The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bangladeshi players can't play long innings: Muralitharan

UNB, Dhaka

Champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan Saturday said the Bangladeshi players don't know how to play long innings although there are many talented players.

"Bangladesh has many talented players but they don't know how to play long innings. That's the problem. They just don't stay and wait for the loose ball. That's the thing they lack in the Test cricket," he said at a post-match press conference after the 2nd day's play of the Grameenphone Series against Bangladesh at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS).

Muralitharan, whose five-wicket haul today enabled Sri Lanka to reduce Bangladesh to 177/9 in the first innings, thinks that Bangladesh has not learnt much batting-wise, but bowling-wise they are a much improved side. "They got a couple of fast bowlers and the left-arm spinner (Shakib) is also a good bowler," he said.

About his success especially against Bangladesh, the feared Sri Lankan spin wizard said: "Yeah, I think it's because they (Bangladesh) are a little bit inexperienced and the wicket is not good for batting. Always bowlers have the chance, even the fast bowlers and the spinners. It's not easy for the batsmen to play shots here (SBNS)."

Muralitharan claimed 81 wickets in 10 test matches against Bangladesh including 11 five-wicket hauls.

Asked if there was bounce on the wicket, the 36-year-old veteran replied in the negative. He said: "I don't think it has got the bounce. It's just a normal Bangladesh wicket and it's like the wicket we saw last time in Chittagong and Bogra. Last time, wicket was little better… may be moisture made the difference."

About his own target, the smiling Sri Lankan bowler said he wants to play till the next World Cup but it will depend upon how he performs.

Replying to a question, he said that taking one thousand wickets will not be so easy after having the five hundred wickets. "I am 36. I am getting old. I can't play forever. (Ajantha) Mendis has come back and has done well also. I think he will take my place," he added.

While commenting on Mendis, he said: "Mendis is totally different. He has all the instincts and he can be the best bowler of the world. He is young and energetic and he wants to take wickets. I think he will be successful in any part of the world and he is going to get a lot of international wickets in future. He is perfectly all right."

Asked about his feelings when Tsunami hit the Sri Lankan coastal area four years back in December 26, 2004, Muralitharan said: "It is past. We're thinking of future, rather than thinking of the past."

Lee insists Reds always Keane on Robbie

AFP, Liverpool

Robbie Keane faces Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday having banished any doubts over his Liverpool future with two goals in a 3-0 win over Bolton Wanderers here at Anfield.

The Republic of Ireland striker, who also netted in the 1-1 draw at Arsenal last Sunday, helped keep Rafa Benitez's team at the top of the Premier League by adding to Albert Riera's first-half volley with his two second-half goals.

Keane has struggled to make an impact at Liverpool since his 20 million pounds arrival in July from Tottenham Hotspur and there had even been reports the 28-year-old could be sold by Benitez in January.

But with Keane's form now coming to the fore, Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee insisted that the club have never doubted the player's ability to deliver at Anfield.

"It's always nice to see any Liverpool player score, never mind Robbie Keane. It's never been about individuals and Robbie has always worked very hard," former Liverpool and England midfielder Lee said after Friday's victory.

"He is a talented player and we know the quality that he provides, so we have never been worried by his performances.

"You would have to ask the boy himself, but I don't think that Robbie has ever been lacking in confidence. We know what he gives us."

With title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United claiming maximum points against West Brom and Stoke City respectively earlier in the day, the pressure was on Liverpool to beat Bolton to hold onto top spot.

But Lee, standing in for manager Benitez, who watched the game from the directors' box following his recent kidney stone illness, insisted that Liverpool are enjoying being top and the pressures that come with it.

"Being top is important, but this club prepares to be top of the league, not fifth, sixth or seventh," Lee said. "You can only be where you are at any given time, but we are where we want to be at this moment in time.

"This is a long, hard campaign, though. It's nice going into the New Year in this position, but we go to Newcastle on Sunday and that will be a very difficult task for us.

"It's always important to win, especially at home. We might not have won our last three games before this one, but we have not been getting any hang ups about our form at Anfield," former Bolton manager Lee added.

Bolton face neighbours Wigan Athletic at home on Sunday having suffered their latest defeat against one of the so-called'Big Four' (Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal).

And manager Gary Megson admits he fears that an ever-widening gulf between the big clubs and the rest is beginning to open up.

"It's not only a gap that is opening up between the top three and four and the rest-it's a chasm.

"The 'Big Four' don't lose to teams outside the 'Big Four' and, out of our last nine games, we have won five and lost four.

The four defeats have come against the 'Big Four' though.

"But our season isn't going to be defined by what happens in games against the 'Big Four'. That's why my team selection for this game reflected the fact that we have Wigan at home in less than 48 hours."

There was no Murali scare: Mehrab Hossain

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh middle order batsman Mehrab Hossain Jr. doesn't think there was a Murali scare among them before going to the crease on Saturday on the 2nd day of the 1st test against Sri Lanka.

"To me, it's not like that. Most of our batsmen were able to read Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) though he got wickets. Murali wasn't much of a threat in the day's wicket. Rather, we committed some mistakes," he said at a post-match press conference at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) here Saturday.

About the current state of the match, Mehrab Jr said that only two days have gone and three more days are still to come. "The match is still open. If we could bowl well in the 2nd innings, wrapping them (Sri Lanka) up for a low total, there will be a good chance for us," he added.

The left-arm spinner also told a questioner that their batting plan in the 2nd innings will depend on the target they will have to chase.

Asked why they were not able to play big innings, the 21-year-old lad said: "It's also my question why we are not able to do that. Perhaps, we get a good start, but after that we get out playing some silly shots. After that couple of wickets also started to fall and we fell under pressure. They (Sri Lanka) were also under pressure when Shakib and I were batting. But, we (Bangladesh) then fell under pressure following our departure."

Asked about his expectations from Bangladesh bowlers in the 2nd innings, he said that they bowled well on the first day, especially Shakib. "Shakib is now in good form and we are very much dependent on him. Hope, he (Shakib) will come out good also in the 2nd innings. Our pacers also did well on the first day and for that we were able to pick up all the 10 wickets," he added.

Mehrab, who hails from Dhaka, believes that the national cricketers should have some big scores in domestic cricket. "There must be a fair amount of difference between the domestic players and the national players. This, I think, is not prevailing at the moment. The difference of averages between these two forms should be big."

He, however, thinks that the inability of Bangladeshi players to play big innings like double centuries and triple centuries is not a problem. "I don't think so. Although there were not much of double centuries, but there were a couple of centuries."

Siddle puts Aussies firmly on top

BBC Online

Australia had a near-perfect second day in the Melbourne Test to gain a clear ascendancy over South Africa.

After losing in Perth, and reaching a precarious 280-6 on day one on a true wicket at the MCG, they ended up with 394 and then had South Africa 198-7.

Local paceman Peter Siddle took 3-24 and only the prolific Graeme Smith (62) resisted for any length of time.

Australia's Michael Clarke had earlier finished with a fine 88 not out, with Dale Steyn picking up 5-87 in 29 overs.

Siddle, a 24-year-old Victorian, bowled 13 high-quality overs in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, and his contribution was as important as the runs of Clarke and Ricky Ponting - who scored a vital 101 on the first day.

Steyn gained three breakthroughs before lunch but by the end of the day the 114 runs Clarke had helped garner from Australia's lower order in that session was the most important early development.

From there they controlled the South Africans in a style reminiscent of the days of Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne.

Smith followed his 108 in Perth with a committed 62 - in a calendar year that has netted him nearly 1,600 runs already - but lost his wicket weakly when driving at a wide half-volley and edging behind.

The dismissal forced South Africa to survival mode and left JP Duminy - who reached a calm 34 at the close - to protect the lower order.

Clarke (36 not out) was batting with Brett Lee when the day began - and Australia were positive from the word go.

Lee carved five boundaries in his 21 before driving at Steyn and nicking to slip before Mitchell Johnson edged onto his stumps.

All the time, Clarke was seeing the ball well, scampering ones and twos and adding in the odd boundary as he added a further 26 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Hauritz and 42 for the 10th with Siddle.

He perhaps deserved a century but was left stranded when Siddle was finally dismissed by Jacques Kallis.

The home side had seized the momentum and were not about to give it back.

Using the lunch break as a vehicle to plot their assault on South Africa's batsmen, they gained the first wicket when out-of-form opener Neil McKenzie was beaten for pace and bowled by Siddle with the 10th delivery of the innings.

Hashim Amla contributed just 19 before spearing Johnson straight to Andrew Symonds at gully and an ominous 63-run stand between Smith and Kallis was ended on the stroke of tea.

This was a particularly weak dismissal for South Africa at a crucial stage, Kallis sweeping at the off-spin of Hauritz and getting the shot all wrong to give a simple catch to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Four further wickets fell in the final session. First Smith, perhaps affected by his elbow problems, stretched out to play at a wide one and paid the penalty.

He will attempt to battle through this Test and the probable decider in Sydney before assessing the injury, but currently requires regular painkilling injections. One-day specialist Vaughn van Jaarsveld has been added to the Test squad to cover for Smith and Ashwell Prince (broken thumb).

Once Smith had departed, AB de Villiers limped to a nervous seven before Siddle nipped one back to bowl him, and Mark Boucher then presented Hauritz with another soft wicket.

Morne Morkel did well to hit 21 but when Johnson bowled him six overs from the finish South Africa had still not saved the follow-on.

Though Duminy did eventually help them creep past the milestone of 195, Australia are red-hot favourites to level the series now.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said: "Australia bowled with a lot of passion and high intensity - they really wanted it and put us under a lot of pressure.

"They executed their plans really well against us, and made run-scoring quite difficult.

"[Losing Kallis] was a huge blow, it was disappointing. I felt there were a couple of soft dismissals today but that comes from pressure being created."

He said his bowlers had got their strategy wrong against Australia's lower-order batsmen.

"We have done a bit of homework on them and the thing we have found is that they are batters.

"We probably need to bowl the same way we do to their recognised batsmen instead of looking at the glory ball that knocks tailenders over."

Siddle outshone Lee (0-68) with the ball, but was modest about his achievements.

"[Lee] bowled well, he bowled good lines. He bowled well to the left-handers with not a lot of success. I suppose days like that are going to happen," said Siddle.

"Brett and I did that in Perth and Mitch got the wickets and today we've all bowled well again and the wickets were shared.

"There's going to be plenty of days like that but he's bowling well and bowled good areas. [It was] good team bowling."

Wenger furious over referee visit

BBC Online

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hit out at Aston Villa after their assistant boss John Robertson visited the referee at half-time in the sides' 2-2 draw.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said Robertson asked official Lee Mason about a first-half decision.

Wenger said: "I know how it works here. At half-time the referee gets stick and then in the second half every little 50-50 decision goes the other way.

"I waited at half-time to see what happened and I was not disappointed."

He added: "That's what happened. It's not only here."

Asked if he was implying that someone from Villa influenced the referee, Wenger added: "I have nothing to explain more than that."

O'Neill said: "John I think spoke to the referee. I think John asked him to explain a decision that Gabby Agbonlahor didn't get, that was all. Simple as that.

"He only asked him to explain the decision and the referee chose not to give an answer."

The Villa boss also calmed talk of his side's Premier League progress after they came from two goals down to hold Arsenal.

"We were magnificent right from the first whistle," O'Neill told BBC Sport.

"We're making a bit of progress but talk of top fours and championships hasn't emanated from this club.

"The ability in the side augurs well for us but we have to keep the major players fit, and that's all those lads who played today."

Zat Knight scored in injury time to earn Villa a point from the 2-2 draw, despite Arsenal looking comfortable when they went two goals up, five minutes into the second half.

"The first goal they scored knocked us back, it took almost everything out of us, certainly just before half-time," said O'Neill.

"They've gone and scored a second, and could have had a third.

"But we're never finished, we battled on, got back into the game and the equalising goal at the last - we certainly deserved at least that."

And O'Neill praised defender Knight, making his first Premier League appearance of the season, for his clinical finish in stoppage time.

"He's had to wait a little while - we've got some outstanding centre-backs keeping him out of the side - and that was a big goal, he took it like a centre forward," he said.

Wenger was frustrated by his team's inability to hold on to their lead, despite weathering a first-half storm when Villa looked far more likely to score.

"In the first half Villa created good chances and we were lucky, but in the second half we were never in trouble," bemoaned the Gunners manager.

"It's frustrating because I feel we tried very hard. It was an average football game but with a little bit more composure we could have scored five goals today.

"The spirit was fantastic. Spirit is needed but not sufficient."

Pak players ready to sit out of IPL: Tanvir

PTI, Karachi

With the tension in India-Pakistan relations showing no signs of easing, pacer Sohail Tanvir said the cricketers here are mentally prepared to sit out of the Indian Premier League next year.

"Even if I don't get to play in the IPL next season, I don't think it would be a big setback for me or my career. There are a lot of other opportunities to play cricket in other countries," Tanvir told PTI before leaving for Australia to play in a domestic twenty20 tournament for South Australia.

Tanvir was one of the stars of the first season of the IPL emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament and helping his team, Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, win the title.

Pakistani players may not get the clearance from their board and government to go to India or even be entertained by the IPL organisers for the season starting April.

"There is some time left before the season starts things can improve. But if they don't I have other options to look at like playing in England or some other country," Tanvir said.

He said he put country before everything else and if the players were told not to play in the IPL he would have no problems.

"The interest of the country is paramount. Cricket comes later. As it is playing for Pakistan is far more important for me then any other cricket," he said."Nothing can replace the feeling of nationalism one feels when representing your country."

Tanvir said while he had thoroughly enjoyed playing for Rajasthan in the IPL debut season but the IPL was not the be all and end all for him. "I am in a learning stage and I think playing outside the subcontinent is very important for me in my learning process. That is why I am looking forward to my stint with South Australia," he said.

The left-arm pacer said he was not worried about the financial repercussions of not being able to play in the IPL as he had full confidence in the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"The board is already looking after our financial interests properly so for me missing the IPL is not a big deal," he said.

But Tanvir hoped relations between the two countries improve soon as bilateral cricket contests between the two nations were very significant for survival of Test cricket.