England pace spearhead James Anderson says the altercation with India’s Ravindra Jadeja during the Trent Bridge Test last year “affected” his performance in the cricket World Cup where he claimed just five wickets in six matches. England were knocked out of the quadrennial extravaganza from the group stages after losing four of their six games. The 32-year-old English pacer was charged with a level 3 breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct after India alleged that Anderson pushed Jadeja inside the pavilion as the players left the field for the lunch break on the second day of the first Test. “I’ve definitely been different since that incident. And it probably affected me during the World Cup,” Anderson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “It didn’t affect me during that India series because there was still that real determination to win. I was aggressive without being over the top. But in the World Cup, there was a constant sense that the ICC were watching.”
Benaud’S family says no to state funeral
sydney: The family of cricket icon Richie Benaud has declined the offer of a state funeral, Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Sunday. Abbott said the offer was a mark of respect for a man who meant so much to millions of people in Australia and around the world. But he said the former Test captain and renowned commentator, who died aged 84 on Friday after fighting skin cancer, wanted a quiet and private funeral. “My understanding is that Richie’s own wishes was for something very, very quiet and very, very private,” Abbott told reporters. Benaud’s widow, Daphne, phoned the Prime Minister’s office on Saturday to kindly decline the offer of a state funeral, he said. Benaud instead will be remembered this week with a private gathering attended only by his immediate family.
Bcci MEETING ON APRIl 26 to discuss coach
nEW dElHI: The new regime of the BCCI will have its first Working Committee meeting on April 26 in Kolkata and discussions on Duncan Fletcher’s possible replacement will be held at that conclave. It will be the first time that Jagmohan Dalmiya and his colleagues will be formally meeting to set the agenda for the season ahead. “We have been intimated that there is a Working Committee meeting on April 26. Dalmiya will speak to the members and also seek their opinion about the appointment of new coach,” an influential BCCI official said. He added that the discussions will be more about the process that should be applied for selection of new chief coach. “It will be decided whether we would have a panel to decide on new coach or would shortlist a few names.
WIndies, England seek fresh start
North Sound: West Indies and England face-off in the first Test of a three-match series in Antigua on Monday, with both sides involved in reconstruction following a wretched few months. Chris Gayle, who led the West Indies to an upset 1-0 triumph the last time the English played a Test series in the Caribbean in 2009, announced his unavailability for the assignment. James Anderson needs four wickets to surpass Ian Botham’s tally of 383 — the most by an England cricketer in Tests.