SLPL 2012: Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the Sri Lankan Premier League tournament

Chris Gayle

West Indies opener Chris Gayle has been ruled out of the Sri Lankan Premier League tournament which is scheduled to start on Aug 11.

Gayle had signed up for the Uva Next franchise but will not participate in this season due to a groin injury. 

"Of course it's a blow to lose Gayle, but we are very happy with the team that we've got and we're still going to win the competition," said Tushar Bedi, CEO of the Uva Next franchise.

Gayle had been battling through a groin niggle throughout the last season but it aggravated further in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand.

It is understood that the West Indies Cricket Board does not want to take any chances with its players in a bid to keep them fit for the World Cup T20 which is scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka in September.

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who was picked up by Uthura Rudras, has not been given a 'no objection certificate' (NOC) by the WICB.

Pakistan's Abdur Rehman (Uva Next) and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan (Uthura Rudras) are the other prominent players who will not take part in the inaugural season of the SLPL.

Uthura have replaced Shakib and Fidel Edwards with Rob Quiney and Kyle Mills, while Uva Next have picked Chanderpaul, Fawad Alam and Jacob Oram as replacements.

A total of seven teams will participate in the tournament which will run from Aug 11 to Aug 31.

World Cup T20: Smith Rejected From RSA T20 Squad

Graeme-Smith

South Africa Test captain Graeme Smith was omitted from the 15-man squad to take part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday.

The 31-year-old last played a T20 international in October 2011, but in July was named by CSA in a 30-man provisional squad for the global event.

There was, however, a place in the squad for all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who has played just one T20 international for his country since May 2010.

"We are confident that our squad will be very competitive and make South Africa proud. We have had basically the same squad together for the past year and many of them also produced stand-out performances at the Indian Premier League (IPL)," CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

The World T20 starts in Sri Lanka on Sept 18 with South Africa drawn in the same group as the hosts and Zimbabwe.

In an effort to gain some valuable match practice ahead of the global showpiece, the same 15-man squad will play a three-match T20 series in England next month.

"The Proteas will also have excellent preparation for the World Twenty20 by finishing the England tour with three matches. They may be playing on a different surface to that they will find in Sri Lanka but they will be able to hone their T20 specific skills," Hudson added.
SQUAD:
AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Bangladesh vs Netherlands: Bangladesh lost the second match

Bangladesh lost the second and final Twenty20 international match against Netherlands at Sportpark Westvliet after the hosts squeezed home off the last ball to register a one-wicket win at Sportpark Westvliet, The Hague on Thursday

Needing to make 129, the Dutch led by opener Michael Swart, with 61, scored 131-9.

Earlier, Bangladesh were bowled out for 128 in 20 overs.

Tamim Iqbal top scored with 50 off 46 balls while Mahmudullah scored 41.

Bangladesh won the first match of the series by eight wickets on Wednesday.

Shoaib Malik in line for recall

Shoaib Malik

Pakistan selectors are planning to recall some discarded batsmen, including Shoaib Malik, to strengthen the national team's batting line up, which they feel lacks firepower, reports Press Trust of India.

Sources close to the national selectors said that in the first stage the selectors were planning to recall discarded opener Yasir Hameed, middle-order batsman Fawad Alam and Malik in the one-day squad.

Malik has been named in the national T20 squad for the Australia series and T20 World Cup but the selectors are yet to announce the one-day squad for the Australia series.

Hameed has not been selected to play for Pakistan since 2010 and Fawad has also been out of favour with the selectors.

One source said the selectors were concerned with the inconsistent form of the batsmen barring the exception of youngsters Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

"Their feeling is that the time is right to start planning ahead to stabilise the batting line-up in the ODI and Test formats," the source said.

"Basically, the selectors feel that the batsmen are not scoring consistency and secondly they are not getting big scores as was the requirement of the team. The planning is to not only recall some discarded players like Yasir and Fawad but also give more responsibility to Malik and also try out some new faces," the source said.

The source said the selectors were worried since Pakistan will travel to South Africa for a full series early next year.

"The idea is to start rebuilding the batting line up by adding fresh players. That is one reason why the selectors have also picked the top performers of the last domestic season to attend a conditioning camp at the national cricket academy," the source said.

Hameed, who has played 25 Tests and 56 ODIs, was not considered for selection after he was involved in the News of the World interview when Pakistan were touring England in 2010.

The interview led to Hameed being banned by the PCB but later the ban was removed and he was fined half-a-million rupees.

Shakib Al Hasan no longer No 1 Test all-rounder

Shakib Al Hasan

 Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been knocked off the top of the ICC Test all-rounder rankings by South African Jacques Kallis.

In the latest rankings issued on Wednesday, Shakib, who still retains top spot in the ODI all-rounder rankings, surrendered his status as No 1 in the longer-version after South Africa's brilliant performance against England in the first Test at The Oval.

Kallis moved to the top with 421 points compared to Shakib's 407.

However, Shakib dominates the ODI all-rounders' list with 447 points.

And among the Twenty20 all-rounders the Bangladesh star is placed seventh on 186 points while Kallis is ninth on 180 points.

Match Preview: WI vs NZ, 1st Test, North Sound, Antigua

The last time West Indies won a Test series against an opposition ranked higher than them was in 2009 when they beat England 1-0. They now are favourites to beat New Zealand, a team that is ranked just one notch above them at No. 7. West Indies, who defeated New Zealand comfortably in the T20I and the ODI series, go in to the Tests with a bit of incentive as a win by any margin will help the hosts usurp their opponents into the No. 7 position in the ICC rankings.

Test cricket returns to the Sir Vivian Richards stadium for the first time since February, 2009 when a Test against England was abandoned following an unfit outfield after just 10 balls in the match. Since its return into the international arena, the stadium has hosted 4 ODIs and a couple of T20 internationals.

West Indies:

Playing in a stadium named after one of the greats of West Indies cricket, West Indies will be desperate to reverse their sliding fortunes in Test cricket, they have a huge chance now with New Zealand struggling to put through eleven fit men on the field. Chris Gayle returns to play his first Test since December, 2010. West Indies tried several opening combinations in his absence, but have hardly settled on a set combo. Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieron Powell have all been rotated along with none of them managing to claim a permanent place in the line-up. Darren Bravo and Kirk Edwards miss out due to different reasons but the good news for West Indies is that Shiv Chanderpaul is back after missing the 3rd test against England due to a side strain. Marlon Samuels showed unbelievable maturity as he emerged the best West Indian batsman on view during the tour of England and this series gives the opportunity to further enhance his claim.

The bowling has a settled look to it. Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach have become the lead pair with Tino Best to support them. Sunil Narine struggled in the cool climes of England but has proved to be difficult to play in the comforting home conditions.

New Zealand:

On the other hand, New Zealand will quietly fancy their chances. The return of some of their star players have emboldened a team that usually performs well under adversity. The visitors have had a feel of the conditions at the ground having played their lone warm up match at this venue. They struggled against a quality attack with only Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Kruger van wyk amongst the runs. More bad news filtered in at the end of the match with Trent Boult and Bradley Watling missing out on selection for the first Test with injuries.

Injuries apart, New Zealand will take heart from the fact that their top guns have started firing. Ross Taylor returned from injury to score a century in the fourth ODI, McCullum and Williamson spent useful time in the middle while Daniel Vettori was his usual niggardly self picking up 6 wickets in the warm-up game. Much has been spoken about Neil Wagner and the left arm pacer looks a sure shot for a debut.

Team News:

Adrain Barath and Kieron Powell will battle for one spot at the top of the order while a century in the practice match should help Narsingh Deonarine edge past Assad Fudadin for a spot in the middle order.

Injuries might just force New Zealand's hands. Neil Wagner will make his debut in all probability with Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee fighting for the third seamer's spot.

Pitch and Conditions: The pitch as well as the outfield will be under close scrutiny. On the evidence of the practice match, it should stay low and slow. Scattered showers have been predicted for the entire duration of the Test.

Quotes:

The two teams are evenly matched... both teams will be playing to win and we will do everything to achieve that (a win) - Darren Sammy is badly seeking a Test win.

A warm-up game is a warm-up game. We got what we wanted out of it - Ross Taylor does not believe that a poor outing in the warm-up match will hurt his team.

Teams:

West Indies (From):  Darren Sammy(c), Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin(w), Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Samuels, Tino Best, Adrian Barath, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Assad Fudadin, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Narsingh Deonarine

New Zealand (From): Ross Taylor(c), Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Daniel Flynn, Martin Guptill, Tim Southee, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Tarun Nethula, Brendon McCullum, Chris Martin, Kruger van Wyk(w), Daniel Vettori, Neil Wagner

Boycott critical of 'selfish' England batsmen

Geoffrey Boycot

Geoffrey Boycott has criticised England's batsmen after their first Test defeat to South Africa, saying they forgot about defence in the pursuit of their ambition to score runs.

To save the match, England needed to bat out the final day at The Oval on Monday to force a draw. However the visitors' bowling attack led by Dale Steyn (5-56) steamrolled them to win by an innings and 12 runs.

"When defence is paramount and not giving your wicket away crucial, then surely top players have to rein in their stroke-playing," the former opening batsman turned commentator wrote in his column for The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

"If they can't, or won't, then they are playing for themselves and not the team.

"Batting in these situations you have to look forward to the challenge: to enjoy the chance to bat all day, relish it like eating a good dinner or savouring a gorgeous glass of wine."

Boycott, who scored 22 centuries in 193 Test-match innings, particularly criticised top-order batsman Kevin Pietersen, who got 42 runs in the first innings and 16 runs in the second.

"Kevin Pietersen got sucked into a bouncer contest with Morne Morkel," he wrote.

"His hubris got the better of him. He was too busy trying to score runs and get on top of the bowler and he forgot about his defence and missed a straight one."

Ian Bell and Matt Prior were the only two to provide some resistance to the Proteas' bowlers during the second innings, with Bell taking four hours to reach his half-century and eventually bowing out on 55 from 220 balls.

The right-hander said things would be set straight at the Headingley Test starting on August 2.

"We came out and gave it everything we had but South Africa were better than us in this Test match," Bell told Sky Sports. "We know we can make improvements and put things right at Headingley."

Bangladesh VS Scotland: Scots clobber Tigers to death

Richie Berrington(Scotland) 100 runs

Scotland inflicted a thumping 34-run defeat on high-flying Bangladesh in the first-ever Twenty20 match between the two sides on Tuesday at The Hague.

The hosts terminated the visitors' pursuit in 18 overs allowing them to compile 128. Shakib Al Hasan scored highest 31 off 28 deliveries.

The innings got off to a shaky start after Mohammad Ashraful was run out for 8.

Josh Davey then picked up his first wicket when Tamim Iqbal (25) edged a delivery towards the keeper.

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was sent back by Preston Mommsen and Majid Haq removed Mahmudullah. Both batsmen departed having scored only 9.

Davey struck for the second time when Nasir Hossain (7) tried to flick through the leg side and succeeded in being caught by Mommsen.

Ziaur Rahman (9) was bowled by Gordon Drummond while Shakib Al Hasan was caught off a Gordon Goudie delivery.

Haq bowled both Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (15) and Abdur Razzak (1) in the 17th over.

Davey ended Bangladesh's day to forget by sending back Abul Hasan (9) to the dressing room.

Majid Haq and Josh Davey each took three wickets for Scotland.

Earlier, aided by Richie Berrington's century, Scotland managed to score a modest 162-7 after electing to bat.

The opening batsman's 56-ball knock included 10 fours and five sixes.

Calum MacLeod (19) was the first wicket to go as he tried lofting a Shakib Al Hasan delivery which was slightly edged and keeper Mushfiqur Rahim accepted the chance.

Jan Stander was then sent back after being run out without scoring.

Kyle Coetzer (14) came down the track and lofted a Mahmudullah delivery to long-off which was taken by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

Preston Mommsen (12) was run out while Berrington's stay at the crease was ended by an Abdur Razzak delivery in the same over just after he completed his ton.

Josh Davey (7) and Ryan Flannigan (0) were caught in the last over of their innings by Mashrafe.

Following their 3-0 whitewash of Ireland, Bangladesh climbed to fourth place in the ICC Twenty20 rankings ahead of powerhouses Pakistan and Australia.

They next play the Netherlands in back to-back T20 matches on Wednesday and Thursday.

The European tour is intended to build momentum for September's World T20 tournament in Sri Lanka.