Indian test players will get practice in NZ afterall!

[fineleg]

This is a good arrangement by BCCI and NZ board. Innovative way to get match practice :thumbs_up:

[Shane]

practice games are only for test players who are not in ODI /T20 squads.So we will have a 4-days games to practice before tests start

OK, so these are the games to watch out for

Fri 6 - Mon 9 
10:30 local, 21:30 GMT 	State Championship
Canterbury v Central Districts
Mainpower Oval, Rangiora

Fri 6 - Mon 9 
10:30 local, 21:30 GMT 	State Championship
Northern Districts v Auckland
Cobham Oval, Whangarei

Fri 6 - Mon 9 
10:30 local, 21:30 GMT 	State Championship
Otago v Wellington
University Oval, Dunedin

Fri 13 - Mon 16 
10:30 local, 21:30 GMT 	State Championship
Canterbury v Northern Districts
Village Green, Christchurch

Fri 13 - Mon 16 
10:30 local, 21:30 GMT 	State Championship
Central Districts v Wellington
McLean Park, Napier

Fri 13 - Mon 16 
10:30 local, 21:30 GMT 	State Championship
Otago v Auckland
Queen's Park, Invercargill

[coffee_rules]

Good move. But they might become soft targets for injury.

[fineleg]

Good move. But they might become soft targets for injury.

Injury can happen even in practice matches or just physical training exercises where they inadvertently twist their ankle etc... So, we cannot avoid practice matches for these reasons. This is a welcome move by BCCI and NZ board.

[Chandan]

Conundrum over Indian call-ups 4:00AM Sunday Feb 22, 2009 By Dylan Cleaver Concern over the "integrity" of the State Championship could scupper prospects of sending the 'Indian Six' to the major associations. Master batsmen Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, up-and-comer Murali Vijay, leggie Amit Mishra and pacemen Dhawal Kulkarni and Laxmipathi Balaji arrive during the one-day series and are seeking a first-class warm-up match to gain some match play. When New Zealand Cricket re-drew the schedule to accommodate an extra test, a first-class warm-up match for India was sacrificed. NZC is now charged with finding appropriate match play for the six test specialists who will join the tour late. "There's no easy solution, it's a real conundrum," said Wellington chief executive Gavin Larsen. Adding to the difficulty is that the Players' Association will not support any relaxation of the rules surrounding overseas players, with each major association allowed only one overseas professional for any match. New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan told a Wellington newspaper that New Zealand Cricket had the facility "under the playing regulations to change" the rules surrounding overseas players. "If they think they can change the conditions halfway through the competition we would be absolutely against that," said Players' Association boss Heath Mills. Wellington have employed Graham Napier this season, while Auckland and Northern Districts have Stephen Croft and Hamish Marshall respectively. Otago and Canterbury's South Africans, Neil Wagner, Johann Myburgh and Kruger van Wyk are classed as locals even though none are yet available for New Zealand selection. Napier was due to leave at the end of the Twenty20 competition but Wellington have been so impressed with his contribution they are trying to engineer a way for him to stay longer. Even if each major association decides to use an Indian as their overseas player for the round in question - from March 6 to 9 - the dispersal of the players will again be fraught. While the competition might appear to be a three-horse race between leaders Central Districts, Wellington and Auckland, every team will still be trying desperately for maximum points. The sides that are given Laxman, Dravid and even Mishra are at a massive advantage to the others, in terms of playing experience and marketing opportunities as well. How pleased can you imagine Wellington coach Anthony Stuart will be if Auckland, his closest chaser for second, ends up with Laxman while he gets the unproven Vijay? The other option is to stage a warm-up match using five local players to make up a team around the six Indians. But that, too, is flawed. The Black Caps will be out of commission in the one-day series and New Zealand A are meeting England A in Queenstown, meaning State Championship teams will be down to the bare bones as it is. Removing another 16 players for a match that has meaning only to the Indians, would turn the State Championship into a farce. Cancelling that round of the State Championship is also an option, but a totally unsatisfactory one. Perhaps the most trouble-free solution would be lumping two Indians each into the three Championship non-contenders, but the Players' Association would reject that. " You can't just go and change the playing conditions because it might be convenient," he said. "There is no way we would support that," Mills said. Vaughan's proposals are currently awaiting board approval. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So, these are the concerns regarding the warm up match of the six Indian test players! And what are rumours/news doing the rounds about BCCI's steps regarding this? Presence of ICL players could upset BCCI plans, say sources Press Trust Of India Mumbai, February 21, 2009 First Published: 21:31 IST(21/2/2009) Last Updated: 21:32 IST(21/2/2009) Likely presence of the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League players in their domestic sides could unhinge the plans of New Zealand Cricket in fulfilling its commitment of arranging a warm-up match for Indians before the first Test. "Some ICL players could turn out for these teams and such a scenario is not acceptable to us," BCCI sources said today. The BCCI has barred all its cricketers and officials from having any track with the Essel Group-promoted ICL and the International Cricket Council has convened a meeting in Johannesburg on Monday to resolve the BCCI-ICL conflict. India had agreed to extend their Test series from two to three matches on the request of NZC and in lieu of that they had demanded some practice for the players, who were not part of the ODI squad. Six Indian players -- Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Dhawal Kulkarni and Laxmipathi Balaji -- are expected to play in New Zealand's domestic circuit before the first Test, beginning March 18. ----------------- So there it is!!

[Willow_on_fire]

NZ cricket board...:two_thumbs_up:

[flamy]

lol bcci idiots

[Sachinism]

NZ cricket board fail

[Feed]

David Leggat: Auckland's chance to get Dravid In the next few days the coaches of Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, Central and Northern Districts and Auckland could be haggling over choices like that for one round of the State Championship from March 6-9 as New Zealand Cricket... More... David Leggat: Auckland's chance to get Dravid 4:00AM Wednesday Feb 25, 2009 By David Leggat In the next few days the coaches of Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, Central and Northern Districts and Auckland could be haggling over choices like that for one round of the State Championship from March 6-9 as New Zealand Cricket fulfils an obligation to the Indian board to ensure match practice for six Indian players not involved in the preceding Twenty20 and ODI series. While the Indian sextet - world-class batsmen Dravid and Laxman, relatively unknown opener Vijay, legspinner Mishra and fast-medium pair Dhawal Kulkarni and Lakshmipathy Balaji - will view the games as warmups for the tests, it is a serious business for the provinces as they challenge to reach the championship final in April. It is also a serious business for NZC. There was a tradeoff between the boards when the Indian itinerary was rejigged last month. India sought a third test after having their tour of Pakistan rubbed out, for non-cricketing reasons. NZC wanted a second Twenty20 international. It was agreed to scrub the practice game against New Zealand A to make room for the adjustments, with New Zealand to find a warmup match for the six test specialists who arrive early next month. Problem one: Persuade the six provinces that this is a good deal, and that the integrity of the championship is not jeopardised. Three of the six provinces have an overseas player - Wellington (Graham Napier), ND (Hamish Marshall) and Auckland (Steven Croft). Otago, CD and Canterbury don't, although Canterbury have two South Africans, Kruger van Wyk and Johan Myburgh, who are looking to settle in New Zealand. Teams are permitted one overseas player. Take Wellington, for whom Napier has been a resounding success this season. Do they fancy dropping him for a game to make way for, say, Balaji, who is hardly likely to match Napier's contribution in his first taste of New Zealand conditions? Problem two: Work out how to decide which player goes to which province - and this assumes the six associations agree to the plan. Provinces will put up their hands for specific players based partly on absences caused by the conflicting NZ A games against England A in Queenstown and Lincoln early next month. ND are without five players for the Queenstown game, two batsmen and three bowlers. Would they prefer quality cover for the batting or bowling? Now what if four provinces say Dravid - one of the great batsmen, with a test average of 52.28 - is the player they want. Who decides where he goes? This could be fun. Do they draw straws? Don't snigger, it might be the fairest method. Then if Dravid belted a double century for CD and helped them increase their lead in the championship, it would be put down to the luck of the draw. Placing players by a method using any form of calculated assessment will surely leave provinces who draw a dud performer aggrieved. What about musical chairs with a difference? One chair in the room, six coaches circling, the first bum on the seat gets first choice. Or a cricketing idol dance-off between the provincial chief executives? One thing is sure; NZC must find cricket for the six. They did a deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and in these delicate times, this is not a good moment to get offside with the Indians.

[King]

I suppose they could auction and make some money for the local associations :winky: There will be few sponsors that may not mind paying for the stakes.

[Mr. Wicket]

this is not a good moment to get offside with the Indians.

What the hell is a rugby reference doing in a cricket article? Only in NZ :P

[Chandan]

Political minefield thwarts 'Indian Six' 4:00AM Sunday Mar 01, 2009 By Dylan Cleaver The New Zealand Cricket Players' Association will make no concessions to bully-boy tactics from the BCCI as a compromise is sought to allow the 'Indian Six' to play in the State Championship. The BCCI on Friday removed Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik from the Masters Twenty20 international that acted as a curtain-raiser to India's clash with New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket, caught in a diplomatic nightmare, are trying to steer a middle course through a political minefield as the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association and BCCI, Indian cricket's governing body, fail to see eye-to-eye. After withdrawing Tendulkar and Karthik on account of a former ICL player, Hamish Marshall, being included in the NZCPA Masters side, the BCCI have no choice but to prevent their players playing for any major association that has players with Indian Cricket League (ICL) links. The ICL is regarded as a rebel league by Indian authorities. Six test specialists - VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Laxmipathi Balaji and Dhawal Kulkarni - were to be divided among the teams to get some competitive cricket in before the test series. But the NZCPA refuse to countenance the possibility of Daryl Tuffey, from Auckland, and possibly Canterbury's Chris Harris and Northern Districts' Marshall, who is this season playing as an overseas player, being withdrawn from their squads because of their ICL links. "We're not against the Indians playing in our domestic competition, far from it," NZCPA's Heath Mills said. "We'd love to see it but we can't sacrifice our principles and we certainly can't have a situation where New Zealand cricketers are unable to ply their trade in their own country on the say-so of the BCCI." NZC general manager of cricket Geoff Allott is currently working through different scenarios that would give the 'Indian Six' match play without offending their home board. One option would be for them to play in three or four teams, teams without ICL players, split over two rounds. A NZC spokesman said the ICL issue was just one issue. "I'm not sure if Friday's events have had any impact," the spokesman said. "The ICL is just one of the factors as well as scheduling and the apportioning of players." The players' association will not allow the major associations to be swayed into leaving any ICL-linked players out. "We will fight that all the way," he said. "There's no way we'd stand for that. They're New Zealanders and they're perfectly entitled to play in a domestic league in their own country. We will not accept players being stood down because of the petty politics of another country." Mills revealed he was asked whether he would withdraw Marshall, who now plays in New Zealand as an overseas player, from the Masters side to allow Tendulkar and Karthik to play on Friday night, but he refused. "There was a discussion between Justin and I," Mills said. "But there was no pressure. Justin was entirely reasonable. I mean, it's a fair enough question but I said 'absolutely not'. I fully understand the benefits of having Sachin play but Hamish is one of our members and that [withdrawing him] is just not on." Indeed, if Mills had withdrawn Marshall he would have left himself open to accusations of hypocrisy having railed against national boards for making decisions based on political expediency rather than any firm principles. He also denied he was being deliberately provocative in picking Marshall in the first place. "It was us who were approached by Gary Kirsten to see if we could accommodate a couple of their guys, not the other way around," Mills said. Which made Niranjan Shah's comments all the more harder to fathom. Shah, manager of the team in New Zealand, former board secretary and currently IPL vice-chairman, refused to comment to the Hindustan Times, saying: "This match is not important. Why should I comment on it?" If it was not important, why request two spots for your players? "It's just silly. A silly, silly decision by the BCCI," Mills said. "How on earth can you tell me this is the right outcome for cricket? Everyone lost. "India lost by not giving a couple of players a hit-out they needed, the Wellington public lost by not being able to see one of the world's greatest players, we lost because what should have been a totally positive experience was hijacked by petty politics." ICC-brokered talks between the BCCI and ICL last week collapsed without resolution or even the hint of a compromise. ------------------------------------------------------------------- So the chances are quite bleak. If the test players do not get any practice at all, it'll be really tough for them to hit the straps right away. India should be prepared for the rough result then!

[Shane]

I think its time for BCCI to drop it

[fineleg]

So the chances are quite bleak. If the test players do not get any practice at all, it'll be really tough for them to hit the straps right away. India should be prepared for the rough result then!

dandaroy's prediction :((

[Chandan]

Indian Test players will finally play in local league Wellington: New Zealand Cricket on Sunday confirmed that six Indian players would turn out in the domestic championship as warm-up to the Test series, diffusing the tension between BCCI and Kiwi players’ association over the involvement of ICL-linked players in the tournament. The six Indians — V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Amit Mishra, M. Vijay, L. Balaji and Dhawal Kulkarni — would play in the next two rounds of the State championship. The Indian players have been included only in those State teams that do not feature ICL players. Dravid will play for the State Canterbury Wizards against the State Central Stags at Rangiora, from March 6-9. Mishra to play Leg-spinner Mishra will turn out for the Stags in the same game. Laxman will appear for the State Otago Volts against the State Wellington Firebirds for whom Balaji will be turning out at Dunedin, on similar dates. In the next round from March 13-16, Vijay and Kulkarni will play for the Stags and Firebirds respectively at Napier. The Test series begins in Hamilton on March 18. “No Indian players will appear for the State Auckland Aces or State Northern Knights. This avoids any potential issues over the involvement of ICL players in the games. The Aces and Knights sides already have an overseas player in their teams,” the NZC statement said. “Canterbury’s ICL-contracted players, Chris Harris and Shane Bond, were only contracted by Canterbury to play State shield and T20 matches and therefore not considered for the State championship,” the statement added. The inclusion of the Indians in the State teams was agreed upon by the NZC, the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association and the six major associations. However, things could have taken an ugly turn after the Board of Control for Cricket in India withdrew Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik from an invitational Twenty20 match on Friday since it involved an Indian Cricket League player, Hamish Marshall, in the NZCPA side. The BCCI move came as a surprise to the host and in a counter offensive, the NZCPA had said it would not allow players linked with the rebel league to be dropped from the State teams to facilitate the Indians. Given the scenario the BCCI would have had no choice but to withdraw the six players from the warm-up matches since it is against any contact with those linked with the ICL, a situation which could have proved costly for the visitor. India coach Gary Kirsten thanked NZC for accommodating the players so they could get vital match practice. “Because of the tight schedule and no warm-up match it would have been difficult for those players straight off the plane. I think it sets a good example,” said Kirsten. NZC Chief Executive Justin Vaughan was happy that the NZCPA and major associations had been able to work out a solution. Number of issues “There have been a number of issues to work through, including the involvement of ICL players, NZC’s rules around overseas and qualifying players, player allocation, scheduling and travel arrangements,” said Vaughan. “This is an excellent solution that means we’re able to offer the incoming Indian players appropriate preparation in first-class conditions and at the same time give our domestic sides an incredible opportunity to play alongside some of the great names in international Test cricket. “For some of our young players especially, the chance to spend four days on the park and in the dressing room with players of the calibre of Laxman and Dravid is priceless,” he said. Players’ association executive manager, Heath Mills, who was vocal against the BCCI, was also satisfied that a compromise could be worked out. “New Zealand Cricket and the major associations have done well to achieve that through the use of six players in the state championship,” he said. “Each major association is allowed one overseas player under our contracting environment which is something we have always supported and encouraged so this outcome fits nicely with that,” said Mills. NZ's point of view -- by David Leggat Four New Zealand provinces have the benefit of Indian cricket wisdom in the national championship this month, but Auckland and Northern Districts will miss out. Those two provinces have players with links to the privately run Indian Cricket League, an organisation the Indian board view as possessing cricket's equivalent of rabies. They won't allow their players any contact with those who have ICL ties, including Auckland's fast bowler Daryl Tuffey and ND's former test batsman Hamish Marshall. The luck of the State Championship draw means when the fifth round of games start on Friday, ND host Auckland at Whangarei, so neither team is advantaged over the other. Batting great Rahul Dravid will play for Canterbury against Central Districts at Rangiora this week, while legspinner Amit Mishra will be in the CD lineup. VVS Laxman, another of India's best batsmen, will play for Otago against Wellington in Dunedin. Wellington's lineup will include fast-medium Lakshmipathy Balaji. The other two Indians requiring a test series warmup game under an agreement between New Zealand Cricket and the Indian board, opener Murali Vijay and fast-medium Dhawal Kulkarni, will appear in the sixth-round game between CD and Wellington in Napier from March 13-16. Canterbury have two ICL-contracted players, Chris Harris and Shane Bond, but they are not playing the four-day championship. Their two South African-born players, Kruger van Wyk and Johan Myburgh, have been given a dispensation by NZC to play as both are throwing their lot in with New Zealand. That gets around the rule permitting each province only one overseas player per game. CD and Otago don't have an overseas player, while Wellington's Graham Napier is understood to be heading home, thus opening a vacancy. Auckland Cricket chief executive Andrew Eade said no pressure had been put on the association to leave Tuffey out in favour of an Indian player. "We are very comfortable with the concept," he said last night. "It's just the nature of their stance on ICL players - and we respect their right to have a stance like that - means we can't accommodate them. "I'm sure they'll understand where we're coming from in respect of our decision to play Daryl." Dravid, Laxman along with four test players leave for New Zealand Middle-order mainstays Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, along with four other members of India's Test squad, left for New Zealand from Mumbai early on Monday for the three-match Test series starting on March 18. The duo, along with Amit Mishra, L Balaji, Dhawal Kulkarni and M Vijay, would be reaching Auckland on Tuesday morning. The players are reaching well ahead of the commencement of the series to acclimatize with the conditions by turning out for domestic teams of New Zealand in the state championship. The inclusion of these players into New Zealand's domestic teams has been approved by New Zealand Cricket, the New Zealand Players Association and the six Major Associations. Dravid will play for Canterbury Wizards against the Central Stags at Mainpower Oval, Rangiora, from March 6 to 9, while leg spinner Mishra will turn out for the Stags in the same game. Laxman would appear for Otago Volts against Wellington Firebirds at University Oval, Dunedin, in the same round while right-arm medium pacer Balaji would play for the Firebirds in that game. In the following round, from March 13 to 16, the tie between the Stags and Firebirds at McLean Park, Napier would feature opening batsman Vijay and right-arm medium pacer Kulkarni. It is yet to be decided which sides they would be representing in this match. The first Test will be held at Seddon Park, Hamilton from March 18-22 while the second and third Tests are scheduled at Mclean Park, Napier (March 26-30) and Basin Reserve, Wellington (April 3-7). Bottomline March 6 - March 9 Rahul Dravid - Canterbury v Central Districts Amit Mishra - Canterbury v Central Districts VVS Laxman - Otago v Wellington L Balaji - Otago v Wellington March 13 - March 16 Dhawal Kulkarni and M Vijay - Central Districts v Wellington ----------------------------------------------------- So we'll have to keep an eye on those domestic matches to see how Dravid Laxman and others are doing!

[suraj]

Good news :two_thumbs_up::two_thumbs_up:

[h4te]

geez, finally! :yay:

[Shane]

One to watch out for March 6 - March 9 Rahul Dravid - Canterbury v Central Districts

[matma]

I am stoked because VVS Laxman is playing for my home team Otago. They train at the University Oval Nets, which is also where my club side practice :yay: I'ma go down tomorrow cos I think Otago are practicing. Security? None. Access to the nets? Public domain. Love it! Cant wait to see VVS up close in the nets.

[zubinpepsi]

One to watch out for March 6 - March 9 Rahul Dravid - Canterbury v Central Districts

shane ?? :giggle: