All posts by h716a5.icu

Tillakaratne Dilshan will not play for Southern Express in the Champions League, due to a family commitment, Sri Lanka Cricket has said

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Sep-2014Tillakaratne Dilshan will not play for Southern Express in the Champions League, due to a family commitment, Sri Lanka Cricket has said. He is the second high-profile player to be absent from the Express’ Champions League campaign, after Lasith Malinga opted to play for Mumbai Indians.”Not having Malinga is a bit of a blow for us as he was a part of the team in Colombo,” Southern Express manager Shane Fernando said. “As far as Dilshan is concerned he didn’t attend the practice and played games. Obviously he is big player and a great batsman. But we have a good balanced side and are looking to do well in the championship.”Though Dilshan had originally been named in the Southern Express squad before the Super Fours tournament took place, he did not feature in that tournament as he was playing for Surrey in the NatWest Blast at the time. He was nevertheless in the 15-man squad the Express named for the CLT20 before he made himself unavailable.Dilshan has been replaced in the Southern Express squad by his brother, Tillakaratne Sampath.

Lalit Modi’s faction in the RCA has filed a case in the Jaipur High Court against Amin Pathan and his aides for forcibly occupying the RCA offices and preventing real office-bearers from entering the RCA premises

Amol Karhadkar16-Oct-2014Lalit Modi’s faction in the RCA has filed a case in the Jaipur High Court against Amin Pathan, a vice-president of the association, and his aides for forcibly occupying the RCA offices and preventing bonafide office-bearers from entering it.Pathan had allegedly “removed” Modi from RCA affairs on Saturday and said he had taken over as acting president, but Modi disputed the legitimacy of Pathan’s group.The BCCI, meanwhile, has preferred to adopt a “wait-and-watch” approach, and is in no hurry to recognise either of the two groups. It is understood that, given the complex nature of the case, BCCI officials have sought advice from the board’s legal cell. The BCCI had suspended the RCA on May 6 after Modi was announced as its elected president, and according to the BCCI rulebook, the suspension of a member ceases to exist if it is not acted upon in six months. Last month, the BCCI disciplinary committee had deferred its hearing against RCA after Modi’s faction raised several objections during a long meeting.The dispute fuelled a series of allegations and counter-allegations in Jaipur on Wednesday. Mehmood Abdi, the deputy president of Modi’s faction, filed a writ petition on Modi’s behalf against Pathan and his aides. Besides apprising the commissioner of police about the situation, Abdi’s group also held an executive committee meeting that was attended by Modi through video conference.Pathan, on the other hand, told reporters that Modi’s faction had paid Rs 1.06 crore to its lawyers, including Rs 60 lakh to Swadeep Hora, a key aide of Modi who was included to RCA’s executive committee as a special invitee. Pathan claimed that the RCA rule book does not allow a person who is in an office of profit to enjoy financial benefits from the association.

Misbah-ul-Haq was poised to overtake Imran Khan and Javed Miandad as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain, after his team played the perfect game to finish the fourth day on the verge of victory

The Report by George Binoy12-Nov-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:39

Pakistan on the brink of victory

Ross Taylor failed for the second time in the match as New Zealand hurtled towards defeat•Getty ImagesMisbah-ul-Haq was poised to overtake Imran Khan and Javed Miandad as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain, after his team played the perfect game to finish the fourth day on the verge of victory in Abu Dhabi. Mohammad Hafeez’s brisk century – his first in more than two years – allowed Misbah to declare in the first half of the day, giving Pakistan’s bowlers at least 144 overs to dismiss New Zealand. They took eight wickets in 54.New Zealand’s task was enormous. The target of 480 was more than they had ever scored in the the final innings of a Test, and to secure a draw they had to play their third-longest fourth innings.The visitors made a bright start, with Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham scoring swiftly against the Pakistan fast bowlers to achieve New Zealand’s first half-century opening stand in 16 innings. The introduction of spin changed everything, though. Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah slowed down the scoring and took three wickets in 21 balls to put the magnitude of New Zealand’s task back in perspective.Babar had bowled a few economical overs when Latham, looking for release, attempted a sweep but top-edged to Yasir running in from deep backward square leg. Yasir then got rid of New Zealand’s most experienced batsmen, trapping both McCullum and Ross Taylor lbw with googlies. McCullum’s stayed low but Taylor simply plonked his foot in front of the stumps and played the wrong line. New Zealand had gone from 57 for 0 to 69 for 3 by tea.Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson were steady for a while in the final session, against Babar and Yasir, so Misbah turned to Hafeez and Rahat. The results came quickly. From round the wicket, Hafeez slid the ball across the advancing Williamson, leaving Sarfraz Ahmed with a straightforward stumping to end the partnership on 42.The possibility of Pakistan wrapping up the Test with a day to spare increased when Rahat struck off successive deliveries. His late movement drew the edge from Jimmy Neesham, who made a two-ball duck, and BJ Watling was bowled after the ball deviated significantly because it hit the under side of his thigh pad.Anderson became Imran Khan’s first wicket after he shouldered arms to a straight delivery. The batsman chose not to review despite replays indicated the ball had pitched fractionally outside leg. Tim Southee departed quickly too, but the ninth-wicket pair of Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig stubbornly resisted for 89 deliveries to take the game into the final day.That New Zealand had such a long haul ahead of them was down to how quickly Pakistan scored on the fourth morning. Hafeez had said after play on day three that they wanted 160 more runs, and Pakistan scored exactly that many in 32.2 overs.Hafeez’s timing was impeccable from the start, cutting and driving the seamers when given width, and capitalising on Sodhi’s poor lengths by using his feet to take the ball on the full and drive through cover. When Sodhi got his legbreaks to pitch right, they spun viciously to beat the bat several times, foreboding signs for the New Zealand batsmen. He dismissed Azhar for the second time in the match, lbw while playing the sweep, and later picked up Younis Khan in similar fashion. The good balls from Sodhi were interspersed by several bad ones, though, and Hafeez pulled a long hop to bring up his half-century.He continued batting aggressively after lunch and launched Sodhi over long-on to move on to 97. His century – his first against New Zealand – came off only 130 deliveries and Misbah called his men in 27 minutes into the second session. It was his fifth consecutive declaration and it put him on the brink of a historic win.

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches on November 22, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2014Kalabagan Cricket Academy made full use of the low-bouncing Fatullah pitch to beat Mohammedan Sporting Club by 79 runs. Mahmudul Hasan turned in an all-round performance, scoring a half-century and taking five wickets, to help complete KCA’s second win.The match also saw KCA coach and former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud make an unlikely return to competitive cricket after retiring three years ago.Batting first, KCA were bowled out for 143 in 36.4 overs, with Mahmudul scoring 59. Left-arm spinner Amit Kumar took four wickets, and six KCA batsmen were given out leg before wicket.In reply, Mohammedan were bowled out for just 64 runs. None of their batsmen reached double figures, extras top-scoring with 22. Mahmudul picked up a five-for with his offspin, while Nabil Samad and Bishawanath Halder took two wickets each.At the BSKP-4 ground, Prime Bank Cricket Club beat Old DOHS Sporting Club by 41 runs. Saikat Ali’s 90 and Taibur Rahman’s 56 helped Prime Bank to 241, after they had been sent in to bat. In reply, Old DOHS were bowled out for 200 in 43 overs, with Tapash Baisya picking up three wickets.Next door at the BKSP-3 ground, Kalabagan Krira Chakra beat Partex Sporting Club by 71 runs. Shamsur Rahman’s fourth consecutive half-century, an 81-ball 82, propelled KKC to 239 for 6, after they won the toss and chose to bat. Partex were bowled out for 168 in reply, with 10 balls still left to play. Shafiul Alam top-scored with 45, while Rockybul Hasan took three wickets.

Habib Bank Limited won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League by virtue of a first-innings lead, after holding on for a draw in the final against State Bank of Pakistan in Faisalabad

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Dec-2014
ScorecardFile photo: Babar Azam batted for nearly 10 hours to score a career-best 266•Getty ImagesHabib Bank Limited won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver League by virtue of a first-innings lead, after holding on for a draw in the final against State Bank of Pakistan in Faisalabad. Habib Bank made the early running in the match, as State Bank, opting to bat, were bundled out for 162 inside 41 overs. The opener Aamer Yamin stroked a 43-ball 54, but the team’s next highest contribution was Zafar Gohar’s 31 all the way down at No.10, as Abdur Rehman wrecked State Bank’s middle order with 4 for 35.Habib Bank lost Imran Farhat early in their reply, but Humayun Farhat (61) and Kamran Hussain (76) both raised half-centuries during a 96-run partnership, lifting the total 356. Kashif Bhatti picked up a five-for (5 for 113), but Habib Bank were aided by handy knocks from Aftab Alam (43), Hasan Raza (45) and Fahad Masood (28), as they collected a vital lead of 194.This meant that State Bank needed an outright win to claim the title, and their opener Babar Azam took it upon himself to ensure his team stood a fighting chance. Azam batted for nearly 10 hours, striking 29 fours and five sixes to score a career-best 266. No other batsman was able to make a fifty, but Azam’s knock was enough to State Bank to 527 for 8, after which they declared, setting Habib Bank a challenging 334 for victory.State Bank had more than a day to bowl Habib Bank out and secure the title, and looked to be on course for the win as Gohar (3 for 68) and Bhatti (4 for 74) dealt regular blows. Habib Bank were precariously placed at 157 for 5 with more than 30 overs left, but Imran Farhat resisted with a 217-ball 80. His dismissal in the 107th over dragged the team down to 208 for 7, but Fahad and Masood safely batted out the final 11 overs to seal the title for Habib Bank.

Preparing for what is likely to be his final Test on home soil, at the SCG against India, Chris Rogers has said that he is looking to finish his Test career with the Ashes in England later this year

Daniel Brettig04-Jan-2015Two summers ago, Michael Hussey made a private resolution to retire after the end of the Sydney Test. Save for his wife Amy and mentor Bob Carter, Hussey told nary a soul.He was untrusting of the Australian team’s leadership at the time, and worried that any hint of retirement plans would see him dropped before his chosen moment. When Hussey sidled up to Mickey Arthur and Michael Clarke to tell them of his plans at the end of the 2012 Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka, their jaws dropped.This week another studious, left-handed son of the West, Chris Rogers, is keeping no such secrets. He has said for some time that the 2015 Ashes tour will likely be his last international assignment, and at the SCG he had no qualms stating that it would take an enormous change in thinking to have him back preparing for another Test match at this ground in a year’s time.Rogers’ upfront discussion of his future contrasts with the often indignant or even angry responses of others who have heard that their place might be questioned by the public, the media or others in the game. But he has reasoned that by making sure the selectors do not have to make the call on his future, he can leave a late-blooming Test career at his preferred date of departure.”You never say never but I kind of looked at the future and thought the England series and what England has meant for me would be a nice way to finish, so hopefully I can get through to the Ashes,” Rogers said. “I think you get to a point where touring can be quite difficult. Playing a lot of cricket can kind of get to you a little bit in the end so I’m looking forward to maybe new challenges as well, but they can wait for the moment.”I’ve been fairly open about it. And I guess in some respects after England I think with the series coming up, maybe that would be a good time for a newer player to come in. I think personally a new guy trying to play in the Ashes in England would be very difficult. That’s hopefully on my side so I’ll keep saying that.”Chris Rogers ended a run of low scores with four successive fifties against India in the current Test series•Getty ImagesThe series Rogers speaks of include a tour of Bangladesh followed by home Test meetings against New Zealand and West Indies – the sort of assignments for which the christening of new players will be less vexing than an Ashes tour. They are also likely to include at least one day-night Test next summer, something the colourblind Rogers is less than eager about trying.As with all members of the team, Rogers has gone through his share of trials in a season changed irrevocably by the loss of Phillip Hughes. Struck in the back of the helmet while fielding at short leg, Rogers’ life and career flashed before his eyes, adding currency to the long-held thoughts about what life would mean beyond the game. But he has steadied notably since, four consecutive 50s shoring up his place and demonstrating why he will be missed.”I’ve always prided myself on being consistent and having those low scores in the UAE and the first Test here, that kind of hurt,” he said. “To feel like I wasn’t contributing that did get a little bit under my skin. So it’s nice just to feel like I’m doing a good job for the side and particularly when there’s been a couple of times when it’s been quite tough and they’ve been quite crucial runs, that’s nice.”On day one [in Melbourne] when you’re 1-0 and then you’re able to put on a hundred-run partnership, that was pretty crucial to setting up the whole game. And then in the second innings, it was a little bit difficult there for a while and I thought I added a little bit of stability. I guess from there it’d just be excellent to go on and get a big score personally. But at least I think I’m doing a little bit of a job for the side.”Rogers has also found the time to demonstrate his value around the team doing the things that, in Darren Lehmann’s words, “you don’t see”. These have included spending time with the Melbourne debutant Joe Burns and also offering a reassuring voice in support of Shane Watson, who helped Rogers ensure the early loss of David Warner on Boxing Day would not be a critical blow to Australia’s first innings.”He does put a lot of pressure on himself and he’s desperate to do well, probably overly harsh on himself at times,” Rogers said of Watson. “The 100-run partnership we put on in the first innings when we were 1-0, I think that set up the whole game. That was crucial. If we’d been 2-10 and Smithy had come in and had to face the new ball, then things might have been completely different.”So I think he did a crucial job in the last game and obviously with the ball as well. So we don’t think he’s a passenger. I know he gets a lot of criticism but he’s still crucial to us and this week is going to be interesting for him because it’s going to be an emotional time but I think everyone in the side is desperate to see him do well, so hopefully he goes out and has a great game.”Given the lack of secrecy about Rogers’ future, it can be safely assumed that he would dearly want to sign off from Test matches in Australia with an SCG hundred. Not even the most forward-thinking of selectors would begrudge him that.

Brett Lee will join the Ireland team as their bowling coach during the warm-up phase of the World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2015Brett Lee will join the Ireland team as their bowling coach during the warm-up phase of the World Cup, a Cricket Ireland release said.Lee, who recently retired from all forms of cricket, was a valuable addition to Ireland’s pre-tournament preparations, Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, said. “Brett Lee has a wonderful knowledge of fast bowling, and his special insight of Australian pitches will help give our bowlers further confidence ahead of their group matches,” Simmons said. “I’m sure all our bowlers will benefit from the experience that a World Cup winner has accumulated, especially in the pressure situations of a global event. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our bowlers to learn from a living legend and one I’m sure they’ll all benefit from.”Lee said he was looking forward to shring his expertise with younger players, from any team. “I have done work with the India cricket team, I have done work with the IPL, other players around the world,” he said after launching ICC Pro Cricket 2015, the official World Cup game, which has been developed in association with Disney India. “I have done a lot of work with the Australian juniors and current Australian cricketers too. When I get an opportunity to help out the youngsters, it is my chance to further my skills in terms of assessing bowling methods and also to help me give back something to the game of cricket.”I have played a lot of cricket but involvement with youngsters helps me improve, and also makes sure that I am well aware of what the juniors are doing and to keep in touch with the latest methods employed to further skills all around the world.”Ireland are scheduled to play two warm-up matches in Sydney – against Scotland on February 10 and against Bangladesh two days later – before their first match, against West Indies in Nelson.Apart from the two official warm-up matches, Ireland are also scheduled to play a 50-over friendly against Randwick Petersham on Friday, February 6.

This was the match the 2015 World Cup was crying out for, a competitive contest between two major sides, and the co-hosts played out a thriller in front of a packed and partisan Auckland crowd

The Report by George Binoy28-Feb-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThis was the match the 2015 World Cup was crying out for, a competitive contest between two major sides, and the co-hosts played out a thriller in front of a packed and partisan Auckland crowd. The game had everything: perfect weather, a full house, a flurry of early boundaries followed by eye-popping collapses, sensational swing bowling, clever spin bowling, and perhaps the calmest batsman in the world hitting one of the fastest bowlers in the world for a straight six to seal a one-wicket victory for New Zealand. When Kane Williamson put Pat Cummins back over his head to win the match, and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with it, more than 40,000 stomachs unknotted at Eden Park, and even this most staid of cricketers allowed himself a fist-pump to celebrate.It shouldn’t have been that hard. Never in Australia’s history had they been dismissed in an ODI by a team using only three bowlers. It nearly happened at Eden Park, where – backed by a relentlessly attacking captain – Daniel Vettori, Trent Boult and Tim Southee had Australia at 128 for 9 in 27 overs before Brendon McCullum turned to a fourth bowler to finish the job. Southee brought aggression – if sometimes uncontrolled – at the top, Vettori provided calm when New Zealand could have unraveled, and Boult smashed through the middle and lower order. Australia were shot out in 32.2 overs and New Zealand were going to bat before the scheduled dinner break once again.McCullum, like he did after New Zealand had dismissed England in 33.2 overs in Wellington, went ballistic. In a blur of boundaries against the speed of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, he got to his half-century at a strike-rate of more than 200 – despite a severe blow to the arm – before he fell off his 24th delivery. Nothing is easily achieved against Australia, though, and Starc bowled Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott off successive deliveries either side of the break; New Zealand had lost three wickets for one run and were 79 for 4 in the ninth over.Much like Vettori was with the ball, Williamson was the soothing balm New Zealand needed with the bat. Had it not been for him, they would have been lost. Williamson was steady while Corey Anderson was harried by Starc during their 52-run stand that took New Zealand within 21 runs of their fourth win in four games this World Cup. Williamson would be tested more before the end.Anderson slogged Glenn Maxwell and holed out to mid-on, Luke Ronchi managed to put one in the stands before being bounced out by Starc, and Vettori chipped a full toss from Cummins straight to mid-on. Three wickets had fallen in successive overs and New Zealand were 145 for 7, needing only seven more to win.Williamson made perhaps his only mistake shortly afterwards. Off the second ball of the 23rd over, he pushed a single to mid-on and gave Starc, whose radar was so perfectly tuned, a crack at the tail. Starc sent down two searing yorkers and bowled Adam Milne and Southee. New Zealand were 146 for 9, with Starc on a hat-trick to win it for Australia and Williamson stranded at the wrong end. Boult, however, defended and left the last two Starc deliveries.With six runs to get and no wickets remaining, Williamson now had the strike against Cummins. So well did he know his timing that he began to celebrate before the ball had cleared the boundary.For much of the day, until New Zealand collapsed, the crowd had got stuck into Australia because the week leading up to the game had drummed up excitement levels in Auckland. Most of the build-up had centered around the Australian team slightly playing down New Zealand’s demolition of England, and the fans that packed Eden Park were bristling from the onset. As loudly as they cheered on New Zealand at every chance, they booed Australia. And not just David Warner, who sometimes asks for it, but even Michael Clarke, who had spoken so genially about McCullum’s team and country on the eve of the game. They booed incoming batsmen, and send-offs were severe. It was stark contrast to how their team plays its cricket. If New Zealand make it to the MCG on March 29, they should expect retribution.The match had a high-octane start. Both teams looked nervous. Southee’s first ball was wide outside off stump and yet Aaron Finch chased after it wildly. Southee was then leg-glanced for four and he ended the opening over with a bouncer that sailed over wicketkeeper Ronchi for four byes. Warner top-edged a pull off Boult over third man for six, and Finch deposited Southee into the stands beyond long-on. Though Southee bowled Finch next ball, Australia, in their aggressive gambit to control the game, had racked up 47 in 4.3 overs.To bring calm, McCullum turned to Vettori in the seventh over and he was iceman to their new-ball mavericks. Bowling with a slip and leg slip inside the fielding restrictions, Vettori varied pace and flight to restrain Australia. Before this game he had conceded only two boundaries in 25.2 overs in this World Cup. Despite the tiny dimensions of Eden Park, Vettori got hit for only two more during a spell of 10-0-41-2.Australia’s second-wicket partnership had just reached 50, but with momentum flagging Shane Watson heaved Vettori towards one of the longer short boundaries to be caught by Southee at deep square leg off the last ball of the 13th over. McCullum brought back Southee from a different end and he immediately pinned Warner lbw. The crowed booed when Warner reviewed the decision and they went berserk when it was unsuccessful. Two wickets of successive balls that left Australia 80 for 3 was New Zealand’s opening, and they broke the door down.Vettori had Australia’s future captain Steven Smith caught behind, and the returning current captain Clarke was held by Williamson at short cover off Boult. It was reward for McCullum who had placed two slips and two catchers at cover for Clarke as soon as he came to bat and persisted with them.It was just before Clarke’s dismissal, however, that Boult had ripped out the middle order. Returning for his second spell in the 18th over, he had both Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh playing on, leaving Australia 97 for 6. Clarke’s dismissal reduced them to 104 for 7 in the 20th over. Boult then ran through his left-arm counterparts Johnson and Starc in a hurry, and Australia got as far as 151 only because Cummins hung around with Brad Haddin for a last-wicket stand of 45.A target of 152 would have been a breeze against most teams, but not Australia. Though Williamson dragged New Zealand to victory in the most tense of finishes, there remained little to split the two hosts deservedly billed as World Cup favourites.

Clever as New Zealand’s fans have been in lampooning questions about the size of the MCG with the tag #MCGsobig, it is difficult to find anyone who does not think the ground’s vast dimensions will make a difference to the World Cup final on Sunday

Daniel Brettig in Melbourne27-Mar-2015Clever as New Zealand’s fans have been in lampooning questions about the size of the MCG with the tag #MCGsobig, it is difficult to find anyone who does not think the ground’s vast dimensions will make a difference to the World Cup final on Sunday.But it is not merely size that will be foreign to a New Zealand side that has not played in Australia, let alone the MCG, since 2011. Issues such as the relative elusiveness of new-ball swing, a pitch of varying character and an opponent familiar with all such vagaries will provide an obstacle in much the same way as Australia were blindsided at times by Eden Park.Certainly India’s captain MS Dhoni had little hesitation in pointing to the differences drawn out by playing the game in Melbourne and Australia when he was asked broadly about favouritism for the tournament decider.”One of the biggest things that the New Zealand team will have to deal with is the size of the field,” Dhoni said. “In New Zealand you can get away with quite a few mis-timed shots. Generally what we have seen in New Zealand, you get very good wickets.”But when you come to Australia, you get a bit of reverse swing, and at the same time you may get wickets where it’s slightly two-paced, especially if you talk about the MCG. How to take risks will be something that’s very crucial.”Australia have that advantage of knowing the wickets well, and having three fast bowlers in their armoury because that will certainly help them. But overall we have seen New Zealand is one side that’s a very competitive side. All the ICC tournaments, they do really well.”Australia’s Aaron Finch is exceedingly familiar with the MCG, and also with its difficulties. While Finch has enjoyed success there, notably his century against England on the tournament’s opening day, he can also remember the daunting first sight of those distant boundaries.”First time I played there I had no idea – I felt like I couldn’t hit it to the boundary,” Finch said. “The MCG is a huge ground, obviously, and it is a place that can be quite intimidating at times.”It’s a place where the ball doesn’t swing a hell of a lot – you might get five or six overs out of a swinging ball. And we’ve had a lot of success there as an Australian team over a long time, so we’re very confident.”Asked about Brendon McCullum’s fearsome hitting across the tournament, Finch’s response could be summed up as one along the lines of: “I’d like to see him try that in Melbourne.””He’s a player who takes the game on and tries to set the tone for his team,” Finch said. “Whether it comes off or it doesn’t, he does set a tone for them and gives them a lot of belief. But it is a huge ground, the MCG, and I don’t think they’ve played there for a long time, so it will be interesting to see how they go.”One team to battle with the ground’s dimensions recently was England. Having concocted a strategy designed to limit Australia’s six-hitting, namely the use of shorter lengths and slower balls to encourage hits to the more distant square boundaries, Eoin Morgan’s team set poor fields. This allowed Australia to strike 38 fours on the way to 342 for 9, even if Finch’s three sixes were the only blows to clear the rope.The #MCGsobig tag was still going strong on Friday evening without McCullum’s help, but it remains to be seen whether New Zealand’s gumption can overcome the hard experience of cricket’s most celebrated colosseum.

Even as Grant Elliott’s inclusion in the World Cup squad in place of Jimmy Neesham was questioned early on, right now the decision is looking a master stroke

Andrew McGlashan in Auckland24-Mar-2015Stephen Donald, the New Zealand fly-half, was famously called into New Zealand’s 2011 rugby World Cup squad from a fishing holiday and went on to kick the winning points at Eden Park. Grant Elliott’s inclusion for the 2015 cricket equivalent was not quite so last minute, but certainly was not something that appeared likely when New Zealand started planning for the tournament.When he played against Sri Lanka during January it was his first one-day international for more than a year. He had not been part of the series against Pakistan before Christmas which was expected to provide the World Cup squad, especially as New Zealand had rested key players and still came back to win 3-2.Then, however, Elliott was named in the World Cup 15, at the expense of the raw but talented Jimmy Neesham. That, along with the original omission of Matt Henry, who was latterly called up after injury to Adam Milne, were the borderline calls in the squad and the ones that Mike Hesson and the selectors would be judged on. Right now, the Elliott decision is looking a master stroke.A few weeks ago, when Australia were the visitors for the group match, Kane Williamson finished a nail-biting contest with a straight six. Sorry, Kane, you’ll have to move over now. Elliott’s front-foot hoick over wide mid-on against Dale Steyn, the finest fast bowler in the world, has already supplanted it as the most famous shot on this storied ground.”I was looking to hit that ball for six or four. I was just going to line it up and wherever it was, it was going over the boundary, hopefully,” Elliott said. “I didn’t want to be there 70-odd and not winning this game. That was not a position I wanted to be in.””I really did feel the pressure,” he admitted candidly. “I had two balls, Dan [Vettori] said we weren’t going to run to the keeper again, so it was up to me. I had two balls to try and take us. I knew that four runs would do it because a tie was as good as a win, so that was always in the back of my mind. But I think we probably left it a little bit late to be honest, and it was stressful towards the end there.”I’m quite a level sort of person, and I like to stay out of the media to be honest. I guess it’ll sink in. I think after the World Cup I’ll maybe look back and sort of reassess and savour those moments.”Hitting the winnings has, however, thrown up one problem for him. “My sister has got a wedding on Friday. Unfortunately I’ll miss her wedding. If you can put that in the press and say I’m sorry, I saw her earlier, she was pretty happy for me, but I’m going to have to give her a special gift, I think.”Elliott moved to New Zealand in 2001 after three seasons in South Africa, but it was not until 2008 that his international chance came. Firstly it was in Tests, when he made his debut against England in Napier – the same match as Tim Southee – then the one-day bow came later in 2008.”When I emigrated to New Zealand I wanted to become as New Zealander, and I’ve made New Zealand my team. It’s great to repay the hospitality that everyone has shown when I arrived in New Zealand,” he said. “I love the country. It’s sad that I left South Africa when I did, and I had a lot of history there, went to school there, obviously played a little bit of cricket there and have got some good friends. But New Zealand is my home, and I’m pretty stoked to have got New Zealand to the final with that shot at the end.”His feistiness and love of the battle was evident in his first one-day series when he made 56 on a lively pitch in Bristol having come in at 42 for 4. He later chipped out 2 for 9 in the game New Zealand won by 22 runs. Three days later, at The Oval, he was involved in a controversial run out having collided with Ryan Sidebottom and New Zealand were angered when Paul Collingwood did not call Elliott back.This World Cup semi-final is not the first time he has been a match-winner, either. New Zealand do not know their opponents for the March 29 final as yet, but either way Elliott can think back to 2009 when he guided New Zealand over the line with an unbeaten 61 in a Chappell-Hadlee contest at the MCG. Later that year, as Elliott enjoyed a lengthy run in the one-day side, he scored an unbeaten 75 to take the team home in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan in Johannesburg.Since that match, however, he only played a further 24 ODIs in more than four years until his recall against Sri Lanka earlier this year. Even after scoring an unbeaten 104 in that series and another undefeated 64 against Pakistan, he was often the man with the spotlight thrown on him especially after a duck against Australia when he was a long way from a Mitchell Starc inswinger.Given the way New Zealand were winning, opportunities for substantial innings were thin on the ground, but he started to chip in and insisted he was always ready. And when his country came calling, he proved he really was.”I always wanted to play in a World Cup since the ’92 tournament,” Elliott said. “My mom let me stay at home to watch the first game and I got suspended from cricketing at school for a little while because I did that. But that left a massive impression on me. It’s funny how life works. It’s amazing to be at Eden Park and to hit the winning runs to take New Zealand into the final. It’s been an awesome journey.”And a journey that nearly didn’t happen.