Mott lands Glamorgan post

New South Wales have revealed that Matthew Mott will take up the position of head coach of Glamorgan.

Mott has spent the last seven years with the Blues, firstly under coach Trevor Bayliss before taking on the chief role four years ago.

He took them to the inaugural Champions League title in 2009, beating Trinidad and Tobago in the final, and also led them to a Sheffield Shield title and victory in the Big Bash Twenty20.

Mott was also assistant coach to the Australian side that made the final of the T20 World Cup in the West Indies last May.

"I have had a fantastic seven years at Cricket NSW and will miss the place and the people immensely, but I believe the challenge at Glamorgan is something that really excites me on a number of different levels,"he said.

"Certainly the opportunity to experience a different culture and broaden my cricketing horizons, as well as provide my family with an opportunity to see another part of the world is something that I very much look forward to."

Mott will travel to the UK following the conclusion of the domestic season Down Under.

Source

Strauss backing Colly

Andrew Strauss has backed Paul Collingwood to rediscover his best form during the upcoming one-day series and finally end his poor run of form in Australia.

Collingwood has managed just 105 runs in competitive action on the entire tour of Australia, with just 83 runs coming during the Ashes Test series and then scores of 16 and six in the two following Twenty20s.

Collingwood skippered the Twenty20 side in the last two matches, but Strauss returns for the seven-match ODI series, which starts in Melbourne on Sunday.

Strauss is fully behind the 34-year-old though, and believes Collingwood will show his famous fighting spirit to find some form in the one-day series.

It is an important build-up spell for the World Cup, and Collingwood knows he must start to deliver to maintain his place in the squad.

Out of touch

"He's been a bit out of touch in the Test matches, but it's a very different form of the game,"Strauss said."His record in one-day cricket over the last year has been very good.

"He brings a lot to the side apart from his batting - but his batting is crucial to us. We're expecting him to come back strong. He's a strong character and resilient bloke.

"There have been plenty of incidences in the past where he has come back with a bang. None more so than four years ago over here"

With England set to announce their World Cup squad on Wednesday it would be a major surprise if Collingwood's name was not amongst the 15, but more failures during the series could see the 189-game veteran lose out.

Competition for places in England's batting line-up is fierce at the moment with Kevin Pietersen looking to get back into the team after being dropped for the Pakistan series in the summer, while Ian Bell has strengthened his claims and Jonathan Trott can also make similar claims.

Competition

"There's a lot of competition for places,"Strauss added."Kevin Pietersen's back in the squad and we all know what he can bring to the one-day team.

"Someone's got to miss out out of the batsmen. It will be a tough call but I think that's a good position to be in.

"They all bring different attributes to their game - you have to include Paul Collingwood in the mix as well - and we have to decide what's the best use of those attributes in Australia and at the World Cup as well."

Despite the pressure on his shoulders Collingwood vowed to turn his fortunes around to ensure his place in England's first World Cup game against Holland on February 22.

"I'm obviously disappointed with my form,"he said."I can't get away from the fact that I haven't scored many runs in Australia so far.

"But things go around in cycles in terms of form whether it be on a personal note or a team note. I know I'll come good again. It just takes that one score to come around and hopefully go back up on that cycle."

Source

Doherty back for Aussies

Xavier Doherty has been handed the chance to press his World Cup claims after being named in the Australian team to face England in the first match of the ODI series in Melbourne.

Doherty was named in the team as Australia played their hand early by releasing the starting line-up for the side, which will be led by Michael Clarke.

With the deadline for naming the 15-man World Cup squad on Wednesday, the game could be a final chance for players to get their names in the frame.

Returning quicks Shaun Tait and Brett Lee have also been included, with Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson rested, while David Hussey will make his first 50-over appearance since August 2009.

Doherty's inclusion comes at the expense of Nathan Hauritz, who was also overlooked for the Ashes behind his Tasmanian counterpart.

Hauritz rest

It would seem on this occasion, however, that Hauritz has already done enough to earn his place for the World Cup, after selector Greg Chappell admitted they had planned for the right-arm off-spinner to sit out Sunday's game.

Doherty has therefore seemingly been picked to try and push his claims to partner Hauritz on the sub-continent.

"The NSP continues to look closely at certain players as the deadline for ICC Cricket World Cup selection approaches,"Chappell said.

"Our plan had always been to play Xavier Doherty in this game.

"We spoke to Nathan Hauritz in the week and advised him that if selected, the first game he plays in this series would be in the group of Commonwealth Bank Series matches which start with the second ODI on 21 January at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart."

Shoot-out

Quicks Tait and Lee could be involved in a straight shoot-out as they aim to complete their last bids for the World Cup, which starts on February 19.

Both have been beset by injury in recent times, with Tait recently returning from an elbow complaint while Lee retired from the longer formats last year to rest his ailing body.

The 34-year-old's decision has been rewarded as he has taken 15 wickets in the domestic 45-over competition this season, the second most of any bowler.

Hussey's form has not been as impressive in the Ryobi Cup where he has managed 143 runs at an average of 23.83.

Skipper Michael Clarke, who will lead the team in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting, hinted however that the Victorian's ability to bowl part-time spin made him an attractive option looking ahead to the sub-continent.

"I definitly think you could get your extra overs out of your spinners,"he said."David Hussey's part-time off-spin adds to our bowling."

Australia team:M Clarke (captain), C White (vice captain), D Bollinger, X Doherty, D Hussey, M Hussey, B Haddin, S Smith, B Lee, S Tait, S Watson.

Source

Shahzad staying calm

Ajmal Shahzad says England will not be pushing the panic button just yet after their defeat against Australia in the opening one-dayer, saying there is still a long way to go in the seven-match series.

England lost by six wickets at the MCG thanks to Shane Watson's brilliant innings of 161 not out, one of the best one-day knocks ever seen on the day used to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 50-over game.

Andrew Strauss and his men did post their best score against the Aussies Down Under, with Kevin Pietersen top scoring with 78 in their 294 all out, and that means there are few reasons to panic.

Shahzad says confidence is still high in the England camp and they are not taking the defeat too hard.

"It's not much of a setback,"Shahzad said."We are disappointed to lose but there were plenty of positives to take out of it. We ran them until the end, but you also have to give credit to a guy that has played superbly well.

Chances

"If we had taken our chances it could have been a different story. It gives us a little bit more energy to take into the next few games. It is a long series."

Shahzad admitted that finding a way to remove Watson early would be crucial to his side's fortunes following the opener's dominant display last night.

"He's been one of their best players. He's been batting superbly,"he added."If we can plug him down or get him early doors it would be a big setback for them.

"I haven't really bowled at him that much but he's a superb player.

"He's not got many areas of weakness. On a wicket such as that, which was very flat and slow, we didn't have many options.

"To his credit he played very well. Hopefully we can learn from it and move on."

Game time

The match was Shahzad's fourth consecutive game on a tour that he has spent sat mostly on the sidelines after not being called upon during the Ashes series.

After returning for last week's warm-up game in Canberra, before the two Twenty20s and last night's game the 25-year-old said he was starting to feel back to full match sharpness.

"It's been frustrating and difficult just to bowl at batsmen in the nets for so long. There's only so much you can do. I feel as though I'm getting into a better rhythm now in regards to everything.

"My batting, my bowling and my fielding. I feel like I belong on the pitch now. Personally last night I thought I did okay. I wish I could have changed it a little bit more our way and got a few wickets in the middle period.

"Hopefully I can get a decent run and show what I have got to offer."

Source

Aussies opt for experience

Australia have named Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey in their World Cup squad despite injury concerns over both players.

Skipper Ponting is expected to be fit for the tournament, which runs from February 19 to April 2 on the subcontinent, after undergoing finger surgery following the Boxing Day Test.

But it is more doubtful that Hussey, who underwent a hamstring operation on January 18, will recover in time.

The 35-year-old willmiss the remainder of the ongoing seven-match series against Englandwith fellow Western Australian left-hander Shaun Marsh replacing him for the next three games.

He suffered the injury while running between wickets late in Australia's six-wicket victory at the MCG on January 16, although he batted on albeit in some discomfort.

"Michael Hussey injured his left hamstring during the first ODI versus England,"said Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

"Whilst the injury appeared to be minor at the time and soon after the game, scans have since revealed that he has avulsed one of the hamstring tendons from the attachment point at the inner side of his knee.

"As such, Michael had corrective surgery today.

"The recovery time and availability for the ICC World Cup will be dependent on his progress with the rehabilitation program in the coming weeks."

Should Hussey fail to recover in time, Australia would be allowed to replace him - with Marsh being the obvious candidate.

Experience

There are eight survivors from the team that won the World Cup for the third straight time in the Caribbean four years ago in Australia's 15-man party.

Veteran paceman Brett Lee makes the cut, while Nathan Hauritz is preferred to Xavier Doherty as the only frontline spinner.

"The NSP (national selection panel) has selected a squad we believe is capable of winning a fourth successive ICC Cricket World Cup in sub-continental conditions,"said chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.

"As the world's number one ranked one-day team and as the holders of both the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy, Australia has been planning for this tournament for some time and we feel this side is well balanced.

"It includes the experience of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brett Lee, and also some young talent like Steve Smith.

"Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin were all also part of the victorious 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup squad that went unbeaten in the Caribbean, so there is plenty of character in this group of Australian cricketers.

"One of the major decisions to be made in this squad was ensuring the balance was right in the squad to provide the best cover for all positions in the event of injury, illness or form issues that may arise."

Australia are drawn in Group A alongside Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Australia squad:Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin (wkt), John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine (wkt), Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White

Source

Pears do the Wright thing

Australian seam bowler Damien Wright has signed as Worcestershire's overseas player for the early part of the 2011 campaign.

The 35-year-old, who is also a useful lower-order batsman, is currently enjoying a successful season in the Sheffield Shield for Victoria with 19 wickets at an average of 24 apiece so far.

He will arrive at New Road in time for newly-promoted Worcestershire's opening LV County Championship match with Yorkshire on April 8.

"Damien is an ideal bowler for early season conditions in England,"said the county's director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

"His experience and quality will be a huge bonus in getting a good start to what will be a very challenging year in Division One.

"His hard-working, no-nonsense style of cricket will be terrific for our dressing room and to gain his signature in front of other county interest is a boost for our players, staff and supporters."

Travelled

Worcetershire will be be Wright's fifth county, having previosuly enjoyed stints with Glamorgan, Northamptonshire, Somerset and Sussex.

"I can't wait to arrive at Worcester,"he said."I have loved every minute of my previous experiences in county cricket and the opportunity to play at New Road is an exciting one.

"Worcestershire have a group of talented young bowlers that I look forward to playing alongside and also working with off the field as well."

Source

Yusuf blasts India ahead

Some big hitting from Yusuf Pathan helped India beat South Africa by two wickets in Cape Town to take a 2-1 lead in their five-match ODI series.

Zaheer Khan took three wickets as India restricted South Africa to just 220 all out in their innings, with the home tail collapsing after a century stand between debutant Francois 'Faf' du Plessis and JP Duminy.

India were steady in their response but a quick-fire 59 from Yusuf, including three sixes in one over, gave them the boost they needed to comfortably get home at 223-8 with ten balls to spare.

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith made 43 from 79 balls at the top of the order, but he could not form a decent partnership with batsmen falling at the other end.

Du Plessis and Duminy combined for 110 for the fifth wicket, but the runs did not exactly come at great speed, and after they went in the 45th and 46th over respectively the Proteas tail was unable to hit some much-needed late runs.

Partnerships

Rohit Sharma (23) and Virat Kholi (28) made an early 52-run partnership, but India lost wickets alarmingly and slumped to 93-5 at the halfway point of their innings.

Suresh Raina (37) and Yusuf smacked 75 between them, including 19 runs in the 30th over when Yusuf bludgeoned three massive sixes, in what was a pivotal over for the tourists that allowed them to relax.

Yusuf also hit six fours in his 50-ball innings of 59 before he was caught by Morne Morkel as one of Dale Steyn's two wickets of the day.

Harbhajan Singh then did the final bit of work with an unbeaten 23 from 25 balls helping steer India to victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.

Morkel was the pick of the South African attack, looking dangerous but also keeping it tight as he to 3-28 from his ten overs, while Steyn offered the most assistance as he took 2-31.

Wayward

Elsewhere it was another story though with Wayne Parnell wayward and expensive during his eight-over spell of 0-53, while Johan Botha was clobbered by Yusuf for those three big sixes as he returned figures of 1-48 from 7.2 overs.

India certainly outbowled their hosts at Newlands, with Zaheer taking 3-43 from just 9.2 overs as he got the ball rolling by forcing Hashim Amla to inside-edge a good-length ball which uprooted his off stump on 16.

Harbhajan was also effective and ultra-stingy as he conceded just 23 runs from his nine overs while taking the prize wicket of skipper Smith and also seeing off Colin Ingram as he was caught behind.

Munaf Patel added 2-42 as India moved 2-1 ahead in the series heading into the fourth match at Port Elizabeth on Friday.

Source