Here is a quick highlights of 5th day's play. Excellent innings by Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Hussey and Haddin Put Australia on Top on 3rd day at Gabba
England 260 and 0 for 19 (Strauss 11*, Cook 6*) trail Australia 481 (Hussey 195, Haddin 136, Finn 6-125) by 202 runsClick here for Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin wrote themselves a place in the history books with a monumental 307-run partnership as Australia took a firm grip on the opening Test in Brisbane. The mammoth stand was a record for any wicket at the Gabba and steered the home side towards a formidable lead of 221 as Hussey hit a career-best 195. Following hours of toil, Steven Finn provided England a late boost with a career-best six wickets, but it's a huge task for them to avoid beginning their Ashes defence with defeat.
Facing a tough hour, Andrew Strauss survived a huge appeal lbw first ball when he padded up to Ben Hilfenhaus and Ricky Ponting asked for a review but it had been correctly ruled to be heading over the stumps. However, it was a heart-in-mouth moment for Strauss, who was on a pair until he tucked a single to square leg. He and Alastair Cook fought hard to get through to the close, yet it's only the start of what has to be a huge rearguard and at least two batsmen need to follow the lead of Hussey and Haddin.
Smart stats:
1. Michael Hussey's 195 was his third century against England and second in consecutive matches against England after his hundred at The Oval in 2009. It is also his highest Test score surpassing his 182 against Bangladesh in 2006.
2. Haddin's 136 is the second-highest score at the Gabba by a wicketkeeper, behind Ian Healy's 161 against West Indies in 1996-97.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
ICC needs to tap players' phones - Haider
In his first public appearance since fleeing Dubai midway through a tour and surfacing in London, Zulqarnain Haider reiterated to reporters at an impromptu press conference at Chaudhry's TKC Restaurant in Southall that he fled because of death threats against him and his family, and said the best way for the ICC to eradicate match fixing is to "record all the players' phones and record where they are going."
"It was very hard for me when I got threats from one person in Dubai," he said. "I just felt very nervous that he gave me threats." Haider chose the venue because it had provided catering to the Pakistan team during its tour of England earlier this year.
Haider said "a lot of people are involved" in match-fixing and that he would co-operate fully with the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit as he wants cricket to be "clear of fixing", but did not accuse any of the players in the Pakistan team, saying he didn't want to blame or be negative towards anyone. The ACSU has already communicated with Haider over his claims.
The 24-year-old chose to flee to England because "this country is very humane, very co-operative, and there are very nice people here and there are very good rules here for my safety." However, he said he did not intend to claim asylum permanent, saying "I don't want any aid from the British government. I want to be a good citizen and I am a good citizen also in Pakistan. I want to live in peace."
Haider believes the person who threatened him wanted him to help fix the fourth and fifth ODIs against South Africa. He described the conversation but said he did not know the man's identity. "He said, 'If you work with us, we will give you a lot of money. If [not and] you go back home, we will kill you and your family.'"
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Flower backs Cook to deliver
Andy Flower, the England coach, has backed the under-pressure opener Alastair Cook to perform in the Ashes. Cook, England's vice-captain, was the only notable failure in the tourists' six-wicket victory over West Australia. He managed scores of 5 and 9 in the practice game and has only two more warm-up fixtures to find form before going into the Ashes opener with a modest average of 26.21 from 10 Tests against Australia.
Despite his poor record, and a difficult summer where 110 of his 226 runs came in a single, career-saving innings against Pakistan at The Oval, Flower insists there is no problem with Cook. "I don't have concerns," said Flower. "It's one game, two innings [against West Australia]. I think he's going to do well."
England have moved to Adelaide for their second practice game, against South Australia, which begins on November 11, and don't have a specialist opener as backup for Cook and Andrew Strauss. If Cook were to struggle, then Jonathan Trott, who opened with him against Bangladesh earlier this year, could move up from No. 3 and allow Eoin Morgan to slot into the line-up.
It would be a major reshuffle and Flower is clearly reluctant to meddle too much at this stage. He is pleased with England's progress after their first victory in an opening first-class match in Australia since 1965-66, but stressed the need for his players to gain as much match practice as possible before the first Test in Brisbane.
"It was very important for us to get that middle time," Flower said. "One of our priorities is not to give everyone a go. We are trying to prepare our Test side for Brisbane and while with a squad of 16 or 17 everyone wants to play, our priority is to ensure that our Test XI is as ready as possible for the first Test."
The tourists' victory against West Australia was not entirely blemish free with the batsmen collapsing to 8 for 159 in the first innings and the home side reaching 1 for 130 in the second, before England surged to victory on the back of four wickets for Graeme Swann and an unbeaten century from Strauss.
Strauss's undisputed position as captain contrasts with his opposite number Ricky Ponting whose future is being debated in the Australian media and Flower emphasised the importance for the leader to perform well. "[Strauss] is an important man, because he's our leader. Captains want to lead from the front but it's important for all of our guys to contribute, so I don't think one batsman is more important than the next. They've all got to do it."
With England settled on a balance of four bowlers and six batsmen Graeme Swann's dual role as wicket-taker and defensive option will be crucial in the series. He is now ranked No. 2 in the world and pressure is on him to deliver the goods in a country where touring offspinners have not had much success.
"Expectations on Graeme Swann are high and he will make his contributions, there's no doubt about that, he's a very fine bowler," Flower said. "But he's one of four bowlers in our Test attack, and it's important our whole side works together to create pressure - and he's one of those guys."
Despite his poor record, and a difficult summer where 110 of his 226 runs came in a single, career-saving innings against Pakistan at The Oval, Flower insists there is no problem with Cook. "I don't have concerns," said Flower. "It's one game, two innings [against West Australia]. I think he's going to do well."
England have moved to Adelaide for their second practice game, against South Australia, which begins on November 11, and don't have a specialist opener as backup for Cook and Andrew Strauss. If Cook were to struggle, then Jonathan Trott, who opened with him against Bangladesh earlier this year, could move up from No. 3 and allow Eoin Morgan to slot into the line-up.
It would be a major reshuffle and Flower is clearly reluctant to meddle too much at this stage. He is pleased with England's progress after their first victory in an opening first-class match in Australia since 1965-66, but stressed the need for his players to gain as much match practice as possible before the first Test in Brisbane.
"It was very important for us to get that middle time," Flower said. "One of our priorities is not to give everyone a go. We are trying to prepare our Test side for Brisbane and while with a squad of 16 or 17 everyone wants to play, our priority is to ensure that our Test XI is as ready as possible for the first Test."
The tourists' victory against West Australia was not entirely blemish free with the batsmen collapsing to 8 for 159 in the first innings and the home side reaching 1 for 130 in the second, before England surged to victory on the back of four wickets for Graeme Swann and an unbeaten century from Strauss.
Strauss's undisputed position as captain contrasts with his opposite number Ricky Ponting whose future is being debated in the Australian media and Flower emphasised the importance for the leader to perform well. "[Strauss] is an important man, because he's our leader. Captains want to lead from the front but it's important for all of our guys to contribute, so I don't think one batsman is more important than the next. They've all got to do it."
With England settled on a balance of four bowlers and six batsmen Graeme Swann's dual role as wicket-taker and defensive option will be crucial in the series. He is now ranked No. 2 in the world and pressure is on him to deliver the goods in a country where touring offspinners have not had much success.
"Expectations on Graeme Swann are high and he will make his contributions, there's no doubt about that, he's a very fine bowler," Flower said. "But he's one of four bowlers in our Test attack, and it's important our whole side works together to create pressure - and he's one of those guys."
Zulqarnain Haider confirms threats and retires
In his first public comments since fleeing from Dubai and arriving in London on Monday, Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has confirmed that he received threats from unidentified people following his team's one-wicket win in the fourth ODI against South Africa and was told to get in line for the fifth match. As a result of the threats Haider - who is seeking some sort of protection in the UK - has announced his retirement from cricket.
"The way my situation is right now I am retiring from international cricket," Haider (24) said. "There is too much pressure on me, I have received threats, my family has received threats."
The issue of threats brings the matter within the ICC's purview, and its chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the governing body was in regular contact with the PCB. "Clearly this is in the first instance a team matter for Pakistan cricket but the ICC is willing to provide assistance to the PCB and the player," said Lorgat. "We understand his plight if reports are indeed true, but we can only help if he is willing to engage with us."
Lorgat did concede, though, that Haider erred in not informing the ACSU. "I think we have to build the confidence amongst the players that the right thing to do is to speak to the ACSU officials if they have got anything that they want to declare," he told ESPNcricinfo. "I don't think it was wise of him to have done what he did, because it doesn't solve the problems for him as well and the right thing would have been to speak to the ACSU."
Haider outlined his encounter with the person who approached him, without giving too much detail. "When I went out of the hotel to eat dinner once, he came up. He was alone but I felt there were two to three people behind him. I can describe him. He spoke Urdu but I cannot describe the accent accurately. He said you will make lots of money if you join us and help us. If not, then staying in the team could be difficult and we can make things difficult for you. I don't know why I was approached and others weren't."
Speaking to Geo, a leading Pakistani news channel, Haider was guarded about events of the previous 24 hours but seemed to indicate that he had sought some kind of "protection" from British authorities. He is thought to have been detained at Heathrow by immigration authorities for nearly four hours, before he moved to an undisclosed location.
"The fourth ODI, the things I was told to do I didn't, and the fifth ODI, what they wanted done I didn't do," Haider said. "That is why I did what seemed right to me and I came here. I can't tell what kind of threats I received to the country because my family is still in Pakistan."
When asked further about the nature of these threats and who they might have come from, Haider was unwilling and unable to reveal much more. "I am not accusing anyone of being a match-fixer. I only got one guy telling me that if you can't do this or that, there will be problems, or fix the fourth of fifth ODI. I don't want to say who it is, neither do I know so much about who it is. I have only played two-three ODIs." Asked specifically if he thought players within the team were involved, he said, "I am not saying they are or are not. Only God knows that. But I did what I thought was better for everyone. I just didn't want to sell my country, my mother. The country is like your mother and if you sell that you are nothing."
Haider also confirmed that he took his passport from the team management on the pretext of buying a SIM card for his mobile and left on Monday morning. Questions have been raised by a number of former players and board officials themselves about why he didn't approach the board first to report the threats, as is required by the anti-corruption code of conduct. "I felt if I told them, it would get worse for me and my family so I thought to come here. I know about British rules as I have been coming here for the last nine to ten years. They protect you.
"If I had told the PCB or players, it would've gotten out and then who knows? I don't feel it would've been better to tell anyone or authorities there. If I had told any of the other players, it might have put them in trouble also."
Though he didn't confirm that he had sought asylum in the UK, he did strongly indicate that he was seeking some form of protective status. "I cannot say where I am. I am not in a detention centre. Immigration authorities helped me a lot. The British government is such that if you are on the right path, they will protect you. They have rules [as far as asylum is concerned] and you can't enter until you have given reasons why. Immigration asked me what I would do. According to the rules they said go like this but hire a government lawyer. I don't have money right now to hire a private one but if this is the cost of walking on the right path, then so be it, I will bear it."
As the interview went on, Haider became emotional, ending it with a plea that his family - currently in Lahore - be helped and protected. "Help my family somehow. If it can be done, send my family here. For their security. I have my daily wages from the South Africa series and that is it. I will communicate with someone to see if they can help me financially."
Haider has not yet contacted the Pakistan High Commission in London. "We are not involved. Not to my knowledge. He [Haider] has not approached us as yet," an official at the High Commission said. When asked if the Pakistan board had approached them, he did not confirm or deny, saying that the "PCB should be handling it."
ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB discussed various options of dealing with the matter, including contacting the high commission in the UK and asking them to offer Haider protection. This suggestion, however, was overruled. Haider's family in Lahore said he has not been in touch with them since his arrival in the UK.
"The way my situation is right now I am retiring from international cricket," Haider (24) said. "There is too much pressure on me, I have received threats, my family has received threats."
The issue of threats brings the matter within the ICC's purview, and its chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the governing body was in regular contact with the PCB. "Clearly this is in the first instance a team matter for Pakistan cricket but the ICC is willing to provide assistance to the PCB and the player," said Lorgat. "We understand his plight if reports are indeed true, but we can only help if he is willing to engage with us."
Lorgat did concede, though, that Haider erred in not informing the ACSU. "I think we have to build the confidence amongst the players that the right thing to do is to speak to the ACSU officials if they have got anything that they want to declare," he told ESPNcricinfo. "I don't think it was wise of him to have done what he did, because it doesn't solve the problems for him as well and the right thing would have been to speak to the ACSU."
Haider outlined his encounter with the person who approached him, without giving too much detail. "When I went out of the hotel to eat dinner once, he came up. He was alone but I felt there were two to three people behind him. I can describe him. He spoke Urdu but I cannot describe the accent accurately. He said you will make lots of money if you join us and help us. If not, then staying in the team could be difficult and we can make things difficult for you. I don't know why I was approached and others weren't."
Speaking to Geo, a leading Pakistani news channel, Haider was guarded about events of the previous 24 hours but seemed to indicate that he had sought some kind of "protection" from British authorities. He is thought to have been detained at Heathrow by immigration authorities for nearly four hours, before he moved to an undisclosed location.
"The fourth ODI, the things I was told to do I didn't, and the fifth ODI, what they wanted done I didn't do," Haider said. "That is why I did what seemed right to me and I came here. I can't tell what kind of threats I received to the country because my family is still in Pakistan."
When asked further about the nature of these threats and who they might have come from, Haider was unwilling and unable to reveal much more. "I am not accusing anyone of being a match-fixer. I only got one guy telling me that if you can't do this or that, there will be problems, or fix the fourth of fifth ODI. I don't want to say who it is, neither do I know so much about who it is. I have only played two-three ODIs." Asked specifically if he thought players within the team were involved, he said, "I am not saying they are or are not. Only God knows that. But I did what I thought was better for everyone. I just didn't want to sell my country, my mother. The country is like your mother and if you sell that you are nothing."
Haider also confirmed that he took his passport from the team management on the pretext of buying a SIM card for his mobile and left on Monday morning. Questions have been raised by a number of former players and board officials themselves about why he didn't approach the board first to report the threats, as is required by the anti-corruption code of conduct. "I felt if I told them, it would get worse for me and my family so I thought to come here. I know about British rules as I have been coming here for the last nine to ten years. They protect you.
"If I had told the PCB or players, it would've gotten out and then who knows? I don't feel it would've been better to tell anyone or authorities there. If I had told any of the other players, it might have put them in trouble also."
Though he didn't confirm that he had sought asylum in the UK, he did strongly indicate that he was seeking some form of protective status. "I cannot say where I am. I am not in a detention centre. Immigration authorities helped me a lot. The British government is such that if you are on the right path, they will protect you. They have rules [as far as asylum is concerned] and you can't enter until you have given reasons why. Immigration asked me what I would do. According to the rules they said go like this but hire a government lawyer. I don't have money right now to hire a private one but if this is the cost of walking on the right path, then so be it, I will bear it."
As the interview went on, Haider became emotional, ending it with a plea that his family - currently in Lahore - be helped and protected. "Help my family somehow. If it can be done, send my family here. For their security. I have my daily wages from the South Africa series and that is it. I will communicate with someone to see if they can help me financially."
Haider has not yet contacted the Pakistan High Commission in London. "We are not involved. Not to my knowledge. He [Haider] has not approached us as yet," an official at the High Commission said. When asked if the Pakistan board had approached them, he did not confirm or deny, saying that the "PCB should be handling it."
ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB discussed various options of dealing with the matter, including contacting the high commission in the UK and asking them to offer Haider protection. This suggestion, however, was overruled. Haider's family in Lahore said he has not been in touch with them since his arrival in the UK.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Zulqarnain Haider reportedly goes missing
Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has reportedly gone missing and did not arrive with the team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the deciding ODI against South Africa.
PCB officials were unavailable for comment on the reasons for Haider's non-arrival. Team manager Intikhab Alam said: "I can't make much comment on this, but I can only confirm that Haider did not come with the team to the ground and we are looking for him." A cryptic message left as a status update on the player's Facebook page said: "leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game."
A TV reporter for Geo said that he had received a similar text message from Haider earlier on Monday and also an indication that he might fly to the UK. It is not clear whether Haider has left the UAE because, generally, the passports of players are kept with management officials.
Television channels spoke to Haider's relatives, including his brother Aqil, but they weren't aware of his whereabouts. Aqil said he had spoken to his brother on Sunday night but was given no indication of his actions. As a result of the confusion, Pakistan announced their XI for the final game early and made three changes; Umar Akmal, Shahzaib Hasan and surprisingly, Mohammad Yousuf, came into the side. Akmal will, in all likelihood, take over Haider's role. Yousuf only arrived in Dubai yesterday, after recovering from an abductor strain, and wasn't expected to take part in the ODIs at all.
Haider's brief international career has not lacked for incident. Though he had played a Twenty20 international for Pakistan - against South Africa - in 2006-07, he made his Test debut only earlier this year. He replaced Kamran Akmal for the second Test against England this summer, and made a fighting, widely-lauded 88 in the second innings. He picked up a finger injury during the game and flew back soon after, missing the rest of the tour. He did indicate at the time that he was unhappy at being sent back so quickly, though the issue did not go much further. He was selected again for the current series and has figured in the headlines again, on and off the field. Haider was fined by the PCB on Sunday for breaking team curfew during the ODI series against South Africa.
The last match that his Facebook status seems to refer to is the fourth ODI of the series, another closely-fought thriller, in which Haider's unbeaten 19 took Pakistan to victory with one wicket and one ball to spare.
PCB officials were unavailable for comment on the reasons for Haider's non-arrival. Team manager Intikhab Alam said: "I can't make much comment on this, but I can only confirm that Haider did not come with the team to the ground and we are looking for him." A cryptic message left as a status update on the player's Facebook page said: "leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game."
A TV reporter for Geo said that he had received a similar text message from Haider earlier on Monday and also an indication that he might fly to the UK. It is not clear whether Haider has left the UAE because, generally, the passports of players are kept with management officials.
Television channels spoke to Haider's relatives, including his brother Aqil, but they weren't aware of his whereabouts. Aqil said he had spoken to his brother on Sunday night but was given no indication of his actions. As a result of the confusion, Pakistan announced their XI for the final game early and made three changes; Umar Akmal, Shahzaib Hasan and surprisingly, Mohammad Yousuf, came into the side. Akmal will, in all likelihood, take over Haider's role. Yousuf only arrived in Dubai yesterday, after recovering from an abductor strain, and wasn't expected to take part in the ODIs at all.
Haider's brief international career has not lacked for incident. Though he had played a Twenty20 international for Pakistan - against South Africa - in 2006-07, he made his Test debut only earlier this year. He replaced Kamran Akmal for the second Test against England this summer, and made a fighting, widely-lauded 88 in the second innings. He picked up a finger injury during the game and flew back soon after, missing the rest of the tour. He did indicate at the time that he was unhappy at being sent back so quickly, though the issue did not go much further. He was selected again for the current series and has figured in the headlines again, on and off the field. Haider was fined by the PCB on Sunday for breaking team curfew during the ODI series against South Africa.
The last match that his Facebook status seems to refer to is the fourth ODI of the series, another closely-fought thriller, in which Haider's unbeaten 19 took Pakistan to victory with one wicket and one ball to spare.
Ashes News
England XI 8 for 223 dec. and 4 for 243 (Strauss 120*, Pietersen 35, Beer 2-99) beat Western Australia 8 for 242 dec. and 223 (Robinson 54, Swann 4-101, Broad 2-26) by six wickets.
England surged to a six-wicket win on the third afternoon
of their tour match against Western Australia at Perth, captain Andrew Strauss's unbeaten 120 guiding their fourth-innings pursuit of 243. Four wickets for Graeme Swann, with admirable back-up from Stuart Broad and Steven Finn, had brought England back into the game after Western Australia started the day well placed at 1 for 109. The last nine wickets tumbled for 93 runs to set up England's second-innings chase, and though Alastair Cook again fell early Strauss ran to an aggressive hundred and a string of contributions from the middle order sealed the win in the 48th over.
England looked set for a long day in the field while Wes Robinson and Michael Swart built on a strong opening stand of 77 with a 53-run partnership for the second wicket. But Swart's removal, pinned in front of his stumps by Finn, sparked a collapse as Robinson was stumped off Swann shortly after passing fifty, captain Marcus North was run out by substitute fielder Eoin Morgan and Adam Voges was caught behind off Broad in the space of eight overs.
From then on, England kept firm control of the match and wickets fell at regular intervals. No. 11 Michael Hogan bashed 21 from just 12 balls, including two fours and two sixes, to boost Western Australia's innings past 200, but when he was run out England were left with the appetising task of chasing 243 in 52 overs.
Hogan kept up the counter-attack with the ball in his hands, clean bowling Cook in the fifth over as England's chase suffered an early setback. But Strauss anchored the innings with aplomb, adding a sedate 65 in 16.2 overs for the second wicket with Jonathan Trott and then shifting gears in a 66-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen that took half that time.
Pietersen followed his first-innings 58 with a quickfire 35, striking three powerful straight drives in succession off Hogan and lofting left-arm spinner Michael Beer over midwicket before being given out leg before to the same bowler attempting an adventurous reverse sweep. The decision didn't impress Pietersen, who stood at the crease for several seconds looking at his bat before walking off.
Strauss then added a third half-century stand, with Paul Collingwood, and brought up his 36th first-class century with a crisp straight drive off Swart's part-time spin. After Beer had Collingwood caught for 26 for his second wicket, he finished the job in partnership with Ian Bell. Bell hurried the conclusion with three fours and a six in his 22 as England sealed victory with more than four overs to spare.
England surged to a six-wicket win on the third afternoon
of their tour match against Western Australia at Perth, captain Andrew Strauss's unbeaten 120 guiding their fourth-innings pursuit of 243. Four wickets for Graeme Swann, with admirable back-up from Stuart Broad and Steven Finn, had brought England back into the game after Western Australia started the day well placed at 1 for 109. The last nine wickets tumbled for 93 runs to set up England's second-innings chase, and though Alastair Cook again fell early Strauss ran to an aggressive hundred and a string of contributions from the middle order sealed the win in the 48th over.England looked set for a long day in the field while Wes Robinson and Michael Swart built on a strong opening stand of 77 with a 53-run partnership for the second wicket. But Swart's removal, pinned in front of his stumps by Finn, sparked a collapse as Robinson was stumped off Swann shortly after passing fifty, captain Marcus North was run out by substitute fielder Eoin Morgan and Adam Voges was caught behind off Broad in the space of eight overs.
From then on, England kept firm control of the match and wickets fell at regular intervals. No. 11 Michael Hogan bashed 21 from just 12 balls, including two fours and two sixes, to boost Western Australia's innings past 200, but when he was run out England were left with the appetising task of chasing 243 in 52 overs.
Hogan kept up the counter-attack with the ball in his hands, clean bowling Cook in the fifth over as England's chase suffered an early setback. But Strauss anchored the innings with aplomb, adding a sedate 65 in 16.2 overs for the second wicket with Jonathan Trott and then shifting gears in a 66-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen that took half that time.
Pietersen followed his first-innings 58 with a quickfire 35, striking three powerful straight drives in succession off Hogan and lofting left-arm spinner Michael Beer over midwicket before being given out leg before to the same bowler attempting an adventurous reverse sweep. The decision didn't impress Pietersen, who stood at the crease for several seconds looking at his bat before walking off.
Strauss then added a third half-century stand, with Paul Collingwood, and brought up his 36th first-class century with a crisp straight drive off Swart's part-time spin. After Beer had Collingwood caught for 26 for his second wicket, he finished the job in partnership with Ian Bell. Bell hurried the conclusion with three fours and a six in his 22 as England sealed victory with more than four overs to spare.
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