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The BCCI has set up a three-man committee consisting of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi to make recommendations to the BCCI based on discussions with IPL team owners

Cricinfo staff24-Jun-2010The BCCI has set up a three-man committee consisting of Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi to make recommendations to the board based on discussions with IPL team owners over several matters pertaining to the player auction later this year, and the undefined fourth edition of the tournament next year. Gavaskar, Shastri and Pataudi are all members of the IPL governing council.The decision to set up the committee was taken at a meeting earlier today in Mumbai between interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and the franchise owners. Amin was meeting the owners for the first time since the suspension of Lalit Modi.According to Vijay Mallya, the owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, most of the owners expressed their desire to retain the current format of the tournament, with 94 games to be played on a home and away basis. The owners also suggested that all the players should go into the auction pool (no player retention) and that the salary cap be raised to US$9m from US$7 million.”The franchises are of the view that the current format should be retained, with one home game and one away game. The three-man committee will take on board what all we’ve said, and take the appropriate steps,” Mallya told reporters after the meeting.When asked about the main issues discussed at the meeting, Mallya said: “One was regarding the players, whether they should be retained or dropped into an auction pool. The majority view of the franchisees is that all players should be put into the auction pool. Second was regarding the salary cap – most of us suggested a cap of US$9 million. [And the] format should not change. There should be home and away games even with two new teams.” Mallya also confirmed that most franchise owners had approached him to be their spokesperson.B Vanchi, a director of the GMR Group, which owns the Delhi Daredevils, said he was encouraged by the board’s willingness to discuss all the concerns of the franchisees and that only an open dialogue could lead to a resolution. He also told reporters no official decisions would be taken until the three-man committee sent its recommendations to the BCCI. In the meantime, he expected there would be many more meetings between the owners and the board.”They have constituted a three-member committee of Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who will make suitable recommendations and there will be further discussions between the franchises and the BCCI on this issue,” he said. “Suggestions have been taken on every issue: Player retention, auction, cap, squad cap, salary cap, everything. But all are suggestions flowing from our side to them and their side to us. Nothing is decided. There is still a lot of time.”

Baroda Cricket Association XI handed Kenya their third successive defeat in the tri-series as the hosts fell short by 32 runs in their chase of 257 in Nairobi

Cricinfo staff03-Aug-2010
ScorecardBaroda Cricket Association XI handed Kenya their third successive defeat in the tri-series as the hosts fell short by 32 runs in their chase of 257 in Nairobi.Pinal Shah, the captain, and Yusuf Pathan put on 98 runs for the fourth wicket after Baroda were in trouble at 90 for 3. Both batsmen hit aggressive sixties before Shah fell to offspinner James Ngoche. At 227 for 4, with Pathan at the crease, Baroda were poised to score 300. However, Pathan’s dismissal to Ngoche triggered a collapse and Baroda lost their last six wickets for 29 runs. Ngoche took three of those six wickets, finishing with 4 for 59 off eight overs, as Baroda were dismissed with 26 balls remaining.Kenya had been reduced to 33 for 3 in their chase when Collins Obuya and Jimmy Kamande came together. The duo added 125 runs with Kamande being particularly watchful, taking 99 balls for his 68. Once Obuya fell for 86, however, the target of 257 proved beyond the other batsmen, and Kenya finished on 224 for 8 off 50 overs.

New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram has said that he is not yet ready to retire and is determined to play the 2011 World Cup despite another knee injury

Cricinfo staff28-Aug-2010New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram has said that he is not yet ready to retire and is determined to play the 2011 World Cup despite another knee injury, which forced him out of the tri-series in Sri Lanka and also next month’s Champions League Twenty20. Oram said he was targeting the home series against Pakistan, which begins on Boxing Day, for a comeback.”I’m looking at that [World Cup] as the carrot for me because I need something to keep me focused or I will probably slip into ‘woe is me’ mode and look at the ‘R’ word. I’m not ready for that yet,” Oram told the . “Obviously my body has gone past the hinting period – I think it’s yelling at me. But I’m pretty stubborn and I still have this big goal of going to the World Cup.”If I miss the World Cup, then recover to a stage where I feel as good as I can, I may keep going. But it just may be one kick in the guts too many if I don’t make the World Cup.”Oram’s latest setback – patella tendon damage – occurred in Dambulla, where New New Zealand were competing in a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India, and he had to fly home before the campaign was over. Oram had hoped the injury would require only minor surgery but scans revealed that it needed a full repair job and he is set to undergo surgery next week.The setback was the latest one in a tough year for Oram, who forfeited his IPL fee after suffering a torn patella during the ODIs against Australia in March. He made it back for the ICC World Twenty20 but continued to feel pain and aggravated the problem again during a camp in Australia in July. Oram will now miss out on Central Districts campaign in the lucrative Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa.”There are a number of reasons why this is terrible timing, and probably the reason why this is the hardest injury I’ve had to deal with,” he said. “With the amount of injuries and limited game time I’ve had, my form has dipped and with that a bit of confidence. I’ve also slipped down the batting order so I’m thinking, if I give bowling up, they’re not going to pick me as a specialist batter at seven or eight.”On a brighter note, Oram returned home from Sri Lanka to find that his eight-month-old son had begun crawling and said despite his injuries that ” things could be a lot worse”.

Sikandar Raza and Steve Tikolo hit half-centuries to steer Southern Rocks to a four-wicket victory over Mashonaland Eagles, chasing down the target of 253 with 11 balls to spare

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2010Sikandar Raza and Steve Tikolo hit half-centuries to steer Southern Rocks to a four-wicket victory over Mashonaland Eagles in the Metbank One-Day Competition, chasing down their target of 253 with 11 balls to spare in the 40-over match.Pakistan-born Raza laid the foundation for the chase after his partner Steve Marillier was bowled by fast-bowler Douglas Hondo off the first ball of the innings. Raza hit eight fours and a six in his 77, which came off 61 deliveries. It was his maiden List A half-century.Former Kenya captain Tikolo guided his side home in what could have become a tense chase after six wickets had fallen with 47 runs still needed from 32 deliveries. Tikolo and Tendai Chisoro ensured there were no further hiccups with an unbroken 50-run stand that came off just 3.3 overs.Greg Lamb had earlier played an aggressive knock of 96 off 78 deliveries to lift the Eagles from 103 for 5 to 252 for 7. Lamb added 116 runs for the sixth wicket with Tarisai Mahlunge who made 47 off 49. Tikolo was the best bowler for the Rocks, taking 2 for 46 in eight overs.The Rocks earned four points for their victory.

The PCB is considering sending footage of the recently-concluded Faysal Bank Twenty20 tournament to the ICC as part of continuing efforts to bring back international cricket to Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2010The PCB is considering sending footage of the recently-concluded Faysal Bank Twenty20 tournament to the ICC as part of continuing efforts to bring back international cricket to Pakistan.The week-long tournament, held in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and won last weekend by the Lahore Lions, attracted huge crowds through its duration. Entry was free for spectators and as a result, evening games – including the final – were played out to capacity crowds.The Twenty20 has always drawn big crowds and during last season’s event, at Karachi’s National Stadium, spectators were being turned away from the final because there was no space left. But board officials are particularly happy with this season’s event, and that it went off without a hitch.There was greater security in place, including the presence of over 1100 police and security officials, as well as 14 CCTV cameras and four crowded surveillance cameras among a number of other measures.”The event proved once again just how much passion and enthusiasm there is for the game in Pakistan,” board spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told ESPNcricinfo. “The ground was full for most matches, the quality of cricket was high, the arrangements ensured the tournament was a great success.”Though it is only under consideration at the moment, it is likely any footage – the tournament was broadcast on a local sports channel – would be sent to the ICC’s task force on Pakistan as well as relevant authorities within the ICC.Bringing international cricket back to Pakistan is one of the main aspects of the work of the task force. No team has toured here since March 2009, after a terrorist attack on the touring Sri Lankan team in Lahore as they were on their way to Gaddafi Stadium. There has been talk within the task force recently of putting together an international XI to play in Pakistan, though no timeline has been set.In any case, progress on that front has been hampered by the fallout in relations between the PCB and ICC, and the ECB, whose chairman Giles Clarke, heads the task force. After a recent ICC board meeting, the work of the force has been broadened, to include efforts to improve governance of the game in Pakistan.

A round-up of the action from the fourth day of the ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge where West Indies, South Africa and Pakistan all recorded victories

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2010
Scorecard
Isobel Joyce’s 63 steered Ireland to a comfortable victory•International Cricket Council

South Africa brushed aside West Indies in a top-of-the-table clash involving the two unbeaten teams in the tournament. It was a team effort that clinched the victory and not outstanding individual contributions – opener Shandre Fritz’s 43 was the highest score of the match, and the wickets were shared around, with three of South Africa’s bowlers picking two each.West Indies chose to bat and lost Juliana Nero in the third over. The bigger blow was when in-form opener Stafanie Taylor fell lbw for 20 in the 14th over. West Indies also lost their captain, Merissa Aguilleira, and 19-year-old Deandra Dottin in the next over to slip to 62 for 4. Stacy-Ann King made a patient 38 to push West Indies to something of a respective total before they were bowled out for the first time in the tournament.South Africa were rarely in trouble during the chase, with Fritz and captain Cri-zelda Brits adding 62 for the second wicket. Even though both were dismissed within two overs of each other, twenties from Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp took South Africa to their fourth straight victory.
Scorecard
Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka’s captain, turned in an all-round performance that lifted them to victory over Pakistan, and help them stay in the hunt for third place. Siriwardene top-scored with an unbeaten 67 after Sri Lanka were put in to bat, and then spun out three batsmen with her offspinners to consign Pakistan to their second defeat of the tournament.A 73-run second-wicket stand between opener Chamari Polgampola and Suwini de Alwis gave Sri Lanka a platform before Siriwardene, coming in at No. 4, took charge in the second half of the innings. Sri Lanka were also helped by the 25 wides that Pakistan sent down and by a quickfire 27 from Dilani Manodara towards the end of the innings.Pakistan’s chase got off to a good start and No. 3 Nain Abdi’s half-century pushed them to a promising 147 for 2 by the 32nd over. Sri Lanka tried nine bowlers in search of wickets, which came in a flurry once the third-wicket partnership was broken. Their final eight wickets went down for 42 runs, and three middle-order run-outs helped Sri Lanka ease to a win.
Scorecard
Ireland crushed Netherlands in the battle between two teams who were yet to post their first wins of the tournament. Half-centuries from the Joyce twins, Isobel and Cecelia, steered Ireland to a victory with more than 21 overs to spare, after the Ireland bowlers had restricted Netherlands to a moderate total.Netherlands chose to bat and much of their total was through three batsmen – Marijn Nijman (43), captain Helmien Rambaldo (30) and Annemarie Tanke (39), with 25 wides from Ireland being the next highest contributor. Netherlands’ innings fell apart against Ireland’s slow bowlers – legspinner Ciara Metcalfe and offspinner Eimear Richardson took three wickets each.Faced with the small target of 173, Ireland lost opener Clare Shillingon for a duck in the first over. Then the Joyce sisters added 150 for the second wicket at quicker than a run a ball to make the match a one-sided affair.

Cricinfo’s preview of the first ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka at the MCG

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale02-Nov-2010

Match Facts

Xavier Doherty is set for his ODI debut•Getty Images

Wednesday, November 3, Melbourne

Start time 14.20 local (03.20 GMT)

The Big Picture

Sri Lanka’s victory in the Twenty20 has given Australia plenty to think about. They haven’t won an international match since the Lord’s Test against Pakistan in July and, while they will claim their focus is on winning this series, as much as anything that is for the momentum that it would give their Ashes campaign. Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz and an out-of-form and under-pressure Michael Hussey are back in the squad, which features the majority of the men likely to take the field in the Gabba Test, although Ponting and Hauritz won’t play in this one-day series opener.”If you look at it that way, since July, it looks like a long time,” Ponting said of the losing streak. “It’s only a few games, really. There’s no sugar-coating anything, we know we’ve got some work to do. It’s really important that we do start getting that winning feeling back around the group again. There’s no doubt that it’s always a different feeling around the change rooms when you are winning games of cricket. We have to start that off pretty soon, and hopefully that’s tomorrow.”Sri Lanka have never won a series in Australia and if they can carry their Twenty20 form in to the ODI arena, this could be their best chance yet of breaking that record. They are also planning ahead to the World Cup, which will partly be held in their own country starting next February. Last time they co-hosted the World Cup they emerged as the champions, and they deserve to be among the favourites in 2011. Following this tour they head back to Sri Lanka for a Test series against West Indies, so they too are hoping to build momentum heading in to a home series.The other question is whether anybody will turn up to the match. Many Victorians have already taken an extra long weekend due to Tuesday’s public holiday for the iconic Melbourne Cup horse race, and asking the public to back up immediately and attend another day of elite sport is ambitious.

Form guide

(most recent first)

Australia LWWLL
Sri Lanka WWLWL

Watch out for…

On Sunday, Peter Siddle played his first international match since January. It was a promising comeback for Siddle, who had sat out for nearly nine months due to stress fractures in his back. His recovery was geared towards making him available for the Ashes but to break back in to the side he needs to perform at every opportunity. If he plays on Wednesday, it will be his first one-day international at his home ground, the MCG.Thisara Perera bowled well in the Twenty20 in Perth, where his 2 for 22 from four overs helped restrict Australia. But the hosts will be equally concerned about his batting, even though he faced only four balls. Perera came out towards the end of the chase and his scorebook read 1, 6, 4, 6. He monstered Steven Smith over long-on twice to confirm the victory, and if he gets the chance to spend five overs at the crease, he could do some serious damage.

Team news

Ponting will be in Launceston on Wednesday for the funeral of his grandmother, so Michael Clarke will remain in charge after leading Australia to defeat in Sunday’s Twenty20 at the WACA. On Tuesday, Nathan Hauritz had not yet joined the squad following his Sheffield Shield performance over the past couple of days, so the Tasmanian spinner Xavier Doherty is in line to make his international debut. Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson are back after missing the T20, while there are plenty of bowling options, with Johnson, Clint McKay, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and John Hastings all in the squad. Brad Haddin will play his first ODI since March and could be back near the top of the order.Australia (possible) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Shaun Marsh, 3 Brad Haddin (wk), 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Cameron White, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Steven Smith, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 John Hastings, 10 Xavier Doherty, 11 Peter Siddle.Kumar Sangakkara confirmed that Sri Lanka will open with Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan, and that Muttiah Muralitharan would take his place in the side for his first ODI since June. On an MCG pitch that could be affected by rain, that might make it difficult for Suraj Randiv to squeeze in as a second spinner, despite being the Man of the Match in Sunday’s Twenty20 triumph.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Mahela Jayawardene, 4 Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), 5 Chamara Kapugedera, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Chamara Silva, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Nuwan Kulasekera, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith Malinga.

Pitch and conditions

Australia’s training session on Tuesday was interrupted by rain and isolated showers are forecast for Wednesday. The drop-in pitches at the MCG can be a little on the slow side, so don’t expect the pace and bounce seen at the WACA on Sunday.

Stats and trivia

• Michael Clarke has captained Australia 16 times in ODIs and has made two centuries in those games; in his remaining 163 one-day internationals he has managed only three hundreds
• This is a Sri Lankan side with plenty of experience: Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have each played more than 30 ODIs in Australia
• The MCG is Sri Lanka’s best venue in Australia in ODIs against the hosts (of grounds where they have played more than once), with four wins from 11 meetings
  

  Quotes

  “If we start winning games of cricket again, the whole atmosphere and attitude around the team changes. We’ll worry about the Ashes when that comes.”
  
  “A player of Ricky’s calibre not being in the side is a huge blow. He’s one of the best batsmen of the last two decades.”
  .

Tim Nielsen, has said that the team will do everything in its power to boost the morale of their misfiring strike bowler, Mitchell Johnson, whose place in the starting XI for Friday’s second Test at Adelaide is in jeopardy

Andrew Miller30-Nov-2010Australia’s coach, Tim Nielsen, has said that the team will do everything in its power to boost the morale of their misfiring strike bowler, Mitchell Johnson, whose place in the starting XI for Friday’s second Test at Adelaide is in jeopardy following a barren performance at the Gabba.The Brisbane Test will forever be remembered for England’s massive second-innings scoreline of 517 for 1, but Johnson is the man who is taking the blame for the toothlessness of Australia’s attack. He returned match figures of 0 for 170, the worst of his 39-Test career, and his fragile confidence was further undermined by a crucial dropped catch off England’s captain, Andrew Strauss, as well as a 19-ball duck.The Australian media was merciless in its assessment of Johnson’s performance, with the former Australian captain, Ian Chappell, telling ESPNcricinfo that there was no choice but to drop him for Adelaide. The call-ups of Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris mean that five fast bowlers are now vying for three spots alongside the spinner Xavier Doherty, but while Nielsen accepted that Australia’s attack had been off the boil at the Gabba, he was keen to defend his highest-profile bowler, pointing out that Johnson wasn’t the only man who struggled for penetration.”He didn’t have his best game, but 11 wickets in the Test match for both groups says it’s hard work to me,” Nielsen said, shortly after the team’s arrival in Adelaide. “He didn’t bowl as well as he would have liked, and that’s our job over the next couple of days to make sure we get him back up and going. At different times there have been a lot of players who haven’t performed in one Test match and then have come out and upped the ante. That’s the challenge of a five-day Test.”We all identify that he didn’t have the best game. But there were times when we let it get away – not as an individual but as a bowling group – and when that happens, one guy usually gets exposed, and Mitch is the one we’re talking about. Throughout his career, he’s had his ups and downs but there’s not an international who hasn’t gone the long-term without ups and downs. Mitch is no different. But we need to address that tomorrow morning, and find way a way to attack the English team and take 20 wickets.”According to Chappell, England’s tactic of playing inside the line has denied Johnson his usual rewards outside off stump, especially now that his inswinger appears to have deserted him. But of particular concern for Australia will be the speed with which Johnson’s confidence evaporated, despite him entering the game on a high following a five-wicket haul and a century in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield fixture against Victoria at Melbourne last week.”That exposes the difference between international and domestic cricket and it’s something we have to deal with these players every day of the week,” said Nielsen. “We’ve got to make sure Mitch is relaxed and thinking clearly about what works for him. We know he prepared well but that doesn’t guarantee anything. There’s a couple of little things we can work on, we can make sure we jump around the bowling group and each other, and make sure he’s in as good a place as he can be. He’s taken 160 Test wickets so he’s good at this game.”Despite the concerns raised by Australia’s struggles with the ball, both Nielsen and his England counterpart, Andy Flower, were keenly aware that the series remains all-square, and so – despite the symbolic value of England’s 517 for 1 scoreline – neither side was seeking to overplay the psychological aspect of the match. “I look up on the scoreboard and see a draw,” said Nielsen. “They played well, but in the end nobody won. It’s 0-0 and we turn up on Friday and start again.”Flower did believe that, for the second Ashes running, England were able to look back on a drawn opening match with a greater degree of satisfaction than their opponents, following their great escape at Cardiff in 2009. But with the second Test following so quickly on from the first, the challenge was to ensure that the high standards that England met in the latter part of the game, are carried over to Friday morning. In that respect, England – by finishing the stronger of the two teams – have the chance to carry forward the momentum.”I think in reality this is a two-act play,” said Flower. “Ideally you want to move on as quickly as possible whether you’ve done well or poorly in the last match, but obviously there is fatigue for some of the bowlers after long spells; confidence or lack thereof is passed from one match to the next. There is definitely a connection there.””Certainly after such a big deficit to come through as well as we did, there are similarities [to Cardiff],” he said. “But the bottom line is the score is 0-0. I think our batsmen showed they can handle the attack, but that is only one Test we’ve just played, and the real test is over the long term. I expect them to fight hard and I expect our team to fight hard.”

Several IPL franchises are unhappy over the rule that resulted in uncapped Indian players not being part of the auction

Sharda Ugra07-Jan-2011As the IPL gears up for the mammoth two-day auction over the weekend, there are rumblings of dissatisfaction among five of its franchises regarding the rules governing players who will not be part of the auction – the “uncapped” Indians, who form the base of any IPL squad. The problem stems from a rule change in December that, the franchises believe, has tilted the balance in favour of the wealthier and influential teams in the competition, a charge the IPL denies.The players who come under this rule include Manish Pandey, the IPL’s first Indian centurion, former India under-19 captain Ambati Rayadu and Ranji Trophy performers Sidharth Trivedi, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and R Satish.In September 2010, it was decided that domestic players who had played 75% of their teams’ matches in IPL 3 would be part of the auction, along with their senior colleagues and overseas players. In November, however, the IPL governing council received a list of suggestions from Mumbai Indians, which included the contentious issue of retaining uncapped players and not putting them in the auction. It was confirmed by an IPL governing council member that, after some deliberation, the league had finally altered the original conditions set for uncapped players and, following a council meeting, formally changed the rule in December. The new rule removed uncapped players from the auction and allowed franchises to sign players of their choice through a three-way agreement involving player, franchise and the IPL. In late December, franchises were instructed to not approach the uncapped players until notified to do so by the Board.The issue has raised the alarm among some franchises who, in mails to the IPL, said they believed the new rules would leave the uncapped player ‘market’ open to under-the-table deals. “It is a simple problem, the quality of uncapped domestic players is limited,” a franchise insider said, “these are rules that are just encouraging illegality.”The squad rules state that franchises can sign a minimum of 20 Indians and no more than 10 foreign players. That’s 200 Indian players who need to be on board. The auction list features only 48 Indians while seven others have been retained by their franchises, leaving 145 players who have to be signed up by the franchises from the list of uncapped players. That’s what sparked fear among some franchises, who believe players like Pandey and Rayudu will be most sought after and thus open to being offered unofficial ‘perks’ of signing up with a particular franchise.In their mails seeking a change in the rules about uncapped India players, the franchises had offered the IPL several solutions: to either put the uncapped players into the auction (with the excess amount outside their salary slab being given to the BCCI) or to have franchises make a bid for them and draw lots to decide who gets the most sought-after player or restrict the players to their catchment areas. All options were turned down.The system is fair, BCCI president Shashank Manohar told ESPNcricinfo. “Those [uncapped] players can only be taken after the auction. Before the auction nobody can enter an agreement with the uncapped players. It will have to be a tripartite agreement between the player, the franchise and the board.”The decision to keep the cricketers who had not represented India out of the auction was, Manohar said, logistical given the large numbers involved. “We can’t put all the uncapped players in the auction because that would mean having more than 1000 players in the auction”. The most sought after players Manohar said, “can be approached by everyone.”Manohar, whose term as BCCI chief ends in September 2011 after which N Srinivasan – the owner of the Chennai franchise – will take over, said the unbalanced supply-demand equation among the uncapped players was not an issue. “There would be seven to eight capped players in every team, and the balance remaining is 10-11 players. So that is how it would work. According to me, nobody would pay huge amounts to uncapped players. Which capped player would be paid a large sum? Everyone is a capped player … Saurabh Tiwary, Cheteshwar Pujara, they are also capped players. Even Abhishek Nayar has become a capped player.”The IPL chief executive, Sundar Raman, told ESPNcricinfo that the argument that it was only the wealthier clubs who would be able to promise more and that too outside the system was, “not valid.” Raman said, “All uncapped players have been out of the auction even in the past. They get a fixed fee of Rs 30, 20 or 10 lakhs and the contract process is managed by BCCI.”The system, Manohar said, could not benefit any franchise on the basis of either money or influence. “Finally it depends on how much money you have at the end of the auction. Mumbai and Chennai have lost half their purse due to the retention rule. At the bidding process they are going to face problems. Because a total of $9m is for everyone, capped, uncapped, everyone.” The pressures on players from the bigger franchises would mean little he said, “because likewise others can also approach them.” He said the BCCI would look into any complaints about illegality in the signing process.Members of the franchises who had protested about the auction rules were not willing to speak on record, while others like Kochi, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals had spent the last few months caught in legal disputes with the BCCI. A King’s XI Punjab spokesman told EPSNcricinfo said his team had not raised the issue of uncapped players because, “we did not belong in the IPL at the time. Right now we are happy to live with whatever is there. We cannot possibly comment on who can or who can’t be in the auction.” He also confirmed that the franchise had paid up all their dues to their players.

Australia Day would be the perfect occasion for the home side to wrap up the one-day series, but it for the sake of the remaining contests an England victory is what’s really needed

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan in Adelaide25-Jan-2011

Match Facts

January 26, Adelaide

Start time 13.50 (03.20 GMT)James Anderson will make a welcome return to England’s one-day team•Getty Images

The Big Picture

Australia Day would be the perfect occasion for the home side to wrap up the one-day series, but for the sake of the remaining contests an England victory is what’s really needed. The visitors have played some poor cricket, especially in the last two matches, with the batting faring badly. A defeat here and the plane home won’t be able to come soon enough.That, though, won’t be any concern of Australia’s. They desperately needed to regain some belief following the Ashes and with coloured clothes back on they are beginning to hit their stride. England haven’t forced them to play at their best, but even with injuries they are building up a head of steam. David Hussey was the star at the SCG as he showed his finishing skills, which will be valuable at the World Cup, but Brett Lee took the Man-of-the-Match award and he has led the attack superbly.England’s bowlers have actually performed a decent role, considering that it has been a second string attack, and the likes of Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Tremlett and Chris Woakes show the depth available. But somewhere in the transition from Tests to one-dayers key batsmen have lost the skill to convert starts into big innings.It’s a feeling of déjà vu as far as both sides are concerned. In the aftermath of the 2009 Ashes, also won by England, the one-day series was a horribly lop-sided affair as Australia cruised to a 6-1 drubbing. If the hosts continue their winning streak in Adelaide, it’s very easy to see this series going the same way.

Form guide

(completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWWL

England LLLWL

Watch out for…

James Anderson was given a break after the Ashes but following 10 days at home with his new baby has returned to the tour in the nick of time. Although England’s quicks have performed an admirable role, Anderson’s experience of 133 matches will be a valuable addition. He’s got fond memories of Adelaide after his impact during the Test match when he helped reduce Australia to 3 for 2 on the first morning and is a dangerous operator with the new white ball.Cameron White has played a couple of valuable innings in this series; his 25 at Melbourne helped Shane Watson complete victory and his 45 at Hobart began the first recovery. He’ll want to make his decent form count in the remainder of this series because, even though his place is secure, there will be strong competition for batting places if Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey both recover. With his immense power White shouldn’t have a problem clearing the square boundaries at the Adelaide Oval and against the spinners even the straight hits aren’t out of reach.

Team news

Michael Clarke said no risks will be taken with any player before the World Cup so Shaun Tait (thigh) and Mitchell Johnson (throat infection) remain doubtful. It means Australia could field the same attack that did an impressive job in Sydney.Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Cameron White, 6 David Hussey, 7 Steve Smith, 8 John Hastings, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Xavier Doherty, 10 Doug BollingerKevin Pietersen is fit again following his groin strain and James Anderson is available, while Andy Flower confirmed Matt Prior will continue to open the batting despite his two ducks since returning to the side. Paul Collingwood would be the likeliest batsman to make way, but could be considered at No. 7 with Michael Yardy struggling to have impact with bat or ball.England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Matt Prior (wk), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Paul Collingwood, 8 James Tredwell, 9 Ajmal Shahzad, 10 Chris Tremlett, 11 James Anderson

Stats and trivia

• Adelaide is the venue of England’s highest one-day total in Australia when they reached 3 for 302 in the infamous match against Sri Lanka during 1998-99 where Muttiah Muralitharan was also called for throwing. England still lost.
• James Anderson returns with a good one-day record in Australia. From 13 matches he has 21 wickets at 25.61, including a miserly 1 for 12 in 10 overs on this ground back in his debut series of 2002-03.
• The teams have met five times at Adelaide, with Australia ahead 4-1. England’s only win was the first encounter back in 1983.

Quotes

“We’ve played some exciting, positive cricket and I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to lead the boys. I’d like to lead from the front with the bat and make some more runs, I’m well aware of that, but everyone is in good spirits and we believe there is a lot of room for improvement.”
“It’s not ideal, the start of this one-day series, but there are still four games to go. We intend to finish strongly, we are here to win these games, it’s not just preparation for the World Cup.”