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Real-time Snicko will be used as a virtual insurance policy for the fallibility of HotSpot as Australia and England submit themselves to experimentation with the latest edition of the DRS during the Ashes series

Daniel Brettig in Brisbane20-Nov-2013

Real-time Snicko will be used as a virtual insurance policy for the fallibility of Hot Spot as Australia and England submit themselves to experimentation with the latest edition of the DRS during the Ashes series.The new technology, which provides split screen video synced with stump microphone audio to provide evidence for edges, is only to be used in the event of Hot Spot not revealing a nick, as happened on numerous occasions during the earlier series in England. Several players, including the Australian captain Michael Clarke, have stated their belief that Hot Spot should not be used after its inventor Warren Brennan conceded it would not pick up all edges.However the ICC, Cricket Australia and the ECB have agreed to the use of Real-time Snicko to increase the circumstantial evidence around the upholding or reversal of decisions. “If the umpire gives it out [and it is reviewed], the third umpire will look at the spin vision replay to start with, then he’ll go to Hot Spot,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s head of cricket operations, said in Brisbane. “If there’s a mark on Hot Spot he’ll go straight to out. That’s his conclusive evidence straight away. The only time Snicko will be used is if there’s no mark on Hot Spot.”The consistent message has been that it takes something serious to overturn an on-field decision. You need to walk in to your [fellow umpire] at the end of the day, show him the pictures and say that’s why I overturned your decision, and that’s probably the toughest audience of all. If you’re not sure you stay with the on-field decision.”The Ashes will thus be a testing ground for the use of the technology, with approval of wider use in other series to follow provided its effectiveness is proven. Allardice said a key reason for the approval of Real-time Snicko to be used after years of its parent version’s absence from the list of approved technology was that the new system is almost entirely automated, needing only to be calibrated each morning.”We wouldn’t have done it without the support of both boards,” Allardice said. “It is part of the evaluation of getting the Snicko on the approved list of technologies, but we’ve been watching the development of the product for the last 12 months, the fact is it is very different in the way it functions to the previous version of Snicko and it’s more automated and it’s faster, so the images should be available within seconds rather than minutes.”We need to look at it in a match situation somewhere, and we’ve got two boards who are very keen and the ICC to improve the DRS, and the area we need to find what works better is with edges. We feel this is something that can certainly help the umpires – to get a tool to assist them with the timing of the sound is an advantage.”There’s no manual judgments the operator has to make on a ball-by-ball basis. That’s set at the start of the day and maintained. Can we guarantee it’s going to be absolutely perfect? Probably not, there is always a human operating the system, as with all the technology we’re using, but we’re minimising things going wrong.”Allardice foreshadowed further changes to the DRS in future, including the broadcast of the umpires’ deliberations over video evidence to the public, as is the case in rugby league and union. “It’s certainly something that’s on the cards,” he said. “We won’t be doing it this series, but I think one of the medium term goals is to try to get the guys communicating in a more disciplined language.”That’s one of the things that’s impressive about the rugby guys is they run up and down the field and yet they can still communicate very clearly to each other and actually enhance the understanding of what’s going on. In time we’ll be doing that, start with some of the better third umpires and the ones who can adapt to that the easiest, but something we’re looking at in the medium term.”

Unbeaten fifties from Khurram Manzoor and Kamran Younis and a three-wicket haul from pacer Mohammad Talha helped Port Qasim Authority beat Khan Research Labs for their third win of the Ramadan T20 Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jul-2013
ScorecardKhurram Manzoor was awarded Man of the Match for his unbeaten 85•PCBUnbeaten fifties from Khurram Manzoor and Kamran Younis and a three-wicket haul from pacer Mohammad Talha helped Port Qasim Authority beat Khan Research Labs for their third straight win in Group B of the Ramadan T20 Cup. The win puts PQA at the top of Group B with one league game left to play.Put in to bat, PQA struggled early in their innings, losing their openers to pace bowler Rahat Ali and left-arm spinner Nauman Ali. Those were the only breakthroughs that KRL bowlers could create for the rest of the innings, however, as Manzoor and Younis went on to add 153 runs for the third wicket off just 100 balls. Younis got to his 50 off 37 balls, while Manzoor scored 50 off 44 balls. Manzoor accelerated towards the end of his innings, scoring 85 off 60 balls, with nine fours and three sixes, while Younis scored a 53-ball 70 with eight fours and a six.KRL’s reply was largely centred around Mohammad Yasin’s unbeaten 63-ball 80, but the opener did not get much support from the rest of the batting order. Talha took some early wickets to peg the chase back and the lack of partnerships meant that KRL could only manage 151 for 6 off their 20 overs.

Maharashtra batsman Vijay Zol has been named captain of the India Under-19 squad for the triangular series in Australia, which will begin on June 30

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2013

Maharashtra batsman Vijay Zol has been named captain of the India Under-19 squad for the Tri-nation Under-19 Tournament in Australia, which will begin on June 30.Zol and Mumbai batsman Akhil Herwadkar are the only two players in the squad who were a part of the squad at the U-19 World Cup last year, which India won.Zol hit the headlines when he scored an unbeaten 451 during a domestic U-19 match in 2011. During the U-19 World Cup, Zol scored 151 runs in six matches at an average of 25.16. He has scored 272 runs in seven List A matches at an average of 36.Kerala wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who was part of the Under-19 team for the Asia Cup in 2012, also made the squad. He had had a good domestic season in the limited-overs format, scoring 222 runs in seven games at an average of 37.00 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and then doing well in the IPL with 206 runs in 11 games.The tournament will also feature U-19 teams from Australia and New Zealand.India Under-19 squad: Vijay Zol (capt), Sanju Samson (vice-capt & wk), Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Mohammad Saif, Sarfaraz Khan, Ricky Bhui, Abhimanyu Lamba, Rishi Arothe, Atul Singh, CV Milind, Aamir Gani, Kuldeep Yadav, Ankush Bains (wk)

A preview of the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, in Delhi

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran22-Apr-2013Match factsTuesday, April 23
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Big PictureWhether it was the inspiration of meeting Sir Viv Richards, or the abysmal bowling from Mumbai Indians or Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene finally playing the way they are expected to, Delhi Daredevils finally ended their winless streak at eight (including the losses in the playoffs last season). Chances of reaching the playoffs still remain remote, but at least they have got their campaign off the ground.They made a big call ahead of the match against Mumbai on Sunday, dropping their best bowler from the previous season, Morne Morkel. His replacement Andre Russell, however, continues to leak runs at an alarming rate – his economy-rate of 9.95 is the third worst in the IPL, behind only the forgotten P Amarnath and his Daredevils team-mate Sehwag. Daredevils have struggled to settle on their four overseas players this season, and will have to tinker again against Kings XI Punjab.Their opponents may have pulled off the joint highest chase of the season against Pune Warriors on Sunday, but have some major team changes to make. Two of their regulars, Adam Gilchrist and Azhar Mahmood, have fared poorly in recent matches and both are on the brink of losing their places. They might get another shot, as coach Darren Lehmann has ruled out Shaun Marsh for the match. Marsh, who joined the squad recently, has not played any cricket after recovering from a surgery and Lehmann stated that he would be considered for selection only after he regained full fitness and participated in fielding drills.What will be a huge lift for Kings XI is that their team – generally regarded to have one of the most fragile batting line-ups in the tournament – managed to overhaul a stiff 185 against Warriors, even without needing the services of David Hussey. David Miller and Hussey have performed well for the side and the win against Warriors has lifted them to mid-table, above heavyweights like Mumbai and Kolkata Knight Riders.Form GuideDelhi Daredevils WLLLL (most recent first)
Kings XI Punjab WLWLLPlayers to watchOne of the most valuable performers for Kings XI last season, Azhar Mahmood has had a patchy IPL 2013. In five innings, he has scored just 35 runs at an average of 7 and was out for a duck in a big chase yesterday. His bowling has been inconsistent too. Although he is the leading wicket-taker for Kings XI, he has conceded runs at crucial stages, including the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. As a senior player in the side, Mahmood will need to contribute more.The match against Mumbai Indians was the first time David Warner had not opened in an IPL game. With Daredevils having a difficult time this season, he has been shifted out of his favourite spot at the top of the order. Jayawardene has said he wants Warner to become a finisher, “to play the role that Kevin [Pietersen] played last year”. Can Warner adapt to his new role?Stats and trivia Sehwag has scored 2028 runs in the IPL at a strike-rate of 165.41, the best strike-rate among batsmen who have scored at least 100 IPL runs David Hussey needs 55 more to become the third batsman to reach 5000 Twenty20 runsMiller had an outstanding season in England’s Friends Life t20 in 2012 – scoring at a strike-rate of 153 and an average of 48.75Quotes”I am definitely under scrutiny, I have not scored runs. The drop catch was a really bad let off and it could have cost us the game. Not good enough for me. When we sit down at the selection table, we will have to look at that and see what’s right.”
“He is a star for the future. He has a good mind, wants to do well and I am really happy for him.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Kushal Janith Perera brought back memories of Sanath Jayasuriya•Associated Press

Bangladesh’s first ODI of the year should be remembered for several events, including a Tamim Iqbal century, but the assault on their bowlers by the Sri Lanka openers overshadowed all that. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kushal Janith Perera, playing only his fifth ODI, took less than an hour to decimate an already feeble pace attack and demoralise the spinners, Bangladesh’s strength. Sri Lanka eased to an eight-wicket victory, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Bangladesh’s score of 258 for 9 was supposed to test Sri Lanka, especially in Hambantota where the previous highest successful chase was 211. The added advantage for Bangladesh was the 85-minute delay in-between innings due to a power failure in two light towers, which gave Sri Lanka a revised target of 238 in 41 overs.Sri Lanka’s task had been made more difficult, but Dilshan and Perera responded ruthlessly. They added 106 in just 12.1 overs, hammering 13 boundaries and a six. Seven of those fours came off the first 14 deliveries that Abul Hasan and Rubel Hossain served up. It was one of those games the late Tony Greig would have loved to call; one of those carving the bowling, Kushal, was almost a copy of Sanath Jayasuriya.Save the superstitious touches of the pad, helmet and bat, the stance and the shots of Kushal were reminiscent of Jayasuriya’s style of play. The first square cut threw you back to the mid 1990s, when Jayasuriya gained the reputation for being a destroyer of bowling attacks.As the fours poured in, there were signs of more similarity. Kushal’s grip tends to stay towards the bottom of the handle as well, but his attacking instincts almost led to an early dismissal when he swept one straight to deep square leg. But Abdur Razzak parried the chance over the boundary ropes.Kushal took a lot of the limelight, being the younger batsman, but it was Dilshan who was the wrecker-in-chief. Dilshan contributed 56 to the opening partnership, and later consolidated on the start with Kumar Sangakkara. It appeared as if the pair had slowed down considerably but they scored at a fair clip, though the Bangladesh bowlers bowled better with an extra fielder outside the 30-yard circle. Sangakkara made 63 off 68 balls, adding 128 runs for the second wicket. He was caught at the third-man boundary, five runs short of victory.Dilshan reached his 15th ODI century*, his second against Bangladesh, in the 31st over. He was severe on anything overpitched, and there were several offerings from Rubel Hossain, Abul Hasan and Abdur Razzak, who were unable to stop the flow of boundaries.The other century of the day came from Tamim’s bat, but Bangladesh suffered a setback as he was ruled out of the series after injuring his right thumb during the chase. The century, his fourth in ODIs, was his first in international cricket in almost three years. It was also the first hundred in the format against Sri Lanka by a Bangladesh batsman in 31 matches between the teams.Tamim’s 112 off 136 balls, and an unbeaten 73 off 59 balls by Nasir Hossain, was undermined by the others’ failure to make a significant contribution. Sri Lanka’s bowlers showed patience to induce Anamul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful and captain Mushfiqur Rahim to play ordinary shots, and get out against the run of play. One dragged it on, the other fell to a lobbed drive, and Mushfiqur fell to an ugly hoick – the Bangladesh top and middle-order collapsed in the space of 31 deliveries.Tamim held the innings together till the 44th over, being involved in key partnerships with Mahmudullah (for the fourth wicket) and Nasir (for the fifth). He played some of his favourite shots, especially the cuts and drives, as he found different angles and enough height to clear the fielders. Whenever the bowlers pitched it up or provided him width, he was at it quickly. Each of the twelve boundaries was well thought, while the six off Lasith Malinga was a calculated loft over long-on late in the innings. After he was run out, Nasir took over the baton to give the innings a final flourish. He smashed six fours and three sixes, as Bangladesh added 90 runs in the last 10 overs.Sri Lanka picked up those 90 runs in the first 9.3 overs, without losing a wicket, facing two new balls and against bowlers who represent Bangladesh’s “best available options” at the moment. The home side, too, has to fare better with the ball, but their challenge in this department is going to be much easier.08:22am GMT, March 24: Article has been updated to reflect actual number of ODI centuries Tillakaratne Dilshan has scored

تسبب الدولي المصري محمد صلاح لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ليفربول، في نقاش حاد بين جيمي كاراجر وجاري نيفيل، أثناء اختيار الفريق الأفضل في الموسم.

واختار كاراجر في فريقه محمد صلاح رغم أن ليفربول يمر بموسم سيء، بينما جاري نيفيل فضل ثنائي آرسنال على اللاعب المصري.

النقاش كان قويًا بين الثنائي الإنجليزي، حيث لا يصدق كاراجر عدم استدعاء اللاعب المصري لفريق نيفيل، بينما الأخير، يرى أن هذا العام لأول مرة يختار شخص آخر.

وقال نيفيل: محمد صلاح بالنسبة لي لاعب استثنائي، في كل مرة أضعه في فريقي، لكن بالنسبة لي هذا العام اخترت شخصًا آخر”.

رد كاراجر: “محمد صلاح من ضمن الأفضل في العالم”.

ليرد نيفيل: “أرقام محمد صلاح رائعة، ولكن وجهة نظري هي أنه عندما شاهدته يلعب هذا الموسم، لا أعتقد أنه كان قريبًا من مستوى اللاعب الذي اخترته مكانه”.

هنا بدأ كاراجر في الدفاع عن محمد صلاح أسطورة فريقه ليفربول: “انتظر. في الدوريات الخمس الكبرى في أوروبا، سجل هالاند ومبابي فقط أهدافًا أكثر من صلاح هذا الموسم. 30 هدفًا و 15 تمريرة حاسمة، لقد فعل أشياء صعبة رغم سوء مستوى فريقه”.

وواصل نيفيل: “أعتقد أن ساكا ومارتينيلي قد كانا أفضل في هذا الموسم، حتى الأسابيع القليلة الماضية. كانا رائعين وخلال الموسم قدما المساهمات لفريق آرسنال”.

واختتم نيفيل: “لقد كان كلًا من مارتينيلي وساكا، رائعين، في مستوى مختلف عن راشفورد ومحمد صلاح”.

Graeme Smith has declared Ricky Ponting the opponent he has most respected during his career, and said South Africa’s forming a guard of honour for Ponting was never in doubt

Brydon Coverdale at the WACA03-Dec-2012

Graeme Smith has declared Ricky Ponting the opponent he has most respected during his career, and said South Africa’s forming a guard of honour for Ponting was never in doubt. The two men were opposing captains in 27 international matches, including some classic Tests, and met each other 41 times in total, and they shared a poignant moment as Ponting, while walking to the crease one last time, shook Smith’s hand while the guard of honour was in place.”It was just something that needed to be done,” Smith said. “For me, having played against Ricky so much over the years he’s certainly the player that I respect most that I’ve played against, for his intensity and the way he has played the game, the runs he has scored against us. He has always been so competitive. It was just a sign of respect from us for someone who has given the game of cricket so much.”All of us will miss Ricky as an opponent. Hopefully now him and I can catch up for a beer. I’m sure a few of us would love to do that. Him and I have got to know each other fairly well over the last few years, whether it’s sitting on planes or catching up after series. It will be nice to have that relaxed nature now and have some time together.”Although the South Africans came out on top in Ponting’s farewell match, it wasn’t always the case. Ponting scored eight Test centuries against South Africa and made 2132 runs against them, the most of any player in the modern era and behind only Denis Compton and Wally Hammond on the all-time list. Smith said there were a number of standout moments, and he noted that captaining against an in-form Ponting was nearly impossible.”I think there’s a few innings in the early days [that I will remember],” Smith said. “We ended up winning the Test match, but the 100 and 99 in Melbourne on Boxing Day [in 2008], there was another time at the Wanderers when he got runs and the wicket went around all over the shop.”There were moments when you thought it was really tough to bat and he just took the game to you and played in a way you haven’t really seen other people play. The tempo with which he played the game as a batter, as a captain it was really interesting to try and manage. I wasn’t part of it but I think that World Cup knock at the Wanderers has got to rank as one of the top ones that I have watched.”

Veteran offspinner Robert Croft took four wickets in the space of 23 balls as Glamorgan beat Gloucestershire by 26 runs

04-Aug-2012
ScorecardRobert Croft took eight wickets in the match to earn Glamorgan their second win of the season•PA PhotosVeteran offspinner Robert Croft took four wickets in the space of 23 balls as Glamorgan beat Gloucestershire by 26 runs on an enthralling final day of their Division Two match at Swansea.Glamorgan had set Gloucestershire a fairly generous 248 to win in a minimum of 81 overs and while the seventh wicket pair of Jack Taylor (63) and Ian Cockbain (55) were together a victory for the visitors still looked possible.But with Gloucestershire on 195 for 6, 42-year-old Croft, possibly playing his last Championship game at the ground, turned the match Glamorgan’s way removing the two dangermen and mopping up the tail. He followed up figures of 4 for 51 in the first with 4 for 53 in the second, giving Glamorgan 20 points from the match. Gloucestershire took just three.At the start of the innings spin also worked for Glamorgan. The introduction of Dean Cosker as early as the fifth over them a breakthrough with Chris Dent caught at short leg. Gloucestershire lost two wickets in the first over after lunch. Rob Nicol went third ball edging a catch low down to Stewart Walters at second slip off Jim Allenby, and Alex Gidman edged an Allenby out-swinger behind. It left Gloucestershire 27 for 3.The reintroduction of Cosker produced another wicket when Hamish Marshall recklessly holed out at deep mid-on to leave his side 48 for 4. But Glamorgan were frustrated for 19 overs while Dan Housego and Cockbain added 68 before Marcus North entered the attack with his off-breaks and had Housego well stumped by Mark Wallace.Gloucestershire went into tea requiring a further 138 to win from 38 overs but Glamorgan struggled to get another breakthrough in the overs immediately after the break. However, John Glover produced a fine catch at long-on to remove Benny Howell off North. It left Gloucestershire 141 for 6 – requiring a further 107 to win in 24 overs.The innings was given some impetus with 17 coming off an over from North, with Taylor striking him for a six and two fours. Taylor struck his maiden first-class half-century from only 31 balls with two sixes and six fours. However, the complexion of the match suddenly changed as Croft took three for six in 11 balls – two in the space of four balls.Cockbain guided a turning ball straight to Stewart Walters at leg slip and the veteran spinner struck again to claim the wicket of Richard Coughtrie, who was brilliantly caught at the second attempt by Rees. And in his next over Croft beat Jack Taylor to leave Gloucestershire 210 for 9. The final wicket came at 5.30pm when Ian Saxelby drove Croft straight to midwicket.

Forbes magazine has ranked MS Dhoni as the highest paid athlete in India for the period from June 2011 to June 2012

Tariq Engineer20-Jun-2012

MS Dhoni, the India captain, has proved to be just as successful off the field as he has been on the field. Forbes magazine has ranked him as the highest-paid cricketer, as well as the highest-paid athlete in India for the period from June 2011 to June 2012.Dhoni tops not only team-mate Sachin Tendulkar, but also global stars like Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic, the tennis World No.1, and England and Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney.According to the magazine, Dhoni made a total of US$ 26.5 million, of which $23 million was earned from endorsements and $3.5 million from salary and prize money. That puts him 31st on the list while Tendulkar was 78th, with total earnings of $18.6 million, of which $16.5 were from endorsements.The Forbes list was topped by champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, who made $85 million, followed by his main rival, Manny Pacquiao, with earnings of $62 million, and Tiger Woods, with $59.4 million.Dhoni’s unprecedented success leading India – he is the only captain to have won the ICC World T20 championship, the 50-over World Cup and led his team to the No.1 Test ranking – has made him one of India’s most popular celebrities, not just athletes.A study by Tam Sports of the advertising patterns during the 2011 ICC World Cup showed that ads featuring Dhoni far outstripped those of any other celebrity. Ads involving Dhoni grabbed a 29% share of the total television ads during the tournament, almost three times the frequency of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who was second with 10%. Tendulkar was fourth, with 7%.In July 2010, Dhoni signed a three-year endorsement deal worth approximately Rs 2.1 billion ($ 42 million) with Rhiti Sports, a sports marketing agency. The deal surpassed the three-year deal worth Rs 1.8 billion ($38 million) that Sachin Tendulkar signed back in 2006, making it the largest such deal in Indian sports history.Later the same year, he signed a three-year deal worth Rs 260 million (about US$ 5.7 million) to promote McDowell’s soda, which is owned by the UB Group headed by Vijay Mallya. Altogether, Dhoni represents more than 20 brands, including Pepsi, Reebok, Aircel and TVS.Sangeet Shirodkar, who helped put the deal together for Rhiti Sports but is now a director at Offspin Sports and Entertainment, says Dhoni’s commercial success is tied not only to his sporting success, but also his surprising rise through the ranks of Indian cricket.”He comes from a very humble background,” Shirodkar said. “That has contributed to the fact that Indian brands are attracted to having him as a brand ambassador. The Indian growth story is targeted at the masses, not the top of the pyramid. [Dhoni is] one among them who has come out and has achieved so much.”In an article for the last year, Harish Bhat, the Chief Operating Officer – Watches, Titan Industries Ltd and Somprabh Singh, Senior Manager, Marketing, Titan also cited Dhoni’s middle-class background as one of the key reasons for his appeal (Titan is one of the brands Dhoni endorses).”Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dhoni’s brand personality is the respect and humility which he displays, not merely to the cricketing fraternity, but towards everyone he meets and interacts with,” they wrote. “This reflects his strong middle-class values, his origins in a part of the country which has been the crucible of Indian culture and civilisation, and, of course, the simple person that he is. It enhances the esteem and love which Indians have for him”According to the pair, another plus for India’s captain is his ability to cut across demographics. “Dhoni symbolises vibrant youthfulness, which is aspirational across age-groups in our country. A large part of India is young, and the rest of India wishes to look and feel young. Therefore, his youthful appeal cuts across India’s demography.”India’s struggles over the last 12 months – losing eight consecutive away Tests to England and Australia – have clearly not dampened Dhoni’s commercial appeal. With India’s schedule requiring them to play mainly at home for the near future, his brand is likely to only grow stronger.

Durham will participate in the Emirates Twenty20 competition, in Dubai at the end of March, for the second year running as part of their preparations for the new county season. The club will also send groups of players to India and South Africa for specialised coaching sessions.Durham’s second XI coach Jon Lewis will accompany Gareth Breese, Mark Stoneman, Tim Raglan, Ryan Buckley and James Weighall to the Global Cricket School in India in February; while Mitchell Claydon, Stephen Harmison, Liam Plunkett, Chris Rushworth, Ben Stokes, Josh Bousefield and Usman Arshad will go to South Africa for outdoor practice with bowling coach Alan Walker and limited-overs captain Dale Benkenstein.”Our tours to Dubai have been really successful in previous years and have proved to be an effective way to continue our pre-season preparation in outdoor conditions,” Durham’s head coach Geoff Cook said. “It’s important for the bowlers to get as much outdoor practice as possible before the start of the season which is why we’ve also taken the opportunity to send groups to India and South Africa.”