Tag Futebol

The offspinner, though, will need a work visa to play county cricket

Sidharth Monga06-Jul-2021R Ashwin will play a County Championship match for Surrey – provided he gets the required work visa on time – before re-joining the Indian team. While Ashwin is in England already for the Test series that will start in August, he will need a work visa to play county cricket. Both parties are confident it will be done in time for the match starting July 11.The Indian squad is currently on a break before it gets back together to prepare for the five-match Test series against England starting August 4 with the Trent Bridge game. Ashwin will play against Somerset at The Oval, which will host the fourth Test of the series. Ashwin’s match against Somerset is scheduled to end on July 14, the day the India team reconvenes.As of now, India have no tour games scheduled before the Tests. They haven’t been big fans of side games in recent years because there had been a trend of hosts not wanting to help visitors out by giving them tough opposition to practise against. Barring Australia last year, where they got a game against a strong Australia A, India have tended to prefer intense nets sessions to side games.However, reports suggest that India have now made a late request for a tour game or two before they get to Nottingham for the first Test. India captain Virat Kohli didn’t seem pleased they didn’t get first-class games in preparation for the Tests. After India lost the World Test Championship final to New Zealand, a side that had already played two Tests in England before the final, Kohli made a cryptic statement that his side hadn’t got what it wanted.”Well, that doesn’t depend on us,” Kohli said in the post-match press conference when asked if he would have preferred to play side games instead of intra-squad matches. “We obviously wanted first-class games, which I believe have not been given to us. I don’t know what the reasons for that are. But yeah, other than that, I think our preparation time will be ample for us to be ready for the first Test.”In that regard, the experience of getting a full first-class match – at a venue that will host a Test – for Ashwin will be welcomed from India’s point of view. His skills come at a good time for Surrey too. Teams in the County Championship are permitted two overseas players in their XI, and while Surrey already have two registered in Hashim Amla and Kyle Jamieson, Jamieson is an injury doubt for the Somerset fixture after injuring his glute in the ongoing game against Hampshire, in which he bowled only six first-innings overs.Ashwin has represented Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire in the past.

It entered fresh talks with the ACA and states to clarify its finances and assuage fears that it could go broke by August

Daniel Brettig20-Apr-2020Australian cricket’s state association owners have successfully pushed back against a Cricket Australia proposal to cut their annual grants by 45% amid the coronavirus pandemic. The governing body has entered fresh talks with the states and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) to clarify its finances and assuage fears that it faced the possibility of going broke by August.CA’s chief executive Kevin Roberts sent shockwaves around the organisation and the wider game last week by announcing that all but a handful of staff would have their pay cut by 80% until the end of June, while similarly desperate messages had been directed towards senior players and managers, including grim tidings about apparent dives in the value of CA’s investments, listed as being worth about A$90 million in the most recent annual report.It has since been clarified that from stocks to a value of A$22 million purchased in 2012, CA had seen their value rise to as much as A$45 million before they were pushed back to A$36 million by the financial shocks associated with the coronavirus outbreak.At the same time, CA’s total reserves, augmented by the most recent installment in their six-year A$1.18 billion broadcast deal with Fox Sports and Seven, are far from exhausted. However, there is understood to be some concern about the likelihood of the next payments being made in September.It was on that basis, in addition to worries about the scheduled men’s Twenty20 World Cup in October-November that precedes the India tour and the prospect of the Big Bash League and WBBL being played in front of empty stadiums, that CA proposed a 45% cut to the six states’ annual grants, which totalled more than A$127 million for 2018-19.However a majority of the states opposed the 45% figure, partly on the basis that it would force further cuts to staff pay and employment than had already been made – including the South Australian Cricket Association’s removal of 23 staff and contractors from their payroll – before the end of June.CA’s subsequent offer is for an initial 25% reduction, with inbuilt adjustments that may be made for events such as the cancellation of the India tour that would decrease the grant, or a successful staging of the same tour, which would likely increase it.The states are yet to agree to this new model and further financial information is still being sought from CA, but there is at least the conclusion that a 25% cut would mean minimal need for state associations to immediately reduce their staff numbers and also allow debates to move on to scenarios for 2020-21.In parallel discussions, CA and the ACA have been working on how to build in potential reductions to player pay under the principles of the fixed revenue percentage model that has characterised all collective agreements between the governing body and the players’ union since the late 1990s.Similarly to the states, these changes would likely include a great deal of flexibility related to the possibility of India touring this summer or being compelled to cancel their plans due to the coronavirus pandemic.Either way, it appears unlikely that there will be any improvement to the grim outlook set out by Roberts for shocked CA staff on Thursday last week, when the 80% pay cuts for all but a few staff until at least July were announced.Considerable disquiet remains about this move, not only in relation to CA’s actual financial position, but also the potential savings it brings in – believed to be only around A$3 million – and the lack of forewarning given to staff during Roberts’ frequent video-conference briefings during the coronavirus period.

Uttarakhand make it five in five, Karnataka lodge protest against Saurashtra. More in our Ranji round-up

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2018Aaron gives Odisha heartbreak
Odisha had to endure a massive heartbreak in Ranchi, going down by two runs to Jharkhand for their second loss of the season. This was their narrowest loss in terms of runs in the competition. Subhranshu Senapati, the 21 year old, who is fast becoming their new batting lynchpin was the last man standing, unbeaten on 157 when Varun Aaron castled No. 11 Dhiraj Singh.Odisha were down and out at 193 for 9 in their chase of 260. The last-wicket pair added 64 to take them within touching distance. This loss dents Odisha’s chances of a knockouts berth, as they’re now placed sixth in Group C with 13 points in five matches. The top two sides in the group – Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh – are on 28 and 24 points respectively.That Jharkhand gave themselves a shot at victory was thanks largely to a solid second-innings unbeaten 132 by former captain Saurabh Tiwary. The win puts Jharkhand within touching distance of the top two, with four matches still remaining.Uttarakhand all but through to knockouts
Uttarakhand are well on their way to the quarter-finals in their debut season. Their fifth win on the trot took them 14 points clear of second-placed Meghalaya in the Plate Group. Mumbai have the biggest winning streak of eight matches in the tournament’s history, a feat they achieved between 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons. Fast bowler Deepak Dhapola, who finished with a match haul of 11 for 111, is now the leading wicket-taker of the season. His 37 wickets in four matches have come at a mind-boggling average of 9.89 and a strike rate of 23.6.
Karnataka protest“I’m happy we made 91 in the second innings.”The irony wasn’t lost on anyone as Vinay Kumar gave his appraisal of the Rajkot surface where Karnataka were trounced by Saurashtra for their first loss this season. For the record, both sides were shot out for under 100 in the second innings, with the match finishing close to tea on the third day.A day after the match, the KSCA confirmed they had lodged an official complaint with the BCCI over the nature of the Rajkot surface, where the spinners picked up 38 of the 40 wickets. Both ends were abrasive, with plenty of cracks and indentations that had the ball shooting up, leaving both sides preferring to sometimes bring on their part-time spinners. Vinay and Abhimanyu Mithun, Karnataka’s pace duo, had minimal roles with the ball, while Saurashtra fielded an all-spin attack.This, Sudhakar Rao, the KSCA secretary, argued was the biggest hint that they’d laid out an underprepared surface.”The pitch was under-prepared. We had filed one complaint on the first day itself,” he said. Saurashtra didn’t have a medium pacer in their playing XI and they opened the bowling with spinners. It appears that the nature of the pitch was pre-planned. We don’t think a neutral curator was consulted. As a punishment, we want the touring team to be awarded full points.”Click here for all the Ranji Trophy scorecards from this round

Tamil Nadu win, finallyIt’s increasingly becoming a trend they do not want to carry any further. After doing all the early running, Kerala slipped to their second straight loss this season, this time to Tamil Nadu at Chepauk. It was no coincidence that for a second straight outing, Jalaj Saxena, their talismanic allrounder, had a forgettable outing. This loss does not entirely rule them out of knockouts contention, but comes as a blow nonetheless. For Tamil Nadu, it was vital, for it keeps them in the hunt after wet weather denied them in the first two matches of the season.The hero was T Natarajan, the left-arm seamer, who picked up his first five-wicket haul of the season to give his side a 151-run victory. This was the first five-for by a Tamil Nadu fast bowler at home since J Kaushik’s feat during the 2011-12 season.Here’s the winning moment:
Gambhir signs offHaving spent a majority of his time during the second innings off the field, Gautam Gambhir was denied a final innings for Delhi on the final day of their fixture against Andhra. Delhi batted out a draw after pocketing a first innings lead. Later after the match, he took centre stage at a felicitation ceremony with both teams in attendance at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

The opener added 142 with PJ Moor, who made 52, to help Zimbabwe recover from the depths of 14 for 3

The Report by Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo29-Oct-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHamilton Masakadza pierces the off side•AFP

Hamilton Masakadza’s fifth Test century carried Zimbabwe back into the match on a rainy first day at Queens Sports Club. Masakadza shared a 142-run partnership with PJ Moor to help the hosts recover from the depths of 14 for 3, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel having scythed through the top order under gunmetal grey skies after Graeme Cremer had opted to bat. Moor fell for 52, but Masakadza was unbeaten and unbowed on 101 when rain brought the day to a premature end after tea.As is often his wont, and possibly as an effect of the unseasonal cold that has descended on Bulawayo, Masakadza took some time to get going this morning. He did not score until his 17th delivery, and then did so in trademark style: thrashing a full ball through the covers with a solid crunch.At 34, Masakadza is the senior statesman of the side and he displayed the class and patience befitting his position. His knock wasn’t perfect, but he did enough to survive the edges and misses and was also granted the odd slice of luck. An edge off Roach fell short of the wicketkeeper, and a Gabriel no-ball granted a further reprieve.Beaten by the pace of a bouncer in the 11th over, Masakadza seemed to have inside edged a pull onto his own shoulder, the rebound being caught at gully. Umpire Simon Fry turned down the appeal, West Indies reviewed and Masakadza started walking off. But Gabriel had overstepped, and the no-ball allowed Masakadza to bat on. The opener remained particularly fluent through the covers.He found an obdurate partner in Moor, and gradually they helped Zimbabwe restore parity, the score creeping past 50 in the 21st over. Other teams have tested Moor with the short ball, and though the West Indies certainly have the personnel to do so their main line of attack was outside the off stump. Moor had the gumption to pick which ball to leave, and which to hit, and his patience barely faltered: his first boundary was a rasping cut off Holder in the 18th over, his second came more than 28 overs later and was no less well executed.At the other end, Masakadza continued to gain momentum, passing fifty from 96 deliveries. He celebrated that milestone with his first six of the day, rocking back to thump a Bishoo long-hop over deep midwicket. Gabriel was driven whenever he overpitched, while the introduction of Roston Chase was greeted with yet another crunching drive. The same bowler was dispatched over midwicket for Masakadza’s second six, the shot taking him past 2000 Test runs for Zimbabwe.Moor reached a dogged fifty, from 148 deliveries soon after tea, and Masakadza then brought up his own milestone with a confident drive down to long-on in the 60th over, just before the rain arrived. This was Masakadza’s fifth Test century, and his first since 2014.His runs were sorely needed by Zimbabwe. In polar conditions this morning, Gabriel and Roach had cut the hosts’ top order down to 14 for 3. The temperature was up to 38 degrees earlier this week, but plummeted ahead of this game and there were hands in pockets for the slips in the very cold weather. They stayed there for much of the morning with the sun nowhere to be seen, but Zimbabwe’s feet were even more leaden in the cold, and the opening stand lasted just four overs.Roach used the angle of his delivery stride and a touch of seam and swing to masterful effect to remove Solomon Mire, while the dismissal of Craig Ervine resulted more from fast bowling brawn than brain. Coming round the wicket from the Airport End, Gabriel speared a length delivery at the left-hander’s middle stump, beating him for pace. Such was the speed of the delivery the stump snapped in half, and Zimbabwe were 11 for 2.West Indies smelled blood, and Roach had three slips and a gully for the incoming Brendan Taylor. In the event, he needed no fielders at all as his testing lines and cunning changes of angle soon paid dividends. Neither forward nor back, and unsure whether to even play at a delivery whipping through the channel outside off, Taylor succeeded only in deflecting the ball onto his own stumps to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 14 for 3.West Indies might have had a fourth wicket in the first hour, but Gabriel’s front foot boo-boo gave Masakadza a second life. So far, he has made excellent use of it.

India’s Test captain, Virat Kohli, has given a strong indication that India will start using DRS in the future

Sidharth Monga29-Sep-20161:27

Will look to introduce DRS in future – Kohli

India’s Test captain, Virat Kohli, has given a strong indication that India will start using the Decision Review System (DRS) in the future. “We will certainly look to probably introduce it [DRS] in future,” Kohli said on the eve of the Kolkata Test against New Zealand.India have been the biggest opponents of DRS for a while now, but Kohli said that there have been discussions and meetings about it, and DRS is something they “definitely want to think about”. This is a big departure from the previous captain’s views and BCCI president Anurag Thakur’s ambivalent musings. MS Dhoni always opposed DRS because it was not 100%, and Thakur recently wondered, if the machine is going to make the same error as humans, “what are we getting out of it”?Kohli still had reservations about the system, but he seemed convinced about the merits of having a review system. It is noteworthy that under Kohli’s captaincy India have been at the receiving end of calls that could have been reversed easily under DRS in two Tests where the said decisions made a big difference. India ended up losing those two Tests – Adelaide in 2014-15 and Galle in 2015. In the Adelaide chase, where India came close to beating Australia, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane were sent back when DRS would have recalled them. In Galle, Sri Lanka mounted an incredible comeback in the second innings, but both their heroes, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, would have been out in single figures had DRS been there.Virat Kohli: ‘[After opposing the use of DRS] for us to then say that the umpires made an error and it is going against us, it is not logical’•BCCI

“Those are the things I can’t say yes or no to sitting here,” Kohli said about DRS. “But these are the things we have discussed. These are things we have had meetings on. Because there were some areas that we felt can be debated. Especially the ball-tracking and HawkEye. But, all in all, obviously when you feel that – I personally feel these things can be discussed and debated on.”We wouldn’t take [wrong umpiring] decisions too hard because we, in the first place, decided we would not use DRS. For us to then say that the umpires made an error and it is going against us, it is not logical. There is no room for excuses. Once DRS is in place, once DRS is up and running for us as well, then you can sit and think what are the grey areas. As I said these things have been spoken about. We want to definitely think about it. but I can’t make a decision sitting here right now. It’s something we have had discussions on.”As it stands now, no other team in the world opposes DRS even if there isn’t enough technology available with the host broadcasters. Every Test not featuring India has DRS, except Zimbabwe’s recent Tests, when they couldn’t afford it. In ICC 50-over tournaments, India are forced to use DRS, but that uniformity does not extend to Test matches because they are seen as bilateral arrangements.

With three weeks remaining for the start of the Ranji Trophy, Jammu & Kashmir cricket is mired in another controversy with warring factions claiming rights to pick squads for various domestic tournaments

Amol Karhadkar and Nagraj Gollapudi09-Sep-2015With three weeks remaining for the start of the Ranji Trophy 2015-16, Jammu & Kashmir cricket is mired in another controversy with warring factions claiming rights to pick squads for various domestic tournaments.Players are being pulled in different directions by two rival factions, who have been conducting parallel selection trials and preparatory camps over the past month in Srinagar. While the newly elected body at Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, headed by J&K sports minister Iqbal Raza Ansari, has been conducting preparatory camps at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium, the Farooq Abdullah group, which has managed to get a stay order on the elections results, has also announced parallel selection trials at the Kashmir University grounds. The confusion has left players concerned over their future.Abdullah, the former chief minister and long-time head of JKCA, was defeated in the election in July, but still managed to get a stay on the election results. The J&K High Court is likely to pass an order on the issue this week, which would clear the confusion.The players, however, are desperate for a clear direction. Samiullah Beigh, J&K’s seniormost player and fast bowler, hoped for the BCCI’s intervention. “It would be better if the BCCI comes up with a statement because players who are missing can then come and join us.”A BCCI official, however, clarified that the board cannot interfere in internal affairs of any of its member units. The BCCI, according to him, can only interfere if any of the aggrieved parties complain to them.Barring two players – wicketkeeper Obaid Haroon and fast bowler Umar Nazir – majority of the players who featured in last year’s Ranji squad have been reporting to the camp organised by the Ansari faction.Beigh said that most of the players had been training at the camp for about a month. “We have been playing trial matches and training and attending fitness camps continuously at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium for a month or so now.”Beigh agreed that the Abdullah faction had attempted to get players to attend the camp, but did not think the players were confused by the scenario: “No, because the preparations are going as usual at the JKCA headquarters and players are attending this.”Told about the BCCI official’s reaction, one of the senior players, who requested anonymity, asked which faction the BCCI was supporting. “Who are they supporting? If the elections were held and the Ansari group has come to power how can the court overrule this?”He also said that the Abdullah faction was trying to create stumbling blocks that did not exist. “The other faction is trying to create confusion by saying the Sher-e-Kashmir is not ready, and BCCI should displace all the home matches away. But we have played two-day and three-day trial matches for more than a month now. The conditions are perfect. There is no need for shifting the matches.”The Abdullah faction, on the other hand, blamed the Ansari group for creating confusion. “We have got a court order to stay the election, so they don’t have any right to select the team. Just because they want to create confusion, they have organised selection trials and have announced Mithun Manhas as captain-coach. If Manhas wants to play, he will have to attend the official selection trials,” ML Nehru, a member of the Abdullah faction, said.Nehru, also a BCCI vice-president, claimed his group was taking players into confidence. “We have started our selection process and next week, the selection committee appointed by the executive committee will select the team for the Ranji Trophy. No doubt the players are confused but we have been doing our best to help them understand they need not worry about anything. Despite the two factions, there is only one official association and the players should to stick to the body,” Nehru said.Iqbal Shah, the general secretary elected during the July election and the spokesperson of the Ansari group, remained unavailable for a comment.Another question that remains unanswered is who will coach the J&K team. Sunil Joshi, the former Karnataka and India left-arm spinner, was the coach last year. Despite playing all their home matches outside their state due to the preceding floods, J&K produced mixed results under Joshi. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, J&K managed three wins in five games but finished last in Group A in the Ranji Trophy, winning just one game in eight matches.Joshi, currently playing in the Karnataka Premier League, was also unavailable for comment. It is understood he is still looking forward to continuing his role as J&K coach. However the Ansari faction, it is learned, is looking forward to having former Delhi veteran Manhas play the mentor-cum-coach role. Manhas has been training with the players at Sher-e-Kashmir, but no formal announcement has yet been made about the coach and captain for the season.

There’s nothing big at stake but for a subcontinental cricket fan, especially in a small town like Cuttack, an India-Pakistan match is a major event

Amol Karhadkar in Cuttack06-Feb-2013Minutes after India’s humiliating exit from the Women’s World Cup, following a shock defeat to Sri Lanka in Mumbai, their captain Mithali Raj was asked during the media briefing about Thursday’s “big match” against Pakistan. Despite being teary-eyed, Raj managed a smile and said, “I am not in a state of mind to think about it right now.”There’s nothing big at stake in the match at the Barabati Stadium – it’s a playoff for seventh place and the loser will finish last in the World Cup – but for a subcontinental cricket fan, especially in a small town like Cuttack, an India-Pakistan match is a major event.After Pakistan’s loss to South Africa had put them out of the tournament hours before India’s exit, a policeman said to his colleague that it was only two more days until the neighbouring women left. But after India were upset at the Brabourne Stadium, and were going to travel to Cuttack to play Pakistan, the security personnel were taking all sorts of precautionary measures for the game to go off smoothly.”An India-Pakistan match is always an interesting affair. Even if it’s a seventh place playoff, it has generated excitement in town,” Odisha Cricket Association president Ranjib Biswal. “I am sure there will be a sizeable crowd in the stands tomorrow.”Regardless of their number, the people who come to watch will not be cheering the team they had adopted over the last week. A crowd of about 500-1000 was neutral during Pakistan’s opening game against Australia, and then cheered their good shots against New Zealand. By the time Pakistan played their must-win encounter against South Africa on Tuesday, the crowd had started cheering them on.”It was really a nice feeling to see the crowd cheering for us,” Pakistan captain Sana Mir said after their loss to South Africa. “This shows that when it comes to cricket, the rest of the problems are set aside. We have been taken care of very well and would love to come back to Odisha and explore the state, something that we couldn’t do this time around.”After a disappointing week, neither India nor Pakistan trained ahead of their final match of the World Cup. Pakistan will hope their batsmen improve on their best total of the tournament so far – 104 – while India will be desperate to avoid finishing last in a World cup they are hosting.

Chris Martin, who claimed career-best figures of 6 for 26 against Zimbabwe in Napier, has said New Zealand’s success in the Test had much to do with a four-pronged pace attack

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2012Chris Martin, who claimed career-best figures of 6 for 26 against Zimbabwe in Napier, has said New Zealand’s success in the Test had much to do with a four-pronged pace attack. New Zealand’s bowlers combined to bowl Zimbabwe out twice on the same day – only the third such instance in history – propelling the hosts to an innings and 301-run victory.”It was [overwhelming for Zimbabwe] I think … four [fast] guys with the ball, they all do something a little bit different. We don’t probably get over-bowled, so there’s a little bit of venom in every spell.” New Zealand played four quicks in the match, with Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee partnering Martin. In Zimbabwe’s first innings, each of the four fast bowlers picked up two wickets apiece to skittle the visitors for 51, while in the second Martin and Bracewell polished them off.”The pitch actually quickened up a wee bit over the course of the match. I’m definitely more of a bounce bowler, so I enjoyed the bounce and pace in it. Dougie just swings the ball very nicely to the right-handers, and is always going to be a threat. I think Boulty and Timmy were hungry, and definitely wanted the ball the whole day. So we were all competing for it, and it’s nice to get a win out of that kind of competitiveness within the bowling ranks.”With Daniel Vettori filling the spinner’s role, the New Zealand line-up comprised only five frontline batsmen, plus wicketkeeper BJ Watling. However, with some of the bowlers’ ability to contribute with the bat as well, the line-up isn’t unstable, Martin said. “I like to see it [five bowlers playing] happening. I think the ability of Doug and Timmy with the bat is going to get better and better, and with Dan batting at six – he’s out there to score runs every time he plays, he probably averages about 40 [with the bat] over the past five years – I think we’re going to have some success.”Chris Martin says there is a lot of healthy competition among New Zealand’s fast bowlers•Getty Images

Martin’s eight wickets in the match took him level with Chris Cairns on the list of New Zealand’s top wicket-takers. With 218, Martin is joint-third, behind Richard Hadlee and Vettori. “I had him [Cairns] on the radar, but perhaps not at the start of the day,” Martin said. “I’m stoked to have got that far, and hopefully I push on past him.”Tweaking his run-up has helped him be more effective, Martin said. “I tinkered with something last summer, just to get my stride patterns right with my run-up, so I wasn’t over-striding. Now I’m cruising in a little bit more, the angle with which I’m bowling now is helping me swing the ball more.”After the limited-overs series against Zimbabwe, New Zealand will face stronger opposition in South Africa and, according to Martin, they are up for the challenge. “I think the consistency with which we have attacked that off-stump line, with a little bit of movement, and the way we have drawn them [batsmen] into playing shots that perhaps they didn’t want to, I think against any side that is always going to be competitive.”The slip catching has been out of this world. I don’t think I have seen a better one than the one Dean Brownlie took today. All of those things we may have to do for longer periods against South Africa, but they definitely bode well for the ability of our boys to remain composed and get the results, which is something we have carried on from Hobart.”

Grant Flower, Zimbabwe’s most capped Test player, has announced retirement from all cricket, saying he wants to focus on coaching

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2011Grant Flower, the Zimbabwe batsman, has formally announced his retirement from all cricket, saying he wants to focus on coaching. He had hinted at having played his last game in November, when he described the finals of the Stanbic Bank 20 Series in Zimbabwe as a “fitting end to my career”. He led the Mashonaland Eagles to the trophy in that game, and received a guard of honour from his team-mates.”I have drawn the line,” Flower told . “I had to make the decision whether to coach properly or continue playing properly and prepare as well as I could. I think there’s enough talent coming through and I don’t want to hold anyone back. I’ve had a good run and I’ve enjoyed it, but there is a transition from player to coach, and I think it’s time to take it.”Flower was appointed Zimbabwe’s batting coach in August and has also filled the role of player-coach for the Eagles in the 2010 season. He had retired from international cricket in 2004 after the dispute between the Zimbabwe board and the rebel players, but after six years of playing for Essex in England, made a surprise return to the national side, playing two ODIs in South Africa in October 2010.At the time, Alistair Campbell, the Zimbabwe selector, had suggested he wanted Flower to continue till the end of the 2011 World Cup. Flower has been among the runs for Essex, averaging 65.87 in the 2010 limited overs season.

Allrounder Yusuf Pathan has been recalled to the ODI squad for the three-match series against South Africa, along with fast bowler Praveen Kumar

Cricinfo staff16-Feb-2010Allrounder Yusuf Pathan has been recalled to the ODI squad for the first two matches against South Africa, along with fast bowler Praveen Kumar. R Ashwin, the Tamil Nadu offspinner, has also been called up, as has Mumbai allrounder Abhishek Nayar, to the 15-man squad.Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir is out of the series with a groin injury, while middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh had not recovered from the hand injury he sustained in Bangladesh to take part in the three-ODI contest. Offspinner Harbhajan Singh was not included because he asked for time off to attend his sister’s wedding.Yusuf had made a strong case for himself with his eye-catching performances on the domestic circuit. His two centuries for West Zone – 210 off 190 balls in the second innings – helped them achieve the highest chase in first-class cricket in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone.”It’s a great feeling to be called up,” Yusuf told Cricinfo. “In the back of my mind it was there after I scored those two hundreds in the Duleep [Trophy] final. If I get a chance to play, I think I’m in really good form. I’m happy to be in such good form.”He strengthened his chances by smashing a century off 40 balls – the third fastest century in List A matches – for Baroda in their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Maharashtra in Ahmedabad. That performance came on the day the selectors met in Kolkata, where the second Test is currently underway, to pick the 15-man squad.Ashwin, who earlier blogged for Cricinfo, said he was eagerly awaiting a chance to debut for India. “I just need to do what I have been doing well so far, which has got me this call-up,” he told Cricinfo. “I have been playing lots of one-day competitions recently and so am in the one-day mode. I realise it’s a different ball game playing international cricket but I just need to do what i have been doing.”Ashwin has played with several of the members of India’s squad in the IPL and he felt that was a boon. “It will be really handy to have played with people like [Suresh] Raina and [MS] Dhoni, and at the end of the day the dressing room atmosphere matters and you take that confident frame of mind on to the field.””My strength is probably to be able to apply pressure. I look to dry up the runs and create pressure from one end, and that’s what I intend to do if I get a chance.”The series begins in Jaipur on February 21.Squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Sudeep Tyagi, Praveen Kumar, Abhishek Nayar, Yusuf Pathan, Amit Mishra.