Raghuram Bhat, the former India and Karnataka left-arm spinner, has been appointed coach of Goa for two years

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jul-2011Raghuram Bhat, the former India and Karnataka left-arm spinner, has been appointed coach of Goa for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. Bhat replaces Rajesh Kamath and will coach Goa for two years.Bhat was Karnataka’s bowling mainstay for a decade and finished with 374 first-class wickets. He was called up to the national team in 1983 but played only two Tests before being dropped.The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) president Dayanand Narvekar said Bhat would be the last coach from a different state to be hired by Goa. After his tenure is over, the onus will be on Goan coaches. Narvekar also said they have decided to cut down the number of outstation players from three to one for the 2011-12 Ranji season. Last season, Goa had former Haryana wicketkeeper-batsman Ajay Ratra and former Tamil Nadu batsman S Vidyut in their squad.Goa finished third in their group in the Ranji Trophy Plate League last season, missing out on a semi-final berth by five points. With teams like Maharashtra in their group this year, Goa will start preparations early with a camp from July 15.

Paul Valthaty, the Mumbai batsman whose form with the bat during this year’s IPL put him in the spotlight, has said he is looking forward to playing for Himachal Pradesh in the upcoming Indian domestic season

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2011Paul Valthaty, the Mumbai batsman whose form with the bat for Kings XI Punjab during this year’s IPL put him in the spotlight, has said he is looking forward to playing for Himachal Pradesh in the upcoming Indian domestic season. His move to Himachal Pradesh is subject to the Mumbai Cricket Association providing him with a No-Objection Certificate, for which he has applied.If the move goes through, Valthaty will be playing in the Ranji Trophy Plate League since Himachal were relegated from the Super League after finishing bottom of their group last season.”Personally leaving Mumbai will be tough; after all my entire life has been based here, including my cricket. But when I got an offer from Himachal, I decided to move on,” Valthaty told . “It will be a good opportunity for me to showcase my talent and I’m looking forward to the upcoming season. My IPL performance has certainly boosted my confidence and I want to continue the good work.”Valthaty’s decision comes soon after he was named vice-captain of Mumbai’s 15-man squad for the Buchi Babu All-India Invitational that will be held later this month. Valthaty is yet to play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and has represented the team in only one List A game, against Baroda in 2006. Following his headline-grabbing century against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Valthaty was engaged in a tussle with Sachin Tendulkar for the top spot on the run-scorers’ charts, before finishing the league at No. 6 with 463 runs from 14 games.Vishal Marwaha, the joint-secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, said the organisation was waiting on the NOC. “He [Valthaty] is yet to submit his NOC, but we are hopeful to get it at the earliest. The way he performed during the IPL has certainly shown his talent and we are confident that he will deliver for us.”

Scotland’s lower order came good on the second morning, steering their side to the 350-run mark, before offspinner Majid Haq troubled Namibia

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2011
Scorecard
Scotland’s lower order came good on the second morning, steering their side to the 350-run mark, before offspinner Majid Haq troubled Namibia, reducing them to 230 for six in Windhoek.Resuming on 268 for 7, Scotland pushed on to 350 courtesy double-digit contributions from their Nos 8 to 11. Wicketkeeper Simon Smith and No. 11 Gordon Goudie put on 47 for the tenth wicket, Goudie slamming his 31 off 27 balls, while Smith remained unbeaten on 35. Christi Viljoen picked up two wickets in the morning, to finish with a five-wicket haulIn reply, none of the Namibia batsmen could build on starts, with the top six all getting into double digits but not pushing on. The biggest contribution came from captain Craig Williams, who made 51 before succumbing to Haq. Haq picked up two more middle-order wickets in a very miserly spell – he conceded 20 runs from 22 overs – as Namibia went to stumps trailing by 120 with four wickets in hand.

A round-up of the matches from the second day of the Faysal Bank T20, 2011

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2011Seamer Sarfraz Ahmed and left-arm spinner Raza Hasan took seven wickets between them as Sialkot Stallions restricted Hyderabad Hawks to 96 for 8 and went on to win by nine wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi. Sarfraz did the early damage, taking three wickets in his first two overs, leaving Hyderabad 12 for 3. Shahzad Haider and Rizwan Ahmed then put on 51 runs for the fourth wicket but it took them ten overs as they tried to rebuild after the early losses.Abdur Rehman dismissed Haider for 42, Sarfraz came back to take his fourth wicket, and Hasan took three scalps as Sialkot did not allow Hyderabad’s innings to get going. Hasan conceded just 12 runs in his four overs, Sarfraz 13 and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan went for 14. Shoaib Malik ensured Sialkot did not waste time getting to the meagre target, and scored a run-a-ball 50, helping them get there with 20 balls to spare.Khurram Manzoor’s half-century laid the foundation for Karachi Zebras comfortable 44-run win over Quetta Bears at the National Stadium in Karachi. Manzoor and Rameez Aziz got the innings off to a quick start, adding 36 from the first four overs. Anwar Ali then came in and made a rapid 32 as he and Manzoor put on 57. Manzoor eventually fell for 62 in the 16th over but some lusty blows from Akbar-ur-Rehman pushed their total to 172. Quetta started steadily, but Uzair-ul-Haq removed both openers in the sixth over. Abid Ali and Mir Wais kept the innings ticking but Ali’s dismissal with the score on 110 triggered a collapse as Quetta lost their last seven wickets for 18 runs.An all-round bowling effort from Lahore Eagles helped them beat Abbottabad Eagles by 15 runs. Pakistan batsmen Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar got Lahore’s innings off to a brisk start, with Farhat the more aggressive partner, racing to 43 from 31 balls with four fours and a six. Azhar Ali kept up the momentum once Farhat fell but Lahore weren’t able to push on in the closing overs, despite having wickets in hand, as the Abbottabad bowlers kept them to 150. Yasir Hameed and Yasir Shah steadied the Abbottabad innings after the early loss of Ghulam Mohammad, but the innings lost its way once the pair departed. Six bowlers took at least one wicket, but the standout was Junaid Zia, who took 2 for 9 from 3.3 overs. Umar backed up his innings of 35 with 2 from 16 was named the Player of the Match.

A round-up of the action from the second round of National Cricket League 2011-12 matches

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2011Any doubts about the playing conditions at the Sylhet Stadium were blown away by Sohag Gazi’s whirlwind first-innings 140 for Barisal Division, but, ultimately, it was Abdur Razzak’s record-breaking first-class figures of 15 for 193 (bettering Elias Sunny’s 13 for 106 against Sylhet Divison in 2008-09) that gave Khulna Division a smooth eight-wicket win.Gazi’s maiden first-class century included 20 fours and three sixes, an innings that rescued Barisal from being shot out for a low total. Khulna replied in kind, with Razzak hitting 69 of 63 to help his side take a 30-run lead. He followed up an eight-for with seven wickets in the second innings that kept Barisal Division to 194, as only Salman Hossain offered some resistance. Khulna Division then chased down 165 in little over 40 overs, with Amit Majumder and Tushar Imran hitting unbeaten half-centuries and sharing a 120-run third-wicket stand.Dhaka Metropolis continued to be in top form in the National Cricket League, beating Dhaka Division by seven wickets, within two days, at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. The stadium’s pitch was in the spotlight over the weekend, but the low scores were more the batsmen’s fault than that of the surface, which offered some sideways movement.It was Dhaka Division who took a first-innings lead of 24 runs, despite being bowled out for 132, as newcomer Mohammad Shahid bowled a fiery spell late on the opening day. But Dhaka Metropolis bounced back to skittle out the divisional side for just 140 in their second innings, Arafat Salahuddin completing eight wickets in the match with his Ian Austin-like medium pace. Rony Talukder hit 80 out of the total of 140, putting the other batsmen’s early-season form into perspective. Dhaka Metropolis lost two early wickets in the fourth innings before Asif Ahmed and Mohammad Ashraful added 129 for the third wicket, setting up an easy win and 12 points for their side.Rajshahi Division prevailed in the battle of the northern teams, beating Rangpur by 58 runs at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. It was the first win of the season for the defending champions, who were rolled over by Dhaka Metropolis in the first round.Rangpur Division, however, had the better of the exchanges in the first innings. They took a 24-run first innings lead courtesy half-centuries from Liton Das and captain Tariq Ahmed, and handy cameos by Dhiman Ghosh and Saymon Ahmed. Farhad Hossain’s 84 in Rajshahi Division’s second innings helped them to a modest 186 run lead, which proved to be more than enough. Rangpur Division were bowled out for 128 on the final day. Farhad Hossain contributed with the ball too, picking up four wickets, as did left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib.Nafees Iqbal’s hit a first-class century for the first time in almost three years to set up Chittagong Division‘s six-wicket win over Sylhet Division at the BKSP No. 2 Ground in Savar.Nafees, the elder brother of Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal, struck eleven boundaries in a seven-hour knock that ensured Chittagong Division crossed Sylhet Division’s first innings score of 270, which was painstakingly piled up in their usual style. The innings took them into the tea break on the second day, forcing a declaration when nine down, after which Chittagong Division took almost the same number of overs to make 425. Sylhet Division were poor in their second innings, as Kazi Kamrul Islam, Noor Hossain and Faisal Hossain took three wickets each. As a result, Chittagong Division had to chase a mere 29 runs on the final day. They made rather heavy weather of the paltry target, losing four wickets before Aftab Ahmed hammered two sixes to seal their second win in a row.

Zimbabwe’s will chase a daunting 305 on the final day with eight wickets in hand, after Doug Bracewell made two crucial breaches in an intense start to the fourth innings in Bulawayo

The Report by Nitin Sundar04-Nov-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKyle Jarvis impressed with his ability to deliver inswingers at a sprightly pace, as he picked up his maiden five-for•AFP

Zimbabwe will chase a daunting 305 on the final day with eight wickets in hand, after Doug Bracewell made two crucial breaches in an intense start to the fourth innings in Bulawayo. Bracewell’s double-strike, including a wicket in the final over of the day, left Zimbabwe hamstrung at the end of a day when they had fought admirably for the most part.Earlier, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor struck contrasting half-centuries to provide the ballast for New Zealand, who had to overcome a combative bowling display led by Kyle Jarvis before declaring 365 ahead.Jarvis’ effort forced New Zealand to spend more time than they would have wanted at the crease, but they took the field energised in the final session. Chris Martin got the new ball to buzz in at pace, giving both the openers, Tino Mawoyo and Vusi Sibanda, sore toes. Bracewell too hunted for wickets, with conventional seam movement either way. He trapped Sibanda with one that came in, before Hamilton Masakadza gifted his wicket with an avoidable cut, leaving Zimbabwe at a jittery 61 for 2.The frustrated faces on the Zimbabwean balcony as the players trooped in exemplified just how drastically their day had unravelled. Zimbabwe had enjoyed what were in isolation a good couple of sessions in the field thanks to Jarvis, who chipped away at the middle order with his sprightly inswingers. Jarvis’ breakthroughs came after New Zealand had laboured to 83 runs in the 30 overs before lunch, though Williamson and Taylor stepped on the gas thereafter.With the sun out and the pitch offering little assistance, Zimbabwe’s seam trio stuck to disciplined lengths in the morning. Their effort was initially aided by New Zealand’s surprisingly defensive outlook, engendered by their use of a nightwatchman on the third day. Jeetan Patel’s prolonged presence at the crease would have benefited Zimbabwe more than New Zealand, but four overs into the day he was cleaned up by Jarvis.Zimbabwe’s deficit, however, meant they couldn’t afford to attack for long. Njabulo Ncube settled into a monotonous spell where he was consistently well wide of off stump, with a packed field in the covers. Williamson led New Zealand out of the mini-crisis, cover-driving languidly every time he was offered width, and defending well when he wasn’t. The lack of movement meant Ray Price was introduced early, and Taylor checked in comfortably against his quick-arm flat deliveries. The odd ball that he spun in the morning, such as the ripper that veered away from leg stump in the 20th over of the innings, did too much to take the edge.Taylor tried to force the pace in the second hour of play, but nearly perished in the process. He steered Ncube behind point for four before edging another wide ball past slip. Ncube then trapped him palpably in front with an indipper, convincing everyone except the umpire Marais Erasmus that it was out. Inevitably, Price too switched to a negative line from over the stumps, but that didn’t faze Williamson. When he wasn’t padding Price away or receding into the crease to glance him fine, he was trotting out to the flight and going over the top.Price’s leg-stump trajectory was straight up Taylor’s alley, and he unleashed his patent slog-sweep to take the lead past 200. The acceleration continued into the middle session, with Williamson nudging Chris Mpofu to the fine-leg boundary to reach his half-century. He celebrated the landmark by sweeping Price for a six and a four, forcing the last of the close-in fielders into the deep. Taylor brought up his own fifty in more subdued fashion, before swat-flicking Jarvis over midwicket for a furious six as Zimbabwean shoulders began to slump in the mid-afternoon heat.Jarvis wasn’t to be discouraged, though. He kept bustling in with intent, bounding close to the stumps and getting every other ball to jag in sharply off the seam. Both Williamson and Taylor were caught by surprise when Jarvis sneaked indippers onto their pads. In between those two lbws, Price got a leading edge out of BJ Watling to carry to slip. Brendan Taylor dropped Daniel Vettori in the slips, but the miss didn’t extend Jarvis’ wait for his maiden five-for by much. Dean Brownlie perished to his stock ball too, losing off stump as he played back to yet another quick inswinger.New Zealand batted on after tea, and Taylor called them in seven overs into the evening session, off which Vettori and Reece Young looted 40 runs. In hindsight, it was a pretty well-timed declaration, since it affords New Zealand a second go with a still shiny ball on the final morning.

A round-up of the second day of the tenth round of matches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Division One 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2011Twelve wickets fell on the second day at the Gohati Cricket Stadium in Swabi, after 17 had fallen on the first. At the end of it, Abbottabad were 166 for 9 in their second innings, leading by 159 against Sialkot. The day began with Sialkot on 77 for 7, fighting for a first-innings lead. They inched past Abbottabad’s total of 97 and were dismissed for 104. Ahmed Jamal and Ikramullah Khan took 5 for 42 and 5 for 35 for Abbottabad. Given that so many wickets had fallen, Abbottabad made a steady start in their second innings, with Mohammad Naeem leading them to 67 for 1. Mohammad Abbas, however, then took 5 for 55 and was supported by Prince Abbas and Mohammad Imran, who took two wickets each. Abbottabad slumped to 120 for 8. The captain Khalid Usman remained unbeaten on 50 off 70 balls to give his team a fighting chance by leading them to 166 for 9.Habib Bank Limited and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) fought for the upper hand at the Gaddafi Stadium but, at the end of the second day, neither team had it. Habib Bank had collapsed from a position of strength on the opening day and they lost their last two wickets for the addition of only four runs this morning to finish on 245 in the first innings. Imran Khan took 5 for 57 and Zulfiqar Babar took 4 for 92. Habib Ban, however, ended the day on level terms by reducing WAPDA to 203 for 6 by stumps. The captain Aamer Sajjad made 58 before he was run out but none of his team-mates converted starts.Faisalabad were batting their first innings at the start of the second day against Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground, and they were batting in their second, chasing 255, at the end of it. Resuming on their overnight score of 92 for 8, Faisalabad were dismissed for 106, conceding a first-innings lead of 63. Only three batsman made it into double figures, while Nasrullah Khan took 4 for 41 for Islamabad. After a second-wicket partnership of 67 in their second innings, however, Islamabad also collapsed and were dismissed for 191. Naseer Akram took 4 for 39 for Faisalabad, who then had to make the highest total of the match to win. They ended the day on 32 for 1, needed another 223.Sohail Khan’s 5 for 30 wrecked Rawalpindi for 107 in their first-innings and helped Karachi Blues take a lead of 192 at the National Stadium. Opening batsman Haseeb Asam remained unbeaten on 59, carrying his bat as nine of his ten team-mates were dismissed in single figures. The No. 11 Sadaf Hussain contributed 11. Sohail was supported by Atif Maqbool, who took 3 for 32, and Mohammad Sami, who claimed 2 for 22. Earlier in the day, Karachi Blues had resumed their first innings on 211 for 5. Ahmed Iqbal made 71 as they were dismissed for 299, with Rawalpindi’s Nasir Malik taking 5 for 70.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited ended the second day against National Bank of Pakistan at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground leading by 89 runs in the second innings with nine wickets in hand. They began on 239 for 7 in their first innings but were soon out for 255. NBP’s Wahab Riaz finished with 7 for 74. Wahab then made 36 in the lower order to lift NBP after they had collapsed to 123 for 6. He wasn’t able to take them very far though and NBP were shot out for 201, conceding a lead of 54. ZTBL lost their captain Imran Nazir to finish the day on 35 for 1 in the second innings.Half-centuries from Kashif Siddiq, Adnan Raees and Rameez Aziz helped State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) take a strong lead against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the National Ground. SBP began the day on 77 for 2 and made a strong start. Siddiq made 62, Raees 54 and Aziz 76 to lead SBP to 217 for 3. The rest of the batsmen, however, barely contributed anything and SBP collapsed to 269 all out, with PIA’s Anwar Ali taking 5 for 69. They still managed a 132-run lead, though. Saad Altaf struck twice in PIA’s second innings, reducing them to 30 for 2, before a partnership worth 52 between Sheharyar Ghani Faisal Iqbal steered them further further loss to stumps.

They say 40 is the new 30. Or maybe 40 is the new 20 in Brad Hogg’s case after the 40-year-old left-arm wrist spinner, who retired from all forms of cricket in March of 2008, was selected in Australia’s T20 squad for the upcoming internationals against In

Alex Malcolm23-Jan-2012They say 40 is the new 30. Or maybe 40 is the new 20 in Brad Hogg’s case after he was selected in Australia’s T20 squad for next week’s internationals against India. Hogg, who turns 41 next month, retired from all forms of cricket in March 2008 but made his comeback this summer for the Perth Scorchers and has been one of the standout performers in the Big Bash League.He has collected 12 wickets at an average of 13.50 in helping the Scorchers reach this weekend’s final, but even more impressive has been his economy rate of 5.40. Hogg now has the chance not only to resume his international career next week, but also to earn himself a place at the ICC World Twenty20, to be held in Sri Lanka in September.”It’s unbelievable. Seriously I feel like I’m 21 again,” Hogg said. “I really feel excited about where my cricket’s gone over the last month and to be honest with you it’s just a dream come true.”John (Inverarity, national selection manager) rang me up yesterday morning and just asked me if I was right to go. He woke me up at about 7 o’clock in the morning, the old bugger, but it was just great news. I hardly slept last night. I’m just excited. It’s just like being a kid again and another Christmas present under the Christmas tree.”It is an astonishing turn-around for Hogg, who four years ago ended a 15-year first-class career that brought him seven Test appearances, 123 one-day internationals, and two T20 internatioanls. Despite still being extremely fit, and seemingly enjoying the game, he cited personal issues as the major reason for his retirement, saying at the time “I’ve got things that I want to sort out at home and get my new chapter in my life organised and on the go.”Hogg disappeared from the game completely, surfacing briefly as a television commentator for Australia’s tour of India in 2010, before returning to represent Willetton Dragons in Perth grade cricket last season. After two T20s he was convinced to play two-day cricket again, and he took 5 for 44 in an elimination final, before scoring off a match-winning 144 in the semi-final. Since being recruited by the Perth Scorchers this season he has been a revelation.”I didn’t plan it. It’s just really exciting and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it,” Hogg said. “One thing I’ve realised over the last three years is life only comes once and once cricket was gone I thought it was gone forever. But I’m just really going to make the most of this opportunity. It’s just fantastic. I’m proud to be West Australian and I’m proud to be back in the green and gold as well.”Only Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (15) and James Faulkner (13) have taken more wickets in the BBL than Hogg this summer, while only Mitchell Starc has a better average, and no other player has conceded less than a six per over. However, despite his incredible form, representing Australia had only recently become a possibility in Hogg’s mind.”Probably only about a week ago I started to think if they were interested in selecting me I’d definitely take that opportunity,” he said. “The only thing that’s on my mind for the rest of this week is to make sure that we give it our best to get some silverware on the mantelpiece for West Australian cricket through the Perth Scorchers, and then after that my goal will be to try and get in that World Cup squad and win a World Cup at T20 level for Australia.”Hogg is no stranger to World Cups having been a part of both the 2003 and 2007 triumphs for Australia in the 50-over format. Hogg was quick to point out he was no guarantee to go to the World T20 later this year and was even more cagey when asked about his prospects of playing beyond that tournament.”Firstly I’ve got to be fit around the World Cup and I’ve got to be still showing form. They’re not going to pick me if I’m not showing form, simple as that. Beyond the World Cup I don’t really have any aspirations after that. I think Australian cricket’s got to look forward and go for the younger players, but at the present moment, luckily, I’ve been in form with the ball and they’ve given me the nod to participate in Twenty20 cricket for Australia. I’m not going to complain, simple as that.”Hogg was hoping to go Sri Lanka for the World T20 in any case, having accepted a coaching role with Papua New Guinea.”I’ve had to change a few things. I was meant to be coaching Papua New Guinea and we were hoping to get that squad into the T20 World Cup just coming up. Things have changed. We’ve got to find a new coach over there for the boys.”Andy Bichel was doing the job and then I was going to take over when Bich decided to leave but those things have changed. I’ll stay involved in some capacity there. [I will] keep chatting with Greg Campbell who is in charge. They’re a pretty good, talented squad over there. An interesting group of people but the enthusiasm over there for the way they go about their cricket gave me the joy to come back and play for the Perth Scorchers.”Should Hogg play next Wednesday against India it will be one month shy of four years since he last represented Australia, and more than five years since he played a T20 international. But that pales by comparison to the seven-year, 78-match gap between his first and second Tests. However, Hogg is unperturbed by any of that as Twenty20 has given him a new lease on life.”If I was a little bit younger I’d want to play all three forms of the game but Twenty20’s given me the opportunity to participate for my country at the highest level again and keep me involved in the game as a player,” he said. “Basically I just want to stay involved in cricket as long as I can. It’s been my life from day dot, I’ve enjoyed it. I love my sport and I’m just grateful that cricket’s given me the opportunities that it has.”

Cameron White has been dumped as Australia’s Twenty20 captain and replaced by George Bailey for the two matches against India next week

Brydon Coverdale23-Jan-2012Cameron White has been dumped as Australia’s Twenty20 captain and replaced by George Bailey for the two matches against India next week. And Australia’s selectors have announced the surprise recall of the 40-year-old spinner Brad Hogg, who made a T20 comeback this summer and has been the standout slow bowler in the Big Bash LeagueIn a major shake-up eight months before the ICC World Twenty20, the new selection panel under John Inverarity has sent a clear message that the T20 side needed refreshment. Australia made the final of the 2010 World T20, but since then they have lost seven matches and won only two, and sit fifth on the ICC rankings behind England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa.The appointment of White as captain when Michael Clarke retired from the format last January was made by Andrew Hilditch’s selection panel with a view to building towards this year’s World T20, to be held in Sri Lanka in September. However, White made just 55 runs at an average of 7.85 in the BBL this season and Inverarity’s panel has made the change with at least four matches on Australia’s schedule before the World T20.Bailey, the captain of Tasmania and a team-mate of White at the Melbourne Stars, has not been in outstanding form either, having scored 114 runs at 19. However, he was viewed by the selectors as the right man to lead the side, with David Warner his vice-captain, while the Test vice-captain Shane Watson was not considered for the two games against India due to his ongoing injury problems.”The Australian T20 team has been ranked a rather disappointing sixth in the world and we’ve certainly considered that the team needs refreshment,” Inverarity said in announcing the squad in Melbourne on Monday. “It would be fair to say the national selection panel has been discussing this T20 squad for six or seven weeks.”If you look at [Bailey’s] record as captain … I’m of the view that Tasmania have done particularly well in recent years because of the leadership they’ve had, the well-defined leadership of Daniel Marsh and … then George has taken over. Last season they won the Shield under George, the year before they won the one-day competition under George. The results are there.”He’s widely respected throughout Australia. Those who play with him regard him very highly as a captain and as a leader. We’ve seen from Michael Clarke’s leadership, he has done very well not least because of his astute decision making on the field and George certainly has that too.”The decision means Bailey, 29, will play his first match for Australia in any format next week, and he will do it as captain. Bailey has been part of an Australian squad in the past – he was called up for the ODIs in New Zealand in early 2010 when Clarke returned home for personal reasons – but did not win a cap.

Australia T20 squad

George Bailey (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade (wk)

“It has [come out of the blue] in some ways but it’s something I feel like I’m ready to do and I’m very excited by,” Bailey said. “I think once you have been captain and played in the team for a little while, any time you’re on the field you’re always thinking. I haven’t captained during this Big Bash but even so I’ve always been thinking about what I’d be doing in similar circumstances, who I’d be bowling and field placements and things like that. I don’t think that part of you ever goes away.”When he walks out as leader for the T20 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia next Wednesday and the match at the MCG two days later, Bailey will be in charge of a new-look side. The fast-bowling allrounder James Faulkner will be in line for his debut, while the batsman Travis Birt has earned a recall nearly two years after his last international appearance.But the big talking point, besides the captaincy, was the recall of Hogg, whose left-arm wrist-spin has been a major reason the Perth Scorchers have made the BBL final. Hogg retired from all cricket four years ago but made his T20 comeback this summer, and Inverarity said if all went well, Hogg would be part of Australia’s squad at the World T20 in spinning conditions in Sri Lanka this year.”In my conversation with Brad it was that it would be the World Cup and that if he was selected our interest with him wouldn’t go beyond that,” Inverarity said. “Of course it could change. But that’s the general intention … Two months ago we probably weren’t thinking about Brad Hogg. [BBL] games have changed when he’s come on to bowl. He has been outstanding.”The inclusion of Hogg meant there was no room for Steven Smith or Steve O’Keefe, two slow bowlers who had been part of the T20 side in recent months. Xavier Doherty was the other specialist spinner named to take on India. Brett Lee, Clint McKay and Daniel Christian will round out the attack, while Matthew Wade was not surprisingly named as the wicketkeeper.Michael Hussey was not named in the squad but Inverarity clarified that his exclusion was a workload issue. Hussey almost singlehandedly blasted Australia into the final of the World T20 in 2010 with a brilliant innings in the semi-final, and although he has not played a T20 international in a year and a half, he is expected to be part of the squad when Australia play two matches in the Caribbean in late March.”Mike is being rested for this,” Inverarity said. “Mike has had a pretty gruelling schedule of Test matches – Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and India. I had a chat to Mike in Perth about a week ago and we’re looking to give him a little bit of a break here, and probably in the early stages of the ODIs so he comes out fresh. We’re also keen to try some of these younger players. But at this stage there’d be no doubt that Mike Hussey would be playing in the T20s in the West Indies.”

James Pattinson has been recalled to Australia’s ODI squad at the expense of Ryan Harris after proving himself fit to return from more than a month out of action due to a foot injury

Daniel Brettig28-Feb-2012James Pattinson has been recalled to Australia’s ODI squad for the final phase of the triangular series at the expense of Ryan Harris, after proving himself fit to return from more than a month out of action due to a foot injury.Having delivered a hostile display for Victoria’s Futures League team against South Australia in Adelaide, where he returned match figures of 6 for 37, Pattinson was deemed the right man to replace Harris, who has struggled for rhythm during his ODI appearances in the triangular series.However John Inverarity, the national selector, stressed that Harris remained a part of Test match plans for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies in April. He was subsequently named as part of the Queensland squad for Thursday’s Sheffield Shield fixture against New South Wales at the SCG.

Australia ODI Squad

Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner

“James Pattinson is fit again and after impressive recent form in a Futures League match in Adelaide, comes into the squad at expense of Ryan Harris, who has been dropped,” Inverarity said. “Ryan remains strongly in contention for selection for the Test matches on the tour of the West Indies.”Pattinson was a staunch performer for Australia in the home Tests, winning match awards in Brisbane against New Zealand and Melbourne against India for his fast, aggressive outswing bowling and tidy lower-order batting.However, he complained of foot soreness during the SCG Test and missed the remainder of the India series as medical staff took care to ensure his stress hot spots did not bloom into fractures.The other quandary facing the selectors is whether or not to play the captain, Michael Clarke, in Friday’s final round-robin fixture against Sri Lanka in Melbourne.Clarke missed Australia’s previous match against India in Sydney due to a back complaint, and after Shane Watson led the side ably at the SCG there may be cause to let Clarke rest until the first final on Sunday in Brisbane.Inverarity said another player may yet be called into the squad if the circumstances dictated it.”Michael Clarke is making a good recovery and is likely to resume on Friday,” he said. “The selectors will consider adding an extra player to this squad for the Finals matches, if conditions warrant it.”Edited by Brydon Coverdale