Test cricket "the gold standard" - Dravid

Speaking at the annual Bradman Oration, Rahul Dravid has reminded cricket's players and administrators that the future of world cricket rests upon the effective management of the five day game.

Dravid delivered the speech at the Anzac Hall at the National War Memorial, Canberra, the first cricketer from outside Australia to do so in its ten year history.

A studious and thoughtful presentation, Dravid began by paying his own respects to the legacy of the late great Sir Don Bradman before reminding those in attendance of the remarkable history that binds India and Australia together both on and off the field.

In the second half of his 40-minute speech Dravid spoke openly and honestly on the current state of world cricket. He shunned those who felt Indian cricket was driven by "money and power" and instead spoke of a team and of a nation rich in diversity, brought together by a common understanding and passion for the game of cricket. 

He also questioned those who saw Indian cricketers as "overpaid" and "underworked" and insisted that investment into Indian cricket has only helped spread the field wider, improving facilities and allowing cricketers from all walks of life a chance to succeed, including the likes of Munaf Patel, Umesh Yadav, Zaheer Khan and Virendar Sehwag.

Commenting on world cricket in general though, Dravid make clear his fears for the health of Test cricket. 

"It is not the numbers that Test players need, it is the atmosphere of a Test that every player wants to revel in and draw energy from. My first reaction to the lack of crowds for cricket was that there had been a lot of cricket and so perhaps, a certain amount of spectator-fatigue."


He added that players development was also clearly being hindered by the "mad merry-go-round" of the cricketing calendar, and that despite the popularity of Twenty20 cricket "Test cricket deserves to be protected, it is what the world's best know they will be judged by".


He also called upon the administrators to ensure that teams played, "Test cricket that people can watch" and that "fit into 21st century life, through timing, environments and the venues they are held in." This included the trialing of day-night Test matches and investing in the proposed Test Championship now delayed until 2017. 

He spoke of playing a day night first-class game for the MCC in Abu Dhabi which left him convinced, "day-night Tests is an idea seriously worth exploring. There may be some challenges in places where there is dew but the visibility and durability of the pink cricket ball was not an issue."

England announce squad for Pakistan series

England have announced a sixteen man squad to take on Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month.

Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett have all recovered from injury and are included, whilst Monty Panesar is selected as second spinner. Ravi Bopara keeps his place after replacing the injured Jonathan Trott against India, and Steven Davies returns as Matt Prior's understudy. Tim Bresnan remains the only doubt having recently undergone elbow surgery.

Perhaps most surprising is the inclusion of Panesar who has not played for England since the first Test of the 2009 Ashes series. Since then Graeme Swann has gone on to establish himself as both England's and the world's premier offspin bowler, however with trips to Sri Lanka and India later in the year England are clearly keen to once again integrate Panesar into their plans. His chances of playing against Pakistan remain slim though with Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower likely to maintain the tried and tested six batsman, four bowlers ratio that worked so effectively this year.

Ravi Bopara will also likely find himself on the sidelines at least initially as England's batsman aim to continue what was a prolific year with the willow in hand. Having fought off competition from the likes of James Taylor and Johnny Bairstow, Bopara has done well to at least keep himself in the England setup, although he will have to make a marked improvement on his last outing in the subcontinent (Sri Lanka, 2007) if he is to remain in the picture in 2012.

With a cloud still hanging over Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn  and Chris Tremlett will also be looking to stake their claim for a recall in the two three-day warm up matches before the first Test on January 16.

Andy Flower named coach of the year

England team director Andy Flower has been named UK Coach of the Year at the 2011 UK coaching awards.

Flower was also named UK High Performance Coach of the Year after a year of unprecedented success for the England cricket team. In partnership with captain Andrew Strauss Flower oversaw an historic 3-1 Ashes victory in Australia as well as a 4-0 whitewash of India as England finished the summer as the world's number one Test playing nation.


ECB Chief Executive David Collier was quick to recognise Flower's contribution."Andy has been an outstanding coach to the England cricket team and I am delighted that his dedication, knowledge and all-round leadership skills have been recognised within the wider sporting world."

"The last twelve months have been momentous ones for England and this is in no small part due to Andy's personal drive and determination to bring the best out of his players and ensure that our preparation and performance are second to none."

Retirement

Flower has also recently suggested that he may well not be coaching England by the time of the next World Cup in 2015 but is dedicated to leaving a long-term legacy to ensure England maintain their status as the world's best team.

The Zimbabwean signed an improved rolling contract with the ECB last summer but admits that family commitments may one day force him to step down.

"That [2015 World Cup] would be the ideal scenario but I have a young family and it is a full-time job, more so in some respects,” Flower said. “You don’t know what is around the corner. In my present position I will definitely keep planning towards that [2015] sort of longevity but realistically I don’t know."

Flower is currently enjoying a three month break from cricket before England travel to the United Arab Emirates in January to play Pakistan but is already focusing his attention on challenges ahead. “To remain No 1 is a serious challenge for us."


"We aimed for No 1 Test ranking and that was a great motivational tool for us. Now we have achieved that other sides will be doing the chasing and we have to reset our standards. We have underperformed in the 50-over game.


"The next World Cup is in Australia in 2015 and that is one of the specific challenges we have. For Andrew Strauss and myself, we want to put in place a method of operation and certain principles that will stand English cricket in very good stead in the long term."