Unnamed Pakistani left off list due to spot-fixing scandal

LONDON: The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack has named only four Cricketers of the Year in its 2011 edition.

The revered publication has ritually recognized the five players who had the greatest impact on the English summer, only breaking with convention to recognize outstanding individuals WG Grace, Plum Warner and Jack Hobbs and during the first and second world wars when competitive cricket was on hiatus.

The traditional five-man list has been named every year since Hobbs’ nomination in 1926 but has been reduced in the 2011 edition after one of the selected players was caught up in last year’s spot-fixing scandal.

Following a News of the World investigation during the England versus Pakistan series, the International Cricket Council charged bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir with bowling deliberate no-balls and Captain Salman Butt with being party to events.

Asif is currently serving a seven-year ban, with two suspended, Amir a straight five years and Butt 10 years, with half suspended after being found guilty by an independent tribunal.

“If (the player in question) were exonerated, then it would be possible to reconsider the position,” said Wisden editor Scyld Berry.

“That’s why I didn’t pick anyone else instead. But as things stand, we don’t feel we can choose him. It’s all very sad.”
The news somewhat overshadows those nominees who will appear in the book, with Tamim Iqbal, Eoin Morgan, Chris Read and Jonathan Trott all receiving the accolade.

Bangladeshi Tamim and Irishman Morgan are the first players from their respective countries to make the Wisden list and Read are recognized for his role in leading Nottinghamshire to the LV County Championship title.

Trott, meanwhile, was an expected pick after a prolific year in Test and one-day cricket for England in his first full year as an international.

Alastair Cook missed out on selection as his Ashes heroics fell outside of Wisden’s parameters, but he has been honored by appearing on the cover of almanack, pictured celebrating his century in the Sydney Test. AGENCIES

Ashes series:England secures opening-day honours

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 1st day
Australia 268
England 29/0 (12.0 ov)
England trail by 239 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
Stumps – Day 1
England captured the last four Australia wickets for 89 runs to limit the hosts to a first innings total of 268 before stumps on the first day of the third Test in Perth on Thursday.
After resuming on 179/6, Australia’s rearguard was halted by paceman James Anderson in the fourth over after tea when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin nicked a thick edge to Graeme Swann at slip to go for 53.
Anderson then bowled paceman Ryan Harris for three in his next over to leave Australia 201/8 before fast bowler Mitchell Johnson produced a fighting half-century in a solid return to the side after being dropped following the first Test in Brisbane. Johnson’s heroics were ended by Steve Finn, however, who dismissed the paceman for a top-scoring 62 after enticing him into a poorly hit pull shot straight to Anderson at square leg. Spinner Graeme Swann then had Ben Hilfenhaus out for 13, caught by Alastair Cook at short leg to leave Siddle stranded on 35 not out.

Cook hits double century but Ashes opener drawn

BRISBANE: Australia and England drew the first Ashes test on Monday but the tourists will claim a moral victory after Alastair Cook dominated the last two days with an unbeaten double century to rescue a match that had looked lost.

Cook, who was unbeaten on a career-high 235, and Jonathan Trott, who was 135 not out, had built a record partnership of 329 when captain Andrew Strauss declared England’s second innings closed at 571-1 before tea.

Australia, who were 296 runs behind, lost Simon Katich before the break but skipper Ricky Ponting, who hit 51 for his 56th test half century, and opener Shane Watson (41) ushered the hosts safely through the remaining overs to finish on 107 for one.

Cook and Trott completely dominated the first two sessions of the day in front of a sparse fifth day crowd at the Gabba, where England supporters were more numerous and much

Cook hits double century but Ashes opener drawn

BRISBANE: Australia and England drew the first Ashes test on Monday but the tourists will claim a moral victory after Alastair Cook dominated the last two days with an unbeaten double century to rescue a match that had looked lost.

Cook, who was unbeaten on a career-high 235, and Jonathan Trott, who was 135 not out, had built a record partnership of 329 when captain Andrew Strauss declared England’s second innings closed at 571-1 before tea.

Australia, who were 296 runs behind, lost Simon Katich before the break but skipper Ricky Ponting, who hit 51 for his 56th test half century, and opener Shane Watson (41) ushered the hosts safely through the remaining overs to finish on 107 for one.

Cook and Trott completely dominated the first two sessions of the day in front of a sparse fifth day crowd at the Gabba, where England supporters were more numerous and much

Cook joins select company in England run feast

BRISBANE: Alastair Cook became only the fourth Englishman to score a Test double-century in Australia as the first Ashes Test headed for a draw on the final day at the Gabba on Monday.

Cook joined Wally Hammond (3), Reg Foster and Paul Collingwood as double centurions with his unconquered 235 to ensure the Ashes holders avoided defeat after trailing by 221 runs on the first innings.

Skipper Andrew Strauss finally called a halt to England’s run pillage at 517 for one, 40 minutes before tea, with Cook and Jonathan Trott, unbeaten on 135, sharing in England’s highest partnership in Australia of 329 runs.

Australia lost the wicket of Simon Katich for four in the seven overs to tea and were desperate to avoid further damage ahead of this week’s second Adelaide Test.

At tea, Australia were 11 for one with skipper Ricky Ponting on six and Shane Watson yet to

Strauss hits century as England stand firm against Australia

BRISBANE: England skipper Andrew Strauss reached his 19th test century soon after lunch on the fourth day of the first Ashes test against Australia at the Gabba on Sunday as the tourists battled to save the match.

Strauss, who was out for a duck in the first innings, cut a Xavier Doherty delivery down to third man for four to record his century — the first since his 161 at the Lords test in the last Ashes series in July 2009.

His 216-minute century was not without chances, however, most notably an inside edge to a Peter Siddle delivery when he was on 61 that somehow missed the wicket and a good catching chance off Doherty that Mitchell Johnson spilled when he was on 70.

The 33-year-old, who hit 15 fours in his century, had already combined with Alastair Cook for England’s highest opening partnership at the Gabba. AGENCIES

Amir rips through England top order

LONDON: Kevin Pietersen’s miserable run of scores continued with a golden duck as Mohammad Aamer gave England a nightmare start to the second morning of the fourth npower Test at Lord’s.

The Pakistani seam and swing bowler took three wickets for no runs in five balls as England faltered to 47 for five after 20 minutes’ play under yet more heavy cloud cover in a series almost entirely beset by such conditions.

Pietersen drove at a wide, swinging delivery from the teenage left-armer and got an obliging edge behind, safely collected by Kamran Akmal.

The Pakistan wicketkeeper, one of several less than reliable catchers in the tourists’ ranks this summer, had already done the decent thing from the final ball of the previous over when Aamer got one to swing down the slope from the pavilion end to have Alastair Cook also caught behind.

With Pietersen gone

Rain dampens Pakistan’s series-levelling hopes

LONDON: Pakistan saw off Andrew Strauss but missed a glaring chance to dismiss the England captain’s opening partner, Alastair Cook, before rain played its part to wash out the remaining first day of the fourth and final Test at Lord’s.

England were 39 for one after rain had earlier washed out the entire morning session before bad light then stopped the match in only the 13th over. Cook, dropped on one, was 10 not out and Jonathan Trott was unbeaten on eight with England 2-1 up in this series after Pakistan’s four-wicket win across London at The Oval last week.

It was no surprise when Pakistan captain Salman Butt opted to field first after winning the toss in the kind of overcast conditions that have troubled batsmen from both sides all series. But poor catching, that has hampered Pakistan throughout this series, saw their 18th dropped effort in four Tests – a

England recall Bresnan for final test decider

LONDON: England have recalled bowler Tim Bresnan for the final test against Pakistan at Lord’s after defeat at the Oval left the series hanging in the balance.

Bresnan is the only change to the squad that fell to a four wicket defeat in the third test on Saturday. England lead the four-match series 2-1.

“Ultimately the team is looking for an improved performance to finish the series well,” national selector Geoff Miller said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement on Sunday.

“We have been saying throughout this entire series that consistency is key and that certainly remains the case.”

Bresnan has taken 14 wickets in five test matches at an average of 35.14. The final test gets underway on Thursday.

England squad: Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn,

Aamer, Ajmal put Pakistan in command

LONDON: Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Aamer combined to spark a dramatic England collapse that left Pakistan contemplating victory in the third Test at The Oval here on Friday.

From 194 for three at tea, England lost six wickets for 26 runs to be 221 for nine when bad light forced an early close on the third day.

That left England, looking for a 3-0 lead in this four-match series, just 146 runs ahead with one second innings wicket standing.

Off-spinner Ajmal, who bowled 30 overs unchanged, had four wickets for 71 runs and left-arm quick Aamer four for 51.

Stuart Broad was six not out and Steven Finn nought not out.

Earlier, opener Alastair Cook ended a poor run of scores with an innings of 110 but that was all but eclipsed by England’s final session slump.

Ajmal started the collapse with a clever piece of bowling.

From around the

Next Page »