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The BCCI top brass have denied reports of an alleged rift in the Indian team, saying that the media have taken an “exaggerated” stand in the wake of stand-in captain Virender Sehwag’s contentious comments following India’s defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Feb-2012The BCCI top brass have denied reports of an alleged rift in the Indian team, saying that the media have taken an “exaggerated” stand in the wake of stand-in captain Virender Sehwag’s contentious comments following India’s defeat to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Sehwag had said that he was unaware that one of reasons MS Dhoni wanted to rotate the three openers (Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir) was because he feared they would leak at least 20 runs in the field.”I don’t think there is any rift within the team,” Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice-president who was meeting with other board officials in Mumbai at the IPL governing council meet, said. “It is only speculation by a section of the media. The team is united. So I don’t think there is a problem.”Shukla said the board was constantly in touch with the team management. “From what we have understood, Sehwag has been misquoted.”Sehwag had lead India against Sri Lanka in the absence of Dhoni, who was serving a one-match ban for not meeting the required over-rate in the previous game against Australia. In the post-match media conference, speaking on the rotation policy, Sehwag said that Dhoni had had chats with him, Tendulkar and Gambhir individually, telling them that the young players in the squad should get enough exposure in Australian conditions, keeping in mind that the next World Cup will be played in Australia and New Zealand. Sehwag said he was fine with that reasoning, but was unaware that Dhoni had said, after the February 19 match against Australia, that he could not fit all three openers into the XI because of their slowness in the field. That statement sparked speculation in the media, raising the question as to whether there was a divide in the team.The BCCI president, N Srinivasan, said there was nothing to be “concerned” about. “We have to see what exactly they [Sehwag and Dhoni] have said. They were responding to some question in a press conference. I have spoken to the media manager there [in Australia]. I think the reports here are exaggerated.”Asked if the pair of Duncan Fletcher and Dhoni had informed the board of their plans to try out the younger players and adopt the rotation policy, Shukla said that matter was entirely the decision of the tour selection committee, comprising the captain, coach and team manager. “It is for the coach and captain to decide on the team composition,” Shukla said.Edited by Nikita Bastian

Graham Gooch, the former England batsman, has stepped down as Essex batting coach to focus on his England role

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2011Graham Gooch, the former England batsman, has stepped down as Essex batting coach to focus on his role with England although will remain a club ambassador.Gooch, who made the highest score at Lord’s with 333 against India in 1990, has worked with England in an advisory capacity since their South Africa tour in 2009 and the likelihood of a full-time position had been raised earlier this year. He has had a huge influence on England’s batting which enjoyed a prolific series against India including three double hundreds from Kevin Pietersen, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell.Having played for Essex from 1973 until 1997, Gooch admitted it was tough to cut his ties. “I never wanted to relinquish this role working with Paul [Grayson, head coach],” he said. “But as my England commitments have grown it is now impossible to do justice to both roles. I look forward to supporting Essex in the future through my work as the club ambassador.”Grayson thanked Gooch for his work with Essex. “He has been a massive support to both the playing squad and myself but we understand the England requirements he has.”Current Essex batsman Matt Walker will replace Gooch and has been appointed assistant coach. Walker joined Essex in 2009 from Kent, where he played since 1993. He has scored over 12,000 first-class runs at 36.08, including the highest score by a Kent batsman at Canterbury of 275 not out.”I am very honoured and flattered to be asked to become assistant coach,” said Walker. “I am very much looking forward to the new role, especially working with an exciting group of players. Although I will be registered as a player, I’m extremely focused on helping Paul Grayson and the rest of the coaching staff achieve success in the near future.””I am really excited to be working alongside Matt,” added Grayson. “He has vast knowledge of the game and I know he is looking forward to this next chapter of his career.”

National Cricket League round up.

Mohammad Isam08-Dec-2011Sylhet confirmed their place in the second phase of the National Cricket League with an eight-wicket win over Dhaka in the last round of the first phase at Fatullah.The campaign of hapless Dhaka ended with their sixth loss in seven games and this game was over as a contest when their top-order fell in the first hour for 24 runs. The Sylhet pacemen led by Robiul Islam ran riot, taking four wickets while Tapash Baisya picked up three. After some resistance from the Dhaka lower-order, Nabil Samad and Enamul Haque Jnr finished up the job to bowl them out for 175.Sylhet replied as they are used to, slowly. They played out 117.1 overs to take a 110-run first innings lead with Ezaz Ahmed and Enamul providing the impetus at the end of the innings.Dhaka had another poor outing in the second innings. Opener Abdul Mazid hammered 92 but it was never enough as they were bowled out for 231 to leave Sylhet 122 to win. They took only the first session on the final day to pick up their fourth win in the competition.Chittagong didn’t have Sylhet’s luck of a lowly opponent in their crunch game for qualification. They played a peculiar game in Bogra which they eventually lost by a crushing 241 runs to Rangpur.Both teams were bowled out in the first day. Rangpur for 122 and Chittagong for 118 before Rangpur hit back ferociously. Dhiman Ghosh (183) and Alauddin Babu (180) notched up a 322-run fifth wicket partnership as Rangpur amassed 587. Dhiman’s form has been impressive for two seasons now while Alauddin is one of the very few seaming all-rounders in Bangladesh who is impressing in every game.Chittagong never matched up to the chase or played out for the draw. Nafees Iqbal struck his second century but it was adieu for a team that has once again flattered to deceive.Khulna rounded off the first phase with their fifth win, beating Dhaka Metropolis by 175 runs at Rajshahi to become one of three teams to win five games in this phase.Mithun Ali’s first innings 101 set up Khulna well but the rest crumbled to Arafat Sunny’s 7 for 49 as they were bowled out for 256. But Dhaka Metro made a meal of their first innings, getting to 164 for 8 before Mohammad Ashraful declared as Khulna had bonus points around the corner.The negative move and Khulna’s 250 in the second innings was enough to set Dhaka Metro a 343-run target and that too without Ashraful. The skipper had been called up for national duty and was replaced by Arman Hossain. It mattered very little as Khulna bowled out Dhaka Metro for 167 with Mehrab Hossain Jnr retired absent due to a hand injury.Rajshahi completed a 175-run win over Barisal in three days in Jessore. After an almost-even first innings, Rajshahi were powered by half-centuries from Mizanur Rahman, Junaid Siddique and Mukhtar Ali in the second innings and set Barisal 320 to win.Sohag Gazi’s whirlwind 63 apart, none of the batsmen dominated and the innings was over in just 31.4 overs with Barisal bowled out for 144. Sohag had a tremendous game, taking 9 for 188 and hammering two half-centuries.

Aimee Watkins, the New Zealand captain, has retired from all forms of cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2011Aimee Watkins, the New Zealand captain, has retired from all forms of cricket. Watkins, 28, played two Tests, 103 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20 games in a career spanning nine years.She made her debut in an ODI against Australia at Adelaide in 2002 and quickly became a fixture in the side with her aggressive batting and accurate offspin. She retires as the fifth ranked all-rounder in women’s cricket, having racked up 1889 ODI runs and 772 Twenty20 runs, to go with 92 and 22 wickets respectively, in the two formats.In addition to her international exploits, Watkins has also been a key member of the Central Districts squad since 1998, and said she was very grateful for the opportunities to represent New Zealand and Central Districts.”This is not a decision I have taken lightly and believe it’s the right time to step down. I have given it my all over the past nine years with the White Ferns [New Zealand] and eleven years with the Central Hinds [Central Districts] and really enjoyed it,” she said. “Cricket has been a massive part of my life for a long time and I’m going miss it, especially the people. I walk away with a lot of warm memories.”I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches, Taranaki Cricket, NZC and everyone who has supported me over the years.”The highest point of Watkins’ career was the 2009 World Cup, where she finished as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 11 scalps, including 4 for 2 against South Africa. She took over as New Zealand captain after Haidee Tiffen’s retirement in 2009.Gary Stead, the New Zealand women’s coach, thanked Watkins for her service to cricket, calling her one of the “most consistent allrounders for a long period of time”.”Everyone associated with women’s cricket will be grateful to Aimee for the immense contribution she has made,” Stead said. “I’m sure it was a tough decision because everyone who knows her is aware of the pleasure and pride she has in representing the White Ferns.”She has been one of the most consistent allrounders for a long period of time and a key member of the White Ferns squad, as well as a fine leader. Aimee is also a marvellous role model and great ambassador both on and off the field.”The new captain will be named in due course. Watkins signed off by top-scoring with 32 in her last game against India, but her effort was in vain as New Zealand lost the third-place play-off in the NatWest Women’s Quadrangular Series.

Upul Tharanga, the Sri Lanka opener, has been ruled out of the limited-overs leg of the England tour as he prepares to face a disciplinary committee for failing a drugs test during the World Cup.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2011Upul Tharanga, the Sri Lanka opener, has been ruled out of the limited-overs leg of the England tour as he prepares to face a disciplinary committee for failing a drugs test during the World Cup.Tharanga, 26, tested positive after the semi-final against New Zealand, in Colombo, and Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed he won’t be selected for any representative cricket in the short term.”Since there is an ongoing inquiry to verify this charge, Upul Tharanga will not be making himself available for selection until the conclusion of the inquiry and therefore will not be available for the ODI and T20 matches in England and the Sri Lanka A Team tour of England,” a statement said.Tharanga’s absence means Sri Lanka could be without their two first-choice one-day openers against England with the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan also a doubt having suffered a hairline fracture of his thumb in the second Test at Lord’s. However, Dilshan is still hopeful of being available for the one Twenty20 international and five ODIs.The pair had recent success against England, having guided Sri Lanka to a 10-wicket victory in the World Cup quarter-final when they added an unbeaten 231. Tharanga also enjoyed an impressive one-day series on the 2006 tour of England where he hit two hundreds – 120 at Lord’s and 109 at Headingley in a record 286-run stand with Sanath Jayasuriya – during Sri Lanka’s 5-0 whitewash of the hosts.There are reports in Sri Lanka that Tharanga’s absence could open the door for a surprise return for Jayasuriya who turns 42 in June and played his last ODI in December 2009. “If my services are required, I would be glad as always to give my best,” he told the Sri Lankan .

Despite Kolkata’s reinforcements, Rajasthan will go in as favourites given the assurance visible in their ranks

The Preview by Nitin Sundar14-Apr-2011Match factsFriday, April 15
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)The legbreaks continue to fizz and turn, irrespective of Shane Warne’s age and lack of practice•AFPBig pictureTwo rounds of the IPL are out of the way, and team strategies are becoming clearer. Shane Warne, the quintessential poker player, has not revealed his entire hand yet, but ‘contain and chase’ seems to be Rajasthan Royals’ template for 2011. Warne has taken it upon himself to control the middle overs, and the bowling unit has revolved around him. Rajasthan’s batting has a little bit of everything – Rahul Dravid’s solidity, Johan Botha’s enterprise, Ashok Menaria’s free-spiritedness, and Ross Taylor’s sheer brutality to top it off. And it’s about to get better for them – Shane Watson is in Jaipur, fresh from his Mirpur mayhem.Kolkata Knight Riders, in contrast, have been slower starters. They began timidly, paying the price for picking only two overseas players against Chennai, a move that cost them in a high-pressure finish. Even in their second game, Eoin Morgan and Ryan ten Doeschate did not get a chance to bat. The arrival of Brett Lee, Brad Haddin and Shakib Al Hasan might force Gautam Gambhir to overcome his reluctance to use foreign talent. Lee, in particular, will be a worthy addition to their seam attack. Despite Kolkata’s reinforcements, Rajasthan’s visible assurance makes them the favourites.Team talkGiven Watson’s brutal hitting form in Bangladesh, he is likely to open the innings with Dravid. Warne, however, tweeted on Wednesday that he was considering using Watson in the lower middle order. The bigger question will be, who should make way for Watson. Jacob Oram played the first game, but picked up an injury which allowed Shaun Tait to play against Delhi. Despite testing the speed gun and blasting out two huge wickets, Tait bled 40 runs in that game. Watson is around 30 kph slower than Tait, but has the variety to send down four quiet overs.If Lee comes in for Kolkata, ten Doeschate could be benched. Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round abilities might convince Kolkata to give him an IPL debut, in place of either L Balaji or Jaidev Unadkat.Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.In the spotlightShane Warne spent most of the last year in casinos, on Twitter and on the front pages of tabloids, yet he turned up at the IPL and got the legbreaks to drift and spin as though he had never been away from the game. At the other end, he has Johan Botha sending down well-calibrated offbreaks with smart variations in pace. Together, they are perhaps the most potent spin duo in IPL 2011.Eoin Morgan’s unconventional methods could help Kolkata combat Rajasthan’s spinners. Morgan’s footwork is among the quickest in the game, and he has the ability to play shots into unconventional regions. His tussle with Warne and Botha could be the most interesting subplot in the contest.Prime numbers With half-centuries in both games, Jacques Kallis is the second highest run-getter (107) so far this season. Johan Botha, who is yet to be dismissed, is a run behind Manoj Tiwary has hit four sixes so far this season, two behind AB de Villiers, who is the tournament’s leading six-hitter. Ashok Menaria has three.The chatter”Iqbal Abdulla can make a difference during the first six overs and the last five overs. The way he has bowled shows that he has a great character. He is a young guy and has a great future ahead of him. Brett Lee is fit and raring to go”

Sri Lanka have consistently reached the final stages of world tournaments in recent years but have failed to win one. The expectations this time are huge

Andrew Fernando in Colombo03-Oct-2012Something about major tournaments stokes Sri Lanka’s fire. They have now reached their fifth semi-final in six competitions, second only to Pakistan who have a cleansweep since the 2007 World Cup. In between the major events, they are often underwhelming. Before defeating Pakistan in the home ODIs in June, Sri Lanka had failed to collect silverware in six limited-overs series over 10 months.Yet they have emerged frontrunners once more. The batting that so often seems fragile against quality bowling has grown a steely backbone. The middle order, abounding in youth, has bared its teeth as well. When England muscled past the top three on Monday, they stumbled into an ambush. The youngsters may not yet have acquired the heavy weaponry their seniors deal in, but they have enough switchblades and brass knuckles between them, and the audacity to dare anyone to a fight. Pakistan’s wounds from their last scrap at the Premadasa may not yet have healed.Sri Lanka’s bowling has been their strength, but occasionally it has been made to look brittle by opponents who have cracked its unorthodoxy. With three allrounders now among their ranks, Sri Lanka have stockpiled resources capable of stepping in for ailing front-liners. Thisara Perera has had a career-defining 12 months with the ball, but he has been held in reserve during this tournament in that regard. Others like Akila Dananjaya have emerged to add mettle to an attack that has reclaimed some of the fearsomeness it surrendered since the 2011 World Cup.Sri Lanka also understand they must win the title to appease a fan base that has been spoilt by the team’s consistency in major tournaments. Having come so close so many times, nothing but a victory in the final will do for most. But first Sri Lanka must overcome Pakistan, whose zest for the grand stage may be even keener than their own.”We are still two games away from the title, but we’re extremely proud to be a part of a group that has been consistent throughout these tournaments,” Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene said on the eve of the semi-final. “When you look back, even though we haven’t won, for us to be in those situations and have pushed hard is great. Yes, we haven’t won any of those [tournaments] and it’s a bit of a disappointment, but we have to be in those situations and if we keep getting there we will win.”Sri Lanka arrive at the semi finals as the only team of the remaining four not to have played a match at the Premadasa. They have a poor Twenty20 record in Colombo, having failed to win any of the four matches played here, though each of those results came before the square was re-laid in 2010.Sri Lanka began their campaign on the fastest track of the tournament in Hambantota, and adjusted quickly to a slightly less bouncy track in Pallekele. As the only team that will play at all three venues, they need to adapt once again in Colombo. However, Sri Lanka’s strength in and against spin should assist them at the venue that has produced the driest surfaces of the competition.Given some of the best players of spin in the world are in Sri Lanka’s top six, Pakistan are unlikely to send down 18 overs of slow bowling, as they did against Australia on Wednesday. “They’ve got some quality spinners, but our guys play spin quite well,” Jayawardene said. “We need to look at what kind of wicket we get tomorrow. It looks a fresh wicket, one where the first-round games were played. Depending on how the wicket behaves we need to take a few tactical changes. If we make any plans we have to play accordingly.”Throughout the campaign, Sri Lanka and their captain have worn the desperation of men striving to taste World Cup success. The nation’s cricket identity is inextricably linked to a single World Cup, as any builder, beggar, businessman or priest reminiscing about 1996 will attest. Perhaps for the first time in the last decade, Sri Lanka have no weak links; every facet of their game has roared to life in the Super Eights and those flames will only burn hotter in the belly of a heaving Premadasa.

Rest of India completed a comfortable 404-run win against Rajasthan on the fifth day of the Irani Cup in Jaipur

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShikhar Dhawan with his Player-of-the-Match awards•ESPNcricinfo LtdRest of India completed a 404-run win against Rajasthan on the fifth day of the Irani Cup in Jaipur. Rajasthan began the day with all their wickets intact but Rest of India, who had already won the trophy on the first-innings lead, got rid of the hosts’ top order in the morning session to set up the outright win.Rajasthan’s openers had a nervy start. In the second over of the day, Aakash Chopra edged Vinay Kumar but the ball fell short of slip. Vineet Saxena edged Varun Aaron for four soon after. The close calls sent the pair into defensive mode and they played out five maidens. Just when Rajasthan seemed to have safely negotiated the early burst from Rest of India – Saxena guided Umesh Yadav past point, while Chopra drove Aaron through covers – Pragyan Ojha struck. He got Chopra to drive at a flighted delivery and took the edge.Hrishikesh Kanitkar, the Rajasthan captain, did not last long, edging a bouncy Yadav delivery that was angled into him to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. Rest of India struck twice in quick succession again before lunch, with Vinay bowling Saxena and Ojha trapping Robin Bist lbw, to take control of the game.For a while, Rashmi Parida and Ashok Menaria looked like they would hold off Rest of India like they did in the first-innings. But the resistance was cut short when Menaria lost his composure and went after a short, wide ball from Yadav, only to offer Parthiv another catch. Rest of India continued to knock off the wickets in pairs, as Rahul Sharma – who did not have the best day, spraying the ball around a bit – had Rohit Jalani lbw for a duck. Sharma picked up a couple of wickets after that, though, as Parida holed out and Deepak Chahar had his off stump uprooted.Madhur Khatri produced the only innings of note for Rajasthan, a boundary-studded 53. Khatri cut and pulled, and managed a few drives down the ground and through the covers, before edging to Abhinav Mukund at third slip. Ojha wrapped up the match two overs later, as Sunil Mathur charged down the track, missed and was stumped. It was Ohja’s fourth wicket, to go with his first-innings five-for. Rest of India opener Shikhar Dhawan, who struck two blistering centuries in the match, was named Player of the Match.

The BCCI and Rajasthan Royals have decided to settle their dispute over the termination of the IPL franchise through arbitration

Tariq Engineer15-Nov-2010The BCCI and Rajasthan Royals have decided to settle their dispute over the termination of the IPL franchise through arbitration, and informed the Bombay High Court of that decision today. The Royals had filed a case in the High Court challenging the board’s decision to unilaterally terminate the franchise.The two parties have agreed on Justice BN Srikrishna as the sole arbitrator and will appear before the High Court on November 18 for directions on how to proceed with the process. “This is exactly what we wanted,” a source in Rajasthan Royals with knowledge of the situation told ESPNcricinfo. “It is good for us because arbitration is a faster route [than the courts].”The IPL franchise agreement specifically provides for arbitration in the case of a dispute that cannot be settled amicably. Clause 21.1 of the agreement, states that “such dispute shall be submitted to arbitration and conclusively resolved by a single arbitrator appointed by mutual consent.”The BCCI decided, on October 10, to end the franchise’s IPL affiliation on charges of transgression of shareholding and ownership norms that threatened to “shake the very foundation of the tender process”, as the notice put it. The Kings XI Punjab franchise was also terminated the same day and they too have filed a case in the Bombay High Court disputing that decision. Given that the franchise contracts are the same in both cases, it is likely that their case will also wind up in arbitration with the board.The announcement to terminate agreements with the two franchises came after days of hectic speculation and raised further questions about its implications. Though the BCCI president Shashank Manohar said the decision had nothing to do with Lalit Modi, both Rajasthan and Punjab have co-owners who are relations of the ousted IPL chairman. Neither team was given a chance to explain the charges levelled against them before they were terminated.

Newcastle United are reportedly now targeting a move for Renan Lodi in the summer.

The Lowdown: Targett conundrum

The St James’ Park club have a conundrum over whether to sign Matt Targett on a permanent deal following his loan spell from Aston Villa.

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They have reportedly not made a decision yet, although polls suggest that the vast majority of the fanbase would choose to bring him in permanently.

The Latest: Lodi targeted by Newcastle

As per journalist Jacque Talbot, Lodi ‘remains a target’ for Newcastle despite Targett’s ‘glowing performances’, with the latter set to ‘hold talks’ with the Tyneside club this summer after his loan ends.

Replying to a fan on Twitter, Talbot then revealed that the Atletico Madrid defender will likely cost around €50m (£42.2m) and that a deal is ‘very negotiable’, saying: “Think about €50m but have heard it’ll be very negotiable how it’s done.”

Expanding in his article for Football Transfers, the journalist said that ‘sources’ have told the news outlet that talks over Targett will still proceed despite the interest in Lodi, as both Newcastle and Villa are ‘happy’ with how things are going at the moment.

However, the representatives of Lodi have already spoken to the Magpies, with discussions taking place in the January transfer window over a potential move then.

The Verdict: Targett over Lodi

If the Toon could only sign one of those left-back options, they should be looking at signing Targett over Lodi.

Firstly, the Englishman should be a lot cheaper, with €15m (£12.6m) thought to be enough for his permanent signature.

His performances for Eddie Howe’s team should not be overlooked either, and he is actually averaging more tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, shots, key passes, dribbles, crosses and long balls per game than the Atletico Madrid left-back in their respective domestic leagues so far this season (WhoScored).

The new owners at St James’ Park should be prioritising a move for Targett first, before potentially moving onto Lodi if a deal cannot be struck.

In other news, find out whose NUFC future is now in doubt