All posts by h716a5.icu

Sybrand Engelbrecht will replace JP Duminy in the Cobras squad for the Champions League T20

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2014Sybrand Engelbrecht will replace JP Duminy in the Cobras squad for the Champions League T20. It is understood that Engelbrecht’s inclusion has been approved by the CLT20 technical committee comprising BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, Sundar Raman, chief operating officer of the IPL, and MV Sridhar, BCCI general manager, cricket operations.Engelbrecht, a 26-year old batsman who bowls offspin, made 56 for Cobras in the final of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, South Africa’s domestic T20 tournament, in February this year. He is on his way to India and will miss Cobras’ opening game against Northern Districts later this evening in Raipur.Duminy had picked up a knee injury during the one-day tri-series in Zimbabwe. He was withdrawn from the Cobras squad and did not travel to India. Like Dale Steyn, Duminy was also pulled out from the CLT20 by the CSA medical team rather than his franchise. The approval for the replacement from the CLT20 technical committee was pending as they awaited official documents confirming Duminy’s injury.

With a draw the most likely conclusion on the fourth day at Chinnaswamy Stadium, hosts Karnataka utilised the time available for some batting practice

The Report by Rachna Shetty in Bangalore17-Nov-2013
ScorecardFile pic: Stuart Binny hit his seventh first-class hundred after Karnataka conceded the first-innings lead•Sivaraman KittaWith a draw the most likely conclusion on the fourth day at Chinnaswamy Stadium, hosts Karnataka utilised the time available for some batting practice against Gujarat. They finished the day at 245 for 4, boosted by Stuart Binny’s seventh first-class hundred, after dismissing Gujarat for 411 in the first session. The draw gives Gujarat three points based on a first-innings lead while Karnataka get one.Abhimanyu Mithun had an impressive morning session and was instrumental in ensuring that the Gujarat resistance lasted less than 20 overs. Mithun dismissed Rakesh Dhurv and last man, Jasprit Bumrah, while the remaining two wickets were taken by Mayank Agarwal, to restrict Gujarat to 411 with a lead of 105.The rest of the day belonged to Binny, who was promoted up the order to No. 4 after Manish Pandey’s injury. After scores of 2 and 4 in the lead-up to this innings, Binny was keen to get some runs, particularly as Karnataka prepare for three successive away games.Karnataka were 23 for 2 in the 10th over after Agarwal and Kunal Kapoor were dismissed cheaply but their next 100 runs came off 115 balls as Binny got into the groove straightaway, attacking the Gujarat spinners and pacers alike and forcing them to change their attacking lengths to defensive ones.At the other end, KL Rahul grew in confidence, hitting out against Akshar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, but the young opener would be disappointed on missing out on a bigger score after getting yet another start as he was dismissed by Rakesh Dhurv for 47.His exit hardly affected Binny, who brought out the reverse-sweep to have the sparse crowd hooting in appreciation. By the time Binny reached his century, off 88 balls, Karnataka had only scored 184. He was dismissed playing in the manner in which he had started, attempting a big shot, but by then, Karnataka had played long enough to ensure a draw.Wicketkeeper CM Gautam and Ganesh Satish played out the remaining overs safely until play was called off.Binny was pleased that he had made use of an opportunity given by the team management to find some form. He also said that the spinners’ lines early on allowed him to settle quickly.”I have a pretty simple game plan,” Binny said. “I try and play 20 minutes to see what is happening, in terms of conditions, and then I play my game. The pitch was good to bat on and the spinners tried to attack me early on, which helped me attack them in turn. I won’t say I was worried that I didn’t get enough runs but it’s always good to start your Ranji Trophy with a few runs. I don’t think I played more than 10 balls in the two innings before this one, and therefore it’s crucial for me to play out the first 20 minutes.”With three away games against Vidarbha, Odisha and Haryana up next, Binny said the team would be focused on first securing a first-innings lead before attempting an outright victory. Manish Pandey is expected to recover from a twisted ankle in time for the next round on November 21 and with Robin Uthappa also expected to be join the squad, Karnataka are confident of their chances.”At the moment, we haven’t got the results we have wanted,” Binny said. “We shouldn’t try and think too much about where we are on the table because it’s still too early in the tournament. First we will try to get an innings-lead and then try for an all-out victory.”Gujarat, who are comfortable in the second place with 13 points, are scheduled to play an away game against Punjab on November 21.

Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman is confident of contributing to his team, even as he plays with Saeed Ajmal

Umar Farooq05-May-2013Picked in the Champions Trophy squad alongside Saeed Ajmal and part-time options like Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, Abdur Rehman may not be a certainty in Pakistan’s first-choice XI. However, the left-arm spinner who last played an ODI in September 2012, said he was optimistic about his chances of playing in England because of his county experience.”I am not concerned about being in the playing XI, as it is a decision they [coach and the captain] take after reading the conditions before the match,” Rehman said during the ongoing training camp in Abbottabad. “But spinners have a definite role in England. Every team has at least two spinners and they have as equal an opportunity to take wickets as fast bowlers. If I get a chance to play, I will definitely make a difference.”Rehman, 33, had experience of English conditions during his short stint for Somerset last summer. In four championship matches he took 27 wickets at an average of 14.18. His best performance came against Worcestershire, when he picked up nine wickets in the first innings and finished with a 14-wicket haul in the match. He also took nine wickets in three CB40 matches, with a personal best of 6 for 16 against Nottinghamshire.”I have gained plenty of experience from my county stint last year and this gives me an edge,” Rehman said. “Though I haven’t played international cricket in a long time, I have been practising regularly. I know I will play in the shadow of Saeed Ajmal, but I will try my best to contribute to the success of the team.”Rehman made headlines last year when he was banned for 12 weeks after testing positive for cannabis during the county season. He completed his ban in December, but missed the tour to India and the Champions League T20 for his side Sialkot Stallions. He was part of the squad for the tour to South Africa but was not picked for any of the Tests or ODIs.”During the South Africa tour, I didn’t play in the team as it was a decision taken by the team management and I have no hard feelings,” Rehman said. “The combination that played there was the best possible one. As far as I am concerned, I didn’t lose hope and was equally active in South Africa and here.”On the third day of the Abbottabad camp, there were a few rain interruptions but the batsmen had ample practice. Mohammad Hafeez’s back-foot punch, perhaps his favourite shot, has brought him many runs but he has generally struggled against seam bowling outside the subcontinent. On Saturday, Hafeez had an individual batting session with assistant coach Shahid Aslam and worked on facing swinging deliveries.”I am working on my normal technique,” Hafeez said. “It’s not like we are here to do something special in these five to six days, but the main objective is to acclimatise with the conditions that we will face in the next one-and-a-half months.”As players, we have to improve performances ourselves with the help of the support staff. We have a good blend of young and experienced players in the team who are capable of producing a good result.”

Australian opener Ed Cowan has said he raised concerns with the coach Mickey Arthur and captain Michael Clarke about the slipping standards within the squad

Brydon Coverdale in Delhi20-Mar-2013Australian opener Ed Cowan has said he raised concerns with the coach Mickey Arthur and captain Michael Clarke about the slipping standards within the squad in the lead-up to the sacking of four players in Mohali. Arthur, Clarke and the team manager Gavin Dovey collectively took a hard line as a result of the general slide in behaviour and told four players, including the vice-captain Shane Watson, that they would not be considered for the Mohali Test after failing to complete a task set by Arthur.However, the team management has been at pains to explain that the decision was not the result of a one-off lapse and that standards within the wider squad had been unacceptable during the tour. It later emerged that some of the minor infractions that had built up included players being late to meetings or physio appointments, wearing the wrong uniforms and giving back-chat.Arthur has spoken of the way senior players like Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey helped maintain standards by their own work ethic and their retirements had left a gap in experience and example. As a result, Arthur said the developing group needed to be brought into line, and Cowan said he had spoken to Arthur and Clarke about what he felt were “little things” that were not being done.”A few little things had crept in,” Cowan said. “I had a few conversations with the coach and the captain and the manager about those little things and I’m sure a few other guys did as well. It wasn’t just, ‘right, this is the moment’, there had been a build-up and there always comes a time where there is a breaking point and that happened in Mohali. But now it feels there is some solidarity behind the team moving forward and we’re excited by that unity and why it has been created.”Nine days ago, unity was about the last word that would have been used to describe Australia’s squad. Not only had four players been unceremoniously stood down for a Test, one of those players, the vice-captain Shane Watson, flew home for the birth of his first child and voiced his displeasure on the way. That led to a public exchange of words between Watson and Cricket Australia’s general manager of team performance Pat Howard and questions were raised about Watson’s status as a “team player”.However, over the past few days the tensions have eased and Watson rejoined the squad in Delhi for training on Wednesday and could yet captain the side for the fourth Test if Clarke is ruled out due to his back injury. Howard has also appeared in Delhi and the vibe at training on Wednesday was good, all things considered.”We have been unified by what happened in Mohali and there is no doubt the tough decisions needed to be made if we aspire to be the best team in the world, which we do,” Cowan said. “There had to be some tough decisions. It showed immense courage by the leadership group to make those decisions and the group is right behind that. It feels as though we have come together behind that and we feel quite buoyed by the concept of moving forward together.”Moving forward as one has been a key focus for the Australians over the past week, and part of that is senior men needing to show the way in a relatively young group. Although he has played only 16 Tests, Cowan is one of the leaders and if Watson does take charge in Delhi, Cowan would be a natural contender for the vice-captaincy given his mature approach. He said if the opportunity ever arose for him to captain Australia he would jump at the chance.”Everyone in the team would love to given the opportunity,” Cowan said. “My focus is to be a leader around the group, to make sure that Michael has adequate support, to be a leader in terms of how I prepare, how I carry myself on and off the field and how I contribute to bringing guys through and if the opportunity arises because a few people fall over or are injured or whatever then that’s something you would love to do, you would never turn that opportunity down.”For me leadership is much more than having a ‘c’ next to your name. It is about living the values and ideals that the team have put in place and hopefully people migrate to that. It’s not just one or two people, it’s five, six, seven core guys contributing to the team moving forward culturally and on the field.”

Real Madrid's new marquee teenage signing has ended the season in style after enduring a rough few months

In October 2022, Endrick was the hottest commodity in Brazilian football. The forward, then 16, made his top-flight debut for league winners Palmeiras after years of impressing for the club's youth sides. Later that month, he bagged a brace against Athletico Paranaense to become the youngest goalscorer in Brazilian Serie A history.

He wasn't exactly unknown – Real Madrid had been pursuing Endrick for nearly a year – but Endrick seemed to be on the verge of superstardom. Los Blancos, accordingly, pounced as soon as Palmeiras were willing to negotiate, paying the Brazilian club €60 million (£52m/$64m) to secure his services starting in summer 2024 – a record fee for a Brasilerao side.

And it's been something of a mixed year since then. Endrick endured a miserable start to the campaign and experienced a middling few months. But recently, though, the teenager has come alive, and looked like the future star many expect him to become.

It all amounts to the arc of a young player growing his way into the game, and navigating the standard highs and lows that come with being so good, so young.

GOAL takes a look inside Endrick's tumultuous, yet successful, 2023…

Getty ImagesDecember 2022: Madrid make their move

After much speculation – and lengthy transfer pursuit from a number of Europe's top clubs – Madrid sealed the signature of Palmeiras' hottest prospect during the 2022 World Cup. They shelled out €60m (£52m/$64m) for the youngster, coordinating with the same scout who found Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde to seal the deal.

It didn't matter that the teenager had only made his first team debut two months previously. Madrid had been working on the transfer for years, and paid a premium to get their man.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesJanuary 2023: Palmeiras sell key players

Still, the 16-year-old wasn't guaranteed to be a first team regular. Far from it. Palmeiras had a number of more experienced options who seemed likely to keep Endrick out of the side, stunting his growth before it could properly begin.

But that changed with the sales of Danilo and Gustavo Scarpa to Nottingham Forest in January. Although neither was an out-and-out striker, they shouldered a solid chunk of attacking load. Their departures, then, opened a spot for Endrick to thrive.

Spring 2023: Extended goal drought

But it didn't go smoothly for the teenager. Endrick's struggles started almost immediately after he agreed a deal with Madrid, the 16-year-old embarking on a lengthy goalless spell. Most of it seemed to be self-inflicted, as Endrick looked like he was trying to do too much for his team.

The numbers were undoubtedly concerning, though. Endrick started eight of 10 games to open the season, failed to register a goal contribution, and missed four big chances. It mattered little that his side were struggling without attacking talent around the youngster; this was a soon-to-be Real Madrid player who simply couldn't find the back of the net.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty / TwitterFebruary 2023: Tears on the bench

And it seemed to catch up with the youngster. Endrick was pictured crying on the bench after his run of games without a goal hit double digits, the image of a future Madridista covering his eyes on the sideline going viral.

He was swiftly defended by his manager, Abel Ferreira, who admitted that he should "have given Endrick a hug" following his removal from the contest. The manager also called for patience with his starlet, well aware of the pressures placed on him by the historic transfer fee.

"You have to be calm. Nobody likes criticism. There is tremendous pressure on him to score five or six goals and he tries to deal with it himself. The goal will appear at the right time. You just have to be calm and keep smiling," he said after Palmeiras' 2-0 win over RB Bragantino.

Yorkshire reached their first T20 Finals Day with a 29-run win over Worcestershire, inspired by Joe Root’s maiden Twenty20 half-century

Alan Gardner25-Jul-2012
ScorecardJoe Root hit 65 and then pulled off an excellent piece of fielding as Yorkshire reached their first Finals Day•Getty ImagesYorkshire reached their first T20 Finals Day with a 29-run win over Worcestershire, inspired by Joe Root’s maiden Twenty20 half-century, not to mention an impudent piece of fielding on the deep midwicket boundary that brought a boisterous Headingley crowd to their feet. Root also opened the bowling – admittedly to slightly less spectacular effect – in a display that will have again given the England selectors a tug on the sleeve.Phil Hughes’ unorthodox power and placement helped keep Worcestershire in the game but his unbeaten 80 was not enough, as fellow Australia international Mitchell Starc returned to keep a lid on the final overs, finishing with 3 for 24 from his allocation. In the face-off between the tournament’s leading run-scorer and its leading wicket-taker, Starc was the victor on points.After Hampshire’s dramatic victory over Nottinghamshire later on Wednesday, Yorkshire were drawn against big-hitting Sussex for what promises to be an explosive semi-final encounter between the North and South Group winners on August 25.Worcestershire, who were also aiming to reach Finals Day for the first time, kept pace with the Yorkshire par score but were lacking the blast of nitrous oxide provided by the batting of David Miller and Gary Ballance, who hammered 82 from the last five overs earlier in the day. A similar power-up was not forthcoming from the visitors’ middle order, despite forceful twenties from James Cameron and Gareth Andrew.The former was sent on his way by Root – though his name won’t appear on the scorecards. Having hoisted Rich Pyrah high into the outfield, Cameron may have been expecting to record his second six; but Root, running round from long-on, demonstrated quick-thinking to go with his quick feet, catching the ball, steadying himself in front of the rope and then tossing it back to Miller as his momentum took him out of bounds.The third umpire was consulted, as a matter of course, but both Root and his team-mates knew he had pulled off a piece of fielding that is no less exhilarating now that T20 has made it a more common sight. “The cameras are here aren’t they, so you’ve got to make it look good,” Root said, over his on-pitch mic.Root’s contribution with the bat was even more important, if a little less showy. He is an accomplished strokeplayer in the classical mould, though he repeatedly turned to the reverse sweep in a largely unsuccessful attempt to show he could play the peacock too. Perhaps hitting three of his four first-class sixes in a superb innings of 222 not out at West End earlier this month has convinced him to broaden his batting horizons.His runs were scored all around the wicket, though his first boundary came via an edge between keeper and slip. He could – possibly should – have been dismissed on 40, when a reverse dab against Brett D’Oliveira looped off the top edge to Andrew’s left at short third man but the fielder went at it one-handed and only succeeded in fisting the ball to the boundary. Two overs later, Root drove Aneesh Kapil behind square to reach his fifty, from 36 balls, and he was in full flow against Worcestershire’s England Under-19 allrounder, cutting, driving and pulling three more boundaries off successive deliveries before spooning a slog straight up to be caught and bowled.Root, appropriately, had anchored Yorkshire, as Worcestershire chipped away early on. Yorkshire have twice broken the club record for opening stands in T20 this season but Andrew Gale and Phil Jaques combined to less sparkling effect in the first over of the innings, with the Australian run-out off a wide. Jack Shantry’s delivery swung down the leg side, before deflecting away off the wicketkeeper Ben Scott’s pads, and Jaques was three-quarters of the way down before it became apparent that Gale was not for haring.The Yorkshire captain had missed a month of cricket with a hip injury, so was perhaps just feeling a bit ginger early on. After scoring three singles off his first eight balls, he crashed five fours off his next ten, taking 16 off a Shantry over before chipping Daryl Mitchell’s extremely slow medium-pace back to the bowler. Worcestershire’s captain also accounted for Jonny Bairstow, whose mighty bash wasn’t quite mighty enough to clear long-on and at the halfway stage Yorkshire were 83 for 3, behind the rate on a good pitch.Kapil’s costly over, though it saw off Root, was the trigger for a run rush that saw Yorkshire pile on 104 from the last seven. Miller hit the first six of the innings from the last ball of the 16th over, slog-sweeping Moeen Ali into the stands, and Ballance cracked the next ball, from Shantry, over cover for six more. Miller then smacked sixes over long-on and long-off, before pulling a flat missile through midwicket for four more, progressing to a 23-ball fifty in the following over before miscuing a heave at David Lucas.Shantry finished with 0 for 46 from three overs but Lucas, bowling the final over, was not to be spared either. A single off the first ball brought Ballance on strike, red-faced but cool at the crease, and he cleared the ropes four more times – a bottom-handed club over wide long-on; a flat swipe through midwicket; a stand-and-deliver punch down the ground; and a wristy flick over deep backward square leg – to lift Yorkshire to their highest total in this year’s FLt20 and just one run shy of their best in T20.Root, a slight 21-year-old, is not yet the man for such power-hitting but his all-round abilities meant he was given the new ball as Yorkshire started with an over off offspin. Root went for 10, though both of Moeen’s boundaries – an inside edge past the stumps and a paddle past the diving Moin Ashraf at short fine leg – could have resulted in wickets. Starc then struck in the second over, Vikram Solanki pinned lbw despite the ball looking a touch high, to bring Hughes to the middle.His first boundary was a six down the ground but a succession of partners could not match his efforts. As Root showed, it isn’t over until it’s over the rope – and neither could Worcestershire get over the line.

The Kenya cricket team landed at the Allama Iqbal international airport in Lahore amid tight security in the early hours of Wednesday

Umar Farooq10-Dec-2014The Kenya cricket team landed at the Allama Iqbal international airport in Lahore amid tight security in the early hours of Wednesday. The five one-day matches between Kenya and Pakistan A is of considerable significance to the PCB, which hopes the successful staging of the series will be the first step towards convincing other nations to tour the country.”For us we were looking to play and get match practice,” Kenya coach Steve Tikolo said. “When Pakistan offered to host us, we never had hesitation in saying yes because we wanted to come to Pakistan and play cricket. I have come here twice in the past, to Karachi and Lahore, and for me it’s about playing the game of cricket.”Forget all the side issues, politics and whatever is being said. If you are a cricketer you just play cricket and we are here to play it and nothing else. We landed here this morning and until now they have looked after us very well, to say the least. So I think other countries should also come and play cricket. If you want to move world cricket forward this is what should be happening.”Pakistan has remained a no-go destination for international teams since March 3, 2009, when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus while it was en route to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the second Test. Eight people were killed during the attack – and some players were injured – at Liberty roundabout, located one-and-a-half kilometres from the stadium.The Kenyan team bus, flanked by police, was driven along the route where the attack took place. The visitors will be staying at the National Cricket Academy, adjacent to the Gaddafi Stadium, where all the matches will be played. The security measures put in place include the area being cordoned off by 14 giant gates.The stadium and the NCA are situated inside the Nishtar Park Sports Complex, which is a public space with several restaurants and shops. During Kenya’s stay, however, all the restaurants and shops will be shut for two weeks. Journalists intending to cover the series have had to get their accreditation cleared by the superintendent of police.”It’s an honour and privilege for us to be in Pakistan,” Tikolo said. “I feel Pakistan has done a great favour by hosting us. We have a tournament coming up in January, a world qualifier league in Namibia and this series is a part our preparation.”I believe the games we are going to play in the next 10 days are going to give my boys much practice and experience going into the tournament. So on behalf of Kenya Cricket, we are grateful to Pakistan and I hope this relationship goes further and becomes stronger.”Since the Lahore attack – nearly seven years ago – Pakistan have had to play their home series at offshore venues, primarily the UAE. THE PCB had tried to negotiate with the BCB about a tour but Bangladesh withdrew after committing twice.The PCB during the time tried to negotiate with the Bangladesh Cricket Board to commit to a tour of Pakistan but the series never happened, with Bangladesh withdrawing after committing twice.Pakistan also invited West Indies A in 2013 but the WICB refused to send the team and asked PCB to host them in UAE, which did not happen. Afghanistan, who received Associate status in the ICC only last year, had visited Pakistan several times but their fixtures were low profile. The PCB also had talks with Cricket Ireland this year but the tour was put on hold following terrorist attacks on Karachi airport in June.The PCB had, through this year, used diplomatic channels in a bid to win back lost confidence and there were frequent visits by the European Union delegation at the PCB headquarters. Kenya is the first country from outside the region to accept an offer to tour Pakistan.Kenya were scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on December 11 but the date was changed suddenly and the team landed a day earlier. The dates for the five matches remained unchanged, though, and they will be played between December 13 and 20.

Unmukt Chand hit his third first-class hundred in the Duleep Trophy semi-final as North Zone reached 329 for 2 on the second day against East Zone

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2013A full day’s play was possible in Kochi after the rain-hit first day of the Duleep Trophy semi-final and Unmukt Chand made the most of it, hitting his third first-class hundred. North Zone resumed on 33 for 0 against East Zone and reached 329 for 2 by stumps, openers Jiwanjot Singh and Chand the men to be dismissed.While Jiwanjot could not make the most of a patient start and fell to Ashok Dinda for 24, Chand kicked on to make 116. He added 187 for the second wicket with Jammu & Kashmir batsman Ian Dev Singh, who had to retire hurt five runs short of what would have been his seventh first-class hundred. Mandeep Singh (40*) and Services batsman Rajat Paliwal (41*) ensured no further damage for North with an unbroken 81-run stand.South Zone captain Abhinav Mukund led his side to a strong position against Central Zone in the other semi-final in Chennai. Mukund was unbeaten on 61 with B Aparajith giving him company on 35 as South reached 137 for 2 in reply to Central’s 209. The visitors resumed in the morning at 123 for 5 and only captain Piyush Chawla put up some resistance. He hit three sixes on his way to 56 before falling to Pragyan Ojha, who ended with 3 for 49.South started steadily but Akshath Reddy and KL Rahul failed to kick on from starts, falling to Chawla and Umesh Yadav respectively. Mukund was joined by Aparajith at 73 for 2 and by stumps, the partnership had grown to 64.

Tony Greig, the former England captain, has died after being diagnosed with lung cancer, the Nine Network has reported

Daniel Brettig and Brydon Coverdale29-Dec-2012Having exerted an influence on the game every bit as imposing as his 6 foot 6 inch frame, Tony Greig died too swiftly and too soon.Battling lung cancer since he was diagnosed in October, Greig’s familiar presence on television screens was missed greatly at the outset of the Australian summer. The heart attack that claimed him, aged 66, about 1.45pm on the day after the Boxing Day Test, arrived as a shock to the cricket world and a source of enormous sadness to those who knew him.Greig’s first inkling of illness arrived in mid-year as a bout of bronchitis showed unusual stubbornness, and while commentating in the UAE and then the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka he was moved to undergo tests that uncovered a lesion in his right lung. Subsequent examinations and operations revealed the extent of the cancer, and he was unable to fulfil his usual duties for Channel Nine in the Brisbane Test against South Africa.It was the harshest of breaks for a man who had been synonymous with the game in so many countries. Born and raised in South Africa, Greig moved to England to pursue an international career. He proved an effective allrounder over 58 Tests and daring captain of his adopted country, before accepting Kerry Packer’s offer to be one of the architects, captains and chief recruiters for the World Series Cricket revolution. That brought his move to Australia and integral place on the Nine commentary team, a role he maintained alongside overseas work for more than three decades, until his diagnosis.Late on the first day of the Gabba Test match, the broadcast crossed to Greig’s home in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, where he expressed typical optimism in his fight with illness but also a rueful reflection on missing his first day on the Nine commentary team in Brisbane for 33 years. “It’s been an incredible, very short journey so far. You guys will all face it one day I’m sure,” Greig told his fellow commentators.”You’ve no idea how much one misses getting to the cricket on a day like today. When you’ve been doing it for 33 years it’s absolutely unbelievable. Even my little bloke who came home from school today was almost ‘dad what are you doing at home, you shouldn’t be here’, so it takes a little bit of getting used to, and I’m sure it’s going to get worse as this Test match goes on.”At the time Greig hoped that he would be fit to return to work at the final Test of the summer in Sydney, scheduled to begin on January 3, but this was not a battle he would win. The impact of Greig’s life on the game of cricket, and the suddenness of his death, was summed up by his longtime commentary colleague, friend and fellow former captain Bill Lawry.”World cricket has lost one of its great ambassadors,” Lawry told ESPNcricinfo. “Not only was Tony Greig captain of England, captain of the World Series world team, but he just loved travelling the world to places like Sri Lanka, India, England, Dubai, wherever it was played, Greigy would be there. He’s well known right throughout the world, well loved and respected and cricket has lost one of its all-time greats.”I know the Channel Nine commentary team is absolutely shattered. He’s been a great friend of mine for 33 years. We knew he was sick but we didn’t realise it was going to be this sudden. It has shocked us all.”Cricket Australia’s chairman Wally Edwards spoke of how Greig’s “illness and too-early death comes as a terrible shock – he will be greatly missed”, while perhaps his most famous adversary Dennis Lillee described “a tough opponent who took on all opposition with aggression and a determination to win. He had a take-no-prisoners attitude which helped him lead England with flare and toughness.”Nine’s tribute, which extended as far as a half-hour television special following the nightly news, was summed up with these words: “Tony Greig is a name synonymous with Australian cricket – from his playing days as the English captain we loved to hate, to his senior role in the revolution of World Series Cricket, his infamous car keys in the pitch reports and more than three decades of colourful and expert commentary.”Greig’s place in the game had been somewhat sullied by establishment rebukes of his role in support of Packer, but in recent years he had enjoyed a significant revision and rehabilitation as a senior figure, culminating in his invitation to deliver the MCC’s Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s in June this year. In the lecture, he explained the reasons behind his decision to sign with WSC, before entering into a typically passionate discussion of the game he loved.The lecture’s insights contrasted somewhat with the nature of his commentary, which carried both the entertainment value of the showman and the agitator’s spice he had employed so often as a medium pace and off spin bowler, aggressive batsman, outspoken captain and pioneering silly point fielder. His description of moments such as Sachin Tendulkar’s twin centuries against Australia in Sharjah in 1998 and Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory in 1996 have stayed with all who heard them.At the time of his death, Greig was with his family, including his second wife Vivian, his daughter Beau, his son Tom, and two adult children from his previous marriage – daughter Sam and son Mark. Vivian offered thanks for the support and condolences offered by friends and well-wishers around Australia and the world, all of whom had been witness to Greig’s influence as a cricketer, broadcaster and revolutionary.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third T20 international between England and South Africa at Edgbaston

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan11-Sep-2012Match FactsSeptember 12, 2012, Edgbaston
Start time 6.30pm (1730GMT)England’s batsmen could do with a good showing in the third and final T20I•AFPThe Big PictureEach of the series played between these two teams this season has come down to a final-match decider but, as with the Test matches, the best England can hope for is a share of the trophy. Given they needed 13 off five balls at Old Trafford to be ahead of the D/L target that is probably a position they are fortunate to be in.The Nine9 in Manchester was a hectic affair: batsmen swinging from the hip, the ball skewing off edges, fielders slipping on a wet outfield, a couple of wonderful catches, another England drop and some impressive quick bowling. On balance it is South Africa who still hold an edge, particularly with the strength of their batting, which is in sharp contrast to the problems England have.It was instructive to watch Hashim Amla’s approach to what was basically a slog-fest. He barely slogged. Sure, he tried to hit the ball hard, and occasionally lost his shape, but his boundaries were well-timed, well-placed shots and not just the wild hacks attempted by Craig Kieswetter, Alex Hales and Luke Wright.Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn were a handful on a lively pitch – unlike what is expected in Sri Lanka – while most of England’s bowlers performed well, too. Two-over spells are difficult to analyse, but Graeme Swann did not conceded a boundary and Jade Dernbach just the one.For both sides this is their final outing before departing for the subcontinent and whoever wins will feel they can take a little bit of momentum and confidence – although it is difficult to gauge much from either camp with no players having spoken for three days. But whatever happens at Edgbaston it won’t count for much when the World Twenty20 starts.Form guide
(Most recent first, completed matches)
EnglandL WWWL
South Africa WWWWLWatch out forJade Dernbach is a bowler to watch with an open mind. When it goes wrong it can get very ugly but he has a unique set of skills that can make him a match-winner. He took wickets at Chester-le-Street but was expensive, then two overs at Old Trafford cost just 12 runs. On the slow pitches in Sri Lanka his ability to bowl yorkers and slower balls will be invaluable. However, it will not always go to plan.Dale Steyn has bowled beautifully since returning to the side midway through the one-day series, with a combination pace, control and swing. He had a wry smile on his face at Old Trafford when Alex Hales outside edged him for six over third man. With South Africa keen to manage Steyn’s workload he has not always been a regular in the T20 side – playing 23 matches – but bowling like he is, makes the attack formidable.Team newsThe indications are that England are settling on their main bowling attack having played the same combination in both matches, supplemented by Luke Wright in place of Ravi Bopara in Manchester, although they may yet decide to tinker when they get to Sri Lanka. Michael Lumb, Danny Briggs and Tim Bresnan are the three of the World Twenty20 squad yet to play.England (possible) 1 Craig Kieswetter (wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Luke Wright, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Stuart Broad (capt), 10 Steven Finn, 11 Jade DernbachEarlier in the series, AB de Villiers indicated he would like to give all his players a game at some point, which would mean bringing Wayne Parnell and Farhaan Behardien into the side – but they will also want to win the series.South Africa (possible) 1 Richard Levi, 2, Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Johan Botha, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne MorkelPitch and conditionsEdgbaston has suffered as much as anywhere from all the rain this season and the forecast suggests a risk of interruptions. When players did get on the pitch for a full Friends Life t20 innings, scores ranged from 149 to 173, which is ideal for the format.Stats and trivia If England level the series they will jump above South Africa to the No. 1 spot in the Twenty20 rankings Graeme Swann became England’s leading T20 wicket-taker when he clung on to the caught-and-bowled to remove JP Duminy in the second game England have not played a Twenty20 international at Edgbaston