Shane Watson injury puts a dent in Australia’s World T20 plans

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has suffered a suspected abdominal strain while competing in a Twenty20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, throwing his participation in the World T20 in doubt.

The 34-year-old sustained the injury while bowling for Islamabad in the Pakistan Super League and promptly ruled himself out of the rest of the tournament to head home for assessment.

“I’ve unfortunately made this video because I injured myself last night bowling, so disappointingly I’m going to have to head home back to Australia to get assessed with the medical people at Cricket Australia to try and get right for the Twenty20 World Cup,” Watson said in a video posted on his team’s Twitter account.

Watson drew the IPL auctions’ highest bid of Rs 9.5 crore ($1.39 million) from Bangalore, underlining his value in the shortest format in subcontinental conditions.

He has also been in ominous form with the bat in recent weeks.

But he may have to scramble to prove his fitness before Australia’s World T20 opener against New Zealand on March 18 in Dharamsala.

Australia already have a number of fitness worries, with three other players in their 15-man squad nursing injuries.

Top order batsman Aaron Finch and all-rounder James Faulkner have been sidelined with hamstring strains, while fast bowler Coulter-Nile is recovering from a dislocated shoulder.

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Carty, Paul steer West Indies to Under-19 glory

West Indies' mix of high-speed hustle with the ball and patience with the bat help them beat pre-tournament favourites India by five wickets in a tense final in Mirpur to lift their maiden Under-19 World Cup title.

India, who were bowled out for 145, held their own and fought till the end admirably until Keemo Paul and Keacy Carty's ice-cool approach helped West Indies eat into the target and eventually cross the line with three balls to spare. That meant India lost a Youth ODI for the first time since their quarterfinal exit of the same tournament in 2014.

India's crash began with Rishabh Pant wandering outside his crease, only to find wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach flick an underarm throw back to the stumps to catch him unaware. Imlach's match awareness that gave them a breakthrough off the fourth ball of the morning set the tone for a dominating display against a batting unit high on confidence.

Anmolpreet Singh, who had done well in the two knockout games prior to the grand finale fell next as he was unable to get his bat out of the way to a rising Alzarri Joseph delivery in the third over, as he gloved a nick to the wicketkkeeper. Then came a blow that ended Ishan Kishan's run of poor scores as he played across the line and was trapped lbw, even though replays showed the ball had pitched just outside leg stump. When Washington Sundar chipped a simple catch to mid-off, a top order wobble seemed complete at 41 for 4 in the 15th over.

India needed a rescue act, but West Indies didn't drop their intensity even by an inch as Arman Jaffer found out while driving away to the cover fielder to leave Sarfaraz Khan with the unenviable task of reviving the innings and batting through, like he had done for most parts of the tournament.

He did so by adding 37 with Mahipal Lomror, who sweetly timed two fours in his 43-ball 19. Even as a recovery looked a sudden possibility came yet another blow as Chemar Holder, who was brought back in for a new spell, sent him back with an awaygoing delivery that was well pouched by Imlach behind the stumps.

Sensing the inevitable, Sarfaraz tried to break the shackles and found his hitting range, sweetly timing a flick over midwicket for six. He also brought up a half-century off 83 deliveries before perishing in an effort to up the ante. While he was clearly far from his best, Sarfaraz was still miles ahead with his judgment in lengths.

With India collapsing in heaps, the inaccuracy of the West Indies bowlers went unnoticed as they conceded as many as 23 extras by the time India's innings came to a grinding hat in 45.1 overs.

Any thoughts of a regulation chase was quickly put on the backburner as India came back hard; West Indies slipping from 67 for 2 to 77 for 5 in the 29th over. The man who orchestrated the comeback was Mayank Dagar, the left-arm spinner, who teased the batsmen with his gentle flight and drift.

Shimron Hetmyer, the captain, lofted one to long-on, while Shamar Springer top-edged a hoick to long-off. In Dagar's next over, Jyd Goolie's attempt to blast him down the ground ended up in a sharp caught and bowled, making West Indies lose their third wicket in six overs.

Paul and Carty had to dig deep. That Carty had an opportunity to do so was courtesy a reprieve when Sarfaraz put down a sharp chance at slip off Dagar. But the pair battled slowly to ensure India's biggest threat was safely negotiated.

As the innings progressed, India began to get edgy as Pant failed to hold on to a thin edge off Carty in Dagar's last over. As if to break the shackles, he was lofted down the ground for six in the same over. Slowly, the equation boiled down to 24 off the last five overs.

With nine needed off the last two overs, Paul's attempted inside-out hit over cover resulted in him hitting one towards Avesh Khan, who put down a tough chance even as the ball was dying on him. Carty then reached a half-century off 122 balls. By then, the celebration had well and truly begun in the West Indies camp. The party had kickstarted in earnest when Paul's top edge flew over the keeper's head to bring an end to a pulsating clash.

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Butt, Asif to be part of CPL draft

Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, who recently returned to competitive cricket after serving five-year bans for spot-fixing, have been registered for the Caribbean Premier League's player draft, which will take place on February 11. The spot-fixing bans on Butt and Asif were lifted in September, and they made their comebacks in Pakistan's domestic cricket in January.

Mohammad Amir, the other player banned for spot-fixing in the Lord's Test of 2010, made his Pakistan comeback during their recent tour of New Zealand. His name is also on the CPL draft list.

Pakistan will be the most represented overseas nationality at the CPL draft, with 37 players including Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik. There will be 34 South African players in the draft, including Hashim Amla, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir and Vernon Philander, 23 Australians, including Brad Haddin, Michael Hussey, Chris Lynn and Shaun Tait, and 20 Sri Lankans, including Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga, Lahiru Thirimanne and Ajantha Mendis.

New Zealand will be represented by 11 players, among whom are Grant Elliott, Colin Munro and Nathan McCullum, and Bangladesh by seven including Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman. Outside the Test-playing countries, the draft will also include players from Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and USA.

In all, 289 players - 157 from West Indies and 132 from overseas - have been registered for the draft. This total does not include the six players - Faf du Plessis, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, Shane Watson, and one other name set to be revealed ahead of the draft - who will take one 'marquee' spot in each of the six CPL teams. Of the 157 West Indians, 16 have been retained by their teams ahead of the draft.

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Rivalry with Virat Kohli goes back to U-19 WC days, says Bangladesh pacer Rubel Hossain

Dhaka, Feb 2: Bangladesh's front line pacer Rubel Hossain has revealed his rivalry with India's flamboyant batsman Virat Kohli goes back to their U-19 cricket days. Rubel Hossain and Virat Kohli were seen getting into pitched rivalry in last year's World Cup quarter-finals as well as during India's tour of Bangladesh in June last year. 

In the ICC World Cup 2015 encounter, Virat Kohli chased a wide delivery from Bangladeshi pacer Rubel Hossain and edged it to wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim for just 3 runs off 4 balls. With his bowling Rubel Hossain kept Kohli silent with the bat, when it mattered the most for the Indians. This wasn't the first time, when the Bangladesh pacer showed aggression against one of the world's best batsman. Hossain represented Bangladesh in Under-19 World Cup in 2008 when Kohli led the Indian side. 

Back then, the duo were involved in heated exchange during one of the group matches and the matter was calmed down only after the umpires intervened. The pacer was quoted by a TOI report, as saying, "Both of us go back a long way. I got Virat out a couple of times in our U-19 days. Then in international cricket too, I have got him a few times. I won't say he is a bunny but yes, I am confident against him." Though he quickly proceeded to clear the air about their relationship by saying off-the field they have good relation. "On the field he may be very aggressive but outside he is a very nice guy . We speak to each other. He, in fact, came to our dressing room after the (2015 World Cup) quarterfinal and we chatted for a long time. "I get a different feeling when I bowl against him. I will not allow him to hit me and want to take his wicket. Whenever I see him at the other end, it pumps me up since Under-19 days," the Bangladesh pacer further added. 

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Faulkner ruled out of ODI series

Allrounder to be replaced by Marcus Stoinis after suffering hamstring injury in Chappell-Hadlee opener. Australia has suffered injury upon indignity with World Cup Final hero James Faulkner sustaining a hamstring injury that will see him take no further part in the current Chappell-Hadlee Trophy Series which New Zealand now leads 1-0. Faulkner, one of only two batsmen (along with Matthew Wade) to reach 30 in Australia’s hefty 159-run loss to the Black Caps in the first game of the three-match series today, sustained the injury during New Zealand’s innings although the severity won’t be known until scans are undertaken.

He will return to Australia tomorrow to begin his rehabilitation and will be replaced in the 14-man squad by Victorian allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who will be plucked from the Bushrangers’ Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the MCG. Fellow allrounder Ian Holland will debut for the Bushrangers in Stoinis's stead.  “James reported increased stiffness in his right hamstring during the first innings tonight and found it difficult running during our batting innings,” Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sport Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris said tonight. “Unfortunately, with the short turnaround between games we do not believe he will recover in time to take any further part in the series. “As a result, he will return to Melbourne tomorrow to have scans and start rehabilitation. “We are hopeful this is only a low-grade injury but will know more in the coming days.”

Faulkner, who also captured two wickets as the Black Caps piled on 8-307 at Eden Park today, joins Mitchell Starc (foot and ankle surgery), Pat Cummins (back), Nathan Coulter-Nile (shoulder), Aaron Finch (hamstring) and coach Darren Lehmann (deep vein thrombosis) as absentees from a full-strength ODI squad. Man of the Match in his team’s World Cup triumph over New Zealand at the MCG last March, Faulkner was playing his 50th ODI for Australia in Auckland today which made him – along with fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh – the most experienced members of a revamped bowling attack. Given that auxiliary seamer Scott Boland has played just four ODIs, leg spinner Adam Zampa remains uncapped and 26-year-old Stoinis made his only 50-over appearance for Australia in England last September, the world champions face a tough task to win the final two matches of the Chappell Hadlee Series. “It’s unfortunate that James has suffered this injury but the situation presents another good opportunity for Marcus Stoinis,” chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said tonight. “He is a promising young all-rounder who had a taste of international cricket last winter in England, and hopefully this call-up will continue with his development.”

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Australia's shortest all-out ODI innings

146 Number of balls in which Australia were bowled out, the fewest for Australia in ODIs. Their previous lowest was 152 balls (25.2 overs), against England at Edgbaston in 1977. New Zealand, though, have dismissed a team in fewer overs four times. However, this is New Zealand's best at home. They had bowled out Australia in 32.2 overs at the same venue in the 2015 World Cup.

159 Runs by which Australia lost this match; it is their second-biggest margin of defeat against New Zealand in ODIs (in terms of runs). The biggest is 206 runs, in Adelaide in 1985-86, when they were bowled out for 70.

6.08 Australia's run rate in their total of 148 in 24.2 overs, which is the fourth-highest in all-out totals of 150 or fewer runs in ODIs. However, two of the top three run rates had come in shortened matches; only Canada's 92 at 6.20 is higher than Australia's run rate in a full 50-overs innings.

0 Instances of New Zealand losing a home ODI after posting 300 or more when batting first. This was the 18th time they scored 300 or more batting first, of which they have won 17; one match was tied. New Zealand are the only such sideamong the Test-playing teams.

0 Number of previous instances, since 2002, of Australia being six down within the first 10 overs of an ODI innings. Today, they were 41 for 6 in nine overs. They had lost five wickets in the first 10 overs twice in this period: against West Indies in Brisbane in 2004-05 and against South Africa in Centurion in 2008-09. In this game, New Zealand were 71 without loss after 10 overs, while Australia slumped to 47 for 6.

3 Number of New Zealand players who have scored 6000 or more runs in ODIs. Brendon McCullum became the third batsman to do so, in this match, after Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle. McCullum took 226 innings to achieve it, which is the most among the three: Astle achieved it in 182, while Fleming got there in 206.

2013 The last time Kane Williamson got out for a duck in ODIs, against England at Lord's. The duck in this match was only his second in 80 ODI innings; in his first five innings he was out for zero three times.

182 Runs scored by New Zealand in the first 25 overs of their innings - the most by any team against Australia in the first innings, since 2002.

64* The previous highest ODI score for Martin Guptill against Australia, in Brisbane in 2008-09. Today's 90 was only his second score of 50 or more against Australia in 16 ODI innings. Before this match, he had averaged only 21.78 against Australia, his lowest against a Full-Member side.

79 Runs added by Matthew Wade and James Faulkner; it is the fourth-highest stand for Australia's seventh wicket after the team has lost their sixth wicket for 45 runs or less. The highest also came in an ODI between Australia and New Zealand: 107 by Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori in Mohali in the Champions Trophy in 2006.

5 Sixes hit by Guptill in this innings, the joint second-highest for New Zealand against Australia with Craig McMillan. Lance Cairns at the MCG in 1982-83, and Jacob Oram at the WACA in 2006-07, had hit six sixes each.

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Amount of respect Mahendra Singh Dhoni gets in India is unbelievable: Sourav Ganguly

New Delhi: Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday heaped praise on limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's ability to stay calm under pressure.

"MS has this fantastic ability to remain calm under any situation. Lot of people have asked me that "you have been with him, so how does he remain calm? I tell them that he doesn't show it. From inside he is different, from outside he is different. That goes around in the dressing room and he gets a lot of respect.

“We only look at the criticism but amount of respect he gets in India is unbelievable," Ganguly said in an event organised by NDTV.

While answering the question, if he is ready to coach the Indian cricket team at the moment, Ganguly, who is heading the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said that his administrative responsibilities will not allow him to take up the job.

"I really don't know as I have got another job to do at the moment. I am actually running the cricket (as CAB president). You can't do both at the same time. You have to see where life goes. At the present moment, 'No' (to coaching) as I am an administrator with responsibilities of running the game," added the 43-year-old.

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