Goodwin makes landmark triple century

Former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin made the sixth highest score in the history of English county cricket as his 344 not out helped Sussex reach 742-5 against Somerset on Thursday.

Goodwin's innings lasted 351 balls and included 43 fours and six sixes before Sussex declared.

The 36-year-old's mammoth score was a new individual record for Sussex and his team's total was their highest ever, beating the previous best of 705-8 declared against Surrey in 1902.

Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara holds the record for the highest score in first class cricket with an innings of 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994.

source by:cricbuzz.com

Siddle, Clark put Aussies on top in fourth Test

Peter Siddle took his Test-best figures and Stuart Clark marked his return to international cricket with three wickets as Australia bowled out England for just 102 at Healingly here on Friday.

England, who won the toss, were routed on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test with Siddle taking five wickets for 21 runs in 9.5 overs and Clark three for 18 in 10 as Australia looked to level the five-match series at 1-1.

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, then made 78, before falling short of his third hundred at Headingley in as many Tests, to help his side to 196 for four at stumps - a lead of 94.

Michael Clarke was 34 not out and Marcus North seven not out after Ponting and opener Shane Watson shared a second-wicket stand of 119.

Clarke was hit flush on the helmet by a Stephen Harmison bouncer on 27 and then, after several minutes of treatment, survived a huge appeal for caught behind following another short ball from the Durham quick.

Australia were on the verge of building an impregnable lead when fast bowler Stuart Broad took two wickets for four runs in six balls to have both Ponting and Michael Hussey lbw.

Australia, who had lost three wickets for 18 runs in 19 balls in total, were then 151 for four.

But that was nothing compared to England's collapse.

Clark took three wickets in quick succession as England, who won the toss, slumped to 72 for six at lunch before Siddle polished off the tail with four wickets for three runs in 14 balls.

Matt Prior (37 not out) and opener Alastair Cook (30) were the only England batsmen to make it into double figures in an innings that featuring four naught and lasted less than 34 overs.

Clark, after Australia dropped off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, made a dramatic return in what was his first Test in nine months after an elbow injury and selectorial preference had kept him out.

The 33-year-old upheld his reputation for economical accuracy by taking three wickets for five runs in 21 balls.

source by:cricketnext.in.com

Sehwag eyes Champion trophy return

After being out of action for over two months following a shoulder injury that needed surgery, dashing opener Virender Sehwag is hoping to return to top-notch cricket through the ICC Champions Trophy next month.

"I am hoping to play in the ICC Champions Trophy. My rehabilitation is going well," said the Delhi marauder on the sidelines of a book release function here on Friday.

Sehwag sustained the shoulder injury during the semi-finals of the Indian Premier League in South Africa in May while captaining Delhi Daredevils against eventual winners Deccan Chargers.

He was in the Indian squad for the World T20 Cup in England but could not play any part because of the injury to his right shoulder that needed surgery.

Sehwag underwent a surgery on June 11 after a lesion was identified in the injured shoulder and he was ruled out of action from between 12 to 16 weeks. The lesion was expected to heal in six weeks.

Indian team's physio Nitin Patel was given the task of monitoring Sehwag's rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

The Champions Trophy, earlier termed the Mini World Cup, is also to be held in South Africa from September 22.

Sehwag said he will start batting practice from the first week of September and is now able to lift 10 kg with his injured shoulder. "But I can't throw or bowl yet," he said.

As a first step towards a recall into the Indian team, Sehwag, who has played in 69 Tests and 205 ODIs in which he has amassed a combined 12,000-plus runs, at a fabulous strike rate of close to 90, is to visit the NCA in Bangalore on August 15.

"I am set to go to Bangalore (NCA) on August 15 (for assessment of his progress from injury), said the ace batsman who has 26 hundreds to his credit in Tests and ODIs combined.

Significantly, the Indian selectors are to meet on August 16 to pick the Champions Trophy squad, as well as the ODI squad for the triangular series in Sri Lanka preceding it, on the next day at Chennai.

Sehwag's selection for the ICC event would depend on the report that would be sent by the Indian team physiotherapist ahead of the selection panel meeting. He has been visiting the NCA after his surgery as part of his rehab process.

If he fails to make the cut for the Champions Trophy the next target is the seven-match ODI series against World Cup champions Australia that commences on October 25.

source by:cricketnext.in.com

Yuvraj defends stand against WADA

Hitting back at sportspersons criticising cricketers for not signing an anti-doping clause, Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh today said playing to a cramped calendar makes it necessary for cricketers to guard their privacy in a brief off-season.

Several Olympians, including Beijing gold medal-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra have ridiculed the cricketers' privacy and security apprehensions with regards to the 'Whereabouts Clause' of the WADA anti-doping code which requires athletes to furnish their location three months in advance for out of competition tests.

Yuvraj said while the athletes from other sports were entitled to their opinions, the cricketers' concerns were not without basis either.

"I feel we are travelling more. We are playing a lot of time in a year and we should be given more space with due respect to other sports," Yuvraj told a news channel.

"After nine months of playing, we come home for just 10 days. We don't want somebody to intrude our privacy for dope tests during that small period. We have put out our points in front of the BCCI and they will speak to the ICC," he added.

The feisty left-hander said athletes from other sports don't have to travel abroad as much as the cricketers have to.

"Their sports and our sport is different. We play more and we get very little time with our families. They have their opinions but we have our concerns and we have conveyed them," he said.

Source by: Cricketnext.in.com

Tendulkar rates Chennai Test ton as his best

The century hit by master blaster Sachin Tendulkar against England just after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks gave him more satisfaction in comparison to his other tons in all varieties of the game, as it brought back smiles on the faces of terror hit Indians.

Tendulkar was a 14-year-old schoolboy, when Dilip Vengsarkar, then the Indian captain, judged him ready to play first-class cricket and he went on to hit 208 centuries in all forms of the game.

"I think the one against England in Chennai last year," he says, without hesitation when asked about his most important innings played so far for India.

"After what happened in Mumbai (the terrorist attacks), the mood of the entire nation was low. Something was needed to put smiles on people’s faces.

"I am by no means suggesting that the people who lost near and dear ones could forget their terrible loss, but if we as a team were able to make them smile for just a couple of seconds, that was an achievement," The Independent quoted Tendulkar, as saying.

"And thanks to the England cricket team who came back very graciously and played against us. You know, cricket in India brings the entire nation together, from the poorest child to a billionaire. We are in a position to make everyone happy, which is very special for me and the whole cricketing fraternity," he said.

He pointed other innings which he considered important were played during his school days.

"I would say that there were a couple in my schooldays that changed my life. In the semi-final of an Under-17s tournament I scored 326 not out, which is when everyone in Mumbai took notice of me. I then scored 346 not out in the final, with Dilip Vengsarkar and Sunil Gavaskar watching."

"I was only 14 at the time, but Vengsarkar wanted me to join the Mumbai first-class team, which contained nine Test players. He had to be sure I was ready. So he invited me to play in the India nets.

"The Indian team had a camp in Mumbai, and he made Kapil Dev and all these guys bowl at me in the nets. After that session he gave a green signal to the selectors," he said in the interview.

The master blaster said that in his first domestic season he scored the highest number of runs for the team.

"There are three trophies in India, and in all three I scored a century on my debut, so my performances were very good, but also the timing was perfect," he said.

Source by: Cricketnext.in.com

Sachin Tendulkar eyes 15000 Test runs, World Cup

It's been nearly four months since Sachin Tendulkar has taken the field. But his ambitions have not diminished.

In an interview with Wisden Tendulkar has said that he has set his sight on amassing 15,000 runs in Test cricket.

Tendulkar has also spoken about his dream of India winning the 2011 World Cup. India is one of the host nations from the sub-continent.

In the interview Tendulkar also talks about John Buchanan's comments on some Indian players in his new book including himself.

"It is only his opinion; John Buchanan doesn't have to be right all the time. If I couldn't handle short deliveries, then I wouldn't still be scoring runs," he said.

"Maybe he needs to change his opinion. There must be something very wrong with all the bowlers around the world that they have allowed me to score so many runs."
And he has again put to rest any questions on retiring from the game.

"I am not pleased yet with what I have done," he said. "Sunil Gavaskar has told me that I have to get to 15,000 runs. He said he would be angry with me and would come and catch me if I didn't. I admire him so much and to score that many would be a terrific achievement, but that is not the only aim."

Tendulkar also spoke about how he has been consistently playing with pain.
"I always play in pain, all the time. I played with a broken finger for the last three months, but you know when pain is manageable or not, and most of the time I can do it," he said.

"I can still do what I did when I was 25 but the body is changing, so your thought process has to change too. I have had to change how I think, which is about taking less risk," he added.

Don Bradman had said Tendulkar reminded him of himself and the Indian batsman was the only modern player in Bradman''s all-time XI.

Does Tendulkar think the same way about anyone? "I would say Virender Sehwag comes closest to my style."

Tendulkar said he was not thinking about retirement yet but he would know when to quit cricket.

"I will know when it is the right time, I won't have to be dragged away. I am the person who will make the decision and I will know whether I still belong."

He admitted life after cricket wouldn't be easy. "It's a scary thought. It has been there for my whole adult life, it will be difficult, I have been around for a long time, I can imagine when I finish I will long to face just 10 more balls but you have to move."

Source by: Cricketnext.in.com

Ponting becomes Australia's leading Test scorer

Ricky Ponting became Australia's highest test run-scorer on the second day of the third Ashes test against England on Friday.

Ponting passed Allan Border's mark of 11,174 runs when he reached 25 but he added only 13 more runs before edging a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior off England seamer Graham Onions.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland led the congratulations for his captain.

"I have heard Ricky talk about being inspired to win the right to wear the baggy green when, as a kid, his uncle, Tasmanian fast bowler Greg Campbell, was chosen to tour England in 1989," Sutherland said in a statement.

"He is now on his fourth tour to England and while I know personal records are not an interest for him, I also know cricket fans everywhere will celebrate this milestone as a worthy achievement by this extraordinary cricketer."
Former captain Border also praised Ponting.

"Clearly, I am a great admirer, having been involved in Ricky's selection in many great Australian sides, and having enjoyed watching him closely on more occasions than I can remember as a cricket media commentator as well," Border said.

"It is not just the number of runs he has made, it is how he has made them as a dominant force, leading from the front and scoring at a rate previous champions would have regarded as unthinkable."

Ponting moved up to third on the all-time list with 11,188 runs, behind Indian Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored 12,773, and West Indian Brian Lara, on 11,953.

Flintoff sleeping with an ice machine to stay fit for the Ashes

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been sleeping with an ice machine in an attempt to stay fit and help his side win back the Ashes.

According to former fast bowler and now Telegraph cricket correspondent Derek Pringle, Flintoff is seen as an inspirational figure in the England camp, and every effort is being made to keep him fit and running in spite of his pain.

"I have this machine that I put on the knee every night. It gets in the way a little bit. It wraps around my knee and compresses it, half-an-hour on, half-an-hour off, throughout the night," Flintoff said Tuesday. It is not the first time England have used a machine to try to put one over the Australians. In 2005, their use of the Merlin bowling machine was cited as a major factor in combating Shane Warne, though with the wrist-spinner taking 40 wickets in the series its success was relative.

In England's practice on Tuesday, Flintoff undertook a 10-minute trundle at a stump followed by a short net in which he sent down 11 balls.

According to Pringle, reading Flintoff's body language is never easy.

"He looked pensive, especially when sitting down to put his pads on (which he did twice) then, later, while lacing up his bowling boots. Earlier, he spent 10 minutes chatting with Steve Bull, the team psychologist, though this might have been about the weather rather than his personal expectations for this match," says Pringle in his report.

Flintoff is not the only one with fitness.

cloud hanging over him after Ian Bell twisted his right ankle playing football on Monday.

Tendulkar getting better with age: Waugh

Instead of waning with age, Sachin Tendulkar is getting better with every passing day, former Australia captain Steve Waugh said here on Friday.

"He is improving day by day and in his prime form," Waugh said and added in a lighter vein: "Looking at the way (Sachin) Tendulkar is playing, it seems he can play till 50 years."

The Australian great had earlier compared Tendulkar with Sir Don Bradman.

Asked whether he is interested in coaching, the 43-year-old said, "Not thinking about coaching now. Maybe in future, I will think about coaching." Talking to reporters at a cricket clinic at Beleghata in north Kolkata, he praised India's South African coach Gary Kirsten's way of work while describing the jobs of a captain and a coach.

"The captain is always the boss on the field, as he has to be on the spot. The coach on the other hand plays a supporter's role quietly. Look at Kirsten. He goes on about his job very quietly which is exactly the coach's role." Waugh termed Indians as favourites to defend the title in the second edition of the ICC World Twenty20 due in England in June.

"Indians have a very good side. The youngsters are really impressing and the IPL has done good for them.

"But Australians also have a strong chance for the title," he said.

With the England led by a rather inexperienced Andrew Strauss, Waugh said the Baggy Greens have a good chance to retain the Ashes.

"Aussies have an advantage over England. I think Strauss' elevation will only help us," he said, ending his three-day whirlwind tour of the city.

On the last day of the trip that began with visiting to Udayan, a rehabilitation home for children from leprosy colonies near Barrackpore and then getting his hands and feet dirty by taking part in a drive to clean-up city canals, Waugh today gave tips to children in the cricket clinic.

India to host 2011 World Cup final, 29 games

Mumbai will house the 2011 World Cup secretariat and India will host 29 of the 49 matches after the event's Central Organizing Committee today reallocated the games following the ICC decision to drop Pakistan as a co-host of the tournament.

Accordingly, the opening match of the 10th edition of the quadrennial tournament would be held as scheduled in Bangladesh on February 19, 2011, while the final would be held in India.

The opening ceremony of cricket's showpiece event would also be held in Bangladesh on February 18.

"The Central Organizing Committee, which continues to have Sharad Pawar heading it, has reallocated the matches by which India would host 29 games across eight venues, Sri Lanka 12 games across three and Bangladesh eight at two venues," ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said here.

"Bangladesh would play host to two quarter finals while one quarter final each would be held by India and Sri Lanka who will also split the two semi finals equally. The final would be held in India (in March, 2011)," Lorgat said.

The reallocation of matches was necessitated by the ICC's decision to take away co-hosting rights from Pakistan due to security concerns in the wake of the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore on March 3.

Pakistan was slated to host 14 ties, including a semifinal, while Lahore was named the home of the secretariat.

"The Central Organizing Committee was also reorganized and will continue to be headed by Sharad Pawar with representatives from the three World Cup hosting countries and a representative of the ICC," Lorgat said.

The World Cup Organizing Committee also relocated the Secretariat from Lahore to the BCCI's headquarters in Mumbai, besides appointing BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty as the Event Managing Director.

"Prof Shetty will be the Event Managing Director while I S Bindra, the special adviser to the ICC, would be a key person in the management of the World Cup. The secretariat will be in Mumbai in the offices of the BCCI", the ICC CEO said.

Rajasthan Royals axe Kaif, seven others

The Rajasthan Royals have axed a big name from their squad even before the IPL got underway. Mohammad Kaif has been axed from the squad along with seven other players.

They will now fly back to India. Kaif was purchased for a hefty 675,000 US dollars at the auction last year but didn't have much of a role during the victorious campaign.

Kaif had played all the matches but could manage only 176 runs at an average of just 16. He didn't make a single half century, largely because he was shunted lower down the order. The 28 year old kaif has played 13 Tests and 125 one-dayers for India so far.

Sachin Tendulkar's Wax Statue for Madame Tussauds unveiled in Mumbai

Sachin Tendulkar on Monday came face to face with himself, as a new waxwork figure of the Indian cricket legend was unveiled in his home city of Mumbai after demand from the public.

The figure has been made to go on show at London's Madame Tussauds museum and is the first of an Indian sportsman at the world famous waxwork attraction.

It shows Tendulkar, 35, in a familiar pose - in full whites of the India team, batting pads, arm guard and gloves, holding his bat and helmet aloft in celebration.

"This was the way I celebrated when I passed the record," he told a news conference, referring to the moment last October when he broke Brian Lara's record for the most runs in Test cricket.

"I saw the picture and it was a special moment, a very dear one to me."

Tendulkar, nicknamed the "Little Master" or "Master Blaster," described being immortalized in wax as a "great honors."

"It's fantastic, fabulous," he added.

Liz Edwards, from Madame Tussauds, said it was the first time one of its wax figures had been launched outside London and had been designed to coincide with the start of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament this weekend.

Tendulkar captains the Mumbai Indians in the competition, which has been moved to South Africa because of a clash with India's general election.

"Guests vote for wax figures to come in. Sachin's name was constantly coming up and we were delighted to work with him," said Edwards.

Latest Cricket News, Live Cricket Scores, Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar credits Kirsten for India's success

Indian batting stalwart Sachin Tendulkar credits coach Gary Kirsten with helping the team become a force in world cricket again.

India won their first Test series on New Zealand soil in four decades this week, their third successive Test series victory since defeating top-ranked Australia in November.

"The secret to this success is the players are playing their natural game," Tendulkar told Mumbai tabloid Mid Day on Friday.

"That can only happen if the atmosphere is good and the mind is free of any kind of pressure.

"it's the case of natural instincts taking over and that can be credited to Gary (Kirsten). The team environment is allowing players to play their natural game. That's probably the secret," Tendulkar added.

Tendulkar, the world's highest run-getter in Test and one-day cricket, was second behind Gautam Gambhir in the runs tally for the team in the Test series with 344 runs.

Former South African opener Kirsten took over from Greg Chappell last year and has helped the Indian team improve their performances, earning the respect of the players for his quiet approach following a turbulent period under the Australian.

First Time Five Indians in Wisden's Dream Test XI

Wisden, the highly respected cricket publication, today named Virender Sehwag as the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni captain of its first ever Dream Test XI which has five Indians in the ranks.

India's rich vein of form found ample reflection in Wisden's first ever Dream XI which include Sehwag, Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan.

India has the largest representation in the Test squad, followed by Australia (Ricky Ponting and Mitchell Johnson) and South Africa (Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn) who have two each.

Flamboyant batsman Kevin Pietersen is the lone English player in the XI, while the West Indies is represented by run-machine Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Smith is Dhoni's deputy in the side.

The three selectors who picked the squad were former India captain Ravi Shastri, retired West Indian pacer Ian Bishop and former New Zealand stumper Ian Smith.

"The criteria for selection are simple: the best eleven to play a Test match, no matter the opposition, guided by performances in 2008, and taking into consideration the amount of Test cricket they played in the year, the quality of their opponents, and that indefinable blend of class and form," Wisden said.

It turned out to be a double delight for Sehwag who became the sixth player to be adjudged the Leading Cricketer in the World, an award instituted in 2004.

The five previous winners have been Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Andrew Flintoff, Muttiah Muralitharan and Jacques Kallis.

"Virender Sehwag had to beat off the strongest of challenges by Graeme Smith to become the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2008. Sehwag did so by taking the task of opening Test innings to a new level," Wisden observed.

"He sought, and often achieved, mental domination from the first ball by scoring faster than any other opening batsman has ever done on a regular basis in Test cricket," it said.

Team:

• Virender Sehwag
• Graeme Smith
• Ricky Ponting
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Kevin Pietersen
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni(W,C)
• Harbhajan Singh
• Zaheer Khan
• Dale Steyn
• Mitchell Johnson

Cricket News, Average of India-New Zealand Series, Latest Cricket News

India: Batting

Batsman	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	Hs	Avg	SR	100	50	0
G Gambhir	3	6	1	445	167	89.00	47.04	2	1	0
SR Tendulkar	3	5	0	344	160	68.80	61.31	1	2	0
R Dravid	3	6	1	314	83	62.80	37.51	0	4	0
VVS Laxman	3	5	1	295	124*	73.75	51.12	1	2	0
MS Dhoni	2	3	1	155	56*	77.50	52.54	0	2	0
V Sehwag	3	5	0	140	48	28.00	112.00	0	0	0
Yuvraj Singh	3	5	1	125	54*	31.25	68.68	0	1	1
Zaheer Khan	3	4	2	110	51*	55.00	103.77	0	1	0
Harbhajan Singh	3	4	0	94	60	23.50	78.99	0	1	1
MM Patel	3	3	2	24	15*	24.00	70.58	0	0	0
I Sharma	3	3	0	24	18	8.00	42.10	0	0	1
KD Karthik	1	1	0	6	6	6.00	19.35	0	0	0

India: Bowling

Bowlers	Mts	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Best	Avg	Econ	SR	5WI
Harbhajan Singh	3	147.4	28	342	16	6-63	21.37	2.31	55.38	1
Zaheer Khan	3	115.3	24	400	13	5-65	30.76	3.46	53.31	1
I Sharma	3	94.2	21	334	8	4-73	41.75	3.54	70.70	0
MM Patel	3	84	15	290	6	3-60	48.33	3.45	84.00	0
SR Tendulkar	3	9	0	45	2	2-36	22.50	5.00	27.00	0
Yuvraj Singh	3	22.3	2	84	1	1-11	84.00	3.73	135.00	0
V Sehwag	3	22	0	116	0	-	-	5.27	-	0

New Zealand: Batting

Batsman	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	Hs	Avg	SR	100	50	0
JD Ryder	3	5	0	327	201	65.40	61.58	2	0	1
LRPL Taylor	3	5	0	322	151	64.40	60.98	2	0	0
BB McCullum	3	5	0	232	115	46.40	65.35	1	1	0
DL Vettori	3	5	1	220	118	55.00	70.06	1	1	0
MJ Guptill	3	5	0	136	49	27.20	55.96	0	0	0
JEC Franklin	3	5	0	130	52	26.00	34.12	0	1	1
DR Flynn	2	4	0	79	67	19.75	33.90	0	1	1
TG McIntosh	3	5	0	60	32	12.00	31.91	0	0	1
IE O'Brien	3	5	2	61	19*	20.33	50.83	0	0	0
TG Southee	1	2	0	19	16	9.50	47.50	0	0	0
CS Martin	3	3	3	4	4*	-	33.33	0	0	0
KD Mills	1	2	0	2	2	1.00	10.00	0	0	1
JM How	1	1	0	1	1	1.00	9.09	0	0	0
JS Patel	1	1	0	1	1	1.00	11.11	0	0	0

New Zealand: Bowling

Bowler	Mts	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	Best	Avg	Econ	SR	5WI
CS Martin	3	134.1	32	458	14	4-98	32.71	3.41	57.50	0
IE O'Brien	3	125.5	29	452	9	3-103	50.22	3.59	83.80	0
DL Vettori	3	136.4	32	366	7	2-45	52.28	2.67	117.10	0
JS Patel	1	64	12	180	4	2-60	45.00	2.81	96.00	0
JD Ryder	3	33	14	89	2	1-3	44.50	2.69	99.00	0
TG Southee	1	30	3	152	2	2-94	76.00	5.06	90.00	0
KD Mills	1	24.2	4	119	1	1-98	119.00	4.89	146.00	0
JEC Franklin	3	89	17	290	1	1-38	290.00	3.25	534.00	0
JM How	1	1	1	0	0	-	-	0.00	-	0
LRPL Taylor	3	2	1	4	0	-	-	2.00	-	0