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Edited by anon - 17 years ago

Watch all the action from the Commonwealth Bank Series LIVE on Sky Sports!

Stand-in skipper Andrew Flintoff has leapt to the defence of England coach Duncan Fletcher following another mauling at the hands of Australia.

England lost by nine wickets in Adelaide on Friday in the Commonwealth Bank Series after being bowled out for just 110.

The latest disappointing result in one-day action, following on from a 5-0 defeat in the Ashes series, has increased the pressure on Fletcher.

However, all-rounder Flintoff insists the Zimbabwean is not to blame for the run of bad results and that it is the players who should be taking more responsibility.

"Duncan has been fantastic," he said. "He has taken this side forward in the past few years.

"If you speak to every lad in the dressing room they have got something from him and have improved by working with him. Now it is up us to repay him, almost, and put some performances in.

"The coach and the coaching staff give us all the tools; they work with us, they help us, and ultimately it is up to the lads who walk out onto the field.

"When you are in the middle batting it is down to you. The coach can only give you so much. You have got to perform."

Fletcher was quick to apologise to England fans after the embarrassing loss at the Adelaide Oval.

Flintoff admitted he was 'embarassed' by the Australia Day massacre, as the home side needed just 24.3 overs to overhaul the tourists' meagre total.

"I feel a little bit embarrassed," the Lancastrian, who has scored one of the team's two half centuries in the one-day series, said.

"We are far better players than we are showing at the moment, we have competed with Australia in the past and we have beaten them in games but at the moment we are nowhere.

"Also as well there was a big crowd wanting to see a big game of cricket and they haven't."

India clinches Pepsi Cup in style G. Viswanath

INDIA SHINING: The Men in Blue after bagging the Pepsi Cup series against the West Indies. — PHOTO: AP STAR TURN: Sachin Tendulkar composed an unbeaten, stroke-filled century off just 76 balls in the final One Day International against the Wes t Indies in Vadodara on Wednesday. The master batsman's 41st ODI hundred built the platform for India to post a comprehensive 160-run win. The home team secured the series 3-1. Tendulkar was named the man-of-the-match and the man-of-the-series.  1; Photo: AP Vadodara: Riding on Sachin Tendulkar's superb century, Sourav Ganguly's scintillating stroke-play and Rahul Dravid's classic knock India scored a resounding 160-run victory over a beleaguered opponent whose captain had promised to battle back into the Pepsi Cup series and leave the Indian shores with honours even. Brian Lara, after winning the toss, surprisingly inserted the home team in. Robin Uthappa and Ganguly gave an electrifying start and Dravid, Tendulkar and Dhoni joined the party. India made an imposing score of 341 runs in 50 overs for the loss of three wickets, the highest at the IPCL ground. If Uthappa's big boundary shots — a sledgehammer effort over square on the off side followed by a towering six excited the crowd, Ajit Agarkar's gem of a delivery that beat Chris Gayle hands down and took his off stump roused the spectators. Waiting in anticipation for the Mumbai seamer to trick the tall Jamaican just as he had done at Cuttack and Chennai, the spectators may have been somewhat disappointed that it was not Gayle, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul who was given the responsibility of facing the bowler. Agarkar strikes Gayle in fact had defended Agarkar with the full face of the bat and even thumped him straight down the ground, but the left-hander's misery continued and he fell to Agarkar again. While on the previous two occasions Agarkar swung the ball late and into the left-hander, on Wednesday afternoon he lured him to play the wrong line and saw the ball leave him and uproot the off stump. If the downfall of Gayle was a big blow to the West Indies in the 18th ball of its innings, the dismissals of three key batsmen — Devon Smith, Chanderpaul and Lara — rocked the Caribbeans. But Marlon Samuels, cleared to play the match after an X-ray ruled out fracture to the index finger of his right hand, scored his second successive half-century of the series. Unfortunate dismissal But Samuels would have been disappointed that his captain became an unfortunate victim after his straight hit slipped through the hands of Irfan Pathan and hit the stumps. Capable of causing a dramatic change in fortunes and keeping his team in the fray, Lara waited for a while before the third umpire confirmed that the West Indies captain was out of the crease. Spectacular fielding

STAR TURN: Sachin Tendulkar composed an unbeaten, stroke-filled century off just 76 balls in the final One Day International against the West Indies in Vadodara on Wednesday. The master batsman's 41st ODI hundred built the platform for India to post a comprehensive 160-run win. The home team secured the series 3-1. Tendulkar was named the man-of-the-match and the man-of-the-series. — Photo: AP Earlier, catching and fielding of Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina inside the circle turned out to be spectacular. Yuvraj's sheer anticipation in plucking a catch diving to his left at cover sent back a determined Devon Smith and immediately Raina swooped in at backward point to effect a direct hit to get rid of Lendl Simmons. Chanderpaul could not withstand the pressure and swung Zaheer Khan to Harbhajan Singh at square leg. Samuels and Ramdin forged a useful stand to whittle down the margin of defeat by a few runs. Uthappa and Ganguly provided a good platform for Tendulkar and Dravid and finally Dhoni to cut loose at the death. After smashing Powell for two 6s, Uthappa opened the face of the bat to a delivery that had extra bounce and offered a catch to Gayle at the slips. Ganguly was his usual self rocking back and playing forcing shorts on the off side and punishing short balls on the on side. He jumped out to Gayle and was stumped. Ganguly and Dravid's 101-stand for the second wicket mirrored the home team's command over the four-pronged seam attack and the spin bowling handled by Samuels and Gayle. Workman-like knock Right through the course of his innings, Tendulkar was workman-like, turning his wrists and placing the shots all along the carpet and between gaps. Brought in as late as in the 26th over, Ian Bradshaw was hammered by the little master, whose intent, style and aggression — a bent knee pulled six off Samuels — were truly outstanding. Dravid stroked the ball effortlessly, but was dismissed while trying to accelerate. He and Tendulkar put on 118 runs for the third wicket. Dhoni's unorthodox methods — three 4s and two 6s — worked well. Though it looked that Dhoni would reach his half-century, it was Tendulkar who made his 41st century in the 50th over. On 85, Lara at extra cover dropped him off Rayad Emritt and Dwayne Smith let him off on 91. Tendulkar was declared the Man of the Match and the Series. Lara said that his team had been competitive in the first three games, but was outplayed in the fourth. "The Indian openers gave a six plus start and the others produced something special, especially the partnership between Sachin (Tendulkar) and (M.S.) Dhoni. They kept the pressure on us. Yuvraj Singh did not get to bat, but brought off a great catch,'' he said. Collective effort "It was a collective effort. Sachin played a good innings. He showed he could adapt to any position and circumstance. We can judge Irfan (Pathan) only after he plays a couple more matches. He looked good when he bowled in the right areas,'' said India skipper Rahul Dravid.

The Indian captain troubled by cramps in the calf muscle and hamstring let Sourav Ganguly lead the team for two overs and Tendulkar for a major part of the West Indian innings.

Australia win lifts England hopes

One-day series, Melbourne: Australia 291-5 bt New Zealand 290-7 by 5 wkts   Ponting missed the defeat against England with a sore hip Australia kept England's hopes of reaching the Commonwealth Bank Series final alive with a five-wicket victory against New Zealand in Melbourne. Lou Vincent hit 90 in a 151-run stand with Peter Fulton to set up an imposing total of 290-7 for the Kiwis. But Ricky Ponting returned in style for Australia with his 22nd ODI hundred and Brad Hodge saw them home with 10 balls to spare, finishing on 99. England now play New Zealand on Tuesday to decide who qualifies for the final.   New Zealand decided to bat first after winning the toss and although they lost skipper Stephen Fleming for nine, Fulton and Vincent scored freely. Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and part-time spinner Michael Clarke took two wickets each, with Glenn McGrath rested. After a quiet start, Hodge raced to within one of a maiden century Vincent and Fulton set the foundations for a big total and steadily scored five runs an over until Fulton was unlucky to be given leg before to Clarke's left-arm spin. Vincent continued his good form since being drafted in as a replacement on the Australian tour, but fell short of what would have been his first century against Australia since his Test debut in the summer of 2001-02, when he was bowled by Shaun Tait. Clarke, who also picked up the wicket of Ross Taylor (21) trying a cross-bat swipe, picked up 2-45 from nine overs. Australia worked themselves back into the match when Vincent fell in the 37th over, but cameos by Scott Styris (34), Brendon McCullum (19), Jacob Oram (15) and James Franklin (13 not out) helped the Kiwis add 86 runs in the final 10 overs. The required rate for the home side was 5.81 but when Adam Gilchrist's ungainly swipe at Franklin cannoned into the stumps off the inside edge with the final ball of the 11th over, it had risen over six. Franklin added the wicket of Matthew Hayden in his next over, the burly opener heaving one straight to deep mid-wicket and Clarke fell cheaply, toe-ending a cut at one from Daniel Vettori that would have been called wide. But Ponting and Hodge shared 154 in 24 overs to put their side back into the ascendancy. Hodge, who made nought and one in his two previous innings in the competition against England, made a watchful start, hitting his first boundary off his 46th delivery. Ponting, by contrast, was immediately into his stride, getting off the mark with a lofted straight drive to the boundary and soon launching Vettori back over his head into the stands. Having completed his second ODI fifty, Hodge drove Franklin through the covers for four and two balls later lofted him comfortably over mid-on for six. When Ponting was superbly caught in the 47th over by Vincent diving forward at deep mid-off, 25 were still needed for victory. The tension increased in the next over when MIke Hussey was sent back by Hodge and run out at the bowler's end. When Cameron White arrived at the crease, the requirement was 12 from 14 balls but any anxiety was immediately lifted when Jacob Oram sent down a no-ball that Hodge sliced through the covers. Hodge needed to hit a boundary to record a maiden century but had to contend with a pivotal role in the highest successful chase at his home ground. FROM : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/6326847.stm

Opening India-Lanka one-dayer abandoned

By Sirshendu Panth in Kolkata | Thursday, 08 February , 2007, 21:26

Unseasonal showers played spoilsport as the opening cricket one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka, the first international tie to be hosted by the city in more than two years, was abandoned at the Eden Garden in Kolkata on Thursday. The 86-thousand odd Kolkata crowd was seemingly set for some thrilling cricket as the visitors got off to a roaring start after being put in to bat before the weather gods literally poured cold water on such hopes. Scorecard < src="http://www.sify.com/fullstoryad_.php?adtag=http://ads.sify.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/khp.sify.com/Island@Middle" noresize="" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="" border="0" height="250" scrolling="no" width="315"></> Sri Lanka were 102 for three in 18.2 overs with veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya, probably on his last tour of India, going great guns on 63 when the skies opened up. The rains, that had lashed city last night, increased in intensity with every passing minute and the ground soon resembled a pool fit for waterpolo. The showers, which began at 4 pm, lasted for 45 minutes before relenting. The super-sopper was immediately pressed to service and the mopping up operations began. But the intense efforts of the groundsmen came to a naught as the rains returned soon, dashing all hopes of a restart. The umpires declared the game abandoned at 8.30 pm. The second tie of the four-match series is to be played at Rajkot on February 11, 2007 a day before India's squad for the World Cup in the Caribbean in March-April is to be selected. http://sify.com/sports/cricket/fullstory.php?id=14385208

Who is Robin Singh in Samuels tapes ?

Thursday, 08 February , 2007, 21:38

Mumbai: The name of one Robin Singh has figured in the conversations between West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels and bookie Mukesh Kochar and police are trying to figure out whether he is the one who had played for India. "We would have to examine if he is the cricketer Robin Singh hailing from West Indies who had played for India. The Nagpur Police Commissioner is inquiring into the matter. Don't hype it so much," Maharashtra DGP P S Pasricha told PTI. Apart from Robin Singh, no name of any Indian cricketer has come up so far, he said. Describing Kochar as a well-known bookie suspected to be operating from Gurgaon (near Delhi), the top police official said Kochar was in touch with Kamal Kishore Chaddha, who is believed to have done a lot of land deals for underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's gang. He said the Nagpur Police Commissioner would carry out further investigations in this regard and on several other aspects and progress could be made in the investigations in three or four days depending on some leads. Asked whether Samuels or others whose names have come up in the taped conversations would be questioned, Pasricha said "it is too early to comment upon it. All necessary action would be taken". However, he added, that the circumstances in which a "notorious bookie" is discussing various issues like who will bat or bowl when with a player is not good. A person said to be Chaddha spoke to a television channel in which he said he had known Kochar for a long time. He said Kochar was based in Dubai for 25 years and was in rice business. He claimed Kochar was a bookie and a gambler. http://sify.com/sports/cricket/fullstory.php?id=14385209

     
Last Updated: Friday, 9 February 2007, 10:39 GMT
E-mail this to a friend      Printable version
ICC calms World Cup venue fears
Sabina Park, Kingston
Sabina Park in Jamaica will stage some of the first round games
The International Cricket Council has insisted the World Cup grounds in the Caribbean will be ready on time.

General manager Dave Ricghardson has been touring the various venues amid concerns they were behind schedule.

"There are fixtures and fittings to be finished but we're confident they will be and the players will say this is one of the best places to tour," he said.

"Dressing rooms are not old fashioned 3x4, you have ice baths, new showers, positions for computer analysts etc."

Richardson said that some practice venues needed to be improved, but dismissed suggestions that the problems were widespread.

"There are three or four practice venues out of close to 25 that are not up to standard."

     
The facilities have been improved tremendously and that will make the World Cup

Dave Richardson

The former wicket-keeper added that comparisons with the previous World Cup in his native South Africa were irrelevant.

"South Africa was fortunate because it had established venues," he said.

"This is a totally different kettle of fish, it's been a marvellous opportunity for the venues around the region to upgrade 100%.

"If you toured the West Indies 10 years ago, you bowled a ball in the nets it went through a hole and ended up under a grandstand.

"Now you don't see that, the facilities have been improved tremendously and that will make the World Cup."

aheer shines in India's win over Sri Lanka

Wednesday, 14 February , 2007, 17:21

Zaheer Khan claimed his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals to help defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the third match of their series on Wednesday. | Scorecard | The 28-year-old ripped through the top order to restrict the visitors to 230 for eight after they had won the toss and elected to bat. India skipper Rahul Dravid became the sixth batsman to score 10,000 one-day runs as he notched up his 77th fifty to guide his team past the target and level the series 1-1. The hosts made 233 for five in 46.3 overs. Zaheer dismissed openers Sanath Jayasuriya (two), Upul Tharanga (one) and the in-form Kumar Sangakkara for a duck, before claiming the wickets of Farveez Maharoof (14) and Malinga Bandara (two) to finish with five for 42. However, a defiant half century by left-hander Russel Arnold (66 not out) helped Sri Lanka pass the 200-mark after skipper Mahela Jayawardene (30) and Marvan Atapattu (42) had steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 76. Dravid made 66 with four fours and a six and shared in an entertaining 133-run stand off 139 balls for the fifth wicket with the big-hitting Mahendra Dhoni, who cracked an undefeated 67 to help the home side recover from 94-4. The skipper was run out with four runs remaining for victory when Dhoni's straight drive hit leg-spinner Malinga Bandara's hands and crashed onto the stumps. The final match will be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. The opening contest in Kolkata was abandoned due to rain while the visitors won the second match at Rajkot by five runs.

Edited by umi82990 - 17 years ago

Zaheer key for World Cup: Dravid

Margao: Indian captain Rahul Dravid is pinning his hopes on Zaheer Khan at next month's World Cup after the left-arm paceman dismantled Sri Lanka with five wickets on Wednesday. The 28-year-old ripped through the top order to take five for 42, his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals, to restrict the opposition to 230 for eight and fashion his side's five-wicket victory. "I just hope he's peaking at the right time," Dravid told a news conference. "Just as there are key players in all teams, we have our key players and Zaheer Khan is one of them. "Zaheer has performed beautifully for us. So has Munaf (Patel). Ajit (Agarkar) has bowled well for us. These three boys are very important for us at the World Cup." Man-of-the-match Zaheer was dropped from the one-day squad last February due to a slump in form and injury, but fought his way back with fine performances for Worcestershire in English county cricket. He then produced a string of excellent displays in South Africa and the recent one-day series against West Indies. "I have been able to hit the length consistently because I have bowled so many overs," the left-armer told reporters, referring to his English county stint. "That has definitely helped. I have been able to keep up the match fitness and practice." Dravid became the sixth batsman to score 10,000 one-day runs as he notched up his 77th fifty to guide his team past their target and level the series 1-1. The hosts made 233 for five in 46.3 overs. "Sure 10,000 is nice," Dravid said, after he joined team-mates Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in the exclusive club. "If you play 300-odd games and you've been a successful player, I think you'll end up with those sort of numbers." West Indian Brian Lara, Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya are the other batsmen who have reached the milestone. http://sify.com/worldcup/wc_fullstory.php?id=14389278#more

Match Schedules

For a printable copy of this schedule, click here.

*Note: All matches start at 0930 local time (1430GMT).

Warm Up Matches

Date	Group A Trelawny, Jamaica	Group B St. Vincent	Group C Trinidad & Tobago	Group D Barbados
Mon 05 Mar	West Indies vs Kenya	England vs Bermuda	South Africa vs Ireland	Sri Lanka vs Scotland
Tue 06 Mar	India vs The Netherlands	Australia vs Zimbabwe	Pakistan vs Canada	New Zealand vs Bangladesh
Thu 08 Mar	Kenya vs The Netherlands	Zimbabwe vs Bermuda	Ireland vs Canada	Scotland vs Bangladesh
Fri 09 Mar	India vs West Indies	Australia vs England	Pakistan vs South Africa	New Zealand vs Sri Lanka

Opening Ceremony

Date	Activity
Sun 11 Mar	OPENING CEREMONY

Group Stage

Date	Group A St. Kitts & Nevis	Group B Trinidad & Tobago	Group C Saint Lucia	Group D Jamaica
Tue 13 Mar				West Indies vs Pakistan
Wed 14 Mar	Australia vs Scotland		Kenya vs Canada
Thu 15 Mar		Sri Lanka vs Bermuda		Zimbabwe vs Ireland
Fri 16 Mar	South Africa vs The Netherlands		England vs New Zealand
Sat 17 Mar		India vs Bangladesh		Pakistan vs Ireland
Sun 18 Mar	Australia vs The Netherlands		England vs Canada
Mon 19 Mar		India vs Bermuda		West Indies vs Zimbabwe
Tue 20 Mar	South Africa vs Scotland		New Zealand vs Kenya
Wed 21 Mar		Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh		Zimbabwe vs Pakistan
Thu 22 Mar	Scotland vs The Netherlands		New Zealand vs Canada
Fri 23 Mar		India vs Sri Lanka		West Indies vs Ireland
Sat 24 Mar	Australia vs South Africa		England vs Kenya
Sun 25 Mar		Bermuda vs Bangladesh

Second Stage - Super 8

Date	Antigua & Barbuda	Grenada	Guyana	Barbados
Tue 27 Mar	D2 vs A1
Wed 28 Mar			A2 vs B1
Thu 29 Mar	D2 vs C1
Fri 30 Mar			D1 vs C2
Sat 31 Mar	A1 vs B2
Sun 01 Apr			D2 vs B1
Mon 02 Apr	B2 vs C1
Tue 03 Apr			D1 vs A2
Wed 04 Apr	C2 vs B1
Sat 07 Apr			B2 vs A2
Sun 08 Apr	A1 vs C2
Mon 09 Apr			D1 vs C1
Tue 10 Apr		D2 vs A2
Wed 11 Apr				C2 vs B2
Thu 12 Apr		B1 vs C1
Fri 13 Apr				A1 vs D1
Sat 14 Apr		A2 vs C1
Sun 15 Apr				B2 vs D1
Mon 16 Apr		A1 vs B1
Tue 17 Apr				A2 vs C2
Wed 18 Apr		D1 vs B1
Thu 19 Apr				D2 vs B2
Fri 20 Apr		A1 vs C1
Sat 21 Apr				D2 vs C2

Semi - Final Round

Date	Semi Final 1 Jamaica	Semi Final 2 Saint Lucia
Tue 24 Apr	2nd vs 3rd
Wed 25 Apr		1st vs 4th

Final

Date	Barbados
Sat 28 Apr	Final

Edited by Pensacola.S_02 - 17 years ago