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Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, will assist the new national coach Mark Greatbatch as a batting advisor to some leading players, with a particular focus on Test cricket. Crowe has already been working with batsmen such as Ross Taylor and Tim McIntosh as part of a programme in which players choose their own mentors.”It’s nice to be asked, finally,” Crowe told . “It’s only for Test matches and getting players up for Test matches, including Ross Taylor and Tim McIntosh. Mark will guide me where he feels I can be of use. It’s not an appointment as such, but in my spare time away from the Rugby Channel I will do the odd bit helping our guys prepare for Tests.”Greatbatch was pleased to have Crowe’s services. “We’ve got an initial focus on the longer form of the game, which we need to do if we’re going to get our Test ranking up. Martin will be doing some hard yakka, talking about the game, talking about game-plans and goal-setting.”Although it’s an informal role, Crowe said he would focus on training the batsmen to stay in for longer periods of time. “You have to be technically aware of what you need to do to stay in – that’s the key to batting in Test matches, staying in, which means eradicating ways of getting out, delaying your dismissal for as long as possible.”He was also in favour of a set-up that gave the captain more power, such as the one in New Zealand where Daniel Vettori plays a central role in the functioning of the team. “I’m a big believer that the captain has to be driving things,” Crowe said. “We’ve lost half a generation of Test players, particularly in the batting area, because the coach [John Bracewell] was everything. That’s not the way cricket is designed.”What they are doing now is just an open, transparent way to do things. The captain has to be accountable and has to bring out the best in his players on the field and Dan has a good grasp of that. It’s just that over the past few years we’d got used to the coach driving everything. Paddy [Greatbatch] is a big believer in working behind the scenes because that was how he was brought up, so this set-up’s got a good feeling to me.”

Karachi Blues 172 for 6 (Kamal 39, Yasir 4 for 66) and 272 lead Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited 400 (Hafeez 110, Mughal 98, Haroon 4-87) by 44 runs
Scorecard
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited are in an excellent position to force a win over Karachi Blues at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex. Though they were able to add just 73 more to their overnight score, losing five wickets, they had gained a substantial lead of 128; soon enough, their bowlers, led by legspinner Yasir Shah’s 4 for 66, had added significant pressure on Karachi, limiting them to 172 for 6 at stumps, just 44 ahead.SNGPL captain Saleem Mughal, the overnight batsman, missed his century, dismissed for 98 but his team was backed by other important contributions, including the 41 extras, to reach 400. Karachi, in their second innings, had struggled from the outset, losing their first three wickets with just 40 on the board, and though Ali Asad (23), Asim Kamal (39) and Azam Hussain (37) got starts, they failed to consolidate. Karachi lost their sixth wicket just before stumps, and have much to do to achieve a draw tomorrow.
Scorecard
The Rest have reached a position of control at the National Stadium after bowling Sialkot out for 280, and extending their lead to a healthy 302 with five wickets in hand at stumps on the third day. Sialkot had competed well on the second day, reaching 280 for 5, but a five-wicket haul from fast bowler Tabish Khan allowed them to add just 65 more to their overnight score. As a result, The Rest secured a first-innings lead of 67, and their batsmen, in the second innings, ensured the advantage remained with them.They did suffer an early wobble, however, with three wickets down for 52, but Aamer Sajjad (88) and Naved Yasin (71), the stars with the bat from the first innings, continued their excellent form, adding 132 for the fourth wicket. Though both were dismissed before stumps, the lead remains substantial and some quick runs from the two unbeaten batsmen, Saeed Bin Nasir and Naeem Anjum, on the final day could prompt a declaration in an effort to bowl out Sialkot.

Queensland have recalled Greg Moller for his first Sheffield Shield match of the season after losing both their first-choice openers to injury. Moller has not played for the Bulls since November last year and he will open the batting with Wade Townsend for the four-day game against New South Wales at the Gabba starting on Friday.The new-look combination came after the Bulls lost their preferred openers Ryan Broad to a thumb injury and Nick Kruger to a hip problem. Kruger was on Thursday having scans to assess the extent of his injury, which forced him to bat with a runner during Wednesday’s FR Cup match.Craig Philipson has also been included in a 12-man squad and could play his first Sheffield Shield game since March 2007, following strong performances in the one-day arena this summer. Queensland have also gained James Hopes, Chris Swan and Ryan Harris, who have returned from injuries and replaced Luke Feldman, Nathan Rimmington and Daniel Doran.New South Wales have included the left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc in their 12-man group. Starc has replaced Burt Cockley, who has been diagnosed with stress fractures of the back and is likely to be out of action for three months.Queensland squad Greg Moller, Wade Townsend, Lee Carseldine, Nathan Reardon, Craig Philipson, Chris Simpson (capt), James Hopes, Chris Hartley (wk), Chris Swan, Ryan Harris, Ben Cutting, Scott Walter.New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, Phil Jaques, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Moises Henriques, Daniel Smith (wk), Grant Lambert, Stuart Clark (capt), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc.

Finesse isn’t a term generally associated with Peter Siddle, but the Australian fast bowler is striving to change perceptions. Siddle has forged a fearsome reputation for his combative approach to fast bowling, and has now turned his attention to mastering the more subtle art of swing to complement his intimidatory arsenal.”There’s always talk that I don’t have as many weapons as other blokes; that I have the aggression and I charge in,” Siddle said. “I love the role that I play at the moment but I’m always working on swing and other parts of my game. I’m slowly getting better at it, and it helped me in one-day cricket [in India] getting the new ball and having the chance to swing it early on. The improvement in the last two months with that will definitely help me Test cricket. There’s always something to work on. I haven’t got all the tools that some blokes have, but if I do my things right I have my success.”Siddle will need to be at the peak of his powers in order to achieve success on an Adelaide wicket renowned as both back- and heart-breaking for fast bowlers. He will be reunited with left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger for the first time since the Sydney Test in January – a match in which Australia defeat South Africa by 103 runs – after a knee injury forced out Ben Hilfenhaus.”In that Sydney Test up against South Africa we both enjoyed the contest and we did get each other going a little bit,” Siddle said. “He loves charging in there and bowling fast. He keeps everyone up beat so it’s going to be good fun to be out there with him.”Siddle is not banking on Australia replicating their three-day Brisbane victory from Friday. Only one team – the West Indian side of 1951 – have lost at the Adelaide Oval before the fourth day, and the lower bounce should better suit Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who failed in both innings at the Gabba.Making matters more difficult for Australia’s fast bowlers is the recovery of Ramnaresh Sarwan from the back injury that ruled him out of the first Test. Sarwan completed a full batting session in the Adelaide Oval nets on Tuesday, and team officials are confident the veteran batsman will be available to play from Friday.”Many factors can change what happened up there,” Siddle said. “Obviously Chris Gayle, Chanderpaul and those sort of blokes didn’t get a start up there but they’re class players, they can make a lot of runs and they can make big scores so we’ve got to be on our game and work hard and attack them and keep the pressure on. Any team can turn it around, this is a new match and probably the wicket is a little bit similar to what they play on in the West Indies so it’s going to be tough work.”

Indian allrounder Irfan Pathan says he has been inspired by Sreesanth’s spectacular return to the international fold and is optimistic about making his way back into the Indian team by performing in domestic cricket.”Sreesanth has made an excellent comeback,” Irfan told ahead of Baroda’s next game in the Ranji Trophy Super League. “He was doing well in domestic matches earlier and after returning to the India team, he put up an performance which is quite inspirational. I want to make a comeback like him.”I met him before a Ranji match, I am impressed with his body language also. This kind of comeback strengthens the believe that you can also do it in same manner by improving your performance.”Returning after a gap of 19 months, Sreesanth was named Man of the Match in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Kanpur, having managed an impressive showing with the ball and helping India take a 1-0 series lead. His five-wicket haul in the first innings forced Sri Lanka to follow-on, setting up the innings-and-144-run win.Irfan said every domestic match has become of immense importance to him. “Every cricketer has to improve to cement his place in the national team. I am trying to give my best in every domestic match and hope it will get the attention of selectors.”He was downgraded from Grade B to Grade C in BCCI’s central contracts list released last week and last played a Test against South Africa in Ahmedabad in April last year, while his last ODI appearance came against Sri Lanka when India toured earlier this year. He said he had put his injury worries behind him and was in good nick with the bat as well.”I am totally fit now and bowling long spells,” Irfan said. “I have also cracked a half-century recently. It would be better had I been in the India team in this series but it’s nice to see India claiming their 100th Test victory.”Irfan predicted a tough match ahead against Group B leaders Karnataka despite home advantage. “It is going to be a very important match for us. They are the group leaders and playing well, but we are also ready to take them on at our home ground.”Over the incident in which four Baroda bowlers, including Salim Veragi, Rajesh Pawar and Sankalp Vohra were called for suspect actions, Irfan said, “This is a new system introduced by the BCCI and the umpires are only following the rules. They cannot do much about it.”

After turning in another barnstorming limited-overs performance to clinch the President’s Cup for Trinidad & Tobago, Kieron Pollard has set his sights on carrying that form into the longer version of the game.Pollard, who slammed 57 and took three wickets in the President’s Cup final, has made his name as a lethal hitter and is part of the West Indies side in ODIs and Twenty20s but has yet to make a Test appearance. He wanted to use the upcoming regional four-day tournament to dispel the notion that he was a limited-overs specialist.”I am looking forward to returning home to be with the guys for the regional four-day tournament,” he said. “I have been batting consistently well in the four-day tournament as well, so I hope that I am not labelled as just one type of player.”Pollard’s profile increased dramatically last month after an electric 18-ball 54 to upset New South Wales in the Champions League Twenty20. His international performances have been underwhelming so far, though, and he admitted to being disappointed at being overlooked for the tour of Australia which starts later this month.”I have been batting pretty well in all forms of the game and not being selected for the West Indies is a bit disappointing,” he said. “I just have to continue working hard and doing what I do best and leave the rest up to the selectors.”While not part of the West Indies touring party he will be in Australia next month, after picking up a Twenty20 contract with South Australia on the back of his exploits in the Champions League. “That is a big move for my career,” he said. “Going to Australia I see as a stepping stone in my career and I am going to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

Match facts

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Start time 1430 (1230 GMT)

Big picture

Sri Lanka will now be a distant memory for these two teams. Leading into this tournament, both Pakistan and New Zealand took turns in getting battered and bruised in the heat and humidity of Sri Lanka. They came to South Africa with doubts looming over their ability to stick it out with other teams in formats longer than Twenty20. Both duly won their Twenty20s in Sri Lanka, and lost both Tests and ODIs comprehensively.The weather in South Africa has been different, and so have been the results. New Zealand extracted swift revenge, knocking Sri Lanka out. But with every passing match they seem to be losing one player to injury. During their must-win game against England, Grant Elliot joined Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Daryl Tuffey on the injured list, and Scott Styris has been flown in as a stand-by. Their travel agent won’t mind flying another man in, if that means making it to the next stage.Their opponents have no such problems. Unlike their famous triumphs, the 1992 World Cup and the World Twenty20 earlier this year, Pakistan have looked solid from the off in South Africa. They have looked more like the Pakistan of the 1999 World Cup. Their bowling attack has appeared the most settled, the most varied, and the most skilful of the lot in this tournament. Their batting is the weak link – it has fluctuated from very good, against India, to circumspect, against Australia and West Indies. If Pakistan lose the toss and are put in at the Wanderers, that passage of play will be New Zealand’s best chance of making this a close contest.On paper Pakistan are favourites, and over the years they have used New Zealand as a stepping-stone in big tournaments. In 1992, New Zealand’s first defeat in the World Cup opened doors for Pakistan’s progress to the semi-final, where they were beaten by the same opposition. The semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup and 2007 World Twenty20 were a repeat. In the World Twenty20 in 2009, it was against New Zealand that Pakistan discovered momentum, and never lost it. New Zealand supporters, though, would want to look back at the semi-final of the Champions Trophy in 2000, when they beat Pakistan, and went on to win the final too.

Form guide

(last five completed matches, most recent first)Pakistan – LWWWW
New Zealand – WWLLL

Team news

Imran Nazir is fit and should take Misbah-ul-Haq’s place. The difficult problem is one that other teams would kill for: does Mohammad Asif go out for Mohammad Aamer? Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul will be difficult to keep out too. If the Wanderers pitch looks especially green, they could go in with four fast bowlers too. What a throwback it would be but that’s unlikely to happen if the pitch is dry.Pakistan: (probable): 1 Imran Nazir, 2 Kamran Akmal, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Umar Akmal, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 9 Mohammad Aamer, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Umar Gul.New Zealand don’t have such problems of plenty. The batting looks amazingly thin in Ryder’s absence. Aaron Redmond, who was too jetlagged to play the previous game, should come in. “Grant took part in training this morning and the injection to see how it’s going – the injection works when he bats but not when he bowls,” Daniel Vettori said. “We’ll leave it till the last possible minute before making a decision.”New Zealand (probable): 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Aaron Redmond, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Neil Broom, 6 Grant Elliot/Scott Styris, 7 James Franklin, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Shane Bond, 11 Ian Butler.

Watch out for…

Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor are two of the most experienced batsmen in the New Zealand line-up. How well they strike a balance between attacking and anchoring will be key to their team’s chances.Younis Khan has stalled his team’s momentum twice in the two matches he has batted. He is the kind of captain who wants to earn respect as a player first, and will be under pressure to set that record straight on a pitch that is likely to test the techniques of Pakistan’s batsmen.

Pitch and conditions

Vettori expects a pitch similar to the one New Zealand scored 300-plus on against Sri Lanka. “Looks like the Sri Lanka wicket, lots of runs in it. If so we’re going to have to step up with the bat.” There’s only a 40% chance of rain but if the match is washed out, New Zealand will go through by the virtue of having topped Group B.

Stats and trivia

• Both teams have made it to at least the semi-finals of three of the last four world events. New Zealand lost in the semi-finals of the 2007 World Cup and the World Twenty20 in the same year. Pakistan lost the final of the 2007 World Twenty20, and won the next edition of the same tournament.
• Pakistan have met New Zealand nine times in ODIs in world events, and have won six.
• All four day-night matches at the Wanderers in this tournament have been won by the chasing team.
• Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi have bowled 51.2 overs between them in this tournament, for 203 runs and 10 wickets.

Quotes

“In the semi-final, it doesn’t matter who you play against, or where you play, because it is a big game. Pressure is not only on us, but also on New Zealand. If we get through two more games we are the champions.”
“Momentum is with us I think. It’s a much preferable way to go into the semi-final, knowing we’ve won two big games, qualified top – where in the past we have scraped through – and go into the Pakistan game with confidence.”