All posts by h716a5.icu

Chris Gayle’s quickfire century on the first day was just the start the Bangladesh Premier League wanted

Mohammad Isam10-Feb-2012When Brendon McCullum hit that brutal 158* four years ago, he gave the Indian Premier League some cricketing cred, to match the marketing hype, on its opening day. With the Bangladesh Premier League positioned as a mini-IPL, Chris Gayle’s 101* in its first game, naturally demanded comparison.But more than just some cricketing legitimacy, especially after the awful opening ceremony the day before, the poor turnout at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Friday and a general lack of big Twenty20 stars, it provided BPL a lift it so dearly needs despite the organisers’ blanket marketing in the build-up.With the minimum ticket prices set at a high Tk 500 (approx $6), some fans were bond to be deterred (though it has been reduced to Tk 200 from the second day). The opening ceremony too — three hours long and reflecting very little of local culture was criticised by the media and lampooned on social networks – was another major deterrent.That only a few stands filled up on what is a weekly holiday was staggering when one considers that an important club game still brings a crowd to the Mirpur venue. But Gayle certainly enjoyed himself, so too those who turned up as they were treated to some superb hitting by the Jamaican, who took just 44 balls to reach his century for Barisal Burners, beating his previous best (46-ball ton for Royal Challengers Bangalore).The Sylhet Royals batsmen first got the crowd going with a few sixes in their 165 for 4. Gayle then kept the volume up. He made the fans wait 16 deliveries before striking two sixes in a row off a Scott Styris over that cost 27 runs. From then on, Ahmed Shehzad, who had hit the first six of the innings off Rubel Hossain, let Gayle do all the talking.After another six off Styris, Gayle found Peter Trego’s gentle pace to his liking, hammering the Sylhet captain over long-on three times, one higher than the next. Twenty-three runs came off that tenth over and Alok Kapali was given the same treatment in his first. Two more consecutive sixes high over long-off, before legspinner Noor Hossain served up a long hop that was duly deposited into the mid-wicket stands; hitting the grandstand roof.”The bowler was probably under a bit more pressure. I think that’s what actually happened to get a long hop,” said Gayle after the chase was wrapped up in less than an hour. “I would have taken the chance, regardless. Five runs left, legspinner came on. I knew I got a chance. Glad I didn’t miss out on it.”The BPL is glad it didn’t miss out on Gayle, even if it is for only five days, which could provide the league enough momentum for the next two weeks.

Newly arrived from his Australia debut in South Africa, Mitchell Marsh plucked 6-84 for Western Australia to help bowl out Queensland for 273 on day one of the Sheffield Shield match

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2011
ScorecardMitchell Marsh returned from South Africa to cut through the Bulls’ batting•Getty ImagesNewly arrived from his Australia debut in South Africa, Mitchell Marsh plucked 6 for 84 for Western Australia to help bowl out Queensland for 273 on day one of the Sheffield Shield match at the WACA ground. On a lively pitch that aided swing and seam across the day, the Warriors’ reply was wobbly, reaching 3 for 71 at the close as Matthew Gale grabbed two wickets on debut.Marcus North was unbeaten on 30 and Adam Voges was on 9, and Western Australia still trailed by 202 runs. However, it was Marsh’s haul, aided by his employment of a full length, that dominated the day, demonstrating his potential as a strike bowler in addition to his batting talents.Twice Marsh was on a hat-trick, dismissing Nathan Reardon and Chris Hartley with consecutive full, swinging balls then later repeating the feat against Cameron Gannon and Gale.Marsh was taken for a few runs late in the innings, as Steve Paulsen made a fluent unbeaten 90 in his second Shield match, the major Bulls contribution besides 55 for Joe Burns.

On a rain-hit day in Canberra, the Indians’ top order did not make use of what could be their last chance to bat in a competitive match ahead of Boxing Day

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2011
ScorecardVirender Sehwag was out cheaply on a rainy day•Getty ImagesOn a rain-hit day in Canberra, the Indian top-order batsmen did not make use of what could be their last chance to bat in a competitive match ahead of the Boxing Day Test. They slipped to 4 for 84 against the CA Chairman’s XI, after play had begun two hours and 40 minutes late, before a positive partnership between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma steadied the innings.Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were rested for this tour match, while Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan were included in the thirteen after sitting out of the first game. Ishant Sharma, whose fitness is still doubtful, also missed out.After choosing to bat on a gloomy day – there was an interruption for bad light soon after the play finally began – the Indians lost Sehwag for a run-a-ball 12, caught off the bowling of Peter George. Gautam Gambhir, like he had in the first tour game, fell after getting a start. He was bowled for 24 by Jason Behrendorff, who was the most economical of the Chairman XI bowlers with figures of 1 for 8 in nine overs. Ajinkya Rahane, India’s reserve opener on the tour, also failed for the second time in two innings, and when he and Gambhir were dismissed in quick succession India had crawled to 3 for 53 in 21 overs.VVS Laxman showed signs of repairing the innings with Virat Kohli. Laxman struck a couple of fours – including a well-timed on drive – before missing one from left-arm spinner Jon Holland while trying to work it to the leg side. Holland had replaced Doug Bollinger from the Telopea Park end, after the fast bowler – who’s looking to work his way back into Australia’s Test team – had failed to pick up a wicket.Rohit Sharma was dropped first ball at short leg, after pushing at a delivery. Kolhi, who’s in a race with Rohit for the No. 6 spot in India’s batting line-up, counterattacked. He too had a bit of luck early on, edging wide of the slip cordon, but he made the most of it, driving through the covers, pulling and punching down the ground for boundaries.Kohli brought up his fifty, and Rohit too began to show some aggression. He drove twice through the covers and lofted the ball over long-off to bring up India’s 150. The pair added 78 off 104 balls before stumps – though Rohit was dropped once again, by Usman Khawaja in the slip cordon off legspinner Cameron Boyce – to take the Indians to 4 for 162.The Chairman’s XI captain, David Warner, left the field a couple of times during the day to get treatment for a sore back, though it wasn’t deemed a serious problem.

With the Ashes secured in historic style for another two years England’s quest for world domination now turns to the one-day game with the World Cup little over a month away

Andrew McGlashan in Canberra09-Jan-2011With the Ashes secured in historic style for another two years England’s quest for world domination now turns to the one-day game with the World Cup little over a month away. The players were put through a tough fitness session in Canberra just two days after their Ashes triumph in a clear sign they don’t want to let their momentum slip.The day after winning the Ashes in 2009 the team flew to Belfast where they held on for a one-run victory before losing the one-day series against Australia 6-1. This time they face a Prime Minister’s XI in the national capital before two Twenty20s and seven ODIs. Even though conditions in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be far different to the next four weeks it’s a vital period and Paul Collingwood believes motivation won’t be an issue.”We’ve got a few new players in who give you that extra bit of enthusiasm and spark,” he said. “It’s up to every single player to get their feet back on the ground, to keep that intensity up that we’ve been showing in practice and our preparation and hopefully transform that into our performances on the pitch.”We’ve got a group of lads who are very focused. We are very happy with what we have achieved so far on this trip, but we also realise that it’s not the end of the tour yet. We have a lot of things to do well before this World Cup. We knew it was going to be a huge six months for coming over here and then on to India afterwards and we are not finished yet.That tournament is England’s chance to complete the ultimate triple-whammy to go alongside their Ashes and World Twenty20 success, but the World Cup has often brought out the worst in England. However, the team’s success in the Caribbean last year, when they beat Australia in the World Twenty20 final to claim their first global trophy, has instilled a belief that they can compete for the main prize as well.There is also the small matter of not giving an inch to a struggling Australia over the next few weeks and living up to the tag of world champions. “We’ve won seven [Twenty20 internationals] on the trot and will set a new record if we make it eight. The guys are very focused and ambitious,” said Collingwood, England’s Twenty20 captain, who will also lead against the PM’s XI while Andrew Strauss rests.”It’s not easy to win that many games on the trot in T20. They are another two huge games for us leading into the Twenty20 World Cup and the guys are looking forward to it. Whatever form of the game it is against Australia we are desperate to win. We’ve got the momentum and obviously don’t want to let Australia back in.”After the Sydney Test defeat Michael Clarke admitted Australia will have to learn from England and Tim Paine, the PM XI’s captain and vice-captain of the Twenty20 side, said they had also laid the benchmark in the shortest format.”They certainly have recently,” he said. “They’ve been playing fantastic cricket. It’s also a new era for our Twenty20 side as well and we’ve certainly got a good side ourselves. We don’t want to let them break that world record, then we want to start something similar ourselves. We’ll be confident going into the T20 game, but England are the current world champions and it will be a huge game.”For Collingwood this is the beginning of being purely a limited-overs cricketer for England after retiring from Tests. In 14 months there is a chance for him to lead the defence of the Twenty20 crown in Sri Lanka, but his priority is using all his experience to help the World Cup campaign.”It is a new phase and that’s exciting. One of our main goals as a team is to win a World Cup, we haven’t done it as a team and we really believe we can achieve something like that,” he said. “All of our efforts over the series will be directed towards trying to win it and give us the confidence that will help us to win a World Cup.”England are likely to rest a number of their major players from the Test series who remain with the one-day squad when they take on the PM’s XI. Collingwood also hinted there could be some rotation of personnel during the limited-overs matches to keep key names fresh.”The management will, as each game goes, look at the situation and make decisions on who plays and who needs rest,” he said. “Andy Flower has been very good at identifying those times in the past. Whether we need that during the series I’m not too sure, but the guys are very focused on this World Cup coming up.”Possible England team to face PM’s XI Michael Lumb, Steven Davies (wk), Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood (capt), Eoin Morgan, Michael Yardy, Luke Wright, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes, Ajmal Shahzad, Steven Finn

Philip West has lavished Sunderland ‘warrior’ Bailey Wright with praise after they reached the League One play-off final. 

The lowdown

Sunderland beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on aggregate to secure a shot at promotion to the Championship. Lee Gregory gave the Owls the lead at Hillsborough in the 74th minute, and the game appeared set for extra-time before Patrick Roberts scored a dramatic goal three minutes into stoppage time to send the visitors through.

Alex Neil’s side have set up a winner-takes-all meeting with Wycombe at Wembley on Saturday 21.

Wright played the full 90 minutes on the right side of a back three that also included Danny Batth and Dennis Cirkin.

The £720,000-rated ace has played every minute of league and play-off football dating back to mid-February.

The latest

West, a writer and podcaster at the Roker Report, applauded Wright for continuing to play even through injury.

He feels that the defender’s commitment epitomised the values of Sunderland as a football club.

“Bailey Wright, what a warrior,” he tweeted. “Bloodstained shirt, blood trickling down his face, but he was an absolute rock tonight. That’s what playing for this club is about. Heart of a lion.”

The verdict

The stats reflect Wright’s battling performance. He won six of the eight duels he contested on the night (75%), including five of his seven aerial battles.

It’s also worth acknowledging team-mate Batth, who sat at the heart of the back three. He too was an ‘absolute rock’ for the Black Cats, prevailing in ten out of 14 duels and also coming up with three blocks and seven clearances.

Both players deserve to be guaranteed starting places come the final.

In other news, Kieran Maguire reacts to big behind-the-scenes news. 

Regan West, the Ireland left-arm spinner, has retired from international cricket due to a serious shoulder injury

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-2011Regan West, the Ireland left-arm spinner, has retired from international cricket due to a serious shoulder injury. He wasn’t part of Ireland’s squad for the 2011 World Cup, but played 10 ODIs and 23 first-class games, taking a career-best of 7 for 88 against Scotland in Aberdeen in 2009. Following an examination of his injured left shoulder, West was advised not to bowl for fear of further damage.”I’m pretty gutted with the outcome really. At the beginning it wasn’t a case of if I would bowl again, it was just how long it would take to recover,” West said. “My left shoulder is not in good shape, so the recommendation that I shouldn’t bowl again didn’t come as a surprise but it is still very disappointing.”Being part of the Ireland team has been the highlight and most enjoyable time of my cricket career. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to represent Ireland, and it is sad for me that that is now over.”West was part of the New Zealand Under-19 team and represented Northern Districts before making his international debut in August 2008. “Regan is a massive loss to the Irish squad,” Ireland coach Phil Simmons said. “His wholeheartedness and dedication will be missed. I personally would like to thank him for his efforts, not just when he was in the team, but in the last six months in his battle to be fit enough to be in an environment he has enjoyed.”

The 2011 IPL continued to take a beating in the television ratings stakes, with the average rating for the first 49 games dropping 25.52% from the previous year across six key markets

Tariq Engineer16-May-2011Mumbai Indians continued to be the biggest draw•AFPThe 2011 IPL continued to take a beating in the television ratings stakes, with the average rating for the first 49 games dropping 25.52% from the previous year across six key markets.The average Television Viewer Rating (TVR), a time-weighted figure which accounts for time spent watching by viewers and the number of viewers, was 3.94 across the cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, down from 5.29 in 2010, according to TAM Sports, a division of TAM Media Research, the leading television ratings agency in India. It is the first time the average ratings for the IPL have fallen below 4.A report by IIFL Institutional Equities, a brokerage firm, said that tournament ratings have fallen because of a combination of too much cricket and the shuffling of players between the teams, which has diluted fan loyalty. However, Akash Chattopadhyay, an analyst with IIFL who co-wrote the report, expects the ratings to pick up as the tournament enters its final stages. “We are of the opinion that ratings may pick up during the last knock-out match — to the tune of 8 TVR (television ratings points). But overall, the series would be nowhere close to the first edition.”Ratings jargon

Universe: The total number of people in a defined target audience (in this particular case, the universe includes all cable and satellite viewers in the six metros).

Reach: The number of individuals in the universe who watched at least one minute of a particular game or a particular show. It is typically expressed in percentage terms. For example, if 1000 out of a universe of 10,000 watched at least one minute of a game, the reach would be (1000/10,000) x 100 or 10%.

TVR: It is a time-weighted figure which accounts for time spent by viewers in addition to the total number of viewers. So you could have a higher TVR because more people watched a particular game or you could have a higher TVR because the same number of people watched the game, but each person watched more of the game than before.

Another sign of the IPL’s loosening grip on the attention of the viewer has been the strength of the Hindi general entertainment genre (Hindi GEC). In years past, the IPL has siphoned women away from their soaps but this season the Hindi entertainment channels’ share of total viewership has been steady. It was 26% in the month leading up to the tournament and 25% during the first month of the IPL. Instead, Set Max has stolen viewers away from the sports channels, whose share has dropped from 11% during the World Cup to 1% while the Hindi movie genre, to which Set Max belongs, has seen its share rise from 10 to 18%.The two matches that were the biggest draws between May 1 and May 7 both involved Mumbai Indians. Their win over Pune Warriors had the highest rating of 5.39, with 21 million people tuning in to watch, suggesting that a strong regional rivalry could develop between the teams. The second most popular game was Mumbai’s win over Delhi Daredevils that knocked the latter out of the race for the play-offs. It had a TVR of 4.95, and also drew 21 million viewers.The least popular game over the last week was Chennai Super Kings’ trouncing of Rajasthan Royals that was surrounded by the controversy over the selection of the pitch for the game. It was watched by 12 million and had a TVR of just 2.09.

Spin bowler Imran Tahir took five wickets but the battle between the bottom two sides in Division One moved firmly in Worcestershire’s direction at the end of the third day

25-Aug-2011
Scorecard
Spin bowler Imran Tahir took five wickets but the battle between the bottom two sides in Division One moved firmly in Worcestershire’s direction at the end of the third day. Tahir finished with five wickets for 29 runs and left arm pace bowler Chris Wood took 4 for 35 but Worcestershire still managed to finish with a slender first innings advantage of 29 at The Rose Bowl.By the close this had began to look of vital importance because Hampshire ended the day only 53 ahead at a perilous 84 for 6 in their second innings. Medium pacer Gareth Andrew, who took three wickets in the Hampshire first innings, took another three in the second to leave second-from-bottom Worcestershire in with a great chance of victory.The visitors began the third day 67 behind at 112 for 1 with the first 75 minutes – and 12 overs – lost to overnight rain. Worcestershire appeared to be heading for a commanding lead at lunch when they were 135 for 1 with Vikram Solanki in control.But Wood induced a collapse in which Worcestershire lost five wickets for six runs in only four overs. Wood dismissed James Cameron, Moeen Ali two bowls later, and then had Alexei Kervezee caught at the wicket to give him three wickets in five balls.James Tomlinson then bowled Aneesh Kapil and Wood removed Andrew to give him figures for his spell of 4 for 8 in five overs. There was a late resistance between the obdurate Solanki and Ben Scott who added 43 for the seventh wicket but then Tahir quickly ran through the tail.The Pakistan-born, South Africa-qualified legspinner sent back Scott, Richard Jones, Kemar Roach and last man Alan Richardson as Worcestershire were all out for 204 – having lost their last nine wickets for 69. Only Solanki resisted, finishing with a crucial 79 not out from 156 balls – an innings which included 11 fours.Hampshire was soon in trouble again when they batted a second time with Liam Dawson, Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie all out before the deficit had been overcome. Worse was to follow for the bottom-placed hosts with James Vince out on 43, Sean Ervine 10 runs later and then, just before bad light brought the players off, Nic Pothas.Andrew finished with 3 for 31 and there were two wickets for West Indian pace bowler Roach, making his county debut. However, Hampshire know a sixth defeat of the season will push them nearer relegation.

The IPL is likely to invite fresh tenders for an eighth team as the factions within the Kochi franchise have failed to resolve ownership disputes

Nagraj Gollapudi19-Oct-2010The IPL is likely to invite fresh tenders for an eighth team as the factions within the Kochi franchise have failed to resolve ownership disputes 24 hours before the expiry of the BCCI deadline asking them to register as a company. A team insider has said that the deadlock continues and there is little hope left for the five-company consortium. There have been six extensive meetings in the last two days, but no progress.After a recent offer by Kochi franchise promoters Rendezvous Sports, to buy out the 25% free equity – granted to it for life for setting up the consortium – was not accepted by its rival group, Rendezvous went back to the negotiation table with another offer. The equity buyout was reduced from 25% to 20% free equity. A source close to the discussions said Rendezvous’ rival group, led by Mehul Shah of the Anchor Group, did not want Rendezvous to hold 25 % “because that would give special voting rights to the owner. “In the latest development, the faction led by Shah, the biggest investor in the Kochi franchise with 26% stake, initially agreed to the 20% offer but with certain terms and conditions. It is those terms and conditions that have set up the new obstacle to an agreement.A Kochi franchise source told ESPNcricinfo, “Both groups had agreed to the 20% equity but the terms sent to Satyajitsinh Gaekwad (the head of Rendezvous Sports) said that Rendezvous would not have voting rights or a seat on the management and nor would they be part of the running of the company.”Gaekwad, who recently appointed himself as the chief executive of the franchise, was unimpressed and an official who has presided over all the franchise meetings said Gaekwad had responded by asking, “Why should we [Rendezvous Sports] invest any money? Forget equity, if our shares are not performing shares then why we should pay?”This latest development is a setback for the owners of the Kochi franchise, won the bid for the 10th IPL franchise with an offer of US$333.33 million. Subsequently, differences emerged in the consortium whose board comprised owners from diverse fields.Ownership has been the most contentious issue with Gaekwad claiming Rendezvous Sports had the right to assume control of the franchise since it had made most of the investments at the time of winning the bid. The other faction, though, represented by Anchor’s Shah, was against both the involvement of Rendezvous and the appointment of Gaekwad as chief executive. The Shah group had offered Rendezvous 10% of the equity as an exit payment from the consortium.Rendezvous, however, remained adamant and made a counter offer less than a month ago. In an attempt to save the franchise from disintegrating, Rendezvous was willing to invest 100% of the free equity, an increase from its initial offer of investing 15% of the equity to end the feud. Shah, though, remained resolute and the sources said, “he plainly did not want Rendezvous on the team. The problem is that without Rendezvous, you cannot register a company, because they are the promoters.”The last few weeks have been clouded with uncertainity for the IPL but an governing council member said that neither the confusion over Kochi or the termination of the Rajasthan Royals and King’s XI Punjab teams would have any impact on the league as a whole. “IPL 4 will happen” the governing council member said, “and it will happen with as many teams as it always has – all matters will be sorted out.”

Aston Villa are very excited about young midfielder Taylor-Jay Hart, according to Gregg Evans.

The Lowdown: Hart profiled

Hart, a boyhood Villan, is 18 years of age and has been on the books with the club since the age of six. He is thought to be a midfielder likened to a young Steven Gerrard but has also been tried at centre-back at Bodymoor Heath.

Villa appear to be on the hunt for senior reinforcements in the middle of the pitch this summer, with links to Kalvin Phillips, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Yves Bissouma, however, it looks as if they have another talented midfielder coming through.

The Latest: Set to sign professional deal

Evans shared an in-depth story on The Athletic regarding four young Villa midfielders, one of which was Hart.

The reliable reporter admitted that there is growing excitement over Hart, who is expected to sign a professional contract following an offer from the club.

The Verdict: Good signs…

Villa have had plenty of success when it comes to midfielders breaking into the first team over the last 18 months.

Jacob Ramsey is the most obvious example, becoming a regular under Gerrard this season, with Carney Chukwuemeka also featuring 13 times for the first team.

Tim Iroegbunam only made the move to Bodymoor Heath in the summer but has already earned a new senior contract and is now a full-time member of Gerrard’s squad, and it looks as if Hart could be the next to breakthrough in years to come.

In other news: ‘I’m aware…’ – Sky Sports journalist drops big Villa news; Gerrard working on first summer deal.