Harshad Mehta, the chairman of the Kochi franchise, claimed Modi attempted to discourage the consortium from bidding for the new franchise

Cricinfo staff13-May-2010The Dubai-based chairman of the Kochi franchise has said the team has sent a formal complaint to the BCCI about suspended IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.In an interview with the , an Abu Dhabi-based daily, Harshad Mehta claimed Modi attempted to discourage the consortium from bidding for the new franchise. “He told us that so many partners can’t handle a team. We listened to whatever he had to say. He is the IPL chairman. We listened and we kept our cool.”The consortium of practically unknown businessmen bid US$333.33 million to win one of the two new franchises, surprising everyone involved, including Modi, who subsequently set off a media firestorm by questioning the shareholding pattern of the consortium on the micro-blogging site Twitter. The ensuing controversy eventually led to Modi’s suspension as commissioner and the resignation of junior external affairs minister Shashi Tharoor, who was acting as a mentor to the bidding group.Mehta opened up about the shareholding fiasco, which centred on a 4.7% stake given to Sunanda Pushkar, a close friend of Tharoor’s, as “sweat equity”. He said Pushkar, a former sales manager of real estate company Tecom, was given a stake because the investors were convinced she could attract sponsors.”Sweat equity has been misunderstood by everyone,” Mehta said. “It has zero value initially. If I think an employee has potential and can bring money and support to the team, I can offer the person sweat equity. It is available in any part of the world. The BCCI says we can give 100% sweat equity if we want, to anybody. There was no need for him [Modi] to raise such alarm.”However, Mehta admitted Pushkar had probably been given a relatively high share, and even though she has returned her stake and no longer has anything to do with the team, the management decided to reduce the total amount of free equity in the franchise across the board. “We realised that the proportion we gave was too much, so we backed out. Now the team has only 11 to 12% of sweat equity.”While Pushkar is no longer associated with the team, Mehta said Tharoor would continue to play a part. “Shashi will still be our mentor. We require his help to run this team.”The Kochi team has now turned its attention to the running of the franchise. Mehta revealed the team’s interest in Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardane, who currently plays for the Kings XI Punjab. “I like Mahela personally and have a very good relation with him,” Mehta said.”I was the first person to take him outside Sri Lanka to play in South Africa. My relation with him is over 20 years now. If he is available and if I have a successful bid, he will be part of the Kochi team.”According to Mehta, Kerala native Sreesanth, who also plays for Kings XI Punjab, has already committed to joining the team in 2011. “He is the best bowler but not very mature,” said Mehta. “He must have a target and everything will be good.”Meanwhile, the core of the team will be composed primarily of players from Gujarat and Delhi.
“We’ll take lot of players from Gujarat and mostly we are taking from Delhi,” said Mehta. “We are very keen on Delhi. They are very good fighters.”

Sreesanth, the Indian fast bowler,has said it is important for fast bowlers to maintain their focus in the wake of early success and fame

Cricinfo staff21-May-2010Sreesanth, the Indian fast bowler, has said it is important for pace bowlers to maintain their focus in the wake of early success and fame. Speaking to Harsha Bhogle on Cricinfo’s audio show , Sreesanth said it was difficult for India’s fast bowlers to make the transition from domestic to international cricket, especially when playing overseas, and added that fear of injury and the urge to play on a long-term basis could be reasons for many promising young seamers to cut down on their pace after the first few games.”Focus is surely important, but again everyone lives their own personal life as well. As long as he knows the thin line between foolishness and bravery, that is very important,” Sreesanth said. “If you have a mentor or someone is looking up for you, with so much of money and entertainment involved, if there is one coach or family member, who actually keeps an eye on the player and if the player is ready to listen to them, you are alright. If you are talented and hardworking, nothing should bother you.”India have used 12 fast bowlers in the 68 ODIs they have played since the start of 2008. When asked if immense pressure to perform was the reason behind many struggling to keep their places in the side, Sreesanth said: “Honestly, you need to be performing rather than complaining. There is stress and there is pressure, especially when you play in Indian conditions. It’s actually tough to get on and start performing. It’s a challenge for a fast bowler, especially in the Powerplay of a one-day game, but you must endure those stressful moments.”Maybe the bowlers are planning to play in the long term, maybe 10 to 15 years instead of doing the job that is given to you,” Sreesanth said of the reason behind bowlers dropping in pace. “Maybe it’s the fear of injury. It’s always better to give your best every single day. I think that may be the reason – trying to conserve your energy for the next game than giving your best today.”Sreesanth made his debut against England in March 2006 and starting off his international career in home conditions, he said, made his transition to the highest level easier than for others. “If you’re playing in the subcontinent it’s a little easier because you’ve actually played at the Ranji Trophy level,” he said. “To cope with the international standards of batsmen, especially with most of them who don’t play in the domestic circuit, it’s tough for youngsters to come in and do their job. It takes a lot of patience and hard work to make a strong impact in the international circuit straight from the domestic circuit.”I’ve been lucky. I remember the first series we played was against England in India. I was lucky enough to bowl on an Indian track and then go abroad.”A balance between both strength and skill is an important ingredient for bowling fast along with accuracy, Sreesanth said. “Gym is very important, strength is surely important. But if you forget your skill…..you’ve got to work on your wrists, on your bowling and spot-bowling. What we forget after playing for our country is the spot-bowling which we grew up with in the countryside.”Sreesanth’s eight-wicket haul in the Johannesburg Test in 2006, which helped India win their first Test in South Africa, is considered to be among his best performances. But he rated his 5 for 75 against Sri Lanka in his comeback Test in Kanpur last year as his best outing.”I’ll rate that performance surely, as it is the only Test we have ever won there,” he said of his spell at the Wanderers. “But I think the comeback match against Sri Lanka in Kanpur – that was the best I bowled. I was under a lot of stress and pressure, and I never thought I’ll play for India again. Upon getting a chance in Kanpur, on those flattest of tracks, I could get the ball to reverse…I rate that as my best spell.”

West Indies have dropped opening batsman Travis Dowlin and replaced him with Barbados opener Dale Richards in the squad for the third Test against South Africa

Cricinfo staff23-Jun-2010West Indies have dropped opening batsman Travis Dowlin and replaced him with Barbados opener Dale Richards in the squad for the third Test against South Africa at the Kensington Oval from June 26 to 30. Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul was also not in the list of 13 because of a side strain. He has returned to Trinidad to continue rehabilitation.The selectors retained Dowlin for the second Test after the opener had failed in the first – he scored only 4 and 1 in West Indies’ 163-run defeat. Dowlin did not impress in the high-scoring draw in St. Kitts either and fell for 10 in West Indies’ only innings of 546.His replacement, Richards, played two Tests for West Indies against Bangladesh in 2009, while most of the regular players were on strike, and scored 108 runs in four innings.West Indies trail 0-1 in the three-Test series against South Africa. They lost the Twenty20 series 0-2 and were blanked 0-5 in the one-dayers.Squad: Chris Gayle (capt), Dwayne Bravo (vc), Dale Richards, Brendan Nash, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn, Shane Shillingford, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach.

Middlesex took just 77 minutes to complete victory over Surrey by an innings and 44 runs on the third day at Lord’s despite dogged resistance from Chris Tremlett who produced an unbeaten half century

31-Jul-2010

ScorecardMiddlesex took just 77 minutes to complete victory over Surrey by an innings and 44 runs on the third day at Lord’s despite dogged resistance from Chris Tremlett who produced an unbeaten half century.It meant the hosts took maximum points from a County Championship fixture for the first time in 28 games and inflicted their first defeat by an innings over their historic rivals since 1995 with only one victory in the intervening time, in 2004.Surrey, in contrast, took a solitary point from the match after two of their three bowling bonus points were deducted for a slow over-rate. The last time they were so trounced by Middlesex, an EGM at The Oval called for wholesale manageme changes, though the petitioners were not immediately successful.Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams said: “We’ve just got to take this on the chin and re-group”. He also revealed fitness doubts over Andre Nel, Surrey’s spearhead bowler, for the rest of the season. At least the few Surrey fans who turned up had something to cheer in the performance of Tremlett, whose undefeated 53 required only 42 balls and was his first fifty since joining the county this year.The England fast bowler had made six fifties in his Hampshire days but none was quite as exotic as this. After Surrey resumed 146 behind at 110 for 6, Tremlett arrived at the crease when Gareth Batty was magnificently caught by Josh Davey who, diving to his right, held on to a full-blooded drive one-handed at short extra cover.This gave Tim Murtagh his one wicket in the innings off the day’s 13th ball but Tremlett was immediately dropped off the next by Owais Shah at third slip. Escaping before he had scored, he dominated a stand of 67 runs in 62 balls before Stewart Walters, swinging at a wide one, attempted one Twenty20 shot too many.Caught behind, Walters went for 43 to Pedro Collins who had been brought back into the attack after punishment to Toby Roland-Jones. The inexperienced youngster was given just one over before being wisely withdrawn when it was smashed for 12 runs. He had done the real damage yesterday evening with his maiden five-wicket haul and finished with 5 for 41.Shaun Udal, greeted by Tremlett with a six off his fifth ball, removed Jade Dernbach after another 29 came in 21 balls and then Collins ended the innings next over.

Former captain Gavin Hamilton has been recalled to Scotland’s strong 14-member squad to face Bangladesh in the one-off ODI in Glasgow on July 19

Cricinfo staff15-Jul-2010Former captain Gavin Hamilton has been recalled to Scotland’s strong 14-member squad to face Bangladesh in the one-off ODI in Glasgow on July 19. Hamilton, who stepped down from his post last month, didn’t participate in the ICC World Cricket League Division One in Netherlands recently.Two players who were busy with county commitments, Kyle Coetzer and Josh Davey, have also been included. The squad includes the core group of players from the WCL, where the team won five out of seven games.”We are looking forward to playing another Test-playing nation at home,” head coach Peter Steindl said. “We aim to continue the fighting spirit that we have demonstrated so far this season and look forward to the challenge that Bangladesh will provide us.”The teams last met in Scottish soil during the 1999 World Cup. The ground will also host the one-off match between Netherlands and Bangladesh on July 20.Squad: Gordon Drummond (capt), Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Josh Davey, Gordon Goudie, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Moneeb Iqbal, Dougie Lockhart (wk), Ross Lyons, Neil McCallum, Preston Mommsen, Matthew Parker, Fraser Watts

The six major associations in New Zealand have announced their list of 12 contracted players for the 2010-11 season

Cricinfo staff24-Aug-2010The six major associations in New Zealand have announced their list of 12 contracted players for the 2010-11 season.Auckland: Michael Bates, Andrew De Boorder, Colin De Grandhomme, Dusan Hakaraia, Roneel Hira, Anaru Kitchen, Jimmy Neesham, Jeet Raval, Gareth Shaw, Lance Shaw, Bhupinder Singh, Greg ToddNote – Johann Myburgh was included in the original 11 contracts offered by Auckland Cricket but subsequently declined the offer to pursue a playing career in England.Canterbury: Corey Anderson, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Carl Frauenstein, Peter Fulton, Rob Nicol, Michael Papps, Richard Sherlock, Shanan Stewart, Reece YoungCentral Districts: Doug Bracewell, Brendon Diamanti, Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Michael Mason, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tarun Nethula, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Brad Patton, Mathew Sinclair, Kruger van Wyk, Tim WestonNorthern Districts: Graeme Aldridge, Jono Boult, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, James Marshall, Peter McGlashan, Michael Parlane, Bradley Scott, Anurag Verma, Brad Wilson, Joseph YovichWellington: Harry Boam, Josh Brodie, Dewayne Bowden, Matthew Bell, Leighton Burtt, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Cameron Merchant, Neal Parlane, Joe Austin-Smellie, Malaesaili Tugaga, Luke WoodcockOtago: Nick Beard, Darren Broom, Neil Broom, Anthony Bullick, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, Derek de Boorder, Shaun Haig, Warren McSkimming, Aaron Redmond, Neil Wagner, Sam Wells

As his sixth, and final, season for Essex draws to a close Grant Flower – who has played 195 games for the county since arriving in 2005 – has the chance to bow out on a high in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition

Cricinfo staff11-Sep-2010As his sixth, and final, season for Essex draws to a close Grant Flower has the chance to bow out on a high in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition. Essex will go into the tournament semi-final as clear underdogs against an intimidating Somerset line-up that includes the likes of Marcus Trescothick, Craig Kieswetter, Peter Trego and Jos Buttler, and Flower, who has played 195 games for the county since arriving in 2005, is realistic about his team’s chances. “It will be very tough to overcome them,” he said. “But if we get to Lord’s it would be a great way to end.”Essex have sunk without a trace in the County Championship but have fared far better in the domestic one-day tournaments this season. Flower has been key to that success and has been by some distance their leading runscorer, averaging 69.71 with two centuries. His unbeaten 81 against Middlesex in his final home game at Chelmsford sealed their semi-final spot and left Essex fans – some of whom had booed Flowers arrival under the controversial Kolpak ruling – cheering the veteran batsman from the field.”I think over the years I have shown my commitment to the county and to the country,” Flower told . “I could understand it [the booing] and the Kolpak thing was controversial and I was taking an English person’s spot in the side.”But I think good performances and the commitment I have show has helped a great deal. I’m quite emotional about the send off I got, I’m not the sort of person that likes a big fuss, but six years is a long time.”Flower will be returning to Zimbabwe at the end of the season and though there have been several positive developments in the country’s cricket infrastructure recently he describes his decision to take up a position as the national side’s batting coach as “a huge risk”.”You never know what is going to happen in Africa and what the situation will be like and whether or not the contract you sign actually means what it’s supposed to, the organisation isn’t very good.”I was offered the role of second team coach here at Essex and you know that’s a solid job, so going back to Africa is a huge risk, but you have to do that in life, it’s a wrench to leave because I have some great friends here at Essex so there are obviously pros and cons.”

Maurice Ouma has resigned as Kenya’s captain in the wake of the side’s 167-run loss to Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Oct-2010Maurice Ouma has resigned as Kenya’s captain in the wake of the side’s 167-run loss to Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup. Vice-captain Jimmy Kamande will take over with immediate effect and will lead the team in the ODI series which starts on Thursday.”We respect Morris’s decision to stand down after what has been a difficult period and would like to thank him for his efforts,” Cricket Kenya chief executive Tom Sears said. “We are confident that in Jimmy Kamande we have a captain who can take the squad forward and start producing the results we know our players are capable of.”Ouma took over from Steve Tikolo in June 2009 but had been unable to arrest the continuing slide in Kenya’s fortunes. Earlier this year he was at the forefront of a player strike which embarrassed the board and led to losses of more than $60,000 because of the resulting cancellation of a tour of England. At the time there were calls for him to stand down.”I feel this is the right decision for myself as a player but more importantly for the squad,” Ouma said. “I have given the role everything and have been very proud to captain my country but the time is now right for someone else to take on the challenge and lead us to the success we know we can achieve.”

England’s captain Andrew Strauss has brushed off suggestions of Kevin Pietersen being a potentially divisive member of the squad for this year’s Ashes tour

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2010England’s captain Andrew Strauss has brushed off suggestions of Kevin Pietersen being a potentially divisive member of the squad for this year’s Ashes tour. And Strauss is confident Pietersen’s big-game mentality will ensure he lifts for the battle for the urn, despite having not made a Test century since the tour of the West Indies in March 2009.The former Australia coach John Buchanan, who is working with England this Ashes series, has said Pietersen “has the potential to be fragmentary and an individualist” and could be a “major problem”. However, Strauss said he had no such concern with Pietersen, who briefly was Strauss’s predecessor as captain until a falling out with the then-coach Peter Moores.”Kevin Pietersen has never been a problem for the England cricket team,” Strauss told BBC Sport. “Buchanan is off the mark to say that – I’m sure Kevin will come to the party.”Pietersen, 30, has enjoyed his past tussles with Australia and averages 50.72 in his 12 Tests against them. But his recent form has been well below average, and since the start of England’s triumphant 2009 Ashes campaign he has averaged 36.61 with a highest score of 99.He was dropped for the first time in his England career in August for the limited-overs contests against Pakistan, which prompted him to type out a Twitter tirade. However, Strauss does not believe there is any possibility Pietersen would be cut from the team for the first Test at the Gabba, even if his form in the warm-up matches was poor.”No, I couldn’t see that happening,” Strauss said. “We all know what sort of character he is, we know these sort of big Ashes series tend to bring out the best in him and to me that’s very encouraging. He’s been out of form – that happens to all of us – and anyone who’s played international cricket for any length of time knows it only takes one innings to get yourself back in form.”For Kevin it might be one of the first-class games that precede the Ashes, it may be in the first Test match, but he’ll come right – he’s too good a player not to. I don’t have any concerns that he’s going to come right, the key is that he hopefully hits that first Test feeling in great form and ready to make his mark on an Ashes series.”England set off soon for what will be the defining tour of Strauss’s captaincy if he leads his men to victory, and they are in the unfamiliar position of being ahead of Australia on the ICC Test rankings. Australia are under pressure after losing their past three Tests, against Pakistan and India, but Strauss was wary of reading too much into Australia’s efforts in India.”The conditions in India are so different,” he told Sky Sports. “They’ve obviously lost a few Tests and have a few questions they need to iron out and that might preoccupy them where we don’t have that.”But we know from past experience that as soon as you arrive in Australia, from day one things get pretty tough. They’re a proud side, their record in Australia is outstanding and we’re expecting them to be at their best … so if we want to beat them we have to be better than that.”

Dilip Vengsarkar and Ajit Wadekar believe Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad can help Karnataka cricket in their new roles in the state association

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2010The historic win of Anil Kumble’s group – including Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Roger Binny – in the Karnataka State Cricket Association elections on Sunday will help the sport in the state, feel former cricketers who have been involved in state associations.Dilip Vengsarkar, the current vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, and Ajit Wadekar, who held the same position for eight years in the 1990s, are among those who have given their backing to Kumble and his former India team-mates. “Their word carries weight,” said Vengsarkar, “and therefore they can get things done.” Wadekar said the biggest advantage of ex-cricketers taking up administrative roles is that they can understand and work at the grassroot level of domestic cricket. “It is important that the cricketers travel into the interiors of the state,” he said, “and observe what the reality is in school, club and youth cricket and work out if the infrastructure along with the cricketing structure is healthy.”Arshad Ayub, the president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association, said Kumble and Srinath would bring sincerity to their roles in the KSCA. “I have played with both of them and I know they keep it straight,” he said. “I am sure they will do well.” He said, however, it was also crucial that the rest of their team shared the same principles as “a few people can make a difference if they are not honest enough.”Wadekar warned that though the positions Kumble and Co. have won in the KSCA are honourary, there is a lot of hard work involved. “One has to go to various grounds, converse with club secretaries, ground officials and understand their issues and limitations,” he said. “But one advantage ex-cricketers have is that we take quick decisions. These three [Kumble, Srinath and Prasad] are well qualified, which is an added advantage.” Vengsarkar said in addition to the work, the players will also carry the responsibility of not marring the reputation of cricketers who go into administration.Kumble, Srinath and Prasad are the first amongst their generation of ex-India cricketers who have elected to get involved in cricket administration, but Ayub says there are already several associations wherein cricketers have an important role in the system. “In Hyderabad, several players have a say in the administration,” he said. “Shivlal Yadav was secretary, and Venkatapathy Raju came in about three years ago. We have been active in building the new stadium as well as setting up the infrastructure for academies.”Kumble and Co. have won the elections, but the hard part of actually influencing the running of the KSCA lies ahead. Vengsarkar is convinced they can achieve change and wishes them well. “Make the most of it – put your heart and soul into it and work hard because you can really make a difference.”