India vs Srilanka: Our energy levels are up Said Dhoni

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka will provide his side an opportunity to see where it stands at the moment and identify the areas that need improvement.

"It's the start of the season for us," Dhoni said on Wednesday, soon after the Indian team arrived here to play in five ODIs and a lone Twenty20 game against the islanders.

"There are certain areas where we've wanted to improve, where we've had a discussion saying these are the areas where we need to improve upon to consistently do well. This is a nice occasion to test how much we have improved and how much further we can actually improve on the field," he added.

Sri Lanka will be hosting the World Twenty20 in September, but Dhoni said the focus is only on the upcoming series for the time being.

"What's important is to be in the present, which means take this series into account, not to think too much ahead about the World Twenty20.

"A good thing is most of the players who are part of this side will also be part of the Twenty20 side. We don't really need to think ahead of time."

Getting back to action after a month-and-a-half long break, the team headed for a practice session at the R Premadasa Stadium soon after checking in to their hotel.

"Today we landed over here, and we were on the field close to 4.30 pm. The good thing is the energy level is up, which means we can put in a bit more effort in the physical department and do a bit more active sports work," Dhoni said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said his team will look to continue the momentum after a successful series against Pakistan at home.

"We have just finished a series against Pakistan successfully and what is important is to continue with the good work," Jayawardene said.

"We have to work hard to reach the goals we want to attain. It's a good opportunity against India. We need to take the team forward. We have brought in a few new players for the one-day side, and we have to think about the World Twenty20 and which of these players will be suitable for that competition."

The series will not have the much-debated Decision Review System (DRS) as India, as has been their stance all through, did not want the system in place.

"As per the ICC guidelines, both teams have got to agree in having the DRS. As far as the Indian board is concerned they are not in favour of that. That was a decision taken at ICC level," said Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Nishantha Ranatunga. 

India tour of Sri Lanka, 2012 (Jul 21 - Aug 07) Fixture

Date	Match Details	Time
		GMT	IST			Venue
Jul 21 - Sat	Sri Lanka v India, 1st ODI	09:00	14:30			Hambantota
Jul 24 - Tue	Sri Lanka v India, 2nd ODI	09:00	14:30			Hambantota
Jul 28 - Sat	Sri Lanka v India, 3rd ODI	09:00	14:30			Colombo
Jul 31 - Tue	Sri Lanka v India, 4th ODI	09:00	14:30			Colombo
Aug 04 - Sat	Sri Lanka v India, 5th ODI	09:00	14:30			Pallekele
Aug 07 - Tue	Sri Lanka v India, Only T20I	13:30	19:00			Pallekele

England vs South Africa: James Anderson ready for stern South Africa test

James Anderson

James Anderson believes England will have to be patient as never before if they are to maintain their world number one Test ranking against a South African side who are masters of playing under pressure.

South Africa will replace England at the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings if they emerge victorious in a three-Test series that gets underway at The Oval here on Thursday.

Both sides boast of arguably the world's two best pace attacks, with Anderson leading an England line-up that includes the likes of Stuart Broad.

South Africa are set to give the new ball to Dale Steyn, officially the world's leading Test bowler and a genuine quick whose record stands in comparison with some of the game's all-time greats.

Steyn is set to be supported by paceman Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, who in just seven Test has already taken a staggering 51 wickets while a further seam bowling option is provided by veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

Meanwhile the Proteas' batting order boasts of four players in the world's top 10 and England spearhead Anderson told Sky Sports: "It's going to be a huge challenge.

"The last couple of times South Africa have been over here they've played really well and beaten us. Both attacks have shown in the last 18 months that they are strong units. I think it'll be a good battle."

"It's going to be really important that our bowling attack is in top form because their batting unit is really strong."

"I see they've got six key wickets, they've got such a strong batting line-up that every wicket's crucial. They've got some great players in there and we're going to have to be on the top of our game."

"We're looking forward to it, we like testing ourselves against the best in the world and there's four of their guys in the top 10, so it should be a good challenge."

"South Africa probably soak up pressure better than anybody else in the world, so we might have to be more patient than we have in recent series and that's going to be our biggest test."

The Proteas were the last visiting side to win a Test series in England, back in 2008, and Anderson added: "A lot of the guys played in that series, we're well aware of it."

"They played really well last time they were over here and they're going to be strong in our conditions with both the bat and the ball."

"But confidence is high, we're really excited to be playing such a strong team."

"It's going to be a really tough three-match series for us, we're going to have to be on top form to have chance of winning."

Several of England's leading batsmen have been in good form recently, including South Africa born Kevin Pietersen, always a prize wicket for the Proteas especially.

Pietersen scored 80 and 78 in his last two Tests against the West Indies and an unbeaten 234 for Surrey against county champions Lancashire, having opted out of limited overs internationals.

Anderson refused to be drawn on talk Pietersen could reverse his decision but said: "Something we're excited about is the form he's shown this summer."

"He's carried it on from the IPL (Indian Premier League) and hopefully he can carry it on to end of this series."

IPL franchises in a fix over non-payments

Indian Premier League franchises that are facing the heat over delays in payments are refusing to respond to players' queries regarding the issue.

"There has been no communication from the franchise despite many attempts by players to get a response," said Federation of International Cricketers' Associations CEO Tim May in reference to RCB in an email, reports Yahoo Cricket..

After it was found on Thursday that RCB was procrastinating over clearing their dues, Deccan Chargers were discovered to be guilty of holding back payments to contracted players, including some Indian players - most of whom have allegedly received just 15 per cent of their due.

When contacted on Saturday, Public Relations representatives from either franchise said there was no official word yet on the matter.

Although the IPL doesn't recognize FICA, May said the body will "nonetheless represent players positions to IPL, but typically Sundar Raman (IPL CEO) refuses to respond - nonetheless we believe it important to state our case and concerns".

Indian associations are not allianced with the FICA, a body that protects players' interests and whose members includes associations from Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Bangladesh. "(We are) trying to get accurate details of the number of players affected and their relative amounts at the moment," May added.

These trends indicate that cash-rich Twenty20 leagues that have mushroomed around the globe may not be as flush with funds as earlier suspected.

The UB Group-owned RCB has reportedly held back payments except to Indian players and Chris Gayle, who inhabits a category of his own.

South African players appear to be the most affected. Five of them - including A.B de Villiers (RCB), Dale Steyn (DC), JP Duminy (DC) and Juan Theron (DC) - have not yet received their salaries.

Concerned over the impediment in disbursal of funds, South Africa Cricketers' Association chief Tony Irish told a website that they were doing their best to ascertain just what was required to get things on track.

"We are in the process of collecting more information but at this stage not sure what process needs to be followed," he said.

Although the IPL far surpasses other Twenty20 leagues in its scale and enormity, these recent instances point to a gross lack of professionalism.

Of all the franchises, only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are believed to have their financial affairs in ship shape, at least so far as player payments are concerned.

Sub-continental leagues largely function in a morass of financial murkiness. Bangladesh Premier League is already engaged in a dirty slanging match with the FICA over payment issues for the 2012 season.

Possibly to close out loopholes of deception, the latest league to join the fray - the Sri Lankan Premier League - has introduced a bank guarantees clause in contracts.

SA drop a place in new Test rankings

South Africa's chances of replacing England as test cricket number one after their forthcoming three test series became more difficult when the latest International Cricket Council rankings were published on Saturday.

The South Africans slipped to third in the list - Australia replacing them in second - and dropped to nine points off England from just a point adrift when the annual figures were issued, The Times Of India reports.

The Proteas slipped down the list because their series victories in England and Australia four years ago were no longer valid to the rankings.

A 1-0 or 2-1 defeat to South Africa would see the victors go level on points with England, but above them by a decimal fraction.

Should England either draw or win, though, they will stay on top - and if they were to whitewash the tourists, South Africa would drop to fourth.

The first Test gets underway at The Oval next Thursday.

ICC Test Ranking: India Slipt Fifth position

India, who were the No. 1 Test side this time a year ago, have lost a position to slip to the fifth spot in the latest ICC Test Championship rankings table after the annual update took place on Saturday.

The Indian team that last played a Test match in January against Australia, has swapped places with Pakistan, reports The Times Of India.

Pakistan, despite a 0-1 defeat in the three-Test series, which finished in Sri Lanka on Thursday, have moved up to fourth position, pushing MS Dhoni's men down to number five.

Meanwhile, England extended their lead as top Test team after gaining 122 ratings points, while Australia moved to the second place.

Although South Africa has fallen to third spot, they can still leapfrog into top position if they manage to win the three-match Test series against England, which begins at The Oval on July 19.

If South Africa win the series 1-0 or 2-1 it will be level on ratings points with England but when the rankings are calculated to a fraction of a decimal point then Graeme Smith's team will have the edge.

A drawn series or a 1-0 win will mean England retain the number one position and if Andrew Strauss's side were to win 2-0 or 3-0 then South Africa would tumble to fourth spot.

Lower down the table, West Indies have fallen below New Zealand, who are now placed at seventh position.

Brett Lee quit international cricket

           

           

Brett Lee

- Australian fast bowler Brett Lee retired from international cricket on Friday, just days after he was forced to return home from England after sustaining another injury and a few months before he had pencilled in a possible exit from the game.

The 35-year-old, who first announced his decision on his Twitter page, sustained a right calf strain in the fourth one-day match of Australia's limited overs tour of England and was forced to return home for further examination and treatment.

"The last two or three nights I have thought about it a lot and I woke up this morning and thought this was the right day to do it," Lee told a media conference at Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It's almost like there has been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I have been a bit anxious the last two days. It has been a hard few days."

Lee had been expected to be available for the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka later this year, and he said he had held discussions with the selectors about retiring from after that, but the most recent injury had changed those plans.

"It (retirement) was going to be post-World Cup but I woke up this morning and felt ... that the time was right," he added.

"To play international cricket you need to be mentally and physically 100 percent and I didn't think it would be fair to the team or myself if it wasn't in that space.

"Looking ahead at the next two months I just didn't have that desire any more. It's not a lack of commitment but you just get to that point in your life when enough's enough and the great run is at an end."

Lee last played a Test match in 2008, but continued to play international limited-overs matches for Australia and in India's lucrative Twenty20 competition. He retired from Tests in 2010.

He told Australia's Channel Nine television he would continue to play Twenty20 cricket in Australia and India.

In his prime Lee was one of the fastest and most aggressive bowlers in the world but has suffered from a long list of injuries that blighted his career, including stress fractures, ankle injuries, side strains and more recently a broken foot.

He took 310 Test wickets at 30.81 and 380 one-day international wickets at 23.36, one short of Glenn McGrath's Australian record.

"The statistics only tell part of the story," chairman of selectors John Inverarity said in a media statement.

"Brett has been an absolute ornament to the game; a fine player, a fierce and brave competitor, a generous opponent and one who always upheld the highest standards of sportsmanship.

"He has been a cricketer in every sense of the word."

Pakistan announce World Cup T20 Squad

Pakistan have named their 30-man shortlist for the World Twenty20, with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal returning to the set-up.

Akmal was called to appear before the Pakistan Cricket Board's integrity committee earlier this month and although they have yet to publicly clear him for international duty, he is clearly under consideration again.

The initial squad for the tournament will be cut to 15 next month ahead of the tournament in Sri Lanka, which begins on September 18.

Imran Nazir, who has not featured for Pakistan in two years and is not centrally contracted, is also in the party, as is short-form specialist Abdul Razzaq.

Just three specialist spinners make the 30, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman and Raza Hasan, though former captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi will also contribute.

Akmal's brother Umar is one of 13 batsmen but his other brother Adnan, who fractured a finger in the third Test against Sri Lanka, is not included.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD:

M Hafeez, A Shahzad, K Latif, N Jamshed, I Nazir, S Hasan, A Zia, S Khan, U Akmal, A Shafiq, H Sohail, S Malik, R Raja, S Afridi, H Azam, A Razzaq, U Gul, M Sami, S Tanvir, Y Arafat, W Riaz, J Khan, A Cheema, A Ali, S Ajmal, A Rehman, R Hasan, S Ahmed, K Akmal, A Ansar.

Ireland tour of Banglades: For T20 ranking spot

Bangladesh will leave for the tour on July 11. The first T20I will be played in Belfast on July 18.

Bangladesh have a chance of breaking into the ICC Twenty20 team rankings during their upcoming tour of Ireland and Netherlands, where they'll play five T20 internationals. Bangladesh, who have played only six T20Is since August 2009 (the T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe was an unofficial series), are not ranked as they need a minimum of eight games in the three-year period. They lost five of their six matches and their only win came against West Indies last year in Dhaka.

"We know our record in T20 cricket is not good. We are still not good in the new format of the game," Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim told the Daily Star. "Due to lack of international matches we are not in the ICC T20 international rankings while even Afghanistan occupy a spot."

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three matches against Ireland in Belfast and a match each against Scotland and Netherlands in The Hague.

"We have a chance to break into the table if we can win matches on this tour. So it's a very good opportunity for us. The result was not as per our expectation on the recent tour of Zimbabwe but we are confident of winning the series against Ireland." Mushfiqur said. "Everybody has the self-confidence, but you know just self-confidence is not enough to win, rather you have to prove your skills. I believe everybody will be able to show their skills on the coming tour."

Bangladesh face a tough challenge in foreign conditions in which their record is poor. During their last tour to Ireland and Scotland in July 2010, Bangladesh lost an ODI each against Ireland and Netherlands. They also lost a match to Ireland during the World Twenty20 in England in 2009.

"Our experience against Ireland was not good at all, so this tour will not be an easy one for us. We don't have a good record away and you know we are going to play in different conditions. And you know in T20 cricket no one can be considered a big team. We may be favourites in the series but I believe Ireland are tough opponents."