Saturday, May 31, 2008

Taunton to host international cricket tournament

TAUNTON can showcase itself worldwide when it hosts a major international cricket event next summer.The group stages of the women's ICC World Twenty20 take place at the County Ground, with 12 games over six days from June 11, 2009.

Squads from England, Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and New Zealand will descend on Taunton.After warm-up games at Taunton Vale and King's College, the tournament will swing into action at the revamped 7,000-capacity County Ground.

County chief executive Richard Gould said: "We're proud to be hosting this global competition."We want to liase with schools and get children along to drive participation on the back of it."We know we have a hotbed of cricket, but we want to make sure there are a lot more girls playing cricket afterwards."

The semi-finals of the women's and men's events will be at Trent Bridge and the Oval, with the finals at Lord's.Colin Gibson, England and Wales Cricket Board head of corporate communications, said media coverage would promote Taunton and the South-West globally.

He added: "It's a great chance to show exactly what's happening here."A global event is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we want to ensure it isn't missed."We want people to go away knowing Taunton was part of it."Tournament director Steve Elworthy said: "All the meetings, housing teams and security mean it's a massive task."

Source:http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
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Friday, May 30, 2008

No scope for two IPLs in a year: Pawar

New Delhi, May 29: :  BCCI President Sharad Pawar shot down Lalit Modi's grand plans to have the Indian Premier League twice a year and said the crammed International Cricket Council (ICC) calendar leaves no such scope.

Days after Modi, the IPL Chairman and Commissioner, said that from 2011 onwards, he would like to see the IPL twice a year -- one starting in May and the other in September -- Pawar categorically dismissed such a possibility.

"We have just got one window from the ICC per year. The calendar is ready for next seven years, so there is no scope," Pawar said to a television channel

Earlier, in a television interview, Modi had spelled out his future plans for the Twenty20 extravaganza and said, "I think the IPL, we will like to keep it as two seasons. A single season for the first three years, we would like to move it to two seasons and we have another season in September."

Incidentally, star batsman and Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag too is against having two IPLs a year, for, he thinks, it may lead to premature retirements among top players.

"I think having it twice a year might trigger premature retirements," Sehwag recently said.

The Delhi opener too pointed out to the international calendar and said it would be difficult to squeeze in two IPL seasons in the schedule.

"I think before they think about introducing a second IPL in the same year, they would have to see the schedule. The fact remains that people at large crave more for international cricket than IPL -- be it India vs Pakistan or England vs Australia", he said.

Source: http://cricket.expressindia.com
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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Chanderpaul, Edwards, Bravo advance in ICC rankings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) – Despite West Indies’ 95-run loss in the opening Digicel Test against Australia, several of their players have made strides in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings released Tuesday.

Though the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul has remained at No. 7 in the batting rankings, he has closed the gap on Aussie batsman Matthew Hayden, following his 18th Test century against Australia in the first Digicel Test at Sabina Park last weekend.

The left-hander, who scored 118 in the Windies’ 95-run loss, has also increased his lead on the No. 8 ranked batsman, Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene.If Chanderpaul sustains his current form in the second Test, he could surpass Hayden who is still doubtful for that encounter starting tomorrow here in Antigua.

Pacer Fidel Edwards, who enjoyed a fine Test taking eight wickets, has moved into the top 30 of the bowlers rankings, jumping six places to No. 30.

Medium pacer Dwayne Bravo has not moved from 33rd spot, but has narrowed the gap on his close rivals, following his five-wicket match haul. He is now only one point behind Sri Lanka’s Dilhara Fernando at No. 32 and New Zealand’s Jacob Oram, at No. 31.

Bravo has also broken into the top five of the Test all-rounders rankings, replacing Oram.The biggest mover in the rankings was Australian Andrew Symonds whose two half-centuries against the Windies saw him move eight places up the batting rankings to No. 12.Team-mate Mike Hussey continues to lead the batting tables with his captain Ricky Ponting in tow.

Source: http://www.antiguasun.com
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Cricket: Will T20 Save The Game?

The game cricket seems to have found a new saviour in the form of the IPL. Or the 20-20 at least. Cricket was a sport played mostly by the commonwealth nations and had very little liking outside the British-ruled countries.

Attempts made by the ICC to popularise the sport in the Americas were all but in vain. The sub-continent is where the sport will always thrive. And so, the BCCI seems to have found the answer. The club version of the 'gentleman's game' has been embraced by one and all.

Cricket was always considered a boring and complicated sport having very little appeal with the masses. All of that changed in the late 1970s, when Kerry Packer introduced the 50-50 version now known as the ODI. And now, the T20 format seems to have become the newest craze.

In the late '90s and early 2000s, The England Cricket Board was going through a crisis. Attendance was dwindling at boring county games. So, in order to attract the crowds, The ECB introduced T20 cricket with each playing only 20 overs.

The trick worked, Crowds came back and attendance reached record highs. The game was revolutionised when the T20 World Cup was played in South Africa. India were the first champions in a thrilling final. The ODI World Cup debacle of the West Indies was all but forgotten, and now people believe that this is the new ODI.

The ICC was under fire when they were accused of mismanaging the ODI World Cup. Truly they did. The competition was disastrously lengthy, and the death of Bob Woolmer was the talking point. Australia were crowned champions for the Fourth time and the third time in succession.

All in all, it was very boring for a neutral because the biggest talking points were all negative, with the early exits of the Indian and Pakistani teams, along with Woolmer.

However, the T20 World Cup in South Africa was one to remember. After a great start with a 200-plus score chased, India and Pakistan met in the finals, which lived up to the hype. India won the Cup by a narrow margin.

And now, the introduction of the the IPL seems to been the final move in the resurrection of Cricket. Already, it has been a great show in the league matches. The game of cricket seems to have been saved from obscurity by the T20 format.

Hopefully, the T20 craze will last, and the game will spread to new countries.

Source: http://www.bleacherreport.com

Posted by Jimmy at 08:56:01 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, May 26, 2008

ICC panel recommends revision in anti-doping code

Dubai (PTI): The ICC Medical Committee, in its inaugural meeting here, has recommended revision of anti-doping regulations in the light of new WADA Code which comes into effect from the beginning of next year.

The committee noted ICC Full Members' commitment to have in place WADA-compliant Codes by the middle of 2009 and recommended that further consideration should be given to cricket's current testing strategies outside of major ICC events.

It also reviewed the ICC Standard Analysis Protocols that support the ICC's process for the review of bowlers reported with suspected illegal actions and set a timetable for the review of these protocols.

The committee had an extensive discussion on the impact of climatic conditions, including extreme heat. The members agreed that there should should be a better understanding of the impact of extreme-heat conditions on players but would make a recommendation later this year.

The members also expressed strong reservations about the use of medical science in the determination of a player's age at junior ICC events, an ICC statement said today.

The meeting, which will be held annually, was chaired by renowned sports medicine expert Dr Peter Harcourt and also included Dr Nick Peirce, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Craig Ranson physiotherapist) and Dr Anant Joshi as members.

The Committee, whose terms of reference were approved by the ICC Board last year in October, is empowered to make recommendations which then go forward to the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) and, if required, to the ICC Board.

Both CEC and the ICC Board are scheduled to meet in Dubai from June 29.

Source: http://www.hindu.com
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Friday, May 23, 2008

Expect same great vibe at Red Stripe Mound

Cricket, lovely cricket, that is what is on the mind of many fans of the sport at this time. In Jamaica, a big part of celebrating and watching cricket is the Red Stripe mound. As a part of the match between the West Indies and Australia beginning Thursday May 22 at Sabina Park, the Red Stripe mound will return with a bang.

The last time cricket fans were treated to the mound experience was during the ICC Cricket World Cup but due to ICC regulations, it had to be relocated outside of the park.

The Red Stripe Mound, with all the usual fanfare, excitement and entertainment, will return to Sabina Park, Kingston, and come to a close on Monday May 26th. The great Jamaican beer will recreate the same atmosphere and vibe of the Red Stripe mound that mound-lovers have come to know and appreciate over the years.

Kim Lee, Brand PR Manager for Red Stripe, said the company will ensure that the same great cricket and party experience fans have come to know and love at the Red Stripe mound, is what cricket fans can expect come Thursday.

"The Red Stripe mound has become a staple on the cricket and sport calendar of Jamaica. People come from all across the island and all over the world to be a part of the experience which is unlike any other. Red Stripe is committed to keep the vibe alive throughout the match days not only with activities on the mound but with our products," Lee said.

She also said that each day's happenings would be hosted by Paula Ann Porter Jones and music from Delano of Renaissance.

The event listing is as follows: Thursday May 22, Games & Trivia; Friday May 23, Mound Dance class; Saturday May 24, Red Stripe T-Shirt match and mingle, and Sunday May 25, Mound Posse Day - Test your cricket skills.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com

Posted by Jimmy at 07:24:30 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Controversial umpire ready for comeback

Controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair's famous self-belief appears intact ahead of his return to elite cricket this week.

Hair makes his comeback to the Test arena on Friday night (NZ time) for the second of England's three-match series against New Zealand.It will be his first appointment at top level since the forfeit between Pakistan and England at The Oval in August 2006 and the 55-year-old hinted he might feel some nerves.

"I think the decision-making ability is still there, the only thing that could change that is a lack of confidence because I haven't been out there," Hair told electronic magazine Inside Australian Cricket."Provided I get the right processes and triggers into place in my technique on a ball-by-ball basis, I'm confident I'll be able to make the majority of correct decisions.

"If that turns out to be otherwise, then I'd probably need to look at if I am still capable of umpiring at an international level, but at the moment I feel confident in my abilities and the fact that I can do it."Hair will also officiate in the third Test between England and New Zealand starting on June 5.

He was dropped from the International Cricket Council (ICC) elite panel of umpires after declaring the first forfeit in 129 years of Test cricket.That followed Pakistan players' refusal to return to the field on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England in protest over a five-run penalty for suspected ball tampering, a charge that was later dismissed.

Hair took the ICC to an employment tribunal last October, claiming racial discrimination was behind his sacking.He complained that West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove faced no sanctions despite also standing in the Test at The Oval.A week into the tribunal hearing, Hair dropped the case and agreed to undertake a "rehabilitation" programme.

Asked what he thought had changed during his spell away from the game at the highest level, Hair said the intensity of scrutiny over umpiring decisions and "a lack of understanding" as to the difficulty of the job."That's not meant to be a criticism," he told the magazine.

"The media have their own job to do and they have to report the game as it is and if mistakes are made, that's fine.

"But I think people need to take into account more the difficulty of particular matches. Some matches are more difficult than others and there's no doubt about that."

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

ICC assesses Karachi security for Champions Trophy cricket

An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation has completed a security assessment of the volatile Pakistani city of Karachi for this year's Champions Trophy, an official said Monday.

The four-member ICC team, which includes two security experts, arrived on Sunday and inspected the National Stadium and two other practice grounds for the biennial Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28.

"We are here today to review security as per the normal protocol. Such tours are completely normal visits for all ICC events," the ICC's Campbell Jamieson told reporters after completing the visit.The other members of the delegation are ICC member Bruce Ewan and two members of the ICC security consultant company from England -- James Withington and Kean Steele.

The delegation had to cancel an earlier assessment mid-way through when a state of emergency was declared in Pakistan in November last year.Early this year Australia also put off their March-April tour of Pakistan over security fears.But since general elections in February and the formation of a new government security has improved in Pakistan, allowing Australia to reschedule their tour in 2009 and 2010.

The ICC delegation will also tour Lahore and Rawalpindi before submitting its report to the game's governing body. Karachi will host five matches including one semi-final.The Pakistan Cricket Board has promised high-profile security for the eight teams participating in the Champions Trophy.Pakistan is also hosting the six-nation Asia Cup in June-July this year.

Foreign teams have raised safety concerns over touring the country amid political unrest and a surge in terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.South Africa, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have played in Pakistan in the past eight months.

South Africa played a three-day match and a five-day Test in Karachi on their tour, which started in September last year.But their last one-day match in the port city was shifted to Lahore after a blast targeting former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade.Bhutto survived that blast but was later killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi on December 27.

Source: http://afp.google.com
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Monday, May 19, 2008

Americans plot long road to Cricket World Cup

DUBAI (AFP) — The United States will take their first tentative steps on the long, gruelling road to the 2011 World Cup from Friday in the unlikely company of the likes of Germany, Nepal and Afghanistan.

America are one of 12 teams taking part in the ICC's World League Division Five in Jersey with the top two guaranteed promotion in the first step in the lengthy qualifying process for the World Cup to be staged in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Division Five matches will be played in Jersey from May 23-31 with the USA in Group A alongside Germany, Mozambique, Nepal, Norway and Vanuatu.Group B is made up of Afghanistan, Bahamas, Botswana, Japan, Jersey and Singapore.

"I believe we have a very good chance of going all the way," said USA skipper Steve Massiah whose team was banned from international cricket in 2005 and 2007 because of internal political wrangling.

"At the time we were excluded from international cricket we were playing with the top Associates and now we are down near the bottom. But as I told the guys, I think it could be a blessing in disguise as it gives us a chance to generate a bit of team spirit."

In April, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) was re-recognised as an Associate Member of the ICC.

Source: http://afp.google.com

Posted by Jimmy at 06:49:03 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Test cricket needs a world league system: Kirsten

Cape Town, May 16:: Test cricket needs a radical overhaul to ensure its continued existence in the face of the Twenty20 revolution, India coach Gary Kirsten said.

Kirsten suggested in an article on his personal Web site that there should be a one-year cycle of test matches with an annual champion.

"I believe the time is right to create a world league system for test cricket. The game needs to have a world champion every year," the former South African opening batsman said on garykirsten.com."It's what keeps people interested, involved and engaged.

"The idea of an annual test championship comprising one-off test matches between the nine or 10 test-playing nations, I believe would create global interest."Four home games one year, five the next. It would mean every test playing nation would play nine or 10 tests per year which would count towards the championship," he said.

Such a championship would not, however, mean an end to all series, particularly those with long histories and strong followings."Iconic series like the Ashes or India against Pakistan could still be included in the programme, as playing up to 14 or 15 test matches in the year would still fit into the world cricket schedule," Kirsten said.

Source: http://cricket.expressindia.com

Posted by Jimmy at 06:24:34 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |
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