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Dinesh Karthik, the wicketkeeper-batsman who was, to the surprise of many, chosen to replace the injured Yuvraj Singh, a pure batsman, for the tour party to South Africa, has said that he had volunteered to open in the Duleep Trophy in order to get an opportunity to play the new ball.In an interview to Cricinfo just prior to his departure to South Africa, Karthik said that he had asked VVS Laxman, the South Zone captain, if he could open. “I wanted to face the new ball because batting at No.7, I wasn’t getting enough opportunities,” he said, “and it clicked in the second game against Sri Lanka A”.Batting in an unaccustomed position, Karthik took time to settle, without troubling the scorers too much in South Zone’s first match at Indore. He failed in the first innings of the second game against Sri Lanka A, scoring just 5, but his fluent 95 in the second compensated for his failures. His confidence reflected in his wicketkeeping as well, taking four catches in Sri Lanka’s second innings.Prior to that, his 85 off 68 balls in the Challenger Series in front of his home crowd in Chennai was timely, as the tournament was a virtual try-out for India’s tour of South Africa. Particularly impressive were his innovative strokes, scooping the fast bowlers over the wicketkeeper for boundaries in the slog overs, proving his worth as a finisher.”It was definitely a great experience for me, playing in front of my home crowd and it was a good feeling getting runs there. Some things are very instinctive and sometimes you get these [scoop] shots. It’s not something that I had planned on while at practice.”More importantly, it has been Karthik’s wicketkeeping which has improved by leaps and bounds, and his acrobatic catch to dismiss Geraint Jones in his last one-day international would have made Adam Gilchrist proud.”Diving is something that has come really naturally to me,” he continued. “There is always the risk of serious injury but touchwood, it hasn’t happened yet. I have got feedback that my diving technique has been pretty good.”Pressure is nothing new to Karthik, and he has often been in situations where he was given just a game or two to perform, since the arrival of Dhoni. When asked how he motivated himself, Karthik said that the thrill of playing for India is enough to keep anyone going. His interaction with senior players, like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh too helped him get through testing situations.”No matter who your competitors are you have to keep improving your game. The most important aspect is how hard you work at your game and also how you enjoy the game. In the end of the day, you must have fun.”And how is his relationship with Dhoni? “Fantastic,” he exclaimed. “He is a very nice person and I have often gone to him for help. I wouldn’t describe it as a big-time rivalry. It comes down to who performs more consistently. It’s important that we have a healthy competition. At the same time, we are good buddies.”Karthik may have played only three one-dayers in his short career, but his comeback is an indication that he is by no means a forgotten man and just a Test match specialist.

Shabbir Ahmed’s rectified bowling action has been found to be within the current parameters set by the ICC, following extensive tests conducted at the University of Western Australia.Saleem Altaf, Director Operations Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told Cricinfo that he had received communication from officials at the university who said they were satisfied Shabbir’s action, as it stands, is within the ICC tolerance level, which allows for bowlers to flex their arms up to 15 degrees from the elbow.Altaf said, “We received communication today stating that, as per the tests they conducted, Shabbir’s action is within the tolerance level. The next step is now for the university to use the results of their tests and send it as a report to the ICC. They plan to do this during the middle of next week.”The ICC will then decide on a course of action, in consultation with the PCB, once they receive the report. Altaf added, “Once they have received the report we will be in touch with them to see what the next step is. They can read the report and clear him or they can call him up before their bowling action review committee for one final clearance. In this case, an official will travel with him to that meeting. We would ideally like this whole procedure to be over before the England series so he is cleared to play.”Shabbir was reported for a suspect action for the third time in his career against the West Indies in May this year. He chose to work with Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, instead of seeking help outside the country from specialists to rectify his faults. Under current regulations, if he is reported twice within two years, he faces a suspension from all forms of cricket.The ICC, however, is keen to stress that no bowler is permanently cleared. Dave Richardson, general manager ICC, said earlier this month, “All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the laws of cricket when observed with the naked eye.”

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A contented crowd basked in a day’s cricket at Arundel Castle that smacked distinctly of country-house knockabouts of the golden age. The sun shone almost all day (as it did in any golden age worth the name). The crowd happily succumbed to the charm of the ancient trees, the pristine marquees and the cool drinks at a beautiful ground, a picture in green and white. Sussex’s bowling, Mushtaq Ahmed aside, was on the gentle side of threatening. And in the afternoon Gloucestershire, in the very best tradition of country-house games, decided that to grind the other chap into the ground when he’s down, is, well, not quite the done thing, and allowed Sussex to keep alive a slim hope of avoiding defeat. Sussex finished the day 8 for 0 in their second innings, still 186 behind.A day of relentless Gloucestershire accumulation might not have suited the lazy mood, but it would certainly have boosted their own healthy chances of winning the Championship. They could have ground Sussex under the millstone today and started with intent. After resuming with 63 for 0, the regular tap-tap of the bat made a soothing accompaniment appropriate to the gracious ground. Only Sussex’s bowlers and their frustrated captain, Chris Adams, failed to enjoy the mellow morning sunshine: they had to fathom how to drag ten recalcitrant wickets out of a slow but true pitch, on which 300 was par. Yesterday Adams’s side had managed 106.Before a passing shower sent players and a healthy crowd scurrying for an early lunch at 1pm, Gloucestershire added 92 unhurried runs, for the loss of two wickets. In the sunshine Philip Weston rekindled memories of less careworn days in 1992 when English cricket seemed at his feet and he was voted the Cricket Society’s most promising player. He reached 81, authoritative but never dominant, before top-edging a hook and taking his leave shortly before the showers arrived.No-one thought it would matter: Gloucestershire had got bat over ball comfortably enough, any spin for Mushtaq seemed to die in the pitch and Gloucestershire, at 172 for 2, looked set for an intimidating total. They got a useful one – 300 exactly. For keeping it to that, Sussex could thank Mushtaq. At 12.20pm he stripped off two of his many layers of sweatshirts and began at the Park End. When he finally got to rest his spinning fingers at 6.05, after a marathon spell, he had the remarkable figures of 30-10-58-5. Throughout he bounded in like a well-fed young pup.At first he struggled to find his line, then he slowed the runs and then, before tea, the wickets came: Chris Taylor edged a legbreak, Matt Windows swept and missed and suddenly Gloucestershire were 177 for 4 and beginning to worry about their long tail.Sussex had the batsmen trapped in a ring of iron, with the scoring dribbling down to less than two an over. Mark Alleyne and Alex Gidman, neither looking comfortable, both fell to the seamers, and after tea Mushtaq bamboozled two more with the googly. Late slogging allowed Gloucestershire to add 65 for the last two wickets.What a man this Mushtaq is. Almost 34 years old, and with 50 Test caps for Pakistan in the past, he could be forgiven for coming to the relative backwater of the Championship, turning his arm over, taking the money and running. Instead, he has come to Sussex, the most English of English counties, taken 103 wickets to end a 113-year wait for a first Championship, and become a folk hero. Seldom have such deadly wicket-taking skills and such thoroughgoing congeniality been seen in one man.

Getting off the plane and stepping straight into English cricket’s Twenty20 Cup did not provide the perfect start for New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming’s season with Yorkshire.Playing against Derbyshire in his first game he was out for a first ball duck, and two days later he scored four off his first ball and was then dismissed off the second.While his New Zealand team-mate Chris Cairns ponders the broken finger keeping him out of action at the moment, he can reflect on 252 runs scored at 42.00 in his four County Championship games to date and 179 runs at 59.66 in his four one-day matches.Ian Butler ended his four-game stint with Gloucestershire with 17 wickets at a cost of 28.11 but his three one-day matches produced only one wicket from 22 overs at a cost of 128 runs.Former New Zealand player Craig Spearman has made a sound start for Gloucestershire with 349 County Championship runs at 38.77, including a century and two half-centuries.In one-dayers he has totalled 504 runs at 56.00, with a highest score of 153, off 123 balls, against Warwickshire.Another New Zealander, Chris Harris made 50 for Lashings in their first game of the season, against Cambridge University. Cambridge scored 209 in 40 overs with Harris contributing 50. Cambridge were unable to do better than 160 for five in their innings.Harris also played for a World XI, along with Andre Adams, in a match against the Netherlands to celebrate HCC’s 125th jubilee. Harris scored 49 not out for the World XI which totalled 225 for nine and then took five for 41 as the home team were all out for 172.Former Canterbury player Darron Reekers was a member of the Netherlands side.Among the New Zealanders playing league cricket in England, Matthew Bell scored 108 for Esher in their winning draw against Regiate Priory in the Surrey Championship premier division.Rob Nicol scored 88 not out and took three for 52 in Rishton’s seven-wicket loss to Haslingden.James Marshall’s 49 wasn’t enough to help Formby who suffered a three-wicket loss to Liverpool in the first division of the Liverpool and District competition, while in the premier division Warren McSkimming scored 27 in Lytham’s one-wicket win over Bootle.Aaron Barnes scored 53 in Colwyn Bay’s six-wicket loss to Southport and Birkdale while Brendon Donkers scored 23 not out in Leigh’s draw with Northern.Reekers’ Quick Haag team suffered a 101-run loss to VCC in the Netherlands league, with Reekers only able to contribute six runs while taking one for 32 from his 10 overs.

New Zealand Cricket today confirmed that star all-rounder Chris Cairns would not be available for selection for the CLEAR Black Caps tour to Pakistan.Cairns is recovering from surgery nearly 6 months ago to the patella tendon of his right knee.New Zealand Cricket Fitness Advisor, Warren Frost, said while Cairns had initially targeted the Pakistan series for a return to international cricket this timeframe was always going to be tight.”Chris’ rehabilitation is progressing well. He has begun running and will soon begin sports specific exercising including bowling.”Had the One Day International series been played after the Test matches there would have been a small chance of him being fit for them. However as the one dayers are first they are too soon for him to target and a Test match loading would not be a sensible way to reintroduce him to the demands of international cricket,” Frost said.After a spell overseas Cairns is now continuing his rehabilitation programme at New Zealand Cricket’s High Performance Centre at Lincoln University.

A brilliant bowling performance by Chamath Perera enabled Panadura S.C. to beat Matara S.C. by 42 runs in their Premier Limited Overs Tournament match played at Panadura Esplanade today.Panadura, who elected to bat first after winning the toss, were bowled out for 212 in the 49th over after a good bowling performance by MatarSC. M. Ramzan and F. Farook captured 7 valuable wickets between them for the south coast side. M. Silva top scored with 38. S. Liyanage (31), D. Perera (28) and C. Silva (27) also chipped in.In reply, Matara S.C. in reply did not have any answer to Chamath Perera, who picked up four wickets for 11 runs in his allotted 10 overs. Matara were bowled out 170 in 48 overs.F. Farook also had an excellent match; he scored a superb 72 in 99 balls, consisting of 9 fours and a six to go along with his bowling performance. All the other batsmen failed to impress with the exception of M. Wickremasekara, who scored 37.

The colour of the ball, sightscreen and clothing all changed and,half-way through, so did the weather. The West Indies’ cricket didn’tand they were beaten by Australia just as badly in the first match ofthe triangular Carlton Series of One-Day Internationals at theMelbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) last night as they were in the fiveTests earlier.In heat that touched 39 degrees Celsius before a cool change droppedit 10 degrees in an hour, they bowled inconsistently, batted withoutpurpose, fielded shoddily and missed five catches. The World Cupchampions were virtually flawless in completing victory by 74 runs.The margin was even wider than it appeared. Batting under lights afterthe thermometer dipped, the West Indies were basically out ofcontention when Brian Lara was third out in the 19th over for 28. Theywere then 57 for three and never threatened to overhaul Australia’s267 for six after that.Marlon Samuels batted with the poise he showed in his three Tests totopscore with 57 from 96 balls. But, aged 19 and in his second One-DayInternational, his mission was simply damage limitation.He arrived in the sixth over after openers Wavell Hinds, caught in thegully, and Sherwin Campbell, taken at third man, had both beendespatched with only nine scored. Lara was dismissed by medium-pacerIan Harvey just when a stand with Samuels seemed to be developing,wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist snaring his edge as he did so often inthe Test series. Ricardo Powell lasted 27 precarious balls for 12before lobbing a catch to mid-on from off-spinner Andrew Symonds and,for the next 14.2 overs, Samuels and Ridley Jacobs batted aimlessly inadding 49.Once local favourite, Shane Warne, ended his spell of 10 overs in hisfirst international of the season, the crowd of over 50 000 took toamusing itself with Mexican waves and the antics of three pitchinvaders as the cricket became meaningless.Symmonds briefly drew their attention back to the middle by dismissingJacobs, Samuels and Mahendra Nagamootoo with the first, fourth andfifth balls of the 41st over. Captain Jimmy Adams, demoting himself toNo. 8, and Laurie Williams batted out the overs in an unbrokenpartnership of 54 but it meant nothing to patrons who were streamingout of the MCG long before the last ball was bowled.Australia’s total was based on a second-wicket partnership of 111 in22.2 overs between Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting after Nixon McClean’swell-judged, running catch at third man accounted for Adam Gilchristoff Cameron Cuffy in the third over.Waugh hoisted Cuffy for six 10 rows back into the seats in theMember’s Stand and had just passed 50 when he fell to another finecatch. He hoisted Laurie Williams and Hinds, moving in from long-on,ended the stand.The West Indies claimed the valuable wickets of the dangerous MichaelBevan, Ponting and captain Steve Waugh while limiting the scoring to49 between the 31st and 42nd overs. Ponting, let off by Williams on astraightforward catch in the deep when 32, fell to a sensational takeby Powell, sprinting in from deep square-leg and diving forward.Captain Waugh, in his 300th One-Day International, holed out to longoff from Samuels who, along with Nagamootoo, sent down his fullcomplement for ten overs of spin.At 193 for five in the 42nd over, the West Indies had chances to limitAustralia to under 250. They blew them as Powell and Williams bothdropped Symmonds, who added 74 off 52 balls with Martyn.Williams fell back so heavily on his head in muffing his chance atpoint, he had to leave the field for attention, adding injury toinsult. The last ten overs yielded 83, the last two brought 26, thelast, from McLean, 15. It carried Australia to a total that requiredbetter batting than the West Indies have shown all season and theynever looked like getting close.Australia play the third team in the tournament, Zimbabwe, at theGabba in Brisbane tomorrow and meet the West Indies again thefollowing day at the same venue.

The day-time temperature in Hyderabad is around 32 degrees Celsius. It gets hotter inside a stadium filled with tens of thousands of noisy fans and when there’s no love lost between the two teams, the contest could well and truly boil over. India and Australia play each other in the third of seven ODIs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday, and if the walk matches the ample talk from both teams, it could be a bumpy but exhilarating ride.Australia are likely to be strengthened by the return of their captain Ricky Ponting, who missed the first two games because of a hamstring strain he sustained during the ICC World Twenty20. Australia’s one worry has been their tendency to lose quick wickets at the start – 18 for 2 at Bangalore and 8 for 2 at Kochi – and Ponting’s inclusion, most likely at the expense of Brad Hodge, will allay fears of the middle order having to bail them out again. Ponting hasn’t played an ODI since the World Cup final and even though he didn’t contribute much in Australia’s Twenty20 campaign, his captaincy and presence at No. 3 and will undoubtedly bolster his team.”I’m hoping to play,” Ponting said. “Everything is looking positive for me at the moment. I went to the ground and had a good workout at the nets yesterday. There are a few other things with the physio and physical trainer to do, but if I get through that I will be up for selection.”Nathan Bracken, the left-arm medium-pacer, has also joined the squad after attending the birth of his son and has a strong case for selection, although fitting him in is trickier than Ponting. Bracken has an excellent record in India where he’s taken 29 wickets in 14 ODIs at an average of 17 and an economy rate of just over four an over, but the attack that Australia fielded in Kochi performed superbly. They completed an emphatic 84-run victory by dismissing India for 222 and the one spot that Bracken could fill is that of the allrounder James Hopes.The ability of the Australian middle-order to recover from poor starts and the pin-point accuracy of the bowlers is what has given them a 1-0 lead. They were well prepared and executed their plans perfectly, a fact that Yuvraj Singh, the Indian vice-captain, admitted to on the eve of the third ODI. Yuvraj fell to one of those traps in Kochi, spooning a drive to Matthew Hayden, who was strategically placed at short cover.India also face a selection dilemma with Sourav Ganguly passing his fitness test. A hamstring injury had ruled him out of the Kochi game and Robin Uthappa took his place, scoring 41 off 30 balls. If Ganguly was to return, it would have to be in place of Gautam Gambhir or Uthappa, unless the team management implement their rotation policy and rest either Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid.Yuvraj, however, said “rotation is part of the future plan but we’ll play our best XI tomorrow”. Whether the best XI included Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly, or just two out of those three, he didn’t say.India frittered away a strong start in Kochi and allowed Australia’s middle-order to reach 306. The offspinners – Harbhajan Singh and Ramesh Powar – were particularly ineffective, conceding 87 off 15 overs between them without a wicket. Their batsmen failed to string together partnerships and the chase never gathered enough momentum to challenge the target.India were outplayed with bat and ball but matched Australia sledge for sledge in the second one-dayer. Yuvraj admitted the verbal jousting between the teams got out of hand during the first two games and wanted “more cricket and less talk” on Friday. The intention is all very well but will emotions be kept under check when the pressure mounts? Don’t bet on it.TeamsAustralia (likely) 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Brad Haddin, 7 Brad Hogg, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Stuart Clark.India (likely) 1 Sachin Tendulkar, 2 Sourav Ganguly, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Rahul Dravid, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt, wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Ramesh Powar, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Sreesanth.

Scorecard
Tasmania were in the driver’s seat at the end of the second day of the Pura Cup match against Queensland at Brisbane. Half-centuries by Travis Birt, Brett Geeves and Michael Di Venuto helped the Tigers gain a first-innings lead of 138 before their opening bowlers, Adam Griffith and Ben Hilfenhaus, rattled the top order to leave the home side at 3 for 54, still trailing by 84.Resuming at 1 for 70, Di Venuto and Birt added 72 for the third wicket to take them closer to Queensland’s total of 196. Di Venuto fell 12 runs short of his century, caught by Martin Love off Nathan Rimmington, and his dismissal sparked a middle-order collapse.After being reduced to 6 for 214, Tasmania regained control through Birt and Geeves, who added 57 for the seventh wicket. Geeves struck 12 boundaries in his entertaining 65 off 77 balls but was lucky to be let off on 38 when Andy Bichel spilled a sharp return chance. Birt also made 65 and played a more sedate knock.Dismissed for 334, the Tasmanian opening bowlers soon had Queensland reeling after picking up three wickets for five runs. Matthew Hayden was forced to drop down the order due to an injured finger, and his absence was felt as Griffith accounted for Martin Love and Jimmy Maher in successive overs.Love chased a wide delivery outside off stump, edging to Daniel Marsh at first slip, and in the next over Hilfenhaus got the crucial wicket of Clinton Perren, who was caught behind first ball. James Hopes reached 40 by stumps and was being assisted by Lachlan Stevens.

Brett Lee says Australia will spend a few days “taking the pressure off” before Saturday’s tour game against Essex at Chelmsford. Australia, who narrowly lost the fourth Test on Sunday and are behind 2-1 in the series, will have two days in London before starting their preparation for the final Test at The Oval starting on September 8.Lee said the team was very upset and disappointed to lose by three wickets after “a very tough four days” at Trent Bridge. “We can’t reflect over what’s happened in the past too much,” he told . “We can have a few days away from cricket, we can enjoy it and have a game of golf. Do whatever takes the pressure off.”Since returning to the Test side at Lord’s, Lee has made valuable contributions with 152 runs at 30.40, including being not out at the end of the second and third Tests, and 19 wickets at 33.68. “Physically it’s been a tough four days, it’s been a tough four months,” he said. “It’s a matter now of going to freshen up.”