but he remains captain of the Twenty20 side for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Australia have named the players for the one-day and T20 part of the trip, with Shaun Marsh back in the one-day side alongside the fast bowler Doug Bollinger.The major omission from the one-day outfit was that of White, who lost form across the last home summer, struggled at the World Cup and was dropped midway through the Bangladesh series. For all that, he did not expect to be missing when the ODI squad was announced.”Obviously disappointing but the situation’s been known and there’s not much you can do about it, other than go back, get better and hope to get another opportunity at some stage,” White said. “It is no secret I haven’t been in the best of form of late but I was hopeful I would still be in the squad. It’s definitely a kick in the guts.”Now faced with the possibility of becoming a T20 specialist, white said he would be working doubly hard to return to the ODI arena.”I don’t have a lot of cricket for a little while now,” he said. “Outside of a couple of T20 games I will be back playing for Victoria and scoring as many runs as I can. I just have to go back and get better and hopefully get another opportunity at some stage.”T20 is such a different game and moving towards having specialist players, [but] I am not saying I am in that boat,”Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said he was confident White could force his way back into the side.”Cameron White is unlucky to be omitted from the one-day squad having been a regular and successful member of the squad for the last few series,” Hilditch said. “Cameron lost his position in the side during the recent one-day tour of Bangladesh but the national selection panel is confident that he will force his way back into the team through weight of runs.”The one-day squad sees the return of Shaun Marsh who was unavailable for the ICC Cricket World Cup through injury. Shaun can open the batting but also provides flexibility throughout the order and gives the squad great balance.”James Pattinson’s inclusion was despite Ryan Harris’ return to fitness following injury, flagging the older fast man’s likely role as a Test match specialist this summer. The Australian captain Michael Clarke said Pattinson had improved his strength and fitness over the off-season.”He looks much fitter and stronger even than he was in Bangladesh and he did pretty well over there, so he’s got a big future,” Clarke said. “He bowls high 140s, his control’s going to get better with experience and plenty of practice, I see a bright future for him. To be around experienced bowlers like Brett [Lee], no doubt he can learn a lot from him.”Shaun Tait has lost his place after retiring from 50-over duty following the World Cup, and was not picked for T20 duty though he remains available for matches in the shortest format. David Hussey returns to the squads after missing Bangladesh to be home for the birth of his first child, leaving no room for Callum Ferguson.The Twenty20 squad has a slightly youthful feel, with the Victoria batsman Aaron Finch in alongside the left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe and Pattinson.Australia will play two T20s, five ODIs and three Test during the tour of Sri Lanka. The Twenty20 players fly out on July 30 and the remaining one-day squad members depart on August 5. The Test squad will be announced later in July. Meanwhile, Phillip Hughes and Jason Krejza have flown to Zimbabwe early to join the Australia squad, to replace Nic Maddinson (calf strain) and Matthew Wade (back) ahead of Friday’s final one-day game.Twenty20 squad Shane Watson, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Steve O’Keefe, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, James Pattinson.ODI squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Doug Bollinger.

In his report to the PCB on Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies, Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, has praised captain Misbah-ul-Haq for stabilising the Pakistan team

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2011Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, has praised captain Misbah-ul-Haq for stabilising the national team, in his report to the PCB on Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies. However, Waqar wrote that since Misbah was already 37 years old, Pakistan needed to start grooming a young captain for the 2015 World Cup.”I have to give full credit to Misbah as he has stabilised the team and leads from the front,” Waqar wrote in his report, excerpts of which have been published in . “His performance is also outstanding. He makes the boys feel comfortable and relaxed so they actually enjoy their cricket. He is mature and willing to listen.”The only unfortunate thing is the age factor which is not in Misbah’s favour. On that account, I don’t think he will be able to lead the side in the next World Cup [2015], and therefore I would advise that we should start grooming a young captain from now.”In excerpts of the same report published earlier, Waqar had described Shahid Afridi, who captained Pakistan for limited-overs leg of the Caribbean tour, as immature and undisciplined. After his return from the West Indies, Afridi hinted at differences with Waqar, and team manager Intikhab Alam’s report on the tour suggested a rift between the two. Afridi was removed as ODI captain and replaced by Misbah.While Waqar’s criticism of Afridi was severe, the rest of the report had a distinctly positive tone. He mentioned the growth of Mohammad Hafeez, who has backed up his impressive bowling performances with three half-centuries and a hundred in his last seven ODI innings. “Hafeez has been exceptional, both with the ball and the bat. He was timing the ball sweetly and worked with the game plan when bowling. He is now taking responsibility as a senior member of the team.”Also in line for praise were Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, who Waqar said were developing into match-winners. Waqar backed the younger players as well, saying Asad Shafiq, Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali were all improving. Mohammad Salman, he said, was a good wicketkeeper but needed to get rid of his nerves.Waqar also noted that senior batsman Younis Khan, who missed the tour of the West Indies, was still an important part of the side. “It was quite unfortunate that he had to leave the squad on the West Indies tour and returned home due to his brother’s death. He was missed on the tour because he is one of the key players in the batting line-up.”