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A round-up of the third day of the fourth round of Pentangular Cup matches

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2012The contest between Baluchistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPP) finally began after two rained-out days at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar. After KPP were inserted, Yasir Hameed scored a fluent 150, while Adnan Raees hit an unbeaten fifty to help KPP along to 265 for 4 at stumps, with one day to play. Baluchistan’s Ahmed Raza did most of the damage, picking up three wickets with his left-arm spin.At the Sind v Federal Areas match at the Rawalpindi Stadium, it was another wet day with no play possible.

Brendan Taylor has said his team will continue to play attacking Test cricket, even though chasing a win against New Zealand in Bulawayo may have cost them the match

Firdose Moonda07-Nov-2011Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, has said his team will continue to play attacking, aggressive Test cricket, even though chasing a win instead of playing for the draw against New Zealand in Bulawayo may have cost them the match. New Zealand won by 34 runs after setting Zimbabwe a steep 366 to chase for victory.On a traditionally flat pitch, Zimbabwe decided to bat for a result, despite needing 305 on the final day with eight wickets standing. A century from Taylor and a half-century by Tatenda Taibu kept them in the hunt but a spectacular collapse, in which they lost six wickets for 44 runs, saw them end up on the losing side. Taylor said he had no regrets about thinking positively.”If we want to become better cricketers, we have to play like that,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “If you don’t test yourself, you won’t know how far you can go.”Taylor has only captained Zimbabwe in three Tests, but has already become known for brave decision making. In Zimbabwe’s comeback Test, against Bangladesh in Harare in August, Taylor declared Zimbabwe’s second innings on 291 for 5 early on the fourth day, setting Bangladesh 375 to win. Critics said Zimbabwe should have batted longer to ensure Bangladesh were out of the game but Taylor preferred to dangle the carrot instead. The result was a comprehensive 130-run win for Zimbabwe with two sessions to spare.When Taylor found himself in the opposite situation, with New Zealand leaving Zimbabwe a gettable target, he accepted the challenge. “You have to be realistic and we felt that it was realistic to go for the win.” Even though Zimbabwe have a short batting line-up, which Taylor admits “stops at No. 7,” Taylor felt that with two frontline batsmen occupying the crease for most of the day the target was within reach. He shared a 108-run fourth-wicket partnership with Taibu and believed one of them would take Zimbabwe over the line. “I wanted us both to spend a session or a session-and-a-half at the crease and thought that if one of us was there at the end, we could win.”It was when the pair were dismissed that the collapse began, which raised questions about Zimbabwe’s lack of stability in the lower-middle order. “We are missing some guys through injury,” Taylor said. “Elton Chigumbura is struggling with a hamstring injury and Graeme Cremer has been out for a while [with a knee injury]. They could really make a difference.”While the cricketing world was touched, disappointed and some even a little heartbroken for Zimbabwe after they lost, Taylor said the team were not overcome by a sense of gloom. “Within 20 minutes afterwards we were ok. We had a meeting and everyone was very praiseworthy of each other. We gave it our all; for five days we played good cricket and to take it late into the fifth day we knew we had done something right.”Since their return to Test cricket, Zimbabwe have won one Test and lost two, won four ODIs, including a record run-chase against New Zealand, but lost seven and been defeated in four Twenty20 internationals. Taylor said it’s not the numbers but the progress that matters.”To have won the third ODI against New Zealand gave us confidence and we came close in the Test. We can hold our heads high. The senior guys have performed and helped the younger guys.”The Test against New Zealand saw contributions from several of the more-experienced players in the team. Vusi Sibanda scored 93 in the first innings and Chris Mpofu showed an understanding of the conditions to take 4 for 92, before Taylor and Taibu shone on the final day. There were also impressive performances from some of the younger players: Kyle Jarvis took 5 for 64 and Malcolm Waller, on debut, scored an undefeated 72 in the first innings. “We can take positives out of all of these things,” Taylor said.Zimbabwe have a break for the next two months, during which the players will play in the local T20 competition. Their first assignment next year is a tour of New Zealand that consists of a one-off Test, three ODIs and two T20s. It will provide a barometer to measure how Zimbabwe cope in foreign conditions.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has transferred to Delhi Daredevils from Deccan Chargers for the 2012 season of the IPL, the IPL has confirmed

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2012England batsman Kevin Pietersen has transferred to Delhi Daredevils from Deccan Chargers for the 2012 season of the IPL, the IPL has confirmed. Pietersen is the third player to switch teams during the transfer window, after Dinesh Karthik and R Sathish.”We are pleased to add Kevin to our line-up. He brings rich experience and an explosive quality to our batting and can be a more than handy offspinner as well,” said TA Sekhar, GMR Sports’ Head (Cricket). “We are sure that Kevin will help us to be very competitive this season and the Delhi Daredevils fans will enjoy this addition.”Pietersen was earlier part of Royal Challengers Bangalore and had captained the team for a few games in 2009. He was acquired by Deccan Chargers during the 2011 player auctions but could not play as he was recovering from a double hernia.Pietersen, currently in the UAE for England’s away series against Pakistan, said he was looking forward to the challenge of being part of a new setup. “I am looking forward to a wonderful time with the Delhi Daredevils,” Pietersen said. “It will be a great experience to be playing in the same squad as Sehwag.”The first window for trading between IPL franchises closes on January 20. There will be another short window for trading after the February 4 auction in which the players of now terminated franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala will be sold. The tournament will run from April 4 to May 27, 2012.

Vinod Kambli has announced his retirement from first-class cricket.

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2011Former India batsman Vinod Kambli has announced his retirement from first-class cricket. Kambli, 39, had earlier retired from international cricket in 2009.”Till the last year, I was raring to go [in domestic cricket]. I served Mumbai for long, but the selectors ignored me. I’m disappointed,” Kambli said. “I wanted to play alongside Sachin [Tendulkar] for one last time, wanted to play in IPL but unfortunately that did not happen.”Kambli made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 1989 and played 129 games, scoring 9965 runs at an average of 59.67 including 35 centuries. He last played senior domestic cricket in 2004-05.He made his international debut in 1993, and played 17 Tests, scoring 1084 runs at an average of 54.20 which included double-centuries in his third and fourth Tests. He also played 104 ODIs for India scoring 2477 runs, but erratic form and compounded by indiscipline problems meant he made as many as nine comebacks in the ODI team. He last played Test cricket in 1995 and wasn’t picked in the ODI team after October 2000. Since being out of the Indian and Mumbai teams, he has tried his hand at movies and reality shows on the small screen.Kambli indicated he would now most likely turn to coaching youngsters.

Cricinfo previews the third ODI of Sri Lanka’s tour of England

The Preview by Sahil Dutta02-Jul-2011Match factsSunday, July 3, Lord’s
Start time 1045am (0945 GMT)Big PictureAlastair Cook suffered his first defeat as England captain in Headingley and will want to bounce back at Lord’s•PA PhotosIt has taken just two matches for Alastair Cook to experience the full spectrum of emotions England one-day captains are routinely subjected to. A near-perfect performance at The Oval was followed by a shoddy one at Headingley, where Sri Lanka outgunned the home side in every department. It seems difficult to remember – especially after their World Cup showing – that England were actually making significant progress as an ODI side last year. After their Champions Trophy eureka-moment in autumn 2009, when they decided to shelve the caution that left them out of step with the modern game, they won five series in a row.Though Cook is looking for a similar consistency, the brazen approach that underpinned England’s success then won’t always deliver. At The Oval, once rain reduced the game to 32-overs a side, England happily blazed away to good effect. Set 310 at Headingley they again had little choice but to attack, but the approach was much less successful as the heart of the top order – Craig Kieswetter, Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan – was dismissed looking for boundaries. Yet keeping the faith in the ‘fearless cricket’ that all the players promise is England’s best hope of building on last year’s progress.Sri Lanka have no such worries. As a limited-overs side they are completely clear on how to approach both setting and chasing totals. They possess two of the classiest batsmen in the world in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara as well as two fine strokemakers in Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews. Conditions at Headingley suited them perfectly (as those at The Oval did England) and their batsmen left England’s bowlers looking toothless before their spin attack left England’s batsmen looking clueless.The two one-sided matches have meant that, in keeping with the stuttering international summer, the series is yet to kick into life. Lord’s is the ideal setting to change that. The weather is set fair, the pitch will be flat and a sellout crowd will lend an atmosphere that the series has lacked so far. Sri Lanka have little reason to deviate from the team that brought the 69-run Headingley win but England will be tempted to make changes. Graeme Swann was their best bowler in the last game and Cook may want a second slow-bowling option in Samit Patel. Jonathan Trott came in for familiar criticism for clogging up the middle overs with dot balls but, despite his 39 from 54, his record – averaging 53.68 from 27 games – is outstanding.Form guide (most recent first)England LWLWL
Sri Lanka WLLWWThe spotlightThere are plenty of wise judges who don’t see Alastair Cook as the long-term answer to England’s one-day captaincy. Yet his record in charge suggests he can meet this challenge like he has all others in his career so far. In the five matches he’s led the side he’s made 209 runs at 41.80 striking, crucially, at 92 runs per 100 balls. That’s a major step up from a record of 30.52 at 68 when back in the ranks. Lord’s is a favourite venue for Cook in Tests and if he can transfer that success into the 50-over format England will have a much better hope of victory.For most of this summer Sri Lanka have been without one of their brightest talents. Angelo Mathews missed the Test series recovering from a leg injury but returned for the Twenty20 in Bristol. It was at Headingley, though, where Sri Lanka fans were shown just what they missed. His 30-ball 46 helped Sri Lanka ambush 97 runs from their final 10 overs and left England needing to surpass their highest-ever successful run-chase to win the game. As promising, was the first sign of his bowling, which, however ginger, was the first time he’d bowled since the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in March.Team newsEngland’s line-up looks top-heavy with orthodox top-order batsmen so to squeeze a second spinner – in Samit Patel – into the side may demand a difficult decision to drop one of the big guns. However, Stuart Broad’s ropey form can only be tolerated for so long and Cook may feel better off without him.England (probable) 1 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 2 Alastair Cook (capt), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Ian Bell/Samit Patel, 7 Tim Bresnan, 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Stuart Broad/Samit Patel, 10 James Anderson, 11 Jade Dernbach.Sri Lanka are likely to stick with the combination that brought them victory, though – after not bowling or batting at Headingley – quite what vice-captain Thilina Kandamby’s role is exactly is not clear.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt) 2 Mahela Jayawardene, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 5 Thilina Kandamby, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Jeevan Mendis, 8 Nuwan Kulasekera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Suraj Randiv, 11 Lasith Malinga.Pitch and conditionsThe weather has been the overriding factor all summer. Thankfully Lord’s is set to look a picture with sunshine forecast for the whole day. The Test pitch earlier this summer held no terrors for the batsmen and while that made for an anodyne contest, a similar surface would suit the one-day format much better.Stats and trivia From the four ODIs these sides have played at Lord’s, the spoils are shared two each Mahela Jayawardene needs 93 more runs to surpass Sanath Jayasuriya as the all-time highest Sri Lanka runscorer against England in ODI cricket Kevin Pietersen is still waiting for his first ODI hundred since November 2008, but his record at Lord’s – with one fifty and an average of 24.75 from nine matches – suggests he’ll be waiting a little longer

Pakistan’s ODI and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi has been held in violation of the PCB’s Code of Conduct over his public comments on Sunday that hinted at differences with coach Waqar Younis

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2011Shahid Afridi, Pakistan’s limited overs captain, has landed himself in administrative hot water once again, as the PCB has hauled him up for comments he made on Sunday after returning to Pakistan from the Caribbean.Afridi all but confirmed to reporters that there had been differences between him and the team management over selection issues during the five-match ODI series that Pakistan won 3-2. Though he didn’t take anyone’s name specifically, it was coach Waqar Younis he was referring to, growing differences between the pair now a fact which PCB officials confirmed to ESPNcricinfo on Sunday.The board has now taken exception to the statement Afridi made and has served him a notice to explain to the board what he has said. In a statement issued Monday, the PCB said they had “taken notice of the statements made by Mr Shahid Afridi in the media about the differences within the tour management in West Indies.”It is a violation of Code of Conduct on part of Mr Afridi and an explanation has been sought from him for the reasons to make such statements publicly. PCB will take appropriate action after submission of the tour-report at the conclusion of the tour.”The issue of Afridi’s often straight-talking public statements has been an ongoing one since he first took over the captaincy of the Twenty20 side in 2009. Matters came to a head late last year when his ODI captaincy was on the line because a number of players in the side were unhappy with his public criticisms of their performances. Misbah-ul-Haq was a contender to take over until finally, just two weeks before the World Cup, the PCB decided to stick with Afridi, having told him to be careful over what he says in public.In any case, Afridi is due to meet with the board chairman Ijaz Butt at some point in the coming week, about the developments on tour and in particular the problems he had with the coach.Although captain and coach worked well together during the World Cup, tensions between the two have been apparent for some time, in particular over the issue of team selection. Afridi feels, as captain and ultimate responsibility for on-field performances, he should have the final say. Waqar, however, feels a coach should also have an input and it is the degrees of control on each side that has become problematic.It led Afridi to say on Sunday, “Although the differences in team management are not such which could not be solved, I feel everyone should do his job and need not interfere in other’s work.”The slow-developing controversy has also drawn in Mohsin Khan, the chief selector, who last week was on the verge of resigning, because he was unhappy with selections for Pakistan’s Test squad for the West Indies. Khan alluded to differences – though he never specified with whom – in selection. That matter, after a meeting with Butt, was eventually resolved.Pakistan are to play two Tests against West Indies, the first of which begins on May 12.

Australian cricket’s marketing experiment with split innings limited overs matches has been thrown out.

Daniel Brettig01-Jun-2011Australian cricket’s marketing experiment with split innings limited overs matches, and a bevy of exotic proposed rules for next summer’s expanded Twenty20 competition, have been thrown out by the Cricket Australia playing conditions committee.The committee, which serves a similar function to the ICC’s cricket committee by deliberating on issues within the game, will forward these conclusions to the CA board for final approval at its next meeting. Committee members observed that the global body’s commitment to 50-over cricket for the 2015 World Cup, and the success of the 2011 tournament on the subcontinent, made further split innings experimentation redundant.Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association, sat on the committee alongside the CA chairman Jack Clarke, Greg Chappell and Mark Taylor – Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne were absent – and said that no other decision could have been made.”It was really the only decision the committee could take from our perspective given that the ICC have now elected to push forward with the 50-over format towards the next World Cup,” Marsh told . “It wouldn’t have made sense to have our players playing a different format domestically, heading into the next World Cup, so it was a sensible decision.”The remit of the playing conditions committee, there’s various things we look at but one of them is that it has to be a realistic chance of getting up at international level, but there’s a time to trial things, and last year was that time. While we [the ACA] didn’t think it should’ve been trialled, it was and now we’ve got to go back to keeping ourselves in-line with what the international format is.”Clarke noted that other elements of the domestic competition, “such as using two balls, one from each end, reducing restrictions on the number of overs bowlers can deliver or increasing the number of bouncers allowed”, had been accepted as possible innovations by the ICC.However a raft of outlandish proposed rules for next summer’s T20 competition, presented to the public via a survey, were given short shrift by committee members, who reasoned that gambits like letting the crowd keep the ball or overs worth double runs were simply unnecessary.”Common sense prevailed there,” Marsh said. “The committee I know from the ACA’s perspective we’re supportive of initiatives that will promote the Big Bash and get the most people through the ground, and we’ve talked through a few alternative things there to help achieve that.”The matter of domestic playing surfaces was also addressed, and while general assessments of pitch conditions last summer were favourable, often achieving scores of 4.33/5 or better, groundsmen will be reminded of the need to prepare surfaces that reflect the challenges of Test cricket. Numerous players, coaches and the CA chief executive James Sutherland, have all pondered whether or not last summer’s pitches did not help to equip Australia’s players for the Ashes, where England’s batsmen repeatedly ran up tall scores.”The focus should most certainly be on trying to have wickets or pitches around the country that are as close to international pitches as you can get, that’s the best preparation for players,” said Marsh. “But there’s no doubt the weather played a part in it last year, we’ve thought in some cases that states are prioritising result pitches over preparation for international cricket.”

According to a report from Spanish newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing Valencia midfielder Valencia. 

The lowdown: Rise to prominence

A product of the La Liga club’s youth academy, the 25-year-old has broken through as a leading star over the last 18 months following an inauspicious start to life as a senior professional.

Last season, Soler directly contributed to 19 goals in 32 league outings and is now an established member of Pepe Bordalas’ side at the Mestalla Stadium.

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However, having made the grade in Spain, clubs from across Europe are now paying close attention to the versatile star.

The latest: Reds named

As per Sport, translated by SW, Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are all keen on Soler.

The report claims that the six-cap Spain ace is ‘upset’ with his manager and could be prepared to agree to a new release clause in order to ‘open the exit door’ for a move away.

Currently under contract until 2023 (Transfermarkt), the man hailed as the ‘complete midfielder’ by ex-Bats star Curro Torres once held a remarkable €150m (£128m) release clause.

However, due to his dwindling deal, a current £42.2million get-out clause could drop even further to £33.7million on the agreement of fresh terms according to the Spanish newspaper.

The verdict: Smart signing

Whilst Soler may not be a particularly glamorous signing as Julian Ward gets his feet under the sporting director’s table in place of Michael Edwards, the Anfield club have developed an ability to pluck lesser-known players from across the continent and turn them into household names.

This season the Spaniard has scored 11 times and registered five assists in 28 league outings – earning a 7.15 average Sofascore rating in the process – no Valencia player scores higher.

Predominantly operating as a conventional central midfielder, Soler is a close match stylistically for Gini Wijnaldum according to the Fbref comparison tool and therefore could be the ideal addition to Jurgen Klopp’s squad to finally replace the Dutchman’s versatility, energy and skill-set.

In other news… an expert has delivered an update on the injury setback of Liverpool’s ‘unsung hero’.

Sunderland have been issued a huge injury lift over attacking midfielder Alex Pritchard after he was absent on Monday…

What’s the latest?

Black Cats boss Alex Neil has explained why he was not in the squad for the clash with Plymouth and provided hope for the final three matches of the campaign.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “What we couldn’t do is risk him, the last thing I want to do is put him on for 20 minutes, he breaks back down and we then miss him for the next week.”We’re at a stage now where if you are out for any period of time, you miss all the remaining games.”I’m very, very hopeful that if we get a good week, well three days under his belt [before Saturday], then let’s see how he goes for the next week.” Supporters will be delighted

Supporters will be delighted with this news as Pritchard’s return will be a major boost for the club ahead of a crucial set of games.

The Black Cats are one point above Sheffield Wednesday, having played one match more, in the race for a play-off position and are two points off fourth with a game in hand on fifth and fourth. This means that they have a big chance to land in the top six by the end of the campaign and their clashes with Cambridge, Rotherham and Morecambe.

Therefore, Pritchard coming back is vital for Neil as he has the quality to unlock defences. Sunderland struggled badly in the final third without him against Plymouth on Monday as they failed to create any clear-cut chances to score, managing two shots on target in the 0-0 draw.

In League One this season, the Englishman has created 2.1 chances per game and provided eight ‘big chances’ in 33 outings. This shows that he has regularly been delivering in the final third in terms of being able to create openings for his teammates, which would have helped the likes of Nathan Broadhead and Ross Stewart earlier this week.

The 28-year-old has the magic touch on the ball, with four goals and seven assists this term, and can be the difference-maker as Sunderland fight for a play-off position. This is why the fans will be buzzing to read Neil’s ‘hopeful’ comments regarding his current injury situation as he can play a huge role in the team in the coming weeks.

AND in other news, Fewer touches than Patterson: £2.7k-p/w SAFC gem with 87.5% duels lost flopped today…

Karnataka have filed an official complaint with match referee Manu Nayar against the Reliance Stadium pitch for their Ranji semi-final against Baroda

Abhishek Purohit06-Jan-2011Karnataka have filed an official complaint with match referee Manu Nayar against the Reliance Stadium pitch in Vadodara on which their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Baroda ended inside two days in a seven-wicket win for the hosts. Nayar confirmed the development to ESPNcricinfo. “As is normal procedure, I have forwarded the complaint to the BCCI along with my match report. The matter is with the board now.”The dry pitch took vicious turn throughout the game, which saw 33 wickets falling before tea on the second day, 23 of them to the spinners. Karnataka caved in for 107 and 88 to lose while Baroda managed 153 in their first innings, largely due to captain Pinal Shah (83) who was the lone half-centurion in the game.Javagal Srinath, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary, said that they were contemplating whether to lodge a separate protest with the BCCI on the issue. “As of now, the players have filed an official complaint letter to the match referee. We at the KSCA can only take a call once we speak to the players and coach,” Srinath told . “We will speak to them and then only decide our course of action.”The Karnataka players were unhappy with the nature of the wicket, and Robin Uthappa even said that it was unfit to play a semi-final on. A source from the Baroda camp, however, told ESPNcricinfo that there was not much reason for Karnataka to complain. “They won the toss, they opted to bat, and if they caved in for 107, I cannot see how it is anyone else’s problem but theirs. The wicket was the same for both the sides. And if it was such a spinners’ paradise, how was a fast bowler (Baroda’s Murtuja Vahora) able to take five wickets in the first innings?”