All posts by csb10.top

The BCCI has received at least four bids for the broadcast, internet and mobile rights to cricket in India for the period July 2012 – March 2018, ESPNcricinfo has learned. The companies believed to have submitted bids are ESPN Star Sports* (ESS), Multi-Screen Media (Sony), Bennett Coleman, which owns the , and a consortium involving TV-18 and Reliance.The bids are being closely watched as they will provide an indication of how valuable the market considers the rights given the board’s cancellation of its previous contract with Nimbus Communications over payment problems coupled with the recent poor performances of the Indian team. The bidding period closed on March 26 and the bids are due to be opened on April 2.Multi-Screen Media has plans to launch a sports channel (likely to be called Six according to ) and the rights to Indian cricket would give the company a second marquee property after the IPL. MSM also has the rights to FA Cup football and the NBA. ESS, the market leader among sports broadcasters in India, owns the rights to ICC events, as well as the domestic rights for Australia and England. Landing the India rights would give them a virtual stranglehold on premium cricket properties.According to market sources, Bennett Coleman are likely to bid for the internet and mobile rights rather than the television rights. The company currently owns the internet rights for the IPL in conjunction with Nimbus.The board was forced to issue a new tender after it terminated its contract with Nimbus in December 2011, claiming the latter had defaulted on its payments. The matter has subsequently been referred for arbitration, with the Bombay High Court ruling that Nimbus must deposit Rs 305 crores (approx US$60 million) with the court as security for the amount the BCCI claims it is owed by the company. Nimbus has also made a counter-claim of Rs 600 crores (approx US$118 million) from the board.The BCCI’s marketing committee set the price for category A games at Rs 31.25 crores per match (approx $6.1 million) plus Rs 1 crore (approx $0.2 million) while category B games were set at Rs 34 crores (approx $6.67 million) plus Rs 1 crore. However, committee chairman Farooq Abdullah did not specify which of the game’s three formats fall under each category, nor why a separate rate of Rs 1 crore was mentioned, though one possibility is that the latter is the base price for the digital rights. The contract with Nimbus had a base price of Rs 31.25 crores (approx $6.1 million) per game for each of the three formats purely for the broadcast rights.The board did attempt to sell the internet rights separately last year, but the tender found no takers at the initial base price of Rs 3 crores (approx $0.6 million) or its subsequently reduced price of Rs 2 crores (approx $0.4 million).*ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.), the parent company of ESPNcricinfo, and News Corporation Limited (STAR)

ScorecardNic Maddinson made a useful half-century•Getty Images

Victoria were set to face a tricky chase on the third day in Melbourne as their hopes of reaching the Sheffield Shield final hung in the balance at stumps on day two. At the close of play, New South Wales were 6 for 149 in their second innings and already led by 172 runs, with Peter Nevill at the crease on 24 and Steve O’Keefe on 4.The Blues had taken first-innings points after a surprisingly effective spell from the occasional slow-medium bowler Ben Rohrer, a batsman who before this match had not taken a first-class wicket. He picked up 4 for 13, including three wickets in an over, as the Victoria tail collapsed to hand the advantage to New South Wales, who cannot make the final.Rohrer had already picked up the wicket of Andrew McDonald for 23 when he snared his three in five balls to finish the innings and dismiss Victoria for 185. Cameron White had top scored for the Bushrangers with 39 and the debutant Chris Tremain picked up 3 for 61 for the Blues.In their second innings, New South Wales lost Phillip Hughes for a duck in the second over before Nic Maddinson (51) and Usman Khawaja (33) steadied the side. But Peter Siddle collected two wickets and helped Victoria make inroads into the New South Wales line-up and by the close of play Victoria held out some hope of a sub-200 chase, but in a low-scoring game even that didn’t promise to be an easy task.

Matabeleland Tuskers demolished Mashonaland Eagles by an innings and 228 runs in Harare, to win their third match out of three in the Logan Cup 2011-12.Choosing to bat, Tuskers were steered by their opener Paul Horton, who hit his 13th first-class century. Horton was supported by Craig Ervine and Keith Dabengwa, who hit patient half-centuries to take Tuskers past 400. They finished with 418, and then went on to rip apart the Eagles’ line-up.New-ball bowler Glen Querl bagged six wickets and Bradley Staddon the remaining four, as Eagles were shot out for 52 – Nos. 6 to 11 failed to score a run. Following on, Eagles’ batsmen failed a second time, as they folded for 138, Peter Moor’s 29 being the biggest contribution.Querl, again, was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets in a miserly spell – he conceded 19 runs in 18 overs. Thabo Mboyi played the support role with three middle-order scalps.Mountaineers registered their first win of the competition, a three-wicket victory over Mid West Rhinos in Kwekwe.Being asked to bat, Rhinos were driven by a century from captain Gary Balance and a knock of 98 from Roland Benade in their first innings, which took them to 309. Fast bowler Shingi Masakadza took his sixth five-for in the innings.Mountaineers, in reply, could muster only 224 despite Kevin Kasuza’s unbeaten 132. Ed Rainsford and Richard Muzhange did most of the damage with the ball, claiming three wickets apiece. However, a second-innings collapse from Rhinos tilted the game in Mountaineers favour. Rhinos folded for 143 as none of their batsmen managed a fifty, and Mountaineers’ new-ball bowler Tendai Chatara bagged five.Needing 229 for a win, Mounaineers were held together by Ned Eckersley, who made 85. That, in combination with a couple of cameos from the middle order, was just enough to carry the team home.

Andy Flower, the England team director, defended his players’ on-field attitude, which has been a source of criticism on their tour of India, and also the approach of Jonathan Trott after another innings that divided opinion in their series-deciding defeat in Mohali.Throughout the series the England players have been agitated in the field and there were further examples on Thursday as they failed to defend 298 in the third ODI. Tim Bresnan was fined for snatching his cap off the umpire after a frustrating over; and Craig Kieswetter’s ‘chat’ behind the stumps has raised questions, especially because of his unconvincing performances with the gloves which included a dropped catch and missed run-out on Thursday.Even within the team some players are not afraid of airing their views to team-mates when something goes wrong – with Graeme Swann often seen berating fielders – but Flower believes England have got the balance right and thought Bresnan’s fine, although small, was unfair. That view backed up Bresnan’s not-guilty plea that meant a hearing was required.”Tim Bresnan is an outstanding young man with a very good disciplinary record,” Flower said. “To be quite honest, I think in this instance it is a harsh judgement – in that it was quite a frustrating over for him.”His snatching of a cap was done out of frustration at five overthrows and an edge down to the third-man boundary, as opposed to any dissent for a decision. I have no problem at all with Tim’s behaviour. He has an outstanding conduct record. They’ve made their judgment, and whether or not we disagree with it is by the by. I think we all move on now.”The on-field chat hasn’t just come from England and following the second one-dayer in Delhi the match-referee, Roshan Mahanama, spoke to both captains about the conduct of their teams. Following the match in Mohali, Dhoni said England might need to change their strategy of verbal intimidation considering it had not worked in their favour.Again, though, Flower believes that England have shown acceptable emotions when in the heat of battle and that disappointment can be misunderstood as anger. “Every sportsman has to consider that balance, and in the main I think our cricketers are excellent role-models and conduct themselves in the way that passionate English sportspeople should do.”The match-referee, after the second one-day international, spoke to both captains about the conduct of both sides – and I think he was right to do that. I think in that second game there was too much ‘talk’ out in the middle. After all, we play the game as a game of skill and you’re there to ‘out-skill’ your opponents.”Yes, there is a difference between passion and poor conduct and, on almost all occasions, I think our guys are excellent at finding that balance.”Flower was also fully supportive of the innings played by Trott who made an unbeaten 98 off 116 balls to anchor England’s total in Mohali. Kevin Pietersen and Samit Patel, with a career-best 70 off 43 deliveries, played more aggressive hands in partnership with Trott and Flower thought the balance was right, pointing out the career-record of Mahela Jayawardene as a comparison to Trott’s figures.”Since he started playing one-day cricket for England, he has been very consistent – and that consistency has helped us score bigger totals. I think, if anything, some of the players around him have under-performed with the bat, and I think he’s playing good cricket. Until a better player comes along, Jonathan Trott will play.”England are now focused on avoiding a 5-0 whitewash which would match the scoreline from the 2008 series when the final two matches were cancelled due to the Mumbai terror attacks. England’s next attempt to secure a win will come in Mumbai, the first time they have visited the city for an international since 2006.Graham Onions, who replaced the injured Chris Woakes, has linked up the with the squad and will provide a fast-bowling option alongside the uncapped Stuart Meaker if the management want to leave out the struggling Jade Dernbach.

Zaheer Khan, the India fast bowler, has said his recovery from ankle surgery has been slow but positive so far, and that he has not set a timeframe for his return to international cricket.”The first phase of my rehab programme went off pretty well,” Zaheer told the media after receiving India’s Arjuna Award from the country’s sports minister in New Delhi on Monday. “I have started with the second phase of my rehab. I will soon be going to the National Cricket Academy. My progress has been slow but positive.”To start bowling, I have to get back the full strength in my ankle. Then I might play a few club matches or first-class matches. I am taking one day at a time and not setting any targets.”Zaheer was originally diagnosed with a hamstring injury during India’s first Test against England at Lord’s in July this year, but was later ruled out of the remainder of the series with a right ankle impingement that required surgery followed by a 14-16 week period of rehabilitation. When asked whether he was eyeing India’s tour of Australia later this year as a target for his return, Zaheer said he was simply taking it day by day.”I have not decided on any date but I will be back very soon. It’s frustrating not to play at the highest level. But you can only control [only] the ‘controllables’ and be patient.”Commenting on the India team for the home one-day series against England, Zaheer said he expects the dropped Harbhajan Singh to fight his way back into the squad. “Harbhajan has produced great performances for the country. I am sure that he will be back soon, as he is too good a player to be left out. He has a lot of fire in him and he is a strong character.India’s bowling attack struggled in England without Zaheer’s leadership and ability, and he said knowing how much the team needs him spurs him on to perform better. “It always acts as a motivation when your team needs you. I don’t think the over-dependence on me adds to any pressure, rather it feels good to go to sleep with this kind of expectation. Hopefully, I will be back soon to play that role again.”

Cricket Kenya has been forced to name a weakened squad to take on Netherlands in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the subsequent ODI series. The four-day match starts in Deventer on September 7.Several players continue to be in dispute with the board, and a decision was taken to exclude them from consideration.”This squad features some new names and the return of one or two experienced players,” explained chairman of selectors Alpesh Vadher. ” Youngsters such as Duncan Allan, Irfan Karim and Emmanuel Ringera have shown great promise for the national Under-19 squad and deserve their chance, Ibrahim Akello has been impressive in the early games of the East Africa Cricket Competitions as have Lameck Onyango and David Obuya who will add experience to the squad.”Turning to those not picked, Vadher said: “There are some players who we would have liked to consider but yet again they have made themselves unavailable which is disappointing. Cricket Kenya has offered these players contracts until the end of the current contract year subject to the same reviews that every other player goes through but they are not happy with that. What players must realise that we will be focusing on performance and attitude and in the future will only select players who can demonstrate a real commitment to play for Kenya.”Kenya squad Collins Obuya (capt), Rakep Patel, Tanmay Mishra, Runesh Gudka, Hiren Varaiya, Lucas Oluoch, Dominic Wesonga, Seren Waters, Duncan Allan, Irfan Karim, Ibrahim Akello, David Obuya, Emmanuel Ringera, Lameck Onyango.