Sehwag risking WI, Eng tour to play IPL

New Delhi: A World Cup win can bring satisfaction of a lifetime and champion players rummage around for a recliner to relax while the medal sits on the chest perpetually. But winds of change have refashioned perceptions, where the IPL money rules the roost and other issues move to the back-burner.

Virender Sehwag's niggling shoulder injury, which forced him out of the ODIs on the South African tour to be fit for the World Cup, is one such example where a player risks jeopardising his career for franchisee reputation and some extra zeroes.

Sehwag and BCCI's decision to delay the shoulder surgery until after the World Cup was in national interest, but postponing it for franchisee cricket defies logic.

In contrast, neighbouring giants Sri Lanka have issued marching orders to their IPL-serving players midway through the tournament to prepare for national duty for the tour of England.

This opens Sehwag's disregard towards his fitness to even severe scrutiny as India too have energy-sapping tour of the West Indies commencing just six days after the IPL final on May 28, followed by the tour to England.

What more, the delay has already cost India Sehwag's more than useful off-spin. Though it thankfully didn't hurt the team in the World Cup, the signs indicate his decision to delay can make it only worse.

So if the 'Devil' is planning to 'Dare' the scalpel after the IPL, it's almost certain that the most feared opener in world cricket has resigned to the fact that he won't tour the Caribbean.

Does it mean that Sehwag and BCCI have wilted under the pressure of big-spending franchises, treating national interest secondarily? Is India's tour of the West Indies trivial in comparison to domestic entertainment like the IPL?

These and many similar incisive questions are waiting to dissect Sehwag and the Indian board's decision to put off an imminent treatment. Hope it doesn't cost India a disaster in the West Indies after a fairytale in the subcontinent.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/sehwag-risking-wi-eng-tour-to-play-ipl/56541-13.html

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West Indies build innings after slow start

Mohali: Ireland skipper William Porterfield won the toss and decided to bowl first in the pace condusive conditions against the West Indies at the PCA stadium in Mohali.

The hard-hitting Chris Gayle missed Friday's encounter because of an abdominal strain, while Irish pacer Trent Johnston was not included as he picked up an injury in the previous game.

With the West Indies coming off a crushing nine-wicket win over tournament co-host Bangladesh, Ireland need to be very against the Kemar Roach an Co.

The West Indies pacer has been in terrific form so far and would like to skittle the Irish batsmen with his pace at the bouncy Mohali wicket.

Though Ireland lost their contest against India, but they once again displayed a commendable show as the their bowlers restricted India for most part of their innings.

Teams:

West Indies: D Smith, S Chanderpaul, D Bravo, R Sarwan, K Pollard, D Thomas, D Sammy (Capt), A Russell, N Miller, S Benn, K Roach

Ireland: W Porterfield (Capt), P Stirling, E Joyce, N O'Brien, G Wilson, K O'Brien, A Cusack, A Botha, J Mooney, G Dockrell, W Rankin

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/ireland-elect-to-bowl-first-against-windies/55269-5.html

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England seeks new opening after KP exit

Resurgent England need to find a new opening partnership for Friday's World Cup clash against Bangladesh after Kevin Pietersen's exit, but coach Andy Flower isn't giving the game away. Flower declined to reveal skipper Andrew Strauss' new opening partner, hinting there could be a different choice for each game depending on the conditions.

"It does not have to be the same man for the rest of the tournament," the coach said. "You need different qualities to open the batting against Bangladesh than you do against Australia. We are going to have to be flexible. "We're not going to let you or the opposition know who it's going to be, but we've got a clear idea of who we want for the game against Bangladesh." The choice is likely to be limited to Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara or wicket-keeper Matt Prior, who are all essentially middle-order batsmen but capable of having a hit at the start.

Bell is an accomplished batsman and Bopara scored a man-of-the-match winning 60 against South Africa, but it could be the hard-hitting Prior who opens the innings against Bangladesh. Flower's dilemma for Friday's Group B clash against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in Chittagong was brought into sharp focus with the loss of Pietersen as they move towards securing a place in the quarter-finals. Pietersen will miss the rest of the tournament to undergo a hernia operation. England, who have five points from four games, need a win against the co-hosts or in their last league match against the West Indies in Chennai on March 17 to enter the knock-out rounds. The free-stroking Pietersen had revelled as Strauss' opening partner, contributing stands of 105, 68 and 91 in the first three matches.

The only time the duo failed together was on Sunday against South Africa when left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, given first use of the new ball, dismissed Strauss third ball and Pietersen off the sixth. The chaotic start did not prove costly as England, restricted to 171, hit back to bowl out the Proteas for 165 on a turning wicket in Chennai. Pietersen has been replaced by former Irish batsman Eion Morgan, who is expected to arrive in the port city later on Tuesday, a rest day for the entire squad. Left-handed Morgan, 24, was in the original 15-man squad before he was withdrawn due to a finger injury and replaced by Bopara.

The pressure on Friday will be entirely on the hosts, who need a win to stay in contention for the quarter-finals. Bangladesh, who crashed to their lowest total of 58 in the last game against the West Indies, have just one win from three matches and are languishing in sixth place in the seven-team group.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37837/england-seeks-new-opening-after-kp-exit

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Bangalore: James Anderson might have returned the worst bowling figures by an Englishman in the World Cup but skipper Andrew Strauss remains confident about the pacer rediscovering his form in the coming matches of the mega event.

Andreson's 1/91 in 9.5 overs against India on Sunday was the worst bowling performance by an English bowler in World Cup, overtaking Derek Pringle's none for 83 against the West Indies in 1987.

India posted a mammoth 338 in the match and England managed to tie the game riding on Strauss' brilliant 158-run knock.

Strauss said it would be unfair to write off Anderson just yet.

"Opening the bowling out here is hard work, and bowling most of your overs in powerplay is not easy," Strauss said of Anderson.

"Jimmy's got a lot of skills. Anyone who writes a guy of that quality off is pretty naive."

Anderson has been struggling for form, going wicket-less for 72 runs in his 10 overs against the Netherlands in the opening match.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/strauss-comes-to-andersons-defence/54807-13.html

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I'm working on foot faults, says four-wicket Tahir

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir enjoyed a four-wicket debut on Thursday, but his World Cup bow was almost shattered by a double warning for running on the pitch.

The 31-year-old Pakistan-born player helped send West Indies crashing to 222 all out in 47.3 overs in their Group B match at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium with figures of 4-41.

But Australian umpire Simon Taufel twice warned him about straying onto the pitch. A third warning would have seen him pulled out of the attack.

"I'm not comfortable bowling away from the stumps, but I'm working hard on it," said Tahir

"I want to get it right. I don't want to get a third warning and not be able to bowl."

Tahir, who was born in Lahore and has married a South African girl, dismissed Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Thomas and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in his 10-over spell.

He praised the support shown to him by skipper Graeme Smith.

"Graeme had a lot of confidence in me. I bowled well in the second spell, some days you have a bad day, some day a good on, today was a good day," he said.

"In the powerplays, varying the pace is the key."

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37027/im-working-on-foot-faults-says-four-wicket-tahir

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De Villiers' IPL knowledge boosts South Africa

AB de Villiers put his Indian Premier League experience to good use on Thursday when he led South Africa to a comfortable seven-wicket World Cup win over the West Indies.

De Villiers smashed an unbeaten 107 and shared a crucial third wicket partnership of 119 with captain Graeme Smith as his side surpassed the West Indies' total of 222 with 43 balls to spare.

The 27-year-old said his time with local IPL side Delhi Daredevils had allowed him to share vital inside information with Smith on the playing conditions at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

"My time here helped. I chatted to Graeme before the game and said that the outfield gets very damp at night here therefore it's better to bat second," he said.

"It's really hard to defend a total on this outfield."

De Villiers hit the fastest ever World Cup century by a South African with his landmark coming off 97 balls.

"I wasn't timing it in the nets last week, but it came off well tonight," he said.

Smith, who has been nursing a cold, made a dogged 45 off 78 balls and said he was happy with his team's overall performance.

"Winning the toss was nice, we started well. Darren Bravo (73) played really well, but we managed to peg it back in the middle," he said.

"My batting wasn't the best - I have been a little ill coming into the game, so I just wanted to bat through with AB and build a partnership. AB went faster than run a ball and paced it real well."

West Indies captain Darren Sammy was disappointed with his team's batting after they had stood at 113-1 at one stage.

"We had an opportunity to get a lot more runs. We needed someone to play like AB did," he said.

"Darren Bravo played really well and we hope he can continue. We kept losing wickets in clusters which didn't help. Losing Dwayne Bravo (with a knee injury) wasn't good. We don't know the extent of the injury. Hopefully he'll be OK."

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir was also celebrating after enjoying a four-wicket debut, but his World Cup bow was almost shattered by a double warning for running on the pitch.

The 31-year-old Pakistan-born player claimed 4-41 but Australian umpire Simon Taufel twice warned him about straying onto the pitch.

A third warning would have seen him pulled out of the attack.

"I'm not comfortable bowling away from the stumps, but I'm working hard on it," said Tahir

"I want to get it right. I don't want to get a third warning and not be able to bowl."

Tahir, who was born in Lahore and has married a South African girl, dismissed Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Thomas and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in his 10-over spell.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/37042/de-villiers-ipl-knowledge-boosts-south-africa

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