Mark Richardson: Keeping wicket essential to free-scoring man of action
He made the number eight spot in one-day internationals his own, very quickly becoming the best ODI closer in the world. Over time, and after a few failures, he finally made the opener's role his own in the Black Caps' ODI team and, as Adam Gilchrist fades with age, he'll soon be the best at that game too.
While Brendon McCullum's test match batting potential has yet to really develop to the fullest, he is arguably the finest wicketkeeper-batsman in test cricket. He's now batting at five which makes him more a batsman-wicketkeeper and very soon will be unquestionably the best - so long as Kumar Sangakkara keeps the gloves off.
I was not overly keen to see McCullum elevated in ODIs because I believe in the importance of bite in the tail and not just strike power at the top. However, what he has shown of late at the top of the order you simply cannot downplay.
I've not the same reservations when it comes to his elevation to five in test matches.
The difference between batting five or seven in test match cricket is nowhere near as drastic as the difference between opening in ODIs or batting in the lower middle order.
McCullum's success in ODI cricket I put down to the lack of doubt in how he must play: score fast against either a new ball or old ball. In test cricket for some time he has looked a little double-minded. He has juggled the lack of strike-rate pressure with his natural instinct to want to dominate and the thought of what might be said by others should he be dismissed in reckless fashion.
His 97 in the first innings of this current test was a fine example of Brendon McCullum in total equilibrium and an innings from which he should grow more comfortable, confident and clear in his test game.
Where I do have reservations is in the possible discharging of the wicketkeeping duties simply because he is batting in the top six. Having your keeper in the top six provides for options in balance. It allows you to play an extra spinner without weakening the seam bowing unit which is good thing given the Black Caps' disturbing injury record. With McCullum and Jacob Oram hovering around the middle order, it also allows for the blooding of a new player like Daniel Flynn in the more protected areas of six or seven.
McCullum's free-scoring methods were well-suited to seven and batting with the tail but that dynamic has not really changed, with Oram and Daniel Vettori providing experience and fluid play in that role.
Most importantly, however, McCullum should remain wicketkeeping for his psychological wellbeing. He's a livewire who loves being in the action. He's a player who thrives on being in the thick of things and nothing is more in the thick of it than behind the wickets; in play every ball.
I've no doubt McCullum views Adam Gilchrist as a role model, so let him be an Adam Gilchrist - but just a little better because McCullum's batting at five and not hiding at seven.
(c) 2008, APN Holdings NZ Limited
Cricket - Bradford League: Wet weather forces Bank Holiday action
MANY clubs were having to play Priestley Cup matches today after heavy lunchtime rain wreaked havoc with yesterday's programme.
Brighouse, who are bottom of Division One after Saturday's 113-run loss to Bowling Old Lane, are at home to Esholt.
The Russell Way outfit failed to cope with overseas man Riaz Kail (81) and Mansha Khan (51 and three for 13), making 105 in reply to Lane's 218 for five.
Lightcliffe, who are at Idle in the cup, are fourth in Division Two after a 38-run success over Undercliffe.
Skipper Richard Nichols is in great form with the ball, bagging another six wickets to dismiss Undercliffe for 117 after Lightcliffe had reached 155 with the help of 38 from ex-Copley man Nick Pyrah.
(c) Evening Courier
Rwanda: All Set for Sulfo Cricket League Action
Local clubs have started their preparations ahead of the Sulfo league, one of the most celebrated events on the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) Calendar.
Kigali Cricket Club are still the club to beat after lifting last year's league trophy for a record fifth time in six attempts.
However, this year, Young Tigers and Challengers are also serious contenders for the league title after beefing up their squads.
It is said that Samaly Subashish, one of Rwanda's top performers in South Africa recently joined Young Tigers from Indorwa.
Besides KCC, Young Tigers and Challengers, Right Guards and Indorwa are the other clubs set to feature in the league.
The RCA executive together with the club captains will meet this afternoon to draft the league fixtures.
Meanwhile, after a satisfactory effort at this year's ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament which was staged in South Africa, RCA has upped her expectations when the event swings back in 2010.
Rwanda finished fourth at the tournament after being dislodged in the semi-finals by eventual winners Ghana.
It was Rwanda's first ever appearance in the semis and upon the team's return, the team manager Manzi Benjamin said that there will be no looking in 2010.
"The boys performed well and have to start working hard to improve on that performance come 2010," he stressed.
At the tournament, Rwanda also received two 'man of the match awards' in Mehboob Jasat and Srinath Vardhineni.
(c) 2008 The New Times
High voltage action on cards in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: Cricket lovers are expected to be treated to a feast as the floodlit Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here is all set to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between hosts Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils Tuesday.
Deccan Chargers led by the stylish V.V.S. Laxman take on Daredevils in the new avatar of the game in what promises to be a fantastic ambience under the lights at the 40,000-capacity stadium.
It will be wholesome entertainment for the fans. The cheerleaders will add more glitz and glamour.
With the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds and Shahid Afridi from Deccan Chargers and Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir from Daredevils in action, the fans can't ask for more.
The stadium has so far hosted only two One-Day Internationals when India took on South Africa and Australia in 2005 and 2007 respectively. India lost on both encounters.
However, with the IPL rendering the national boundaries irrelevant, the fans are looking for an exciting stuff from some big guns of the world cricket.
As the local boys will also be in action, the hosts will get fan support at the stadium.
It will be interesting to see what strategy the Deccan Charges come up with after losing their opening game against Kolkatta Knight Riders Sunday.
The stadium, which claims to have the facilities on par with international cricket grounds, has added six towers with floodlights. This will be the first-ever match under floodlights here.
Each tower has more than 70 bulbs and each bulb is of 200 watts. The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) claims that the lighting facility at the stadium is the first of its kind in the country.
"The venue is all set to host the seven IPL matches. The ambience will be fantastic. It will be as good as playing in the day time," said HCA secretary N. Shivalal Yadav.
The HCA authorities have also arranged power back-up facility to prevent a blackout as it happened at Kolkatta Sunday, which led to the match being held up for 20 minutes.
It is not just the blackout but also a substandard pitch, which proved a dampener at Eden Garden. Shivlal Yadav promises that the pitch here would be a batting feast. Rickey Atkin, an Australian curator, has prepared the pitch.
For the first time, the spectators will also have medical facilities at their disposal.
Keeping in view the inconveniences caused to spectators in the past, the organisers will even be running a shuttle service between the parking place and the stadium for senior citizens and children.
(c) Copyright Sify Technologies Ltd
Cricket: Hemp and Croft rescue Glamorgan
VETERANS David Hemp and Robert Croft led the rearguard action against the young students of Oxford University UCCE at The Parks on the opening day of the first-class summer.
Hemp (104) and Croft (81 not out), both 37, helped the Welsh county recover from losing their first four wickets for just 45 runs to set up a declaration total of 300 for nine.
The students then lost three wickets before the close with David Harrison, Huw Waters and Croft reducing the hosts to 20 for three.
Glamorgan skipper Hemp had earlier notched up his second successive century in Oxford in 12 months, with the left-hander's 104 coming off 193 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes.
Croft, who survived two dropped chances on 34 and 47, proved a point with a dashing, unbeaten 81 off 115 balls.
The former England spinner is seeking to persuade new team manager Matthew Maynard he has a role to play in one-day cricket as well as the county championship.
New signings Matthew Wood and Jamie Dalrymple had failed to make an impact on their Glamorgan first-class debuts.
Wood, the former Yorkshire opener only managed 12, while Dalrymple, an ex-Oxford University captain, suffered the indignity of a first-ball duck on his return to The Parks.
Both were victims of seamer Ed Morse, who claimed a five-wicket haul, while impressive off-spinner Paul McMahon also picked up three victims.
(c) 2008 Media Wales Ltd.
Sarwan eyeing a bright future
Ramnaresh Sarwan hopes his match-winning hundred for West Indies in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka will be the beginning of greater things to come.
Sarwan hit his 10th Test hundred of 102, as West Indies, chasing 253 for victory, reached their target a little over an hour after tea on the fourth day on Sunday.
It ended a two-year spell without a hundred for the 27-year-old Sarwan and also announced that he was fully back into the groove, following string of injuries that sidelined him and kept him out of the game over the last 10 months.
"When I couldn't play I realised how much I was missing the game and ...it gave me time to think about what I can do," he said, noting he leant on family, friends, and teammates to help him pull through a difficult period.
"I am thankful for their support and I just want to continue preparing the way that I have been for this series, and hopefully, I will be able to put together more scores like this."
Prior to this innings, Sarwan had scores of 80, 72, and 57 in the series, and he was a relieved man, when he lapped Muttiah Muralitharan to deep fine leg for the last of his 15 boundaries to reach his hundred, and end his months of frustration.
The knocked made him a shoe-in for the Man-of-the-Match award and he also carried away the Man-of-the-Series prize.
"I've been out for 10 months, and when you look at players around the World, they tend to mature around the age of 26 and 27, and then it carries on until they are 33-34," he said. "I hope that is going to be the case for me.
"I have learnt a lot over the years playing international cricket and I hope I can continue playing the way that I am now - so the experience I have accumulated over the last 8-1/2 years can start paying off now."
Sarwan disclosed that he was not completely free of the nicks that stem from his injuries, but things are getting better.
"It's only when I get up in the morning, I tend to get some pain in my ankle and my shoulder for about five or 10 minutes," he said.
"But once that spell is over, everything is well. Our physiotherapist C.J. Clark and our trainer Gerald Garcia are working hard to keep me fit, and this is great."
Copyright (c) 2008 CricBuzz.com. All Rights Reserved
Cricket: Summer's here as Glam get into shape at Hove
GLAMORGAN start their summer today when they take on Sussex in a one-day friendly at Hove, writes Gareth Griffiths.
The Dragons have named a 13-man party for their two 50-overs pre-season games on the south coast.
While veteran spinner Robert Croft has been omitted by cricket manager Matthew Maynard, all three of Glamorgan's winter signings - Matthew Wood, Jamie Dalrymple and Adam Shantry - will make their first appearance in Glamorgan's ranks, while Michael Powell and David Harrison return to action after their injuries and illness last summer.
For Powell, it will be his first start in a one-day game since May last year, while Harrison last took the field for the county in a one-day match in September 2006.
Alex Wharf misses the visit to Sussex having picked up a neck injury, but he is likely to return to action next week when Glamorgan visit Taunton for further pre-season games ahead of their opening first-class match against Oxford UCCE at the Parks on April 16.
Glamorgan, who are still waiting for an official decision on whether Australian paceman Jason Gillespie will be allowed to link up with the county as their overseas professional, start their county championship season when they travel to face Middlesex at Lords on April 23.
Glamorgan: D Hemp (c), M Wood, M O'Shea, M Powell, J Dalrymple, B Wright, M Wallace (wkt-keeper), T Maynard, D Harrison, D Cosker, A Shantry, R Watkins, H Waters.
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice (c) 2008 owned by or licensed to Media Wales Ltd.
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