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Cricket Association of Mizoram has sent a formal request to the BCCI to seek affiliation, which could place Mizoram on par with other cricketing states

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2015Cricket Association of Mizoram has sent a formal request to the BCCI to seek affiliation, which could place Mizoram on par with other cricketing states. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president, has forwarded the matter to the affiliation committee members for consideration.
If the affiliation committee recommends that Mizoram be admitted as an affiliate member, the lowest rung of BCCI membership, the AGM, will take the decision in September. For a new member to be introduced, the proposal needs to be passed with a 3/4th majority.If Mizoram, the only state in the north-eastern region that is not under the BCCI umbrella, is admitted as an affiliate member, it will receive financial support of up to Rs five million per annum for five years. More importantly, it may benefit from expert advice and help with regards to creating infrastructure and coaching structure in the state. After five years, an affiliate member can apply to be promoted as an associate member.Financial grants may vary depending on the BCCI’s assessment of whether an affiliate is using its funds effectively at grassroot levels. But if the association fails to submit annual accounts by July 31 every year, the financial support may be discontinued.With respect to promotion of cricket in the North-Eastern states, Dalmiya has already sent his recommendations to the New Area Development Committee, which included preparation of more turf wickets, conducting coaching programmes, development of one full-size cricket ground, and one indoor coaching facility per state.Besides its 30 full members, Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh, Sikkim Cricket Association, Manipur Cricket Association and Bihar Cricket Association (not Cricket Association of Bihar which has been in litigation with the BCCI) are BCCI’s associate members. Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal, three of the seven north-eastern states, happen to be affiliate members at the moment.The New Area Development Committee, with a specific eye on the north-eastern region, was set up by Dalmiya in 2003 during his first stint as BCCI chief. The idea then was to provide all the support required at grassroots level in neglected regions. It was disbanded by his successor Sharad Pawar, but revived in 2012 by N Srinivasan. However, none of the affiliates have so far been granted promotion as an associate member, which makes them eligible for more financial grants.The BCCI conducted a tournament featuring all the seven associate and affiliate members till 2013. It was cancelled last year when it was learned that some of the associations were importing players from other states instead of promoting talent in their region.

The India captain emphasised that the team management doesn’t want to tamper with the batters’ mindsets

Alagappan Muthu24-Dec-20244:16

Rohit on Gill and Jaiswal: Such tours can be challenging to score big runs

India’s batting is in transition and two men who are expected to take it forward have had an up-and-down time during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Yashasvi Jaiswal has suffered some soft dismissals since his 161 in Perth and Shubman Gill hasn’t made the most of the starts he’s had.Their captain Rohit Sharma, speaking ahead of the Boxing Day Test, backed both players to succeed using their own methods.”When you have a guy like [Jaiswal] in your squad, in your team, you don’t want to tamper too much with his mindset,” Rohit said. “Let him be as free as possible and not overburdened with too many thoughts regarding his batting. He understands his batting more than any one of us, you know.Related

• India, Australia look to iron out flaws to edge ahead in high-octane series

• Gill needs to show his substance outside Asia to prove his worth

• Konstas' MCG debut confirmed, Head faces a fitness test

• Should India opt for bowling depth over batting insurance at the MCG?

• MCG pitch to have 'pace, bounce and excitement', but what about runs?

“Every venue here has different challenges. So, it’s just about adapting to those challenges, playing on different pitches. The bowlers are the same.”So, it’s just about understanding what they usually do and what are their plans against certain batters when we come out to bat. And then just going out there and doing their thing.”Talking about Gill, I mean, look, he is quality, we all know that. It’s just about backing that quality and making sure, you know, we give clear messaging to him and not, again, like Jaiswal, we don’t want to complicate too many things with him.”So he knows how to score big runs. So it’s just making sure that when you get those 30s, 40s, you try and get on to a big one. Because getting in here is the toughest part. And when you get in, that is when you cannot leave that opportunity of scoring that big runs.”Rohit batted for over half-an-hour in India’s final training session before Boxing Day. He didn’t look in any trouble after taking a blow to his knee earlier.There were some crisp shots, including a couple that brought a crowd of about 200 or so people to raptures. They’d asked for the pull and they got one off the front foot right as his session ended. Rohit didn’t engage with them while he was batting but once he’d pulled his pads off, he did go over for a playful word or two.Rohit Sharma backed Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal to succeed using their own methods•Getty Images

India were able to practice on significantly quicker pitches in the nets on Christmas Eve, pitches that might bear closer resemblance to the one for the match. Rohit had a look at it on Sunday when it had some grass on it. The curator Matt Page said there won’t be excessive seam movement but that it would provide a thrilling contest.”In the previous two or three Test matches, the wicket didn’t have that much grass on it,” Rohit said. “It was dry. But this certainly doesn’t look to me like a dry wicket.”The first day of the MCG Test is expected to be seriously hot with temperatures reaching 40 degree Celsius but then it should cool down. India are weighing up the option of playing an extra spinner – Washington Sundar, who had a bat against the main bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah and who also enjoyed himself bowling to KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in the nets – or an extra seamer – Prasidh Krishna, who hasn’t played on this tour but has put in a lot of work in the nets over the last month.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is tied 1-1 with two Test to go and those results will also have an implication on both teams’ hopes of making the World Test Championship final in June. Australia or India, if they can win in Melbourne and Sydney, will qualify for that game regardless of other results.

“It all depends on the future of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup”

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2020The BCCI is looking at the September-October window for holding the delayed 2020 edition of the IPL, Brijesh Patel, the chairman of the league’s governing council, has said. Whether the tournament can be slotted in there, however, “depends on the future” of the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, which were originally scheduled for September and October-November respectively.While there is considerable doubt over the two multi-team tournaments going ahead this year, the Asian Cricket Council is still hoping to hold the Asia Cup in September, and the ICC has adopted a wait-and-watch approach to decide the fate of the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia.”Yes, we are looking at those dates, but it all depends on the future of the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup. Subject to that we are planning (the window for the IPL),” Patel told the .BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had also written to the state associations this week to say that he was optimistic about hosting the IPL, in empty stadiums if needed, and Patel echoed his thoughts.”Again, it depends on how the situation is in September-October,” Patel said. “We have to go by the government directive. First we need the go-ahead from the government. You can’t play a World Cup in empty stadiums. But the IPL being a league, it can be staged behind closed doors. The official broadcaster is OK with that and so are the players because they want to play.”When asked if the governing council was looking at the September-October window because it doesn’t expect the T20 World Cup to go ahead, Patel told the : “They can’t leave it till the last minute. All the teams have to prepare if they are going ahead with it. Otherwise all the alternative plans have to be in place. They should decide shortly.”If the World Cup cannot happen, each board will have to think of how to utilise the October window in consultation with the respective governments.”Patel also said that though the cricket boards in the UAE and in Sri Lanka had offered to host the IPL, the BCCI’s first preference would be to play it in India. “They (Emirates Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket) have informed us that they are prepared to host the IPL. But our first preference is India, if we get the government’s permission,” he said. “It is certain that we cannot play at more than three or four venues in India, but the permissions will depend on how the COVID-19 outbreak pans out.”Otherwise we will have to explore playing overseas, which will be the last option. Once you are playing without spectators, it doesn’t really matter where you are playing as long as it suits television timings.”

Team set to unleash both wristspinners – Wanindu Hasaranga and Lakshan Sandakan – on West Indies

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Feb-2020On Wednesday, ahead of his first ODI series as Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur spoke about players being handed down well-defined roles within the team. On Friday, on the eve of the first one-dayer against West Indies, he went into a little more detail about what those roles were.Unsurprisingly, the two wristspinners in the squad – legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan – will be expected to make breakthroughs through the middle overs. Sri Lanka were one of the few teams without a reliable wristspinner during last year’s ODI World Cup. With a T20 World Cup later this year, the team is looking to fill that void.”The key to the wristspiners, and to playing both of them together, is genuine wicket-taking options for us through the middle,” Arthur said. “That is the key, and that’s what wins you white-ball cricket games now. We want to play that brand of cricket. We are looking to attack and looking to take wickets. I think that’s the future for this team. I think in terms of our preparation, that’s been the message. The message has been around attacking. We don’t want to play defensive cricket anymore. That will be reflected in our selection. If the two wristspinners can do the job for us tomorrow, that will be fantastic, because they will take wickets.”Wanindu is a fantastic cricketer. The way he bowls – the control of his length has been amazing. I’ve really marveled at watching him go about his business. That, coupled with his batting ability, and his fielding, he’s making a real name for himself. Sandakan, obviously, has been around the system a lot longer.”Wanindu Hasaranga is overjoyed after picking a wicket•BCCI

On the batting front, Sri Lanka have a clear idea who their top six is. Each of those players has a specific job.”The thing about our batting is that there is a license at the top of the order,” Arthur said. “You’ve got Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando at the top of the order – dynamic. Kusal Perera will bat three. Avishka will open with Dimuth Karunaratne. They will have a licence to get us away in that Powerplay period. And 4, 5, 6 is Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva. Those are the guys who we want to control those overs 11-40. And then hopefully, we’ll have the likes of one of them, a Thisara Perera and a Wanindu, to finish it. If we script the perfect game, that’s how it would work out. We know it doesn’t always happen.”Where fitness and fielding have been major areas of concern for Sri Lanka over the past two years, Arthur also suggested there has been substantial improvement on both fronts.”I was watching us go through our fielding yesterday. Our fielding has improved massively. That’s testimony to the players and their attitudes. They’ve bought into where we want to go. And the coaching from Shane McDermott around that has been fantastic. We’ve been big on the split step. We’ve been big on trigger movements on the field, just to trigger the guys into action. To see the whole field moving is a massive improvement on where we were when we went to India with that T20 side [in January].”If you are fitter you can field better and move better. Your ability and speed to get to the ball is much better.”

Appointment suggests Bell can look forward to a career in coaching when his playing days end

George Dobell02-Oct-2019Ian Bell is set to be confirmed as England’s batting coach at the U19 World Cup.While Bell missed the entire 2019 season due to injury, he plans to continue his playing career in 2020 and has beaten several more established coaching candidates to the role.The appointment underlines how well thought of Bell is and suggests he can look forward to a career in coaching when his playing career end. He will be 38 in April and is out of contract at Warwickshire at the end of the 2020 season.The next edition of the U19 World Cup, featuring 16 sides and ODI playing regulations, will be staged in South Africa in January and February.England finished a disappointing seventh in the previous tournament played in New Zealand in 2018. India won the trophy after beating Australia in the final. Jon Lewis remains the head coach of England U19s.Former England batsman Bell this year played no part in Warwickshire’s County Championship campaign for the first time since 2000, after his comeback from a foot injury sustained during the Pakistan Super League in Feburary was ruined by a tendon issue in his left knee. It was the first time he had failed to play at least one first-class game since making his debut for the club in 1999 at the age of 17.

Despite Lasith Malinga’s injury, Mumbai Indians begin IPL 2016 as one of the favourites with a power-packed line-up

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan08-Apr-20164:15

Jayawardene: Mumbai Indians have spent well on their overseas players

2015 form

Mumbai Indians’ campaign over the last two years has followed a template. In 2014, they didn’t have a single point after five games, before stringing together seven wins in their next nine matches to seal a playoff berth. Their 2015 tournament can once again be split into two parts. They opened with four successive losses, but an injury-forced change to the opening combination and several key players stepping up helped Mumbai turn it around and finish second on the points table. After edging past Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier, they beat the same opponents in the final to lift the trophy for the second time.

Big Picture

Like most years, Mumbai begin as one of the favourites. While the length of the tournament gives teams ample time to bounce back, Mumbai wouldn’t want to find themselves in a predicament early and would be hoping for a smooth start to their title defence.
Five of the seven purchases made by Mumbai in 2016 were local players. Mumbai splurged INR 3.2 crores on Nathu Singh, the right-arm medium pacer from Rajasthan, who, it has been reported, has already created a favourable impression on Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil. But whether he fits in a star-studded line-up remains to be seen.

Mumbai Indians squad

Rohit Sharma (capt), Corey Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah, Jos Buttler, Unmukt Chand, Marchant de Lange, Shreyas Gopal, Harbhajan Singh, Kishore Kamath, Siddhesh Lad, Mitchell McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga*, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Parthiv Patel, Kieron Pollard, Deepak Punia, Nitish Rana, Ambati Rayudu, Jitesh Sharma, Lendl Simmons, Nathu Singh, Tim Southee, J Suchith, Vinay Kumar, Akshay Wakhare
*Lasith Malinga is unlikely to feature in IPL 2016 due to injury

While it’s hard to pick a stronger suit, Mumbai’s batting looks more dangerous than their bowling. The timely recovery of Kieron Pollard, who missed the World T20, from a knee injury will come as a relief. Rohit Sharma has already indicated his preference for opening and could be partnered by one of Lendl Simmons or Parthiv Patel. Considering Mumbai’s ample firepower, Rohit could also drop anchor and build the innings. With Pollard, Corey Anderson, Jos Buttler, Hardik Pandya and Ambati Rayudu to pick from, Mumbai’s middle order is among the most destructive forces in the competition.Lasith Malinga is all but ruled out of the tournament, but Mumbai have enough bench strength to make up for it. Malinga’s absence improves the playing chances of Tim Southee – one of two overseas inclusions along with Jos Buttler. Jasprit Bumrah’s fantastic few months with India makes him a certainty and the carrier of slog-over bowling duties.Mumbai have four specialist spinners and yet have variety – offspinner Harbhajan Singh, left-arm spinner J Suchith, legspinner Shreyas Gopal and offspinner Akshay Wakhare. Despite the presence of several pacers, Mumbai chose to shore up that department in the auction, leaving their spin unit wearing a slightly depleted look. But with the Wankhede surface among the flattest in the country, as evidenced in the World T20, it may come down more to how astute the bowler is rather than the kind of bowler operating.

Burning question

Mumbai have seven foreign players to choose from and it isn’t straightforward to identify their best combination. If Simmons opens the innings, Mumbai will have to choose between Anderson and Pollard. Likewise, only one of Mitchell McClenaghan or Southee is likely to make the cut.Additionally, with a wicketkeeper already there in Parthiv, it remains to be seen if Buttler is handed the big gloves or used as a specialist batsman only.

The go-to men

Rohit Sharma had a central role to play in Mumbai’s turnaround and subsequent win in 2015. Rohit’s detractors are always ready to criticise him, and after a poor World T20, he will be keen to prove a point. Besides, Rohit has already shown his willingness to take responsibility in past editions, and captaincy has done wonders for his batting. Rohit’s 390 runs at a strike rate of 129.13 in 2014 was the second highest for a Mumbai batsman. In 2015, he amassed 482 runs at a strike rate of 144.74 – that included a 26-ball fifty in the final against Super Kings.Lendl Simmons has been a consistent performer for Mumbai. He was the franchise’s highest run-scorer in 2014, despite playing seven matches fewer than the next best performer. Simmons has also shown the ability to step up when it matters. In 2015, he replaced an injured Aaron Finch at the top and scored 540 runs to once again top the batting charts. More recently, he blasted a match-winning 82 not out in the World T20 semi-final against India after being called up just two days prior to the match.Harbhajan Singh will be expected to keep the run-flow in the middle overs in check, a task he has performed brilliantly over the years as a career economy rate of 6.61 after 195 T20 matches testifies.

Bargain buy

Mumbai weren’t the most active franchise at the auction, making just seven purchases – the least, along with Kolkata Knight Riders. Mumbai struck a good deal with Buttler’s acquisition for INR 3.8 crore. While Buttler bagged the highest price among the seven players, his imperious form during the World T20 and big-hitting ability should make for a favourable return on investment.

Availability

Mumbai are yet to announce a replacement for Malinga. There are no other known injury concerns.

Coaches

Mentor – Sachin Tendulkar, head coach – Ricky Ponting, coach – Paras Mhambrey, assistant and batting coach – Robin Singh, bowling coach – Shane Bond, fielding coach – Jonty Rhodes, assistant strength and conditioning coach – Afzal Khan, trainer – Paul Chapman.

Quotes

“It is very important to start the tournament the way you want. T20 format is about momentum. The way you play reflects in the next game. We have stressed on it. We haven’t started well, but have managed to win the title. We don’t want to repeat that this year though.”

Sam Curran, the England Under-19 allrounder, said his initiation into top flight cricket came much earlier than expected, but hopes the first-class experience will help him and his teammates in their quest to win the Under-19 World Cup

Mohammad Isam in Chittagong28-Jan-2016Sam Curran is living the dream of every young cricketer: suddenly picked out of nondescript cricket to play in the big leagues with a great of the game, and now touring abroad to represent his country at an international tournament. It’s not exactly a scene straight out of the Hollywood flick , because despite how young Curran comes across, he is nothing like the 12-year-old protagonist in the film.Sam was the second-youngest debutant for Surrey last season, when he was plucked out of the Second Eleven Championship to play T20s. Now, after just six first-class matches for Surrey, which he has played alongside his older brother Tom, he is now considered one of the most talented junior cricketers in England.Ahead of England Under-19s’ second World Cup match against West Indies on Friday, Curran reflected on his elevation, which he termed “heady, but exciting.””I think everything came a bit faster than I thought,” Curran told ESPNcricinfo. “There were couple of injuries in the Surrey team and I got the call-up. I just went from game to game, and they came very quickly. I thought I was dreaming when I was playing with someone like Kumar Sangakkara.”Quite a few us here have played first-class cricket, especially Dan [Lawrence] and Jack [Burnham] who got hundreds against Fiji. I think there are eight of us who have played first-class matches, so it gives us the experience that we can share with the other guys because we are playing in conditions lot different than we are used to in the UK.”Curran was born in England but moved back to Zimbabwe when his father Kevin Curran was made Zimbabwe’s head coach in 2005. As is the case with many cricketers, his game flourished while playing backyard cricket, even though it meant he only got to bowl to his older brothers. Nonetheless, he says it was a happy childhood until three years ago when his father passed away.”My dad was the main inspiration for us brothers,” he said. “We brothers were very competitive in garden cricket. I used to be the main bowler because obviously the older brothers used to take most of the time batting. I got my turn at the end for two minutes and they would hit the ball over the tennis court and it was game over. All good fun though, now that we look back as we are a bit older. Obviously the tragedy of what happened to my father got us to move back to the UK. I think now it couldn’t have worked better with the cricket.”Bring up the names of Sangakkara and Alec Stewart, and the child-like enthusiasm and excitement in Sam surfaces. He also admires Jade Dernbach and Tom, his older brother, immensely for the role they have played in shaping him as a cricketer.”Jade and Tom have been great with me,” he said. “We are a bowlers’ union. Jade has helped me in white-ball cricket. He is one of the most skillful bowlers. When batters are coming hard at me, he just tells me to take my time and think about what I am going to bowl. Tom does [check on me] now and again. He is in the UAE now with the Lions. Both of them are very supportive and we catch up now and again.”Curran also looks up to Wasim Akram, quite obviously because he is also a left-arm quick, and Brett Lee for the aggression. “Wasim Akram is someone, and then Brett Lee. He is quite a big one for me. I also wear the No 58 as he did,” he gushed. “I just loved his aggression. For my batting, Kumar Sangakkara has helped me. Probably in a few years, I see myself batting at No 6 in the allrounder’s spot like I am doing for the U-19s now.”Serious talks aside, Sam also joked about how he and his older brother often keep arguing about who is the better batsman. “We have had this argument before. I think, depends… I am probably a better four-day batsman and he is probably better in the one-day stuff,” he laughed. “He is a bit stronger than me but in a couple of years down the line, I will get up the order and he can bat at No 11.”Curran’s rapid rise has made him adjust to life as a cricketer, be it age-group or as a pro, and as a student at Wellington College. His plate is full at the moment, with his immediate challenge being the ongoing Under-19 World Cup, a tournament England are yet to win since 1998. “Obviously the dream is to play for England but I want to take it one at a time,” Curran said. “Even last winter, I thought I would play a couple of second team games.”It all kicked off from nowhere. My main aim over the next couple of weeks is to win the U-19 World Cup. It is our dream. Then I want to go back to Surrey and do well. I have to finish my A-levels this May and I have just signed a three-year contract with Surrey. Hopefully that’s where I will be for the rest of the time I would play cricket.”

The Sri Lanka Premier League will be broadcast to a global audience via Youtube, SLC president Upali Dharmadasa confirmed on Thursday, with all 24 matches to be streamed on an official SLPL channel

Andrew Fernando02-Aug-2012The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) will be broadcast to a global audience via Youtube, SLC president Upali Dharmadasa confirmed on Thursday, with all 24 matches to be streamed on an official SLPL channel.The move to stream the tournament on Youtube had been initiated by Somerset Entertainment Ventures, who are handling the marketing and operations of the SLPL. “It was an idea that was brought to us, and we approved it because it gives the tournament the benefit of reaching more cricket fans around the world,” Dharmadasa said.ESPN Star Sports* hold the broadcast rights to the SLPL and will be screening the tournament in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as in a host of other South and South East Asian countries.The SLPL begins on August 11, and will see seven franchises competing over three weeks. The final is scheduled for August 31.*ESPN STAR Sports is a 50:50 joint venture between Walt Disney (ESPN, Inc.), the parent company of ESPNcricinfo, and News Corporation Limited (STAR)

MCC has elected four new members to its main committee. Angus Fraser, John Barclay, Hugo Loudon and Robert Griffiths will take up their three-year positions on October 1.

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2012MCC has elected four new members to its main committee. Angus Fraser, John Barclay, Hugo Loudon and Robert Griffiths will take up their three-year positions on October 1.The four will replace Matthew Fleming, Charles Fry, Christopher Martin-Jenkins and Colin Maber, who will retire as elected members on September 30.”MCC will continue to be well served from October, with a committee intake that boasts an excellent amount of cricketing skills and expertise,” Oliver Stocken, the MCC chairman, said. “I look forward to welcoming everyone on to the committee in the autumn.”Former-England fast bowler, Fraser, is now managing director of cricket at Middlesex; Barclay played for Sussex for 17 years and is a former MCC president; Loudon, 33, is financial controller of BSkyB and, having played for Hampshire and Kent second XI’s, has been a regular player in MCC colours; Griffith is a practicing Queen’s Counsel and has been chairman of the MCC laws sub-committee since 2008.The new members become part of the 20-strong MCC vommittee, which comprises the president, the club chairman, six chairmen of committees and twelve elected members.

Ben Hilfenhaus could be next to join Mitchell Johnson on the sidelines for Friday’s second Test after Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, hinted that Ryan Harris was strongly in contention for a recall alongside Doug Bollinger

Andrew Miller in Adelaide02-Dec-2010Ben Hilfenhaus is set to join Mitchell Johnson on the sidelines for Friday’s second Test after Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, hinted that Ryan Harris was strongly in contention for a recall alongside Doug Bollinger. Bollinger is expected to replace Johnson, who was dropped following Australia’s toothless display during England’s 1 for 517 at the Gabba, while Cricinfo understands that the selectors have opted for Harris over Hilfenhaus on a wicket that is not expected to offer much conventional swing beyond the first day.”Hilfy’s strengths are his ability to swing the new ball, he’s very consistent, bowls in good areas and can tie batters down, as we saw at different times during the Brisbane Test,” said Ponting. “Ryan’s strengths are he’s grown up playing all his cricket here, he’s probably slightly quicker through the air, and he hits the wicket a bit harder than Ben does, and he’s probably a better reverse-swing bowler for later in the game, which comes into consideration in Adelaide.”Harris, who has a chronic knee injury, has been in excellent form on the domestic scene since returning from off-season surgery, while Hilfenhaus was Australia’s best bowler in the tour of India in October. Although Hilfenhaus launched Australia’s Ashes campaign in dramatic fashion by capturing Andrew Strauss for a third-ball duck in Brisbane, he failed to claim another wicket in 50.3 overs for the match. He particularly struggled for penetration when the new ball went soft, and is understood to be feeling the effects of a slight hamstring strain.Harris, meanwhile, learned his cricket at the Adelaide Oval before moving to Queensland three years ago, and with his extra pace through the air is a likelier man to exploit any reverse-swing that may be on offer at a venue that can favour the art. “If you put all those things together, it makes that decision a pretty difficult one,” Ponting said.Bollinger, whose tally of 49 in 11 matches to date makes him Australia’s only remaining bowler in the top ten of the ICC World Rankings, seems certain to return after losing out to Peter Siddle at Brisbane. With Johnson already cut from the 13-man squad, the notion of purging two of the three specialist quick bowlers is a drastic one.”Is it unstable [to make two bowling changes]?” Ponting asked. “No, because we have to pick the best team for every condition that we are confronted with in the summer. We didn’t win a Test last week, and so hopefully the team we pick this week will be good enough to win. We wouldn’t make changes if we didn’t think it would make the attack better for this game. We’ve got to pick the best five bowlers we could possibly have to get 20 wickets in each game.”Harris, a bowler whom Ponting rates highly, bowled especially sharply during Australia’s first practice session at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday. However, he did not feature in the nets on Thursday, leading to a suggestion that he was feeling the effects of his knee problem.Ponting denied that this was the case. “We’re not worried about Ryan’s knee at all,” he said. “The reason he didn’t bowl today was nothing to do with his knee. We’ve made one big decision to leave a guy out [Johnson], so we wouldn’t be doing that if we were taking a risk on someone who’s got an injury. We want to keep it up our sleeves for tomorrow morning, and see what the best 11 is.”Harris’ knee is now a case of bone rubbing on bone and he will have to manage the pain throughout the rest of his career, hence the caution during Thursday’s session. He convinced the selectors of his form and fitness by claiming four wickets for Queensland in a one-day game last week, and a further six in the recent Sheffield Shield fixture against Victoria. He impressed Ponting during his only two Tests to date, against New Zealand in March, during which he claimed nine wickets at 23.”Coming out of the game he played the other day, he had a good bowl yesterday and we didn’t expect all of our bowlers bowling every day before the game,” said Ponting. “That’s pretty much what the staff wanted them to do, to get their workload high enough leading into the Test. If you look at both Bollinger and Harris, what they’ve done in state cricket has been pretty impressive. I faced Dougie this morning and he was impressive, while Ryan was on the mark yesterday. They are obviously ready to go so we’ll work things out tomorrow morning.”