Wilson: Surrey yet to click with bat

Surrey's Garry Wilson believes the side will only improve their batting performances in this season's FLt20.

The Oval outfit sit top of the South Group with three wins from their four matches following Wednesday's three-run victory over Sussex.

The wicketkeeper-batsman told BBC London 94.9: "We probably haven't hit our top form with the bat yet.

"You only have to look at the line-up to think we should be scoring 180 every time. We are going to click one day."

“Credit has to go to the bowlers with the way Jade and Azhar bowled those last four overs. It was a great win and they don't come much better than that”

Gary Wilson on the three-run victory over Sussex Ireland international Wilson played a crucial role in Surrey's victory over the Sharks, hitting an unbeaten 44 to help them to a total of 139-6.

However he was quick to praise death bowlers Jade Dernbach and Azhar Mahmood for their contribution.

"I feel like I am hitting the ball pretty well at the minute and it's nice to contribute," the 27-year-old added.

"Credit has to go to the bowlers with the way Jade and Azhar bowled those last four overs.

"In his last over Azhar stood back after every ball, thought about what he was going to do next and executed his skill.

"It was a great win and they don't come much better than that.

"The atmosphere was amazing and to win like that in front of your home crowd is unbelievable."

Wilson will now miss Surrey's London derby against Middlesex on Friday night as he will be on international duty.

The Dundonald-born player is in the Ireland squad for their two World Cup qualifiers against the Netherlands on Sunday and Tuesday.

"I'm leaving the team in a pretty good place with three wins from four," he said.

"If we can get another win we will be sitting nicely going into the little break.

"It's unfortunate I have to leave but it gives me an opportunity to go away and play two really important games for Ireland.

"We can qualify for the World Cup and I'm pretty confident."

View the original article here

Root 'may be sledging target'

Australia fast bowler James Pattinson has hinted England batsman Joe Root will be a target for Ashes sledging.

Root, 22, will open for the first time in a Test match when the series gets under way at Trent Bridge on 10 July.

And Pattinson said: "There is an art to sledging these days. You have to pick the ones you sledge to.

Root has made six Test appearances, scoring 424 runs at an average of 42.40 In 16 one-day internationals, he averages 49.16 from 16 matches He has played 46 first-class matches, scoring 3,151 runs at 45.66 "Obviously there is going to be pressure on Root. He has done well at six but [moving up the order] will be a new challenge for him."

Pattinson, who is poised to share the new ball with Mitchell Starc, added: "I read the other day he is quite nervous about it but looking forward to the challenge as he should be. It's going to be a tough challenge for both teams."

Root, who was punched by Australia batsman David Warner in a Birmingham bar in June, averages 42.40 from 11 Test innings since making his debut against India in December 2012.

He was promoted to open the batting for England's warm-up match against Essex at Nick Compton's expense and responded with scores of 41 and 26.

Sledging, which involves trying to verbally unsettle an opponent, has been a favourite tactic of the great Australian sides of the past and was termed "mental disintegration" by former captain Steve Waugh. 

While Root may be a prime candidate for a few choice words, Pattinson conceded that aiming barbs at more established players like Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen could be counter-productive.

"Cook has been around quite a bit and he will probably not give you much back if you say anything to him," he said. "He will brush it off so let the ball do the talking to him.

England's Jimmy Ormond may have only played in two Tests, but his witty retort to Mark Waugh at The Oval in 2001 has gone down in Ashes folklore.

Waugh politely asked the bowler: "Mate, what are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England."

Ormond, referencing the fact that the visitors were captained by Mark Waugh's brother Steve, instantly replied: "Maybe not... but at least I'm the best player in my own family."

"Pietersen is someone who would thrive on sledging. He is quite an aggressive person and he is, I suppose, an ego of their team.

"As a bowling group it is about being consistent against players like that. You know he will hit your good balls for four.

"But it is all about not letting him dictate because as a batsman that is what he wants to do. He wants to get on top of you."

Pattinson has 40 wickets in 10 Test matches and the 23-year-old impressed with match figures of 7-117 in Australia's first warm-up match against Somerset last week.

Born in Australia to English parents, he is the younger brother of Darren, who played a single Test for England at Headingley in 2008.

James has dual passports and even turned down an approach from England bowling coach David Saker before opting to play for Australia.

"When David Saker moved over to be the coach of England I hadn't played for Australia," said Pattinson.

"I was picked in two Twenty20s to play just after the Ashes but I was 12th man in both of them and he got Andy Flower to say 'come on, it's not too late, you can come over here.'

"But I owe a lot to Australian cricket, I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for them."

View the original article here

Scotland win T20 contest with Kenya

First Twenty20 international, Aberdeen:

Scotland 113-6 (20 overs) beat Kenya 78 (18.5 overs) by 35 runs

Scotland bowled Kenya out for 78 to win a low-scoring Twenty20 international at Mannofield in Aberdeen.

Gordon Goudie was the leading wicket taker, claiming three victims, while bowlers Calum MacLeod and Gordon Drummond each earned two scalps.

Victory looked unlikely when Scotland made 113-6, with opener Richie Berrington top scoring on 29 and Preston Mommsen 24 not out.

But the visitors were dismissed with 13 balls remaining, 35 runs short.

The teams will meet again at the same venue on Friday evening and both sides will be looking to improve with the bat.

Duncan Allan was Kenya's leading scorer with just 15 runs, with Irfan Karim (11) and Tanmay Mishra (13) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Veteran Neil Carter was also among the Scottish wicket takers, dismissing Morris Ouma thanks to a catch from Drummond, while Majid Haq was the most economic of the home bowlers, taking one wicket and conceding a mere 10 runs from his four overs.

On a tricky wicket, Scotland only managed to score nine boundaries, with Goudie and Moneeb Iqbal each hitting a welcome six late in the innings.

View the original article here

Somerset's Suppiah forced to retire

Somerset all-rounder Arul Suppiah has been forced to quit professional cricket because of injury.

The 29-year-old has been suffering with from problems in both knees and has been advised to retire immediately.

First-class

Matches: 100 Runs: 5,156 Eight x 100, 29 x 50, Highest score 156 Wickets: 45 Best bowling 3-46

List A

Matches: 94 Runs: 1,722 10 x 50, Highest score 80 Wickets: 46 Best bowling 4-39

T20

Matches: 82 Runs: 472 Highest score 32 not out Wickets: 41 Best bowling 6-5 Malaysia-born Suppiah has spent his entire career at Somerset, having attended Millfield School on a cricket scholarship from the age of 13.

"I am devastated to have to retire from the game that I have always loved," said Suppiah.

"This is the hardest decision of my life, especially having played for Somerset for so long.

"I have so many happy memories of my time at Somerset and would like to thank everybody from players, staff and members who have supported me during my playing career at the county.

"Somerset will always be my county and from the other side of the boundary ropes, I shall continue to support the lads in every way I can."

Suppiah made his first-class debut for the county in 2002 and has scored 5,156 runs and taken 45 wickets.

He was a member of the Somerset squad that won the 2005 Twenty20 Cup, and set a new world Twenty20 bowling record by taking 6-5 against Glamorgan in July 2011.

Suppiah's final appearance for the county came in last month's drawn Championship game against Durham.

View the original article here

AUDIO: Dexter wants Middlesex improvement

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.

View the original article here

Wakely wants White at Northants

Northants' one-day captain Alex Wakely says he hopes they can keep Nottinghamshire spinner Graeme White.

The 26-year-old rejoined Northants on a one-month loan and took 4-14 in their Twenty20 win over Gloucestershire.

Wakely told BBC Radio Northampton: "Graeme was sensational. Who thought a spinner would be the key with a wet ball, and with only three overs?

"It's a joy to have him back from Notts and let's try to get him here full time if we can."

White, who left Northants in 2009, had only made five appearances in the YB40 for Notts this season, prior to his move back to Wantage Road.

He will remain at the club until 11 July under the current deal.

"I got told I wouldn't start the Twenty20 at Notts, which was obviously disappointing," said White.

"But it was fantastic coming back, playing my first Twenty20 match at Wantage Road for a long time.

"A few hairs on the back of my neck went up, which is only normal, seeing as I played here when I was young. The crowd were brilliant and the lads played fantastically well.

"We're going to set ourselves high standards. The team is pretty strong in all areas and we should be competing to finish in the top two or three and try to get through to a quarter-final, and maybe a home one."

White says he hopes his performances in the T20 catch the eye for Notts, who also won their first match in the competition.

"They've got some good players but I'm knocking on the door, and if I get the opportunity to play, I'm there to do it," he declared.

Northants matched their number of wins in the entirety of last season's T20 campaign by beating the Gladiators, and next host Warwickshire Bears.

"If we keep playing like that over a full 20 overs, I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with," said Wakely.

"We sat down at the end of last season and we were a little bit embarrassed. We were fed up of losing. We did a lot of hard work over the winter and it's paying off.

"It's nice to know that players know exactly what they're doing. Mohammad Azharullah is our death bowler, David Willey starts the game and Andrew Hall can do either, so we're in a really strong position."

View the original article here

Dexter sees Middlesex T20 potential

Middlesex captain Neil Dexter is confident his side will give a strong showing in the FLt20 competition despite losing to Sussex by 24 runs.

The Panthers have one win and one defeat from their opening two matches in the South Group.

Dexter told BBC London 94.9: "I have got a good feeling within our camp that this is going to be a good year for us.

"We are going to push up there if we keep playing cricket like we have been and improve in little areas."

The 28-year-old continued: "This competition comes on you quickly and a few losses early on puts you on the back foot.

"We need to try and make sure we are aware of that and get it right for the next game."

Dexter praised Sussex's batting display after the Sharks posted 202-3 from their 20 overs with Luke Wright scoring 81 off 49 deliveries, a target that proved out of Middlesex's reach.

"I didn't believe it was a 200-run wicket," he added.

"Somehow they got there, with Wright and [Chris] Nash setting the tone up front and they got momentum from there.

"As disappointing as it is to lose, Sussex are a top team. You have got to give credit where it is due. Wrighty played a superb innings.

"I still feel we could have been a bit better in the middle overs and our fielding let us down slightly.

"In the end, we were chasing a bit too many. I am pleased with how we batted and chased the score but there are still a lot of positives."

View the original article here