Tait's Decision Highlights 'burnout'

Captain Ricky Ponting has again raked up the 'burnout' issue, saying Shaun Tait's decision to sit out of the game highlighted the mental and physical stress being placed on Australia's Test players.

Ponting explained cricketers were not leading an easy, luxurious life, instead they undergo the rigours of the sport to maintain themselves at the highest level.

"Obviously Taity has been run down for a long period of time. We never saw it. He is just the happiest bloke to have around the change room. It's hit me like a ton of bricks... We're all flabbergasted," he said.

Tait took indefinite break from the demands of top-level cricket after citing mental and physical exhaustion. "A lot of people might think cricket is five-star hotels and living. It is very hard work to maintain that for a long time," he was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.

"You could probably ask Phil Jaques about coming in and not understanding how demanding cricket at the highest level really is. The fact people thought Jaques had the mumps after playing back-to-back Tests was significant. It's no fluke. "You get run down and tired. It's having a body and mind that can deal with it, and it isn't easy," he added. Ponting on, earlier occasions, had said his team playing virtually non-stop cricket and feared burnout.

"All the players want to play as much cricket for Australia as they can, but at the same time don't want to be worn out, fatigued and have their careers cut a little bit shorter than they might have been," Ponting had said.

Ponting also said the criticism would not affect the way he captained Australia but was now aware the public's perception of his team's image was far from the one he'd tried to mould.

"I've been shocked (by the backlash) because it has come from out of the blue," Ponting said. "It's important for me that we're also remembered for doing good things along the way, like helping kids (charities) and the community and to make sure we're doing the right thing by the game. We had an opposition captain question that a few weeks ago and it seemed to set off a chain reaction from people around Australia," he added.

Source: HindustanTimes

India vs Australia, 1st ODI Review

The absence of senior players was clearly reflected in the Indian team but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was happy with the performance of his boys in the opening one-day international match against Australia, which was called off due to rain here Sunday.

Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat on a bouncy Gabba track as India were bowled out for 194 runs in 45 overs in a truncated match. None of the Indian batsmen could get a big score, which clearly exposed the lack of experience in the team but Dhoni had a different view.

He had words of praise for his fast bowlers, batsmen and also for debutant Manoj Tiwary (2). Gambhir (39) was the highest scorer followed by Dhoni (37) and Rohit Sharma (29).

'We lost quick wickets early and the way Sachin Tendulkar departed was very disappointing. But Rohit and Gambhir played good knocks,' said Dhoni.

Tendulkar (10), the oldest member in the side, was dismissed hit-wicket off Brett Lee and his departure left the Indian team reeling at 26 for two. Gambhir and Sharma tried to steady the ship with their 65-run third wicket, which was highest partnership in the match.

'Rohit and Manoj are all good and it was all about showing sheer confidence in the middle,' said Dhoni.

Asked why did he chose Tiwary over an experienced Suresh Raina, Dhoni said: 'I go by instinct. He (Tiwary) didn't have enough practice matches but had a good session at the nets. I have enough confidence in him and it was unfortunate that he didn't have a good debut match.'

Dhoni also said that the absence of injured Yuvraj Singh is a concern for his team. 'Yuvraj's absence is always a concern for a team. It changes the whole batting line-up, and makes it confusing.'

The Indian captain praised his young bowling attack, which reduced the Australians to 51 for three before rain intervened for the third time, forcing the organisers to abandon the match.

The spotlight was very much on Sreesanth, who had his few runs-in with burly Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, right from the World Champions' tour to India last year. But the 24-year-old Kerala bowler kept his head cool and was bang on target, picking up two while Ishant Sharma scalped one.

'Ishant started in an amazing way and Sreesanth was also bang on target. I haven't done anything on Sreesanth. He was just aggressive and didn't cross the barrier,' said Dhoni.

Source: NewsPostIndia

Styris Quits Test Cricket

New Zealand international Scott Styris has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Styris' decision is the second setback for the Black Caps in quick succession after captain Daniel Vettori was earlier ruled out of next week's two Twenty20 internationals against England having failed to recover from injury.

Styris said: "The rigours of international cricket have become increasingly demanding and I would like to extend my career by focusing on shorter versions of the game."

The 32-year-old retires with a Test average of 36.04 from his 29 matches but will continue to be available to play in one-day internationals and Twenty20 cricket.

He added: "I had originally planned to retire from Test cricket at the end of the National Bank Series (against England) but decided to bring the decision forward out of fairness to the selectors and other players.

"The decision has been coming for a few months and I have been in regular contact with the selectors in relation to this decision.

"I have found the niggles and injuries associated with the longer form of the game were making it difficult for me to get on to the park.

"I'm really enjoying both one-day and Twenty20 cricket and am looking forward to being heavily involved with the Black Caps on our journey to the World Cup in 2011."

Source: ThePressAssociation

'Exhausted' Tait Quits Cricket

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait on Tuesday quit all levels of cricket due to physical and emotional exhaustion.

Tait, 24, has struggled with injury since shortly after being named to the Australian Test eleven midway through its unsuccessful Ashes tour of England in 2005.

He has played only three Tests, the last being against India in Perth this month during which he took no wickets. India won the match by 72 runs.

Tait, who was named the International Cricket Council's emerging player of 2007, said it had been a difficult decision to take a break from the game. "This is not an overnight decision but something that I've been struggling with for sometime," he said in a statement.

"A break from professional cricket will hopefully give me a clear mind and a chance for my body to rest and recover.

"My love and enjoyment of the game is struggling due to these issues and if I continue to go on, it will be unfair on my team mates and support staff of both the Australian and South Australian cricket teams -- and most importantly my family and close friends."

Cricket Australia said Tait was suffering from "physical and emotional exhaustion and will be rested from cricket while he undergoes a programme designed to facilitate his return to cricket."

Tait has suffered recurrent injuries dating back to 2005 and undergone surgery to his shoulder and elbow. He also has intermittent pain from back and hamstring injuries.

"The combination of his injury history and the demands of being an elite professional cricketer has affected his physical, and significantly, his emotional well being," South Australian Cricket Association medical officer Terry Farquharson said.

"Shaun feels he needs a rest from cricket and I support this, which will allow him to recover both physically and emotionally."

Cricket Australia's Chief medical officer Dr Trefor James said it was clear that Tait needed a break from cricket at all levels.

"We'll be working with Shaun going forward to ensure that whatever assistance he requires is provided to him," he said.

"Shaun's personal welfare is our primary concern as well as his return to cricket at an appropriate point."

Source: HindustanTimes

Gabba Clash Washed Out

The opening match of the Commonwealth Bank Series between Australia and India at the Gabba has been abandoned due to persistent showers, much to the disappointment of 35, 311 fans.

The players were forced from the field for three lengthy periods during the game and the latest deluge to batter the ground was at a torrential level, so officials had no choice but to call the game off.

The match was in the balance, with Australia locked at 3-51 off 7.2 overs, 90 runs off their Duckworth-Lewis target of 141, with 18.4 overs remaining.

The Australians started in dazzling fashion, reaching 1-33 after a mere four overs thanks to Adam Gilchrist and James Hopes, who opened in the absence of Matthew Hayden.

Gilchrist elected to walk after he appeared to edge a short delivery on the leg-side from Sreesanth and minutes later he was joined by the Indian team when inclement weather meant the umpires called for the heavy covers yet again.

After another lengthy delay, Australia resumed and was set a target of 141 off 26 overs and considering the home side was already 1-33 after four, it would have most likely fancied its chances.

India struck back though, with Ishant Sharma clean bowling James Hopes in the first over after the break before Sreesanth had Ricky Ponting edging to Virender Sehwag the very next over.

Australia was no longer in a comfortable position, now 3-39 with Sharma and Sreesanth extracting plenty of bounce and seam movement.

Earlier, India clawed its way to a total of 194 of 45 overs after almost an hour and a half of playing time was lost due to inclement weather.

Brett Lee was the destroyer for the Australians, claiming 5-27 off nine overs, including the key wicket of veteran Sachin Tendulkar (10) to restrict the Indians to a modest total.

Captain Mahendra Dhoni, who won the toss and elected to bat, subdued his natural aggression in a resolute knock of 37 of 61 deliveries and combined with an aggressive Harbhajan Singh in a significant 42-run stand.

It was a somewhat bleak story for the visitors, apart from Dhoni and Singh, Gautam Gambhir (39) and Rohit Sharma (29) were the only batsmen to really trouble the Australians in their determined 65-run third wicket partnership.

The Australian selectors decided to go with an all-out pace attack for the game, naming Brad Hogg 12th man and handing Ashley Noffke a dream one-day international debut at his home ground.

Source: CricketAustralia