Cricket News - by Craig Hill

England - Cricket News

Scientist predicts Bangladesh vs India in CWC Final

December 31st 2011 12:27

Back in 2003 I wrote a paper analysing every ball of the Cricket World Cup. I have now taken those results and applied them to the current tournament, predicting that Bangladesh will meet India in the final.

To find out why, visit www.robbrooks.net

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Rob Brooks - Category: One Day International, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, International Teams

Email this Post to a Friend

New Formats May Threaten Test Cricket

October 20th 2011 09:31

England's test captain, Andrew Strauss, fears cricket administrators are in danger of sowing the seeds of the sport's downfall if the five-day format of the game is neglected.

Strauss, enjoying a break from the game while England contest a one-day series in India, has led England to the top of the test rankings since being handed the captaincy in 2009, but is worried about the way the game is heading.

Doubts over the International Cricket Council's (ICC) proposed 2013 World Test Championship and the fact that the home series against South Africa next year has been slimmed down to three tests have done little to allay Strauss's worries.

"I have concerns about the state of test cricket," Strauss said in an interview in The Times newspaper on Tuesday.

"I am very much aware that if we are arrogant and assume that test cricket will always be there, we are sowing the seeds of our own downfall."

241

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Craig Hill - Category: Test Match, Issues, England

Email this Post to a Friend

Ponting hit for six - dropped from Twenty20

August 25th 2009 12:00

Following Australia’s historic Ashes defeat on Sunday, Australian Captain Ricky Ponting has been dropped from the up coming Twenty20 matches in England and Scotland starting Aug 28th. Other casualties include out of form batsmen Mike Hussey and seam bowler Peter Siddle.

Despite publicly backing Ricky and his teams’ performance throughout the Ashes series it seems that the Australian Selection Panel’s actions are somewhat different from their words – Australia lost to England therefore changes need to be made.

National Selector Andrew Hilditch commented that the Twenty20 squad was picked keeping in mind the looming World Twenty20 series in the West Indies in May.

Hilditch goes on to say that the omission of Ricky Ponting will provide a great opportunity for Vice Captain Michael Clarke to captain in the two Twenty20 matches and one ODI against Scotland.

“The selection panel is using the two matches against England to look at different make-ups to the squad and include players who we consider Twenty20 specialists in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 next year," he said.

Gary Bowen

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Gary Bowen - Category: One Day International, Twenty20, Australia, England, International Teams

Email this Post to a Friend

Simon Katich Expects England To Recover

January 12th 2009 04:35

Australian Test opener Simon Katich says England has enough time to recover from the damaging Kevin Pietersen affair and launch a spirited Ashes challenge later this year.

The England camp is in disarray after Pietersen was sacked from the captaincy and coach Peter Moores dumped following a massive fallout between the pair.

With the Ashes just five months away, Andrew Strauss has been installed as skipper.

Katich, who captained English county side Derbyshire and also played for Durham and Hampshire, has watched the unfolding drama with interest but doubts the turmoil will enhance Australia's chances of a successful defence.

"It's been huge news but the Ashes are still a long way away," he said on Sunday.

"They've got a lot of cricket to be played and so have we."

"Anything can happen in that period and no doubt things will settle down now they've announced Strauss as captain."

Asked if Strauss was the right man for the job, Katich responded: "I think so. He's shown in the past that when he's been given the reins he's done a good job and his form recently has been good, which is probably another big factor."

"As a player, if you are confident in your own game it helps when you're captaining as well."

Katich has become Australia's accidental opener, hoisted to the top of the order when Matthew Hayden was injured in the West Indies then replacing Phil Jaques when the New South Welshman broke down in India.

Thirty-three-year-old Katich is now a first-choice pick after scoring heavily over the summer, but whether Hayden is at the other end for next month's tour of South Africa and the Ashes trip to England rests in the hands of the national selectors.

Katich, for one, hopes the veteran Queenslander is spared the axe.

"He's a champion. He's played for a long time and has an unbelievable record, so those of us that are now trying to fill his shoes at the top of the order (have) big shoes to fill," he said.

"It's been great opening with him and I look forward to seeing him hopefully continue."

"If he continues on then he's obviously going to have a crack at the Ashes because it's a huge tour and the last time we lost there, so he will be keen to make amends."

Left out of Australia's one day and Twenty20 squads, Katich returns to state cricket on Monday night when NSW hosts Tasmania in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash at ANZ Stadium.

He's looking forward to climbing out of the whites and reacquainting himself with the 'Baby Blues'.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my season last year playing the whole season with NSW and it's exciting (to be back)," Katich said.

"The boys have been doing really well, particularly in the Twenty20s, and it's nice to be back with all the youngsters."

Two of those young guns – power hitter Dave Warner (Australian twenty20 team) and in-form opener Phillip Hughes (injury) – will be missing for Monday's night's vital showdown with the Tigers.

The Blues need victory to keep the pressure on table leaders Victoria.

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Issues, England

Email this Post to a Friend

Steve Waugh Sees A Stronger England Team

January 11th 2009 09:16

Former nemesis Steve Waugh has joined in the debate on English cricket's week of crisis which culminated in Andrew Strauss being named captain for the entire Caribbean tour.

Australian great Waugh believes the furore which led to Kevin Pietersen's resignation and the removal of Peter Moores as coach can actually strengthen England in an Ashes year.

Strauss, 31, will return to one-day limited-overs action after a two-year absence as captain in March.

But the priority now is to build bridges before the squad's departure on January 21 - following the breakdown of captain-coach relationship and revelations of dressing room disharmony.

"I don't see this as an issue that's going to split the side and make them perform poorly," said Waugh, speaking on www.laureus.com.

"I think, if anything, it may have the ability to make the team a bit stronger."

"I think they took it too far and possibly the power got to the leader's head because, you know, surely these things can be worked out behind the scenes and it doesn't have to be played out in public."

"You know, my big saying as a captain was 'praise in public' and if you're going to criticise, do it in private."

There is clearly work to do to integrate Pietersen, the side's star turn, back into the fold.

But Waugh insisted: "I think players just get on with the job."

"They're pretty hard nosed and they're pretty thick skinned and they're used to a lot of these distractions around the team and now they'll get on with playing cricket and they'll embrace him as a great, great batsman, which he is and I think it will be pretty soon forgotten."

"Right now it seems a big issue that I think once you get on a cricket field again and you've got a new captain, a new coach and a new and different direction, then players will get on with playing Test match cricket."

The England and Wales Cricket Board took the decision to put Strauss in total charge after resisting appointing an interim coach for the trip.

Assistant coach Andy Flower, team operations manager Phil Neale, and Hugh Morris, managing director England cricket, will provide support.

"The selectors feel that it is important to have stability and continuity on the Caribbean tour given the events of the last few days," said national selector Geoff Miller.

"Andrew and I have also agreed that we will review the one-day captaincy at the end of the tour. Andrew is extremely comfortable with that."

Strauss was not a member of the original party to stay on after the four-Test series, having fallen from favour in recent years.

He last played for England in one-day colours back in April 2007, in fact, ironically against West Indies, in what was Duncan Fletcher's last match in charge.

Moores, meanwhile, broke his silence on the week's events via a statement from his solicitors Harbottle & Lewis.

His legal team remains engaged with counterparts from the ECB following his dismissal from a rolling contract as England coach - a move which would effectively cost Lord's coffers his annual salary.

But the possibility of Moores, highly-rated following his stint setting up the ECB's national academy, being re-engaged in the England cricket structure cannot be ruled out.

"It is with great sadness that I was told earlier this week that I have been removed from my role as England team director," he admitted.

"All I would like to say is that I am extremely proud to have coached my country."

"I remain a passionate Englishman and a huge supporter of the England cricket team."

"I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one of the players and coaching staff the very best for the forthcoming series in the West Indies and for the challenges ahead."

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Issues, England

Email this Post to a Friend

Tom Moody Would Consider England Coaching Position

January 10th 2009 08:34

Western Australian coach Tom Moody says he would have to consider the England coaching position if approached with a formal offer.

In the wake of England coach Peter Moores and skipper Kevin Pietersen being sacked on the same day following a bust-up between the pair, Moody has emerged as one of the favourites to take on the England role heading into the Ashes series later this year.

But, speaking in Perth on Friday, former Sri Lanka coach Moody said he was well aware of the speculation but could not offer any comment as he's received no formal offer from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"Obviously there's a lot that's going on in English cricket over the last couple of days," said Moody on his return to Perth following WA's 78-run loss to the Bushrangers in their KFC Twenty20 Big Bash clash on Thursday night.

Tom Moody Would Consider England Coaching Position

"I've had no formal approach and until I do, I don't need to really think or consider anything but concentrate on the Warriors."

"You'd look at anything. This day and age, you're not going to turn your back on any opportunity."

"(But) I'm very happy here in Perth, (the) familys settled, I've got a great job, enjoying what I'm doing."

"I've got no reason to be looking further afield," he said.

With opener Andrew Strauss already confirmed as captain for England's upcoming tour to the West Indies, the English and Australian press have raised Moody's name as a potential replacement for Moores.

Writing on the BBC website, respected columnist Jonathan Agnew said he believed Moody was already on the ECB's shortlist of replacements after his name was linked to the position back in 2007, when Moores was eventually promoted from within to replace Duncan Fletcher.

"Now they have got time to put things in place, get a new captain and go out and find a good new coach. It might be the man they didn't bother approaching last time, Tom Moody," Agnew wrote.

But despite the press speculation, Moody certainly wasn't getting his hopes up.

"Again, it's no point even going down that track because there hasn't been any formal approach and what we are hearing and seeing is all speculation."

"So again it's a bit like 2007, a similar thing happened. There was no formal approach but there was a lot of beat up that I was one of the favourites for the job but I didn't speak to anyone about that."

"As I said, I'm very happy here in Perth and enjoying what I'm doing and until anything formal comes through, if it ever does, I'll worry about it then."

Moody also said he'd be surprised if Shane Warne was offered the job, despite the legendary Australian leg-spinner's name also being linked to the role after he captain-coached Indian Premier League champion Rajasthan in the competition's inaugural season.

"That's an interesting one given Shane's public feelings about coaches and how they fit into the scheme of things," said Moody referring to Warne's well-known opinion that coaches are not necessary in the modern game.

"There's no doubt that Shane's a great leader, a great motivator (but) whether he would want the job for one, whether he would be effective 24-7 or just as a consultant, maybe that's a better use of Shane Warne."

"He's got a few games of golf and a few hands of poker to play I think so he may not have the time," Moody said.

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Issues, England

Email this Post to a Friend

Shane Warne Plays Down England Coaching Rumours

January 10th 2009 07:54

Shane Warne has played down suggestions he could become the next England coach.

Writing in his column for The Times newspaper, Warne poured cold water on reports that recently-ousted England captain Kevin Pieterson had suggested to the 39-year-old that he take on the role of coach in time for the upcoming Ashes series in England.

"Let me say I am in no way, shape or form considering coaching England," he said.

"I'm loving what I'm doing, especially the Channel 9 commentary, and there is no thought of coaching England or anyone else."

Shane Warne Plays Down England Coaching Rumours

Following the sacking of Peter Moores on Wednesday, reports surfaced that Pietersen had contacted Warne in the past few weeks about taking on the coach's role after his relationship with Moores had deteriorated to an irretrievable point.

"The only way I'd do that is through an offer so financially outrageous it would be impossible to refuse," Warne said.

Despite refuting the claims Warne was quick to throw his weight behind a resurgence in form for Pieterson, who will lift his game to 'another level' by the time the Ashes roll around, regardless if he is captain or not.

"Kevin is a guy who likes the limelight, he likes to be the man," Warne added.

"He's obviously got a pretty big ego as well, so that will be dented a bit. But he's also got the ability, no matter what's going on, to perform."

"This situation will stir his emotions. He'll be bitterly disappointed at the lack of support from the England Cricket Board and I'm sure this will drive him to become an even stronger player."

"Come the Ashes, beware of Kevin Pietersen because he could lift his game to another level."

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Issues, England

Email this Post to a Friend

England Captain Kevin Pietersen Resigns And Coach Peter Moores Sacked

January 8th 2009 07:58

Kevin Pietersen resigned as England captain and coach Peter Moores was sacked on a dramatic day for English cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board admitted there had been an 'irretrievable breakdown' in the relationship between Moores and Pietersen.

The ECB also revealed there had been a split in the dressing room caused by the row between the pair.

Pietersen will continue to be available for selection for England, while Andrew Strauss will captain the team on the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.

Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores

Hugh Morris, managing director of England cricket, said: "The England and Wales Cricket Board have late this afternoon accepted, with regret, the resignation of Kevin Pietersen as England captain."

"Kevin recognised that in the present situation it was impossible to restore the dressing room unity, which is vital, if England are to win the forthcoming tour to the Caribbean, the ICC global events or regain the Ashes in the npower Ashes Test series."

"Kevin Pietersen is highly valued as a senior and experienced player and we are delighted that he has indicated he wishes to continue to represent England in all their forthcoming international fixtures, starting in the Caribbean later this month."

Morris added: "I have an extremely high respect and regard for Kevin Pietersen but this has become an impossible situation given the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship between captain and coach."

"With regard to Peter Moores, the board determined that he should relinquish his role as England team director."

"Andrew Strauss has agreed to lead the team to the Caribbean. He led the England team with distinction in 2006 when Michael Vaughan was injured."

"The Board will announce the coaching set-up for the Caribbean tour as soon as possible and will embark on an immediate search for a coach who can provide England with the best chance of success in the coming years."

It had been reported since early on Wednesday morning that Pietersen had vacated the role and that coach Moores had also quit.

Prior to the ECB press conference, Pietersen released a statement confirming his decision to quit.

"Contrary to speculation in the press earlier today, I wish to make it very clear that I have not previously resigned as captain of the England cricket team," Pietersen's statement read.

"However, in light of recent communications with the ECB, and the unfortunate media stories and speculation that have subsequently appeared, I now consider that it would be extremely difficult for me to continue in my current position with the England cricket team."

"Accordingly, I have as of this afternoon decided to stand down as England captain with immediate effect."

"Notwithstanding my resignation as England captain, I still fully intend to be a part of both England's Test and one-day international squad to tour the West Indies next month, and to do all I can to recapture the Ashes during the summer."

"I wish to add, I have principles in my professional and personal life on how things are done, and during my time as England captain I have always been both helpful and direct in my communications with the ECB, and at no time, contrary to press speculation, have I released any unauthorised information to the media regarding my relationships with the players, coaches and the ECB itself."

"I am extremely sad and disappointed to have to relinquish the captaincy at such an early stage, especially in a crucial year for English cricket and in such circumstances, particularly when I feel that I have much more to offer the England team as captain."

"However, this decision will not affect my determination to continue playing international cricket for England, doing all I can to win matches for the team and supporting whoever captains the team in the future."

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Oracle of Delphi - Category: Issues, England

Email this Post to a Friend

[ Cricket News Home ] [ Create A New Post ]