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Jul 26, 2009 at 12:00 AM |
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Australia's key bowler in this Ashes is a "no-hoper" turned show stealer who now knows "300 times more" about his craft than he did scant months ago Alex Brown
Reports of a painful injury to Australia's leading wicket-taker could have expected the back-page treatment in past Ashes campaigns; particularly if the bowler in question was a spinner and his ailment a finger dislocation. But Nathan Hauritz's career has seldom been one for the headlines. Yes, Nathan Hauritz. The player who has taken nine wickets in the series - four more than the combined haul of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar - without creating so much as a ripple. The man whose courage in returning to the field barely an hour after his spinning finger was contorted at right angles has attracted only scant mention. The only Australian bowler, along with Ben Hilfenhaus, considered a certainty for Edgbaston. |
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Tahir aiming to put Sussex in a spin |
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Jul 23, 2009 at 12:00 AM |
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Imran Tahir is confident spin can be a key factor in his Hampshire Hawks side lifting the Friends Provident Trophy on Saturday against Sussex Sharks. The Hawks, who lifted the trophy in 2005 but were crushed in a one-sided final two years later, will take on the Sharks who are five-time winners of the flagship one-day tournament. And the much-travelled spin king, who played a key hand in Hampshire reaching the final, is confident his side have the talent and know-how to lift the trophy at the end of his first Lords final. |
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Pakistan hoping for consolation win as Sri Lanka fall to spin attack |
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Jul 21, 2009 at 12:00 AM |
• Ajmal and Kaneria claim eight Sri Lankan wickets
• Pakistan extend lead to 85 in second innings
Saeed Ajmal is confident Pakistan will not suffer another batting collapse as they look to press home their advantage in the final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The off-spinner claimed three wickets and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria five on day two as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 233 in reply to Pakistan's first-innings total of 299.
Pakistan had extended their lead to 82 at the close with one wicket down in their second innings, leaving them in a strong position to secure a consolation win in a series they have already lost.
Ajmal, who made his debut in the first Test in Galle that Pakistan lost, has been a consistent performer for the visitors and has so far claimed 13 wickets in three matches. With two specialist spinners in the side, Ajmal believes Pakistan have a good chance of securing victory. |
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Ashes notebook: Graeme Swann, the unsung hero of Lord's |
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Jul 21, 2009 at 12:00 AM |
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How could you doubt him? Don't panic, Graeme Swann said on Sunday evening, don't be English and panic! Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke may have batted like the ghosts of Gilchrist and Waugh (the gifted Mark, not his pragmatic twin) through the afternoon, but Australia still needed a mighty 209 more runs yesterday. No chance, not with Andrew Flintoff steaming in with a nearly new ball. As Swann predicted, Flintoff duly boiled and steamed from the Pavilion End, banking on the lower order to give way before his dodgy knee. Without the spin bowler at the other end, that may have been a close-run thing. Swann claimed the most important wicket, deceiving Clarke with his second ball, and finished the job by knocking out Mitchell Johnson's middle stump. But for Flintoff's projection, he would be taking the plaudits today. Swann is not one of life's natural second fiddlers. He likes the spotlight, literally when he sings as Dr Comfort with his band, the Lurid Revelations. Andrew Strauss described him as great company for 15 minutes. He is a funny man with a rich bank of tales honed for whoever the audience. Many are true. If Ed Smith was a good cricketer but a better writer, then Swann's true gift as an after-dinner speaker will also be realised after retirement. |
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Mahmudullah leaves Windies in a spin again |
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Jul 20, 2009 at 12:00 AM |
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KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — Mahmudullah grabbed two wickets for Bangladesh in his very first over to change things dramatically and leave West Indies wobbling on 107 for three in their first innings at lunch in the second and final Test on Friday. The off-spinner, playing his second Test, again exposed West Indies' frailty against the slow stuff, when he removed opener Dale Richards for 69 and left-hander Ryan Hinds for two - both caught and bowled - in the space of three balls in the last 10 minutes before the interval. At lunch, Travis Dowlin was not out on 12 and West Indies captain Floyd Reifer was yet to score, after Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field on the opening day of the Test at the Queen's Park Stadium Complex. Bangladesh were put on their heels early, after play started a half-hour later than scheduled because of damp spots on the pitch from rain water seeping through the covers. |
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