About Australian Cricket

The uncapped Sayers had recently publicly expressed his disappointment about being overlooked for the South African tour after continual stellar first-class performances.

Chadd Sayers, the indefatigable South Australian seamer, has been drafted into Australia's squad for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa as a replacement for injured quick Jackson Bird.

Bird has been ruled out of the tour after straining a hamstring during the last round of the Sheffield Shield. Prior to the setback, he had struggled in Tasmania's hefty loss to Queensland claiming just one wicket across two innings. Bird was wickletless during the Boxing Day Test - his only Test of the summer.

The uncapped Sayers had recently publicly expressed his disappointment about being overlooked for the South African tour after continual stellar first-class performances, highlighted by winning the Sheffield Shield's Player of the Year award last season.

Cricketer Sayers told Cricbuzz:

After winning the prestigious award, Sayers told Cricbuzz that he was determined to play for Australia. "I'm extremely driven and will put my best foot forward to keep improving and being in the mix to play for Australia," he said.

Steve Smith, the Australian captain, said he was disappointed for Bird but believed Sayers was an ideal replacement. "It's exciting for Chadd," he said in Melbourne on Tuesday (February 13). "It's kind of a like-for-like bowler. They both stand the seam up nicely and Chadd's been rewarded for what he's done in Shield cricket for the last couple of years.

"It's tough news for him (Bird). He's a terrific guy to have around the group, he works incredibly hard," he added. "He's just a great guy to have on tour with you - a terrific team man. I certainly feel for him that he unfortunately has this injury at this time."

Australia's squad - apart from stand-in T20 captain David Warner - will depart for South Africa this week ahead of the first Test starting on March 1.
Collected By- newaz robin.

Read More

Khaled Mahmud was appointed as Bangladesh's team director late last year. © Getty

Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud said, on Monday (February 12), that he had lost interest to work with Bangladesh cricket team following the media reports targetted against him in recent times.

Mahmud had been on the receiving end since being appointed as team directorconsidering he is also involved in several other capacities in Bangladesh's cricket landscape.

Mahmud is currently the chairman of BCB game development committee while being involved in coaching capacities at different clubs and franchises. Prior to his appointment as team director, a section of media labeled it as a conflict of interest.

The exclusion of Mossadek Hossain in the second Test and he subsequently joining Abahani Limited to play in the Dhaka Premier League, country's leading club based 50-over tournament, came in for a lot of criticism given Mahmud's association with the club in the ongoing edition.

"I am not interested to continue with Bangladesh cricket team," Mahmud told reporters ahead of the series concluding two-match T20I series. "Recently it is turning out to be dirty and I am not interested to work in this atmosphere."

Mahmud also expressed his disappointment over losing the Test series as he felt the hosts had the ability to win against Sri Lanka. However, Mahmud didn't blame the wicket as a major reason for their debacle in the second Test.

"I am not ready to put any blame on the wicket. Both teams played on the same surface and there are several examples in the match that suggest it was nothing like totally unplayable.

"Basically it is like a viral disease... like if someone comes up with something like it was not the ideal wicket, suddenly he is joined by 10 other who seem to agree with that logic and sense applied for judging the surface, and whether it served the purpose or not."

Mahmud added that the team is desperate to make one last attempt to change their fortunes in the series after having been humbled in both Tests and ODIs. "I am confident to put up a good show as there are several newcomers who can come up with some surprising element to get over their opponent.

"Shakib [Al Hasan] might not be available but if [we] can put up a unified effort, anything is possible," concluded Mahmud.

Read More

"I haven't picked up a bat and now I'm keen to get the bat back in my hands which probably means it's been good." © Getty

Steve Smith, the Australian captain, admits a draining Ashes campaign left him "absolutely ruined" but a much-needed break has the Allan Border Medallist feeling refreshed ahead of the Test tour of South Africa.

The 28-year-old led Australia's successful Ashes triumph with a spectacular Man of the Series performance but a notably tired Smith struggled in the subsequent One-Day international (ODI) series defeat to England.

In a welcome breather, Smith has been rested from the ongoing Twenty20 tri-series ahead of the crucial tour of South Africa with the bulk of Australia's squad leaving on Thursday (February 15). Smith has enjoyed two weeks off culminating in winning the prestigious Allan Border Medal on Monday for the second time.

"I needed it (a break). I was absolutely ruined after the one-dayers," Smith said in Melbourne on Tuesday (February 13). "It takes a lot out of you, an Ashes series. Particularly with every Test match going five days and the extra pressures and everything that comes with an Ashes series. I was certainly feeling it mentally. And the last 10 or 12 days that I've had off, it's been great.

"I haven't picked up a bat and now I'm keen to get the bat back in my hands which probably means it's been good and I'm ready to go for what's going to be an exciting tour of South Africa," he added.

After plundering 687 runs in a dominant Ashes, a flagging Smith averaged just 20 in Australia's 4-1 ODI series loss. "You could probably see it in the one-dayers that we played, the guys that had played Test cricket throughout the summer were probably just not quite at their best mentally - just a bit fatigued," Smith said. "We probably saw that in our T20 performances - the guys that came in fresh and had been playing a bit of white-ball cricket in the Big Bash, those were the guys that were playing some good cricket.

"It's been good that the Test guys have been able to have a little bit of a break and freshen up and really hit the ground running when we get to South Africa," he added.

Smith shared the spotlight on Australian cricket's awards night with Ellyse Perry, who won her second Belinda Clark Award. The star all-rounder beat out Beth Mooney and Megan Schutt for the top prize in Australian women's cricket.

"I'm really pleased," Perry said. "Every year there is new ground being broken in women's cricket and it is exciting to be part of."

Perry said she strived to keep improving her game and looked forward to next month's ODI tour of India. "I've got plenty of things to keep working on especially in trying to be more dominant with the bat," she said. "Playing India in their conditions makes it a tough challenge but we are really excited about it."

©

Read More

Gesture from Maxwell shows the group is really close - Carey

Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Tue, 13 Feb, 2018, 10:04 AM

With Australia closing in on victory, Carey unselfishly gave the strike to his partner Maxwell, who then clubbed a six to reach a memorable century © Getty

Australia's new look T20 team has enjoyed a spectacular start to the Twenty20 tri-series and the goodwill is percolating amongst the emerging group.

Even though they are missing a host of stars, an unbeaten Australia have booked a place in the tournament's final after three convincing victories over higher ranked teams England and New Zealand.

The team has undoubtedly gelled well and a snapshot of their harmony was veteran allrounder Glenn Maxwell's heart-warming present to newcomer Alex Carey after his match-winning century in Hobart.

With Australia closing in on victory, Carey unselfishly gave the strike to his partner Maxwell, who then clubbed a six to reach a memorable century and seal a convincing five-wicket victory over England.

After his breathtaking knock, Maxwell wrote an inscription on the bat: 'To Alex. Thanks for getting that single! Great partnership again! Best wishes, Glenn Maxwell. 103*'.

"I thought the bat was pretty average but the writing on it was awesome," a grinning Carey told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday (February 13). "It was obviously a nice gesture by Maxi and I think it just shows that the group is really close and we're having a lot of fun.

"For someone like Maxi to do that for me in such a short space of time shows that we've got some really good blokes in the side," he added.

Carey, the burgeoning wicketkeeper, has been part of a new group of players injecting energy and enthusiasm into Australia's T20 side. The inspired selections have reversed Australia's slumping limited-overs fortunes after a 4-1 hammering against England in the preceding One-Day International series.

Carey was a key part of Adelaide Strikers' Big Bash League triumph and memorably blasted a century as an opener during the tournament. However, he has been placed down the order for Australia and faced just five balls from two innings.

The 26-year-old, who was a professional Australian Rules football player earlier in the decade, believed he could perform if a greater opportunity presented. "I haven't really had the opportunity to go out and play a big role with the stick but I'm working hard in the background," he said. "I'm still learning at this level. But I'm thoroughly enjoying it and I'm sure if I get more of an opportunity I'll be ready to go."

Australia's next match in the tri-series is against New Zealand on February 16.

Read More

After just one game in Bangladesh, Mathews was forced to return home as the old hamstring injury resurfaced © Getty

Sri Lanka's white-ball captain Angelo Mathews believes that a new rehabilitation process on the lower half of his body will help him to stay injury free in 2018. Throughout last year, Mathews was plagued by a series of hamstring, quadriceps and ankle injuries and missed out on a large portion of cricket. There was new hope when he accepted the team's white ball captaincy ahead of the tour of Bangladesh having stepped down from the role six months ago. However, after just one game in Bangladesh, he was forced to return home as the old hamstring injury resurfaced.

Mathews missed the tri-nation campaign in Bangladesh and the two Tests that followed. He was expected to travel to Bangladesh to take over the captaincy duties ahead of the T-20s having finished his rehabilitation work. But the medical experts who have been treating him have warned against returning to competitive cricketsoon after injury. Instead, he will make his return during the Nidahas Trophy, the tri-nation tournament that will be played to celebrate Sri Lanka's 70th year of independence.

"Everyone is looking forward to the event and I am very excited. It will be a great opportunity for all the players. India are tough opponents and Bangladesh have shown some tremendous improvements over the years. I believe it will be a competitive series," the 30-year-old told Cricbuzz.

"With my injuries, we have now changed the strategy. In the past, as soon as I had got fit, I had gone and played. The consultant in UK Dr. Thamindu Wedathilleke and the consultants here like Professor Arjuna de Silva and others have insisted on looking at the scans rather than looking at clinically. In the past, I have rushed back to playing before the scars are fully healed. I am able to run and train and do other activities at the moment. But the game intensity is quite different and our stance is different now. We will let it settle fully and unless that happens I am not going to start playing again. It is going to be difficult for me and the team as well when I am injured so often," Mathews noted.

"The training methods, gym work and quite bit about my preparation have changed. We are well equipped now to meet the demands I feel. Still, we can only minimize the injury and there's no guarantee as such that everything will be fine. However, I am trying my very best to stay injury free. I am learning about my body and getting to know my body."

Mathews has had little trouble when he plays as a specialist batsman, but the team management has constantly urged him to bowl as well in a bid to balance the side and that has got him into trouble. "It all depends on what the consultants say. First thing is that I need to get fully fit and there's no point of rushing things. I would like to bowl but in order to get there I need to get fully fit," he said, indicating that his return is likely to be as a specialist batsman.

Read More

Morgan misses out on a second game in a row due to the groin injury he sustained during training. © Getty

You can tweet to me @prat1204 and have your say

Two changes for both the teams. Plunkett and Wood are back for Curran and Dawson. For New Zealand, Seifert makes his international debut while former Hong Kong star Chapman makes his NZ debut. Blundell and Bruce are the ones missing out.

Teams:

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, James Vince, Jos Buttler(w/c), Sam Billings, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Mark Chapman, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

Toss: England have opted to bowl

Hello and a warm welcome to our live blog.The tri-series moves to New Zealand now, and both the teams will hope to reverse their recent plight at the hands of Australia. Both captains are under an injury scare, so let's see who makes it in, and who doesn't.

Read More

A dropped catch of David Miller by Shreyas Iyer proved costly as South Africa pipped India in the fourth ODI. © AFP

"There is definitely more athleticism to be seen on the ground," was fielding coach R. Sridhar's assessment of India's limited-overs fielding. It is true that India have come a long way since their days of lethargic outfielders. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's catch of Hashim Amla at the Wanderers on the long-off fence was particularly noteworthy given that it was a fast bowler who had pulled off that piece of inspiration in the deep.

In comparison to their continuous slip cordon problems in Test cricket, the ODI side is a better fielding unit. But playing with a wet ball and in the face of a target defence, India were prone to costly lapses in the field in Johannesburg that allowed South Africa pick up their first win of the series. Shreyas Iyer, running in from deep square leg, spilled a catch of David Miller when the batsman was on 6. Kuldeep Yadav then failed to cover the conventional trajectory of a ball that had been swept and conceded a boundary. All of them contributed to a drastic switch in momentum, one that South Africa cashed in on to complete a five-wicket win.

"Yes we were a little below par on the field in the last game," Sridhar admitted. "One catch went down, Shreyas Iyer being the brilliant fielder that he is, he made a great attempt. It was not a Grade 1 catch, but it's easy to be harsh on ourselves sometimes, easy to be harsh on our players. It's the easiest thing to do. But if you see, that was a difficult catch.

"And in the ground in Johannesburg, the ball snakes a lot and that's what happened to Kuldeep. He was trying to attack and save two, but the ball just snaked away more than he expected. These things happen but we are practicing for them. We've got our players to pay attention to the detail of every minute aspect of every skill, not just fielding. We try and do that every game, and in this game we'll take into account the wind factor, the size of the ground and make sure we are aware of that when we enter the field."

Sridhar stated that the team enjoyed being in challenging situations on the field, like playing a rain-affected match and having to contend with a wet ball. This, he said, would enable them to prepare for extreme conditions should they manifest in a crucial World Cup match next year. "These are things we want should happen more in terms of our preparation. We love to embrace such situations so that even if we make a mistake now, we know how to respond to that same situation the next time around. So these things are good for us. Bowling with a wet ball, a wet outfield, in a reduced game - it's fantastic it happened because we'll learn from every game."

The quest to focus on the specific details earned Kuldeep a 1:1 session on the eve of the clash at St. George's Park. The fielding coach hit several high balls at Kuldeep with a view on getting one of the lesser-skilled fielders in the squad to adjust to the windy conditions of Port Elizabeth. Kuldeep also worked on his in-the-ring ground fielding as Sridhar pointed out techniques for a faster release of the ball on the run.

"Yes, PE is called the windy city isn't it? I read that on Wiki. So yes, definitely we'll take that into consideration. That is something that is important, especially for high balls. You have to keep that into account, it comes under your awareness. No matter where you are fielding on the boundary line, you need to be aware which way the wind is blowing. You also need to be aware of the batsmen's tendencies, the game situation, and accordingly you should be able to prepare in terms of wanting the ball to come to you," Sridhar said.

Given how a catch or a run saved can swing the flow of a limited-overs game, Sridhar added that the endeavour of the management was to consistently put out the best fielding side, whose difference between good and bad fielding days would be very small. "We're not flash one day and really bad on another day, like some of the other teams. We try and reduce the gap between our good days and bad days. There is a level at which we can be and we try to maintain that, be consistent on that," he said.

"Yes we work on the technical aspect of fielding as much as we can. But like Ravi Shastri and Virat [Kohli] want, we want the eleven best fielders to take the park everytime we get out there. That is the endeavour going into the next 15 months (till the World Cup). But definitely we are one of the better one-day fielding teams in the world, I can vouch for that."

Read More