Struggling Monty is out of touch and must be axed for Ashes, insists Udal

FORMER England spinner Shaun Udal has warned against selecting Monty Panesar for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff next week, writes Chris Stocks. Off-spinner Panesar will take part in England’s final warm-up match against Warwickshire, which starts tomorrow, despite the fact he has taken just six wickets for Northamptonshire this season at more than 90 runs each. But Middlesex captain Udal, who played four Tests during the winter of 2005-06, said: ‘I don’t think Monty has a role this summer. He isn’t taking wickets and you can’t pick a man who is out of form.

I’m surprised by his lack of development since he broke into the England side. Whoever he was listening to when he was younger was doing a very good job. But I think he has too many people talking to him now. ‘Everyone is trying to change him. It’s time for him to get back to basics.’ Udal was also full of praise for young Australia opener Phil Hughes, who he captained at Middlesex during the early partof this season.

The 20-year-oldleft-hander plundered 574 runs in three championship matches,and Udal said: ‘He has a touchof genius about him. The way heplays, conducts himself. There’s no doubt he will score runsduring the Ashes.’

Don’t write me off, warns Lee

BRETT LEE insists he is far from washed up as he bids to lead Australia’s attack in the forthcoming Ashes series. The 32-year-old paceman is hoping to spearhead the tourists’ bowling against Andrew Strauss’ England when the series gets under way in Cardiff a week tomorrow.

Lee has bounced back after suffering from a spate of injuries, having recently undergone surgery

on foot and ankle problems. But now that Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne have retired, the Aussie selectors may chose to go with their most experienced bowler, who knows all about the pressures of playing in the Ashes.

Nathan Hauritz has been chosen as the only spinner for Ricky Ponting’s team, putting more emphasis than ever on their main strike bowler Mitchell Johnson, and Lee – if he is picked. Critics say his best years are behind him and have pointed to his form during Australia’s ill-fated World Twenty20 campaign as evidence. But Lee, with 310 wickets from 76 Tests, believes he is as deadly as ever.

‘I don’t think the make-up of a fast bowler and a sprinter is that different,’ he said. ‘Of course there will be a time when your pace drops off. ‘Yes I’m 32, but I’ve missed a fair bit of cricket through surgery and I hope the day when my pace drops off is a long way away. The work I’ve been doing is all about bowling fast with good line and length. While I can do that I will do it and I’m certainly not looking at hanging up my boots now.’ Lee claims he has England skipper Strauss in his sights ahead of the first Test next week. Lee has dismissed the Middlesex opener five times over the course of the last two Ashes series and said: ‘I’m happy with the record I have against Straussy.

‘He’s a class act and it doesn’t matter how many times you get him out, on the day all you can do

is prepare well and bowl well. He is a hard batsman to bowl to.’ Lee does admit Australia will have to handle the conditions better than they did during England’s 2005 Ashes triumph if they are to turn the tables this time around. He added: ‘We were caught out a bit in 2005 by the way the ball was swinging back in and we didn’t use that as effectively as England did.’

Paul Collingwood: Sledging won’t bother us

Paul Collingwood has warned australia’s attempts to expose any chinks in England’s sychological armour during the ashes series will prove futile.

The aussies have for years been masters of the art of ‘mental disintegration’ as their former skipper Steve Waugh once described it. Collingwood himself famously came off second-best in a clash with Shane Warne at Sydney in 2007 after deciding to target the spinner during his final Test.

The move backfired spectacularly, though, as Warne helped Australia complete a 5-0 ashes series white wash. officially, the Australians have been ordered by their own board to cut out the sledging during the forthcoming series. But Collingwood is expecting more of the same and insists England’s players will not succumb to their opponents’ famed verbals. ‘Sometimes they can really come hard at you as a team – usually when they sniff a moment where we have to By Ryan Daniels get right on top,’ he said. ‘As a team England can stand up to sledging. If the opportunity comes around, if something needs to be said, then we’ll back each other up. ‘We won’t go looking for it, we just want to perform well.

‘Australia are very good at it. I played a lot of cricket out there as a youngster and they come hard at you. ‘It’s in their culture from a very early age. The youngsters do it. You feel that as a player, as an individual going out to bat in their country. ‘It’s very much a part of their culture but we have some strong characters who can deal with it should it come along.’

Brett Lee is still battling to be part of Australia attack

BRETT LEE remains hopeful he will be selected by Australia for the first Test after a solid showing in the tourists’ opening warm-up match against Sussex.

The 32-year-old paceman has been a key figure in the Aussies’ success over the past decade but his place in the team ahead of the Ashes opener in Cardiff on July 8 is by no means assured. Injuries have seen Lee struggle to recapture his best form during the past 12 months with Mitchell Johnson having taken his mantle as the spearhead of the side’s attack. And with the likes of Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus also making their mark during the successful tour of South Africa earlier this year, Lee admits he could find himself on the sidelines.

However, the right-armer went some way to pressing his claims with four wickets in the drawn tour opener against Sussex. ‘I will be out there playing thehardest and competing the best I can,’ said Lee. ‘If I am doing that, I expect to be playing in that first Test match.’ Despite his good form in Hove, Lee knows he will again have to impress in the final warm-up game against the england Lions at New road, worcester, this week when Johnson is expected to return to the team. ‘I’ve been on both sides of the fence,’ he added. ‘In 2004 in India, I was 12th man for four matches straight. It’s going to be hard work, and I will be trying my hardest to make the team'.

Aussie coach defends the attack

Australian coach Tim Nielsen moved to defend his bowling attack after they struggled to bowl out a weakened Hove (Sussex) on day two of their Ashes tour opener in Hove. The tourists needed more than 80 overs to dismiss the host county and secure a paltry 38- run first-innings lead as Hove (Sussex) posted a dogged 311 all out.

Although Brett Lee and Stuart Clark both grabbed three wickets apiece, young bowler Peter Siddle was their most effective bowler extracting pace and bounce out of a placid pitch on his way to two for 33.

But Ricky Ponting and his perspiring bowlers added to their own workload by conceding 40 extras, including 22 no-balls. More worrying for Nielsen was frontline off-spinner NathanHauritz failing to take a wicket in his 18 overs and leaking 98 runs on a pitch conducive to spin. But Nielsen said: ‘some days if you’re not quite on your game then you’re certainly going to get hurt, our challenge is to work out why it didn’t go quite so well for us today.’

Karachi kid Afridi gets hero’s welcome

Shahid Afridi flew home to a hero’s welcome in Pakistan and promptly dedicated their World Twenty20 triumph to victims of terror in his troubled nation. ‘Throughout the tournament i only thought about winning this for those people who’ve been affected by terrorism in our country,’ said the all-rounder after arriving in Karachi yesterday. ‘The troubled conditions, the way Pakistan is being isolated as a cricket nation, all this spurred the team to win the cup.’ Afridi was man of the match in Pakistan’s semi-final and final wins and was lifted onto the shoulders of fans in recognition of his exploits in the eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Sunday at Lord’s.

Rashid’s got all the toys, it’s time to play’

Shane Warne has urged england to be bold and select young leg-spinner Adil Rashid for the opening ashes Test in Cardiff next month. Rashid, 21, has been included in England’s 16-man pre-ashes training squad, alongside fellow spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, and is also in the England Lions team to face Australia in a four-day game at Worcester starting next Wednesday.

After touring with England in the winter the Yorkshire youngster finally made his international debut in the World Twenty20, impressing in the second spinner’s role alongside Swann, and leg-spin legend Warne, who took 708 Test wickets during a glittering career for Australia, says Rashid has done enough to see off an out-of-form Panesar and take on the same role in the first ashes Test.

He said: ‘England have done well with Rashid. They’ve not rushed him and he is ready now to make that step up. ‘he’s done well in Twenty20 cricket and I believe he is ready to play in the first Test. He’s got all the toys, a good temperament and it’s time for him to play Test cricket.’

Warne, who retired from international duty after Australia’s 5-0 ashes whitewash in 2006-07, will be watching this summer’s series from the commentary box and Australia will be far poorer for his absence with a dearth of fresh spin talent meaning Nathan Hauritz is their only frontline slow bowler on tour. So do England have the advantage when it comes to spin? ‘I’m not sure about that,’ Warne added. ‘The weird thing for me is England could play two spinners in the opening Test and Australia might not play a spinner. That makes me feel pretty strange.’ While Warne praised Rashid he has been less impressed with Ravi Bopara. He laid into the essex batsman last week, claiming he was not Test class even though he scored back-to-back hundreds earlier this summer.

And Warne has renewed his attack, saying: ‘I think Bopara lacks temperament. There will be a lot of banter flying round and I think that will put him off his game. We did that when I was at Hampshire and found him easily distracted. I think he’ll struggle, he won’t get many runs.’

Australia were in transition after the likes of Warne, Glenn McGrath, adam Gilchrist, Matthew hayden and Justin Langer decided to retire but the Victorian senses a recovery. ‘The team has not performed as they would have liked, they lost to India and South Africa. But winning in South Africa was a real confidence booster,’ he added. ‘There’s no doubt there’s been a transition period over the last 18 months. But that period is now over. ‘The team might not have the names in it but they are a good side.’

Tourists optimistic Watson can still make Cardiff date

ALL-ROUNDER Shane Watson has been cleared to stay with Australia after being diagnosed with a minor thigh injury. Scans confirmed a low-grade strain to the 28-year-old’s left quadricep muscle which has forced him out of the tourists’ current game against Sussex at Hove.

With just two weeks to go before the opening Ashes Test in Cardiff, Watson is facing a fight to be fit for the start of the series. But Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: ‘We expect this injury should resolve itself fairly quickly.

Shane’s return to play will be guided by progress made in the next few days.’ Watson missed training on Monday and Tuesday after complaining of general stiffness, prompting Australian team officials to contemplate calling up a replacement. While Watson will now stay on, his hopes of making the first Test are shrinking – with Marcus North taking his place against Sussex.

Captain Ricky Ponting said: ‘For him it’s obviously a setback. I don’t know if it harmshis chances but there’s an opportunity that’s slipped out of his grasp [not playing at Hove]. ‘Hopefully within a couple of days he’s right to start working on his bowling again.’

Gilchrist gives Aussies Ashes Wagwarning

ADAM GILCHRIST has warned Australia’s cricketers the biggest threat to them retaining the Ashes this summer could be the presence of their wives and girlfriends on tour, writes Chris Stocks. The wicketkeeper, who retired from international cricket last year, was part of the Aussie side which lost a memorable Ashes series 2-1 in England four years ago. And he revealed it was not just some superb performances from the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen which contributed to Australia’s downfall in 2005 but also disputes among the squad’s families.

Ricky Ponting’s men, who start a four-day warm-up match against Sussex today ahead of the first Ashes Test in a fortnight, have been forced to defend the presence of their partners on this current tour. Indeed, Cricket Australia is so concerned about the issue it invited the players’ families to be part of a pre-Ashes training camp in Queensland last month, where they were given relationship advice.

Now Gilchrist, in London to give an MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture at Lord’s tonight, has warned: ‘I just don’t think we got the balance right in ’05. I don’t think my wife was involved in any of the disputes but I was an offender of not getting the balance right myself. ‘I ended up trying to be too many things on that tour and I wasn’t very good at any of them, be it a cricketer, a husband or a father. It’s a challenge for the players and their families with the scheduling these days. It is a difficult balance and we didn’t get it right in ’05.’

England’s women are determined to build on their success

England’s women are determined to build on their double global success in 2009 and ensure they build a golden era of international domination. Sunday’s six-wicket victory against New Zealand in the World Twenty20 final at Lord’s followed on from their win over the same opponents in the 50-over World Cup in Sydney.

And skipper Charlotte Edwards said: ‘The 50-over format was the ultimate prize but to win the Twenty20 now could mean the whole profile goes from strength to strength. ‘Hopefully we can take the game to the next level.’

Pakistan captain Younus Khan announced his retirement from international Twenty20 cricket

Pakistan captain Younus Khan announced his retirement from international Twenty20 cricket after leading his country to world glory on Sunday. The 31-year-old followed in the footsteps of Imran Khan, who led the triumphant Pakistan team in the 1992 World Cup in Australia, when he oversaw an eight-wicket defeat of Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Younus said: ‘I’ve been thinking the whole tournament I could be remembered just like Imran was when his team won the World Cup. The dream has come true and this is a gift to our whole nation.’

Lee shocked over Vaughan

AUSTRALIA paceman Brett Lee has admitted his surprise at Michael Vaughan’s England snub. The former skipper was yesterday left out of the training squad for the first Ashes Test and Lee said: ‘I was a bit shocked, more so for what he’s done against us before.

He has the utmost respect from all of us in the Australia squad, it’s a shame we won’t play against him.’ But Australia captain Ricky Ponting was less stunned by the absence of both Vaughan and fast bowler Steve Harmison, adding: ‘I’m not surprised, I think the squad almost picks itself.’

Lee shocked over Vaughan

AUSTRALIA paceman Brett Lee has admitted his surprise at Michael Vaughan’s England snub. The former skipper was yesterday left out of the training squad for the first Ashes Test and Lee said: ‘I was a bit shocked, more so for what he’s done against us before.

He has the utmost respect from all of us in the Australia squad, it’s a shame we won’t play against him.’ But Australia captain Ricky Ponting was less stunned by the absence of both Vaughan and fast bowler Steve Harmison, adding: ‘I’m not surprised, I think the squad almost picks itself.’

Shahid Afridi on top of the world

SHAHID AFRIDI struck an unbeaten 54 to propel Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory against Sri lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 at lord’s. afridi, the man at the heart of Pakistan’s revival after they lost their opening game to England, stood and saluted the thousands of elated Pakistani fans after he hit the winning run with eight balls to spare.

It was the second global one-day title for Pakistan after Imran Khan’s side rallied in similar fashion to win the 1992 50-over World Cup. They had also lost the inaugural World Twenty20 final in 2007 to India.

Pakistan captainYounus Khan, whose country is undergoing political turmoil and an uncertain cricketing future after the terror attacks on the Sri lankan team in lahore in March, said: ‘For a nation like us, it is the right time. ‘It’s fantastic. We were the underdogs and nobody picked us. That’s why there was less pressure and certainly we turned it on in the big games.’ afridi added: ‘The last two and a half, three years I have bowled really well but I was struggling with my batting.

‘Younus gave me good confidence. I told him I wanted to bat at no.3 in the side and he said okay, if you’re confident just go and play”.’ Sri lanka were up against it after Mohammad aamer, 17, removed the tournament’s top scorer Tillakaratne dilshan for a duck in the first over. abdul razzaq then claimed a wicket in each of his first three overs as Sri lanka limped to 70 for six. But captain Kumar Sangakkara (64 not out) helped post a total of 138 for six after a 68-run stand with angelo Mathews (35 not out). Sangakkara, looking to continue that momentum, switched his bowlers continually but Pakistan never looked in trouble and eased to their target.

Fidel’swaiting game

THE WEST Indies will wait until the last minute before deciding whether or not to risk injured strike bowler Fidel Edwards in today’s World Twenty20 semi-final against Sri Lanka at the Brit Oval.

Team spokesman Philip Spooner said Edwards was suffering from an irritation of a nerve root in his lower back. ‘He won’t bowl today but we are very optimistic he will be available for tomorrow’s match,’ he said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, whose unbeaten team will play at the venue for the first time this tournament, feels more pace and bounce could assist his spinners and batsmen. ‘It seems a pretty even track with good bounce and will stay consistent throughout,’ he added.

Afridi stars as Pakistan reach final

SHAHID AFRIDI was the hero as Pakistan reached a second successive World Twenty20 final at the expense of South Africa at Trent Bridge.

Pakistan skipper Younus Khan had elected to bat and it was Afridi who gave their innings impetus with a 32-ball half-century as they posted 149 for four. Afridi then shone with the ball, dismissing herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers as the Proteas were beaten by seven runs.

Pakistan, who lost in the final to India in 2007, will now face the winners of today’s second semi-final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Younus said: ‘We know it will give a big lift to everyone back home if we can win this competition. If we lift the cup it will provide great cheer for the people [of Pakistan].’

Chawla not first port of call for Mark

SUSSEX coach Mark Robinson admits Piyush Chawla was the club’s third-choice as an overseas signing. The spinner, who has played two Tests and 21 one-dayers for India, took eight wickets on his county debut as Sussex beat Worcestershire on Sunday, adding an unbeaten 102 with the bat. And he took five wickets against Somerset on Tuesday. But Robinson was first turned down by New Zealand paceman Shane Bond and Australia seamer Shaun Tait, and said: ‘There was a lot of heartache over this decision because we have three young spinners we are trying to promote.

It was definitely Plan B because we wanted a strike bowler but knew the importance of having an impact player. It might not be as easy for him from this point but successive five-fors and a hundred is not a bad start.’

Shaun starts fightback

AYEAR ago Shaun Udal was busy rebuilding his first-class career with Middlesex after many had presumed he was finished. At the end of the 2007 season, having been released by Hampshire, he agreed to become Berkshire’s professional in the Minor Counties Championship.

But he was offered a surprise lifeline back into top-flight cricket by Middlesex and, in December 2007, signed a two-year contract which would take him past his 40th birthday.

Even then, Udal could hardly have envisaged the year would end with him taking the captaincy and winning the Twenty20 Cup with his new county. But now the former England offspinner faces the first major test of his leadership as he tries to salvage Middlesex’s season following a nightmare defence of their Twenty20 crown – which has seen them lose all six of their games so far and crash out of the competition – while failing to win any of their four County Championship Division Two matches.

The Panthers did get through their group in the Friends Provident Trophy but went on to lose to Udal’s old club Hampshire in the quarter-finals and have last season’s danger man Dawid Malan consigned to the second XI after a disastrous run of form.

Today’s match at Bristol against Gloucestershire offers a chance to win a four-day game for the first time this summer as Udal can count on the England trio of Andrew Strauss, Owais Shah and

Eoin Morgan among his squad. The former Hampshire spinner said: ‘Since coming to Lord’s it has been the most amazing 18 months of my life and you always hope that will continue.

‘Obviously we want to get promoted in the Championship and win every game. ‘Winning a trophy last year was motivation enough for us to try to do well again. ‘My plan here was always to steady the ship.

‘You have to start well really, if you want to win anything but it’s nice we have had Straussy available for a few games.’ Source {Metro}

All chokes aside, Arthur’s men aren’t afraid to lose

South Africa go into their World twenty20 semi-final against Pakistan confident they have ditched their reputation as chokers. the Proteas have regularly failed to close out big games from winning positions. But coach Mickey Arthur, whose side are tournament favourites after winning all five of their games so far, said: ‘We could get beaten and then again the chokers tag might surface. But for us, that’s not an issue.

‘As long as we are playing the game to the best of our ability and we are not panicking in the crucial situations we’re not scared of losing. the guys have been put in these situations over the last 18 months and have come through with flying colours.’

But opposite number Intikhab Alam believes any potential frailty could give Pakistan an edge.‘they’re very talented but they will have the pressure and we won’t,’ he added. ‘We have that advantage.’ Source {Metro}

Now Flower turns to the Ashes after T20 failure

ENGLAND are aiming to take advantage of their early exit from the World Twenty20 by naming an extended squad to take part in the build-up programme for the Ashes.

Coach Andy Flower remains upbeat about England’s future after their rollercoaster Twenty20 campaign. He has already begun preparations for his team’s assault on the Ashes and is set for a series of meetings with his fellow selectors to decide on a training squad.

The panel were set to announce that list of names on Saturday but have delayed until the following Monday to give them a chance to assess the form of fringe players such as Ian Bell and Michael Vaughan.

That squad is expected to meet for two get-togethers in Loughborough before moving on to a training camp in Birmingham ahead of a three-day warm-up game against Warwickshire.‘We’re picking a squad and we will be getting together for a couple of team-building sessions,’ said Flower.

‘The squad we’ll initially announce will be larger than the 12 or 13 for the first Test.’ That initial squad is expected to include both leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who has impressed during the Twenty20 tournament, and senior spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann. Andrew Flintoff will join up with England again for the first time since having knee surgery at the start of the summer.

‘It was very good news to see him back for Lancashire and bowling well,’ said Flower. ‘If he’s fit, he’s a shoo-in.’ The selectors will then trim down that squad to 13 names, who will travel to Cardiff ready for the opening Ashes Test starting on July 8.

And Flower believes it is not all doom and gloom, despite hosts England’s World Twenty20 exit at the Super Eights stage. ‘Our Twenty20 cricket has got better in this tournament. To beat Pakistan under pressure when we had to and then India when we had to were good performances, so we’ve learned a lot,’ he insisted ‘We’re ranked fifth in Tests because that is where we deserve to be at the moment. But it doesn’t mean we can’t beat any side at any time.’ Source {Metro}

I am no Gilchrist, insists Haddin

AUSTRALIA wicketkeeper Brad Haddin claims any comparisons between himself and Adam Gilchrist would be an insult to his predecessor, writes Chris Stocks. Haddin made his Test debut last May after Gilchrist’s retirement, bringing an end to a glorious career which will see him go down as one of the game’s all-time greats. And Haddin, 31, knows many observers will be looking to compare him to Gilchrist.

He insisted: ‘Adam can be argued as one of the best players to have played the game so I think the comparisons are a little bit disrespectful to him because I’ve only just started.’ Gilchrist’s explosive batting, which saw him finish his career with a Test average of 47.60 after a decade in the Australia side, redefined the role of the keeper.

Yet Haddin says England’s fans, with the first Ashes Test in Cardiff just 19 days away, should not expect the same pyrotechnics when he comes to the crease this summer. ‘Adam is one of the greats who played the game,’ he said. ‘With the bat he can take the game away from you inside a session so I don’t think you’ll see any of that flamboyance from me.’ The New South Wales keeper spent seven years as Gilchrist’s understudy and when he did play, his work behind the stumps was found wanting in India.

But his form improved after a first Test century against New Zealand. He added: ‘It was a shaky start, you obviously get tested a lot more in this environment. I think in the last six months I’ve begun to understand what international cricket is like and I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable.’
Source {Metro}

England turn on style to knock out holders

ENGLAND face a shoot-out with the West Indies today for a place in the World Twenty20 semi-finals after eliminating holders India at Lord’s. Defending a decent total of 153 last night, the hosts played aggressive cricket to seal victory by three runs. And if they beat the Windies at the Brit Oval, they will make the last four of a campaign which started with a disastrous defeat against Holland.

India, who put England into bat after winning the toss, saw their reply stifled early on by Ryan Sidebottom. He bowled Rohit Sharma for nine and had Suresh Raina caught by Luke Wright for two with just 24 runs on the board.

Stuart Broad then made two superb catches to dismiss Gautam Gambhir off Dimi Mascarenhas and Ravindra Jadeja off Graeme Swann to leave India in trouble on 85 for four. That brought in the dangerous Yuvraj Singh, who whacked a six off Swann with his first delivery. But although he smashed another massive shot off the spinner, Swann won their personal duel when Yuvraj was

stumped by James Foster for just 17.

It was a tense affair as India tried to claw their way back into the game. But despite a 63-run stand between Dhoni (30) and Yuvraj Pathan (33), they fell short on 150 for five. Earlier, England made a poor start with Wright falling in the second over. But Ravi Bopara and Kevin Pietersen, who top scored with 46 off 27 balls – including five fours and a six – put on 71 runs in nine overs.

Pietersen’s huge hit was England’s only boundary between the tenth and 15th overs as Harbhajan Singh pinned down the hosts. But ultimately their total proved enough as India were unable to find the gaps in a tight field, marshalled superbly by skipper Paul Collingwood.
{Source: Metro} & Image from Cricinfo

Colly: Jeering fans fired us up

Paul Collingwood last night revealed boos from India supporters provided the motivation for England’s victory at lord’s. ‘obviously there were a lot of indian fans here today and we got booed by them when we came off the nursery ground after training earlier,’ said the England captain.

‘it’s a bit strange on your home ground. and it gave everyone the motivation to go out and put a party piece on. ‘There are areas i thought we could improve on. i thought maybe we could have got 160-plus, 170 at one stage. But it was a fantastic performance. The bowlers came out and put them

under a lot of pressure.’

England outclassed by ruthless Proteas

ENGLAND’S World Twenty20 hopes were dealt a huge blow after a top-order batting collapse handed South Africa a seven-wicket victory at Trent Bridge last night.

Skipper Paul Collingwood won the toss and decided England should bat first in their opening Super Eight clash. However, after the hosts were dismissed for a paltry 111, an unbeaten half-century by Jacques Kallis helped the Proteas cruise to victory.

It leaves England needing to beat defending champions India at Lord’s on Sunday and the West Indies at The Brit Oval the following day if they are to have any realistic chance of making the semi-finals. But they will have to bat much better than they did in Nottingham if they are to do that.

Openers Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara have struck up a profitable opening partnership in this tournament but both perished in the first two overs to leave England four for two. Bopara was the first to go, bowled by Dale Steyn and Wright followed when he edged Wayne Parnell behind to Mark Boucher. Kevin Pietersen hit 19 before he was brilliantly caught by Roelof Van Der Merwe. Collingwood (19), James Foster (1), Dimitri Mascarenhas (1) and Owais Shah (38) fell as England collapsed from 78 for three to 88 for seven. And 19-year-old fast bowler Parnell rapped up the innings to take figures of three for 14.

South Africa were never in trouble in their reply, despite the early loss of captain Graeme Smith to Stuart Broad, and Kallis’ unbeaten 57 saw the Proteas home with ten balls to spare.

Source {Metro}

I’m ready for the Ashes, says Flintoff

ANDREW FLINTOFF says he is fit and raring to go for the Ashes after he marked his comeback for Lancashire with two wickets.

The England all-rounder made an early return from knee surgery for the County Championship match at Durham. And he had Michael Di Venuto caught behind off his second ball before dismissing Mitchell Claydon en route to figures of two for 30 in 12 overs. Flintoff, who also took two catches, said: ‘I was a little bit rusty, but besides that it was all right. If I had any worries I wouldn’t be playing – I’ve come through with flying colours so far but I need to come back in the morning and do it all again.

I’ll have to sit down with the ECB medical staff but I want to play as much as possible building up

to the first Test at Cardiff.’ As for the Ashes, the 31-year-old added: ‘We need to move on from

2005 and create some new history. I’m not expecting any mishaps at this stage.’
Source {Metro}

Jayasuriya sets up Sri Lanka win

SANATH JAYASURIYA and Tillekeratne Dilshan’s century opening stand powered Sri Lanka to a 15-run win against the West Indies in the World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge.

In the absence of injured captain Chris Gayle, the Windies were unable to match the tempo of Sri Lanka’s 192 for five – despite a swift half-century from Dwayne Bravo. As a result, Sri Lanka ended their Group C campaign with two wins from two, while the West Indies must bounce back to face India in the Super Eights on Friday. Jayasuriya (81) enjoyed most of the strike but even so made his fellow Indian Premier League star Dilshan (74) look almost pedestrian as he hit ten fours and three sixes from 47 balls, after Sri Lanka were put in.

In the day’s other game, India beat Ireland by eight wickets. Ireland still join the defending champions in the Super Eights after their shock win against Bangladesh earlier in the week. But they were unable to cope with India’s bowlers as they made 112 for eight in a match reduced to 18 overs a side because of rain. In reply, Rohit Sharma hit an unbeaten 52 as India reached their

target with 15 balls left.

Colly hits back at Warne’s T20 jibes

Paul Collingwood has laughed off criticism of his captaincy from Shane warne and admits he expects more sniping during the course of this ashes summer. australia spin legend warne, who famously questioned why Collingwood received an MBE for playing in only one ashes Test in 2005, said: ‘Tactically, i haven’t been too impressed with Paul Collingwood...i don’t see him as a captain.


‘You need to get funky at times, throw a bit of caution to the wind and show a bit of flair and imagination. i don’t think Collingwood has that. His fielding positions always seem a little basic to me.’

But Collingwood, whose England side face South africa at Trent Bridge in their first Super Eight game today, hit back, saying: ‘i am going to get a lot of stick off him this summer – i know that for a fact. ‘i haven’t got any comeback against him now because he’s in the media so i can’t actually sledge him back. ‘we had a ding dong out in the middle of the last ashes series and i’m the kind of person who wants to compete with him. i want to win and whether he likes that, i don’t know.’

England look set to remain unchanged for today’s match against South africa. Kevin Pietersen is expected to again play through the pain from his achilles injury, as he did during last Sunday’s win against Pakistan.

England know victory tonight would give them a real chance of reaching the semi-finals of the world Twenty20, as it would mean a win in either of their final two games against india and the west indies should see them through. Meanwhile, former australia coach John Buchanan will help
andy Flower’s men with their ashes preparations in the week before the first Test in Cardiff on July 8.

The 56-year-old, architect of australia’s 5-0 ashes whitewash in 2006/07, will act as a consultant for England and has already had one meeting with Flower and his backroom staff.
{Source: Metro}

Broad: Early exit could help Aussie Ashes plans

STUART BROAD is wary of Australia’s reaction to their shock exit from the World Twenty20 and the time it gives Ricky Ponting’s side to prepare for the Ashes.The opening npower Test starts in Cardiff on July 8 and Australia’s departure from the World Twenty20 leaves them with no competitive fixtures until their four-day match against Sussex, which begins on June 24.

But Broad believes Australia’s early exit from the event, which was sealed by Monday night’s six-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge, will only give them more time to focus on the Ashes.

‘It looks like the Aussies have got a couple of extra weeks to prepare for the Ashes and I’m sure they’ll try to fit in an extra game or two if they can and try to turn a negative into a positive,’ said Broad.

‘They’ll be disappointed to go out the way they did because they love playing competition cricket, but it didn’t work for them this time and their focus will probably have already switched to the Ashes.’

Australia are now planning to spend the rest of this week at Grace Road, Leicester before heading to Canterbury next week.

They also have a four-day fixture against England Lions at Worcester starting on July 1 before they move on to Cardiff.

Australia’s inquest continued yesterday, with skipper Ponting making it clear tough questions must be asked. Cricket Australia has already launched a wide-ranging review into how their team have managed to lose their last five Twenty20 internationals.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said: ‘Over the next few days, we will have a real good hard look at what might have gone wrong in this championship. It’s disappointing for us to go out and we will want to understand exactly why that is.’
Source{Metro}

Ruthless Pakistan end Dutch dream

HOLLAND’S World Twenty20 dream was cruelly shattered as Pakistan thrashed them by 82 runs at Lord’s to progress to the Super Eights. Set 176 to win the match, the Dutch began their chase knowing 151 would be enough to send them into the second stage due to their superior net run rate. But the outsiders, who beat England on the same ground last Friday, were blown away by the Pakistan’s spinners –led by Shahid Afridi’s haul of four wickets for just 11 runs and Saeed Ajmal’s three for 20.

In the day’s other game, South Africa beat New Zealand by one run after they defended a total of 128, despite Brendon McCullum’s 57.
Source {Metro}