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Monday, May 30, 2016

David Warner Dubs Bhuvneshwar Kumar 'World Class' After SRH Beat RCB in IPL Final

Bengaluru: Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner on Sunday dubbed Indian Premier League 2016's highest wicket-taker Bhuvneshwar Kumar as a world-class bowler and said he can't wait to take on the seamer as an opposition batsman.
"Obviously Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar) is in and out of the Indian team, but he is a world-class bowler. With the new ball as an opening batsman, I would like to come up against him on a wicket like this because he sets the tone from ball one," said Warner at the post-match press conference after leading Sunrisers to their maiden IPL title at the Chinnaswamy stadium.
Warner said as captain of the team, he had utmost faith in Bhuvneshwar's abilities and passion for the game.
"I have got utmost faith in him (Bhuvneshwar) and the way he plays his cricket. He is passionate. He loves the game and, I always rely on him towards the end," said the Australian batsman.
Warner led from the front with a sparkling 69 off 38 balls before Bhuvneshwar and Mustafizur Rahman bowled brilliantly in the death over to register an eight-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL final.
Defending 208 to claim their maiden IPL title, Sunrisers Hyderabad restricted Virat Kohli's RCB to 200 for seven.
Warner was also effusive in praise for young left-arm pacer Mustafizur, who formed a lethal combination with Bhuvneshwar (23 wickets) for Sunrisers this season.
"Obviously, Mustafizur Rahman is a promising player for Bangladesh. It is a credit to him that he has played outstanding cricket along with Bhuvi. Hope he keeps fit and strong for future games," Warner said.
Chasing the 208 for seven set by Sunrisers, RCB at one stage were cruising at 114 for no loss with Chris Gayle firing at all cylinders.
"Our quest was to maintain composure while Chris Gayle was going after our bowling. I spoke to the bowlers to bowl wide and slower balls but despite that he (Gayle) was striking the ball with power. But we knew if we could get quick wickets, it would be hard on the next batsmen to play shots," Warner said when asked about his strategy following RCB's whirlwind start to the chase.
Total 'Team Effort'
Warner hailed opposition captain and IPL 2016 'Orange Cap' winner Virat Kohli as a "great leader".
The Australian also termed his team's maiden IPL triumph as a total "team effort".
"It was a fantastic team achievement. To lead this side and the support from the players, me pulling my weight with the runs, it has been a hard journey. It's a team effort. To have the perfect game, we needed to gel. For us, the key was team effort all the way," Warner said.
Asked about the target, Warner said:"Look we knew, we had to get 200. Virat Kohli, what a great leader! I can't take it away from him. He set the benchmark this season. We knew we had to win three straight games. To win in Bangalore, we were underdogs. But, we batted well, bowled and fielded well.
"In 24 hours, I will be off to the Caribbean. Time to have a beer," signed off the Australian
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Sunday, May 29, 2016

IPL 2016: Virat Kohli praises rival captain David Warner, predicts tough final against Sunrisers Hyderabad

 Aware of the threat pose by Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli predicted a tough 2016 Indian Premier League final on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of big final, season's leading run-scorer also praises David Warner, while admitting that he and the rival captain are fierce competitors on the field.
"I think we think on similar lines. We try to do things ourselves first which we are expecting from our team-mates. There is similarity between me and Warner, in terms of approaching the game," Kohli said about Warner.
However, the 27-year-old was confident with the preparations ahead of the title clash, specially after two days off.
"We had a long run before the last game we played. So, in that regard two days off was a good thing. It was an opportunity to come together and draft plans for the finals. The opportunity came through two practise sessions. I felt it was good time to prepare to build a good momentum to storm into the finals," Kohli added.
Warning Sunrisers, Kohli stressed on the Bangalore's massive home support. And rightly claimed that RCB's home crowd can intimidate any visiting team, as witnessed during the Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Lions.
"The support has been wonderful in Bangalore even if we have not done really well. The energy the people bring in the stadium it plays a massive role for the team. The support of home crowd can make other team nervous which we saw that happening, making AB De Villiers go for the victory against Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 1," he told.
Having said that, the right-handed batsman didn't discount Sunrisers' team balance.
"They (SRH) are one of the most balanced teams before the tournament started. We are aware of it. They are into the final, and it cannot been done without their batting. Same with us too, we could not have been in the final without our bowlers blazing guns," he opined.
Both the teams are eyeing for their respective maiden IPL title. RCB beat table-toppers from round-robin league round Gujarat Lions in the first Qualifier, while SRH came through the Eliminator to beat the Lions in the second Qualifier. They beat two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator.
(With Agency inputs)
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Virat Kohli: Facets which define the supreme rise of star Indian batsman

‘Miracles don’t happen; you have to make your own miracle,’ thus Virat Kohli and others sold India's World Twenty20 dreams in a promotional video. It's a different matter that it failed to come to fruition. But the tag line seems apt for the top-order Indian batsman, who has made it a habit of taking his team out of trouble more often than not.
His unbeaten match-winning knock against a formidable Australian bowling line-up, in a virtual quarter-final clash of the World T20, was one such act. The dynamic cricketer has done this so many times in the past that his fans now expect such performances every time he steps on to the field.
With the help of his sheer hardwork and strong will, the Delhi batsman has taken his game to another level. His miraculous 55* against Pakistan and 82* against Australia and a splendid 89* against eventual champions West Indies in WT20, illustrates how well he reads the game.
It seems as if he has started to meander his aggression in the right direction. His sheer chutzpah and ability to take up the challenge head-on make him a dangerous batsman.
Here are the five factors that make Virat Kohli a superstar in the gentleman’s game.
Conventional style: In the slam-bang version of the game, where most of the batsmen try cheeky shots to score runs at a rapid pace, Kohli has a knack of playing with the straight bat and hitting conventional shots. His ability to find gaps and hit boundaries at will, even when the ball is not coming on to the bat, puts the opposition bowlers and skippers under immense pressure. England’s Joe Root and Kohli are possibly the only two batsmen in contemporary cricket who can snatch the game away even while playing proper copy book shots in the shortest format. Art of finding gaps with ease and playing in the ‘V’ makes their batting look even more beautiful.
Fitness: It is certainly an important part in the life of a sportsperson, but in the Indian cricket team, Kohli is a fitness freak, who religiously hits the gym to strengthen his body. That’s the reason he is one of the best fielders in the Indian team and an outstanding runner between the wickets. His sprints in WT20, especially against Australia and West Indies were a treat to watch. The way he ran between the wickets and put the fielding units under constant pressure shows how fitness can help you push your limits and achieve the target with ease.
Finisher: At a time when many are of the view that an ageing Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s has lost his mojo to finish off the games, run-machine Kohli seems to have taken up the role for the Indian team. His record while chasing has always been exceptional, but the way he has been finishing games of late for Team India has proved that he has taken his game to next level. The big-match player is emerging as a new finisher for his side. Considering the fact that he is not a big hitter of the ball, his ability to pace innings to perfection while chasing – irrespective of the target, big or small – forces the opposition to doff their hats to the stylish cricketer.
Consistency: This is the hallmark of his batting and that’s the reason the 27-year-old has been the mainstay of Indian cricket team for the last half-a-decade or so, in all forms of the game. Even with so many big-hitters and dangerous batsmen in world cricket, Kohli has managed to make a special place for himself. In limited-overs cricket, he has a stupendous average of over 50 (in ODIs & T20Is), with 25 tons and 52 half-centuries. In Test cricket, his average is a shade above 44, with 11 hundreds and 12 fifties under his belt. More than anything else, his stature is growing with every passing match.
New facet of his personality: Kohli is known for his flamboyance and on-field antics, but of late, he has shown a new side of his personality. He praised tainted Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir openly for his memorable spell against India in the Asia Cup T20. In fact, he then went a step further to gift him a bat ahead of the high-profile cash against the arch-rivals in the WT20. His demeanor has changed significantly over the years. Now one can easily feel the tranquility in his personality, which was missing earlier. He bats more purposefully now, which is certainly a good sign for the future of Indian cricket.
Barring the forgettable England tour, the Delhi-lad has hardly disappointed with the willow. The way he has been batting, he is not just destined to break many cricket records in the near future but to become an icon of young cricketers as well
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Friday, May 27, 2016

New Zealand plan first day-night Test against England in 2018

New Zealand will host their first day-night test when England tour the country in early 2018, pending final approval from both teams.
The twilight match will be played at Auckland`s Eden Park, which has not hosted a test since a game with India in 2014. No dates have been confirmed but the tour is likely to fall in a window during February-March.
"While we can`t confirm it yet, it`s something we`re extremely interested in and working towards," New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said in a media release on Friday.
New Zealand, who played the inaugural day-night test against Australia last year in Adelaide, had hoped to play their first at home early next year against South Africa but the idea was abandoned due to logistical problems.
South Africa`s board are also mulling a pink ball test with Australia in Adelaide later this year but the Proteas` players have expressed their reticence.
New Zealand also confirmed three one-day internationals against world champions Australia from Jan. 30-Feb. 5 next year.
Bangladesh will tour for three ODIs, three Twenty20 matches and two tests from Dec. 26-Jan. 24.
The limited overs matches, like last year`s series against Sri Lanka, will be held over the Christmas-New Year holidays.
South Africa begin their tour with a T20 international at Eden Park, where they were beaten by New Zealand in the semi-final of last year`s World Cup, before they play five ODIs and three tests.
New Zealand will also host a full tour by the West Indies in 2017, limited overs series against Pakistan and three ODIs against Australia before the England tour.
New Zealand`s 2016/2017 schedule:
Nov. 17-21 v Pakistan, 1st test, Christchurch
Nov. 25-29 v Pakistan, 2nd test, Hamilton
Dec. 26 v Bangladesh, 1st ODI Christchurch
Dec. 29 v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Nelson
Dec. 31 v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Nelson
Jan. 3 v Bangladesh, 1st T20, Napier
Jan. 6 v Bangladesh, 2nd T20, Mt. Maunganui
Jan. 8 v Bangladesh, 3rd T20, Mt. Maunganui
Jan. 12-16 v Bangladesh, 1st test, Wellington
Jan. 20-24 v Bangladesh, 2nd test, Christchurch
Jan. 30 v Australia, 1st ODI, Auckland
Feb. 2 v Australia, 2nd ODI, Napier
Feb. 5 v Australia, 3rd ODI, Hamilton
Feb. 17 v South Africa, 1st T20, Auckland
Feb. 19 v South Africa, 1st ODI, Hamilton
Feb. 22 v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Christchurch
Feb. 25 v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Wellington
March 1 v South Africa, 4th ODI, Napier
March 4 v South Africa, 5th ODI, Auckland
March 8-12 v South Africa, 1st test, Dunedin
March 16-20 v South Africa, 2nd test, Wellington
March 25-29 v South Africa, 3rd test, Hamilton
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PCB to send Mohammad Hafeez to England for knee-injury treatment

The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to send experienced batsman Muhammad Hafeez to England to seek treatment for a knee muscular problem, which threatens to keep him out of the Test series against England.
PCB's medical panel are not satisfied with the progress made by Hafeez from his injury which he picked up during the Asia Cup and forced him to miss the last two matches of the World T20 in India. He also a domestic national one-day cup and the national boot camp in Kakul, which winds up on Saturday.
An official source in the PCB told PTI that chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq and the national team captain, Misbah-ul-Haq were both concerned with the fitness of Hafeez and had suggested to the board that if required he should be sent abroad for treatment.
"Hafeez, 35, is suffering from a condition known as femur muscle which is best treated in the United Kingdom," the source said.
He said that other players have suffered from this problem and most notably England's Stuart Broad recently also underwent treatment for femur muscle in London and has made a strong comeback to international cricket.
Inzamam on Wednesday named Hafeez a veteran of 47 Tests, 177 ODIs and 77 T20 Internationals in a shortlist of 21 players for a week long skills camp in Lahore from May 30th for the tour of England.
But the chief selector made it clear Hafeez's final selection depended on his fitness report.
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Thursday, May 26, 2016

Chris Gayle Is Being Targeted For No Reason: Darren Sammy

West Indies' two-time World T20-winning captain Darren Sammy has defended his team-mate Chris Gayle, who has once again revived accusations of sexism against him with some lewd comments in an interview with a British daily.
Gayle, 36, came under fire for asking Australian broadcaster Mel McLaughlin out on a date in a live television interview during a Big Bash Twenty20 game in January. In the ongoing IPL, the Royal Challengers Bangalore opener sparked another sexism row when he asked a Times journalist a string of inappropriate questions.
Sammy, however, chose to play down the latest row.
"Chris Gayle is the universe boss, a team-mate of mine who I admire and respect. I just think people target Chris for no reason.
"To me, Chris is one of our cricketing heroes. He's an entertainer, first, but a lot of people have jumped on his back," Sammy was quoted as saying by 'ESPNcricinfo'.
He added, "I always support Chris because of what he does on a cricket field. Yes, we have a responsibility to ourselves, and the people who watch us, but sometimes I feel Chris is a target for newspaper headlines."
Sammy called for West Indies' players and administrators to put their "egos" on the back burner for the the betterment of cricket in the Caribbean islands.
West Indies Cricket Board and the players had been at loggerheads over a pay dispute for a long time, and the bitter divisions were laid bare after their World T20 triumph in April when the West Indian players, led by an emotional Sammy, hit out at the WICB for not supporting them.
"It's sad that for so long it's been a back-and-forth between the board and players. But these three wins show we can win cricket at all levels, and if we could work together, that's all you need. Players and board working together, sharing a common goal, with no egos. It would be better for West Indies cricket but at the moment it's just not happening," Sammy said.
"They always say sports and politics don't mix, which is true. But at the end you have to give credit to the most important thing, which is the cricket. And who plays the cricket? The cricketers. That is your product. If you plant corn, you have to take care of it, nurture it, fertilise it and then you can reap the rewards, so it is similar to the West Indies cricket team," he added.
Sammy is set to turn out for Hampshire in the English County season.
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Indian Premier League 2016, Qualifier 2: Gujarat Lions vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — Preview

Eyeing a shot at the title in their debut season, Gujarat Lions will have to fight off the fiery pacers of the Sunrisers Hyderabad when the two teams clash in the IPL Qualifier 2 here tomorrow.
The Lions, led by Suresh Raina, have been impressive in their first ever IPL appearance, finishing on top of the table en route to the Play-offs.
They had one foot in the summit clash when they had Royal Challengers Bangalore on the mat in first Qualifier but AB de Villiers pulled the rug from under their feet with his sensational batting.
But the job is not going to be easy for the Lions since they are up against a team, which has beaten them twice in the league stage. Both the times, they had failed to defend their totals against the Sunrisers.
The Sunrisers have lost a bit of an edge in the absence of impactful Ashish Nehra, who is now recuperating from a knee surgery, but at the same time Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman have actually managed to bowl Sunrisers to a position of strength.
In the Eliminator too, skipper David Warner used Bhuvneshwar and Mustafizur to create a lot of pressure on Kolkata Knight Riders' batsmen and eventually they cracked.
The Feroz Shah Kotla track has something for the pacers even as the wickets here have gone a bit slow as the tournament progressed. And the way the Lions' fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni bowled against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Qualifier 1, it looks like the batsmen are again going to have a tough time.
The strategy to straightaway go bang-bang against the bowlers will not work and the batsmen will need to spend some time at the crease before opening their arms. This is exactly what Yuvraj Singh did yesterday against KKR and his innings made all the difference in the outcome of the match.
The Lions have the wherewithal and batsmen to fight the Sunrisers pacers and they would hope that Brendon McCullum rises to occasion tomorrow. The Kiwi batsman need to fire at the top and put a tag on his wicket. Dwayne Smith has been their go-to man and he is one batsman the Sunrisers need to get early on.
Smith's knocks in the tournament have proved crucial for the Lions and they need the West Indian to continue with his tremendous batting. Aaron Finch is another batsman who can change the course of the match on his own.
For the Sunrisers, Yuvraj getting back to his old touch is certainly good news. The top-5, which also includes in-form Shikhar Dhawan, make the core of their batting and the Lions will have to ensure they do not bat for long.
But it surely will be a contest between Surisers' pacers and batsmen of the Lions. Whichever team makes it to the final, a new team will be crowned champion this season as none of the three teams left in the tournament has won the trophy.
The Teams (From):
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (capt.), Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Moises Henriques, Eoin Morgan, Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha, Karn Sharma, Mustafizur Rahman, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Barinder Sran, Trent Boult, Ben Cutting, Kane Williamson, Ashish Reddy, Ricky Bhui, Bipul Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, Abhimanyu Mithun, Vijay Shankar, T Suman, Aditya Tare.
Gujarat Lions: Suresh Raina (capt.), Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Dale Steyn, James Faulkner, Ishan Kishan, Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shivil Kaushik, Dwayne Bravo, Sarabjit Ladda, Amit Mishra, Akashdeep Nath, Paras Dogra, Eklavya Dwivedi, Shadab Jakati, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaydev Shah, Umang Sharma, Pravin Tambe, Andrew Tye.
Match starts at 8pm.
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