French Open : Novak Djokovic to face surprise packet Ernests Gulbis in Paris semis

It is fair to say that Novak Djokovic and Ernests Gulbis have long held different approaches on how to become a top tennis player, yet the Serbian world number two and the reformed Latvian playboy will meet in the semi-finals of the French Open.

Gulbis lived on junk food and partied through the night, Djokovic, meanwhile, adopted a gluten-free diet and took training seriously.

So what do they have in common? They both attended the Niki Pilic tennis academy in Germany.

"Should I say what I remember of him?" six-times grand slam champion Djokovic said with a smile after beating Canadian Milos Raonic in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros on Tuesday.

"He was always somebody who was very enthusiastic about everything in life, and you could see he wanted to enjoy it with open arms."

Gulbis, who knocked out Roger Federer in the last 16 in Paris before reaching the last four with a comfortable win over Tomas Berdych, said Djokovic was already behaving like a champion as a teenager.

"He was really professional already at that time. I remember we had a friend, a Croatian guy who was all about the girls at that age already," he recalled.

"He was dressing up. He was looking good, putting perfume, sunglasses, going to talk to the girls. I see Novak, he's going to stretch."

Hernan Gumy, who knows a thing or two about dealing with party-loving characters having coached Marat Safin, tried his luck with Gulbis.

"First time when Hernan Gumy came to Latvia to prepare for Davis Cup. (Out of) eight days of preparation, I missed five days of practice," said Gulbis, who has yet to fulfil the promise he showed when he first burst into the limelight by reaching the Roland Garros quarter-finals in 2008.

He admitted last week that he was on a "last-chance train" to salvage his career, although it is not money or fame he is after.

"What is important for me to be truly happy. My happiness comes only from doing my job well," said the 25-year-old, who comes from a wealthy background.

"It's just about my inner comfort. That's it. For me, that's all that matters at the end of the day."

"What took me so long? I think I was eating wrong. I had the wrong diet," he said with a laugh.

"Everybody was talking about this gluten-free diet. My diet is full-on gluten. I like a lot of ketchup, a lot of unhealthy stuff so there is a balance which I found in the last couple of years."

Gulbis has been coached by Austrian Gunther Bresnik for about two years.

"I missed a practice once with Gunther because I had a long night. I called him (at) 7:00 in the morning, and I said, Gun, I cannot come to practice. He understood it. It was once," he said.

It may happen a second time, though, as Gulbis promised he would "go big" to celebrate his victory over Berdych. 

Sydney Morning Herald

Robin van Persie knows it's attention to detail that could bring World Cup home for Louis van Gaal's Holland

Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben all involved for the Dutch

Louis van Gaal watched on intently on Tuesday

Holland face Portugal, Ghana and the USA in Group of Death

Robin van Persie knew he couldn’t finish Holland’s final training session before the team flies out to Brazil with a missed penalty.

The Manchester United striker was one of four Dutch players practising spot-kicks at end of a session open to fans at AZ Alkmaar’s AFAS Stadium but crashed his shot against the post with Louis Van Gaal watching on.

There was a shake of the head, a tussle for the ball with Nigel De Jong, then a successful strike from 12 yards by Van Persie to put him in a positive frame of mind ahead of the heightened pressure to come.

Hitting the woodwork at the World Cup is a rather different affair to this send-off in front of 5,000 or so Dutch supporters happy to cheer and clap.

There is a friendly against Wales in Amsterdam on Wednesday night first, before the flight to Rio on Thursday, but this was a chance to give the Dutch public a glimpse of what they can expect across the Atlantic.

Van Gaal’s likely starting XI engaged in a game of eight versus three to stretch the defence in a manner similar to how Spain might. The teams face each other in their opening World Cup game on June 13.

Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar and Stefan De Vrij, of Feyenoord, were pulled one way then the other by Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and company (including Norwich City’s Leroy Fer) in a crowd-pleasing drill that saw plenty of goals.

Van Gaal, on his way to Manchester United once the tournament is over, will deploy a 5-3-2 system in Brazil with attacking wing-backs in Daryl Janmaat and Daley Blind.

Although Swansea’s Jonathan De Guzman sat out he should soon be fit and is expected to play in that midfield trio behind Robben and Van Persie.

In a quick passing routine the national captain looked sharp and well over his injury that restricted his playing time under David Moyes. He will just hope there are no further penalty blemishes.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal believes he has a happy camp as the World Cup draws near - and he intends to keep it that way by winning.

The Dutch may have a reputation for attractive football but some of their previous tournament challenges have been undermined by infighting within the squad.

Van Gaal experienced such disharmony himself during his first unsuccessful stint as national boss, when Holland failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

The 62-year-old is not sensing any problems this time round as his squad prepare to fly to Brazil on Thursday and he feels he has a duty to make sure that remains the case.

Van Gaal, who will take over as Manchester United manager after the World Cup, said: ‘It’s also dependent on the management, it is not only the players. I think it is about the relationship between a manager and his squad.

‘In my first episode there was that (disruption) but I have understood now. They like me now.

‘I feel there are not any problems. We have a very good relationship.

‘But it is also dependent on the results. At this moment we don’t lose so much.’

Dailymail

Harbhajan Singh says he feels 'ignored' by selectors, but will keep trying for comeback

Selection snubs despite good performances have left him feeling hurt but veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh says being ignored repeatedly has not dampened his spirits and he would continue to try for a comeback in the national team.

Harbhajan finished this edition of IPL with 14 wickets from 14 games with an impressive economy rate of 6.47 (only third to Sunil Narine and Akshar Patel). More importantly while other spinners barring Narine and Patel found it difficult to contain top-order batsmen, most of his victims included destructive players like Glenn Maxwell and Chris Gayle to name a few.

"I do feel ignored and it's surely not a good feeling. Yes, it hurts when you are not selected for India. My performance in this year's IPL is for everyone to see. I can do what's there in my control. But let me assure you, I might get hurt by the snub but it would not stall my comeback bid.

Among the Indian spinners, I believe that I bowled the best," the 33-year-old told PTI during an interaction. It is quite ironic that while other players are being rewarded for their performance in domestic cricket, Harbhajan, after close to 700 international wickets and back-to-back successful IPLs and Champions League, is getting a raw deal.

Did he have any discussions with the selection committee to find out whether they have any specific plans for him, India's second highest wicket-taker retorted, "What do you mean by specific plans for me? My job is to bowl and win matches for my team. I am doing that to the best of my abilities. Beyond that I don't need to think about anything. I still have age on my side. And I certainly believe that I will play for India".

DNA

Aussies Blast Off in England

Finch and Maxwell to light up UK T20 league

Nine Australians headline England’s new domestic T20 competition, including the format’s number-one ranked batsman, Aaron Finch.

Finch, coming off his first Indian Premier League season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, played his first game with Yorkshire Vikings on the weekend, making 19 from 17 balls in his side's comfortable eight-wicket win.

Joining Finch are Victorian team-mates Glenn Maxwell (Hampshire) and John Hastings (Durham), the former named IPL's most Valuable Player despite registering a first-ball duck in an electrifying final that saw his Kings XI Punjab fall short to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Hastings played just the one game for Chennai Super Kings, taking 1-29 and dismissing David Warner for 90 in a gripping last-over loss to Finch’s Sunrisers. 

Both Finch and Maxwell are yet to turn out for their new franchises, but Derbyshire’s Marcus North has already made his mark on the tournament, posting an exhilarating 90 from only 47 balls against Leicestershire early in the season.

Dan Christian’s Middlesex hasn’t had the best start to the new competition, currently winless after five attempts. 

Christian’s performances have progressively improved, starting the season with a first-ball duck against Essex, but he has bounced back with four wickets in as many matches. 

The Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors newest recruit Michael Klinger is leading Gloucestershire, averaging 14 in what’s become a lean start to the English summer for the veteran. 

Klinger’s side fell to Somerset, led by Sydney Thunder spearhead Dirk Nannes, who took 4-21 to continue his sterling form in cricket’s shortest format.

Nannes has seven wickets from three games, suffocating batsmen with his rapid pace and awkward left-arm trajectory. 

Another fiery left-arm seamer plying his trade is Doug Bollinger. The Hobart Hurricanes opening bowler is representing Kent, and has five wickets from two matches after feasting on Nannes’ Somerset with three victims and generally bustling in with the aggression and purpose that saw his selection in Australia’s successful Ashes squad last summer. 

Finally, right-arm county pro Michael Hogan is amongst the wickets for the Welsh Dragons. Hogan's 3-30 against Essex wasn’t enough to prevent his side from going down, but he returned with figures of 2-41 in a thrilling final-ball win over Sussex.

CA

Flintoff's bizarre T20 contract

Allrounder set to cash in on crowd figures

Andrew Flintoff has been given extra incentive to put on a show in his return to competitive cricket with reports surfacing the former England allrounder will receive a percentage of gate receipts from Lancashire Lightning Twenty20 home matches he plays in.

While exact figures are unknown, it is understood that Flintoff will receive £1 for every spectator over and above an agreed upon attendance – on top of a contract that already includes appearance fees and performance bonuses.

Flintoff’s signing with the England domestic T20 competition side comes almost five years since playing his last Test match against Australia at The Oval, a match England won by 197 runs.

This weekend will see Lancashire take on Aaron Finch’s Yorkshire Vikings in a match that drew 12,000 people to the same fixture last year. With England’s Jos Buttler also likely to return, the match could prove a handy windfall for the big allrounder if he is selected.

Despite the buzz surrounding Flintoff’s return, he is no certainty to line up for the Lightning, a second XI match later this week likely to play a large role in deciding his selection.

“I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t think about playing against Yorkshire,” Flintoff told the UK’s Daily Mail.

“It will be a full house, however, Friday is a long way away; it really is.

“If I get a go, I get a go, but I’m not by any means expecting to play.

“On Thursday I’ve got a game with the Lancashire second team, which I’m just going to go out there and enjoy.

“I’m not going to put any undue pressure on myself thinking that this is a trial for Friday or anything like that.

“I’m just going to play — and if I get picked, I get picked.”

Flintoff made his return to competitive cricket over the weekend, suiting up for his childhood club side St Annes and picking up 3-26, including a sharp reflex catch off his own bowling.

CA

Lehmann vows to "flog 'em" in Brisbane

Aussie players assemble for two-week fitness camp

The Australia men's squad has today assembled at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane for a two-week intensive fitness camp.

The camp will shake off any lingering cobwebs from the players' official six-week leave period, with Australia coach Darren Lehmann promising to "flog 'em on the running track". 

While several of the squad have taken advantage of the leave period to take up Indian Premier League contracts, the Test specialists have not been in action since the epic triumph over South Africa in early March. 

The camp is the first stop in preparations for a massive, non-stop two-year schedule of cricket. 

Sixteen players face a gruelling two weeks in Brisbane under the stewardship of Strength and Conditioning Coach Damian Mednis.

Michael Clarke, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Shane Watson are the centrally-contracted players in attendance today, while Nathan Coulter-Nile and Alex Doolan are also on deck.

George Bailey and Mitchell Johnson, who played in Sunday night's IPL final, plus their Kings XI Punjab teammate Shaun Marsh, will join the squad tomorrow. 

Their IPL teammate Glenn Maxwell is headed in the other direction to join three other Australian stars currently plying their trade in England.

Chris Rogers is captaining Middlesex, Peter Siddle is opening the bowling for Nottinghamshire and Aaron Finch is playing T20 Blast and County Championship cricket for Yorkshire. 

Maxwell will link up with Hampshire and is expected to play later this week.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann said the players should be under no illusions about the challenge ahead.

"This is a case of getting everyone together for the first time since Bangladesh to check their fitness, do all their screenings, make sure they're medically right and ready to go," Lehmann told cricket.com.au.

"We'll flog 'em a bit on the running track and make sure they're fit. It's a big 24 months coming up for us."

There will be some skills sessions but the focus of the camp is firmly on strength and conditioning with track, gym and pool work dominating the schedule. 

"There'll be a few lectures but a lot of screening more so than anything else, a few skills sessions but they won't be able to lift anything too much because they'll be pretty tired.

"We'll also cover the mental side of the game, nutrition, the whole lot," said Lehman. "Everyone's up for two weeks together, they'll be pretty tired by the end of it but that's great."

An Australia squad has not assembled since the World T20 tournament in Bangladesh, and the Test team has since risen to the world's No.1 side after an annual ICC update. 

Australia's marathon schedule begins with the one-day international tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa in Harare in August. 

That's followed by a series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in October before a jam-packed home summer schedule that includes limited-overs matches against South Africa, four Tests against India, a tri-series with India and England and finally culminating with the co-hosting of the Cricket World Cup. 

There will be no respite after that tournament as Australia then head to the West Indies, which will be immediately followed by a three-month tour of the UK for an Ashes series and limited overs matches.

Australia are then scheduled to visit Bangladesh in October 2015, which will be followed by visits from New Zealand and the West Indies in the 2015-16 season, which could include the first ever day-night Test match against the Black Caps.

Australia is then scheduled to visit India, New Zealand and South Africa in the first few months of 2016 before the next World T20, to be held in India.

CA

Stoneman and Borthwick break records

A second-wicket partnership of 274 from centurions Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick ensured Durham dominated day one of their LV= County Championship Division One encounter against Middlesex.

The home side reached 411 for 4 at the close and will attempt to build on an already commanding total when play resumes tomorrow morning.

Their innings was anchored by Stoneman's entertaining 187 before Borthwick assumed responsibility with an equally impressive unbeaten 164. Their partnership was Durham's highest-ever for the second wicket in first-class cricket.

Middlesex won the toss and elected to field and it was a decision that captain Chris Rogers no doubt rued as his bowlers were made to toil.

Stoneman took just 47 balls to bring up a half-century and he and Keaton Jennings took the score to 82 before Toby Roland-Jones bowled the latter for 16 to end his 41-ball innings.

Borthwick replaced Jennings at the crease and he was initially happy to play second fiddle as Stoneman dispatched the ball to the ropes regularly.

The home side passed 100 in just the 20th over and Stoneman and Borthwick guided them to 140 for one at lunch before they went from strength to strength after the interval.

Two fours off Neil Dexter in the 27th over saw Stoneman enter the ninties and he went to three figures five overs later with a leg glance for four off Roland-Jones, his 17th boundary from 105 balls.

Stoneman had a reprieve when he was dropped by wicketkeeper John Simpson in the 38th over as he misjudged a Tim Murtagh delivery.

Borthwick brought up his fifty an over later, dispatching Steven Finn to the boundary. His milestone took 71 deliveries and included eight fours and a six.

Borthwick then pulled the paceman away to the ropes for four to take the score past 200 in the 41st over and seven overs later his and Stoneman's partnership passed 150 when Borthwick nudged a single off Ravi Patel.

Stoneman passed his previous best for Durham - 131 against Yorkshire earlier this season - when he took two runs off Paul Stirling in the 51st over as Durham went to 237 for one.

The 250 came just four overs later as Borthwick clipped a single off Stirling, whose spin had been causing the batsmen a few problems.

Stirling was certainly halting Durham's speedy scoring but he could not prevent Stoneman from reaching 150 in the 61st over with a single.

Three balls later and Borthwick was jumping for joy in the sunshine as a delightful on-drive to the ropes saw him reach triple figures from 132 deliveries. 

ECB

Panesar dumped for tardiness

England spinner dumped after missing meeting

Spinner Monty Panesar has been dropped by Essex for disciplinary reasons ahead of the team's County Championship match against Glamorgan.

The Daily Mail reports Panesar was initially named in the side but was later left out after missing a team meeting.

“The England spin bowler was omitted for a time-keeping issue and was replaced by Tom Craddock,” said Essex Cricket, on their website.

Panesar has previously been warned this season about his ‘body language’, the Daily Mailalso reported.

The timing of Panesar’s axing by Sussex for this match is not ideal, with new coach Peter Moores naming England’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match home series against Sri Lanka later this week.

Panesar has taken 19 wickets in six County matches this season.

Cricket Australia

Papers react to KP apology in UK

ECB apologises to Kevin Pietersen following 'disinterested' comments and Andrew Flintoff's comeback gains momentum.

It’s been a busy week in English cricket with theEngland and Wales Cricket Board apologising for comments made by managing director Paul Downton concerning Kevin Pietersen’s sacking from the international side.

The Daily Mail’s Paul Newman was particularly aggrieved with the drip-feed nature of information coming out of both the England and Pietersen camps and the ECB’s handling of the situation to date.

“It is another blow to the ECB, who have been outmanoeuvred by Pietersen in the PR stakes despite having justifiable reasons for the sacking,” Newman wrote.

“It will also be frustrating for senior players and coaches who want the full story made public as soon as possible.

“And the fact that Pietersen has regularly appeared to breach the confidentiality agreement himself through comments made via his voluble mouthpiece Piers Morgan does not seem to have been taken into account.

“What is clear is that both sides should have been allowed to have their say at the time, rather than leaving frustrated supporters in the dark.”

As the postmortem on one England international career continues, another looks to be eyeing a resurrection, with Andrew Flintoff returning to competitive cricket with local club St Annes ahead of joining Lanchashire Lightning in the T20 Blast.

Bowling with considerably less pace and venom than he did in his prime Flintoff survived his first encounter, picking up 3-26 off 12 overs with five maidens.

He wasn’t as successful with the bat however, holing out in the deep for two.

Simon Wilde of The Sunday Times was particularly enamoured with the big allrounder’s return.

“Like the boxers in whose circles he has mixed, Andrew Flintoff viewed retirement as not necessarily a permanent state of affairs," wrote Wilde.

“He was forced to give up cricket because his body could not cope but his heart always pined for more.

“All being well he will step out in front of a sellout crowd at Old Trafford on Friday for Lancashire’s T20 Blast against Yorkshire and the fairytale will be complete.”

Writing in the Guardian, Vic Marks said he was looking forward to Pietersen and Flintoff returning to the UK domestic scene butlamented the lack of true crowd-pullers in English cricket.

“It is an uncomfortable truth for the England and Wales Cricket Board that there is not yet anyone in its side capable of seducing the ambivalent cricket follower from his/her sofa quite like this odd couple.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Marks goes on to explain his concerns about Flintoff’s return.

“For him the landscape is trickier,” Marks wrote.

“He has not played a real game of cricket for five years; there has been the odd outing for the PCA Masters XI within the past two years.

“It is a more daunting undertaking for Flintoff, albeit a far more welcome one than his excursion into heavyweight boxing.”

Flintoff’s former England captain Nasser Hussain shared similar sentiments in the Daily Mail, but urged Flintoff to take his return seriously.

“News of Flintoff's return has to be good for the NatWest T20 Blast because, spread out over the season, we do not have as many stars as the IPL and cricket always needs huge characters and personalities like him," wrote Hussain.

“My only concern is whether this turns out to be a gimmick or a PR stunt.

“The last thing Lancashire and the game need is for Flintoff to play in two or three games and then decide it is not for him after all.

“This cannot be allowed to become a circus or the 'Freddie Flintoff Show'.”

The Telegraph’s Scyld Berry was far less diplomatic in his assessment of the former England allrounder’s chances, headlining his column, “It will be a miracle if Andrew Flintoff's Twenty20 comeback proves to be a success.”

“If Flintoff can roll back the years, it will be as a batsman,” wrote Berry.

“Straight-driving was his glory, and he should be able to hit a few more balls back over the bowler’s head, as he did in that Edgbaston Test of 2005.

“But as Paul Collingwood wisely remarked when he returned to international cricket as England’s fielding coach earlier this year, albeit temporarily: the game has moved on at a frightening pace, and especially the skills required for T20.

“Flintoff’s qualities were always born of strength, not subtlety.

“It will be as big a miracle as his 2005 Ashes series – no allrounder has ever had a greater one – if Flintoff’s time does come again.”

Cricket Australia

Vikings beat Falcons by 8 wickets in T20 blast

Local young gun steals the show for Vikings

Aaron Finch has made a winning start to his county stint with Yorkshire, striking 19 runs at the top of the order to help his Vikings side to an eight-wicket win over Derbyshire Falcons in his first match of England's domestic Twenty20 competition, the T20 Blast.

Finch managed just the one four and a six in his 17-ball innings, falling caught and bowled to the part-time spin of compatriot, and recently retired Sheffield Shield player of the year, Marcus North.

The Australian’s six was the only shot to the clear the boundary rope in the Yorkshire innings, as local young gun Alex Lees (61 off 44) and England international Jonny Bairstow (29 off 16) chased down the meagre target of 128 in 14 overs.

Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid did the damage with the ball for Yorkshire, picking up two wickets apiece as the home side restricted Derbyshire to 6-127 off their 20 overs.

Much like Finch, North failed to trouble the scorers to any great extent, bowled by Rashid for 5.

Despite the big win, former Australian and current Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie will have plenty to work on during the week with at least five clear-cut opportunities going down in the field, four by 20-year-old Jack Leaning.

The missed opportunities capped a horror day for the right-arm off spinner, who also went for 12 runs in his lone over.

Yorkshire will next take on top-of-the-table Lancashire Lightning, the Old Trafford-based club recently announcing the return of former England great Andrew Flintoff to their ranks for the 2014 season.   

Sangakkara too much for England

Buttler century overshadowed by Lankan heroics

Kumar Sangakkara's first century at Lord's laid the platform for Sri Lanka's nail-biting and series-levelling win against England in the fourth one-day international on Saturday.

Just days after being shot out for 67 in a 10-wicket defeat at Old Trafford, Sri Lanka made 9-300 after losing the toss.

Sangakkara's 112, his first hundred at Lord's in any format, was the centrepiece of the innings, the classy left-hander joining with Tillakaratne Dilshan (71) to put on 172 for the second wicket. In contrast, the pair managed just 15 runs between them in Manchester.

England needed what would have been their joint second-highest total to win but Lasith Malinga reduced the hosts to 2-10, removing captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell cheaply.

But Jos Buttler, who came to the crease with England in dire straits at 5-111, brought the hosts back into the match with a brilliant maiden ODI hundred, the fastest ever scored at Lord's.

Together with Ravi Bopara (51), the man-of-the-match shared a sixth-wicket stand of 133 that left England eyeing a remarkable win.

They got the target down to 20 runs off two overs and then 12 off the last, bowled by Malinga.

Buttler took a first-ball single before Chris Jordan picked out Dilshan at long on.

Buttler then took two only to be run out for 121 off the fourth ball when he dug out a yorker straight back to Malinga.

A target of nine off two balls was beyond new batsman James Tredwell and Malinga, who took three for 52, had again proved himself a superb 'death' bowler.

"It was one of the best innings I've seen - Jos batted brilliantly," Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.

"But we saved the best till last and it's pretty hard to get (12) runs off Lasith Malinga. He is the man for us."

Buttler at least agreed with Mathews' assessment of his batting.

"It's brilliant to play that well but it's disappointing not to get over the line," he said.

"Me and Ravi just had some fun - we didn't think we could win, but that gave us a licence."

Captain Cook admitted his side's top-order batting had left Buttler with too much to do.

"It was looking pretty bleak before Buttler and Bopara got going. We know we have to play the first 30 overs better."

The series will now be decided by Tuesday's day/night clash at Edgbaston.

Chris Cairns hits back at accusers

Former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns has hit back hard at allegations he has been involved in match-fixing, using an impromptu media conference to launch attacks on former NZ teammate Lou Vincent and current Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum.
 
He also identified a further three of his former teammates – ex-captains Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori as well as seam bowler Kyle Mills – as players to whom McCullum reportedly spoke about being allegedly approached by Cairns to engage in corrupt practices.
 
Cairns arrived back in Auckland today after voluntarily travelling to London where he was interviewed by the Metropolitan Police, as well as representatives of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption offices.
 
He has again emphatically denied any involvement in match fixing and reiterated he has “nothing to hide”, before turning up the heat on his accusers who he criticises for airing “despicable lies”.
 
He was particularly scathing of Vincent, who has admitted to his involvement in match fixing and is now facing 14 charges from the ECB, and whose testimony to ICC investigators – along with corroborating evidence given by his former wife – was leaked to media outlets earlier this month.
 
"In 2008 (Vincent) had a lot of problems that he has admitted to,” Cairns told reporters today.
 
“I endeavoured to become a friend to him in these difficult times. 
 
“He has betrayed the friendship I offered him. 
 
“He now seeks to (portray) himself as a whistle-blower. He is nothing of the sort. 
 
“The truth is he has been caught cheating and seeks to mitigate his sins by blaming others. 
 
“The allegation that he and his ex-wife make against me are despicable lies.”
 
Cairns also rounded on McCullum, whose confidential testimony in 2011 was also leaked to media outlets in recent weeks, and queried why the current NZ captain had waited almost three years to report to ICC anti-corruption officers an approach allegedly made to him by Cairns in 2008.
 
Cairns pointed out that McCullum’s allegations had not been referred on to the ICC at the time, nor had they been tendered as evidence during Cairns’ subsequent defamation case against former Indian Premier League chairman, Lalit Modi.
 
Cairns successfully sued Modi in the London High Court over a defamatory tweet sent in January 2010, in which Modi referred to Cairns' alleged involvement in match-fixing.
 
Cairns confirmed that the reason he had travelled “more than 40,000 kilometres” to London to speak with the Metropolitan Police related to allegations he had perjured himself during that defamation trial.
 
“It is beyond doubt that regardless of what certain people have claimed recently in the media, Brendon McCullum waited three years before reporting this alleged approach to an ICC anti-corruption official,” Cairns said
 
“He alleges that I approached him during the ICL (now defunct Indian Cricket League) tournament in March, 2008.
 
“It is misleading at the least for a host of people to claim that he reported my alleged corrupt approach within a timely fashion, or that there had been a small delay.
 
“Mr McCullum first made his allegation to the ICC’s ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) on 17th of February 2011.
 
“Not only was this nearly three years after the alleged approach, but importantly it was 13 months before the trial in March 2012 of my case in the London High Court against Lalit Modi about match fixing.
 
“At that trial, every allegation that I was match fixing was shown to be false.”
 
Cairns, reading from a prepared statement at Auckland airport, also took the opportunity to identify players to whom McCullum reportedly spoke about the alleged approach made to him.
 
“These players are Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, and Kyle Mills, the brother of New Zealand Players Association head, Heath Mills,” Cairns said.
 
He claimed that while none of the three have made direct accusations against him, two of them have made statements supporting McCullum’s evidence.
 
A third has claimed his recollection of the incident was “foggy” and was therefore not able to make a statement corroborating McCullum’s testimony.
 
Cairns pointed out that he was not “arrested or otherwise detained” after speaking with police and cricket’s anti-corruption investigators in London, and that he was not charged with any offence “criminal or otherwise”.
 
He also said that while the allegations against him date back to 2008, he has yet to be formally interviewed by the ICC and that he was troubled by the length of time as well as the course the investigation into the matter seemed to be taking.
 
"I repeat that each and every allegation against me that I have cheated in cricket or attempted to induce others to cheat at cricket is false,” he said.
 
“I find the situation truly absurd, bizarre and scary.
 
“Whatever happens I hope proper process will be followed and I will be cleared of these allegations.
 
“I have never match-fixed, sought to have others match-fix or otherwise played the game of cricket in anything other than the spirit it so richly deserves to be played in.”

Cricket Australia

England's keeping woes set to continue

Alastair Cook's focus might be on the one-day series with Sri Lanka but the fitness of wicketkeeper Matt Prior ahead of Tests against the tourists is concerning the England captain.

Established Test gloveman Prior was dropped during the 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia but it had been expected the 32-year-old would force his way back into the team for next month's home two-Test series.

However, the 32-year-old Sussex stumper has since suffered an achilles injury which has restricted him to just two first-class matches this season, both at the start of April.

It had been hoped Prior would return for Sussex's county match away to Middlesex at Northwood but rain washed out the fixture.

Even before no play was possible on Thursday's final day, it was decided Prior would be better off undergoing a training session with England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French.

Afterwards, Prior told his Twitter followers: "Hard session with frenchy today, as always, and so far the injury has responded very well!"

Prior is set to return to Sussex duty in Friday's Twenty20 match away to Glamorgan, although it is possible he might play as a batsman only.

Even if he is behind the stumps, keeping wicket for 20 overs is no sure-fire way of assessing his fitness for the more-onerous task of donning the gloves for the 90 overs of a Test match day.

And with doubts over the batting ability of Jonny Bairstow, who replaced Prior during the Ashes, and the keeping skills of Jos Buttler, England's one-day gloveman, the selectors face a tricky decision ahead of next week's squad announcement for the first Test at Lord's from June 12.

"It is a big concern," Cook said of Prior's fitness.

"He's incredibly frustrated, because achilles injuries are hard to heal. He's a big part of our plans, but we can't rush a guy back. That wouldn't be fair on him or to the England team."

A see-saw one-day series moves to Lord's on Saturday, with England 2-1 up in the five-match contest after skittling Sri Lanka for just 67 in Manchester - Sussex paceman Chris Jordan taking a career-best 5-29.

That performance came just days after England had been dismissed for 99 at Chester-le-Street, a collapse Cook could only watch as the opening batsman missed that match with a groin strain.

Source - Cricket Australia

Ponting Confident Aussies clear

Ricky Ponting has called for swift action on the sport's corruption crisis, but is confident it does not extend to Australia.

The former Australian captain said match-fixing and other rumours had circulated for years and now former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent is facing several charges.

But Ponting doubts Australian players are involved.

"I have no worries at all," he told AAP.

"Certainly anyone that I've played with in Australian or Tasmanian teams, I can't see how it will impact on any of us - who I know, anyway."

Ponting said Australian players were well-educated about the corruption issue and does not think they are so vulnerable.

"Probably where we're a bit different to the other countries ... is we're very well-paid in Australia for what we do," he said.

"It seems to me, a lot of the targets, if you like, are guys who probably haven't been paid that well during their careers."
Source - Cricket Australia

BlackCaps short for Windies Warm Up

New Zealand will take a depleted team but no shortage of confidence into the opening match of their West Indies tour.

The Black Caps have just 10 players available for the two-day game against a Jamaican selection team starting on Thursday, with a local player being sought to make up the numbers.

Experienced opener Peter Fulton will captain a side missing regular skipper Brendon McCullum, who is involved in the Indian Premier League play-offs.

Also unavailable is batsman Kane Williamson, who has just completed his England county commitments with Yorkshire, and a trio of players eliminated this week from the IPL - Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Corey Anderson.

It means off-spinner Mark Craig will make his Black Caps debut in what is expected to be helpful conditions while reserve wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi is set to be promoted up the batting order.

Fulton says the game is a chance for several players, including himself, to push their claims for the first of three Tests starting in Kingston next week.

It is also an opportunity to maintain some momentum from their triumphant home summer in which they recorded Test series wins over the West Indies in December and India in February.

"The challenge now is to do it again overseas in conditions that won't be in our favour," Fulton told NZ Newswire.

"It's a long time since the end of the India series. But the more you can win, I think it helps the confidence of the team and you saw that against India off the back of the West Indies series."

A second warm-up game starting on Sunday is a three-day affair.

Meanwhile, the West Indies are still reduced their squad from a training group of 20.

Doubt hangs over the availability of big-hitting opening batsman Chris Gayle, who told media this week he is seeking treatment for an injured back suffered during the World Twenty20 tournament in March.

He missed a handful of IPL games because of it and has sought medical help in Germany to ensure he is fit for what would be his 100th Test in Kingston.

Gayle was ruled out of the tour of New Zealand six months ago by a hamstring injury.

New Zealand: Peter Fulton (c), Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Luke Ronchi, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Mark Craig, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, (one to be added).

Source - Cricket Australia

Flower pens letter to Zimbabwe fans

Grant Flower has written a letter to Zimbabwe cricket fans explaining why he left the national team to become Pakistan’s new batting coach.

The letter, addressed to Zimbabwean cricket followers, clarifies his resignation from Zimbabwe Cricket as the national batting coach and why he accepted a similar role with Pakistan.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

FOR ZIMBABWEAN CRICKET FOLLOWERS

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my position with regards to Zimbabwe Cricket and my recent resignation as National Batting Coach for the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team. I have had three good years with Zimbabwe Cricket, Players, Coaches and Management. I feel that I have developed both as a coach and as an individual. I would like to think that I have had a positive influence on the development of the players and that they have enjoyed their time working alongside me. I have definitely seen improvements both technically and mentally and feel that there is still a tremendous amount of talent within Zimbabwe Cricket to be unearthed. The players need to find the inner drive for success at the highest level as it cannot always be coach driven.

Regarding taking up the position as Batting Coach with the Pakistan National Team, I believe that this is the right time for me to take on a new challenge in order to enhance my career. There are always areas where players, coaches and administration can improve in communication but I can honestly say that as a whole, my time with Zimbabwe Cricket has been both enjoyable and rewarding. I will still be working with the players until the end of June and look forward to helping in their preparation for the upcoming tours by South Africa and Australia.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Zimbabwe Cricket for all that they have done for me in my development as a coach and wish all parties involved continued growth and hopefully further success in the future. I am taking on this new and exciting challenge for my development as a coach and do not see it as closing the door with Zimbabwe Cricket.

Yours in cricket.

GRANT FLOWER

Flower’s appointment comes two weeks after Mushtad Ahmed signed on as a spin bowling consultant, edging out former team-mate Saqlain Mushtaq. 

Pakistan travel to Sri Lanka in August for two Tests and three one-day internationals before hosting Australia in UAE.
Source - Cricket Australia

India taking series lightly - Mushfiqur

Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain, has said he didn't expect such a weakened Indian side for the upcoming three-match ODI series. The visitors announced a 15-man squad without eight of their regulars - captain MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are among those not making this trip.

Mushfiqur said he was not upset at the quality of his opposition but felt that, by playing better cricket, his side can deliver a message to the powers that be. Despite the make-up of the squad, they will not be playing for "India A" but for India, he said.

The team will be led by Suresh Raina, who was not part of India's last ODI assignment, and only four members of this squad -- Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny and Wriddhiman Saha -- will be flying to England to join the Test team.

"I didn't expect them to take this series so lightly," Mushfiqur told reporters in Mirpur. "We have a chance to give a reply on the field. There is extra motivation. They haven't invited us yet so if we do well in this series, it sends a message.

"We have defeated their best team in the past. They have a young team, and despite the standard of the IPL, international cricket is a more difficult stage. And one should not forget that if they lose, India will lose, not India A. The pressure will be on them. I know most of them, and have seen them play. Even though I haven't played against them, I have some idea. Shakib [Al Hasan] has played against all of them, so we will pick his brain. In this day and age, it is hard not to have knowledge on a player."

Mushfiqur however warned that his team will be under a little more pressure because of the heightened expectations now that India are not sending their big guns. He wants the Bangladesh players to improve on what they had done in the last few months when they had a string of losses since the Sri Lanka series in January, right up to the World T20.

"After seeing their team, I realised that there will more expectations on us. But usually there is more pressure when we play against India, even when they had Dhoni.

"Everyone wants us to beat them, so pressure was always there. We have to focus on what we are doing, since we have struggled in the last few months. If we can play to our potential, it is not impossible to beat their team," he said.

The three-match series was part of the 2012-2020 FTP, but still the BCB had to sign a Members' Participation Agreement (MPA) with BCCI last February to secure four series against India, including the one next month.

Source - cricinfo

Awana targets India return

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) pacer Parvinder Awana has set his sights on the upcoming tour of England to make a comeback into the Indian cricket team. The 27-year-old Awana, who has played for India in two T20s, has impressed KXIP bowling coach Joe Dawes, who is hoping that the bowler gets back into the national team. "I am eyeing the England tour. In fact, only last night, I was jokingly telling Joe Dawes that we have three matches left in this IPL (Indian Premier League) and let me play all of them. I'll take five wickets in each game and book a seat on that plane for England," Awana said. "But seriously, it was my target coming into this IPL to showcase my skills and fitness and try to make an India comeback." Awana, who, unlike a lot of other Indian bowlers, relies on pace rather than swing and variations, said the presence of two Australians - Joe Dawes and Mitchell Johnson - in KXIP helped him a lot.
"I have been talking a lot to them. To be honest, my pace had gone down during the initial part of the tournament and I wasn't putting as much effort as I needed to. That's when Joe Dawes sat me down and reminded me what I am capable of. "I think I swayed away a bit from my basics and got into the relaxed mode. By making me sit out for a few matches, he gave me the kick I needed and pushed me to get right what I am known for. "I told the captain (George Bailey) that in the time I sat out, I have worked on my pace and I think I'm there again," Awana said after his team's win over Delhi Daredevils on Sunday. Awana said he speaks mainly about pace with Johnson. "I speak a lot to him about pace. I asked him what he does to keep his pace up on a consistent basis. He asked me to just keep working on my fitness. "He said 'If you are capable of bowling between 140 and 145, you will not get to 150 no matter how hard you work on your bowling or fitness. But if you ignore your physical fitness, your pace will slip'.

Cooper reported for suspect action

A Rajasthan Royals bowler has been reported for using a suspect action in the match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday night. A report out of India says Kevon Cooper was reported for “bowling certain deliveries with a suspect illegal action” during the match. Cooper took 2-38 in his four-over spell. He was reported by on-field umpires, along with the third umpire, after Mumbai’s dramatic win which knocked Royals out of the IPL title race. Cooper is now entitled to have an official assessment from the BCCI Suspect Bowling Action Committee (watch his action from the other night above, although we are not sure which specific balls are under scrutiny). Even if found guilty, Cooper would be available for selection in the next edition of the IPL and only faces suspension from the tournament if he is reported a second time.

Stuart Broad advised to give up T20 International

Stuart Broad may have to call time on his England Twenty20 career - and with it the "kudos" that goes with being captain - to give him a better chance of staying fit for Test and one-day international cricket. The 27-year-old fast bowler is playing competitive cricket for the first time since the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh as Nottinghamshire take on Durham at Trent Bridge and bowled six overs in no obvious discomfort after suffering tendonitis in his right knee. But Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket and now one of the England selectors, said that the likelihood the problem would flare up again placed a question mark over Broad's involvement in all three formats at international level. Given his importance in England's Test and ODI attacks, managing his workload would probably mean sacrificing his place in the Twenty20 side. "Stuart is a key man for Test cricket and one- day internationals, so in terms of managing his fitness I think we are going to have to look at Twenty20 for Stuart," Newell said. "The last two or three years he has picked up a lot of little things and he would want to have played more cricket than he has. "There is a lot of ODI cricket coming up and how you manage the workload for players like Stuart through the summer and as you prepare for the 50-over World Cup next February is something that will have to be looked at."

Source - cricinfo