Selection Announcements - Round 2 FC

[Simon]

same deal as usual...

[Simon]

ACT Make One Change

Despite winning their first match of the season comfortably ACT Comets manager Simon Fitzsimmons has made one tactical change to his squad for the massive showdown with rivals Tamil Nadu. Upon hearing the news that opposition manager Andrew Cloete has ordered a seam friendly pitch Fitzsimmons has strengthened the bowling line up with the inclusion of medium pacer Dean Bent.
Bent who bowled well in last weeks 2nd XI clash has been brought in at the expense of opening batsman Mark Phadke, obviously this slightly weakens the batting but we know its going to take a big effort to tackle their powerful TN line up and this is our best chance. Wicketkeeper AB De Villiers who 89 not out batting down the order last week will switch to the top of the order for this clash.

The full ACT team is 1 AB De Villiers+ 2 E Howarth 3 R Ponting 4 S Yashpal 5 M Ul Haq 6 O Cardew 7 R Watson 8 B Marshall 9 D Bent 10 P Marlowe 11 G Goff

[NZTailender]

Dawn hoping to continue form.
By Simon Frost.
Despite mustering 29 runs in the opening match of First Class cricket, Michael Dawn believes he is in fine form.
"An un-beaten 144 proves that I am. Doesn't matter what form of cricket it's in, form is form. I got my eye in, in the one day match, and all I have to do now is make a similar knock in the longer form" he said after pre-match training. He smiles with a broad Aussie grin.
"Some people at home were quick to slag me off in the press after that match (vs Free State), being the new Captain and all, claiming I was overrated and not worth the transfer money. The season's no where near over but I'm confident that when it has ended, I'll have had a very proficient run with the bat."
When asked if he was carrying the hopes of the entire team he was quick to play down his role.
"Of course I'm important - I'm the captain. I have to make the tough decisions and lead the team. But we have seven excellent batsmen in the team, not to mention two bowlers who are absolutely no mug with the bat, and they will all stand up and be counted for and not leave all the work to one person."
He is cautious but upbeat about the next encounter with South Australia.
"They're a tough side with a talented managerial team. It will be very hard but I know our guys can pull together to defeat them. I look forward to posting my debut first class century for Yorks against them" he says, with a wink.
Regardless of where Yorkshire finish this season, rest assured that Michael Dawn will have given it his all as both captain and a batsman.

It was a little surprising that fast bowler Z Saeed wasn't picked for the match. He took 11 wickets last weekend to add to his swag from the pre-season friendlies and surely must be close to a call up.
"Like I said last week we're keeping an eye on him" said Yorkshire manager Greg Thomas at a press conference tonight. "He won't play this weekend but he's not far away. It would be tough to find a spot for him actually, as Evans leads the attack opening with either Silva or Laker as they're both versatile bowlers and can attack with the new ball or come on at first change, not to mention what Silva adds with the bat.
I hate to say it but the only way he (Saeed) may get a match is through injury of one of the bowlers or when we play on a wicket that has nothing for the spinners."


Danish Kaneria at practice ahead of Yorkshire's clash with South Australia. He will be the key man in the Yorkshire attack.

Yorkshire XI to play South Australia (in batting order): M Dawn (c), K Agnew, M Jayawardene, W Tendulkar, M Love, P Marsden, L Vincent (wk), R Silva, F Evans, P Laker, D Kaneria.

[Coach_Pearson]

Victoria will be going with an unchanged 4 day line-up from the side that lost to Colt by 8 wickets. The following players are under notice to preform, or play 2nd XI: M Hussey, A Clissitt, A Kale and D Guinness. Meanwhile the 2nd XI will be expecting a number of changes, in an attempt to rotate through the player list, and attempt to find a solution to the form slump in the four day arena.

[roseboy64]

Free State management has released this statement:
"We'll be playing the same side as in the last game. We have decided to not change a winning team."

[cbuts]

There is no word yet on the two Western Australian XI's for this rounds game, it is expected that only one change will take palce, Pearson will be out for an expected 4 weeks, as he heads home for personal reasons. After some great form in the opening rounds, including a centruy in both the FC and OD games, the od captian Rayadu is expected to be called up to FC 1st XI duty. Expect Vandort to take his place in the 2nd XI. This will mean a new captian for the 2nd XI, one would assume this will be J Laney

(Possible lineups - 1st XI L Ronchi +, H Kanitkar c, A Rayadu, D Thornley, Q Spenser, J Ryder, W Hopcutt, M Beasley, H Jenkins, K Dean, F Milligan
2nd XI J Laney c, P Hoare, I Ghulam Ahmed, K Raymer, M Vandort, Q Friend, R Uthappa+, J Graham, M Hossain Jnr, G Virtue, W Quinn)

[chaminda_00]

Colts have decided to go unchanged for their match against Zimbabwean outfit Mashonaland . When asked his reason for not making any changes, Loganathan replied, " There is no need to change a winning side." Mashonaland on paper are probably the strongest side in Divison Three and Colts will just be using the match as warm up for their OD encounter with Queensland next week. But if Colts can pull of an upset they believe it will be on the back of the their spin attack of Madugalle and Birch. Mashonaland's batsmen in the past have shown a weakness against spin bowling, which Colts will be looking to exploit

[NZTailender]

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

Mashonaland's batsmen in the past have shown a weakness against spin bowling, which Colts will be looking to exploit

[andyc]

Gah look what you've done Greg.

[NZTailender]

Originally Posted by andyc

Gah look what you've done Greg.

Look what I've done? You're the one not providing adequate spin coaching to your players

[mikeW]

Northerns unchanged
Despite the comprehensive first rd loss Northerns has resisted the temptation to make changes to its lineup. Northerns manager MikeW said the major reason for this was that no 2nd XI player pushed their case for selection but warned his first XI squad there would be changes next game if they were to turn in another dismal showing.

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Bellson to debut for WCC Auckland

Following the lack of bowling for Kevin Godwin in Auckland's opening round FC game against Hampshire, manager Liam Camps has called up Eric Bellson to fill the role of the third seamer at the WACA.

Facing the tough decision pertaining to his bowling combination, Camps elected to strengthen the seam attack without diminishing the spin combination of Herath and Khurram Khan. In doing so, Bellson will get his first game of the season.

WCC Auckland 4D Round 1 Team:
Z Roberts (Bat: 54)
G Huckerby (Bat: 51, Bowl [OS]: 49.80)
G Burley (Bat: 47.60)
J Smith (C) (Bat: 56.90)
J Godwin (Bat: 53.50)
K Khurram (Bat: 47.00, Bowl [SLA]: 24.72)
R Campbell (wk) (Bat: 34.60)
E Bellson (Bat: 32.80, Bowl [RF]: 22.13)
D Leverock (Bat: 15.40, Bowl [LFM]: 14.50)
R Plummer (Bat: 13.40, Bowl [RF]: 22.74)
R Herath (Bat: 16.40, Bowl [SLA]: 23.93)

[superkingdave]

Old Trafford 'Funhouse' Tempts Sharp
Unchanged Side Named



Pat Sharp, doyen of childrens television, took time out from pantomime rehearsals at the Palace theatre today to talk about his love for cricket, and in particular for Lancashire county cricket club. Sharp said cricket was 'a whole lot of fun' and went on to talk about the 'prizes to be won.'

"I went to the Mumbai game on my day off" Sharp explained " The ground was absolutely bouncing, I haven't stopped dancing yet"

Pat isn't the only celebrity getting behind the boys in red, recent games have attracted such luminaries as Timmy Mallett, Nik Kershaw and Sir Clive Sinclair.

Captain Hector Midlane said he wasn't worried about his side being distracted by all the stars. "We're all big fans of Pat, but we've got a job to do here, okay we'll be making sure we all get his autograph but after that its down to business"

Lancashire are unchanged for the first away trip of the season.

[andyc]

Mashonaland have decided to keep a winning formula and have named an unchanged eleven heading into this week's clash with the Colts, announced manager Andy Cameron today in a press conference in Zimbabwe.

"We were tempted to make some changes with the bowling, given the conditions of the pitch. The pitch is obviously going to be a big turner, and we were considering bringing in Abuthahir Rizan to help exploit that. Not only does he have a great bowling record, but he can contribute with the bat and as a Sri Lankan himself, would know the pitch. However, we were unwilling to upset the balance of the side, and no one bowler performed badly last round against Queensland. Also, the management staff has great faith in [Mashonaland spinner] Ben Joshi to back up his ten wicket haul from last round with another good performance."


Abuthahir Rizan can consider himself unlucky not to be selected

Although the biggest selection problems seemed to revolve around bowling, it is the batting of the team that has come under fire recently.

"On paper, we have what I feel is the strongest batting line up in Division Three. Despite this, against Queensland we underperformed with the bat. The boys have all been working hard and are confident that they can support the bowlers, who have played well so far this season. It may come as a surprise to some that we have not picked Steve Tikolo to play in place of Rohan Gavaskar, who didn't contribute much with the bat last round. We felt that, although Steve made two forties in the 2nd XI game, it just wasn't enough to really solidify his spot in the firsts. Obviously, we'll be keeping a keen eye on him when he plays for the seconds again."

And on Mashonaland's perceived weakness to spin?

"I honestly have no idea where people are getting this information from. There is absolutely no evidence of our batsmen having a weakness to spin. In fact, many of them feel most comfortable against the spinners than the pacemen."

[vic_orthdox]

Western Province Unchanged
New manager Jack McNamara has selected the same side that fronted up for Round 1, despite drawing the match against Western Australia.

"This side still contains the nucleus of what will hopefully take us through a successful season, and despite what the South African press may think, one match is no reason for changes, let alone those of the wholesale variety."