Dhoni finds fault with his batters

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni believed his batters and fielders were found wanting against West Indies in a Super Eight match against West Indies here on Friday. However, he didn't give the credit where it was due - the West Indian fast bowlers who wreaked havoc in Indian innings. Fidel Edwards was one reason why Indians had a terrible start and were 29 for 3 in the fifth over. Dwayne Bravo took 4 for 38 and bowled deliberately at batsmen's body. And even though Jerome Taylor has figures of none for 44 from his four overs, he was an ideal foil in pace and bounce to Edwards and Indians were visibly rattled. But the batting did fail for the Indians, with the honourable exceptions of Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan, and they also appeared a foot slow in the field. "Even though Yuvraj Singh batted brilliantly and we recovered, 153 wasn't enough on that kind of wicket. We needed more runs in the early overs but unfortunately our top order didn't quite come good. "Then in fielding, even though we didn't drop catches, we could have done better. We could have made a score of 153 appear 163 which could have been useful. "In contrast, West Indies fielded very well. They picked some very good catches. In a format such at this one, these little things make a big difference."

Interestingly, Dhoni defended his bowlers even though the weakness of leaking runs in slog overs was once again evident. Indians conceded 31 runs in two overs - 16 in the 17th over bowled by Ishant Sharma and then 15 by Harbhajan Singh in the 18th over. "I don't think we lost match in those overs. We lost match in the middle overs when Dwayne Bravo batted so brilliantly. "When a batsman is in such form, there is little you could do. It was the same with Yuvraj. When a batsman is in flow, he can pick his gaps and hit where he wants to. "Actually I am quite satisfied with our bowling. I thought we bowled well and didn't allow them to get away in initial overs. It was our priority to check scoring and Gayle in initial overs." Dhoni's decision to discard his tactics to bring himself on to crease at the fall of first wicket also could have had bearing on the outcome. However, the cerebral Indian skipper had a reason for it. "I have been coming at number three because our openers had been giving us good start. I was coming in to bat at 4th or 6th over. But it wasn't the case today. We lost an early wicket and I thought Suresh Raina, who had such a terrific IPL, would be the ideal man for the situation. "Unfortunately, it wasn't to be."

Man of match Dwayne Bravo was thankful to his captain for his tremendous effort today. "This is what I was born to do. I am thankful to my captain to have promoted me up the order and I seized the opportunity with both hands." West Indian captain Chris Gayle lauded his fast bowlers, especially Fidel Edwards, for putting Indians on the backfoot.

"India is a quality side and they bat to the last player.

"However Fidel (Edwards) was brilliant today. He did damage to their top order and didn't allow them to get off to a flier."

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.

We can handle pressure of T20 better than others: Dhoni

With the cream of IPL in his lateral, Bharat captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said his men are more helmeted than their counterparts to grip somesthesia situations related with the shortest info of the gamy when they reason their ICC Humankind Twenty20 name. Dhoni said though additional teams mortal players who featured in the IPL, his back has an stimulant give in the period event play here on June 5 as all the 15 members of the Asiatic unit jazz featured in the just-concluded IPL in Southwestern Africa. "The optimal attribute is that we faculty jazz many how to handgrip push, when in the sunset over you essential 10 or 15 runs, everyone in our endorse has visaged that position. There are quite a few players from other countries but most of our players were in the Asiatic Premier Conference," Dhoni told reporters at the authorized pushing association here. "In IPL you somebody qualified talent in your indorse, but here we somebody copiousness of options. We possess the remove of the IPL so there is little pressure on apiece and every human," he additional. Dhoni, notwithstanding, warned his team-mates against complacence and said the defending champions cannot open to swear any broadside gently. "In Twenty20, there is no such happening as a feeble side, any several can interpret the job departed from you. We also can't lively on or zest the memories, we change to play up and do everything from scrape again, it's not some the historical," Dhoni said pointing to their conclusion in the initiation Man Twenty20 in Southeastern Continent two eld approve.

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.

Ojha, Jadeja selected for Twenty20 World Cup

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were the two new faces chosen for the 15-man India squad for next month's Twenty20 World Cup in England, selectors announced here Monday. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the side to defend the title, while Virender Sehwag will be his deputy. Besides Ojha and Jadeja, fast bowler Ishant Sharma, batsman Suresh Raina and all-rounder Praveen Kumar were also picked up. Rudra Pratap Singh, who was the highest Indian wicket-taker in the victorious squad of the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship, is back in the national side after seven months. Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa, who were in the winning team, have been left out despite being in the 30 probables. India are in Group A with Bangladesh and Ireland. The tournament starts June 5 and the final is slated for June 21 at Lord's.

Team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha and Irfan Pathan.

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.

Hayden and Murali help Chennai thrash Bangalore

Matthew Hayden and Muttiah Muralitharan steered the Chennai Super Kings to an emphatic 92-run win over the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the Indian Premier League on Monday. The 37-year-old Hayden hammered 65 in 35 balls as the Super Kings amassed 179 for five in their 20 overs before the Challengers were skittled out for 87. The former Australia opener retired from international cricket at the start of the year but again showed the skills that allowed him to dominate bowling attacks around the world for more than a decade, cracking nine fours and two sixes. England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff also chipped in with an unbeaten 22 from 13 deliveries. Sri Lanka spinner Muralitharan then took three for 11 in four overs to ruin Bangalore's victory hopes and scoop the man of the match award. Jacques Kallis top-scored with 24 in 19 balls while Robin Uthappa and Rahul Dravid hit 20 apiece. Both teams now have two points from two games.

IPL good for me on and off the field: Flintoff

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has insisted that his lucrative involvement in the Indian Premier League can do him a power of good - on and off the field. Flintoff, signed for 1.5 million dollars by the IPL's Chennai Super Kings franchise, has been dogged by injuries. The England all-rounder believes the competition that gets underway in South Africa will boost his fitness for this summer's Ashes. He also admits that the cash point will put a smile on his face as his bank balance rockets. "I have missed so much cricket through injury that I don't want to miss any more. I've not played a lot of Twenty20 cricket and I'd like to play more. I'm not saying the money is not very appealing - but there's a lot more to it," The Sun quoted Flintoff, as saying. "I spent several weeks working hard at my fitness when I came back from the West Indies and, hopefully, that will stand me in good stead come the summer. When I get back from the IPL I can assure you I'll be looking forward to playing with England again. The Ashes means everything to me," he added. Flintoff has also been tipped to captain England in the Twenty20 World Cup. He said: "I have not thought about it a great deal but it would be something I'd have to think about and see if I could be the best man for the job. I don't think many people would turn it down."
The other leading contender to become captain of the Twenty20 side is Robert Key, who has missed little cricket for Kent.