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India’s decision to play five bowlers in the subcontinent has generated a lot of buzz, and now more importantly, some tangible results. Enough for Virat Kohli to maintain his faith in it

Alagappan Muthu in Fatullah14-Jun-20153:43

‘Big fan of playing five bowlers’ – Kohli

India’s decision to play five bowlers in the subcontinent has generated a lot of buzz, and now more importantly, some tangible results. Enough for Virat Kohli to maintain his faith in it.Although the only Test in Fatullah ended in a draw, the additional help had proved useful as R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh combined to take eight wickets to force Bangladesh to follow-on. But with rain usurping a giant chunk of the game, the expected end came to pass. But not before Kohli was able to work out a few more permutations to his strategy.”I would want someone like R Ashwin, who is averaging 40 with the bat in Test matches – you really can’t ask for more from an allrounder – and someone like Harbhajan Singh to step up with the bat, and [Wriddhiman] Saha too,” Kohli said. “If those three start clicking, you literally have eight batsmen, and you can’t really ask for more as a captain. It’s basically up to the first six to take more responsibility and we are confident of doing that.”‘Reserve day in Tests a good suggestion’

Virat Kohli admitted playing against the weather was a futile task, but was intrigued by the possibility of reserve days in Tests matches.
“That’s a debatable question. It could be, I don’t know,” he said. “Say, on the fourth day a team is struggling to save a game, and the next day it rains for two sessions and the game is drawn. The team that deserves to win doesn’t get a win. So yes, there might be a thought there. It’s a good suggestion actually.
“You might want to add another day seeing the situation of the game. If there is a possible result, there is no harm in giving the team that’s winning a fair chance to compete for three sessions. You earn a draw or the deserving team gets a victory. Might not be a bad thing, but I’m not sure how the discussions are going to go.”

Next on India’s docket is a tour to Sri Lanka, before hosting South Africa, who have not lost an away series since July 2006. Naturally, fronting up with a team full of options was a priority for Kohli. Will he retain the present attack with Ashwin and Harbhajan working in tandem?”I would like to have players who can win us games in the bowling unit. And both of them have that ability,” Kohli said. “Especially now that we have a prolonged season in the subcontinent, we need to look at how we can strengthen our team for that as of now. And both of them are good enough to do the same thing when we go away from home as well, it’s just about the mindset I guess. The more confidence we build in this season, we’ll carry it forward to wherever we play in the future as well.”Watching them bowl together in a pair was really exciting as a captain. And I think both of them enjoyed bowling together as well – if one put pressure, the other took a wicket and vice-versa.”Kohli is not known as a man who takes a backward step. And he has a simple reason for playing that way. It’s fun: “We want to play that sort of cricket. When I captained in my first Test in Adelaide too, I had the same thought process, that we should play aggressively and give ourselves a chance to win the game. You enjoy the game when you play like that.”I think, as a team, it’s very important to have that intensity and attitude especially when we are fielding. Because that is the one time when all 11 players are together and you get the true sense of being a team. We have that understanding in the team that we need to maintain intensity in the field at all times, regardless of the conditions, the pitch, or the situation. If your intent is to win, you will always do well in any situation and come out better than the other team more often than not.”That’s my thinking, but the credit goes to the whole team for responding to that. Because I can think something, but if players don’t respond then it’s useless. We are all on one page, and in sync. It’s a good thing and if we keep building that we’ll get even stronger.”Amid India’s push to move onward and upward, there were a few moments to reflect on and Kohli was asked about life after MS Dhoni.”It’s obviously strange,” he said. “The same thing happened when Sachin Tendulkar retired. A few games after that it was a very strange feeling. You suddenly don’t see a very impactful figure in the dressing room. As a cricketer, you always get used to having him around, listening to him, having discussions with him. That voice is always there and it’s a very familiar feeling in the change room.”Now that he’s not there, you sometimes do feel he’s going to pop out of somewhere. Those sort of things happen, it’s a natural process. But now he’s decided to retire from this format and everything moves on. The team wants to continue in the same way, that has done well in the subcontinent in the past as well, so we can take that leaf out of his book. He’s really helped a lot of us youngsters in becoming good international players. He’s given us ample opportunities, so now is the time for us to take up the responsibility and take Indian cricket forward.”

The BCB has once again said they are looking to host a third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League and slot the domestic T20 tournament in December, but not before they make its structure more “reasonable and realistic”

Mohammad Isam12-May-2015The BCB has once again said they are looking to host a third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League and slot the domestic T20 tournament in December, but not before they make its structure more “reasonable and realistic”.The BPL’s second edition ended on February 19, 2013 after which the BPL tribunal dealt with corruption allegations on a number of players and officials, with the player payment issues also resurfacing from time to time.A press conference in Mirpur on Tuesday was the third time after April 17 and August 27 last year that the BCB said they wished to continue the T20 tournament.”It is not an official announcement but we are looking at a window in December to hold the third edition of the BPL if everything goes to plan and the international schedule is sorted out,” Ismail Haider Mallick, the BPL’s governing council member-secretary, said. “The Asia Cup and World T20 are at the start of next year. We want to host the third edition of the BPL before these two tournaments. It will help the players’ preparations.”The financial structure of the next tournament will have big changes, so that we can hold the tournament every year. We are trying to keep it reasonable and realistic.”Mallick claimed that the players’ payments were almost cleared. “We have cleared 90% of all payments. If we still get any valid claims, we will look into it carefully. For the local players who are still unpaid, we have given Naimur Rahman the responsibility to get their payment cleared.”Mallick said that as seven franchises had defaulted and subsequently been served termination papers, the board would look for new franchises for the third edition.”All of the franchises are defaulters. We will not wait for them for the third edition. We are already in discussions with some interested parties who want to become franchises. We have sent repeated letters to the seven franchises to pay their dues.”But they haven’t acted according to our contract. We have sent them the termination letter, and then also given then arbitration letter too. But they have never replied to either of the letters. They didn’t even contact us.”The other franchises could participate in the next tournament but they have to clear all their dues and appeal to the BCB, which will decide whether to allow them or not.”Mallick added that Dhaka Gladiators are unlikely to be participate if there is a third BPL due to the corruption charges against them. Their owners Shihab Jishan Chowdhury and Salim Chowdhury have been each banned for 10 years.”It is almost confirmed that Dhaka Gladiators will not be participating in the next BPL because the ICC has given a decision about them and they cannot legally stay in the tournament,” he said.

With the top-flight campaign nearing its halfway point at the turn of the year, Goal assesses the star men of 2020-21 to this point

Though the delay to the start of the season means that the Premier League campaign is yet to reach its halfway point, the table is starting to take shape.

Defending champions Liverpool are again out in front, but the Reds have not had things their own way and look set for a much tougher challenge when it comes to winning a second successive league title.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester City and Everton have all shown flashes of form that suggest they could be in the hunt right until the final weeks, while the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton have also enjoyed periods in the upper echelons of the table.

But which players have been the standouts so far? Goal has selected its Team of the Season through to the end of the calendar year, though everything could change as we enter 2021…

GettyGK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

It is fair to suggest that Arsenal fans were split when it was revealed that Bernd Leno had been chosen to be the Gunners' No.1 for the new season given the impressive performances of Emiliano Martinez in the closing weeks of the previous campaign.

Martinez had played a key role in helping turn around the fortunes of Mikel Arteta's side, and with first-team football not forthcoming in north London he jumped at the chance of joining Aston Villa for £20 million ($25m) in mid-September.

His form for the Villans has mirrored that of his final months at Arsenal, with the Argentina international currently leading the race for the Premier League's Golden Glove with eight clean sheets from his first 14 appearances for the club.

Martinez has rarely put a foot wrong for Dean Smith's side, saving 76 per cent of shots faced, which ranks him second among the English top-flight's regular goalkeepers in 2020-21 behind Nick Pope.

AdvertisementGettyRB: Reece James (Chelsea)

With Trent Alexander-Arnold having struggled with injuries, the door has been opened for another young, English right-back to stake his claim to become the league's best player in his position.

Reece James' form for Chelsea has been so strong that club captain Cesar Azpilicueta has been relegated to the substitutes' bench for almost the entire campaign so far, with James also having earned himself a first England call-up during the autumn.

Going forward he is a revelation, with his crossing accuracy of 22.4% the second-best among full-backs in the Premier League so far this season.

He has also proven himself to be adept defensively, winning 27 tackles at a success rate of 63%; the fourth-best ratio among full-backs in 2020-21.

Getty ImagesCB: Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)

Though new signings Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy have taken most of the plaudits for Chelsea's improved defensive record, there is no getting away from the fact that Kurt Zouma has perhaps been the most consistently impressive of the trio so far in 2020-21.

The France international was tipped to become one of the world's great centre-backs before suffering a serious knee injury in 2016 that threatened to derail his top-level career.

This season, though, he is beginning to deliver on his potential. He has 38 headed clearances – the fourth-most in the Premier League – and has won 75% of his attempted tackles as well as 66% of his duels.

He has also become an attacking weapon from set-pieces, with his four goals the most among the division's defenders.

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Getty ImagesCB: Fabinho (Liverpool)

Liverpool's title odds lengthened significantly when Virgil van Dijk suffered his potentially season-ending knee injury against Everton in October, so seeming irreplaceable is the Netherlands international at Anfield.

And yet, Jurgen Klopp's side have conceded just seven goals in 12 league games since Van Dijk's injury – a record made even more remarkable given that Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker have all also suffered injuries in the meantime.

Holding midfielder Fabinho has been entrusted with filling the Van Dijk-shaped hole in the Liverpool defence, and while he too missed time through injury, the ex-Monaco man has looked very much at home at the heart of the back four.

The 27-year-old ranks as Liverpool's leading tackler and their player with the most headed clearances so far this term as they chase a second successive league title.

Bayern Munich's Bundesliga match against Bochum had to be halted on two occasions and the players were taken off as objects were thrown on the field.

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Bayern game stopped in both halvesPlayers taken off the field and down tunnelFans lobbed tennis balls onto the pitchWHAT HAPPENED?

The game was stopped after 25 minutes as fans lobbed tennis balls from the stands. Although it was allowed to resume, it was halted again just nine minutes into the second half and the players were taken down the tunnel. Play started up again around 10 minutes later.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

German football matches have been stopped regularly in recent weeks as part of an ongoing protest involving throwing tennis balls, gold chocolate coins and apples onto the field to voice their anger against foreign investment in the German top-flight. The fans are demanding an end to a controversial plan from the league to sell a stake of future revenue to a private equity investor. The campaign to stop it was given a boost this week when prospective buyer Blackstone dropped out of talks. However, there remains one more leading candidate in the shape of CVC Capital Partners.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bayern were 1-0 up through a Jamal Musiala goal in the Bundesliga clash when the initial interruption occurred. Play was disrupted less than 10 minutes after Harry Kane missed a golden opportunity to double their lead. The striker was sent through on goal by an incredible pass from Musiala but his effort went sailing over the bar.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

After the restart, Bochum managed to pick up some momentum and went on to equalise through Takuma Asano before Keven Schlotterbeck put his team ahead just before half-time. Things took a turn for the worse after the second interruption as Dayot Upamecano was sent off in a second consecutive game and Kevin Stoger scored a penalty to make it 3-1. Kane eventually got a late goal to pull one back for Bayern, but the damage had already been done and they sustained a third consecutive defeat after the recent losses to Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has high expectations for growth in the NWSL – and American soccer – leading up to the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup.

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NWSL expecting 'explosive' growthBuildup to 2026 World Cup resultCommissioner Berman speaks on upcoming campaignWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to reporters at the Financial Times' Business of Football summit in London, commissioner Berman revealed that she is expecting 'explosive' growth over the next two years. With the 2026 Men's World Cup on the horizon, and it being co-hosted in the USA, the opportunities for development are endless. The USA and Mexico also have a co-host bid on the table for the 2027 Women's World Cup, leaving Berman beaming over the possibilities.

AdvertisementUSA Today Sports WHAT NWSL COMMISSIONER JESSICA BERMAN SAID

"We know that in the U.S., the next four to six years, there is going to be an explosive growth, with or without the intentional investment we're making. … With the World Cup coming in 2026 and the possibility the Women's World Cup will come in 2027, there is an incredible amount of interest.

"There's this age-old question: When is America going to start paying attention to this global sport? Well, it's happened. They are paying attention, they love this sport, and we have this halo effect of the U.S. women's national team and their incredible success

"[Soccer] is one of the few sports where when you ask 100% [of the] people in the U.S. to close their eyes and imagine 'greatness, soccer and America' they think of women."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Berman described the NWSL's 'superpower' as it's independence from men's clubs around American soccer – which is not the case in European soccer. Their freedom as a sporting league – and each respective club's ability to navigate on their own – gives them an edge as a powerhouse women's soccer league, as well.

Notably, the NWSL is starting to attract major overseas talent – with Racheal Kundananji joining expansion side Bay FC for a world-record fee, Barcelona Femeni's highly-successful coach Jonatan Giraldez signing a pre-contract agreement to join the Washington Spirit this summer and Chelsea superstar Jessie Fleming opting for a stateside switch to Portland Thorns.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR NWSL?

The 2024 season is set to get underway on March 15 with the NWSL Challenge Cup between last season's regular season champions, San Diego Wave, and the NWSL Cup holder's – Gotham FC. After the Bats and the Wave clash, the regular season will begin on Saturday, March 16 when the Kansas City Current take on the Portland Thorns.

Shane Watson is eager to move forward from the debacles that Australia had to negotiate in India with the first ever back-to-back Ashes series due to begin

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2013Shane Watson is eager to move forward from the debacles Australia faced in India, with back-to-back Ashes series due to begin later this summer. During the series, which ended in a 0-4 series defeat, the team management axed four players, including Watson, who was vice-captain at the time, after the second Test for failing to complete a task set by coach Mickey Arthur.”Whatever happened throughout India, certainly for me personally, was the lowest point in my cricket career, there’s no doubt about that.” he said. “The decisions that were made were made for a reason and we certainly have to move forward as a team because we’ve got two series back-to-back of the biggest cricket we’ll ever play.”Australia are chasing the urn after England steamrolled Australia in their own backyard with a 3-1 scoreline, all three wins coming without England needing to bat a second time. They now face England in England.”We’ve got a lot of big cricket coming up so we’ve got to put all the things that happened to us in India behind us.” he said. “We’ve got to find ways to get the best out of ourselves as individuals and as a team. If we don’t, then it could be a long 10 months but if we’re able to bring it together then we could have a lot of fun.”Watson was clear in stating the controversial episode ahead of Australia’s last chance to save the series in India could have been avoided.”If I had handed in my homework then I would have avoided it, that’s probably as simple as it was. I look back and I certainly would have done that and I wouldn’t have been in the situation that I was.” he said. “There were certainly periods of time that things had been building up unbeknown to me, things that were really affecting certain people in the group but we’ve had to move because we’ve got so much big cricket coming up and it’s a dream to be part of back-to-back Ashes series.”Whatever’s happened is certainly in the past. For me to be a part of hopefully this next little while of cricket continues to fuel my dream and also continue to realise the privilege I do have to play cricket for my country.”Watson also ruled out any interest in captaining Australia in the Ashes. “At this point in time, absolutely not.” he said “I stepped down as vice-captain for a number of different reasons but at this point in time, it was certainly the best thing for the team. I’m just here to get the best out of myself and help as much as I always do anyway.”

Anil Kumble the former India captain, is at the centre of a controversy over possible conflict-of-interest issues relating to his various roles in cricket administration

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Oct-2011Anil Kumble, the former India captain, is at the centre of a controversy over possible conflict-of-interest issues relating to his various roles in cricket administration.Kumble is currently president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, head of the National Cricket Academy and is also mentor of the Royal Challengers Bangalore; he also co-owns a talent management firm called Tenvic that has on its books several young players including R Vinay Kumar and S Aravind, both part of the India squad for the forthcoming series against England.It is the last role that has raised eyebrows. Tenvic – named after Kumble’s ten-wicket haul against Pakistan in 1999 – looks after the commercial interests of the players, his partner Vasanth Bharadwaj told the magazine. “It doesn’t make any sense for someone to do the mentoring and someone else to do the commercial handling,” he is quoted as saying. That is being seen as an area of conflicted interests, given the potential for Kumble to influence selection in both Karnataka and Royal Challengers sides, and given his role at the NCA, the nursery of Indian cricket.Kumble did not respond when contacted by ESPNcricinfo but explained his position to , who first ran the story. “I do not see any conflict of interest here. I am very clear in my mind about this. The important thing is to focus on what you are trying to achieve, and I am trying to do that.”Asked whether it was important to be seen to be above board, he said: “I focus on what has to be done, not on what people might be thinking. The positions with the KSCA and NCA are honorary jobs, and I have to look after myself. At this stage of my career, I have to do that. Otherwise, you would have to become like Gandhi and give up everything.”However, his explanations have not washed with several of his peers. Bishan Singh Bedi, another former spinner and India captain, told Outlook: “I can’t believe it, I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to sully the image I have of him.”A similar controversy broke out earlier this year, during India’s tour of England, when Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, who were part of the ESPN-Star Sports commentary team, were seen in public perception as compromised given that they are also BCCI employees.A more serious case of conflict of interest is currently being heard by the Supreme Court: it is former president AC Muthiah’s petition that the current incumbent, N Srinivasan, cannot both be a BCCI official and the owner of an IPL franchise (his company owns Chennai Super Kings). The Supreme Court had allowed Srinivasan’s elevation to the president’s position to go ahead last month but said its decision was subject to the outcome of the larger petition.In September 2008, shortly after the first IPL season, the BCCI had amended clause 6.2.4 of the regulations for players, team officials, umpires and administrators. Before the amendment the clause read: “No administrator shall have, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in the matches and events conducted by the board.” After the change, it read: “No administrator shall have directly or indirectly any commercial interest in any of the events of the BCCI, excluding IPL, Champions League and Twenty20.”

England captain Andrew Strauss and team director Andy Flower have been made OBE, while opening batsman Alastair Cook was named MBE in the in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list released on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-2011England captain Andrew Strauss and team director Andy Flower have been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), while opening batsman Alastair Cook received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s birthday honours list released on Saturday.The trio was rewarded for their efforts in England’s historic victory in the 2010-11 Ashes in Australia – their first series win in the country in 24 years. Strauss captained the team to three innings victories in the five-Test series, which England took 3-1, apart from scoring 307 runs at 43.85. Cook topped the batting charts, with 766 runs at an average of 127.66.”It is a great honour to receive this accolade,” said Strauss, who received an MBE after England’s 2005 Ashes victory at home. “It’s one of the better items of post you get through the letterbox – certainly better than a gas bill. I’m very proud to receive it and, more than anything, very proud of how the team performed out there in Australia.”Our guys really stood up under the pressure. We have achieved something, but are nowhere near the end of the road yet, and will continue to strive to improve.”Flower said it was “a lovely surprise to receive this honour.””My family and I feel very thankful to have been welcomed into this country since moving here in 2003. I feel a great privilege and responsibility to be involved in a leadership role in English sport.”Former England offspinner Jack Birkenshaw, who played five Tests and 490 first-class games between 1958 and 1981, before turning to umpiring and coaching, also got an MBE.

ESPNcricinfo’s preview of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand at the Gabba

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale30-Nov-2011Match factsIf James Pattinson makes his debut as expected, he and his brother Darren will become the first siblings in 112 years to play Test cricket for different nations•Getty ImagesDecember 1-5, Brisbane
Start time 1000 (0000 GMT, 1100 EDT)Big PictureFirst things first: Australia are still favourites in this Test and should win the series. But New Zealand have a sniff. They haven’t won a Test in Australia in 26 years, back when Richard Hadlee was at his peak and Allan Border’s Australians were struggling at the start of their rebuilding phase. New Zealand are far from their peak right now – they nearly lost to Zimbabwe a month ago and sit eighth on the Test rankings – but Australia are not far from their mid 1980s position. They are coming off a fine victory in Johannesburg less than a fortnight ago, but at least three of the men who played in that win are out of this Test, including the Man of the Match Pat Cummins.Australia will play at least three debutants at the Gabba. David Warner will open in the absence of Shane Watson; James Pattinson is expected to share the new ball with Peter Siddle; and either Mitchell Starc or Ben Cutting will come on at first change. The captain Michael Clarke even hinted that there was a chance all four fast men might play if the pitch looked as “green and juicy” on the morning of the match as it did two days before. That could mean a rest for the offspinner Nathan Lyon, who before this week had never even visited the Gabba, let alone played there. There is also a new coach, Mickey Arthur, who has spent barely a week in the job and is still finding his feet.Not that New Zealand are much more settled. This will be the second Test for the fast bowler Doug Bracewell and the batsman Dean Brownlie, while the wicketkeeper Reece Young is also in his first year of Test cricket. Like Australia, New Zealand have a new selection panel, installed by their director of cricket, John Buchanan, a man who coached four of the opposition players during his time in charge of Australia. Their bowling coach Damien Wright is also Australian, and the players will look for advice from him on working at the Gabba, which is expected to have extra bounce compared to Allan Border Field, where three of their batsmen scored centuries during the tour match.Yes, New Zealand have a chance, perhaps the best chance they’ve had in Australia for a decade, since Stephen Fleming led them to a 0-0 draw in 2001. But Ross Taylor’s side is still learning how to win – they have won only four of their past 28 Tests – and they need everything to go right to upset the hosts.Form guide (most recent first)
Australia: WLDDW
New Zealand: WDLLDIn the spotlightTwo years ago, the thought of David Warner in a baggy green cap seemed as far-fetched as Australia appointing a foreign coach. How times change. Warner will make his Test debut with less than 1000 first-class runs to his name, but importantly he is in form. All three of his first-class hundreds have come this calendar year and if he stays at the crease for a session, New Zealand’s bowlers will see the total tick over at a rapid rate. Significantly, if Warner succeeds in this series, he could contribute to squeezing Ricky Ponting out of the Test line-up when Shane Watson returns from injury.On the subject of powerful left-hand batsman, the inclusion of Jesse Ryder is a major boost to New Zealand. Ryder missed the Test against Zimbabwe due to a calf strain but showed his class in the warm-up match against Australia A in Brisbane, where he was one of three centurions. New Zealand look a much more dangerous side when Ryder is fit, and having scored three hundreds, all against India, in his past ten Tests, he will be keen to prove he can have the same impact against Australia.Pitch and conditionsEven in last year’s disastrous Ashes campaign, the Gabba remained impenetrable for Australia’s opponents. The hosts have not lost a Test in Brisbane since 1988, when Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Patrick Patterson bowled West Indies to victory. There is always plenty of seam and bounce at the Gabba, and captains can be tempted to send the opposition in. The forecast is for thunder and rain on the opening day, while showers could also fall on the final two days.Team newsAustralia’s only decision surrounds the make-up of their attack. Siddle will lead the pace group and is expected to be joined by the outswing bowler Pattinson and one of Cutting and Starc. However, on the day before the Test, Clarke wrote in his newspaper column that leaving out the offspinner Nathan Lyon in favour of a four-man pace attack was also a possibility. “I prefer playing a spinner and I like to bat first,” Clarke wrote, “but if conditions remain as they are, we will think very seriously about playing all four fast bowlers.”Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Peter Siddle, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Mitchell Starc / Ben Cutting.New Zealand are likely to make just one change from the side that played in the tour match, with Daniel Vettori set to come in for Trent Boult.New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor (capt), 5 Jesse Ryder, 6 Dean Brownlie, 7 Daniel Vettori, 8 Reece Young (wk), 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Chris Martin.Stats & trivia Australia will have at least three Test debutants, bringing to at least nine the number of baggy greens handed out in 2011. The last time so many debutants played in a calendar year was during the World Series Cricket days, in 1978. If Pattinson debuts, he and his brother Darren, who represented England, will become the first siblings to play Test cricket for different nations in 112 years New Zealand’s tense recent win against Zimbabwe was their fourth victory in 28 Tests. The other wins in that time have come against Bangladesh (twice) and Pakistan. In their past four series against Ausralia, New Zealand have lost eight Tests and drawn one. Their last win against Australia came in 1993.Quotes”The extra pace, bounce and movement the Gabba can generate will give our fast bowlers every chance of making a significant impression”
“We’re just building quietly. I feel we’ve gathered a little bit of confidence from that first trip to Zimbabwe, when we were together nearly a month, then coming here after some good performances in first-class cricket at home.”

Gloucestershire have suffered a huge blow after the city council rejected plans to develop their homeground of Nevil Road in Bristol.

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2012The future of Gloucestershire has been thrown into doubt after plans to develop their Nevil Road home were rejected. The club could now leave Bristol, where they have played since their formation in 1870.Gloucestershire had hoped to undertake a £10 million project to raise the capacity of Nevil Road to meet ECB standards and keep international cricket but the city council rejected their plans. Gloucestershire are now looking at several options to secure their future, one of which is a move to another part of the county.The ground development was essential to maintaining a one-day international at Bristol, a match which brings £1 million to the city. The project was to be funded by building flats at one end of the ground but permission for this was rejected. Opponents thought the plan for a seven-story block of 147 flats was too big, didn’t comply with sustainability commitments and lacked contributions towards education and green spaces.Chief executive Tom Richardson said the club were angry at the decision to reject plans that were recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers and a move away from Bristol was now a serious possibility. “We’ve said all along if we don’t have international cricket at Bristol, and we’re staring down the barrel at that, then we’ll have to consider moving elsewhere,” said Richardson.Gloucester City Council have already been in touch with the club for early talks over a potential move to the Wagon Works Ground, a venue Gloucestershire used from 1923 to 1992.The club now have to decide whether to appeal the decision to reject planning permission or seek other options. Either way, time against them. “It’s a long term decision and can’t be taken lightly or quickly but the clock is ticking,” said Richardson. “The international in 2013 is now extremely dodgy or maybe already disappeared. With international cricket here we had a very good plan going forward. Now we have to have a serious rethink.”Another consequence on the rejected plans is the impact on the playing budget. A contract offer to Chris Taylor was conditional on the development going ahead. Taylor could now be the second senior player to leave Nevil Road, after Jon Lewis’ departure to Surrey at the end of the last season.