Cricket-Australia appoints Rixon as fielding coach

SYDNEY, June 28 (Reuters) - Former test wicketkeeper Steve Rixon has been appointed Australia's new fielding coach and promised to set new standards for a country which has lost its reputation as the world's best in that department.

Rixon, who played 13 tests and six one-dayers for Australia in the late 1970s and early 1980s before going on to coach New Zealand and New South Wales, will accompany the team on tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa over the next six months.

Once one of their greatest strengths, the decline in Australia's fielding standards contributed to their humiliating Ashes defeat at the turn of the year.

"Fielding skills play such an important role in the modern game and often proves the difference between winning and losing," Rixon, 57, said in a news release.

"The Australian team has long been known as one of the best fielding sides in world cricket and my job will not only be to maintain the good work done before but about setting the benchmark for opposition sides."

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Shane Warne Farewells The Game He Loves

AFTER playing his final match in India, the king of spin says it's great to go out a winner.

SO my last ever professional game of cricket is behind me. I've reached the end.

And what a nice way to say goodbye.

It was great to finish here in Mumbai with a big win and I am really pleased with the way we all played.

It seemed fitting that my last match was against the great Sachin Tendulkar in his own backyard. All week I had been looking forward to resuming battle against the best cricketer I have played with or against.

After the match he approached me and said: "It has been an honour and a privilege to play against you. I wish you all the very best for the future. You are a legend."

It was a great moment.

I've had messages of support from all over the world from people - from my Mum and Dad through to my closest friends.So was having the guys give me a guard of honour as I left the field and the reaction from the crowd.

And it was great to have Elizabeth (Hurley) at the ground to see my final match.

In the days leading up to my farewell game of cricket, which has been my life since the summer of 1989, my mood was one of a reflective nature.

I think when you have been involved in sport, business or anything for 20-odd years or more, there is a love and passion for what you do - so, of course I will miss the game.

But to me, cricket has always been more about the people, friendships and the camaraderie of being in it together that has driven me along with the enjoyment of being in a battle and giving everything for the cause.

Basically, never giving up; it's that competitiveness which I will miss out on the field.

I have never seen playing cricket as a job. I saw it as my hobby, something I was passionate about and loved doing.

I'm thankful for the people that gave me the opportunity to play.

I think that showed in the way I played the game. Hopefully you enjoyed watching me toil away and try my best for all the teams I played for.

People ask me if I'm emotional walking away from cricket. I'm not. I'm happy and ready to go. It's the right time. This week I found myself with a big smile, feeling content with my life and what the future holds both personally and from now a businessman's point of view.

I am totally ready to say goodbye to the great game of cricket. So, please, no more questions about a comeback.

I would like to thank all the people out there who supported me unconditionally - which has meant a lot. I know at times you shook your head and said, "Sshaaaaaane!", but that's part of the journey of life.

I feel very proud of everything I've achieved in my cricketing career. When you finish something there can be a tendency to say, 'what am I going to do now?'

I am lucky I have some excellent business ventures and wonderful sponsors. I am captain of the 888 poker team. I really enjoy my poker and I'm improving year by year. I think 2011-12 could be the time I lift a big tournament trophy up. OK, wishful thinking.

Lastly, I want to say thanks to all my teammates - well, most of them - you guys made cricket fun and enjoyable to play.

I am not sure what my future holds, but I will stay in touch with cricket through my media work, so my opinion - if you like it - will still be heard.

But from today, I am no longer Shane Warne the playing cricketer. I am Shane Warne the businessman and I'm happy with that.

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Warne's Respect For Tendulkar Is Evident

As unfortunate it was to see the Rajasthan Royals crash out of the tournament, Shane Warne's last game of the IPL, and indeed of competitive cricket, provided him with a fitting farewell. The Royals won and it was as convincing a win as one could get from a T20 game and Warne managed to pick up a wicket off the last over he bowled.

The script had gone down the path as Warne would have expected it to, with the other Shane in the side nailing down the last few in the Mumbai Indians coffin. Warne has been a point of discussion in many of my columns as well, thanks to the colour he brings to the game and it would be an understatement to say that he will be missed by me and the other aficionados of the game.

Young captains, grand comebacks and superstar parties

For a man with a personal life as colourful as his on-field cricket, it is nice to see that he is in a good space and is happy to move on from the game and, in his own words, concentrate on his businesses off cricket.

His last couple of weeks in the IPL have mirrored his international career, especially off the field! The controversy around the pitch that began in Rajasthan's previous game against the Mumbai Indians, culminated into a full-blown issue that resulted in Warne being fined $50,000 just prior to the second game between the same two sides.

There had been talk of Warne being banned for the last game as well but that would have been a travesty of sorts for all those fans of Warne, who would have booked their prime-time slot in front of the telly to watch the legend bid adieu. Thankfully, it did not come to that and better sense prevailed.



IPL is the perfect mix of cricket and cinema

Speaking of fines, the members of Rajasthan Royals seemed to be facing the wrong end of the barrel. Ross Taylor has also had to shell out $3500 to his airline for his extra baggage and rest assured it hasn't amused the Kiwi one bit!

While the battle on the field of play was obviously heating up with the clamour for not only the top four slots but also the top two, the battle off the field seemed to be not too behind. RCA chief Sanjay Dixit was involved in a war of words with Warne, going on to the extent of calling Warne a flawed genius and likening him to a Van Gogh-like figure or "Guru Dutt of Kagaz ke Phool!" Wonder whether Warne had a private conversation with someone to understand the second bit of that comparison!

The result against the Mumbai Indians aside, it was interesting to hear Warne on the field, speaking to the commentators during the game. I don't recall Warne having been miked-up before this and it is a pity that we did not have it earlier. The way he went about describing his on-field relations with Sachin Tendulkar was worth going miles to hear!

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Cricket Australia Back Review System

Cricket Australia is at odds with India after strongly supporting the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) for all international matches.

Currently, the DRS can be used in a series when agreed by both teams.

However the Indian board (BCCI) opposes the system, and has already flat-batted this week's recommendation from the ICC's cricket committee that the technology should be used in all Test, one-day and Twenty20 international matches.

The ICC's executive board will meet from June 26-30 in Hong Kong, where a decision will be made on the committee's recommendation.

"My personal view is strongly in support of DRS," Cricket Australia (CA) boss James Sutherland said on Friday.

"At this stage, in spite of the recommendation of the cricket committee, it does need to go through other bodies within the ICC in order for that to become an absolute requirement.

"I'm conscious of that, but certainly from a CA perspective, we would be very keen for DRS to be in place for all international cricket."

BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said there were many controversial decisions in the 2011 World Cup on the subcontinent, and he questioned the accuracy of the DRS technology.

"We'd rather go by the traditional role of using the umpire. We continue to trust them," he said.

India play a Test series in Australia this summer, evoking memories of the Sydney Test of January 2008, when much posturing and complaining from the Indian players indicated their trust in the on-field officials was at a low point.

"It's something you'd have to ask the BCCI, but we all got a fair insight into that during the World Cup, where the DRS system was in place for the World Cup, and that was in India," Sutherland added on Friday.

While India managed to beat Sri Lanka in the Mumbai final on April 2, the World Cup champions were fortunate the DRS was in use to save their star batsman Sachin Tendulkar in the semi-final against Pakistan on March 30.

Tendulkar was given out lbw for 23 by umpire Ian Gould.

India requested a review, which showed the ball was spinning down legside, and Tendulkar went on to score 85.

The DRS was first used in Tests in 2008 when India toured Sri Lanka in a series the hosts won 2-1.

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Clarke Seeks Respect, Within And Without

Clarke is happy to admit he will not be completely respected as Australia's captain, within the team and without, until he can bolster his position with vital runs and major victories.

Important runs and series wins were ever present in the first part of Ricky Ponting's captaincy, but his power base began to erode from the moment the supplies of each began to thin, culminating in resignation from his post after failed Ashes and World Cup campaigns. Clarke began his tenure with a handsome enough ODI series win over Bangladesh. But he knows greater battles, and the presence he can gain by how he fights them, are yet to arrive.

"I certainly feel like I've got the support and respect as a player because I've played a lot of international cricket. For me it's about now gaining that respect as a captain and a leader and I guess the first and foremost way to do that is to have some success on the field, to get some wins," Clarke told ESPNcricinfo before his return home from Dhaka.

"Now is an opportunity for me to get home and have a really good think about what's happened over the last 12 months and where I see this team going over the next 12-24 months, and how we can set some goals and have some targets we try to achieve.

"I don't really know how the players feel, I guess they'd be happy because we got the result [in Bangladesh], we won and for me I didn't want to change too many things straight away, it was about coming here, training hard, preparing well and playing some good cricket on the filed. Now I've got this time to assess things, speak to the right people and get some guidance and some help, and assess where we're at."

Clarke's own batting is vital to the success of his leadership, and on the evidence of the summer's Ashes series he has much work to do. England's relentless line of attack around off stump left Clarke either fishing or floundering, and after nine Test matches at No.4 his average is a sick-looking 21.58, with only two half centuries.

There remains an observation of Clarke, common among former players, that his batting has lacked the knack for spinal innings in the vein of a Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor or Allan Border. He has played some attractive and determined knocks, sure, but a gap exists in his CV when it comes to match and series-defining scores. In that sense Clarke's most memorable effort remains the 151 made on his Test debut against India at Bangalore in 2004, something he must transcend as captain.

"I think it is important to lead from the front no doubt," Clarke said. "Probably one of the things Ricky has taught me is that as a leader, as a senior player and certainly as the captain, you need to be standing up with the bat as a batsman, you need to be scoring runs. For me that's a big part of this team going forward, I'm now the captain and I want to stand up and make sure I'm leading from the front."

	"One of the things Ricky has taught me is that as a leader, as a senior player and certainly as the captain, you need to be standing up with the bat as a batsman, you need to be scoring runs." Michael Clarke knows he must bolster his captaincy with runs

In the field, one of Clarke's greatest tasks will be to oversee the emergence of a penetrative and balanced Australian Test attack, following the ignominy of being made to look popgun on home soil during the Ashes. Key here will be his handling of spin bowlers, a constant source of weakness since Shane Warne retired.

"The one thing we need to continue to remember though is we're never going to get another Shane Warne. He's one of a kind and I think as the Australian public and the expectation we have with our spin bowlers, things have changed," said Clarke of a stable including Steve Smith, Michael Beer, Xavier Doherty, Jason Krejza and Nathan Hauritz.

"We certainly haven't got Warney, we've moved from that, but I do believe spin bowling will play a huge part in Australian cricket's success going forward, it's just about using them the right way, supporting them and getting the most out of what they do.

"Hopefully I can set some good fields and show them good faith and support them as much as I possibly can. We've got a good mix of talent in the spin area to do a job. Again, they're not Warney, but I think they can have a lot of success in international cricket."

The Australian team will reconvene in July for a pre-season camp at Coolum in Queensland, ahead of Test and limited-overs tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa.

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Steven Smith To Have Ankle Surgery

Australia allrounder Steven Smith will not be taking up his IPL duties with Kochi Tuskers Kerala after it was decided he should fly home to undergo ankle surgery. Smith has experienced left ankle pain through the Australian summer, and will now have the problem dealt with, to be fit in time for Australia's pre-season camp in July and the tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa that follow.

"Steve has had long-standing, minor pain in his left ankle during the Australian summer," team physio Alex Kountouris said. "This is considered an opportune time to have surgery on the ankle. It will take place next week so he can adequately prepare for the upcoming Australia season."

Smith's withdrawal is a blow for Kochi, one of the IPL's new franchises, who are winless after two matches. While doing little with the bat, Smith showed considerable promise with the ball in the just-concluded series against Bangladesh, delivering a remarkable sharp legbreak that ripped between bat and pad to castle Shakib Al Hasan.

"I'm pretty happy with the way I'm going. I feel good in everything I'm doing in the nets and in games," Smith said during the series. "Every time I'm bowling in a game it's going to help me, every time I get that opportunity. So at the moment that's pretty much what it's about for me, gaining control in games under pressure."

Smith was scheduled to join Kochi with team-mate John Hastings, as a host of other players including Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee and Shakib Al Hasan, make their way to various IPL franchises following Australia's 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in the limited-overs series that finished on Wednesday.

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Watson Rises To Top Spot In ICC Rankings

The Australia allrounder, has surged to the top of the ICC rankings for allrounders in ODIs following his exploits in the recently concluded three-match series against Bangladesh. He made 294 runs, including a brutal, unbeaten 185 in the second game, smashing 15 sixes, a record, and as many fours, and picked up three wickets.

It is his career-best ranking to date, and he overtook Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, who now trails him by 44 points. Watson also rose nine places to reach No.4 in the rankings for ODI batsmen.

Despite India's win in the 2011 World Cup, Australia finished as the top-ranked ODI team, while India remained atop the Test ratings at the end of the cut-off date, April 1. Both teams pocketed US$175,000 each.

India have held on to their No.1 ranking since December 2009, with series wins against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, and drawn series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in their time at the top. Australia have been No.1 in ODIs since September 2009, when they raced ahead of South Africa and India. The four-time world champions were beaten by India in the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals, ending their streak of consecutive World Cup wins at three.

India were the runners-up in the ODI rankings - 120 points against Australia's 128 - by the cut-off date, and picked up US$75,000, while South Africa received the same for taking the No.2 spot in Tests.

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Clarke Turns Eyes To Argus Review

Having seen off modest opponents in Bangladesh, new Australia captain Michael Clarke will now turn his eyes to critical planning for Australian cricket's next 12 months and the years beyond.

Clarke and a handful of team-mates returned to Australia on Friday while the majority of the squad that swept Bangladesh 3-0 remained on the subcontinent for the Indian Premier League. Questioned on arrival about the role he would play on the Don Argus-led review into the waning fortunes of the national team, Clarke agreed the next few months would be a pivotal time of consultation and discussion about new directions.

The review panel also features the former Australia captains Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, while Malcolm Speed and James Sutherland, the former and current Cricket Australia chiefs, will also take part.

"This is probably the important time for me to spend as much time as I can with the people who make a lot of decisions about our game, and make sure we are on the same page, have the same goals and are heading in the same direction," Clarke told reporters at Sydney Airport. "I'm excited to be home and have a bit of time off, but I'm very keen to get to Melbourne and spend some time with Cricket Australia and the selectors as well."

Australia remain top of the ICC's limited-overs rankings despite their underwhelming World Cup result, a tag Clarke believed was deserved. "The statistics say we are number one for good reason; we've won a lot of one-day games for a long period of time. In saying that, I think there's a lot of work to be done on our game to improve and keep getting better."

As for his vice-captain Shane Watson's long-awaited rise to No.1 in the ODI allrounder rankings, Clarke could hardly act surprised. "He's a wonderful player no doubt. His form over the last 12 to 18 months has been as good as anybody in the world; he's definitely a big part of our team in all forms of the game."

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Watson Stars In Australia Win

Shane Watson knocked Bangladesh's bowlers senseless with a world record tally of sixes as the Australians galloped to a nine-wicket victory in the second limited overs match in Mirpur to seal the series.

The target of 230 had appeared a possible banana skin on a slow pitch offering some turn, but Watson made such light work of it, that his unbeaten185 from 96 balls now stands as the highest ODI score by an Australian, overtaking Matthew Hayden's 181 against New Zealand in 2007.

Xavier Marshall's 2008 mark for most sixes fell when Watson swung his 13th over the rope, the second six in as many balls off the bowling of Abdur Razzak. Watson added two more for good measure, laying claim to one of ODI cricket's more enduring records, for the highest individual percentage of runs in a completed innings. His 79.74% bested Viv Richards' 69.48% in his momentous 189 not out, out of 272 for 9, against England in 1984. (It doesn't qualify for Cricinfo's records, though, which recognise only those cases where a team is all out or where the full allocation of scheduled overs was used.)

Following Michael Clarke's century in game one, vice-captain Watson struck a mighty blow for the visitors' new leadership duo, accompanied most of the way by the unbeaten Ricky Ponting, although it came against a Bangladesh attack that was cowed into submission from virtually the first over of the chase.

Dropping Cameron White for Callum Ferguson as they sought a series-sealing victory, the Australians were in total command when Bangladesh slid to 88 for 5. But Rahim, allrounder Mahmudullah and left-arm spinner Suhrawadi Shuvo pushed the hosts to 229 for 7.

Shahriar Nafees had done his best to keep the first half of the innings from petering out entirely but he was not helped by the funereal approach of opener Imrul Kayes, who lingered 41 balls to gouge out five runs. Mitchell Johnson and Steve Smith shared five well-deserved wickets, while Brett Lee was short of luck during a spell that was damaged after he leaked 17 runs in his final over.

As if to stamp his intent on proceedings, Watson coshed 14 from the first over of the reply and made 27 before his partner, Brad Haddin, had even faced a ball. Together they added 62 before Haddin, having contributed eight, mistimed a catch to midwicket for his second low score of the series.

Ponting was largely happy to enjoy his front-row seat for the Watson exhibition, which will please his Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne as much as it did Clarke. The punishment was never greater than in the 22nd over, when Shuvo was deposited for four leg-side sixes, illustrating Watson's fearful power against supine opponents.

Seeking parity at 1-1 after Shakib Al Hasan won the toss, Tamim Iqbal offered a flashy drive at Johnson in the second over and sliced to the left of the solitary slip where Shane Watson held an excellent catch. In the next over Lee and the rest of the Australians were convinced they had Imrul gloving a well-directed short ball behind, but a vociferous and sustained appeal went unheeded, decision reviews not being used during the series. Australia's disgust at not claiming the wicket would be alleviated across the next eight overs, as Imrul crawled to five from 41 balls, draining the innings of all momentum and then compounded his sin by swinging unwisely at Johnson to sky a leg-side catch.

The next man in, Raqibul Hasan, played down the wrong line at Hastings and was bowled for a duck, before Smith ripped a leg break between Shakib's bat and pad in his first over, leaving Shahriar to attempt to repair the damage. He had reached 56 when Smith flighted a leg break and was rewarded with the tamest of return catches, as the hosts slid to 88 for 5.

From this dire base developed a partnership between Mahmudullah and wicketkeeper Rahim, lifting Bangladesh into the realm of respectability with a combination of neat strokes and tidy running between the wickets. They were bracing for the batting Powerplay when Watson pinned Mahmudullah in front of middle stump, but Rahim, Shuvo and Shafiul Islam spirited away 59 runs from the final five overs to ensure a target that hinted at competitiveness.

The home side's only change was to withdraw Mashrafe Mortaza from the firing line, replaced by Rubel Hossain, after Mortaza was significantly down on his usual pace in the series opener. Given Watson's subsequent pyrotechnics, he may have been relieved to sit this one out.

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Clarke Intent On Gentle Start

Clarke first tour as captain of the Australian team will be the last of the Ricky Ponting era, as the new captain said he would wait until the conclusion of the brief Bangladesh trip to impart major change. Clarke, speaking for the team in the minutes before its departure from Sydney on Monday morning, indicated that the three ODI matches in Bangladesh would be a chance to ease into the role without any significant upheaval of team dynamics.

"We're fortunate we have these three one-dayers now and then we get a good break, so it's allowed me to just focus on these three one dayers, not look too far ahead, and not think about changes that I feel might need to be made," Clarke said. "It's just been about coming home, do what you can do to prepare, concentrate on the series, and when I get back from Bangladesh I can worry about whatever else I have to worry about."

Clarke's leadership style is already known to those who have played under him, effectively leaving only Ponting to get used to the concept of taking orders from a new leader. "A lot of the guys have played under me in one day cricket or Twenty20 cricket so they know how I go about things," said Clarke. "I am a different person to Ricky but the way he's led the team for a long time the guys are certainly accustomed to, so it's going to take time for guys to adjust.

"For me it's about being open, letting the guys know if there's anything they need any time, 24/7 they can knock on my door, they can call me, and I just want everyone to have the freedom to be who they are, and play the cricket they love playing."

The notion of subtle change is supported by the presence of Ponting himself but also the long-time team manager Steve Bernard, who has presided over every Australian tour since the 1998 visit to India, but will finish his fulltime tenure once the squad returns home from this journey. Accompanying Bernard is the new manager, Gavin Dovey, who was recruited after spending time as manager of the England rugby union team.

Much like Clarke, Dovey has a difficult act to follow, for Bernard's unique blend of cricket experience - he was a New South Wales fast bowler then a state and national selector - and an amiably organised manner made him the ideal "fixer" on tour.

"Brute (Bernard) has certainly seen the start of my career, and he's here now so he's been a wonderful help, not only to me personally but to a lot of the guys who've played cricket for Australia," Clarke said. "He's been a great team manager, he's made our lives a lot easier by how organised he is, and his knowledge of the game is something I think people certainly when he's gone will realise how good a cricket brain he had.

"Not only was he a successful player himself but the amount of cricket he's watched and seen and the ups and downs he's seen the Australian team go through it's knowledge not many people have at the end of their careers. So he's certainly going to be missed, hopefully we can make this last tour a great one for him."

A little bleary-eyed following a 5 a.m. wake-up call, Clarke said the captaincy would not really sink in until he led the team onto the field for the first match of the limited overs series on April 9. "I don't think it's sunk in just yet, but I'm excited, I know what's ahead of me and my goals are simple," he said. "We go to Bangladesh and want to win this series. When I take the field and have the chance to walk out first in front of the team, it will probably sink in then."

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Clarke Surprised By Birthday Attention

New Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke expressed surprise - with a hint of disappointment - that his 30th birthday celebration received newspaper and TV coverage.

It only took four days for Clarke to receive confirmation that he faces public scrutiny of a kind his predecessor Ricky Ponting seldom did.

If anyone in cricket knows what it's like to have their private lives made public it's Clarke, after his relationship with ex-fiancee Lara Bingle became media fodder.

But the new skipper said he was perplexed as to why a rare birthday celebration on home soil with family and close friends on Friday night would be in the public interest.

"I probably laughed a bit like everyone else to be honest, I certainly didn't expect something like that to make the paper, but it did and that's the way it is I guess," said Clarke before flying out with his team for the Bangladesh tour.

"My focus is here, my focus is on getting to Bangladesh and playing some good cricket and I think the public's focus is pretty similar.

"I don't think they want to read about what I do on my birthday."

While Ponting knew all about unrelenting attention during his captaincy reign, it was almost all related to his on-field ups and downs as captain.

It's hard to imagine camera crews would ever be out waiting to capture Ponting's birthday night out.

While he sounded disappointed with the weekend media coverage of a private occasion, Clarke accepted that a high media profile was part of his job.

Several times he referred to his responsibilities off the field and said he was ready to embrace the challenge.

"I do obviously understand what comes with being the captain of Australia, what responsibilities you have, obviously as I've seen lately on and off the field," he said.

"I've really enjoyed being vice captain for a few years. I think that was a great experience for me. It showed me a lot of what goes on off the field as a leader in the Australian cricket team and how much it's not just about what you do on the field."

Clarke also noted somewhat wistfully that Ponting was probably enjoying dropping out of the spotlight to become just a regular team member on the Bangladesh tour.

"He (Ponting) is probably stoked I'm here doing the press, he doesn't have to do it anymore," he said.

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Mortaza Returns, Ashraful Axed For Australia ODIs

Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful's stop-start international career hit another roadblock when he was left out of the Bangladesh side for the upcoming three-match home ODI series against Australia. Seamer Mashrafe Mortaza, who missed the World Cup with a knee injury, was recalled, along with middle-order batsman Alok Kapali. Shakib Al Hasan was retained as the captain, while Tamim Iqbal will remain his deputy.

Ashraful had a forgettable World Cup, managing only 18 runs in three outings, and was axed along with Junaid Siddique, Naeem Islam and Nazmul Hossain. Uncapped batsman Shuvagoto Hom was the only newcomer named in the side.

With 145 wickets in 116 ODIs, Mortaza, 27, is Bangladesh's second-highest wicket-taker in the format, and his return brightens their prospects against Australia. Kapali played the last of his 65 one-dayers in September 2008, and his recall is an attempt to bolster Bangladesh's misfiring middle order. If he gets a chance in the series, Kapali will hope to improve on his mediocre batting average of 19.83.

The three-matches will be played on April 9, 11 and 13 at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur.

Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal (vice-capt), Mashrafe Mortaza, Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees, Raqibul Hasan, Alok Kapali, Shuvagoto Hom, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Abdur Razzak, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Rubel Hossain and Shafiul Islam

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Ricky Ponting Steps Down As Captain After World Cup

Ricky Ponting has stepped down as Australia's captain in Tests and ODIs following their quarter-final exit from the World Cup but will be available for selection as a batsman in both formats. Ponting made the announcement at the SCG on Tuesday, and backed Michael Clarke to take over the leadership of the team.

Ponting said the World Cup exit had prompted his decision and that "no one has tapped me on the shoulder asking me to go."

"I have resigned as captain of both the Test and one-day Australian teams. I will continue to play and am available for selection in both the one day and Test teams," Ponting said.

"I have thought long and hard about what Australian cricket needs. Now is the right time for the next captain to assume the responsibility for both the Test and one-day teams. We have to be doing everything we can to win back the Ashes in 2013-14 and the World Cup in 2015.

 It is highly unlikely that I will be still playing so it is the right decision for Australian cricket that the next captain now be appointed. This will give him the opportunity to create his own direction and legacy.

"Today is a new start for me and I am very excited about the future.

 I will give my complete support to our new captain and continue to do my best to set the best possible example for my team-mates and emerging cricketers alike."

	Ricky Ponting tenure as Australia's captain is over © Getty Images Enlarge

Any suggestions that Ponting might have been told it was time to quit as captain were categorically denied by the man himself, and his words rang true next to the obvious - and perhaps not always constructive - deference of the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch, coach Tim Nielsen and CA chief executive James Sutherland.

"I'll absolutely go on record here as saying I've had no tap on the shoulder from anybody; this is a decision that's been made wholly and solely by me and people close to me, my family first and foremost," Ponting said.

"If the decision was too late I think I would've had the selectors and my bosses in Cricket Australia telling me a while ago they felt my time might've been up.

"I can go on record again and say I have never received that sort of message from the selectors or from Cricket Australia."

Ponting expressed his desire to travel to Bangladesh for three limited-overs matches next month. The team for the tour will not be named until Wednesday, but Ponting's announcement should allow Clarke to assume the captaincy on the tour, before difficult assignments against Sri Lanka and South Africa later in the year.

On his arrival home from an unsuccessful World Cup defence, Ponting had said he was prepared to give up the captaincy and also move down the batting order if it was in the interests of the Australian team. With the benefit of a day's reflection, he decided that now was the best time to go. At 36, Ponting believed he can still enjoy the type of renaissance that has sustained Sachin Tendulkar in recent times.

Ponting held the Australian Test and one-day captaincy since he took over from Steve Waugh. He led Australia in 77 Tests of which 48 were wins, the most for any captain. He also captained Australia in a record 228 ODIs and won 164, including two World Cups in 2003 and 2007. Ponting's fortunes as captain, however, waned along with those of the team as a series of retirements weakened its resources. His Test captaincy flamed out in the 3-1 home Ashes defeat in 2010-11 and his one-day reign ended with elimination from the World Cup.

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Ponting Walks Into World Cup Sunset

Ricky Ponting's battling century could not prevent another blot on his captaincy record but the Australian walked into the World Cup sunset knowing he had at least salvaged his batting reputation.

Back home, the clamour was growing for his removal and a day before the quarter-final defeat by India, Ponting was busy quashing retirement rumours sparked by a string of low scores in the tournament.

The 36-year-old batsman did not want to leave one-day cricket's biggest stage without a last hurrah.

His 30th ODI century -- a 118-ball 104 against India on Thursday -- may not rank among his best but it bore the hallmark of his characteristic belligerence.
Having led Australia to three Ashes defeats, Ponting also presided over their spectacular demise as ODI world champions after a remarkable 12-year reign that ended in what he reckoned was his last World Cup match.

"As things turn out, it could be my last World Cup game. If I end up having made a hundred in my last World Cup game, then I guess I can be pretty happy at the end of the day," Ponting told reporters.

But the pain was written all over his face when asked if he felt like a tragic hero since his ton failed to lift his team to victory.

"I don't know how to answer that question. I'm not a tragic hero. I'm not feeling much of a hero right now," he said.

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Battle Of The Flawed HeavyWeights

This match can be seen through several prisms: champions of the world v pre-tournament favourites, misfiring middle order v misfiring middle order, pace-reliant attack v spin-heavy attack, athletic fielders v incompetent fielders. Australia against India is a clash between teams with obvious imperfections. The loser goes home while the winner heads to Mohali, to play Pakistan on March 30.

If any of Ricky Ponting's men are relatively weak-willed, compared to the Australians of campaigns past, they have had plenty to help them focus in the days leading up to this quarter-final. An Australian paper reported Cricket Australia were going to discuss Ponting's future as captain. An English paper reported Ponting was going to jump before he was pushed. An Indian paper reported sinister allegations about Australia's game against Zimbabwe, prompting an angry retraction demand from the ICC. Whether they were planted to drive Australia to distraction is debatable, but none of the stories was substantiated.

Off-field dramas aside, Australia's progress in this World Cup was smooth at first - a comfortable win against Zimbabwe, a smashing one against New Zealand - and then uninspiring, when they laboured against Kenya and Canada. In each of those matches, at least one weakness was evident: a captain struggling for form, a middle order troubled by turn, spinners incapable of striking, and fast bowlers with wonky radars. All of these frailties were exposed by Pakistan, who ended the legendary unbeaten World Cup run on 34 matches. Australia's successes have been built around the opening partnership of Brad Haddin and Shane Watson, and the energy of Brett Lee. That might not be enough to topple India - but it might, for MS Dhoni's team is far from the shoo-in semi-finalist it was expected to be.

Before the World Cup began India's batting line-up was thought to possess the armour of God, their bowling was considered less formidable but effective in home conditions, and the fielding was known to be average. As their campaign played out, it became evident that the armour didn't fit the middle order - there were collapses of 9 for 29 and 7 for 51 - and the bowling, while adequate on helpful surfaces, was mediocre on flat pitches. The fielding has not been average. It has been abysmal. Slow anticipation, slower approaches to the ball, failure to cut off angles, and plain lethargy have allowed opponents to run at will.

For a long time during West Indies' chase, it seemed as though India would make the quarter-finals by beating only the three weakest teams of their group, which would have vindicated this forgiving format designed to prevent the upsets of 2007. But Zaheer Khan saved the day, as India expect him to. Zaheer apart, India have relied on Yuvraj Singh for an extraordinary number of wickets, as well as consistent runs in the middle order. The key, though, is at the top, where Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have provided tremendous starts. But even if they do it again against Brett Lee and Shaun Tait, it may not be enough.

The batting Powerplay was conceived as an asset for the batting team, an aid in the pursuit of fast runs. In the months leading into the World Cup, it began to be a banana skin, with wickets falling as batsmen resorted to rashness during the fielding restrictions. India have slipped spectacularly on it during the tournament, scoring 9 for 154 off 130 balls. During the batting Powerplay, India lost 1 for 32 against England, 4 for 30 against South Africa and 4 for 28 against West Indies, squandering positions of immense strength. Australia haven't mastered it either, making only 4 for 121 off 100 balls. Those five tricky overs could make or break a campaign tomorrow.

If the stakes weren't large enough to fire up Ponting, the talk about his captaincy and retirement will have strengthened his determination to end his form slump with a cathartic performance. Ponting has been dismissed by the short ball - a strength turned weakness - in this World Cup and by spin, a more traditional subcontinent susceptibility. His composure has also been strained. Eight years ago to the day, Ponting ended India's World Cup dream in Johannesburg with a century of frightening brutality. He plans to watch videos of it in the hope that it will help him reproduce something similar in Ahmedabad.

Sachin Tendulkar watched that World Cup slip out of India's grasp as the bowlers conceded 359 in the final. He was then dismissed in the first over of the chase. The Player-of-the-Tournament prize was little consolation. He has the opportunity to write a wonderful script tomorrow - a 100th international century in a victory that will dethrone the World Champions. But cricket, like life, is never perfect.

Virender Sehwag missed the last group game because of an inflamed knee and India are keeping news of his fitness under wraps. He batted on Tuesday and on the eve of the game as well, but Dhoni said they might wait as late as match morning to take a decision on his participation. If Sehwag does not play, India are likely to field the same XI that beat West Indies.

India (probable): 1 Virender Sehwag/Gautam Gambhir, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir/Suresh Raina, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Yuvraj Singh, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 R Ashwin, 11 Munaf Patel.

Australia have had an unchanged team since Michael Hussey replaced his brother in the XI, and they are likely to do the same against India. The weakest links have been middle-order batsman Cameron White and offspinner Jason Krejza and potential replacements could be David Hussey and allrounder John Hastings.

"We haven't finalised our 11 yet. We'll have a bit more of a think about things this afternoon, make sure all our players have got through training well, with no injuries or illnesses," Ponting said. "There's a good chance that any of our guys could come in for this game. Coming off a loss last game wasn't ideal for us, and we have to have a look at what we think is going to be the best make-up and balance for the game tomorrow."

Australia (probable): 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 Shane Watson, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Cameron White/David Hussey, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Steve Smith, 8 Jason Krejza/John Hastings, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Mitchell Johnson, 11 Shaun Tait.

Australia played their World Cup opener at Motera, where they started slowly against Zimbabwe before accelerating to a formidable total. Ponting expected tomorrow's pitch to be similar to that one. "It was pretty much what you'd expect for a subcontinent wicket: a little bit slower, spun a bit more in the second innings of the game maybe than the first," he said. "We're going to send our coaches down late tonight to have a look at the ground and see if there's any dew about. I think it's supposed to be 41 [degrees] or something [similar], so it will be nice and hot for the boys out there."

MS Dhoni hopes that familiarity will breed confidence when Lee, Tait and Johnson thunder in.

"Maybe we've just learned to keep our mouths closed a bit more. A lot of that chat hasn't really happened since [Glenn] McGrath and [Shane] Warne went out of the team. Hopefully, our cricket will do the talking on the field tomorrow."

Ricky Ponting on sledging and whether there will be plenty of it during the quarter-final.

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India Game Is Like A Mini Final

Australia's coach, has said his team were hoping to meet India in the final of the World Cup, and would be treating their quarter-final against the tournament co-hosts in Ahmedabad on Thursday as a "mini-grand final". He said he was aware the atmosphere at Motera would be electric, and his players were looking forward to that.

"The adrenaline will certainly be flowing and playing in front of their home crowd in Ahmedabad will be exciting and a challenge for us," Nielsen said. "We've got no fear now; we know we're in the knockout stage.

"It's exciting … a mini-grand final in itself. If you came here and thought, 'What would be the best result? It would be great to make the final against India'. Well, we've got our final against India in the next few days. I'm sure if we're on our game, they won't necessarily be looking forward to playing against us. That's something in our favour."

India have played Australia in 15 one-dayers at home in the last five years, and Australia have won nine of those matches. Both teams have lost a game each in the group stages of this World Cup, and though India will be hoping home advantage can buoy them to a victory, Nielsen warned it could also be a hindrance to them.

Nielsen said he remembered the pressure Australia faced when they played the World Cup at home in 1992, and said things would be no different for India. "It's [playing at home] a huge factor for them. There's some pressure there and if we can start the game well and maybe quieten the crowd that will play on the mind of the Indian team."

The attention on India will also help lessen the hype that usually surrounds any Australian team at a World Cup. This time around, the defending champions are not the out-and-out favourites to win the tournament, and the end of their unbeaten World Cup streak, against Pakistan in Colombo, has further lessened the aura of the side. Nielsen looks at that as an advantage, saying all the pressure was on India.

''The media and the public scrutiny will also be so great that you'd expect India to have most of the pressure on them. They will be answering all the questions; there'll be questions about the surface we play on, there'll be questions about their line-up. It would be nice to think we can sneak under the radar a bit and just go about our preparation over the next few days and be as ready to go as we can be."

India's formidable batting line-up has shown a weakness in their last two games. In both matches, the top order set a solid base, only for the middle and lower order to collapse spectacularly. Against South Africa, in Nagpur, India lost their last 9 for 29, and then against West Indies, in Chennai, the collapse was 7 for 50. However, Nielsen said Australia could not risk letting India get off to a good start in the hope that wickets would fall later on, and would need to try to get early wickets.

"The importance of a quarter-final and the stature of a match will mean they [India's batsmen] are switched on. But if we can make some early inroads into their batting - [Virender] Sehwag, [Sachin] Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and [Gautam] Gambhir have played really well for them - we'd like to think that would be a benefit for us.''

Australia's own batting has had a few chinks, with Ricky Ponting and Cameron White both struggling for form, and the team crashing to 176 all out against Pakistan. Nielsen was not too concerned about the form of individual players, and said that as long as one of the top four batsmen got a big score, the team could kick on from that.

''We need to get a platform for our batting to expand and score quickly. The grounds are huge, the outfields lightning fast. If you can get in, then when the ball is changed after 34 overs you've really got an opportunity to score quickly.''

Australia have an impressive record against India in World Cup matches, having beaten them in seven of the nine counters, and will hope to continue that run on March 24.

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Australia Have Enough Firepower To Beat India

The aura of invincibility remained inconspicuous by its absence through the league stage, but senior batsman Michael Hussey feels Australia still have the necessary firepower to knock pre-tournament favourites India out of the World Cup.

The two sides meet in a high-voltage quarterfinal clash at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on Thursday.

"I don't really care (about general perception that Australia is no longer unbeatable). We have done particularly well in the sub-continent over the last few years. We have won quite a few series here.

"We go into this game with a lot of confidence because we have played well against India in Indian conditions in the last few years and won. I think we have a great chance," Hussey told reporters on Tuesday.

"We are very excited to be here. We have a great match against India. It's going to be a great spectacle for the fans in a packed stadium. It's a blockbuster match. We are looking forward to it," said Hussey, who was included in the team as a replacement for injured left-arm pacer Doug Bollinger.

Australia's 34-match winning streak in the tournament dating back to 1999 was snapped by Pakistan, who won their concluding Group A league clash in Colombo on Saturday, but the 35-year-old Hussey was optimistic about his team's chances and take that confidence further to retain their title.

"This is a huge game for us. Teams who win their quarterfinals, win well and take that confidence into the semifinals. We believe if we beat India we will have a great chance to go on to win the tournament," he said.

Hussey did not read too much into India's batting collapses against England, South Africa and the West Indies and said the Australians can put enough pressure on the home side's strong batting line-up and clinch the semifinal berth.

"We have to put pressure on all the Indian batsmen; they are fantastic players, no question about that. We have done well against India in the past in one-day cricket. We are sure it will continue in the next game.

"We have to go hard for every single run. It's going to be a tight game. We have to put pressure on the Indians. We have to really go hard and get as many runs and put the Indian fielders under pressure," said the left-handed batsman who has played 154 ODIs.

Hussey brushed aside reports in Australia that Ricky Ponting's captaincy is at stake, saying the entire team is backing the two-time World Cup-winning skipper.

"No worries at all. He has been doing this job for a long time. He's certainly got the full support of the team. He's been criticised over minor things. They have been blown out of proportions. He's been playing well and just like a champion rises to the occasion at the right time, on Thursday we will see the best of Ricky Ponting," he said.

Ponting goes into the tie with only 102 runs under his belt from six matches, with 36 being his highest score, in the tournament so far. He has also been criticised for losing temper on and off the field too.

Hussey warned the Indian batsmen to expect short stuff from his team's three-pronged pace attack.

"They would like to be aggressive, take quick wickets and baffle Indian batsmen with some short stuff," he said.

Despite the loss to Pakistan in their concluding group league fixture, Hussey did not expect too many changes in the playing eleven in the quarterfinal.

"I am not a selector but I don't anticipate many changes (as) it would be dangerous to change the combination too much," he pointed out.

He expected the wicket to be a slow turner and said his team would have to be well-prepared to counter it and the performance of the top three batsmen would give an indication of what total to set.

"The total depends on the conditions. Have to sum up those conditions quickly. Generally here it can be low and slow spinning sort of pitch. We have to prepare well for that. Communication from the top three batsmen will give us a bit of an indication about what sort of score would be a good score or par score and would try and work towards it," he said.

Hussey expected Zaheer Khan, India's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 15 to his credit, to be the danger man after having grown in stature since the 2003 World Cup final, when his first over was a disaster against Australia at Johannesburg.

"He's a very experienced cricketer who knows his game very well. That's important for a cricketer, having experience and knowing your own game very well. Another thing is that he bowls well throughout the whole innings, with the new ball and is very skillful with the old ball too. He's a proven performer," he said.

Hussey said the Australians are well prepared for the hot conditions here as well as the length of the tournament.

"In Australia we are very well prepared. We make sure we train very hard. We make sure before tournament starts we will be 100 per cent fit in body and mind. It varies with different players," he remarked.

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Australia Win Easily But Kenya Regain Honor

Australia's World Cup campaign resumed with an ultimately comfortable 60-run victory against Kenya, although Collins Obuya's unbeaten 98 meant the Associate nation took pride out of the contest. An upset was never on the cards but Kenya put in their best performance of the tournament with the highlight being the 115-run stand between Obuya and Tanmay Mishra.

The imposing run chase had been set up by a 114-run partnership between Michael Clarke and the returning Michael Hussey in his first innings of the World Cup. It actually gave Australia some important breathing space, but Kenya had long-since given up any hope of chasing down 325 on the ground where Ireland shocked England earlier in the tournament.

The most tension came in the closing overs, when Obuya could have reached his maiden one-day century - and Kenya's first at a World Cup - but he failed to get the three runs he needed off the last two balls. However, Ricky Ponting will be acutely aware that his team were far from impressive especially in the field. The bowlers, except for Brett Lee, certainly looked rusty as Kenya posted their best World Cup total.

After an early strike each for Lee and Shaun Tait it appeared Kenya would fall in a heap. Maurice Ouma edged a good outswinger and Alex Obanda, after driving Tait over long on with one of the shots of the tournament, missed an ugly heave at a quick full toss. When the Obuya brothers mislaid their sibling understanding which resulted in David's run out there was an opportunity for a swift finish.

However, Collins refocused after the mix-up and firstly provided solid support for Mishra in Kenya's sixth World Cup hundred stand before forming another strong partnership with the aggressive Thomas Odoyo who struck the ball cleanly. Obuya, who became famous for his legspin heroics at the 2003 World Cup, passed his fifty with a wonderful lofted drive over long off against Shane Watson then took advantage of the batting Powerplay. He twice pulled Watson's medium pace for six but couldn't quite the final boundary he needed for three figures.

In Mishra, Kenya also have someone who provides hope for the future. On a day where Tikolo, the grand old father of Kenyan cricket, was left out Mishra showed he has a huge role to play of the game is to recover in the country. He showed some class with swift footwork against Steve Smith to firstly pull him over midwicket for six then loft him through the off side and played a similar stroke against Jason Krejza.

His fifty came off 63 balls and he set a new career-best mark when he reached 67. This isn't the Australia attack of previous World Cup but it remains a handy unit. There was a chance for Mishra to convert into a notable century when he was caught short by Clarke's dead-eye throw from backward point, but he had ensured his team respectability.

The biggest bonus for Australia was the performance of Hussey, who replaced his brother David in the line up, on his return from injury having come into the squad for Doug Bollinger. At 143 for 4, Australia needed a solid partnership and Hussey, getting off the mark with a first-ball boundary, formed a confident partnership with Clarke.

Hussey didn't drop below a run-a-ball during his stay and although he'll face far tougher tasks than this Kenya attack, it was a more valuable innings than any net session could provide. He was quick on his feet, gave the hamstring a good test with a few dives for the crease and his placement was as calculated as it always has been.

Clarke, meanwhile, ticked over with minimal fuss after feeling his way in against the spinners on a surface that offered turn to maintain his World Cup average of over 100. After Hussey departed Clarke began to open up during the batting Powerplay and collected four boundaries in quick succession including a six over midwicket. He'd equalled his highest score in World Cup matches when he couldn't quite clear long-on to give the deserving Nehemiah Odhiambo his third wicket.

The lack of middle time for the batsmen could well have played a part in Ponting's decision to bat and Watson was quickly out of the blocks until he top edged to the keeper. Australia then went through a period where seven overs brought 14 runs and Brad Haddin was having particular trouble forcing the pace as he kept hitting the field and was fortunate when an edge flew past slip on 16, while he could have been run out on 25 when his bat got stuck in the adjacent pitch.

Steadily, though, the pair increased the scoring rate and Haddin brought up his fifty off 63 balls with a deft glide to third man only to pick out long-on attempting his second six. That began a good period for Kenya as Obuya trapped Ponting lbw for a scratchy 36 after correctly opting to review the original not-out decision. Cameron White, who retained his place ahead of David Hussey, continued his lean run when he was beaten by a ripping delivery from Jimmy Kamande and both he and his captain will want a significant innings against Canada on Wednesday.

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Hussey Ready For His 'Dream Come True'

Hussey has said that his fortuitous call-up to the World Cup squad was a "dream come true" and is confident that his hamstring will withstand the rigours of one-day cricket as Australia pursue their fourth consecutive title. Dirk Nannes, on the other hand, who is travelling to the subcontinent as a standby player, is unsure of his role but wants to make the most of his opportunity.

"Just going is a bit of a dream come true, but to actually be there as part of a winning Australian team would be out of this world, so let's hope," Hussey told the Sydney Morning Herald. " I've had lots of messages from the boys already so I'm just excited to get over there really."

Hussey was informed of his selection during the tea break of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland at the WACA on Sunday. He had been part of the initial World Cup squad, but was replaced by Callum Ferguson before the tournament began after sustaining a hamstring injury that needed surgery. Hussey's opportunity arose when Doug Bollinger was injured in India.

Hussey scored only 19 and 11 against Queensland but he said the time spent on the field had given him confidence. "The first innings I fielded in the slips for the whole innings so I didn't really have to test it [hamstring] too much but in the second innings the selectors actually did want me to have a bit of a run around in the field," Hussey said. "So I spoke to Northy (Marcus North) and said 'do you mind if I have a run in the outfield? And the more I was out and on it the better it felt and the more confidence I got with it.

"It would have been nice to score more runs, but just to be out there playing the game you love again is what it's all about. Just knowing I can get through the game and know I can go full of confidence with the leg, that gives me a lot of confidence as well."

Australia made a strong start to the World Cup, winning their first two matches before their game against Sri Lanka was washed out in Colombo. "We've got to be a great chance," Hussey said. "A confident Australian team is always very hard to beat so hopefully we can keep building that confidence and be right there at the business end of the tournament."

While Hussey is likely to slot in the middle order straightaway, Nannes will not be available for selection unless another player in Australia's squad gets injured. Nannes said he was surprised to get the call from the selectors. "It's certainly unexpected, I was just having fun on the farm on the weekend and got the phone call," he told The West Australian. "I'm rapt to be going over, I'm not really sure what sort of role I'm going to play.

"Relying on any injuries is not the best situation to be in, I guess, but at least I've been given some sort of opportunity. I'm excited about what may be, I will prepare myself to carry bags well and make good drinks, that's about all I can do.

"I was a bit miffed earlier in the year when I wasn't in the Twenty20 squad and I was a bit miffed, I guess, not being in the original [World Cup] 30," he said. "I guess that's the lot of a cricketer, you have selection problems and then the highs that come with it, that's just part of being a sportsman. I've never been part of the one-day setup and the way that operates, I've never been under Ricky Ponting, so it will be massively beneficial to my cricket."

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