Friday, April 20, 2007

Maharoof gives Sri Lanka selection headache

Seamer Farveez Maharoof gave Sri Lanka a World Cup semi-final selection headache after he claimed four victims in his team's Super Eights eight-wicket win over Ireland this morning.

Maharoof, playing in the side because of an injury to Lasith Malinga while Dilhara Fernando was rested, made a strong case to retain his place for next Tuesday's semi-final in Jamaica with a blistering performance with the ball.

He also ran out Ireland skipper Trent Johnston as Sri Lanka bowled out their opponents for just 77 before wrapping up victory comfortabaly before the lunch break at the Grenada National Stadium.

"It's a good headache to have," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said when quizzed if the 22-year-old Maharoof would start in the semi-final, which is likely to be against New Zealand.

"Everyone in this squad has put their hands up when it comes to performing. It would be a worse headache if we were not performing.

"We have acheived our goal of making the semi-finals. When we left Sri Lanka we knew we had to concentrate hard, we knew we had the talent to make the last four but we just had to execute our plans. That was the hardest thing."

Maharoof finished with 4 for 25 in 10 overs, a spell that saw the pace bowler take three wickets in four balls in his first over.

Muttiah Muralitharan also took four wickets as Ireland were dismissed for the sixth lowest total in the competition's history.

Malinga is expected to be fit for next Tuesday's World Cup semi-final after missing three games because of an ankle injury.

"He's probably 90 per cent okay, we probably should have played him today but we didn't want to take the risk," Jayawardene said.

He said Malinga had bowled 10 overs in the nets on Wednesday morning.

"We don't want to take too many risks. He should be ready to go in the semi-finals, definitely," he said.

Malinga, who took an unprecedented four wickets in four balls in the Super Eights match against South Africa, injured a ligament in his left ankle during training.

Disappointing end for Ireland

The result was a disappointing end for Ireland's debut World Cup campaign which had peaked with famous wins over Pakistan and Bangladesh, but had also seen a nine-wicket defeat to champions Australia.

But they at least had the comfort of knowing that their performances had put them into 12th place in the international one-day rankings.

"It was another tough game," Ireland captain Trent Johnston said.

"But Sri Lanka showed why they are one of the tournament favourites."

The captain now wants to see Ireland build on their achievements.

"The goal when we came here was to show to people that we can play cricket away from our own backyard. I hope people won't judge us on our performances against Australia and Sri Lanka."

Lara looking for senior players to come up trumps

West Indies captain Brian Lara is looking for much improved performances from his senior players to prevent Bangladesh taking another big scalp in their World Cup clash starting in Bridgetown, Barbados, later tonight (Australian time).

With both sides having failed to make the semi-finals, the match is relatively meaningless in the context of the tournament but having already beaten India and South Africa, Bangladesh will fancy their chances again.

The West Indian side has faced heavy criticism in the Caribbean for their dismal displays in the second-stage Super Eights where they have lost to Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

"We have been disappointing in the first four games of the second round but a team like Bangladesh, for them, every game against a Test-playing nation is a big opportunity," said Lara.

"We are aware of that and we are going to come out hard and give our very best."

Lara was particularly keen to see his senior players finally produce performances to match their reputations.

"Including myself, we haven't been performing like the senior players for other teams," he said.

"If you look at Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand they are guided by their senior players.

"We wanted to produce more, we all know the importance of the likes of Chris Gayle and myself and players who have played in excess of 100-150 one-day internationals."

After facing Bangladesh, West Indies finish off their campaign against England at the weekend, also at the Kensington Oval.

Watson in the mix to face Black Caps

All-rounder Shane Watson is pressing for inclusion in the Australian XI for their World Cup match against New Zealand starting in Grenada on Friday night (Australian time).

Watson has been sidelined for much of the tournament as a result of a calf injury.

Australian batsman Michael Clarke said the decision on whether Watson would be selected depended on a late fitness test.

He said Watson would be a valuable addition for the encounter with the Black Caps.

"His bowling is very important, I think in the power plays especially for this team," he said.

"So we look forward to having him back. Hopefully he'll pull up all right today and tomorrow and he'll be out there on Friday."

Both Australia and the Black Caps have already qualified for the semi-finals.

Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken said the clash in Grenada would give the winner a psychological edge heading into the knock-out stage of the tournament.

"Every team's that in the final four is here to win the World Cup, they're not here to finish second, third or fourth," he said.

"Everybody's here to win, so now it is down to the fair dinkum cricket."

Australia unveils summer program

Australia will host Test series against Sri Lanka and India in the highlights of their 2007/08 international program.

The world champions will also play New Zealand in three one-day internationals for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in December and a tri-series one-day tournament against India and Sri Lanka.

Australia kick off the international season in November with two Tests against Sri Lanka in Brisbane and Hobart.

The first of four Tests against India starts on Boxing Day in Melbourne with the other matches in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide in January.

Sri Lanka and India join Australia in the tri-series, which is scheduled to run from February 3 to March 7.

Australia will also host two Twenty20 matches, one against New Zealand in Perth and the other against India in Melbourne.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

ICC World Cup: Ireland v Sri Lanka-Live Scores

18-04-2007 at Grenada

Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 8 wickets

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field

Ireland Innings

77 all out (27.4 overs)

Sri Lanka Innings

81 for 2 (10.0 overs)

Ireland Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
J P Bray	c R P Arnold	b M F Maharoof	20	29	4	0
W T S Porterfield	c S T Jayasuriya	b M F Maharoof	17	51	1	0
A C Botha	c K C Sangakkara	b M F Maharoof	0	2	0	0
E J G Morgan	c K C Sangakkara	b M F Maharoof	0	1	0	0
N J O'Brien	c K C Sangakkara	b M Muralitharan	4	28	0	0
K J O'Brien	c S T Jayasuriya	b M Muralitharan	2	4	0	0
K E D Carroll		b M Muralitharan	0	2	0	0
D T Johnston	run out		0	4	0	0
W K McCallan	lbw	b M Muralitharan	0	9	0	0
D Langford-Smith	lbw	b W P U J C Vaas	18	21	2	1
W B Rankin	not out		7	17	1	0
Extras		2nb 2w 5lb	9
Total		all out	77	(27.4 ovs)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
W P U J C Vaas	5.4	1	18	1
K M D N Kulasekara	7.0	3	10	0
M F Maharoof	10.0	3	25	4
M Muralitharan	5.0	0	19	4

Fall of wicket
28	J P Bray
28	A C Botha
28	E J G Morgan
46	W T S Porterfield
48	N J O'Brien
48	K E D Carroll
49	D T Johnston
49	K J O'Brien
54	W K McCallan
77	D Langford-Smith

Sri Lanka Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
W U Tharanga	c W T S Porterfield	b W B Rankin	0	7	0	0
S T Jayasuriya	not out		24	20	3	1
K C Sangakkara	c K E D Carroll	b D Langford-Smith	10	9	9	1
D P M D Jayawardene	not out		39	27	6	1
Extras		3nb 5w	8
Total		for 2	81	(10.0 ovs)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
W B Rankin	4.0	0	36	1
D Langford-Smith	3.0	0	29	1
A C Botha	1.0	0	4	0
K J O'Brien	1.0	0	4	0
K E D Carroll	1.0	0	8	0

Fall of wicket
1	W U Tharanga
25	K C Sangakkara

Umpires: M R Benson, B R Doctrove
Ireland: J P Bray, W T S Porterfield, A C Botha, E J G Morgan, N J O'Brien, K J O'Brien, D T Johnston, K E D Carroll, W K McCallan, D Langford-Smith, W B Rankin
Sri Lanka: W U Tharanga, S T Jayasuriya, K C Sangakkara, D P M D Jayawardene, L P C Silva, T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, M F Maharoof, W P U J C Vaas, K M D N Kulasekara, M Muralitharan

Black Caps into Cup semis

New Zealand exploited favourable early bowling conditions on Saturday to defeat South Africa by five wickets and follow defending champions Australia into the World Cup semi-finals.

On an overcast morning with a hint of rain in the air, Shane Bond and James Franklin took a wicket each in the first three overs and Craig McMillan picked up three cheap wickets near the end to restrict South Africa to 7 for 193.

Captain Stephen Fleming, dropped twice, scored an even 50 and the prolific Scott Styris, who was also let off after scoring only four, reached 56 as New Zealand attained their target from 48.2 overs.

The 10 points New Zealand have now gathered qualifies them for the semi-finals on April 24 and 25. South Africa, the world's top-ranked side before the tournament began, must beat England in their final Super Eights match in Barbados next Tuesday and hope other results go their way to reach the semis.

After Fleming had won the toss and asked South Africa to bat, skipper Graeme Smith could make little of Bond's opening over, the second of the day.

He played and missed four in a row, including a no-ball, before pushing the fifth to Jacob Oram at cover diving forward after scoring only a single.

Left-armer Franklin, a transformed bowler when given some assistance from the elements, jagged the final delivery of his second over back into AB de Villiers's pads and won an lbw decision before the opener had scored. It was De Villiers' fourth duck of the tournament.

Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, although beaten repeatedly outside their off-stumps, resurrected the innings. Both struck Oram over his head for sixes and they took the total to 52 when Kallis (22) mishit Daniel Vettori to Bond at mid-off.

Jeetan Patel, recalled in place of Mark Gillespie to partner Vettori, bowled a highly impressive spell of off-spin, varying his flight and pace cleverly in an initial spell of eight overs for 19 runs.

A subdued Gibbs reached his eighth World Cup half-century but was then out for 60 from 100 balls when he played McMillan's medium pace on to his stumps and the remaining batsmen got starts but failed to capitalise.

New Zealand lost Peter Fulton caught at slip off Makhaya Ntini for 16 and then Ross Taylor lbw to Andre Nel for 10 with the total on 42.

Fleming and Styris took the score to 120 before the Kiwi captain was out to the next ball after completing his half-century from 83 balls with six fours, edging Shaun Pollock to Mark Boucher standing up to the stumps.

Styris, who averaged over a hundred before Saturday, knocked the ball into the gaps to reach his fifth score in excess of 50 in the tournament from 77 balls before he was caught by Gibbs off left-arm spinner Robin Petersen.

McMillan (38 not out) scored freely at the end, striking Petersen for a mighty six and hitting Ntini over his head for four.

Akram brands Inzy a dictator

Wasim Akram has branded former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq a dictator for his conduct in the run-up to the team's World Cup debacle in the Caribbean.

Inzamam had become very powerful and dictated terms to late coach Bob Woolmer as well as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, the former Pakistan paceman said in an interview with ESPN.

"Inzy definitely had become a dictator," Akram said. "He had obviously become very powerful. I know for a fact that Bob Woolmer and the foreign back-up staff would approach him for leave.

"I have seen senior PCB officials sitting at his residence and awaiting orders. These things are not good for cricket."

Inzamam, one of the best batsmen of his generation, retired from one-day cricket and resigned as captain a day after the team suffered a shock defeat against debutants Ireland to make a first round World Cup exit.

His announcement came hours after Woolmer was found lifeless in his Jamaica hotel room. The former England player was declared dead in hospital and Jamaican police have since said he was murdered.

Akram blamed Pakistan's cricket woes on the board.

"For the last seven years, there's been no system in the PCB," he said. "Ad-hocism doesn't work and that's the reason why people like Imran Khan don't want to get associated."

Former all-rounder Imran captained Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup title which featured both Akram and Inzamam.

Akram said national captains in cricket-mad India and Pakistan need to be in charge.

"In India and Pakistan, a captain must be the boss because he is the man leading the team on the field. Of course, there must be healthy interaction between the captain and the selectors," he said.

"The rest will fall in place."

Pakistan are trying to find a successor to Inzamam after his deputy Younis Khan declined the job.

Tait enjoying settled life in fast lane

Australian speedster Shaun Tait has praised skipper Ricky Ponting and veteran paceman Glenn McGrath for helping him settle into the world champions' team.

Tait, the tearaway who has been a World Cup revelation with 14 wickets so far at an average of 20.42, has seized the opportunity to carve out a regular place in the side following the pre-tournament injury to Brett Lee.

Many thought his inaccuracy could cost Australia dear in the World Cup but Ponting has given the 24-year-old South Australian licence to rough up opposing teams' top orders.

It is a tactic which has paid off with Australia, bidding for a third successive World Cup title, cruising into the semi-finals with seven wins in seven matches in the Caribbean.

"I'm feeling quite settled in the team now since being given my place when Brett got injured. That feeling is also helping my bowling and my rhythm," Tait told www.bigstarcricket.com.

"When it's in your mind that you know you're going to play the games it gives you a lot more confidence. It helps you settle down and you feel part of the team a lot more.

"When you're a young player it can be quite hard sometimes in your own mind. The players welcome you but in your own mind you're worrying about settling in and becoming a regular fixture in the team.

"But this tournament has been perfect; I'm having a great time. A lot of that has come from the captain because he has helped me relax and told me not to worry about wides or anything like that and to just enjoy it."

Tait was equal in his praise of McGrath, the tournament's top wicket-taker with 18 victims and who will quit international cricket at the end of the World Cup.

"It has been great to spend more time with a legend like Glenn McGrath before he retires. He has helped me even though he may not realise sometimes," Tait said.

"I listen to him a lot and learn things when, to him, he is probably just talking normally.

"Glenn just thinks of himself as a player in the side and doesn't want to go around telling people how to bowl. But I listen to him a lot and a word here and there helps me out, with my bowling and confidence."

Ireland upstage Bangladesh in Cup match

Ireland put up a spirited show to beat Bangladesh by 74 runs this morning AEST in the battle of the giant-killers and raise their hopes of avoiding the World Cup Super Eights wooden spoon.

Ireland's impressive total of 7 for 243 was built around a steady 85 by William Porterfield and 48 by Kevin O'Brien before bowling Bangladesh out for 169.

The win assured Ireland a 12th place in the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day rankings as they have now met the condition of beating two Test playing nations.

They beat Pakistan by three-wickets in the preliminary round to qualify for the Super Eights in their maiden World Cup appearance.

The defeat proved an anti-climax to Bangladesh's campaign in which they beat India in the group stages and upset South Africa in the second round.

Their last match is against the West Indies on Thursday (local time).

Bangladesh, who had an outside chance of a semi-final place, spurned that with some uninspired bowling and unimaginative batting.

Irish spearhead Boyd Rankin, living up to his habit of taking early wickets in the tournament, had Shahriar Nafees (seven) caught behind and then Andre Botha had Aftab Ahmed (12) in the same manner.

Saqibul Hasan's run out for three left them struggling at 3 for 48.

It was left to Mohammad Ashraful (35) and Tamim Iqbal (29) to steady the innings through a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket, but Iqbal played one shot too many and was bowled by Ireland skipper Trent Johnston.

Rankin returned for his second spell to remove a dangerous looking Mohammad Ashraful to end Bangladesh's hopes of a successful target chase. Ashraful hit five boundaries and a six during his 43-ball knock.

Skipper Habibul Bashar hung on for his 32 before Johnston bowled him to finish the match.

Ireland's innings

Earlier, Johnston's decision to bat first after winning the toss was justified by Porterfield who, in the company of Jeremy Bray (31), gave Ireland a confident start of 92.

Kevin O'Brien, who made 48 off just 44 balls with two sixes and as many fours, took Ireland past the 200-mark and gave the innings much-needed impetus during a 39-run fifth wicket stand with Johnston who made 30.

O'Brien added a solid 48 for the fourth wicket with Porterfield and was the key to Ireland adding 77 runs in the last 10 overs before he was finally run out in the 48th over.

Porterfield, who has two 100s to his credit in 15 one-day internationals, looked set for another three-figure mark before he paddle-swept paceman Mashrafe Mortaza to short fine-leg for Mohammad Rafique to take a simple catch.

He hit three boundaries during his steady 136-ball knock.

Bangladesh missed left-arm paceman Syed Rasel who sprained his ankle in a warm-up session, minutes before the start. Shahadat Hossain took his place but was unimpressive in his nine overs, conceding 51 runs.

Bray became the first of four run-outs in the innings.

Eoin Morgan (five) also fell to a run out, while Niall O'Brien (10) miscued a reverse sweep and was caught off Hasan to leave Ireland at 3 for 128.

Kevin O'Brien used his feet to the spinners, hitting Abdur Razzak for a towering six at long-on to ensure Ireland put a fighting total.

Ireland's last match is against Sri Lanka on April 18 in Grenada.

Australia mystified by Sri Lankan tactics

Australia's Andrew Symonds has admitted he was stunned to see Sri Lanka rest frontline bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan from their World Cup Super Eights clash this morning.

Symonds smashed an unbeaten 63 as the world champions wrapped up a comfortable seven-wicket win at the Grenada National Stadium.

Both sides had already made sure of their places in the semi-finals but the result made it almost certain that Sri Lanka will avoid the defending champions in the last four and will probably face New Zealand in Jamaica.

"It's not the way we would have done it but they're a different team," Symonds said, on the decision to rest Vaas and Muralitharan.

"They are key players. It can affect confidence when you do that."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who top-scored with 66, said he did not know why Sri Lanka had made their decision.

"You've probably asked them their reasons, I don't know their reasons," he said. "I don't care what their reasons are.

"We turned up today, we put our best team on the park to win the game. We clearly finished on top which is great. Whatever opposition teams do, I don't care."

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene defended the decision to rest the duo, which immediately weakened an attack already without injured seamer Lasith Malinga.

He said Murali had been nursing a groin problem and Vaas needed a break as the side could not afford another injury to one of their bowlers with Malinga already sidelined.

"We have to do what's best for the team and that's why we took the decision," Jayawardene said.

"We use our personnel on and off and we have to make sure we have the guys ready for the semi-finals."

He denied suggestions his two key bowlers had been left out of the match for tactical reasons.

"If you want to think it was a tactical decision that's for you to think about," he said. "That wasn't the intention. The intention was to give them a break.

"We never devalued the game but we just felt we had to make a team decision because we couldn't sustain another injury like what happened to Lasith.

"These guys are key players and if they are not fit going into the business end of the tournament we would look back and think why we didn't make this decision."

Australia's win was their 20th successive World Cup win, and made it almost certain that they would top the Super Eights table with a perfect record.

Australia next face New Zealand in their last Super Eights game on Friday night.

Pakistan to sack 80 cricket officials

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says it will sack 80 employees, including some senior management officials, in the wake of the national team's World Cup fiasco.

Pakistan were ousted from the tournament after a humiliating defeat by minnows Ireland on March 17. Coach Bob Woolmer was found murdered in his hotel room the next day.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) press release said 80 employees would be "relieved from their positions with severance pay" after a review of its management structure by external consultants.

"The decision to terminate their services was taken on corporate lines," PCB marketing director Ahsan Malik said.

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Nagmi was quoted by state media as saying that the aim was to restructure the board "ensuring good governance and (the) right man for the right job."

"Some of the previous employees were not even known to their job description and they were not performing their duties to a level of satisfaction. Besides, they were not suitable in the new structure," he said.

Officials said those shown the door included two general managers plus others from lower tiers of the organisation.

The review of the PCB's staffing levels included a comparison with other cricket boards, including those in Australia and South Africa, Mr Nagmi said.

Pakistani cricket chiefs are currently trying to pick a captain to replace Inzamam-ul-Haq, who stood down after the World Cup.

Younis Khan has already turned down the job

Hogg's form delights Ponting

Brad Hogg is bowling at the peak of his powers, according to Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who is elated with the left-arm wrist spinner's form at the World Cup.

Hogg's happy knack of taking important wickets continued against Sri Lanka when, after a third wicket stand of 140 between skipper Mahela Jayawardene (72) and Chamara Silva (64), the former postman removed both men.

The 36-year-old Western Australian also held his nerve after being attacked early on to finish with an economical 2 for 35 from his 10 overs.

Hogg, who rose to prominence at the 2003 World Cup after Shane Warne's shock withdrawal for a doping offence, now stands fifth in this tournament's bowling averages with 15 wickets at an average of just over 17 apiece.

This compares well with a haul of 13 at 24 during the whole of the last edition in southern Africa.

"Right through the middle period I always felt he was going to be our best wicket-taking option which is why I kept him going," Ponting explained after a seven-wicket victory which saw Australia, the only team with a 100 per cent record at this event, stretch its overall World Cup unbeaten run to 26 games.

"He's bowled beautifully through the tournament, bowling as well now as he ever has and he's beating a lot of batsmen with his variations.

"He's taking a lot of wickets with his 'wrong-un' and he's bowling it very well. More importantly, he's probably thinking through his bowling a lot better now than he ever has.

"He's using his variations very well and at the right times which he probably didn't always do."

Hogg provided the spark for a middle-order collapse which saw Sri Lanka, like Australia already qualified for the semi-finals, lose four wickets for 16 runs.

"We took those four wickets in next to no time and really slowed down their run-rate and scoring," Ponting said.

Left-arm quick Nathan Bracken, rested from the nine-wicket thrashing of minnows Ireland to give Stuart Clark a game, enjoyed success at both ends of the innings on Monday on his way to an impressive return of 4 for 19.

Australians occupy four of the top seven spots in the World Cup bowling standings.

Fast bowler Glenn McGrath, in his final competition before retirement, heads the list with 20 wickets at 14.15.

The World Cup's all-time leading wicket-taker is now just three short of the tournament record of 23 set by Sri Lanka left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, controversially omitted Wednesday, four years ago.

In second place is express quick Shaun Tait, with 16 wickets at 22.12 while Bracken lies seventh having taken 14 wickets at a miserly 13 apiece.

England deserved to be booed: Vaughan

England captain Michael Vaughan says his team deserved to be booed off after their crushing nine-wicket defeat by South Africa this morning that knocked them out of the World Cup.

Vaughan said he would not be retiring from one-day internationals but that others would decide if he kept the captaincy. He also said he was unaware if coach Duncan Fletcher was considering quitting.

"It is a very sad day for English cricket. It's a horrible feeling to have walked off the park in Barbados and get booed by a lot of England supporters - and rightfully so from the performance we've put in," Vaughan said.

"I fully understand why they have given us that sort of reception. We have to hold our hands up and accept all the criticism that comes our way."

South African medium pacer Andrew Hall took five wickets to help dismiss England for 154 before Graeme Smith hit an unbeaten 89 to lead his side to victory in just 19.2 overs.

England have struggled all tournament, recording their only victory over a Test side against Bangladesh. The side arrived in the Caribbean on the back of a 5-0 mauling by Australia in the Ashes Test series.

"There needs to be a lot of honesty. We as an England team have had a very disappointing six months. I firmly believed we'd do a lot better than we have," said Vaughan, who has been in poor batting form.

"I won't be retiring from one-day cricket. But I'm not stupid to think it's not going to be an area of concern.

"The most important thing is that we have to get English cricket back on track. We need a strategy to move forward. Since 1992 England haven't produced any good one-day cricket. We need to know why."

After contesting the 1992 final, in which they were beaten by Pakistan, England have failed to reach the semis in any of the four subsequent World Cups.

Coach Fletcher, who with Vaughan led England to a 2-1 Ashes win in 2005 before results fell away, will come under huge media pressure to resign.

His future was due to be discussed at the end of the tournament and former England all-rounder Ian Botham was quick to say he should leave.

"We've got good cricketers but they need a new direction. Duncan Fletcher has done some great things for England over the years but everyone has a shelf life and I'm sorry his has expired," Botham told Sky Sports.

But Vaughan backed his close friend.

"I think he is still an outstanding cricket coach," he said.

"Only he knows and he will tell you exactly how he is feeling at this moment. I know he will be very, very disappointed and hurt inside."

Former greats call for axing of Vaughan, Fletcher

Former England cricket captain Bob Willis has demanded Michael Vaughan be axed as skipper following the team's World Cup exit.

Willis, now a TV pundit, said coach Duncan Fletcher and chairman of selectors David Graveney should also be removed from their positions after South Africa's thumping nine-wicket win condemned Vaughan's men to a humiliating World Cup exit.

Fellow former captain Ian Botham added his voice to the furore insisting that Fletcher should be the man to carry the can.

Willis also hit out at the make-up of the county game in England as well as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), who he accused of being obsessed with Test match cricket and forcing the one-day game down its list of priorities.

"They haven't given it the priority it deserves. Lately Duncan Fletcher has called for England to play more one-day internationals and eventually the ECB has ceded to that request. They are playing more and more," Willis told Sky Sports.

"Graveney, Fletcher and Vaughan - they've all got to go.

"We have got to start planning now for the next World Cup, which is on the sub-continent. They should get out the birth certificates and anyone who is 32 or over now - they're out of it.

"We have got to go back to preparing a side specifically for that tournament in four years time and get young players into the side. That preparation should start with the one-day internationals against the West Indies this summer."

'Change things now'

Meanwhile, Botham said Fletcher's reign as England coach must come to end.

After the nine-wicket defeat to the Proteas, Botham told Sky Sports that change is necessary and that the ECB should act quickly.

"Change it now," he said. "The World Cup is over and England have been humiliated and it is just not good enough. We have to change things and move on.

"We are disappointed but not surprised although surprised at how easy it was," Botham said, after South Africa reached England's lowly target of 155 inside 20 overs.

"I thought we would always battle and that we would have to play extremely well but to be quite frank we have watched this over the last couple of years in one-day cricket and it is not getting any better, it is getting worse.

"Today's performance summed it up. We are miles away from it. We need to stop right now, change our whole attitude, change our major personnel; everything has got to be changed. You cannot keep going like this.

"When you heard that crowd booing England off the field and the captain, when he went up to the presentation, it is hurting people now."

Botham praised for Fletcher for his contribution to English cricket in his time as coach but said all good things come to an end.

"I think Duncan Fletcher has done some great things for England over the years, let's not forget that, but I am sorry, everyone has a shelf life and his has expired," said the former all-rounder.

"I don't see how he can possibly motivate players. The camp looks split, they are all over the place and in disarray. The time has come.

"I hope the ECB are looking for the right option. He has to be a strong character and someone with a proven track record."

'Shambolic'

England's World Cup performance has been branded shambolic and feeble by the country's press after this morning's crushing defeat.

Fletcher's days in the job are numbered, papers said, after his side struggled throughout their stay in the Caribbean, with Bangladesh the only Test team they beat.

"If pride does not make him fall on his sword after a 5-0 Ashes whitewash and a miserable World Cup, he should be sacked by the ECB," wrote The Sun, on a page taken up largely by the headlines "Sunken Duncan" and "World Cup shambles".
The Times wrote that Vaughan's career as one-day captain was likely to go the same way as Fletcher's after England's "feeble performance".

"The truth was simply confirmed: that their World Cup hopes have never been realistic," the newspaper wrote in its Wednesday edition.

"England looked dazed, defenceless and defeated."

World Cup win won't surprise Styris

Scott Styris says he has no doubt the current New Zealand squad has the ability to win the World Cup.

New Zealand, already through to their fifth semi-final in the tournament's nine-edition history, face fellow last-four qualifiers and champions Australia in their final Super Eights match beginning Friday night (Australian time) at Grenada's National Stadium.

But whereas a semi-final spot might have been the summit of ambition for previous New Zealand teams, Styris said the Black Caps could not only go one better in the West Indies and reach a final for the first time but take home the trophy as well.

"I am biased, but I think this is the first New Zealand side that is considered to have the first genuine opportunity to win it," he said.

"If we play well, we know we are a good enough side to win it.

"In the past, a semi-final spot has been a fair result for some of those teams. This team here, if we hadn't made the semis it would have been a failure.

"If we win it, then I think it's deserved. If we don't, it's disappointing and that's probably not been the case for previous campaigns."

Arguably the closest New Zealand have come to winning the World Cup was in 1992, when they were joint hosts with Australia.

In front of a home crowd in Auckland, New Zealand were on top in their semi-final against Pakistan until the then unknown Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 60 off 37 balls to turn the game the way of the eventual champions.

But by then New Zealand had already left a mark on the tournament, not least through the innovative tactics of captain Martin Crowe which included opening the bowling with off-spinner Deepak Patel.

"New Zealand got in behind it big-time because they played well and out-thought a few opponents, which is where the history of New Zealand tactical smarts has come from, with Martin Crowe," said the 31-year-old Styris.

Styris has been in superb batting form in the Caribbean and is currently fourth in the tournament's list of leading run-scorers with 435 at an average of 108.75, boosted by 111 not out in a six-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Grenada last week - New Zealand's only loss in the tournament to date.

"I'm happy with the way I'm going about my innings which is the thing that gets you good scores, particularly on these wickets," said Styris.

"I was really happy with my first innings against England (where his composed, unbeaten 87 secured a six-wicket win in St Lucia last month).

New Zealand hosted and thrashed Australia 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in February and Styris said: "I'm sure they (Australia) are still smarting a bit and we need to fight fire with fire.

"Against England and the West Indies, we didn't let the foot off the throat which has always been a problem for New Zealand sides in the past."

Hayden an inspiration, says Gilchrist

Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has hailed Matthew Hayden's return to one-day cricket as inspirational.

During Tuesday's (Australian time) comprehensive seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka, the top-order duo equalled the record of 25 half-century stands in one-day internationals set by Australian predecessors David Boon and Geoff Marsh.

Hayden himself has been in outstanding form in the Caribbean with 477 runs at an average of 79.50 and only South Africa's Jacques Kallis has scored more runs in the tournament to date.

But the 35-year-old Queensland left-hander lost his place in the world champions one-day side after the 2005 tour of England and only regained his spot during the recent tri-series in Australia after all-rounder Shane Watson was injured.

Hayden then secured his place with an innings of 117 against New Zealand in Perth in January.

"I guess when he came back in, a lot of people would have been looking at it like it's make-or-break time," said Gilchrist.

"He identified that and I think he's said that was a bit of a breakthrough innings for him in regards to allowing him more time to express himself. He's taken it with both hands and inspired everyone to keep improving."

Productive partnership

Wicket-keeper Gilchrist said he felt proud to have batted alongside Hayden.

"It's been a wonderful partnership at the top of the order and statistically we're there or thereabouts so that's a huge thrill," he said.

Australia face fellow semi-finalists New Zealand in a Super Eights match at the Grenada National Stadium beginning on Friday night (Australian time).

The best stand posted by Black Caps makeshift opening duo Stephen Fleming and Peter Fulton in five games is 44 and they have not been alone among first-wicket pairs at the World Cup in struggling with Caribbean pitches.

"I guess walking out there together at the start of the order you have the opportunity to set up a strong foundation for your team," said Gilchrist.

"Fortunately we've been doing that well in this World Cup and obviously a number of times over the years so it's really pleasing.

"Matty is in a good place at the moment, he's hitting the ball so well it's allowing a me a bit more time to try to occupy the crease and settle in."

Friday, April 13, 2007

ICC World Cup: Australia v Ireland-Live Scores

13-04-2007 at Barbados

Australia beat Ireland by 9 wickets

Australia won the toss and decided to field

Ireland Innings

91 all out (30.0 overs)

Australia Innings

92 for 1 (12.2 overs)

Ireland Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
J P Bray		b G D McGrath	1	2	0	0
W T S Porterfield	lbw	b S W Tait	1	11	0	0
E J G Morgan	c M L Hayden	b G D McGrath	0	9	0	0
N J O'Brien		b S W Tait	0	1	0	0
K J O'Brien	c B J Hodge	b S R Clark	16	25	3	0
A R White	c G B Hogg	b G D McGrath	6	20	0	0
D T Johnston		b S W Tait	17	25	2	0
W K McCallan	c S W Tait	b A Symonds	5	18	0	0
J F Mooney	run out		23	44	2	0
D Langford-Smith	c R T Ponting	b G B Hogg	2	7	0	0
W B Rankin	not out		4	19	0	0
Extras		1nb 15w	16
Total		all out	91	(30.0 ovs)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
G D McGrath	7.0	1	17	3
S W Tait	6.0	1	39	3
S R Clark	8.0	1	19	1
G B Hogg	6.0	2	9	1
A Symonds	3.0	1	7	1

Fall of wicket
2	J P Bray
2	W T S Porterfield
2	N J O'Brien
12	E J G Morgan
32	A R White
42	K J O'Brien
54	D T Johnston
72	W K McCallan
80	D Langford-Smith
91	J F Mooney

Australia Innings

			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
A C Gilchrist		b D T Johnston	34	25	4	0
M E K Hussey	not out		30	41	3	1
A Symonds	not out		15	9	1	1
Extras		1nb 8w 4lb	13
Total		for 1	92	(12.2 ovs)

Bowler	O	M	R	W
D Langford-Smith	3.0	0	27	0
W B Rankin	4.2	0	24	0
D T Johnston	3.0	0	18	1
J F Mooney	1.0	0	14	0
W K McCallan	1.0	0	5	0

Fall of wicket
62	A C Gilchrist

Umpires: B F Bowden, R E Koertzen
Australia: M L Hayden, A C Gilchrist, R T Ponting, M J Clarke, A Symonds, M E K Hussey, B J Hodge, G B Hogg, S R Clark, S W Tait, G D McGrath
Ireland: J P Bray, W T S Porterfield, E J G Morgan, N J O'Brien, K J O'Brien, D T Johnston, A R White, W K McCallan, D Langford-Smith, J F Mooney, W B Rankin

Ponting happy with Aussies 'Form'

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was in ebullient mood after his side sealed their place in the World Cup semi-finals by thrashing Ireland.

Australia rattled Ireland out for just 91 before knocking off their target after just 13 overs of their reply.

Ponting said: "We've achieved what we wanted to achieve so far.

"I couldn't be happier with the guys' one-day skills at the moment, and I think you'll see us play some more very good matches before we go home."

Australia now play Sri Lanka and New Zealand in their remaining Super 8 matches, and Ponting is confident that his side can continue their good form.

He said: "It's the business end of the World Cup for us now, and we'll get an even better measure of where we're at after the next two games.

"We've got two very big matches before the semis in very different conditions to Barbados, and we'll have to adapt quickly.

"We've got a good record down the years of stringing together consecutive wins, whether it's in Test matches or one-dayers, and we're on a very good run at the moment."

Ireland keep faith after defeat

Ireland captain Trent Johnston hoped his players might at least learn some valuable lessons from their crushing nine-wicket defeat against Australia.

"You can only learn from that and hopefully a lot of the guys can take that away and build from it," he said.

"We knew we had to play out of our skins and they had to have a pretty poor day for us to be competitive.

"They're not champions for nothing but we still came out and fought and that's what we'll do for our last two games."

The Ireland team gave an intrepid display in the field, despite having only 91 to defend.

"That's something we pride ourselves on and fielding is one area where we can match the big boys," Johnston said.

Ireland now turn their attentions to Bangladesh for their penultimate match in the competition in Barbados on Sunday.

"They've got some form on the board, they beat South Africa, so we're going to train hard and put in a good performance," the captain said.

"I'm sorry for all our supporters who have come over to watch us but hopefully we can put in a better performance in our last two games."

Cook hits form in season opener

MCC 332-6 v Sussex, day one (close)

Cook looked in decent form as the MCC took charge at Lord's

England's Alastair Cook warmed up for the new season in fine style with a superb century on the first day of the MCC's curtain-raiser against Sussex.

The Essex opener, named as captain of a strong MCC side at Lord's, fired 18 fours and a six in his 225-ball 142.

He shared stands of 132 and 115 with Owais Shah (47) and Alex Loudon (53) as the MCC reached 332-6 by close of play.

James Kirtley and Robin Martin-Jenkins took two wickets apiece at a low rate, but Sussex's other bowlers struggled.

Kirtley did not concede a run off his first 27 deliveries and made the most of some early swing to have Nick Compton caught by Ollie Raynor at slip for a duck in the first over.

But, aside from Martin-Jenkins, all Sussex's other bowlers were going for well over four an over and Shah joined Cook to put the MCC back in charge with a wonderful stand, until the Middlesex batsman was caught behind off Kirtley.

Loudon then took up the challenge and struck nine boundaries in an 86-ball stand before Martin-Jenkins snared him plumb in front, while Zoheb Sharif, currently studying at the MCC-sponsored Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence, made just four before he fell to Luke Wright.

The otherwise expensive Wright finally ended Cook's fine innings with a bit of away swing which had him caught behind by Matt Prior, but Alex Gidman and promising Worcestershire wicket-keeper Steve Davies then put on 61 for the sixth wicket.

Martin Jenkins had Gidman caught behind but Adil Rashid and Davies saw out the final few overs to keep the MCC's noses in front.

The MCC were without England spinner Ashley Giles, who withdrew with a hip problem, but did include Test bowlers Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison.

Younis rejects Pakistan captaincy

Younis was jostled by fans on his return home from the Caribbean

Batsman Younis Khan has turned down the chance to succeed Inzamam-ul-Haq as Pakistan's new captain.

Younis, who is about to begin a county contract in England with Yorkshire, is unhappy with the reception the team received after their World Cup exit.

The 29-year-old said: "I have always given 100% for my country.

"But when your family gets threatning calls and our effigies are burnt and our pictures put on donkeys, I can't lead the team in such circumstances."

Inzamam stepped down as skipper after Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup at the first round stage, but although he is finished with one-day cricket, he hopes to continue his Test career.

Younis was the obvious candidate to take over, having been vice-captain since 2005 and having led the team in two Tests and six one-dayers when Inzamam was unavailable.

"They offered me the captaincy with full powers. The PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] said they would also be appointing a strong selection committee to back me up, but I refused after thanking them for their offer," he told the Urdu language Express newspaper.

Younis, who described Tests as "real cricket" is also thinking over whether he wants to continue playing limited overs internationals after an unsuccessful time in the Caribbean where he made only 37 runs in three innings.

The PCB hopes to appoint a new captain and coach early next month.

They have already suspended the central contracts of members of the national team and will switch to performance-related terms for future series.

Javed Miandad, a former captain and coach of the national team, has backed the board, saying: "Unless steps are taken to curb player-power and they are given the message that they don't have automatic places in the team, nothing will change."

He added: "The next captain must be strong, but not allowed to dictate to the selectors or the board."

Kent's Key admits ball-tampering

Key has played 15 Tests for England

Kent will not be taking any action against captain Rob Key after he admitted tampering with the ball during a pre-season friendly against Notts.

He was photographed at Canterbury using sandpaper on the ball in an attempt to obtain reverse swing.

But Kent described the game as "formalised practice" and ruled out any disciplinary measures.

Key said: "Maybe I've been a bit naive but it didn't really occur to me that this might develop into a scandal."

The match did not come under the jurisdiction of the England and Wales Cricket Board and Notts will not be making a complaint about the matter.

"My conscience is clear. I won't be going out and scratching the ball the way I have in this game in a first-class match but these games are used for practice and are a good opportunity to see where people are," Key told The Guardian newspaper.

"The way the game is moving forward for bowlers nowadays is through reverse swing, so what we've tried to do throughout our pre-season nets was to get brand new balls, sandpaper one side, and let the boys practise bowling. It actually goes really well."

Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's Director of Cricket, said neither he nor his team had been aware of Key's actions while the game was being played.

"If I had noticed it, I would have asked him what was going on. But I know Rob would not dream of doing it in a proper match and it was only a practice game," he added.

Last October, former England spin bowler John Emburey, told the BBC that ball-tampering was commonplace in county cricket.

"There will always be bowlers trying various means to try and make the ball do something.

"In the '40s, '50s and '60s it was Brylcream then we had sun cream, you've always had people picking the seam," Emburey commented.

Langer tips Trescothick to return

He is a terrific person and a fantastic cricketer and I'm sure he can have a big season for club and country

Langer on Trescothick

Former Australia opener Justin Langer says Marcus Trescothick can rediscover his best form at Somerset this season and return to the England fold.

Trescothick, 31, pulled out of tours to Australia and Pakistan after breaking down with a stress-related illness.

But he says he now wants to return and new Somerset captain Langer told Five Live: "He is an outstanding batsman.

"We all want him playing for England, but it will be a big bonus to have him at Somerset. He'll have a huge impact."

Trescothick made an astonishing return for the county in a pre-season friendly against Devon, firing 256 off just 117 balls.

And Langer admits England have sorely missed the opener in both forms of the games.

"He was always one of the guys Australia liked playing against least because we knew what a dangerous player he was," he said.

We haven't experienced as much success of late as we'd like here but the enthusiasm and energy is there for us to rectify that

Justin Langer

"In fact, he was the catalyst behind England's Ashes win in 2005 for me. He showed his brilliance, especially on the first morning of the second Test, and that turned the momentum in their favour.

"He is a terrific person and a fantastic cricketer and I'm sure he can have a big season for club and country."

Langer also believes Trescothick's presence will help Somerset to success this season: "The optimism here is high and everyone is hungry for success.

"We've got a very good list of players with the likes of Trescothick, Andy Caddick, Ian Blackwell and Cameron White and so on, and the competition for places is intense.

"We haven't experienced as much success of late as we'd like here but the enthusiasm and energy is there for us to rectify that this season."

South Africa aim to outplay Kiwis

World Cup Super 8, Grenada: New Zealand v South Africa
Match starts 1430 BST Saturday

South Africa's AB de Villiers hit a brilliant ton against West Indies

South Africa aim to put more daylight between themselves and England when they take on New Zealand in Grenada.

England are their main rivals for a semi-final place and victory over the Kiwis would give them a four-point buffer before they meet on Tuesday.

New Zealand go into the game after a loss to Sri Lanka and they expect South Africa to be equally tough opponents.

"They are more orthodox - but they are incredibly competent in what they do," skipper Stephen Fleming commented.

"We have had a good run so far at the tournament. Against Sri Lanka was the first time we were really tested and put under pressure and we didn't come through. It's disappointing but we are a better side than that.

"We can play a hell of a lot better than we have. This time rebounds well and knows when it plays poorly. We don't have much time to train but most of it is mental and we'll get that right," he added.

New Zealand may recall off-spinner Jeetan Patel in place of seam bowler Mark Gillespie, who proved expensive against Sri Lanka in his first game of the tournament.

And they are also likely to look at ways of making room for Hamish Marshall in their batting line-up after Ross Taylor was out for a duck in his first innings after a three-match lay-off because of injury.

South Africa's powerful top order was the key to success in their last match against West Indies when they piled up a total of 356-4.

Fleming has enjoyed past personal success against South Africa

They expect to have to work harder for their runs against an attack including Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori but skipper Graeme Smith is in positive mood.

"New Zealand have played well in the tournament, and they're a pretty balanced team. They bat pretty low and they have a lot of options in their bowling department.

"But if we can play the type of game we played against West Indies, allowing ourselves the freedom to play that way, setting up opportunities to attack, it will bode well," he commented.

When the teams met at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, it was New Zealand who came out on top - by nine wickets in a rain-affected match - as Fleming hit a magnificent 134 not out off 132 balls.

Overall, however, South Africa have the upper hand with 27 wins against New Zealand's 15 in previous meetings.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (capt), Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Jeetan Patel, Shane Bond, Hamish Marshall, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason, Chris Martin.

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (capt), AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp, Robin Peterson, Roger Telemachus, Charl Langeveldt.

Umpires: M Benson (Eng), D Harper (Aus)

ICC World Cup: Sri Lanka v New Zealand-Live Scores

ICC World Cup: Sri Lanka v New Zealand-Live Scores
12-04-2007 at Grenada

Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 6 wickets

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat

New Zealand Innings

219 for 7 (50.0 overs)