ICC rankings for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20

ICC Test Championship

26 November 2011

Team	Matches	Points	Rating
England	37	4634	125
India	41	4846	118
South Africa	24	2781	116
Australia	34	3578	105
Sri Lanka	31	3062	99
Pakistan	28	2757	98
West Indies	30	2654	88
New Zealand	20	1588	79
Bangladesh	15	88	6

Zimbabwe is currently unranked, as it has played insufficient matches. It has 134 points and a rating of 45.

ICC ODI Championship

23 November 2011

Team	Matches	Points	Rating
Australia	33	4291	130
India	39	4603	118
South Africa	22	2537	115
Sri Lanka	33	3693	112
Pakistan	34	3664	108
England	35	3706	106
New Zealand	25	2174	87
West Indies	22	1711	78
Bangladesh	29	1836	63
Zimbabwe	30	1402	47
Ireland	12	492	41
Netherlands	9	137	15
Kenya	7	0	0

ICC Twenty20 Championship

25 November 2011

Team	Matches	Points	Rating
England	19	1435	130
New Zealand	19	1056	117
Sri Lanka	18	1056	117
South Africa	16	900	113
Australia	21	1223	111
India	13	635	106
Pakistan	25	1340	103
West Indies	16	711	89
Afghanistan	8	224	75
Zimbabwe	11	376	54

Note: Only teams who have completed at least eight T20 international matches since 1st August between two and three years ago will have their rating above converted into a ranking on the main table.

Bangladesh, Netherlands, Kenya, Ireland, Canada and Scotland will have to play eight T20Is before they will have a ranking. The table reflects all T20Is played since August 2009.

England would play with Pakistan Next year

United Kingdom has been the accumulation of two weeks in the Middle East before their Daphnia against Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi after the data for the two-month tour that included four one-day international and three Twenty20s, confirmed.

England are two heating period the matches the claim is not yet complete, but for a period of inactivity before the coming from the rare for Christmas with them is vital to the team working on the test matches, starting on 17 January in Dubai. England showed the importance of a good lead, during the test series, when she had to in fact a first class three games.

United Kingdom hoped that as there is decent quality to find opposition for two warm up games in the UAE is no first class structure. The series ' home "contest for Pakistan is the responsibility of the resistance, but the PCB, ECB spokesman confirmed that the factors that are not regular with a neutral place, taking into account a number of options examined."

Second round then takes place in Abu Dhabi from 25. January before the teams return to Dubai to the final test on 3 February. The series of a new day is divided between the two cities, while Dubai will be hosting the first two National international before the trip ends with the final T20 returns to Abu Dhabi.

Itinerary:

Jan 3 - England depart for UAE

Jan 7-9 - Three-day warm-up match

Jan 11-13 - Three-day warm-up match

Jan 17-21 - 1st Test, Dubai

Jan 25-29 - 2nd Test, Abu Dhabi

Feb 3-7 - 3rd Test, Dubai

Feb 10 - One-day warm-up match, Abu Dhabi

Feb 13 - 1st ODI, Abu Dhabi

Feb 15 - 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi

Feb 18 - 3rd ODI, Dubai

Feb 21 - 4th ODI, Dubai

Feb 23 - 1st T20, Dubai

Feb 25 - 2nd T20, Dubai

Feb 27 - 3rd T20, Dubai

Jonathan Trott was titled with the Cricketer of the Year 2011

Jonathan Trott, the England batsman, has been named the Cricketer of the Year for 2011, the ICC's top accolade. He received the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy at the annual ceremony in London, after his team-mate Alastair Cook had won the Test Cricketer of the Year award.
"It's fantastic to be part of a successful team and I never envisaged winning this award. It's a brilliant feeling to be recognized," Trott said.
In 12 Tests during the period under consideration, Trott scored 1042 runs at an average of 65.12, including four centuries and three half-centuries. He also played 24 ODIs, scoring 1064 runs at an average of 48.36 with two centuries and nine 50s. Trott was chosen for the award ahead of Cook, last-year's winner Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa batsman Hashim Amla. England opener Alastair Cook has been named the Test Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in London. Cook beat off competition from his team-mates James Anderson and Jonathan Trott, and South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis.
"I think the highlight of year was when we won in Sydney to beat Australia, and Chris Tremlett to take that final wicket, it was truly a great year," Cook said after receiving the award from ICC Hall of Fame inductee Curtly Ambrose. "This award is about the rest of the team not just me." 
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been named the ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2011 during the ICC Awards ceremony in London. Sangakkara also won the ICC People's Choice Award, capping a memorable evening for him.
"It's a great honor first of all to have been nominated for this award [ODI Cricketer] and a great honor to have actually won it," said Sangakkara, who was not in London because of the ongoing home series against Australia.
"I would like to thank the rest of my team-mates, they have done a great job over the years in one-day cricket and I am privileged to be part of this and [to have] led these guys for just over two years. I thank you again, I feel very proud." 
MS Dhoni, the India captain, has won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for his decision to recall Ian Bell after his controversial run-out during the Trent Bridge Test. Dhoni was unavailable to collect his award, though the Indian team was present in England.
"While the initial appeal and umpire decision were correct to the letter of the law, the decision by Mahendra and his team to withdraw the appeal shows great maturity," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. "To see players and officials uphold the great spirit of cricket, which has underpinned the game for more than a century, is very special." 
West Indies leg spinner Devendra Bishoo has been named the Emerging Player of the Year for 2011 at the ICC Awards ceremony in London. He had competition from his team-mate Darren Bravo and the Pakistan pair of Wahab Riaz and Azhar Ali.
Bishoo, 25, played five Tests in the voting period - August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011 - and took 21 wickets at an average of 35.42. He also picked up 19 wickets at 21.57 each in 11 ODIs.
"I could not believe it when I was nominated for the ICC Emerging Player of the Year but to win it feels great," Bishoo said. "I would like to dedicate the award to my father. He played a great role in my life and encouraged me to play cricket. After he died I made a promise to always give my best and reach for the top. 
Ryan ten Doeschate, the Netherlands all-rounder, has been named the ICC Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year for the third time in four years, and for the second year running. Ten Doeschate was chosen ahead of Afghanistan all-rounder Hamid Hassan, and the Irish duo of Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien, both centurions in the 2011 World Cup, during the awards ceremony in London.
Ten Doeschate, 31, played six ODIs in the voting period - August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011 - all of them in the World Cup. He scored two centuries and a half-century, and averaged 61.40 for the period with a strike rate of 89.24. 
New Zealand seamer Tim Southee has won the award for ICC Twenty20 International Performance of the Year, for his spell of 5 for 18 against Pakistan in Auckland.
"Looking at the nominees, it's a great achievement to have even been nominated and to win it is something I will never forget," Southee, who could not make it to the awards function, said. "Looking back at the game which has won me the award, it was Boxing Day in a full house at Eden Park and it was a big game for us as we'd been going through a rough patch of losing, something like 12 or 13 games on the trot and it was our first win in a long time. It was great to be able to contribute to that win and also put in a great performance." 
Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar has won the David Shepherd trophy for the Umpire of the Year for the third consecutive year at the ICC Awards ceremony in London. He beat competition from Steve Davis, Ian Gould and five-time winner Simon Taufel.
Dar, 43, officiated in five Tests and 13 ODIs during the voting period - August 11, 2010 to August 3, 2011 - including the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka.
Widely regarded for his umpiring standards, Dar was voted to the award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man elite panel of match referees.
"It's a great honor and I'm thankful to everyone at the ICC and also my colleagues on the Elite Panel of ICC umpires along with the Pakistan Cricket Board," Dar said. "I'd like to also thank all my family for all their support since I'm away nearly eight months of the year umpiring."

Ricky Ponting Deserves Our Cheers, Not Moronic Boos

Three - yes, a whole three -  cheers for Dominic Lawson's article in theIndependent today. He is right: booing Ricky Ponting is disgraceful. There may be a cartoonish element to it all and perhaps the Barmy Army will signal this by cheering the Australian skipper to the echo at the Oval when, we assume, he plays his final test innnings in England, but that's still not quite good enough. For the time being, too many England cricket fans - not to be confused with supporters of English cricket - seem to have decided that Ponting is some kind of villain.

True, he's been in trouble with the ICC in the past and true his comments in the immediate aftermath of the draw in Cardiff were ill-advised (even if they were also, let us be candid, entirely correct) but let us also remember that he took his side's defeat at Lord's with grace and, by Australian standards, some class. It would have been easy to point out that England had enjoyed the rub of the green and that this had been an important, even vital, part of the difference between the sides. But Ponting refrained from doing so. That's cricket was all he would say and it wouldn't have mattered if we'd batted better.

Alas, there's a mindless quality to some of the Barmy Army these days. The booing of Ponting is the kind of thing one might expect at a football match, not a cricket contest. What might - though you could disagree - be appropriate, or at least acceptable, in a football stadium is not kosher at a cricket ground. At least, that used to be the case.

In the case of Ponting, however, it is especially myopic. Rather than boo the Aussie skipper we should celebrate the opportunity to thank the finest Australian batsman of the past 60 years for all that he has done for the game and for all the pleasure - albeit sometimes experienced through gritted teeth - he has given over the years. His has been a remarkable innings. The best since 1948? Yes, I think so. Better than Border or Chappell or Harvey? Yes, again, I think so. That deserves respect and applause, not churlish boos.

And, from a neutral rather than partisan perspective, it's hard not to feel some sympathy for Punter. He, the lone player of indisputable greatness in the series, is under the most appalling pressure.  No Australian skipper since Billy Murdoch (in 1884 and 1890) has lost two Ashes series in England. That's quite a historical burden to shoulder. Add the sense, fair or not, that anyone could have skippered a side including Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and the pressure on Ponting to prove himself as a leader, even as a man, in their absence as he leads this inexperienced Australian team to England, becomes even more intense. 

In some sense it is ridiculous that Australia's leading run-scorer should be playing for his reputation in England this summer. But he is. At least for the time being Ponting the skipper looms larger than Ponting the batsman and, in England at any rate, is how he will be judged and remembered in the short to medium term at least. This too is unfair, but that's the nature of the game as well. No-one in either side this summer faces stakes as high or daunting as Punter. For that, fair minded folk might feel some sympathy. If he makes it through the series without cracking up completely he'll have done pretty well.

So: only morons boo the Australian skipper. The rest of us should tip our hats to a man battling for his team, his country and, oddly, his reputation.

Deadly swarm interrupts India-Australia cricket match

You thought a little rain interrupting the World Series was strange? Check out this scene from a cricket match between India and Australia last week at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Dehli, when players took the ground to avoid a swarm of bees during the third day of the third test match.

Lights Up Night Sky In Dubai

Dubai Sports City’s cricket stadium stood bold and bright on the Dubai skyline as officials making final preparations for the grand opening tested the 365 floodlights that will create ideal playing conditions at the new venue

Engineers are conducting the final testing of the stadium infrastructure ahead of the much anticipated opening.

The state-of-the-art lighting system has been uniquely installed into the rim of the roof of the stadium, creating what is being described as a ‘ring of fire’ which will light up the field of play. The design is such that it will prevent any distracting shadows of the players.

“The stadium really comes to life at night,” said Macky Dudhia, General Manager – Sports Business, Dubai Sports City. “To sit inside the arena with the lights on, passionate cricket fans in full voice, and cricket action on the lush field, this all conjures up a sense of excitement. It will create an imposing and electric atmosphere comparable to the biggest matches in the sport.”

The Dubai Sports City cricket stadium has been designed to provide a world class venue, ideally suited to act as a neutral venue for world cricket and has the facilities to host Test Matches, One-Day internationals, and Twenty:20 tournaments. The stadium is bowl shaped, providing excellent views from every seat in the ground and simultaneously bringing the spectators closer than ever to the action. 

The player’s changing rooms will be among the most luxurious and spacious of any cricket ground in the world. With indoor and outdoor pitch-side seating, physiotherapy and massage rooms, a raised lounge with a view of the pitch, locker rooms and dining areas, the Dubai Sports City cricket stadium will provide the world-class player with everything they need.

Within the media centre there are 82 indoor press seats with cable and wireless internet connection and excellent views of the stadium. The exceptionally well appointed VVIP and Gold boxes will hold more than 100 people, with 24 luxurious boxes on the lower level adjacent to VVIP and Gold Boxes and 17 high quality corporate boxes looking out on to the pitch from the top level of the venue.

Dubai Sports City’s cricket stadium will be the first of four stadiums to be completed, with a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose stadium for football, track and field, and rugby; a field Hockey Stadium capable of holding up to 5,000 spectators, and an indoor arena that will house 10,000 supporters for a wide range of sports including basketball,indoor hockey, volleyball, handball, netball and ice hockey.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Established 1982

Capacity 27,000Floodlights YesEnd names Pavilion End, Sharjah Club EndHome team United Arab Emirates

 

Records and statistics

First Test	Pakistan v West Indies - Jan 31-Feb 4, 2002	Scorecard
Last Test	Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Nov 3-7, 2011	Scorecard
Statsguru Tests | Records: Match results | Highest totals | Most runs | Most wickets
First ODI	Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Apr 6, 1984	Scorecard
Last ODI	Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Nov 20, 2011	Scorecard
Statsguru ODIs | Records: Match results | Highest totals | Most runs | Most wickets Profile The Sharjah Cricket Stadium, in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, was built in the early 1980s and very quickly became a regular home for tournaments as the popularity of one-day cricket exploded following India's World Cup win in 1983. Between 1984 and 2003 the ground hosted 198 ODIs and four Tests (in 2002 when Pakistan played games there due to political instability at home) , attracting good crowds, mainly from the area's large Asian expat population. It also hosted Masters (veterans) events and other second-string tournaments. All were played under the auspices of The Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS)" which had been established in 1981 by Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, and whose main aim was to honour cricketers of the past and present generations from India and Pakistan, with benefit purses in recognition of their services to the game of cricket. The stadium initially started with a few limited seats and very modest facilities but by 2002 had a 27,000 capacity and floodlights. But when the match-fixing scandals began to emerge in the late 1990s, Sharjah's star began to wane, and although nothing was ever proved, sides started to move away, and in 2001 the Indian government banned the national side from playing there. It was a blow from which Sharjah never recovered, and the construction of the state-of-the-art Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, which stage its first ODI in April 2006, signaled the end of Sharjah as a home for top-flight cricket.