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Preview for the fifth ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Delhi

The Preview by Sidharth Monga26-Dec-2009Match factsSunday, December 27
Start time 09:00 (03:30 GMT)India sealed the series in Kolkata, but will want to get rid of the habit of losing dead rubbers•AFPBig PictureIt’s dead-rubber time again. Since MS Dhoni became captain, India have won seven of the eight bilateral ODI series they have played. Keeping aside the series against England, Australia and West Indies – where last matches could not be played out – India have played four dead-rubbers and lost all four. With Dhoni coming back from his ban, India would want to set that blip right in Delhi.The visitors, though, will be playing for much more. They came here with the strongest Sri Lankan squad to have toured India. The final balance sheet will give them reasons aplenty to feel bitterly disappointed: they are yet to win a Test in the country, or an ODI series. What the balance sheet won’t show is how well they managed despite a plethora of injuries to key players and how they could easily have been 2-0 up despite having to chase 415 and 302 in the first two matches. Having lost Muttiah Muralitharan, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Thushara and Chanaka Welegedara to injuries, this was not as bad an effort as the scoreline would suggest.After the fourth ODI, Sangakkara said this was the most competitive they had ever been in India, and yet they came up short. Sangakkara will want to leave with good memories, a final stamp of competitiveness in Delhi, a good performance and not a whimper to remember the tour by.Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India – WWLWL
Sri Lanka – LLWLL
Watch out for…Upul Tharanga: With big-hitters all around him, and a bold decision that put him in Sanath Jayasuriya’s spot at the top of the order, Tharanga would have been under pressure coming into the series. If he was, he is yet to show it. With 295 runs at 73.75, he is behind only Tillakaratne Dilshan in terms of run-scoring. A definite contender for the Man-of-the-Series award if he can put in another strong show.Sachin Tendulkar: What Tharanga has been to Dilshan, Tendulkar has been to Virender Sehwag. For a second fiddle, 216 runs at 72 is not a bad job. Having rested for the tri-series in Bangladesh, Tendulkar will want to make the most of his last ODI innings in a while.Team newsDhoni was named in the squad for the final ODI, which should mean India have no intentions of resting him. His coming back should be the only change in the batting line-up, because India don’t have any reserve batsmen. Harbhajan Singh could be rested, though, and this would be the best opportunity to give Sudeep Tyagi a debut.India: (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 MS Dhoni (capt/wk), 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Pragyan Ojha, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Sudeep Tyagi, 11 Ashish Nehra.Their opening problem solved, Sri Lanka are left looking for one more middle-order mainstay to go with Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Samaraweera and Jayasuriya have all disappointed there, and that will be the only major decision to make. Thissara Perera and Suranga Lakmal should retain their places, while Lasith Malinga will be under pressure to hold his.Sri Lanka: (probable) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt/wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 and 6 two out of Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera and Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Thilina Kandamby, 8 Thissara Perera, 9 Suraj Randiv, 10 Lasith Malinga/Ajantha Mendis, 11 Suranga Lakmal.Pitch and conditions”We wanted to win the game and finish the series off in Kolkata as I am not sure of the wicket in Delhi,” Sehwag said after the fourth ODI. That’s how the Kotla track has been this year: low and slow throughout the Champions League, and if it was slightly truer in the Australia ODI, the dew later in the night reminded Ricky Ponting of the wettest conditions he had ever played in. While the early start should take care of the dew, it will bring with it a chilly, foggy start. The pitch remains an unknown, and could tempt teams to play two spinners. Vijay Bahadur Mishra, the curator, predicts scores of around 250, which is an improvement on the Champions League matches, and the one against Australia.Stats and triviaBetween them, Dilshan and Sehwag have scored 537 runs so far, off 418 deliveries. Fancy their opening together?Harbhajan Singh and Suraj Randiv have managed the improbable in the series: they have gone for just 5.07 and 5.03 an over respectively. Welegedera (5.59) and Ravindra Jadeja (5.47) are the two other main bowlers to have gone for less than six.In 59 innings since June 10, 2007, Mahela Jayawardene has scored one century, that while opening the innings. Over that period his average is 25.1 and strike-rate 75.83, as opposed to 32.02 and 76.86 overall.India have played two ODIs against Sri Lanka at the Kotla, and split the spoils. The second of those matches, during the 1996 World Cup, featured a vicious assault from Jayasuriya which signalled the end of Manoj Prabhakar’s career.Quotes”We had so many debutants on our tour and some of them have really stepped up and that promises better things on future tours. This is the most competitive we have been in India since I debuted.”
“It’s very important that youngsters like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja get going and play 18-19 matches ahead of the World Cup in 2011. If we get the full strength side we can win the World Cup.”

James Anderson recorded his best Championship figures since 2002 as Lancashiredominated the opening day’s play at Chelmsford after putting Essex in

21-Apr-2010
ScorecardJimmy Anderson caused problems for all the Essex batsmen as he collected 6 for 44•PA PhotosJames Anderson recorded his best Championship figures since 2002 as Lancashiredominated the opening day’s play at Chelmsford after putting Essex in.The England fast bowler finished with six wickets for 44 runs from 20.5 oversas Essex were bowled out for 176, to which the visitors responded with 83 for3 before the close.Anderson quickly announced his arrival by having openers Billy Godleman andAlastair Cook well taken in the slips in his second and third overs. And with Glen Chapple producing inswingers to claim leg before wicket verdicts against John Maunders and Jaik Mickleburgh, Essex found themselves in dire straits at 16 for 4 in the 14th over.Captain Mark Pettini and James Foster launched a recovery with a partnership of62 before both fell just before the lunch interval. Foster slashed a wide delivery from Sajid Mahmood to backward point after making 27 while Pettini, on 28, edged Anderson to second slip.Two more wickets fell cheaply but some semblance of respectability was achievedthrough the efforts of Ryan ten Doeschate and Chris Wright. They stuck it out for 27 overs while adding 70, during which time play was twice held up during an over from Mahmood in which ten Doeschate required attention following blows suffered on his forearm.But Anderson, who maintained an admirable line and length throughout, was towrap up the innings to leave ten Doeschate stranded unbeaten with 55 whichspanned 115 balls and included just three boundaries.A feature of Lancashire’s performance was their fielding, seven catches beingheld by fielders behind the wicket. Whereas the visitors held everything which came their way, Cook – who contributed just three with the bat – put down a straightforward catch at firstslip in the opening over of Lancashire’s reply.Tom Smith was the batsman to escape but he failed to make the most of hislet-off, departing lbw to David Masters for only 7. However, by then Stephen Moore was well into his stride. He quickly assumed control by collecting three fours and a six from Wright’s second over and went on to complete his half-century from 37 deliveries.Moore eventually fell for 61, containing 10 fours and two sixes, and lbw victimof Maurice Chambers from a delivery that kept low. Anderson, sent in as nightwatchman, was caught in the slips in the next over from Masters but despite those two late setbacks, it still proved Lancashire’s day.

Middlesex have decided against bringing Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh on board for their Twenty20 Cup campaign, despite having a signed contract from him, after failing to receive written approval from the BCCI

Cricinfo staff22-Mar-2010Middlesex have decided against bringing Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh on board for their Twenty20 Cup campaign, despite having a signed contract from him, after failing to receive written approval from the BCCI. The decision to drop Yuvraj from this summer’s plans was made after it was clear that the batsman’s international commitments would make him unavailable for the majority of the tournament.”We had received a signed contract from Yuvraj confirming that he was playing for us, we had received full approval from his agent as to the terms of our agreement with Yuvraj, we had received full approval from a prominent member of the BCCI as to Yuvraj’s signing,” Vinny Codrington, Middlesex’s chief executive, wrote on the county’s website. “And we had even agreed what squad number he would be sporting for the Panthers this year and what name he would be wearing on his back.”However, the county then received notification from the Indian board about the Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in June, as well as a training camp ahead of the tournament. It also learnt, through the media, of a tri-series involving India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe between May 28 and June 13 in Zimbabwe.”Calls to the BCCI to seek clarification on this point have proved fruitless, however we have since been advised that Yuvraj will be required to represent India in this tournament … leading to us make the decision to notify Yuvraj Singh’s representatives that we will not be pursuing our interest in bringing him to Lord’s,” Codrington added.Middlesex have already recruited former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist as their other specialist Twenty20 overseas player for the season.

Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool contract situation will only become a major issue if it is not resolved by the summer transfer window, according to James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Concern over Salah’s future

The 29-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season to date, carrying the Reds at times and scoring 23 goals, in all competitions.

Salah is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt and is already being missed, with Jurgen Klopp’s side drawing 0-0 at home to Arsenal on Thursday night.

The forward’s current Liverpool deal expires in the summer of 2023, and with a new contract not yet agreed, there is understandable concern regarding his future.

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The Latest: Pearce provides key update

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic after the Arsenal game, Pearce gave his verdict on Salah, saying he hopes a deal can be agreed sooner rather than later, even if he couldn’t confirm it:

“As for Salah, I understand the concern as he’s so incredible you want the contract sorted asap. However, I’ve said and written a few times that I only think it becomes a major headache if we get to April/May and it’s still unresolved. Then you’ve got the alarming prospect of him entering his final year.

“I don’t go along with those saying ‘just give him whatever he wants’. That’s no way to run a business. It’s a process of negotiation. Salah says he wants to stay and the LFC hierarchy say they are desperate to keep him so let’s hope a compromise can be reached soon. Trying to replace Salah would be impossible.”

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The Verdict: Surely it will happen

The thought of Salah suddenly leaving Liverpool doesn’t bear thinking about, considering he is widely regarded as the world’s best player at the moment.

It is simply imperative that the Reds tie down the Egyptian King for many years to come, with his fitness levels and incredible drive meaning he should be able to play at the top well into his 30s.

While Liverpool shouldn’t necessarily bow down to a player’s wage demands, Salah is a special case and FSG would receive huge criticism if the Reds’ star man moved on because he was unhappy with the terms being offered.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have slammed one player’s performance against Arsenal. Find out who it is here.

The double-century continued to elude Jacques Kallis but not Hashim Amla, who accumulated his way to the highest Test score by a South African in India

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga07-Feb-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
HawkeyeHashim Amla scored his maiden double-century on the second day in Nagpur•AFPThe double-century continued to elude Jacques Kallis but not Hashim Amla, who accumulated his way to the highest Test score by a South African in India. He also provided solidity from the other end as AB de Villiers played havoc with the spinners’ lengths during a 108-run partnership that followed the 340-run stand between Kallis and Amla, the fifth-highest association in India. On a pitch behaving like it was a fourth-day track, it seemed a formidable total.Amla’s was an incredibly disciplined effort. He didn’t hit anything in the air. Once Kallis was done with his onslaught on the first day, there were no periods of quiet or a loud burst from Amla, still managing a 50-plus strike-rate. Today he scored 55, 45 and 38 in the three sessions, a third of which featured 25 minutes fewer, and never frustrated the other batsmen by hogging the strike. He faced 473 deliveries and the batsmen after him got 556 in all. It needed all the discipline from Amla because the pitch offered Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra ample assistance.Which is what will disappoint India more than the score. Mishra bowled 53 overs for no wicket – only five Indian spinners have managed worse. Harbhajan managed just one maiden in 46 overs, which rightly suggested there was not enough pressure created on a helpful pitch.Wicket-taking opportunities were in short supply, and half of them not taken. When Mishra beat the bat, he beat it by six inches and upwards, the wrong’un was underused, when he had Kallis plumb the umpire didn’t trust the slider to hold its line, and when de Villiers played around with his length, Mishra bowled long hops.Harbhajan had to deal with batsmen moving back and across outside off, negating the lbw, closing the bat-pad gap, and working him around for singles. When he went round the stumps and created opportunities, M Vijay and MS Dhoni dropped Amla in one over when on 149.The Kallis lbw miss didn’t hurt India much. In the next over Harbhajan got him to bat-pad one, something that had looked inevitable on the second morning, the 11th time that Kallis had started on 100-plus overnight but failed to go onto 200. The double-century seemed to be on his mind as he looked comfortable in the middle, but wasn’t in a run-scoring mode. His first run came in the ninth over of the day and he added only 14 off 61 deliveries. Had Kallis been scoring quickly, he wouldn’t have had a slip, a forward short leg and a leg slip waiting.Amla didn’t have those problems, though. He got the testing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma out of his face by hitting three boundaries in two overs: two pulls and one off-drive. The third of the boundaries took him into the 140s when his first testing moment came.Free runs were not on offer while the ball was turning, and Amla managed only six in the first six overs of spin. Then he tried to step out to Harbhajan – bowling round the stumps – was beaten by the dip, got an inside edge that Vijay dropped at forward short leg. The next delivery he looked to glance, but the big spin took the edge that Dhoni failed to catch down the leg side. His 150 reached, Amla was solid again.Amla could continue playing his natural game, taking singles and punishing the loose deliveries, because de Villiers came out full of intent. He played almost every other delivery about four yards down the wicket. Before India knew, Mishra had dragged a few deliveries short because of the jumping around, had been pulled for three boundaries down the ground, de Villiers had reached 33 off 52, and Amla was in the 180s.Amla then pulled out the reverse-sweep against Harbhajan. In the 190s, signs of anxiety were there. He followed an offbreak into his pads, and hit it between keeper and leg slip. Then he spent eight deliveries on 199, but he came down the track and played a lovely cover-drive against Virender Sehwag to bring up the milestone.That cover-drive, having stepped out to the bowler, was the standout shot of an innings that was so remarkably even you’d be struggle to pick a favourite area or favourite shot in. With de Villiers and JP Duminy falling in relative succession, Amla still stayed solid.South Africa’s lack of intent suggested they wanted to bat till stumps, declare overnight, and start bowling in the morning session, the toughest to bat in. About 40 minutes before close of play, though, Mark Boucher and Amla got a message, they looked to up the rate, but Boucher fell to a slower ball. It always seemed a sudden change of plan to have a go for 15 minutes before stumps, and the declaration came with 25 minutes to go and Amla 24 short of the highest score by a South African.Going by how India comfortably raced to 25 for 0 in the four overs possible, South Africa would have wished they had taken those 25 minutes and got the score to as close to 600 as possible.