Thursday, May 31, 2012

Kevin Pietersen from ODI, announced retirement

England Super Star Kevin Pietersen retired from all forms of ODI and Twenty20 on Thursday, a decision which took the England and Wales Cricket Board by surprise.

Pietersen, who will continue to be available for Test selection, said in a statement he wished to step aside in order to give the next generation of players a chance to bed in before the 2015 World Cup. After a big deal of thought and reflection, I am today announcing my retirement from ODI cricket, said Pietersen.
With the intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, future 32, I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to increase experience for the ICC World Cup in 2015, added Pietersen, who has scored 4,184 runs at an standard of 42 in ODI and averages 38 in international Twenty20 cricket.

Pietersen's decision comes less than 4 months before England are due to launch the defense of their Twenty20 World Cup crown in September. The South Africa-born batsman was man of the match when England wins the title in the West Indies in 2010, and had indicated a willingness to remain part of the T20 squad in Sri Lanka this year.

However England Cricket Board rules dictate that centrally-contracted players must make themselves available for all forms of limited-overs cricket. I am immensely proud of my achievements in the ODI game, and still wish to be considering for choice for England in Test cricket, Pietersen said. For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have with pleasure played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20.

Pietersen's decision was greeted with dismay by ECB managing director Hugh Morris. The ECB is let down by the timing of Pietersen's decision less than 4 months before we defend our ICC World Twenty20 title, he said. Pietersen's is a world-class player and I would like to take this chance to thank.

Friday, May 25, 2012

2nd test will be recovered by the Samuels Sammy.WI

NOTTINGHAM: Marlon Samuele's 3rd test century and a fluid knock from skipper Darren Sammy helped West Indies put an abject start to the 2nd test with England behind them and rally to end the 1st day on 304 for 6 on Friday.

England conquered the first 2 sessions, piling the pressure on West Indies' fragile top order that wasted ideal batting conditions to lose their first 6 wickets for 136.

Samuels, however, steadied the listing West Indies ship and frustrated England's bowlers with dogged resistance while Sammy at times cut loose as the pair put on 168 runs without loss. Samuels ended the day unbeaten on 107 while Sammy was binding towards his maiden international century with 88 not out.
The tourists made 2 changes from the side that lost at Lord's, off-spinner Shane Shilling ford and seamer Ravi Rampaul coming in for the injured Shannon Gabriel and the dropped Fidel Edwards. England, look to take a winning lead in the 3-match series, named an unchanged team. Result to bat after winning the toss seemed logical as blazing sunshine and warm temperature greeted the players at Trent Bridge but his side failed to cash in.

Stuart Broad, who claimed 11 victims when England won the 1st test at Lord's by5 wickets, struck in his 2nd over. Adrian Barath had yet to score when he was tempt into a prod outside off stump and the ball flew off the edge to James Anderson for a one-handed catch at third slip. Anderson then took centre stage, removed Kirk Edwards for seven with a delivery that jagged back off a length to swing back the batsman's off stump.
SLOWISH PITCH

Bowling a good line and length on a slowest pitch contribution a little swing and seam movement,James Anderson was a constant menace to the West Indies batsmen who never looked at ease switch to round the wicket in the 15th over, he angled in a delivery to Darren Bravo (3) which shaped a lazy, loose drive and the ball fly to Graeme Swann at 2nd slip to leave West Indies on 46 for 3

That brought Shivnarine Chanderpaul to the crease much earlier than he would have liked and the world's No.1 ranked batsman was almost out 1st ball when Anderson's heady delivery hit the gloves and flew just over the slip barrier Opener Kieran Powell had looked sensibly assured as he reached 33 but he became Broad's 2nd victim in the 19th over, edging a good-length ball to Anderson at 3rd slip who held on despite a fumble.
Chanderpaul and Samuels dug in after lunch but Swann broke through Chanderpaul defenses to hand the plan again to the hosts.Swann got the ball to turn and it strike Chanderpaul, who had made 46 off 86 balls, on the back leg to have him lbw before Tim Bresnan then uproot Denesh Ramdin's (1) off stump. The tourists were in a sorry state but Samuels and Sammy began display the resilience West Indies had obtainable in the 2nd innings at Lord's.

WEST INDIES

1 st INNINGS

Session 3-90 overs

304 RUN 6 WICKETS

On Playing - Marlon Samuels-107* runs 225 balls

And Darren Sammy-88* runs 121 balls.