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آفریدی لڑکیوں کے رونے پر تبصرہ کرتے ہوے

Strauss leaves ‘huge void’: Lee

LONDON :  Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee said Andrew Strauss had left a “huge void” in the England team following his retirement from all cricket.

England’s then Test captain bowed out on Wednesday, citing declining form as his main reason for calling time in his career.

But 35-year-old opening batsman Strauss retired with a fine record of more than 7,000 runs in exactly 100 Tests at an average of over 40 with 21 hundreds — one shy of England’s all-time record.

The Middlesex left-hander Strauss also led England to home and away Ashes triumphs, having also starred as a batsman only during their 2005 Test series win against Australia.

Lee, who as a new-ball bowler was well-placed to observe Strauss’s merits, told BBC Radio Five on Sunday: “If you look as his record as an opening batsman — 100 Test matches and an average of 40, it’s absolutely phenomenal.

“He was a batsman we were fond of, we thought he was a great player. He was always the top of discussion for us — ‘what’s the best way to bowl at Andrew Strauss?’

“He was a respected player and when you got Andrew Strauss out you knew you were bowling pretty well.

“He was a very competitive person with a very strong mind. A class act.

“He leaves a huge void in the England cricket team,” added Lee of Strauss, who has been succeeded as Test captain by opening partner Alastair Cook, already England’s one-day skipper.

Meanwhile England seamer James Anderson insisted the controversy surrounding Kevin Pietersen’s ongoing exile from international cricket had played no part in Strauss’s decision.

Pietersen has not played for England in any format since making 149 in the drawn second Test against his native South Africa in Leeds last month after it emerged he had sent “provocative” texts to Proteas players — some of which were alleged to be critical of Strauss.

But Strauss himself dismissed suggestions the fall-out from the row generated by his predecessor as England captain had played any part in his decision and Anderson, in his Mail on Sunday column supported his former skipper.

“People have speculated that the Kevin Pietersen issue might have been a factor in Strauss’ decision to quit. I don’t think it has been ideal but he was thinking about this before that stuff started, so I don’t think that has been an issue at all,” Anderson said.

“That sort of thing just wouldn’t influence a man like Strauss.

Anderson also praised Strauss for the manner of his retirement, which included sending a letter to all his international colleagues.

“What a way to go – leaving all of us a personal, hand-written letter,” he added. “Each one was different and the full contents of mine will stay between him and me, but the gist of it was that he was proud of us and that he had many great memories to take with him. Class.”

Pakistan focused on winning ODI series against Australia: Hafeez

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates :  Vice-captain Mohammad Hafeez said Pakistan were focussed on winning the third one-day match at Sharjah Stadium here on Monday to take their first series against Australia in ten years.

Pakistan and Australia go into the third and final one-day at 1-1, with Australia winning the first match here by four wickets before their rivals earned a series-levelling seven wicket win in the second at Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Hafeez said records did not matter as Pakistan always go for a win.

“We, as a team, think about winning every game but if in the process we are able to achieve a record then it’s fine,” said Hafeez of Pakistan’s prospects of winning their first one-day series against Australia since 2002.

Hafeez said Pakistan’s varied bowling gave them the edge over Australia.

“We want to take the winning momentum of the second match into the third and our varied bowling attack gives us an edge ovr Australia,” said Hafeez, himself part of the spin trio led by Saeed Ajmal.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman replaced Shahid Afridi in the second match after the leg-spinner had a recurrence of a back problem. Afridi was a doubtful starter for Monday.

Ajmal took three wickets in the first match and four in the second, exposing Australia’s weakness against spin.

Hafeez refused to admit that it will be a win toss, win match situation after Pakistan benefitted from Australia’s decision of batting first in Abu Dhabi.

“They were wet conditions in Abu Dhabi but they are the same for both the teams and I don’t think the toss will be decisive,” said Hafeez.

Australian allrounder David Hussey admitted Ajmal has been a threat.

“He (Ajmal) is a hell of a great bowler. It is totally different from the way Australians play him, you might see a different technique against him in the third game,” said Hussey.

Hussey said all Pakistani spinners warrant attention.

“All their bowlers warrant lots of attention. We do our planning very deligently and when it comes to planning and Hafeez definitely does not slip under the radar and he is number one ranked spinner in the world at the moment.”

Apart from the Pakistani spinners, Australia were smarting from the oppressive heat in the United Arab Emirates.

“It is just a different humidity than we are used to. The key is to keep your body temperature down. We are strengthening and our conditioning coach has been fantastic and the key is to keep your body temperature down and you have to adapt that,” said Hussey.

Australia were hopeful their openers Matthew Wade and David Warner fire after failing to score big in the first two matches.

Paceman Mitchell Starc was a doubtful starter after complaining of chest pain on Friday.