The Lions are the only South African team to have qualified for both editions of the tournament in the country

Firdose Moonda13-Oct-2012

The Big Picture

Alviro Petersen, the Lions captain, says the franchise call themselves the “veterans of Champions League at home”. They are not the only South African team to have featured in two CLT20s but they are the only ones to have qualified for both editions of the tournament in the country.In 2010, the Lions won hearts and some matches. They beat Mumbai Indians, who are also in their group this time around, in the tournament opener and missed out on a spot in the playoffs because of net-run rate.Since then, they have become a much-improved unit in all formats although they have no silverware to show for it. They dominated last season’s domestic twenty-over competition and beat the eventual champions, Titans, twice in the round-robin stage.Chris Morris, the seamer, was the find of the tournament. He topped the bowling charts with 21 wickets at an average of 12.66 and earned himself a place in South Africa’s squad for the unofficial T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe. Jacques Faul, CSA acting chief executive, mentioned Morris when speaking about future players for the national side.In the domestic campaign, the highest run-scorer for Lions was Quinton de Kock with 324 runs at an average of 36.00 and a strike-rate of 160. Neil McKenzie was not far behind with 250 runs at an average of 41.66. The lack of a finisher, such as Robbie Frylinck who played for them previously was probably what cost the Lions the trophy but they earned a spot in the Champions League.The winter saw a change of coach when Dave Nosworthy resigned. Now, former player Geoff Toyana calls the shots at the Wanderers and the players have taken to him immediately, describing him as “relaxed”. That is not too surprising, considering that Toyana has played with most of them, be it at club level for Soweto or provincial team level for Gauteng.Much like the umbrella body for cricket in South Africa, CSA, things behind the scenes at the Lions’ main home ground have not been running smoothly. The Gauteng Cricket Board, one of the two affiliates who make up the Lions, has been under administration and infighting has affected club structures this season. Petersen has kept the politics away from the Lions as far as possible and a good performance may help easing those tensions.

How they qualified

Runners-up of the South African domestic twenty-over competition, after losing to the Titans by 45 runs in the final.

Key Player

There is nothing about the Lions that does not involve Neil McKenzie. Whether he is strapping his bat to the ceiling of their changeroom to pander to his superstitions or using it in the middle to further their cause, McKenzie is to the Lions what bread is to a sandwich. He is the backbone of their batting, a former captain with inspirational ability to motivate youngsters and is the highest run-scorer in twenty-over cricket at the Wanderers stadium, where the Lions will play two of their group matches. Usually when McKenzie succeeds, so do the Lions and they will hoping for more than a bit of both.

Surprise package

The cricketing world is looking to under-19 sensation Quinton de Kock . De Kock rose to prominence at age group level as a wicketkeeper who could bat but also has a reputation for sometimes giving it away. While immensely talented, he is still a rookie and may play as a batsman only.Instead the focus could be on Thami Tsolekile, national wicketkeeper in waiting, who is the Lions’ first-choice wicketkeeper. Tsolekile kept for the Lions during their campaign last season and is known in the shorter version of the game as a finisher. He has been in good form with the bat and will want to prove himself in that department, especially since it is seen as the only thing keeping him out of the national side. He is vastly experienced and has acted as captain of the franchise.

Weakness

Lions have previously struggled to bowl teams out, which becomes a problem when they are defending a total. They have taken steps to rectify that, with the inclusion of Sohail Tanvir and Dirk Nannes but now they can also rely on the promising form of Chris Morris, Pumelela Matshikwe and Ethan O’Reilly. Their spin contingent looks strong with Aaron Phangiso and Jean Symes but whether they can produce results remains to be seen.Self-belief has been another issue at the franchise. They last won silverware in the 2006-07 season, when they were champions of the domestic twenty-over competition. Since then, they have reached two more twenty-over finals and been outplayed in both. Mid-table hoverers in the other formats, the Lions have mostly lacked the will to go one better. This tournament could see that change.

James Anderson has asked his team-mates to watch against admiring Sachin Tendulkar too much because that can sometimes “dull the competitive edge”

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2012James Anderson, the England fast bowler, has asked his team-mates to watch against admiring Sachin Tendulkar too much because that can sometimes “dull the competitive edge”. “There is no question in my mind that he has been one of the best batsmen — if not the best — for 20-odd years,” Anderson wrote in his column in . “But we have to make sure we do not treat him with too much respect in the middle.”Anderson is no rookie when it comes to bowling to Tendulkar. He has squared up against Tendulkar in 19 Test innings and has dismissed him seven times for 207 runs. In his column, he wrote about an Andrew Flintoff anecdote, which according to him sums up the feeling when competing against Tendulkar. “I heard an interesting quote from Freddie Flintoff recently about what it felt like to bowl against Sachin,” he wrote. “He said: ‘I wanted to get him out, for sure. But I wanted to earn his respect as well. I wanted to impress him.’ It almost sounded like Freddie was looking for the Tendulkar seal of approval.”Anderson wrote he had never personally felt that way, but didn’t rule out that possibility for others. “I cannot relate directly to what Freddie said, but I know what he is getting at,” he wrote. “I do know that people have said they love watching him bat, and maybe too much of that kind of admiration could dull your competitive edge.”I’ve never been aware of succumbing to that myself but maybe subconsciously, because you respect him for what he has done in the game — 100 international centuries is some achievement — and the way he has conducted himself, you want to get him to respect you back.”The Sachin factor is quite something to experience. I’ve played in games here in which the Indian supporters seem more interested in his batting than how their team are doing, when Sachin getting out is the signal for a mass exodus.”Anderson won’t mind bowling in front of empty stands if that’s what it takes. “I will be seeking to make myself pretty unpopular with the locals in the weeks ahead,” he wrote. “The bottom line is that we treat everyone with the same respect, whether they’ve played one Test or 100 — and that goes for trying to earn their respect, too.”

A round-up of the second round of National Cricket League 2012-13 matches in Bangladesh

Mohammad Isam05-Nov-2012No. 3 batsman Anamul Haque struck a crucial second-innings century to help Khulna Division beat Rangpur Division by five wickets at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna. The 19-year-old smashed 7 boundaries and 6 sixes in his 123-ball knock after they were set 232 runs to win.The target was within their reach when they bowled Rangpur out for just 92, after seamer Soumya Sarkar, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak took nine of their wickets. Rangpur had earlier taken a 139-run first innings lead: Naeem Islam’s 127 had powered them to 388 runs and seamer Alauddin Babu picked up six wickets to bowl Khulna out for 249.Rangpur captain Suhrawadi Shuvo was fined his entire match fee for being guilty of using abusive language after being given out in the second innings.Unseasonal rain in Dhaka, Savar and Rajshahi meant no play was possible on the third and fourth days in the other three games.Tamim Iqbal, though, found enough time to hit an unprecedented third hundred in a row in Chittagong Division’s drawn game against Sylhet Division in Savar. The left-hand batsman struck 183 almost at a run a ball, which included 13 boundaries and 12 sixes. He was the lone beacon in the first two sessions on the first day after Chittagong decided to bat first. After they were reduced to 59 for 4, Tamim added 95 for the fifth wicket with Aftab Ahmed, before adding 125 more with Sri Lanka all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana, who scored a 63-ball 64. When Tamim was finally dismissed in the 57th over by Enamul Haque jnr, he had scored two-thirds of the team’s runs. Left-arm spinner Enamul took 6 for 98, his second haul of five wickets or more in an innings this season.Sylhet Division replied poorly with the bat, scoring 188 runs in 66 overs. The opening bowlers, Siriwardana and Arafat, shared seven wickets between them: Siriwardana took four of them while Arafat claimed three. For Sylhet, only Rumman Ahmed provided some resistance with a half-century, and Alok Kapali remained unbeaten on 40.At the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, a result almost seemed possible within three days after Dhaka Division and Dhaka Metropolis lost 17 wickets on the first day, and nine more on the second. But the two rained-out days ensured a draw with Dhaka Metropolis gaining the bonus point for bowling Dhaka Division out for 165 in the first innings.Put into bat, Dhaka Metropolis struggled for two sessions before being dismissed for 205. No. 3 Asif Ahmed, who scored 86, was just one of the four batsmen to reach a double-figure score. His 109-ball effort held the innings together before his wicket became the ninth one to fall. Seamer Shahadat Hossain took five wickets.But his side fell into a rut quickly, ending the first day on 113 for 7 and being bowled out the next day for 165. Wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan was unbeaten on 68, though his 92-minute stay was unconvincing and he survived a number of close calls. Elias Sunny picked up four wickets while Arafat Sunny claimed three.Dhaka Metropolis were 128 for 6 at the end of the second day, but what was most disappointing was the lack of runs from the likes of Mohammad Ashraful and Mahmudullah – Test aspirants with a series knocking at the door.Junaid Siddique, on the other hand, made the most of his last opportunity before the West Indies Tests by scoring a big hundred in Rajshahi Division’s drawn game against Barisal Division at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. This was the most rain-affected game as even the first innings wasn’t complete: Rajshahi made 466 for 3 in 133.4 overs before rain ruined part of the second, the third and the fourth day.Junaid batted for more close to eight hours to score 181, and struck 25 boundaries. He shared a stand of 267 for the first wicket with Mizanur Rahman, who scored 148 off 220 balls with 21 fours and a six. Jahurul Islam added an unbeaten 83. Offspinner Sohag Gazi picked up two of the three wickets that fell.

A typhoon-like Johannesburg thunderstorm swept across the Wanderers Stadium five minutes before 3pm on Saturday afternoon to force the domestic one-day cup to be shared

Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers15-Dec-2012 Scorecard A typhoon-like Johannesburg thunderstorm swept across the Wanderers Stadium five minutes before 3pm on Saturday afternoon to force the domestic one-day cup to be shared. The match was being re-played after it was also rained off on Friday.The Cobras were defending Champions and the Lions were on the hunt for a first piece of silverware in five seasons, so both teams will be equally aggrieved at sharing spoils. But, they were truly split. The Lions had the upper hand in their first attempt while the Cobras were in front in the second chance.On Friday, the Lions won the toss, chose to field and reduced Cobras to 64 for 4 when play was stopped. Hardus Viljoen accounted for all four wickets. That counted for nothing because the fixture had to be restarted from scratch on Saturday.In the repeat, Cobras put Lions in to bat, with both teams having unchanged sides. Defending 242, Viljoen could not repeat the performance for Lions. Richard Levi crunched him through point in his first over to show immediate intent. He was too full to Andrew Puttick and then too short to Levi. Pumi Matshikwe also struggled to adjust his lengths and the Cobras raced to 61 after 8 overs without losing a wicket.It was only when Imran Tahir came on that the brakes were applied. Tahir had an appeal for lbw against Puttick turned down that looked close. Later in that over, he appealed again and Puttick was given out, although the second appeal appeared to be missing leg. A wicket-maiden was fine redemption for Tahir’s performance in the Adelaide Test.In his next over, Levi drove a poor ball straight to Viljoen at mid-off. Having clawed their way back, the Lions may have been keen to restart but, despite the best efforts of the groundstaff, the outfield was too wet.Earlier, Stephen Cook and Gulam Bodi took on Dale Steyn with no fear, dispatching him to the leg-side fence as soon as his deliveries strayed on to the pads. Bodi led the boundary charge and looked in imperious form until he tried to hook Johann Louw over fine leg but top-edged instead. Five balls later, Cook chopped a Rory Kleinveldt delivery onto his offstump and the Lions had to rebuild.New international Quinton de Kock had the experience of Alviro Petersen to guide him. While de Kock batted with freedom, especially on the lofted drive, Petersen showed more caution. The pair put on 68 before de Kock was caught by Robin Peterson in the covers.Neil McKenzie’s arrival in the 27th over should have signalled the Lions’ most solid period, but it turned out to be a shaky one. McKenzie had scratched his way to eight when Vernon Philander appealed for an lbw against Petersen, who tried to steal a single. McKenzie had advanced halfway when Petersen sent him back, and an accurate throw from Justin Ontong saw him run-out at the non-striker’s end.From there, the Cobras took control. They restricted the Lions to 80 runs in their last 18 overs with Philander and Kleinveldt squeezing them. Jean Symes tried to accelerate against Steyn. He sliced him to the third man boundary, pulled him through midwicket and gloved him over the keepers’ head. Steyn had the last laugh when Symes failed to move his feet to a full one and was bowled.Zander de Bruyn furthered the stagnation and only Petersen could change things. He brought up his half-century and then swung wildly only to miss. Kleinveldt hit. Aaron Phangison scored the only boundary of the last seven overs, a slog over the Kleinveldt’s head, but 241 appeared below par.

Leicestershire have had their plans for the new season shaken up by Ramnaresh Sarwan’s recall to the West Indies squad and they will seek to clarify his availability for next season.

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2013Leicestershire have had their plans for the new season shaken up by Ramnaresh Sarwan’s recall to the West Indies squad and they will seek to clarify his availability.Sarwan had seemingly turned his back on West Indies, claiming he had been “mentally and emotionally” hurt by the coaching staff, when he signed a two-year extension to his stay at Grace Road which began last summer. He was then appointed captain of the County Championship side for 2013 in place of Matthew Hoggard.But he was recalled to the West Indies squad for the one-day series against Australia which begins on February 1, suggesting Sarwan could be part of West Indies’ future series against Zimbabwe in March and India and Sri Lanka following the Champions Trophy.”We will be making contact with Ramnaresh to see where this might lead to,” Leicestershire head coach Phil Whitticase said. “At this moment, the question of how it might affect us during the season is a bit unanswerable.”We are really pleased for him because we know that he has been striving to play for the West Indies again. He still has that passion and drive and we want all our players to play at the highest level. From our point of view, it does leave us a bit vulnerable and looking to come up with a Plan B.”Sarwan had an excellent summer for Leicestershire, helping them avoided consecutive wooden spoons in the Championship with 941 runs at 40.91. He also struck two centuries in the CB40.But he will now add to his 173 ODIs in which he has scored 5,644 runs at 43.41. Although he has endured a poor run of recent form in the Caribbean T20 with a highest score of 19 in seven matches for Guyana.

Unpaid fees and broken promises could lead to a players’ boycott of the Bangladesh Premier League, Tim May has warned

George Dobell30-Jan-2013Unpaid fees and broken promises could lead to a players’ boycott of the Bangladesh Premier League, Tim May has warned. May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has revealed that “many” overseas players involved in the BPL remain unpaid and that players’ patience with the organisers has worn thin.”The players are very seriously considering some sort of boycott simply because there is little else they can do,” May told ESPNcricinfo. “They were promised 25% of their fees as soon as they arrived in Bangladesh, another 25% before the last game and the final 50% within 150 days of the end of the event.”In most cases, those first payments have not been made. As for the rest of the fees the players are owed, well, good lucking seeing that.”May admitted to a sense of frustration at the situation. After severe problems securing payments after the first instalment of the BPL, FICA advised players against taking part this time. Many ignored the warnings, however, and are now asking FICA for assistance.”We didn’t say this might happen,” May said. “We said it would happen. So yes, there is an element of frustration. We gave the players strong advice and they ignored it. They seem to have thought ‘it won’t happen to me.'”So, what do we do? The answer is we look at the bigger picture: we try to help the players in the same way in the way a foreign embassy might try to help people who find themselves in trouble in a foreign country they have been warned against visiting. Our obligation is to protect players’ welfare and we will continue to look at way we can do that.”We believe the new administration behind the Bangladesh Cricket Board should be better than the one that preceded it. We hope that the delays might be because they had little time to prepare ahead of this season of the BPL but, at the moment, we do still have some doubts about the BCB.”May did express the hope that the episode might convince players to take warnings from FICA more seriously in future. In particular, he hoped that players considering taking part in the Pakistan Super League might reflect that.”There are good reasons why just about every government in the world is advising its citizens against travelling to Pakistan,” May said. “There are good reasons why none of the major cricket boards are sending their teams to Pakistan and there are good reasons why most independent security experts say that it is not safe to visit the country.”We are not making up the security concerns we have with Pakistan. We have an obligation to look after the welfare of players and there is nothing more important than their personal safety. We are strongly advising foreign players not to take part in the Pakistan Super League, but we understand that some are likely to do so anyway.”

Rahul Dravid has said India must decide whether they want Virender Sehwag to open in Tests in South Africa at the end of the year

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2013India’s selectors and management must decide whether they want Virender Sehwag to open in Tests in South Africa at the end of the year, and if not, they must give someone else the opportunity to find his feet in familiar conditions, Rahul Dravid has said. The Indian selectors are due to pick the squad for the last two Tests against Australia on Thursday, but ESPNcricinfo understands no changes are expected.A chink in India’s commanding victories in the first two Tests in Chennai and Hyderabad was their opening partnership, which produced 11, 16 and 17. While M Vijay found form in Hyderabad with 167, Sehwag aggregated 27 in three innings.He had made only 253 runs in seven innings during the home series against England last year, 117 of those coming in one innings in Ahmedabad. He also failed to score a half-century in two home Tests against New Zealand. On India’s last overseas assignment, in Australia, Sehwag made 198 runs in eight innings. After the two remaining matches against Australia, India have no more Tests scheduled before their trip to South Africa at the end of the year.”I think the selectors and management need to decide whether they are going to open with Viru (Virender) in South Africa,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo. “I mean Viru playing well, Viru at his best, is a great asset to any side, but the reality is that he hasn’t been performing particularly well, and he hasn’t really done well on overseas trips over the last two or three years. If they feel confident about opening with Sehwag in South Africa, then I think it makes sense to continue with Sehwag and give him the opportunity to get that confidence.”Dravid said there was also the option of moving Sehwag to the middle order, and if that was the case, then India should blood the replacement opener in home conditions before taking him to face the new ball in South Africa. The reserve opener in the squad for the first two Tests against Australia was Delhi batsman Shikhar Dhawan.”If they are going to look ahead, I think there could be a realistic possibility of Sehwag coming into the middle order,” Dravid said. “You know if opportunities open up at some stage, maybe Sachin is going to move on, then I think Viru is the man with the experience to be able to come in and bat in the middle order. He has said in the past that he would like to, and that could be an option.If that is the route India is going to take then I think it makes sense to try out another youngster, or try out another opener, and give him the opportunity to play at least a couple of Test matches in more familiar conditions, before going to South Africa. I think it will be unfair on any young opener to be asked to go to South Africa straightaway, and play against the likes of Steyn, Philander and Morkel.”

Michael Clarke has said Australia’s selectors won’t rush to judgment about whether a second spinner is required for the second Test in Hyderabad after their eight-wicket loss to India in Chennai

Brydon Coverdale26-Feb-2013Michael Clarke has said Australia’s selectors won’t rush to judgment about whether a second spinner is required for the second Test in Hyderabad after their eight-wicket loss to India in Chennai. On a pitch that took turn from day one it was not surprising that India’s spin attack was one of the most dominant forces of the game, and the three of them – R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja – took all 20 Australian wickets.But Australia’s frontline spinner Nathan Lyon picked up only four victims for the match, while eight came from the fast bowlers – six to James Pattinson and one each to Peter Siddle and Moises Henriques. Lyon was at times threatening, but also leaked far too many easy runs. He was milked for singles by all of India’s middle-order batsmen and was especially vulnerable against MS Dhoni, who scored 104 off the 85 balls he faced from Lyon.The left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty is the other specialist spinner in the squad and Clarke was impressed with the control he displayed in the tour match against India A, when he took 3 for 108 from 24 overs. However, Clarke would not be drawn on whether Australia had made a mistake by choosing a pace-heavy attack for the Test and he said better bowling from those who were picked might have helped Australia to a different outcome.”Australian spin took three wickets in the first innings, fast bowling took a lot more,” Clarke said. “That doesn’t mean to say that playing three fast bowlers and a medium-pace allrounder, we got that right. We need to assess, we need to look at conditions again and work out what we think is the best XI [in Hyderabad]. It’s not just about selection, it’s about how you perform, I don’t think we bowled well enough in our first innings and we certainly didn’t bat well enough in our second innings.”You can talk about selection as much as you like but the 11 players you select have got to perform better than we did in this Test. Look at the amount of wickets fast bowling got compared to spin for the Australian team. We are not India. We are a different team, we have different fast bowlers to the Indian fast bowlers and we have different spinners to the Indian spinners.”Traditionally, Australia’s spinners have not enjoyed Test cricket in India as much as the conditions suggest they should, partially because of the different style of bowling required and in part because India’s batsmen are generally strong against spin. Richie Benaud and Ashley Mallett had fine records in India, although their tours were during the 1950s and ’60s, when the Indian team was not the dominant force at home that it has become.In more recent times, Australia’s spinners in India have at best been serviceable in India. Shane Warne, who after the Test met with Clarke, coach Mickey Arthur, Lyon and Doherty for a 20-minute chat on the ground, managed only 34 wickets at 43.11 in his nine Tests in the country. Lyon finished his first Test in India with match figures of 4 for 244 and Clarke said he hoped Lyon would learn from the experience and deliver greater consistency throughout the rest of the trip.”He’s got to stay positive,” Clarke said. “He bowled plenty of overs so he has seen the conditions a lot more. He got a couple of really big wickets for us. ‘Lyno’, like all of our attack, I thought he bowled really well in patches. We’ve just got to keep working on that consistency. There are plenty of positives out that for Lyno. It’s nice to see him get a wicket in the second dig as well.”However, while Pattinson was outstanding in collecting six wickets for the match – the first Australian fast bowler to do that in a Test in India since Jason Gillespie in Nagpur in 2004 – he and Lyon could have used some more wicket-taking support from Siddle and Mitchell Starc. Virtually no deliveries moved off the seam and reverse swing played less of a role than Australia had hoped, but Clarke wanted more patience from his stock bowlers.”They tried everything,” Clarke said. “I think our execution wasn’t as disciplined as we need, especially when the wicket’s good for batting like that. You need to be really patient and be able to build pressure. We did that at stages but not as consistently as we needed to.”Whatever Australia decide for the Hyderabad Test, which starts on Saturday, they will have at least three pace options after the strong debut from Henriques with the bat made it impossible for him to be dropped. Although Henriques claimed just one wicket, he was the only batsman besides Clarke who looked at ease in the conditions and scored 68 and 81 not out, the best aggregate on debut by an Australian since Clarke in 2004.”If we don’t have a third fast bowler Moises can certainly do that role,” Clarke said. “I think it’s very exciting the way he has started. He’s been a very talented player for a long time back in Australia but it’s nice to see that potential come to the forefront in his first Test match. I think he looked very comfortable with both bat and ball. That’s exciting for Australian cricket going forward and very exciting for Moises.”

Ahmed Amla, the Dolphins and KwaZulu-Natal batsman, has announced his decision to retire from all cricket

Firdose Moonda18-Apr-2013Ahmed Amla, the Dolphins and KwaZulu-Natal batsman, has announced his decision to retire from all cricket. His agent said Amla was retiring to focus on his studies and pursue business interests.Amla, 33, is the older brother of South African batsman Hashim Amla, although the two have had vastly different cricket careers. Ahmed never earned an international cap, although he hovered close to it through much of his career.He made his first-class debut in 1997, at the age of 18, for Natal B. That season, he was picked in the South African Development XI that toured Namibia, and in the next season for the South African under-19 team. That earned him a spot at the national academy and helped establish himself as a regular in the Kwa-Zulu Natal provincial, and later Dolphins, franchise team, which he also captained for some time.In the 2004-05 season, when the domestic franchise system was formed, his batting average reached 40 for the first time. He lifted it to 48.27 the next summer, when he was probably closest to playing for South Africa. With competition for places high, he had to settle for leading the South African A side, for whom he made numerous appearances.Amla career did not take off as his brother’s did and did not reach the highs of that season again. He remained an important part of the Dolphins batting, especially as he was one of their most senior players. His mentorship skills were also put to use in Mozambique, where he was a consultant for their national side.This season he struggled to make the franchise team and had to settle for playing in the second-tier provincial division. With the knowledge that he was keeping out younger players, Amla chose to pull down the curtain on his playing career.He may not be lost to the sport altogether. He has been on commentary stints with the national broadcaster, SABC, and may yet further his coaching ambitions. He is also studying towards a business degree.Hashim Amla led the tributes to his brother. “Special special congrats to my bro @ahmedamla retiring from all cricket today.wonderful player n more so an amazing person,” he tweeted. “@ahmedamla thx 4being a pillar of support throughout my entire career.will mis u on d field bro.time 4the backyard games 2resume.”

Allrounder James Faulkner could find himself shouldering extra batting responsibility in his first Test series

Brydon Coverdale26-Apr-2013First and foremost, James Faulkner is a bowler: 111 Sheffield Shield wickets in the past three summers attest to that. But depending on the balance Australia’s selectors want from the side during the Ashes, and contingent also on the form of the senior allrounder Shane Watson, Faulkner could find himself shouldering extra batting responsibility in his first Test series. There is even the possibility that at some point during the tour he could be used as a fifth bowler batting as high as No.7.That might seem a stretch, but based on his first-class batting for Tasmania in the past summer it is not an absurd scenario. As well as collecting 39 Shield wickets at 20.33 on his way to a third consecutive Ricky Ponting Medal as his state’s best player, Faulkner also finished the Shield season 15th on the competition run tally, having scored 444 runs at 34.15, including 89 in the final against Queensland.Consider the list of batsmen who could have been vying for Test selection, yet scored fewer runs at a lower average: George Bailey (256 at 18.28), Rob Quiney (295 at 26.81), Michael Klinger (330 at 19.41), David Hussey (358 at 23.86), Adam Voges (388 at 25.86) and Peter Forrest (395 at 19.75). That might say more about the parlous state of batting in Australia’s domestic competition than about Faulkner, who it must be said is yet to score a first-class hundred, but all the same his was a fine summer with bat and ball.”I’d definitely be comfortable to bat at No.7,” Faulkner said. “Whenever you can slot into an Australian team I think you’re pretty happy to play wherever you can. It was a reasonably successful year last year with the bat for Tasmania. Hopefully I can make a few big scores, that’s what I’m aiming to do at the moment.”Wickets, though, are Faulkner’s stock in trade. He has been consistent enough over the past three seasons to collect Shield wicket tallies of 36, 36 and 39, and although he might not have the express pace of some Australian fast bowlers, his movement of the ball and accuracy have made him a dangerous prospect, and not just at Bellerive Oval – his average is below 22 at five different first-class venues around Australia.”All the wickets around Australia are quite different,” Faulkner said. “I’m based at Bellerive and people say you’re bowling at Bellerive and there’s a bit more grass there and so you’ll take more wickets. But in fact if you look at all of our bowlers back home, I think all of us have been averaging the same at Bellerive as away from Bellerive.”I just sum up the conditions as they are and just be consistent. I have a lot more confidence in my body. I’m [nearly] 23 now and I have more confidence in my body and can get through longer spells.”The Australian selectors like not only Faulkner’s figures, but his attitude. The national selector John Inverarity this week referred to Faulkner as “a very competitive cricketer who gets things done”. Over the past few months that included not only giving Chris Gayle a send-off during an ODI in Canberra, which cost him 10% of his match fee, but also steering Tasmania to the Shield title with a Man of the Match performance.”I like to think I’m a pretty strong competitor on the field and off the field I’m a pretty relaxed sort of character,” Faulkner said. “Definitely when the game is on the line or the game is in full flight I like to think I’m pretty aggressive in the way I play and get on the front foot instead of being dictated to.”Although the Ashes tour will be Faulkner’s first trip to England, he has already gained some overseas experience thanks to his IPL duties for three different teams. A talented limited-overs player who has played T20 and one-day cricket for his country, Faulkner sold for $400,000 to the Rajasthan Royals this year but has not let the shortest format seduce him at the expense of first-class cricket.”I’ve always tried to be as consistent as I can in Twenty20, one-day cricket and four-day cricket and not specifically have a focus on any of the three,” he said. “I look at [the IPL] as a bit of an opportunity to progress my cricket on different grounds, different wickets, and in India it doesn’t get any harder. There’s lots of positives you can take away from playing in different countries. You gain experience pretty fast.”