Cricket News In Brief – February 8, 2012 – Part 2
India restricted Sri Lanka to just 233 for 8 in the second match of the Commonwealth Bank series, with the pick of the bowlers being spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed three wickets.
After a bright start provided by Tillakaratne Dilshan (48), the Men In Blue controlled the middle stages by taking timely breakthroughs, before Dinesh Chandimal’s well-crafted 64 helped his side to set up 234.
Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag came in for Rahul Sharma and Gautam Gambhir as Lankan team’s new skipper, Mahela Jayawardene, elected to bat first in his first game since taking over from Dilshan.
Pakistani all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, was ecstatic with his team’s thrilling Test series victory against no.1 ranked England, while also pledged to perform in the upcoming limited overs bouts.
The player wants his team to make winning a habit, and praised the current Men In Green skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq, for turning around the fortunes of the team.
"It will go down in the history books as Pakistan's greatest victories and Misbah's name will be there as a captain."
Australian Head Coach, Mickey Arthur, is hopeful over injured young fast bowler, James Pattinson’s return for the ongoing Commonwealth Bank tri- series.
The pacer last played in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy against India,before being ruled out due to a foot injury. He has resumed training, and Arthur is optimistic that Pattinson could be back for the latter part of the CB series.
"Pattinson bowled at us in Melbourne, so he's coming back. We could see Pattinson at the back end of the one-day series," he said ahead of the second clash betweeen India and Sri Lanka.
England spinner, Graeme Swann, admitted that his side must need to master the art of playing spin if they are to prosper in the Sub-Continent.
The Poms were defeated impressively by Pakistan in the Test series and will need to improve their showings in Asian conditions in a year, which also sees them touring Sri Lanka and India.
"We must solve the puzzle of how to play spin in Asia if England are to stay No 1 and be recognized as an all-time great team," Swann said in his column for The Sun.