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| India given response deadline over pitch • India's Board of Control for Cricket must respond to report• ICC want answers with four World Cup matches at stakeThe Board of Control for Cricket in India have been given 14 days to respond to the match referee Alan Hurst's report after yesterday's fifth and final one-day international between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned.The wicket at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi was deemed "too dangerous" and a switch to a second pitch labelled "impractical". The International Cricket Council today sought an explanation from the Indian board, with four matches in the 2011 World Cup scheduled to be held at the stadium.Play was temporarily suspended midway through Sri Lanka's innings yesterday, following a midfield conference between Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara, his India counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the on-field umpires and Hurst.The officials, who were joined by members of the staging association, headed for the pavilion for a closed-room discussion before the match was eventually called off.India Cricket TeamSri Lanka cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Flower warns Bell that more is expected One of England's most gifted batsmen and heroes at Newlands must prove that his temperament is as strong as his battingIan Bell has been warned by the England coach, Andy Flower, that he must continue to score runs consistently if he is to repay the investment made in him. The batsman has made a vital contribution in three of England's last four Test matches, his 72 in the Ashes-winning victory at The Oval at the end of last season, the 140 in Durban last month and his 48 and match-saving 78 here this week.But as the team moved into one of Cape Town's most luxurious hotels beside the waterfront for a three-day break yesterday, Flower seemed anxious to ensure that the self-congratulatory atmosphere following the draw at Newlands did not permeate the new resolution that has been evident in his No6 batsman.Flower said yesterday: "We're looking for him to make consistent and medium to long-term contributions and not just nip in with a couple of scores. These have been fine contributions but we're looking for a lot more from him. England invested a lot with Ian Bell and this is some of him paying England back."Flower, like most in the game, has been worried that the batsman's considerable technical gifts have only partly compensated for a certain temperamental flabbiness. Perhaps because Flower's own game was based on considerable mental resources the coach has never come across as one of Bell's more conspicuous supporters. Certainly Flower thought there was work to be done when he dropped the player after a defeat in Jamaica last winter. But he has been pleased with the response and with the character Bell displayed in the five-hour innings that – for all Graham Onions's heroics at the end – did most to save England on the final day."It was a significant innings for Ian. Especially backing up the one in Durban, because they were both innings that contributed to changing the momentum of the game. And he's been accused of not doing that often enough in his career. His contribution at The Oval in that last Test against Australia was huge. And then to see him back it up fairly soon after is excellent."He's put in a lot of hard work, a lot of hard physical work. The two to three training sessions a day contribute to becoming a tougher competitor. Through hard physical work you can certainly toughen yourself up, physically but also mentally and emotionally. He's seeing the results, personally, and we reap the benefits as a team."The pressure remains on Bell because even though he has taken his Test average to more than 40 in the past two matches that is still modest in modern, batsman-friendly times. He has still not secured his long-term position. When the side leave South Africa for less bowler-friendly conditions – Australia next winter, say – they may choose not to play six specialist batsmen and Bell struggles to make runs when he is higher up the order.For now, though, Kevin Pietersen is a bigger worry than Bell, which would have seemed unthinkable a year ago. Whether it is mental or physical scar tissue, impending fatherhood or the shortage of cricket, Pietersen's game is not where it should be. He is often described as a great player but great players usually have only short lean spells.Flower denied that he was worried about Pietersen. "He's strong enough as a person and he's definitely a good enough as a player. I'd be surprised if he didn't contribute in a significant way at the Wanderers next week. In this series he made some significant contributions in Centurion. And then he's had a couple of very quiet Test matches."Perhaps he isn't feeling as confident as he always has. He was used to playing cricket all the time and then he had this big break out of it with a significant injury."With one Test to go England hold an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the series, and the conditions in Johannesburg, where the fourth Test starts on Thursday, could help their bowlers more than South Africa's. England will be unchanged but South Africa have brought the uncapped left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir, a former Pakistan leg-spinner, into a 15-man squad as they bid to square the series and retain the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy. The batsman Alviro Petersen and the all-rounder Ryan McLaren have also been added to the side that drew on Thursday.England in South Africa 2009-2010Andy FlowerKevin PietersenEngland Cricket TeamCricketPaul Weaverguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Chelsea’s rivals on alert after Joe Cole contract talks hit stumbling block Joe Cole’s contract talks with Chelsea have reached an impasse over his wage demands. The England midfield player is out of contract in the summer, raising the prospect of him leaving Stamford Bridge on a free transfer at the end of the season. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Albany River Rats staying put for now The CEO of the Albany River Rats today said reports that the team has been sold and is moving to Charlotte are not true. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Kearney, Peterson, Rahlves named to freestyle team World Cup moguls champion Hannah Kearney and four-time Olympian Daron Rahlves highlight the U.S. freestyle team for the Vancouver Games. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |