Broad plots revenge against Windies

Stuart Broad believes England have "something to prove" when they face hosts West Indies in the ICC World Twenty20 next month.

The Windies knocked England out of last year’s competition in a winner-takes-all Super Eights contest at the Brit Oval. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan completed a Duckworth/Lewis pursuit of 80 with four balls and five wickets to spare.

That sent Chris Gayle’s side through to the semi-finals and the hosts crashing out. They meet again on May 3 in Group D of this year’s competition and Broad is plotting revenge.

“The West Indies knocked us out of last year’s Twenty20 World Cup, which was a big shame, so we’ve got something to prove there,” he told 

That clash will take place at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on the South American mainland, the day before England face Ireland at the same venue in their other group game.

The seamer is familiar with the ground, having played two one-day internationals there last March during England’s tour of the Caribbean.

However, Broad is keen not to get ahead of himself with warm-up games against Bangladesh and South Africa in Barbados to come first at the end of this month.

“It’s a pretty slow and low wicket in Guyana I think, so we’ll have to adjust our game to that,” he added.

“But we’ve just got to focus on our warm-up games to start with, make sure we click as a side and then excited for the tournament to start.”

Broad’s knowledge of Caribbean conditions has encouraged him that Nottinghamshire team-mate Graeme Swann could be instrumental.

The off-spinner missed out on the Guyana games last year after flying home for elbow surgery on the completion of the Test series.

Swann is now fully fit and Broad thinks he and fellow spinner Michael Yardy could make a significant impact.

“With the West Indies wickets how they are now with the turn, Swanny the form he’s in and obviously with Michael Yardy in the squad, it’s an exciting balance,” he revealed.

That balance comes partly through the emergence on wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter, who could bat in any position England require him.

Broad admitted to being impressed when he bowled against Kieswetter, and Michael Lumb - included in the 15-man squad despite being uncapped at senior international level, in February’s Twenty20 defeat to England Lions in Abu Dhabi.

Opening together, Kieswetter struck 81 and Lumb an unbeaten 58 to guide the Lions to a five-wicket victory.

“He’s a very talented player. He’s an aggressive striker of the ball,” Broad said of Kieswetter. “I think we’ve got two lads, who we played against in Abu Dhabi, and they were tough to bowl at.

“So hopefully the international sides will find the same. I think we’ve got batsmen who can hit the ball out the park all the way down the order, which is a huge bonus in Twenty20 cricket, and we’ve got bowlers who are quick enough to damage people.”

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Reprieve offers much for Sidebottom

Ryan Sidebottom recognises that he has a battle on his hands to stave off the challenge posed by the young pretenders to his England position.

The 32-year-old suffered the latest in a catalogue of fitness problems when he was forced to return home barely a week into the tour of Bangladesh with a thigh injury.

He then watched from the sidelines as Steven Finn - his replacement - and fellow young seamer Tim Bresnan performed admirably on totally unresponsive wickets.

Sidebottom appears to have been handed a reprieve with his inclusion in England’s 15-man squad for the World Twenty20, and he intends not to waste the opportunity.

He said: “There’s nothing I have to prove as a player or a bowler; I’ve proved that I’m good enough to play at the highest level.

“It was quite hard to take (in Bangladesh). It’s frustrating because that could easily have been a stepping stone to getting a place back in the team again.

“If you bowl well out there, everyone’s talking about Ryan Sidebottom again.

“The likes of Finn and Bresnan have come in and done pretty well, so I’ve got to keep going and try to push them out of the side.

“Everybody knows what I’m capable of. I’m not the fastest bowler, but I offer accuracy and swing, and I put batsmen under pressure. If (England) need my experience then I’m here.”

Sidebottom has played just a solitary Test in the last 12 months, a surprise call-up for the final Test in South Africa in place of Graham Onions.

He refutes the suggestion, made by some observers at the Wanderers, that his pace was significantly down from when he led England’s attack with such venom in 2008.

Instead, he believes any inconsistency is down to the disruption caused by the various back, hip, groin and Achilles injuries he has endured.

“Nothing has changed in my action and my pace hasn’t changed,” he said. “I just need to get back into (match) action.

“I don’t think there’s much difference at all. What I have found tough is constantly stopping and starting again with injuries.

“As a bowler you need rhythm. When I was playing regularly for England, I didn’t worry about anything.

“But recently, I’ve played one game, been 12th man and then tried to get back in the team. It’s not been easy to find rhythm.”

A notable supporter of Sidebottom has been the England team director, Andy Flower.

Sidebottom admits that it might have been easier for Flower to disregard him from England’s agenda when injuries began to take their toll 18 months ago.

Sidebottom said: “He’s been great. He’s supported me wholly.

“It could be quite easy to think, ‘why should we keep picking him if he keeps getting injured’.

“But he saw what I could do when he was assistant coach and I’ve got to keep repaying that faith.”

With the World Twenty20 on the horizon, it is more than likely that Sidebottom is being lined up to shoulder the burden of bowling at the death in the West Indies.

England’s most recent Twenty20 assignment, back-to-back clashes with Pakistan in Dubai, witnessed them lose a tight encounter at the hands of the big-hitting Abdul Razzaq, who struck the crucial blows off Ajmal Shahzad.

Sidebottom said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to get selected in the World Twenty20 squad again, which is great.

“I love that side of the game, bowling yorkers at the death in Twenty20. I did it even when I first started at Yorkshire.

“I learnt from a legend in Darren Gough. He was often playing for England and so the ball was thrown to me. I suppose I’ve practised ever since and I really enjoy that aspect of the game.”

Sidebottom hopes to take some momentum into the World Twenty20 by bowling plenty of overs for Nottinghamshire this month.

The ECB has released him to play in Notts’ LV= County Championship opener against Kent at Trent Bridge from Thursday, and are yet to decide on his participation in the match against Somerset next week.

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Flintoff still unsure of return date

Andrew Flintoff intends to be batting again in practice this month or early next, but admits he still cannot say when he may play again.

The 32-year-old all-rounder played his final Test as England won the Ashes against Australia at the Brit Oval last year.

He had an operation on his left knee the next day, but initial hopes that he could be fit to play for Lancashire at the start of this season had to be revised following further surgery in January.

Flintoff's updated timetable of recovery remains to play again for his county by the end of July, with a view to returning in limited-overs cricket for England in due course.

That still appeared to be his hope today when he said: "It’s going all right. The first five weeks [since the latest operation] have been just resting, letting it all settle down.

"The past three or four weeks I’ve been able to work pretty hard, cycling, swimming, kayaking. I’ve got a bit of strength back in my legs."

Even so, Flintoff is unable to set a definite target to return to the middle.

"I’ve not got a date that I can just pull out of the air,” he added. "But after the last operation we said five or six months, which is going to take us to the end of July, early August.

"So that’s the only time frame. I’ve not done any cricket yet but over the next few weeks I’ll get a bat back in my hand."

Flintoff is notably equivocal about his prospects of returning for England - his stated intent throughout.

He admits too that he has allowed thoughts of permanent retirement from all forms of cricket to cross his mind, but remains resolved to do all he can first to regain his fitness.

“Before every operation, it does cross your mind,” he said.

“However, I’ve always said that while I feel I can play I will do – if I feel I can play as well as I did before I was injured then I’ll carry on.

“That’s still the case. I still think I can come back and perform for Lancashire, at the highest level as well. I just have to do it.

“I’m confident of doing that. There’s a lot of things I can improve on as a cricketer.

“If I can just find my game a little bit more, and adapt my game to what’s going on in the world of cricket, I don’t see any reason why not.

“I’ve retired from Test cricket obviously and originally I was going to play one-dayers and Twenty20s.

“But if I feel strong enough and get in the (Lancashire) team it would be nice to (play for England again).”

There is a strong deja-vu for Flintoff and everyone else as he continues his rehabilitation. For him, the hope must be that this injury chapter turns out the same as the others in the end.

“It’s never been particularly easy coming back, but there’s always been the incentive to do so,” he added.

“I get out of bed and do my training. It’s become part of my life, with all the injuries I’ve had in the past three or four years, so I just get on with it.”

The one incentive not on his mind, though, is any thought of reprising his Test career.

Once more in front of the cameras, he spelled out: “I had my time in Test cricket and loved it, and to have the opportunity to finish as we did at the Oval was perfect.

“I’m sure during the winter (of 2010/11) watching Jimmy (Anderson) running in knocking the Aussies over I’ll get a bit jealous.

“However, I’ll just revert to being an English cricket fan. It’s a decision that was made, and I’m happy with it – I’ve seen other things in life.

“I’m not quite sure I’d fancy going on tours for three or four months again.”

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Warne backs Saker appointment

Shane Warne believes the ECB has made an astute choice in appointing his former Victoria team-mate David Saker as its new fast bowling coach.

Saker was appointed on Thursday following a six-year tenure as assistant coach of Victoria, the state he represented at first-class level on 49 occasions from 1994 to 2000 before joining Tasmania.

The 43-year-old played alongside Warne for Victoria where he made his name as a right-arm quick in an almost decade-long career in Australian domestic cricket.

Saker’s appointment followed Ottis Gibson’s departure in February to coach his native West Indies.

“I was privileged enough to play alongside David Saker and captain him,” Warne told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He was a very good player, very passionate about the game of cricket and understands bowling very well.

“He’ll be excellent for the England dressing room. He can be a little in-your-face at times and pretty aggressive, but he’s absolutely spot on.

“He’ll definitely help England out, that’s for sure. I’m sure the England players will enjoy him and the bowlers appreciate him.”

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Saker appointed fast bowling coach

The ECB today announced the appointment of David Saker as England fast bowling coach.

Saker joins the ECB following a six-year tenure as assistant coach of Victoria, the state he represented at first-class level on 49 occasions.

In his role as Victoria assistant coach, Saker has led the Bushrangers to the past two Sheffield Shield titles and four domestic Twenty20 tiles in the past five years.

He was head coach of Delhi Daredevils during last year's Champions League Twenty20, following an assistant coach's role with the franchise throughout the initial two seasons of the Indian Premier League.

Saker made his debut for Victoria in 1994 before going on to play 23 first-class matches for Tasmania from 2000-2004.

He returned to Victoria in the role of assistant coach and co-ordinator of Cricket Victoria's high performance unit, working closely with the likes of Australia internationals Peter Siddle, Dirk Nannes, Clint McKay and Andrew McDonald.

The 43-year-old takes over the post as England fast bowling coach from Ottis Gibson, who was appointed West Indies head coach in February.

He is expected to join the England team in time for the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean at the end of the month.

Saker said: "I've long held ambitions of coaching at international level so the prospect of working with the England team is something I'm very much looking forward to and excited by.

“I've really enjoyed my time as assistant coach with the Bushrangers and I'm now aiming to take my coaching to the next level with the England team.

"I believe I can offer the England bowlers a great deal and oversee their development at the highest level.

“This role will be challenging but there's no question I'm looking forward to working with the impressive crop of bowlers currently in and around the England team."

England team director Andy Flower said: "David has a wealth of playing and coaching experience and will be a valuable addition to the England set-up.

“His record with Victoria in recent times is second to none and he has managed the development of a number of top-class fast bowlers.

"We were sorry to see Ottis Gibson leave the position but we believe we've found an excellent successor and look forward to David joining us in the lead up to what will be an exciting and challenging year ahead."

Hugh Morris, managing director - England Cricket, said: "We're pleased to appoint David Saker as England fast bowling coach after an exhaustive recruitment process that included a number of world-class candidates.

"David's credentials are exceptional and we believe we've secured an outstanding bowling coach who'll take up a vital full-time role within the England team management."

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Pakistan blind set the standard

World champions Pakistan blind underlined their pedigree with a second comprehensive victory over England in the space of two days.

Having won the solitary Twenty20 international by 101 runs yesterday, Pakistan romped to an equally emphatic 149-run triumph in the first of three one-day internationals at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium.

Once again Pakistan’s formidable batting line-up proved too strong as opener Anees Javeed hit 109 and Amir Ishfaq a thrilling unbeaten 128 off just 48 balls in a total of 498 for seven off 40 overs - a record in blind cricket.

There were also more than useful contributions from Mohammad Afzal, Mohammad Waqas and Mohammad Fayaz, who made 64, 48 and 30 respectively, while Heindrich Swanepoel and Nathan Foy conceded more than 100 from their eight overs.

Andy Powers supplied the ballast to England’s response, making a patient 108 at the top of the order, and they were only 35 runs short of Pakistan’s 20-over score before Foy fell for a 42-ball 94.

With him went England’s prospects of a victory and, although Luke Sugg followed up his unbeaten 71 in the Twenty20 international with a valiant 63, the middle and lower order subsided amid a flurry of run-outs, of which there were six in total.

“We scored too slowly,” Ian Martin, the ECB’s national disability cricket manager, told “Andy’s century was at virtually a run a ball, which is too slow for blind cricket.

“Nathan was very unlucky to get out, one of those where he didn’t make proper contact with the ball and it trickled back on to his stumps - difficult enough to combat for sighted batsmen let alone when you can’t see what is happening.

"If he could have stayed around for another 10 overs we would have had a very good game indeed.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Martin praised his side’s attitude in the face of a daunting run-chase in gruelling conditions.

“It's very hot. I have to give credit to our guys, who never let their heads drop,” he said, adding that England “definitely feel as if we can beat them” ahead of the second match of the series tomorrow.

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New England kit revealed

Today adidas and ECB revealed imagery of the new Test and One Day kits featuring new team sponsor Brit Insurance.

The full range of match kits and training gear is now available to pre-order at the Official England Cricket Store.

The Test kit will be worn for the first time in the first npower Test Match against Bangladesh at Lord’s on May 27. A variation of the One Day kit will be worn during the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies.

The Test kit, updated on a two year cycle, will be worn until early 2012. The One Day and training kits are updated on a yearly basis and will be worn until early 2011.

Included in the training range are some of the players' favourite garments, including the fleece and polo.

Pre-order now at the Official England Cricket Store to get it delivered direct to your door on launch day, April 29.

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Anderson approves of Lumb call-up

James Anderson has praised England’s bold selection of uncapped Hampshire batsman Michael Lumb for the ICC World Twenty20.

Lumb, who is currently playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has been included in the 15-man squad for the competition in the West Indies which starts late next month.

The left-handed opener has been a consistent run-scorer for the Royals, as well as for his county in England’s Twenty20 competition.

Lancashire pace bowler Anderson, who also features in the squad, played against Lumb during his time at Yorkshire, and believes the 30-year-old could make an impact at the highest level.

“I played quite a lot of second team cricket against him when he was at Yorkshire, when I was starting out, and he looked very talented then,” Anderson told 

“He has come on leaps and bounds since then with Hampshire. He’s had a great couple of years playing Twenty20. Now he’s in the IPL. I saw he got 45 the other day, in which he looked very comfortable.”

Anderson pinpointed Lumb’s well thought-out approach to batting in the game’s shortest form as potentially crucial against the world’s best bowlers.

“He looks comfortable and confident when he’s at the crease and he’s got a very good gameplan for Twenty20 cricket. It’s working for him at the moment,” he added.

The presence of destructive batsmen such as Lumb - along with the more established names in the England top order - is a cause of optimism for Anderson ahead of the tournament, which starts on April 30.

But he has challenged England to improve their consistency if they are to lift a major trophy for the first time.

“We’ve got a great chance; I think we’ve got a great chance going into any tournament,” Anderson said.

“We’ve got a really talented side but it’s been frustrating the last few years. If we play well we can beat anyone in the world, but if we play badly we get beat by Holland.

“We’ve seen recently that the players we've got - Morgan, Pietersen, Collingwood - who are all-match-winners with the bat, and we’ve got bowlers who can compete with anyone in the world.

“We know what we’re capable of and on our day we can beat anyone. Over the last few years we’ve not been that consistent. If we can find some consistency in the tournament then I’m sure we’ll go a long way.

“It’s just trying to find that consistency. If we all perform well at the same time, we can go a long way in the tournament.”

Anderson is set to lead the England attack in the Caribbean after showing no signs of discomfort during his rehabilitation from a knee injury that saw him rested for the tour of Bangladesh.

However, he is aware he needs to be fully fit to be sure of inclusion in England’s group matches against West Indies and newcomers Ireland in Guyana on May 3 and 4 respectively.

“I need to play some cricket to prove my fitness, so hopefully I can get a few games with Lancashire, which will be nice, and hopefully the knee can stand up to it,” said the 27-year-old.

“I’d like to play as much as I possibly can before that because I’ve not played for quite a while.

“Firstly, because it will be a good test for me knee, and, secondly, because I need to get some match practice.

“Hopefully there's enough cricket between now and then to get in some form and see if my knee can cope with the stresses of it.”

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