Cricket

Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke has said that chief selector Andrew Hilditch and captain Ricky Ponting have been unfairly criticised.

Clarke chose to draw on Australia’s past success as World Cup winners and Test cricket’s top ranking in his attempt to defend Hilditch and Ponting, whose field settings and bowling tactics have been questioned, The Herald Sun reported.

“Both men have been crucial to the Australian men’s team’s success during this period, and I believe that they have recently received unfair criticism,” Clarke said in a statement released on Saturday.

Sydney Cricket Ground is set to witness a ‘Pink Test’ match in a bid to raise funds for McGrath foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to Breast Care Nurses in Australia.

Jane McGrath, who was known for her tremendous efforts as a cancer support campaigner, lost her battle with the deadly disease on June 22, 2008, leaving behind hubby Glenn and their two kids.

Aussie vice-captain Michael Clarke and fiancé Lara Bingle showed their support for the cause by posing for pictures to promote her legacy - Sydney''s "pink Test", The Daily Telegraph reports.

Doubts over Sri Lanka’s planned tour of Pakistan have emerged, as Sri Lanka wants to invite Indian team to visit their country.

It appears that the international cricket would remain apathetic to Pakistan even on the advent of next year, The News reported.

Sri Lankan sports ministry in tandem with the dissolution of Cricket Board’s Ad hoc Committee has changed its stance, as Minister of Sports, Gamini Lokuge said he was not interested in sending his team to Pakistan and instead he wanted to invite the Indian team to tour Sri Lanka.

The umpiring referral system is under the spotlight again after a senseless decision resulted in the dismissal of Brendon McCullum on Tuesday, killing off New Zealand’s daring bid for a test victory over the West Indies.

McCullum had breezed through to 19 and had New Zealand promisingly placed needing 109 from the final 16 overs with six wickets in hand when a seemingly futile appeal for caught behind was successfully upheld by umpire Rudi Koertzen, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Allen Stanford has insisted that he is not going to withdraw from his multimillion-pound investment in English cricket.

The billionaire is conducting a full review of his involvement with the sport but he said its focus will be on the future of his work in the West Indies and will not affect his commitments with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Stanford''s comments contradicted remarks made earlier in the day by his own spokespeople that a complete pull out from the sport was "being evaluated", The Guardian reported.

Australian players participating in the second edition of the Indian Premier League, which starts on April 10, could suffer greatly, because the postponed tour of Pakistan has been rescheduled to overlap with the event.

Franchise owners will see little value in signing a player who is not available for the entire series, having now lost the contingency of replacement options, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The International Cricket Council has announced the referee and umpires who will officiate in the upcoming Test series between Australia and South Africa.

Ranjan Madugalle from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees will lead the playing control team for the series.

The first Test, which takes place in Perth from 17 to 21 December will be umpired by Asoka de Silva and Aleem Dar from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.

New Zealand all rounder Jacob Oram has suffered a leg injury but is still expected to take his place in the Black Caps line-up for the first cricket test against the West Indies starting here tomorrow.

Oram, on the comeback trail after missing the 0-2 series loss in Australia with a back injury, told medical staff he had a tight left calf muscle although he was able to take a full part in training.

Auckland''s Kyle Mills has been brought in as a precaution and, if Oram is clear, will be released before plays starts at 12 p.m.

Umpiring controversies should be kept at a minimum when the first cricket test between New Zealand and West Indies begins Thursday, says New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

The countries'' two-match series is the second on the international calendar to be part of a trial enabling players to appeal decisions.

Rival captains Daniel Vettori and Chris Gayle have the power to refer rejected appeals to the third umpire for his assessment. Batsmen can also ask for a second opinion when they are given out.

A backlog of postponed tours and tournaments has made Australia’s cricket team embark on their busiest year on record in 2009, and skipper Ricky Ponting will struggle to spare a weekend for a barbecue. For about a year.

Ponting’s Test, one-day and Twenty20 sides will play up to 140 days of cricket across six countries and be on the road for a whopping 318 days in a gruelling itinerary.

The year includes a four-month tour of the United Kingdom from June to September, in which the ICC Twenty20 World Championship precedes an anticipated Ashes series.