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Beau Casson, the Australia and New South Wales spinner, has retired from all forms of cricket at the age of 28 because of a heart condition

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2011Beau Casson, the Australia and New South Wales (NSW) spinner, has retired from all forms of cricket at the age of 28 because of a heart condition. He played one Test for Australia, against West Indies in June 2008, and 53 first-class games.Casson has a heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, for which he required surgery at a very young age. The condition worsened recently and, according to his doctors, it could turn life threatening if he continues to play. In October, Casson had to leave a Sheffield Shield match between NSW and South Australia at the Adelaide Oval after a recurrence of the problem.”I’d like to thank Cricket NSW, and in particular David Gilbert [Cricket NSW’s chief executive], for the opportunity to represent the Blues,” Casson said. “I’d also like to thank my team-mates, who I have shared many memories with that I will never forget. Cricket has taken me places that I would only have dreamed of and for that I am very grateful. I will always appreciate the support I have received from my family and my partner Sally, and I look forward to the next chapter in my life”.Gilbert said Casson’s decision was warranted. “Beau’s decision to retire is very sad news, however, his health is all that matters. He is a popular and respected member of the NSW squad and will be greatly missed. We wish him the very best for the future.”Casson, a chinaman bowler, picked up three wickets in the one Test he played. Apart from NSW, he played first-class cricket for Western Australia and took 123 wickets at 43.04. Casson’s best domestic season was in 2007-08, when he claimed 29 wickets in nine games to finish as NSW’s second highest wicket-taker in a triumphant Pura Cup campaign.

Michael Clarke is conscious of going to Sydney with a greater accent on repeating the good of Melbourne while remedying the bad.

Daniel Brettig at the MCG29-Dec-2011Australia scaled great heights against India in Melbourne, and rightly celebrated some hours later with a raucous rendition of the team chant “Under the Southern Cross” in the middle of a deserted MCG. Michael Clarke’s team had done much the same in Galle, Johannesburg, and Brisbane before it. Each of those Test wins demonstrated skill, courage, organisation and spirit, and ran a gamut of conditions.But the team’s ability to secure such results repeatedly remains open to question, given that the nightmares of Cape Town and Hobart fell in among those performances. Clarke has not yet lost a series as captain, but he is also yet to win more than one Test in a series. To defeat India and secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he will need to do so.As he basked in the afterglow of the victory, Clarke acknowledged the gap in an otherwise compelling captaincy CV. Leading a team of burgeoning talent but plenty of flaws, he is conscious of going to Sydney with a greater accent on repeating the good of Melbourne while remedying the bad.”Consistency is what I’ve spoken about in the past,” Clarke said. “There’s periods throughout that game where we didn’t perform as well as we’d like, so we need to look to improve that come Sydney. We need to assess conditions and see what XI we decide to take into that Test match, but against such a good team you can’t afford to give them a sniff at all.”When you’re on top you need to make the most of that. I think we did that really well today with the ball, and we fought really hard with the bat yesterday and again this morning. It certainly is a time to enjoy this success, this first Test match, but once tonight’s gone it is about re-assessing, working out how we can improve and go out all guns blazing in Sydney and try to win another Test match.”In James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and perhaps Ryan Harris, Clarke has the fast bowling he needs to keep India uncomfortable. In Nathan Lyon he has a spin bowler who will keep attacking even if India respond in kind. And in Australia he has an environmental advantage that was discussed by the team prior to Boxing Day.”I think everyone’s more comfortable playing at home, the advantage of knowing conditions helps any team, and I think we made the most of that on this wicket,” Clarke said. “All of our batters knew it was going to be quite tough on this wicket, we knew it was going to be hard to start and if you got in it was about cashing in, and I think we’ve seen that throughout this Test match.”I think the last three Test matches there’s been plenty there for the bowlers, but your bowlers need to execute as well. As we’ve seen with Patto [Pattinson], these bowlers have got the skill, it is just about being able to execute their plans.”Michael Clarke wants to recreate that winning feeling in Sydney•Getty ImagesConsistent displays with the ball were able to overshadow some poor choices with the bat, particularly at the start of the second innings when three batsmen dragged balls onto the stumps in the course of a slide to 4 for 27. Clarke pointed to the conditions as a mitigating factor.”What this Test match shows me is if we can knock over such a strong batting line-up like India for the amount of runs we have, there’s got to be something in the wicket as well, can’t just be our batters,” he said. “We copped a bit of criticism for being four for not many in the second innings, but there’s reasons for that, reasons for Cape Town, reasons for Hobart. They’ve been bowling-friendly conditions.”I’m really happy with our batters’ plans. I think we’ve been training as hard as any team I’ve been part of. So we’re doing the right things, it is just about having the confidence and freedom to continue to back ourselves.”For all of the joy surrounding the Melbourne win, and contributions ranging from those of Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting to that of the debutant Ed Cowan, Clarke acknowledged there was plenty of staunch cricket still required to make the series safe. As his team have made a habit of showing recently, a week can be an awful long time in the mind and hands of a cricketer.”There’s a long way to go in this series,” Clarke said. “I think it is important we enjoy our success, we’ve worked really hard and we deserve this win because of the amount of effort and time we’ve put into our preparation, but it means nothing come Sydney.”We have to enjoy tonight, prepare well for Sydney, and play our best cricket to beat such a strong team. We’ll take some confidence out of this Test match no doubt, but there is a long way to go.”

In an age of sit-ins, Rajasthan were on an Occupy Chepauk drive as their opening pair of Vineet Saxena and Aakash Chopra frustrated Tamil Nadu to return undefeated at stumps

The Report by Nagraj Gollapudi at Chepauk19-Jan-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Vineet Saxena scored his second century of the season•K SivaramanIn an age of sit-ins, Rajasthan were on an Occupy Chepauk drive as their opening pair of Vineet Saxena and Aakash Chopra frustrated Tamil Nadu to return undefeated at stumps, having raised the highest partnership for the opening wicket (for Rajasthan against the hosts) in the process. The pair broke its own record of 181 runs in the semi-final last year. Back then, Tamil Nadu had elected to field in Jaipur and Rajasthan finished the day on 236 for the loss of Saxena. Today Saxena scored a brilliant century, his second of the season, and Rajasthan finished on a modest yet assuring score that has given them control of this summit clash.The manner in which Rajasthan went about their batting today is how they’ve conquered their opponents: using the slow-drip batting method as a means of torture. This season alone, in the four of the nine previous matches, they scored 450-plus totals in the first innings to gain the upper hand. Today was no different, after Hrishikesh Kanitkar won the toss and elected to bat.The first over was an aberration. L Balaji, the Tamil Nadu captain, conceded 17 runs. He started errantly, spraying the ball down the leg side. Chopra clipped two boundaries past square leg, one of those off a no-ball. Balaji then sprayed four byes before Saxena punched a fluent straight drive for the third four in the over.The next four overs yielded just one run. Before lunch, Balaji bowled another six overs that included five maidens. In between, off the first delivery of the sixth over, Jagannathan Kaushik pitched it back of a length outside off stump. Chopra had made up his mind to attempt a pull but misjudged the bounce and pace and was hit flush on his face, just below his left eye, which swelled up immediately. He took a fresh guard and was aware Kaushik would repeat the same delivery, and covered the ball well the second time around.With the sun out in full flow, whatever little moisture was available on the surface disappeared quickly, allowing the Rajasthan openers to lounge comfortably on a flat pitch. Saxena showed good footwork by frequently stepping out to the left-arm spin of Aushik Srinivas, who was introduced immediately after the first hour. The plan was not only to put the young spinner, only 18, under pressure but also negate the silly point. Saxena grew in confidence with a boundary threaded through short extra cover and mid-off. A punch off the back foot against the offspinner Sunny Gupta took him to his seventh fifty of the season. Rajasthan reached lunch 89 for 0 without fuss.The challenge for Saxena, as he would admit at the end of the day’s play, has been to convert his starts. So far this season he had only one century, against Saurashtra. His only other important contribution came in the semis, on a seaming pitch against Haryana where he made 32 and 58 to help the defending champions reach their second final in a row. Today, after lunch, the runs dried up. In the fifteen overs after the break, Rajasthan scored just 23. Saxena himself took 44 deliveries to move from 51 to 55.That’s where Chopra’s calming influence helped. He assured his partner that it was just a passing phase. Chopra survived a a close call himself, when Balaji got the ball to reverse into his back pad. Chopra saved himself by moving across. The ball had hit the pad outside the line of off stump and the English umpire Peter Hartley shrugged at the appeal. Another close decision went in his favour was when he lunged forward to play a defensive prod against the part-time leg spin of Abhinav Mukund. The ball seemed to have hit in the line of off stump but Hartley did not agree again.Chopra reached his 49th first-class fifty with a perfectly-timed straight-driven four against Yo Mahesh. Handsome pulls against Kaushik and Mukund restored parity as the visitors survived another session without damage.The inability to break the partnership was increasingly annoying the host bowlers. But they had to blame themselves. Against Mumbai, in the semi-final, they had bowled more attacking lengths. Today their failure to pitch on fuller lengths did not help their cause as Chopra and Saxena had ample time to make up their mind on a flat deck.But the curator, too, needed to partake some of the blame. The fears about a weary pitch were realised with the final being the third match to be played on the surface in the last month. The biggest disadvantage to the bowler, more than the pace of the track, was the low bounce, which did not facilitate each time the bowlers found any movement. Incidentally, the pitch had got the approval of Venkat Sundaram, the BCCI’s head of the pitch and grounds committee, who paid a visit to the ground couple of days before the match. Saxena took advantage by playing the reverse-sweep against Srinivas.In the second over after the new ball was taken, Saxena went chasing a full delivery pitched outside off and moving away from Balaji. Saxena was stuck on 97 for 10 deliveries and it was a rare moment of distraction. The bat hit the ground even as the ball zipped past the outside edge, forcing a loud and desperate appeal. The umpire did not approve. Next ball, Saxena clipped the leg-side delivery for four to celebrate his 10th first-class century.

New Zealand’s selectors have dropped the wicketkeeper Reece Young from the side that defeated Australia in Hobart for the one-off Test to be played against Zimbabwe in Napier

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2012New Zealand’s selectors have dropped the wicketkeeper Reece Young from the side that defeated Australia in Hobart for the one-off Test to be played against Zimbabwe in Napier from January 26.Young was jettisoned after failing to make an impression with the bat in Australia, though his glove work was sound under pressure in the visitors’ narrow win over Australia at Bellerive Oval.In his place are BJ Watling and Kruger van Wyk, both batsmen who can keep wicket, with the coach John Wright still to decide which will don the gloves against Zimbabwe. Jesse Ryder is the only other change from the Hobart XI, as he continues his recovery from a calf tear.”There’s a lot of competition for the wicketkeeping spot in the country at the moment,” Wright said. “It’s tough on Reece, his keeping has been good and he knows that if he goes back to domestic cricket and scores runs he will remain in the frame.”BJ will get a chance to prove himself with the gloves in the three-day game and Kruger will open the batting. A decision on who will take the gloves in the Test will be made closer to the start of the match.”A New Zealand XI was also named to play the Zimbabweans in a three-day warm-up match in Gisborne. Both Watling and Van Wyk have been included, alongside the experience of Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin.”The team for the warm-up match is mix of experienced Test players and bright prospects,” the national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said. “The match will give some of our key players some valuable preparation ahead of the Test match in Napier as well as provide an opportunity for promising players to show what they can do at a different level.”Test squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk (wk), BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson

Dhaka Gladiators achieved their maiden BPL victory, and it was a relatively easy one against Sylhet Royals

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Feb-2012
ScorecardDhaka Gladiators achieved their maiden BPL victory, and it was a relatively easy one against Sylhet Royals, with seven wickets and ten balls to spare in Mirpur.The Gladiators, led by their captain Mashrafe Mortaza who took 2 for 22, dismissed the Royals for only 124 after losing the toss. A few Royals batsmen got starts but no one was able to convert them into anything match-winning; Naeem Islam’s 30 off 24 balls was their best performance. The Gladiators used as many as seven bowlers, with only Mortaza and Naved-ul-Hasan completing their full quota of four overs.The Royals removed Ahzar Mahmood, who opened the chase, for 9 but were unable to get a second wicket quickly. Imran Nazir and Anamul Haque added 46 for the second wicket, and Haque added 43 more for the third wicket with Mohammad Ashraful. Haque top scored with 48 off 39 balls but was dismissed in the 15th over, with the Gladiators 18 runs from victory. Mohammad Ashraful completed the chase, ending the game with a six.

The Bangladesh delegation sent to inspect security arrangements in Pakistan is “satisfied” with the infrastructure and the BCB president has said he is keen to send the Bangladesh team on a tour

Umar Farooq in Lahore04-Mar-2012The Bangladesh delegation sent to inspect security arrangements in Pakistan is “satisfied” with the infrastructure and BCB president Mustafa Kamal has said he is keen to send the Bangladesh team on a tour of Pakistan. Now, both boards are seeking consent from the ICC to go ahead with the tour that is proposed for April this year.”After seeing all the security arrangements all of us agree and are satisfied that the security infrastructure is in place,” Kamal said at a press conference in Lahore. “Now it is my responsibility to convince my government to allow the tour and also request the ICC to approve the tour. Since the ICC governs and regulates the game we have to take this issue to them and must bring it to their notice that we want to send a team.”A nine-member delegation, headed by Kamal, had been sent on a two-day visit to Pakistan to observe a demonstration of the security plan for the proposed series. Kamal had said he was positive about the tour after a meeting in which the security plan was explained on Saturday. On Sunday, there was a full demonstration in Lahore, which involved more than 500 policemen being deployed between the Pearl Continental hotel, where the players will stay, to the Gaddafi Stadium. The Bangladeshi delegates, along with members of the PCB, including chairman Zaka Ashraf, were transported from the Pearl Continental hotel to the ground by a bus that was surrounded by two police jeeps, a police truck and several motorbikes.There were two helicopters patrolling the sky at the stadium, and a mock evacuation via helicopter was also carried out to demonstrate how players or spectators could be rescued in case of an incident. The officials observed the same security protocol that would be in place should an international match be hosted by the stadium.”We are here for three objectives,” Kamal said, “One is to see the infrastructure, second to get information about the security plan and third to see the capability to execute the plan, and definitely all of us agree that all the segments were in place.”There has been no international cricket in Pakistan since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists on March 3, 2009, following which Pakistan were also stripped of the matches they were to host during the 2011 World Cup. Kamal said the ICC might have a different outlook this time since they were being directly approached by another member board.”We will be approaching the ICC and telling them that we are keen to come to Pakistan. Here lies the difference: earlier nobody approached them, this time we will be approaching them in a positive way. We must get them engaged; we must get their consent. It is the beginning of the process [to return international cricket to Pakistan], which was stalled for the past couple of years.”There were two choppers patrolling the sky at the Gaddafi Stadium•AFPThe ICC has not sent any representatives to Pakistan for a security assessment of the proposed tour yet but will do so before it agrees to send its match officials for any games in Pakistan.Zaka Ashraf said he was optimistic that the ICC would give their consent since both countries’ boards had agreed to the tour. “I have personally met with the ICC chief; they want to see international cricket return to Pakistan, and were supportive, but the only concern was security,” Ashraf said. “Now that we have the Bangladesh security team here and they are satisfied, the ICC’s role is important.”There are two itineraries proposed for the tour, one of which includes a three-match ODI series, and the other a series of two ODIs and one Twenty20 international, to be completed in one week in April. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium are the venues expected to host the matches.Edited by Dustin Silgardo

Kings XI Punjab’s full-time captain, Adam Gilchrist, has praised stand-in captain David Hussey for inspiring the team to three away wins in their last five matches

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2012Kings XI Punjab’s full-time captain, Adam Gilchrist, has praised stand-in captain David Hussey for inspiring the team to three away wins in their last five matches. Hussey took over from Gilchrist after he sustained a hamstring injury against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 18.Under Hussey, Kings XI have beaten Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in away matches, and moved from seventh to fourth on the points table. Gilchrist said that he was impressed with Hussey’s captaincy during their four-wicket win against Royal Challengers on Wednesday.”Regardless of the little mix-ups at the end [three Kings XI batsmen were run out], the captaincy today was amazing. To manage his way through our bowling innings [without Ryan Harris who went off injured] was a terrific effort,” Gilchrist said. “You could feel the momentum just turn, and getting Chris [Gayle] out helped. To manage the team through that period was terrific leadership and then to come out and play the way he did [scoring 45] was again strong leadership.”On Wednesday, Kings XI’s bowlers did well to restrict Royal Challengers, who at one stage looked good to set a formidable target, to 158. Azhar Mahmood’s three-wicket spell and two tight overs by Hussey curbed the run rate. “Azhar has all-round capabilities,” Hussey said. “He has shown what he can do with the bat and ball. What people don’t see is that behind the scenes he teaches some young Indian bowlers how to bowl and how to play in different situations.”Hussey said that he was forced to bowl against Royal Challengers, after Ryan Harris sustained a calf injury. “The reason why I haven’t bowled much is because our bowlers have been fantastic in the tournament, led by Praveen Kumar and our spinners Bhargav [Bhatt] and [Piyush] Chawla, who is one of the best spinners in India,” he said. “Ryan Harris was unfortunate as he got hit with the ball. I had to find two or three overs, so Abhishek Nayar and I bowled.”Kings XI chased down 159, amid some late panic, with Hussey, Mahmood and Nayar being run-out. “Our game got tight tonight, we just wanted to close the game out as quickly as possible,” Hussey said. “I don’t think we should focus on the run-outs, but on the [previous] 12 or 13 overs of our batting. I thought Mandeep Singh and Nitin [Saini] played well and set the tone for our team. We came here for two points and that’s what we got.”Hussey also said that he hopes his side continues winning and reaches the next round. “I’ve played a lot of Twenty20 cricket, not only here but also in Australia and have learnt from some great players. I played at Kolkata under Sourav Ganguly [in 2008], and under Adam last year, so I’m enjoying my time here,” he said. “I have not mastered the Twenty20 format but I’m really enjoying the IPL. We are playing some good cricket and we hope we can make the semi-finals and shock a few teams.”

Luke Wright, the Pune Warriors allrounder, fears he could be down with dengue

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2012Luke Wright, the England and Pune Warriors allrounder, fears he could be down with dengue. Wright, who has played just one game for Warriors this season, has undergone blood tests to check for the condition. Wright is currently in England – he had gone back home to attend a family funeral – and was due to fly back to India for Warriors’ game against Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday.

This morning for blood test! They think I may have picked up Dengue Fever in India. What ever it is I hope it goes very soon.

— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) May 6, 2012

Wright conceded 24 runs in two overs in the only game he’s played this season, against Delhi Daredevils. He was picked up by Warriors in March, following an impressive stint with Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash and with Impi in South Africa’s MiWay Twenty20 competition.

James Middlebrook’s five wickets secured a late victory for Northants

26-May-2012
ScorecardJames Middlebrook too five wickets to bowl Northants to victory•PA PhotosJames Middlebrook took five wickets as Northamptonshire claimed their second win of the season. The hosts declared on 246 for 5 at the start of the day, giving their opponents a target of 390. However, Gloucestershire fell short as they were bowled out for 268.Middlebrook, who scored 121 as an opener in the hosts’ first innings, took 5 for 63 from 44.2 overs, with his final wicket coming with two minutes of the match remaining when he trapped Liam Norwell lbw.Gloucestershire’s opening pairing of Benny Howell and Chris Dent easily made it through the first hour of the day as they piled on 101 for the first wicket. Howell, however, was given a reprieve on 25 when he was dropped by Lee Daggett at mid-off after he launched Middlebrook high into the air. He then went on to complete an assured half-century off 83 balls when he smashed Middlebrook down the ground for six.Dent, however, was to fall on 38 when he edged South African spinner Con de Lange to wicketkeeper David Murphy to give the hosts a much-needed breakthrough.Gloucestershire resumed on 119 for 1 after lunch, but they lost Kane Williamson for 10 when he was superbly caught at short leg by Kyle Coetzer off Middlebrook. It was suddenly game on when Howell walked on 70 when he edged a loose shot to Murphy off the bowling of David Willey.Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman (four) was the next to fall when he missed his attempted sweep off Middlebrook and his leg stump was knocked over. The visitors now knew that victory was beyond them, but Northamptonshire’s tails were raised further when their captain Andrew Hall trapped Ian Cockbain lbw.Gloucestershire limped in to tea on 190 for 5 but they were six down in the fourth over of the evening when Will Gidman’s middle stump was sent spinning by Willey after he made 16.Hamish Marshall, who struck an unbeaten 117 in the visitors’ first innings, did his best to steady things with a half-century off 97 balls. But he was running out of partners, with Jonathan Batty (seven) the next to go when Hall pinned him lbw before Marshall himself departed on 61 in the same manner to Middlebrook.Middlebrook then bowled Ed Young (10) before he sealed the 11th five-wicket haul of his first-class career when he dismissed Norwell (four) in the nick of time.

17-Jun-2012
ScorecardJos Buttler was the only batsman to pass fifty as Somerset edged to victory•PA PhotosJos Buttler’s unbeaten 58 saw Somerset to a thrilling five-wicket win over Northants with one ball to spare at Taunton. Buttler, overlooked for England’s latest one-day international squad, produced two scooped boundaries off the last two balls of the penultimate over to reach a brilliant half-century off 36 balls.Northants had posted 137 for 5 after winning the toss, Cameron White hitting 47 not out and David Willey an unbeaten 30 as George Dockrell was the pick of the Somerset bowlers with 2 for 17. The visitors defended the total tenaciously, with James Middlebrook and Jack Brooks taking two wickets each but could not contain Buttler, who received valuable support from Arul Suppiah at the death.The result gave the hosts five points from their first three Midlands/Wales/West Group games and they look a good bet for another strong challenge in the competition. Even without overseas recruits Richard Levi and Albie Morkel, back home representing South Africa in a T20 series with Zimbabwe, Somerset were impressive, particularly in the field.They were rewarded for their decision to use spin in the opening power play. Dockrell was introduced for the third over and soon had Kyle Coetzer caught at cover.That encouraged skipper Alfonso Thomas to employ Suppiah’s left-arm spin and he quickly accepted a return catch off Rob Newton to make it 24 for 2. There was then an all-Irish wicket as Niall O’Brien was caught by brother Kevin attempting to reverse sweep Dockrell.It was 75 for 4 when Alex Wakely edged a catch behind off legspinner Max Waller and 85 for 5 when the out-of-touch Con de Lange was caught at long-on off Kevin O’Brien’s first delivery. White and Willey were forced to exercise some caution and, while White did his best to bolster the innings, he was only able to find the boundary three times.Somerset almost misjudged the pace of their reply and looked in trouble, when 29 were needed off the last three overs, but that presented no problem to the hugely talented Buttler.