Kiwis opt to bat against South Africa

CAPE TOWN: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and decided to bat first against South Africa in the first Test match at a sunny Newlands on Wednesday.

Scorecard

The Proteas, who would retain the number one spot even if they draw the two-Test series, went into the match with an unchanged XI from the side that clinched the series decider in Perth, with bowler Vernon Philander being passed fit to play.

Dean Elgar also retains his place in the team ahead of the out of favour Jacques Rudolph despite starting his Test career with a pair.

New Zealand, languishing in eighth in the standings, will be looking to build on their series-levelling win in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in November.

New Zealand are still coming to terms with Ross Taylor's sacking as captain as they begin their first Test match with McCullum in charge.

The Black Caps are also without the injured duo of Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee.

Dean Brownlie is the man to take the field in place of Taylor, who skipped the tour after losing captaincy, while BJ Watling takes the gloves from South African-born wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk.

The Kiwis have also brought in all-rounder James Franklin for Todd Astle, while veteran Chris Martin is the other change from the team who won in Colombo as he came in for Southee.

Teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (Capt.), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (Capt.), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Dean Brownlie, Daniel Flynn, BJ Watling, James Franklin, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.

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1st Test: Proteas skittle NZ for just 45

CAPE TOWN: South African opening bowler Vernon Philander took five wickets in the space of 20 balls as New Zealand crashed to 45 all out on the first morning of the first Test at Newlands on Wednesday.

Scorecard | Lowest scores in Tests

Philander had figures of five for seven from six overs as New Zealand failed to cope with good fast bowling on a well-grassed pitch after winning the toss. Morne Morkel took three for 14 and Dale Steyn two for 18.

South Africa were three for one at lunch, with Graeme Smith falling leg before wicket to Doug Bracewell's first ball of the match.

Steyn captured his 300th Test wicket when he bowled Bracewell but his achievement was overshadowed by a sensational performance by Philander.

Philander, who had to pass a fitness test after injuring his left hamstring in a domestic match 13 days ago, struck with his sixth delivery when Martin Guptill edged him to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.

There were two more wickets for Philander in his third over when he bowled New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum with a ball which cut back and had Dean Brownlie caught at first slip by South African captain Graeme Smith.

Kane Williamson made 13 before he was Philander's fourth victim, trapped leg before wicket. Given out by umpire Rod Tucker, Williamson asked for a television review but replays showed the ball clipping the top of his bails.

Williamson was out to the last ball of Philander's fourth over and the bowler was on a hat-trick when he had BJ Watling caught behind off the first ball of his fifth over.

James Franklin survived the hat-trick delivery but was caught at first slip by Smith in the next over, bowled by Morne Morkel.

Morkel and Steyn shared the remaining wickets as New Zealand tumbled to their lowest total against South Africa.

South Africa fielded the team that won the third and final Test against Australia in Perth when they confirmed their ranking as the number one team in the world.

Steyn's achievement in his 61st Test means that only Australia's Dennis Lillee and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka have reached the milestone in fewer matches. Lillee managed it in 56 Tests and Muralitharan in 58.

West Indian quick Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee of New Zealand both also reached 300 wickets in 61 matches.

"It's an unbelievable achievement," said South African captain Graeme Smith.

"He's our go-to guy. He's got there really quickly. He always seems to make an impact for us. He's the type of guy as a captain he's an asset to have. You can throw him the ball and you know he'll make a play for you somewhere during the Test match.

"When he gets that bit between his teeth you really start to see things happening."

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Time for batsmen to come good: Dhoni

KOLKATA: Ahead of the crucial second one-day international against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday admitted that batting was a "concern" and hoped his batsmen would come good in the match on Thursday.

"It is a must-win game for us and obviously we are under a bit of pressure, especially when it is a short series. Our batting has been a problem. That is one area that we need to come good in. It is the right time for our batters to come back to form," Dhoni told mediapersons on the match-eve.

Dhoni also said that the team was going through a transition period as some of the legends, including Sachin Tendulkar, had bowed out.

"The team is going through a transition period, some of our frontline bowlers are injured and we have an inexperience bowling line up. However, I am not worried, we need to do the basics right," said Dhoni.

With new rules by the ICC for ODIs introduced in the series, Dhoni said it was important for the team to play according to merit instead of going for big shots. Under the new rules, a maximum of four fielders are allowed to man the boundaries at any stage of the 50-over contest.

"With just four fielders outside the circle, there can be temptation to play big shots which can eventually lead to wickets. So it is imperative that we play the ball according to its merit. We need to keep wickets in hand and not think too much about big scores. It is important that we play according to what the situation demands."

The captain, however, was quick to back his batsmen.

"We have done well in the shorter formats of the game and it would be unfair to blame the batsmen just on the basis of the last game," said Dhoni.

Dhoni, who has persisted in playing with four frontline bowlers and seven batsmen, also defended his decision.

"Had there not been a seventh batsman we could have ended under 120 in the last game. It is more like a catch-22 situation where you want to play five bowlers but also want a seventh batsman. However, it is imperative that our part-time bowlers bowl smartly and not give away easy runs," he said.

Dhoni also said that he was not perturbed about former players criticising his captaincy.

"You have to respect what others say but my job is to play and guide the youngsters. We are more concerned about winning tomorrow than criticisms."

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1st Test: Amla turns screw on Kiwis

CAPE TOWN: A quickfire 66 from Hashim Amla lifted South Africa to 119 for two at tea on the opening day of the first Test after the hosts skittled New Zealand for 45 in an extraordinary first session on Wednesday.

Scorecard

Fast bowler Vernon Philander took five wickets as the Proteas dismissed the Black Caps in just 19.2 overs, the eighth-shortest completed innings in Test cricket, but they lost captain Graeme Smith in the last over before lunch.

Resuming on three for one, Alviro Petersen and Amla set about steadying the innings and consecutive leg-side boundaries by Petersen from the first two balls of the session eased the pressure.

The prolific Amla then became the main aggressor as he struck three boundaries off wicket-taker Doug Bracewell before taking his team past New Zealand's score in the 12th over with a fine on-drive.

Amla continued his dazzling strokeplay, racing to his half-century from just 55 deliveries with a drive through the covers off Chris Martin.

Petersen was more sedate but had still contributed 37 by the time Amla brought up the 100-partnership with a single to the cover boundary.

The stand ended 15 minutes before tea, though, as Amla was trapped lbw for 66 after walking across his stumps to a James Franklin delivery.

That brought Jacques Kallis to the wicket and the veteran all-rounder received a rousing reception from the home crowd needing just 20 runs to reach 13,000 runs in test cricket.

He had made six when umpire Ian Gould removed the bails and called for the tea interval with Petersen on 45.

Fast bowler Philander claimed five early wickets as South Africa made New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum pay for choosing to bat first.

Philander produced astonishing figures of five for seven as the touring side were dismissed for their third lowest total in tests.

New Zealand came into the series in disarray following the controversial sacking of Ross Taylor from the captaincy and Philander struck in the second over when he had Martin Guptill caught behind for one.

That triggered an ignominious procession for the New Zealanders with Philander removing McCullum, Dean Brownlie and Kane Williamson in his next three overs as the visitors lost their top order for 27 runs inside 10 overs.

Williamson's 13 was the highest individual score and none of his team mates managed double figures.

Paceman Morne Morkel (three for 14) soon got into the act, removing Franklin caught at first slip for one.

Dale Steyn came into the match needing just one wicket to reach the 300 mark in tests and he returned after a barren first spell to reach the milestone by removing Doug Bracewell's off-stump with a fine out-swinger.

Morkel claimed the wickets of Jeetan Patel and Trent Boult before Steyn picked up the final wicket when Daniel Flynn, who survived 28 deliveries, skied a catch back to the fast bowler.

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Mumbai enter quarters of Ranji Trophy

NAVI MUMBAI: Mumbai are through to the knock out stages, despite a draw, after winning three points against Gujarat on the basis of their first innings lead, on the last day of the group A Ranji Trophy match on Tuesday.

The hosts failed to register their second outright win of the season, as they were unable to chase the score of 135, after they had bundled out the opposition for 337.

Their run chase started with a hiccup, as they soon lost opener Aditya Tare (7) caught behind off Kushang Patel with only 17 runs on board.

Kaustubh Pawar and Hiken Shah ensured that there were no further casualties but the home side still needed 70 runs, when the play was called off before the beginning of the mandatory 14 overs.

Middle-order batsman Manprit Juneja's valiant 98 wasn't enough for the visitors to impose a challenging total, but helped them to salvage a point.

During the first session of the day, Juneja and debutant Chirag Gandhi batted well and shared a 97-run partnership to get past the Mumbai first innings lead of 203.

Gandhi scored 64 runs and hit 13 fours before being trapped leg before by Abhishek Nayar.

Juneja later forged a 63-run stand with Rush Kalaria for the eighth wicket, and Kalaria knocked a quick fire 43 off 39 balls, with five fours and a six. Kalaria was caught at covers by Kaustubh Pawar off pacer Dhawal Kulkarni.

The 39-time champions struck quickly, when they got rid off Juneja, who fell 2 short off his century, with the visitors leading by 133 runs.

In his patient knock of 98 that guided the visitors to post a modest total of 134, Juneja hit 11 fours, before being caught in covers by Nayar off left-arm spinner Ankeet Chavan.

Chavan, who scalped four wickets in the innings for 124 runs, struck again in the same over by getting rid off Kushang Patel to end the Gujarat innings.

Brief Scores:

Gujarat: 244 and 337 (Manprit Juneja 98, Chirag Gandhi 64, Ankeet Chavan 4/124)

Mumbai: 447 and 65/1 (Hiken Shah 42, Kushang Patel 1/18)

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New ODI rules make bowlers handicap

MUMBAI: It would make sense for every photographer, every TV camera to take close up shots of all bowlers who participate in ODIs. Why? Because they could soon become like dinosaurs and become extinct. The new ODI rules where only four fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle at all times, as opposed to the five, which was the case for the last 20 years, is a serious handicap for the bowlers. While the powers that be in the ICC have tried to compensate by giving one new ball at each end and increased the number of bouncers per over from one to two, it is only a token gesture and akin to giving a terminally ill patient a tablet of crocin.

Already, bowlers have everything going against them in the limited-overs format. The boundaries during ODIs and T20s are pulled in by almost 10 metres. The batsmen are all armed with bazooka bats where even mishits end up going into the stands and have all the rules supporting them. The best bowler is allowed to bowl only 10 overs.

Now, by taking away the cushion of an extra fielder at the fence, the custodians of the game are telling the bowler, you are just a blue-collar worker, the batsman is the King who people come to watch.

At least, with five fielders, the bowlers could work out a batsman and think of ways to not concede a boundary. But with just four fielders, there will be one spot in the deep that will be unmanned. Which means, the batsman can just line up against a bowler, pick his spot and hit in the vacant spot.

While the bowlers must be given credit for learning new tricks of the trade like slower balls, slower bouncers and the full-pitched deliveries on the toes or the full wide delivery just on the tramlines outside off stump and it is only time before they will find a way to counter the latest shock that the ICC has given them, one expects more sense and a concern to provide an even-playing field while formulating rules.

The switch hit, where the batsmen is also allowed to change the position of his feet apart from the grip (from a right-hander to a left-hander), has already put the bowler at a disadvantage. After all, before commencing an over, he has to tell the umpire whether he is bowling over or round the wicket or he is bowling right-handed or left. The umpire then communicates the decision to the batsman. That helps the batsman predict the angle of delivery and helps him to premeditate and play the switch-hit and beat normally set fields. The bowler is not given any lee-way in terms of leg-side wides when he tries to defeat the batsman who is attempting to switch-hit. The latest rule-change will only embolden the batsmen to play more switch-hits and dent the figures and reputation of cricket's second-class citizens.

What the new rule will also do is force the bowlers to be less attacking. Already, the art of flighting the ball and deceiving the batsman in the air is going out of the game thanks to spinners being deposited into the stands with alarming regularity. With the security of only four fielders on the fence, expect spinners to bowl more and more darts.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni was vehement in his criticism of the new rules after his team lost to Pakistan in the first ODI at Chennai. "It's difficult for the spinners to bowl with five fielders inside especially when the wicket is flat. Not to forget, people were worried when the ODIs were introduced that spinners will have to bowl flat and they are not flighting the ball anymore. I don't know what they really expect with five fielders inside. They will just dart in. If you have the variations of a Saeed Ajmal, it will different but overall it's very difficult. These rules are more in favour of fast bowlers and teams who play with three or four fast bowlers."

It's about time the ICC wakes up and puts these rule changes in perspective and change them as fast as possible. Because at this rate, we will soon have only only bowling machines to bowl at batsmen in ODIs as no one would want to be a bowler.

And if anyone does want to indulge in the hazards of becoming a fast bowler in the ODI game, the ICC better devise an award for them. They can all it the TFC award and tell all the bowlers Thanks For Coming today.

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'Viru like a terrorist when he gets going'

KOLKATA: Former Pakistan opener Sadiq Mohammad Tuesday likened the batting of Virender Sehwag to a "terrorist", saying it was tough to stop the dashing batsman when he gets going.

"When Sehwag starts batting, he looks like a terrorist. With due respect to my words, it is very hard to stop him when he gets going," said Sadiq at the Eden Gardens.

He is in India as a goodwill ambassador for the bilateral series between India and Pakistan.

Sadiq was also all praises for current Pakistan opener Nasir Jamshed saying he had the capability to play long innings.

"Jamshed is technically sound and can play longer innings which makes him dangerous. If he settles down, he tries to carry his bat through making life easier for the other batsmen," he said.

Comparing Sehwag and Jamshed, he chose his compatriot over the Indian.

"Sehwag takes a lot of chances. There are 25 percent chances of him getting out early. But if Jamshed settles down, it is difficult to get him out," added Mohammad.

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Tendulkar to play quarters vs Baroda

MUMBAI: Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign would be boosted by the availability of Sachin Tendulkar to play in their quarterfinal game against Baroda from January 6-10.

"He will play against Baroda and the team will be selected the day after tomorrow," informed Mumbai Cricket Association's joint secretary and meeting convener Nitin Dalal today.

Tendulkar has retired from the ODI format and is free to play all the knock-out games for Mumbai provided the 39-time champions make it to the summit clash.

It would be Tendulkar's second outing for his state this season after having played against Railways in the lung opener here at the Wankhede Stadium in November.

The semi finals of the national championship are scheduled from January 16-20 and the final is slated from January 26-30.

Meanwhile, Mumbai are yet to know whether key speedster Zaheer Khan would be available for selection against Baroda. The senior left arm bowler injured his leg while batting in their last league game against Gujarat at Navi Mumbai's D Y Patil Stadium.

"I will come to know about Zaheer's availability only after talking to the team physio," Dalal told PTI.

Mumbai, however, could be without the services of Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, who are currently part of the ODI squad taking on Pakistan.

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Virat Kohli doubtful starter for 2nd ODI

CHENNAI: Indian batsman Virat Kohli was on Sunday rendered a doubtful starter for the second ODI against Pakistan to be held in Kolkata on Thursday after he suffered a foot injury in the first match.

Kohli suffered the injury while bowling the 41st over of Pakistan's run chase. His backfoot slipped in the delivery stride and he landed on his knees. He limped off the field and Suresh Raina finished off the last ball of the over.

The BCCI said Kohli's condition will be monitored and a decision on his availability for the second ODI will be taken over the next couple of days.

"Virat Kohli, who sustained a foot injury while bowling in the first AIRTEL ODI against Pakistan at Chennai earlier today, underwent an MRI scan after the game," BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a release.

"All his major ligaments are fine. There is minimal injury fluid in his knee. He will recover after treatment. His condition will be monitored, and a decision on whether he will play the second AIRTEL ODI at Kolkata on 3 January 2013, will be taken over the next couple of days," the release said.

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Team India falls after MS Dhoni fight

CHENNAI: Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan scythed through India's top-order with a four-wicket burst to set up Pakistan's six-wicket victory in the first one-day international at the Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

The 23-year-old Junaid left the home side struggling at 29 for 5 with a destructive opening spell after the tourists opted to bowl first, before MS Dhoni struck a remarkable 113 not out from 125 balls to help India recover to a respectable 227 for 6 in the day match.

Left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed struck his second ODI century (101 not out) and the experienced Younus Khan hit 58 as Pakistan achieved the target with 11 deliveries remaining to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The second ODI will be played in Kolkata on January 3.

Junaid exploited the helpful conditions following overnight showers to make a mockery of India's top-order as he dismissed Virender Sehwag (4), Virat Kohli (0), Yuvraj Singh (2) and Rohit Sharma (4) in quick succession in a display of quality seam bowling.

Struggling Gautam Gambhir was bowled by tall pacer Mohammad Irfan as India's brittle batting lost their way before man-of-the-match Dhoni hit his eighth ODI hundred and shared in two vital partnerships to put the innings back on track in the first international game implementing a series of rule changes in ODIs.

Dropped on 16 by Misbah-ul-Haq off off-spinner Md Hafeez with the team score on 84/5, Dhoni, who braved bouts of cramps, put on 73 in 142 deliveries for the sixth wicket with Suresh Raina (43) to stabilise the innings.

Raina fell to Hafeez in the second ball of the batting Powerplay, taken in the 34th over, but Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin (31 not out) shared in a 125-run stand for the next wicket with the skipper leading the way with a display of controlled aggression.

Dhoni hit his first boundary in the 79th delivery that he faced but stepped up the tempo as he struck six more boundaries and three sixes. He hit Irfan for two fours and a six off successive deliveries to reach his 100 as he also crossed the 7000-run mark in ODIs.

Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar became the first Indian to take a wicket with his first delivery on ODI debut when he clean bowled Hafeez. Later, he had Azhar Ali caught at square-leg to reduce the tourists to 21/2.

Although his early breakthroughs raised Indian hopes, the host attack lacked depth to put the pressure on Pakistan as Jamshed and Younus shared in a 112-run stand for the third wicket.

Ashok Dinda dismissed Younus but Pakistan were in complete control of the game as Jamshed put on 39 with Misbah for the fourth wicket and sealed the match in the company of Shoaib Malik (34 not out).

Virat Kohli injured his knee after slipping during bowling. He underwent an MRI scan and is doubtful for the Kolkata game.

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