New Zealand selector retained the injured D.Flynn and I.O’Brien in the squad which was announced for second test match to be played at Napier against India. Second test match will start from 26th of March with India ahead by 1-0 in three match series. Offspinner Jeetan Patel returns to the squad after missing the first test match at Hamilton. Return was also influence by the fact that he able to grab 6 wickets in the game against Otago played last week. However Jacob Oram was still not back into the squad, since selector feels he is still to gain fitness required for the five day match. The only omission from the first Test squad is uncapped bowler Brent Arnel. New Zealand Squad for 2nd Test Match: Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori (Captain), Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel, Kyle Mills. Graeme Smith comeback to the ODI squad after missing the test series South Africa announced the squad for the first two ODI’s to be played against Australia starting from April 3rd. South African captain Graeme Smith who missed the last two test matched because of wrist injury is now back into the team for one day series. However Smith is still fully not recovered from injury but selector feels there are plenty of time left before the start of first ODI so he has included in the squad. Team is almost same that won the one day series against Australia in Australia with very few changes. N.McKenzie has been dropped from the ODI squad. South Africa ODI Squad: Graeme Smith (Captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher (Wicketkeeper), Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell. Mitchell Johnson scored his first maiden test century in loosing course M.Johnson who started the South Africa tour with brilliant 96 not out at Johannesburg closed the test series with a brilliant century (123 runs of 103 balls) to his name at Cape Town. He almost saves his team from inning defeat but he ran out of partners at other end. He emerged as Australia's third leading run-scorer for the tour. He has also picked up 16 wickets on the tour, which is highest by any bowler on the tour. For his brilliance performance in the series he was adjudge Man of the Series. IPL twenty20 2009 is most likely to be hosted by South Africa In the dramatic turnaround, IPL season two was first moved from India and now South Africa has overtaken England to host the IPL twenty20 2009. Due to security reasons BCCI decide on Sunday to move the IPL out of country and many Indian fans are totally dishearten by this. BCCI who first announced England as their first choice for IPL season two on Sunday is now banking on South Africa to host the IPL twenty20. Weather turned out to be the main factor that swayed the BCCI officials against using England as a venue, according to reports. Since in April-May IPL tournament may face rain hit out during the games so IPL commissioner Lalit Modi will fly to South Africa on Monday to finalize the event. He will also travel to England to meet ECB officials. There is large number of population of Indians in London that’s why BCCI first chosen to host the tournament there, but according to reports there will be chances that 70 percent of the matches will be affected by the rain and if it happens then there will be big loss for both franchise as well as BCCI. However the Indian players are keen that the IPL be stage in London as they would like to get the feel of condition before the International twenty20 world cup which will be played in Englandth June. from 5 In terms of TV timing also South Africa considered as better option than England, if the IPL will be hosted in England then math needs to be start at 11:30AM while in South Africa it will be 12:30PM start since IPL committee wants its first match of the day to start at 4:00PM Indian standard time. It will take some time before we came to know which country will host the IPL, probably by this weekend we have better picture of tournament schedule. |
