Tag Futebol

Gloucestershire gave their CB40 campaign a boost after an impressive performance with bat and ball by Will Gidman helped them record a crushing 109-run victory over Worcestershire at New Road.

10-Jun-2012
ScorecardGloucestershire gave their CB40 campaign a boost after an impressive performance with bat and ball by Will Gidman helped them record a crushing 109-run victory over Worcestershire at New Road.Gidman, the 27-year-old all-rounder, made his first limited-overs half-century in Gloucestershire’s total of 238 for 6 and then took 2 for 10 as the Royals limped to 129 all out after losing half their side for just 25.Worcestershire’s lowest 40-over score of 86 was looking some way off until left handers James Cameron (35) and Gareth Andrew (23) mustered a face-saving partnership of 46 with the help of a couple of fielding lapses by Gloucestershire.The failure of the front-line batsman was due to good, accurate seam bowling and a sluggish pitch which consistently shackled the stroke-makers. When Vikram Solanki drove to mid-on in Gidman’s third over, he set the pattern for a dramatic collapse.Moeen Ali edged a flashing drive off James Fuller and Phil Hughes, after successive CB40 centuries against county opposition, was one of two victims in a lively spell by left-arm seamer David Payne.Cameron was the only specialist batsman to survive for any length of time but he was brilliantly caught by Kane Williamson, back-pedalling towards long on for off-spinner Jack Taylor’s first success in a spell of 2 for 21.Earlier, it was the Gidman brothers, with fifties of contrasting styles, who underpinned a Gloucestershire innings that came to life when the last seven overs produced 64 runs. Left-hander Will continued his adjustment to a new role as a one-day opener with only three fours in making 76 from 98 balls and Alex launched the late surge with a 6-4-4-6 sequence off successive deliveries from Andrew.Those were the first boundaries in 16 overs as Gloucestershire finally tired of picking off singles on the stodgy surface.Hamish Marshall’s early rush was quickly halted when he scooped a straightforward catch to deep square leg and Benny Howell was barely under way when Hughes held a more difficult chance at point.Both wickets fell to the emerging left-arm seamer Jack Shantry, and at the end of the innings he took his CB40 tally to 14 wickets in six games this season after yorking Alex Gidman for 59. Shantry also bowled Ian Cockbain for a full return of 4 for 37 but Worcestershire’s support bowlers had limited success.Daryl Mitchell had Williamson (29) caught at deep midwicket from his third ball and Moeen was on target when Will Gidman heaved across the line after a stand of 97 with his brother.The victory was Gloucestershire’s third from five Group A matches this season, with Worcestershire slumping to their third defeat from six games.

Chamara Kapugedera, the middle-order batsman, has been named as a replacement for one of the three injured allrounders in the Sri Lanka squad that qualified for the finals of the Commonwealth Bank tri-series

Sa'adi Thawfeeq02-Mar-2012Chamara Kapugedera, the middle-order batsman, has been named as a replacement for one of the three injured allrounders in the Sri Lanka squad that qualified for the finals of the Commonwealth Bank tri-series. Which of the injured players – Farveez Maharoof, Angleo Mathews and Thisara Perara – is being replaced, has not yet been decided. Sri Lanka will play Australia in the best-of-three finals from Sunday, in Brisbane.Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said that the team management, in consultation with the national selectors, had opted for a batsman. He will fly to Brisbane on Friday night. “The request was for a batsman for the No. 6 position and Kapugedera was picked,” Ranatunga said. “The team management will take a decision tonight, on which of these injured players will be sent home.”Kapugedera, who has not represented Sri Lanka since the World Cup final last April, had shown some form for Nondescripts Cricket Club in the ongoing domestic first-class competition, the Premier League Tier A tournament, scoring two hundreds in his previous four games. The pick of his innings was a 168-ball 158 in the first week of February, which came against defending champions Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club.Sri Lanka entered the final league match – a must-win game for them – without the services of Farveez Maharoof, who picked up a back complaint during Tuesday’s game against India in Hobart. Then, during the Australia chase, Thisara Perara and Angelo Mathews went off the field with injuries. Perera bowled only five balls before walking off with a back problem and Mathews was forced off with a calf injury. After the match, captain Mahela Jayawardene had said that he was hopeful that Mathews and Maharoof would be fit for Sunday’s game, but Perera’s chances of playing were less certain.Edited by Nikita Bastian

Greg Chappell has said Nathan Lyon and Trent Copeland were among those who showed during the A-side’s tour of Zimbabwe that they could perform at a higher level

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2011Greg Chappell, Australia’s selector and national talent manager, has said Nathan Lyon and Trent Copeland were among those that showed they could perform at a higher level during the A side’s tour of Zimbabwe. Fast bowler Copeland and offspinner Lyon – who was the leading wicket-taker in the tri-series in Zimbabwe that also included South Africa A – have since been picked in Australia’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series that begins on August 31.”They are very exciting cricketers,” Chappell told Australia’s . “The Australia A tour to Zimbabwe was a huge success. Those guys were two of a number who showed that what has worked for them in Australia can work at a higher level. They bring with them some form and confidence and freshness.”The fast bowlers who missed out on Sri Lanka, Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus, need to work on their fitness, Chappell said. “The message to both of them is quite clear. Doug’s fitness levels were not where they are needed to be. He knows what he has to do. The same with Ben. He struggled technically last summer [during the Ashes].”A big talking point about the Test squad was the omission of legspinner Steven Smith, but according to Chappell, this is all part of his maturing process. “He is in the same position that most players are in early in their careers when they get an opportunity. They get to have a look at it. Very few players are ready to go.”Most of us have been dropped. Even Bradman was dropped. You go away and rethink it. That’s where Steve’s at. I think he has the ability to be a very fine player for Australia, but this is only part of his development.”Australia are yet to find a long-term replacement for Shane Warne, and if spinners are to do well, Chappell said, the environment in which they are nurtured has to change. “The environment in which young spinners are growing up is very different from before. I just don’t see them getting the encouragement from captains and coaches, who see them as bowlers who leak runs rather than one who have the opportunities to take wickets.””They are a last resort option in junior cricket, club and first-class cricket at times. If we are going to produce champions [in the spin department], we have to encourage environments where spinners get the opportunities.”

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has said he is willing to come out of retirement sooner rather than laterand has no issues playing under any captain

Cricinfo staff19-Jul-2010Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf is ready to come out of retirement sooner rather than later, further broadening the possibility of an appearance at some point for Pakistan in the summer.Yousuf, who announced his sudden retirement after a win-less tour of Australia, had said recently he was targeting the tour of UAE later this year to make a return, but the team’s struggles in the first Test against Australia at Lord’s may have prompted him to change his mind.”I am available any time for my national team,” Yousuf said in Karachi. “If the team doesn’t need me I stand retired. But if I’m needed, I am ready and available to serve my country. If PCB invites me with respect I will definitely go and join the team.”Ijaz Ahmed, Pakistan’s assistant coach, hinted at Yousuf’s possible return. “He can replace Afridi but the management haven’t decided yet who will come. It could come out in a couple of days. Maybe later, somebody will come but not at the moment.Pakistan made scores of 148 and 289 with only one batsman, Salman Butt, managing to pass fifty. They lost 11 of their wickets to Shane Watson and the part-time spinner Marcus North.Though their bowlers competed well, the batsmen fell short mainly due to the lack of experience in the middle order, which was missing the pedigree of Yousuf and Younis Khan for differing reasons.In the immediate aftermath of the Lord’s loss speculation centred on the PCB sending out an SOS to Yousuf, but Ijaz Butt denied that was the case. The matter of Yousuf and Younis’s return was considered at a meeting the chairman held with team management to appoint a new captain, but was deferred until after the second Test against Australia, officials insisting they were happy with the performances of debutantes Azhar Ali and Umar Amin.”These are the only two players we are talking about, Younus Khan and Yousuf,” Ijaz Ahmed added. “Let’s see, it might be decided about Yousuf. Yousuf might be coming here.”Salman, 25, was appointed captain after Shahid Afridi announced another unexpected retirement from Tests. Afridi was named captain for the entire tour of England but quit after the Lord’s defeat saying he wasn’t enjoying Test cricket after all.”He was the vice-captain as well. I hope he can manage this,” Ijaz Ahmed said of Salman’s promotion. “We have done a lot of talking to him and he has played really well and is shaping up well. I think he is getting mature and now he has got the responsibility as well. I think he will come good for that.”Yousuf has had problems in the past with Shoaib Malik when he was captain but said he was willing to play under Salman. “It’s a PCB decision (appointing Salman) and everybody should respect it,” Yousuf said. “I can play under any captain and have never felt degraded playing under anyone.”Yousuf added that he was in touch with the PCB chairman, who was kept aware of his plans to return.Yousuf was the captain during Pakistan’s shambolic tour of Australia, where the team came under fire for their performances. The PCB responded by penalising seven players it believed were responsible for the defeats, Yousuf among them. He and Younis were banned indefinitely, and as a mark of protest, Yousuf announced he was quitting the game “for now.”He was the only one among the seven punished players not to appeal against the sanctions, despite the PCB leaving the door open for him to return. However, since Yousuf didn’t respond to those messages from the board the national selectors could not consider him for the tour of England.

Watch out, Australia have another blond legspinner. While the quick bowlers have been wreaking havoc and creating headlines, Steven Smith has quietly been going about his work

Andrew McGlashan at Beausejour Stadium12-May-2010Watch out, Australia have another blond legspinner. While the quick bowlers have been wreaking havoc and creating headlines, Steven Smith has quietly been going about his work. He hasn’t generated as much conversation as the pacemen, but that’s often because the opposition have been staring at defeat by the time Smith gets the ball.However, he has been incredibly impressive and figures of 3 for 20 against West Indies were due reward for a player who has made rapid strides over the past few months. He has leapfrogged Nathan Hauritz in the Twenty20 team, which is a notable achievement because Hauritz enjoyed a profitable home season.The highlight of Smith’s performance against West Indies was a ripping leg break that drew Kieron Pollard out of his crease and then he silenced the St Lucia crowd when he removed local hero Darren Sammy with a caught and bowled. Again it was a ball with flight and dip that played a key part in the batsman’s error.It reinforces the attacking mindset Australia have brought to this tournament – the legspinner instead of the offspinner. Smith, though, also brings his batting into the equation and has already played a crucial innings in the World Twenty20 with 27 off 18 balls against Bangladesh after Australia had been 65 for 6.In first-class cricket, run-scoring in his stronger suit, with an average of 56.22 from 13 matches coupled with four hundreds and he could well earn a Test place in the top six. Twenty20 is the one format where his bowling has excelled, with 29 wickets at 16.27. He provides further evidence of the success that is on offer for a brave spinner; some days he’ll get neck ache watching the ball disappear into the stands, but rewards can be plentiful.”It’s been pretty exciting coming over here and playing in my first World Cup,” he said. “The wickets here are quite slow and I think my pace of bowling is well suited. It was good to contribute today and take a few wickets to help us to victory. The team has moulded together beautifully but we haven’t come here just to make the semi-finals.”

‘Well, that was dumb’

The excitement of Australia’s win was a bit much for one supporter, whose energetic celebration resulted in a five-metre fall from a stand in St Lucia. Toby Fanning, a 24-year-old from Sydney, suffered a suspected broken nose and concussion following his tumble on to the edge of the boundary.
“Well, that was dumb,” Fanning told AAP. “I’m all right. I’m pretty sore. But that was pretty dumb. I was celebrating the shot and jumping around and lost my bearings and went over the fence.”
He was taken to hospital by ambulance after being treated on the outfield. The fall occurred after his cheering of David Hussey’s lofted boundary over extra cover in the second-last over of the game.

One significant advantage for Smith has been the top-order destruction dished out by the fast men, which has meant teams have been well behind the rate when Smith has come on to bowl. His challenge will be greater should a team be 60 for 1 after the Powerplays. However, there hasn’t been any element of Michael Clarke hiding his young spinner, who has often bowled his four overs straight through.”Smithy, like a lot of guys in their first World Cup, have been outstanding with their attitude,” Clarke said. “They have taken it upon themselves to be the one to win us the game. Smithy has bowled well throughout the whole tournament and although he got his rewards today his performances have been fantastic all the way. He wants to bowl, it doesn’t matter who’s batting and that’s important at the highest level.”Throughout the tournament, Smith has held his own against teams with impressive records against spin and he will come up against Pakistan for the second time in two weeks in the semi-final on Friday. Rather than being daunted by the prospect, he is relishing another contest.”They’ll be coming pretty hard at me I’d imagine with our three quicks bowling over 150kph – when a spinner comes they’ll attack me as they did in the last game,” he said. “It’s just about me changing my pace and missing the middle of the bat. If I do that I’ll be in with a chance.”And then, of course, there is one enticing prospect looming. If Australia overcome Pakistan and England overcome Sri Lanka there will be an Ashes final. There’s a certain blond legspinner who dominated that rivalry for more than a decade. Are any England batsmen getting twitchy?

The good news for New South Wales was Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Phil Jaques and Usman Khawaja all made solid starts, but the situation wasn’t as cheery for Phillip Hughes, who failed in his last hit-out before the first Test team is named

Cricinfo staff17-Nov-2009
ScorecardMichael Clarke found some form after his long lay-off with an unbeaten 92 at the SCG•Getty Images

The good news for New South Wales was Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Phil Jaques and Usman Khawaja all made solid starts, but the situation wasn’t as cheery for Phillip Hughes, who failed in his last hit-out before the first Test team is named. Tasmania kept running into the Blues on the opening day at the SCG and were rewarded in the first two sessions before Clarke and Khawaja took the hosts to 3 for 290 at stumps.With the squad to face West Indies being announced on Thursday, Clarke and Katich both had useful stays but Hughes’ final chance to increase his chances of being at the Gabba went when he played-on to Luke Butterworth on 12. How Clarke pulls up after the innings will also be important for the national team as he trials his back following a two-month lay-off.Clarke, the Test vice-captain, nearly ran-out Katich early in his innings but recovered his poise to post a valuable half-century and lift his side through a delicate period. He finished with an unbeaten 92, a much better return than his 8 in the one-dayer on Sunday, while Khawaja was not out on 51. Khawaja is rated so highly by his state that he is playing ahead of David Warner, who breezed to 92 off 79 balls for New South Wales’ 2nd XI in Perth.Like Hughes, Jaques (66) is also hoping for a return to Australian colours in the future and he had a couple of chances before falling to a top edge off Butterworth, which was taken by a juggling Jon Wells at square leg. Katich, the Test opener, was back at No. 3 for his state and chipped in with 62 before falling to a catch behind off Jason Krejza to the final ball before tea.