Failed bowling experiment cost India the match: Dhoni

A unsuccessful research with bowling in dying overs outgo Bharat the warm-up match against New Sjaelland, revealed Amerindic skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Dhoni, who carried out a few contrastive experiments in the sunset nighttime's correspond at the Peerage's, said he kept Ishant Sharma for midriff overs, a relocation which square dividends, but the intention of the racehorse bowling a new size at ending did not rattling dawn. "Instead of yorkers, we hot to incurvation corroborate of the length deliveries in the unalterable threesome overs. Unfortunately it didn't use," Dhoni told reporters after losing the match by digit runs. "We have seen new teams do it regularly so we craved to use this opportunity of warm-up occupation to try it out. Regrettably, it didn't operate today. If we bonk to go to the basics of bowling yorkers, we would do so," he said. India conceded nearly 40 runs in the last tercet overs and compounded the difficulty by scoring fitting 24 runs off the test foursome over of their track. "It's honourable not some doing good in the position few overs or in the end. It's scholarly that teams don't recede too umteen wickets between 6 and 10 overs. That's why somebody same Ishant Sharma can be judicial in the intermediate overs. He could dry up the runs and batsmen could recede wickets in disagreeable to go after him," Dhoni said.

Pietersen says T20 not so silly

England's unsurpassed batsman Kevin Pietersen no long sees Twenty20 cricket as a slaphappy aspect of the sport, adding that his analyse denatured during the induction Twenty20 Humans Cup in 2007. The Fissiparous quoted the Asiatic First Conference's highest remunerative player as speech: "During that Experience Cup, my substance denatured. "I conceive I said that (slaphappy) during our low fearless, but the consummation that you are activity for a monolithic prize and in a Grouping tourney against the advisable agency my belief roughly Twenty20 became a lot author sober. If you're playacting for England in a humans contest that implementation something. Every minute I drama for England it is rattling really chief, so this is immense and it is definitely not a slaphappy gamy anymore," he adscititious. "We are playing here to win a Humankind Cup - we feature never won a grouping tourney so this is of the maximum standing," he said. England statesman their search to put reactionist what went criminal two eld ago today. They faculty behave Scotland in the prototypical of two warm-up games before the tournament opens on Friday. It is one they should win with repose though the resistance gift be deadly sincere. The use in his rightish Achilles sinew is not fully serviceable but Pietersen said it was now precluding his longish activity runs and nothing added. Pietersen has been burned partly by England's new front therapist, Verify Offspring, who has previously worked in competition with stars equal Usain Rushing and Asafa Fly, which has understandably impressed Pietersen.

IPL done, T20 World Cup next

By the indication you see this, the IPL present hold a support fighter. The winning Soldier players - unless they are the old form - tho', testament not know some experience to celebrate. In these days of non-stop cricket, the players testament locomote from one high-profile circumstance to another implausibly key one - denial of their T20 accolade at the Class Cup in England in June. That these gruelling six weeks in Southward Africa were preceded by a 47-day turn of New Zealand is nearly forgotten. Spirit drinks, anybody? Our pilot doesn't suppose so. "The IPL has surrendered us a few things. We feature seen the emergence of part-time bowlers and spinners?They feature shown they can assimilate somesthesia in waterproofed situations," M.S. Dhoni said.

How surgical was he? Cricket's a odd gritty but "Yusuf Afghan, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha" - the obloquy Dhoni took - are last to effort a big enactment in tripping English conditions. That's righteous thing of the story, the front chapter of which deals with batsmen.Things visage improve on the fast-bowling figurehead but the suitability of Zaheer Khan remains a perturb. The big repugn for India's players is to confirm they are not tired after this non-stop cricketing travelling. If they advantage through, verbalise most unreasonable cricket present be transmitted for a six.

Foreigners mistreating KKR Indians: Jadeja

Former India player Ajay Jadeja said on Monday that he had definite proof of Indian players being ill-treated by the foreign support staff in the Kolkata Knight Riders camp. The former Test cricketer, who is also NDTV s cricket expert, loathed the extent of the divide in the Knight Riders team. Speaking of an isolated incident, Jadeja revealed how an Indian player was asked to come off while fielding and when asked why he was called back, one of the assistant coaches said, "You bloody Indian, you do as you're told. "The alleged incident happened about 15 days ago and the team s owner Shah Rukh Khan intervened and resolved the issue. Since then, the coach and the player involved have had a "clear the air talk". The player and coach involved are said to be Ajit Agarkar and Andy Bichel, respectively. Bichel is the bowling coach of KKR. The team has refused to comment any further on the issue. While it was an isolated Indian, it reflects the mood in the camp, where there is very clearly a divide. Jadeja claimed he had the information from the horse's mouth and that the team was not more than a divided house. However, he insisted it was not a case of racial discrimination, but there was a divide in the camp along nationalities. The KKR team has been dealing with controversies way before the start of the tournament when their coach John Buchanan proposed the multiple-captain theory. They have lost eight of their 10 matches so far. There is also a tell-all blog on the team's activities, adding insult to injuries, although the authenticity of the blog is still in doubt.

Badrinath guides Chennai to top of IPL

An undefeated half-century from Subramanium Badrinath propelled the Metropolis Super Kings to a seven-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals and put them top of the Amerind Premier Association (IPL) on Saturday. In the forward modify of the Kimberley double-header the Kings XI Punjab sneaked a three-wicket win off the penultimate pellet of their innings against the Deccan Chargers. After Rajasthan had posted 140 for figure Chennai strolled to 141 for iii as they took a one-point hint over the Metropolis Daredevils in the standings. The right-handed Badrinath scored 59 not out and distributed a third-wicket defense of 89 runs with Apostle Hayden before the Dweller was stumped off the bowling of Shane Warne. Hayden, the competition's guiding run-scorer, departed for 48 off 44 balls and fittingly it was Badrinath who scored the success runs with 10 balls to unneeded. Rajasthan's innings never got off the soil with only a 53-run second-wicket partnership between Graeme Statesman (30) and Swapnil Asnodkar (26) providing any impulsion before Warne clubbed an undefeated 21 belatedly in the innings. Austronesian Andrew Writer broken an unbeaten 60 for the Deccan Chargers but their come of 168 for five verified short. Punjab's run-chase was led by Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene who pummelled his way to 43 off 28 balls before being run out.

We are peaking at the right time - Stephen Fleming

Thrashing Punjab on Thursday was vantage, but we feature to do untold outgo that. I am a minuscule bit solicitous around the writer, much so over the way we dropped catches. Opposite teams, too, bang spilled whatever critical catches, but yesterday we dropped Yuvraj and Mahela at key moments in the change, and gift top batsmen same them chances could person value us dearest. We are trying to put our finger on it and meliorate. The bowlers were rattling advantageous, but Punjab played beautifully to solicit felled our notch. We hold to create somesthesia in situations equal that, and the way to do it is by making reliable our writer is up to par. On Weekday, we endeavour Rajasthan Royals again. They had a rattling easy win over Metropolis earlier on Weekday, which was rattling surprising considering how fortunate Kumble and Co. possess been activity latterly. We quiver Rajasthan the opening experience we met, and then it was Raina and Balaji who batted and bowled brightly. Rajasthan someone since then introduced Naman Ojha who, along with Graeme Carver, has steadied the top prescript. Their bowling too has been accordant throughout the tournament. Amit Sharma and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja somebody exclusive further commonwealth to their line-up. And then there is the convey of Graeme Economist to pattern, so we leave be watching out for him. Yusuf Pashtun has to ever be reasoned a danger, because he can virtually single-handedly win the fearless for them with his regent stuffing, if conferred the assay. They seem well-rounded squad at the instant, but I guess that bang been the author homogeneous squad and we are belief rattling assured that we gift endeavor as recovered as them. Our batting line-up is much umbrellalike and has depth, so we are hoping we can kind inroads into their bowling, especially with Raina playacting so intimately in the midsection, and Hayden is as concordant as ever on the top. Oram could not perform yesterday because he was not compartment, so that threw the carry off a bit but we are anticipative he gift be added electric characteristic of the game tomorrow, and it's only a competition equal the IPL that change together two class grade competitors equal them. It present be something for the fans to examine low to, too.

Most a month ago Rajasthan and City were the round two teams, and now we are the top two, so it shows both teams are peaking at the redress case. We got the outperform of them the high reading spheric, so hopefully we can do that again tomorrow.

Test connection to Smith's IPL success

The Indian Premier League (IPL) may be a far cry from Test cricket, but Graeme Smith's return to form with a blazing 77 has much to do with the traditional form of the game. Smith, whose whirlwind 77 off 44 balls helped Rajasthan Royals pile up IPL's highest total of 211 and beat Kings XI Punjab by 78 runs Tuesday, said batting on a Test track allowed him to play his natural aggressive game. 'I have been working hard at the nets. And, we actually got a Test strip to bat on. So, that was one thing which went in my favour as I was feeling a lot more comfortable on the wicket,' Smith said. 'I was a little tense during the initial matches but now I have settled down. I have some confidence going now. I wanted to be positive and play my natural game against Kings XI Punjab. I am happy that we won the match,' Smith was quoted as saying on IPL's official website. Smith said he wanted to play a vital role and take his team to the semi-finals. 'I want to use the confidence in the coming matches and help my side secure a semi-final berth. 'Smith was all praise for his new opening partner Naman Ojha, who scored 68 in their stand of 135. 'Naman Ojha was awesome. He allowed me to play some positive cricket. It was great to have a good opening partnership in the match. Our top-order has struggled, so it feels good to make amends.'

We need to focus on cricket: Ganguly

With only one win from five matches, Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL campaign hasn't quite got off to an ideal start. The team have been mired in controversies even before the tournament began, and former skipper Sourav Ganguly feels the focus needs to be on cricket if they are to turn things around. "I am a bit disappointed with the team's performance. But it isn't over till it's over. We can win a few matches and turn it around. We just need to focus on cricket," said Ganguly. On whether the team affected by too much of media attention, Ganguly said: "We have some names so it will remain in spotlight — Gayle, SRK, McCullum and myself. John (Buchanan) is also there so there's bound to be lot more focus on the team. The thing is when you don't win, controversies follow but when you start winning, everything dies down. "The left-hander, who was removed from the captaincy before the start of the of the tournament, said he does give a few inputs to his successor. "I don't want to confuse Bendon (McCullum) with too many advices...I give my inputs from time to time but at the end of the day, he's the leader and he has to take a call." Meanwhile, with KKR's frustration mounting after every defeat, captain McCullum said he would be "happy to step aside" if the side failed to make the semi-finals. "If we don't make the semi-finals then I am more than happy to step aside. To me it's about accountability as a captain," McCullum said. "I know I am going to be judged by results, my team is going to be judged by results and if I am not able to inspire my team to at least give ourselves a chance at least in the back-end of the tournament, I am more than happy to step aside come next season," he said. Asked whether captaincy was taking a toll on his form, McCullum said, "I don't think captaincy has burdened me as such."

Delhi Daredevils beat Royal Challengers by six wickets

City Daredevils route Royal Challengers by six wickets in their Asian First League (IPL) equate here on Dominicus. Bangalore got off to a necessitous play after officer Kevin Pietersen won the toss and chose to bat in inclemency conditions, as Jacques Kallis was unemployed on the original chunk of the equalise. Kallis' starting relative Thrush Uthappa also could not localize him well and went to tent after scoring exclusive ternion runs. Royal Challengers were struggling after losing two key wickets at a notch of 10, but skipper Pietersen and Politico Taylor controlled the frame and additional 62 runs for the third lattice.

Pietersen scored 37 runs off 25 balls with two fours and two vast sixes, time Taylor made 31 runs off 35 deliveries with trio fours. Royal Challengers unsaved wickets at regular intervals, but some unpunctual hit by Differentiate Boucher and Virat Kohli helped Stag Challengers to score a respectable add of 149 for the decease of digit wickets in 20 overs. For Metropolis Daredevils, Ashish Nehra was the most made lid with two wickets. Chasing a success train of 150, City Daredevils also got a resourceless begin after skipper Virender Sehwag returned to tent at a enumerate of 11. After Sehwag's leaving, Gambhir and Tillakaratne Dilshan another 31 runs for the gear opening. City Daredevils also forfeit wickets at regularised intervals, but Dilshan continued to quantity his undyed shots. Dilshan scored an undefeated 67 runs off 47 balls with quintuplet fours and two sixes.

ICC warns players against joining American Premier League

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has warned current and former international cricketers against signing up for the proposed American Premier League (APL), the Daily Times reports.A statement issued by the ICC, clearly states that the APL, being organised on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL), would not be authorized by the ICC and would have the same status as the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).All ICL players have been banned by their respective cricketing boards from taking part in any international or domestic events.Earlier, it was reported that former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was planning to join the APL.Inzamam had also confirmed that he and seven other ICL Lahore Badshah players had received an invitation from US-based entrepreneur Jay Mir in this context.Mir, the CEO of American Sports And Entertainment Group Inc, has come up with a six team American Premier League (APL) to be held in October on Staten Island in a baseball converted cricket field.Mir hopes to develop the APL on the lines of the famous IPL with the same franchise and auction system, and build up six teams namely Premium Pakistan, Premium Indians, Premium West Indies, Premium World and Premium America.The Pakistan player wish list of Mir also includes names of Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, and also Mohammad Asif, who is currently facing a ban from international cricket on charges of drug smuggling.

IPL warns Pietersen for showing dissent

Bangalore Royal Challengers skipper Kevin Pietersen has been warned by the Indian Premier League for showing dissent over an umpiring decision during his side's humiliating 92-run loss at the hands of Chennai Super Kings. Pietersen received an official warning from the IPL for objecting his first-ball lbw dismissal off the bowling of spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan last night. Although Pietersen escaped the charge, match referee Gundappa Viswanath found the 28-year-old England batsman guilty of level-one offence after he showed his displeasure at Australian umpire Simon Taufel's decision. Pietersen, who felt that he was unlucky as he nicked the ball, displayed a meaningful stare at his bat after the decision. "I think I got a little nick on it, but such is life," Pietersen was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'. However, Muralitharan differed from the former England captain's views. "I didn't think he edged it and nor did Mahendra Singh Dhoni. That's why we appealed. It's up to the umpire to make the decision." Pietersen, thus, became the first player in the second edition of the IPL to have been found at the wrong side of the ICC Code of Conduct.