Roll up for a Caribbean World Cup at a price that's right | Mike Selvey

www.guardian.co.uk - This year's Twenty20 World Cup gives the ICC a chance to put the things right it got so horribly wrong in 2007One of the most hilariously rewarding mornings this job of mine has brought was spent at Lord's early in 1999 for the launch of that summer's World Cup. Each presentation entertainingly exceeded the last: "global ambassadors" turned out to be a celebrity chef, a weatherman and a clapped-out fashion model; and we were treated to the rib-tickling sight and sound of that woman with the big arse whose TV day job was to squeeze into a tight jumpsuit and hop in an out of helicopters, expounding on behalf of a sponsor what an odd game cricket was.Then came the song. All Over The World was written and performed by Dave Stewart, formerly half of the Eurythmics, and had been hijacked for the World Cup rather than specially written, in the way that the inaugural tournament had paid royalties to Disney to use the image of Jiminy Cricket rather than create its own mascot.It sounded pleasant enough. Then the accompanying video was screened which, because of a mix-up, showed not the cricket theme that had been commissioned, but that filmed for the record's general release, a surreal pastiche of the asylum and its inmates in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. You couldn't make it up.That the competition itself could only go downhill after such a glorious introduction was inevitable and we were not disappointed, from the opening ceremony - which consisted of Tony Blair claiming he had witnessed things which had never actually happened (an early lesson not learned there), a parachute display aborted because of the wind, and a £10 box of Brocks that covered Lord's in a smokescreen, to the release of the World Cup song the day after the hosts, England, were eliminated from the tournament. The song, of course, never reached the Top 40.We move on to 2007. If ever there was a tournament ripe for a majestic musical interpretation it was the World Cup in the Caribbean, and in this regard we were not disappointed. Another song was commissioned - The Game Of Love And Unity - featuring Shaggy, Rupee and Fay-Ann Lyons, all acclaimed artists. Officially it was described as having "a high energy, up-tempo, soca-inspired beat with lyrics themed around the spirit of cricket and the passion which Caribbean people have for the sport".If the song passed muster, then so did the opening ceremony at the new ground at Trelawny, in Jamaica, which was a brilliant musical triumph, so much so that it is a shame that ICC didn't cut its losses at that point and forget about the dismal tournament that followed, an unmitigated disaster of ludicrous format, greedy prohibitive pricing, and draconian security. Musical instruments, part of the cricket-watching heritage of the West Indies, were banned. The spirit had been exorcised and so a golden opportunity was missed to highlight all that is wonderful about Caribbean cricket, instead leaving the region a laughing stock. People stayed away: it and they deserved so much better.In around seven weeks' time there is a chance for redemption. Over the course of three weeks the World Twenty20 takes place, first of all, in Guyana and St Lucia, then Barbados, while the women's tournament runs simultaneously on St Kitts, with the latter stages preceding the men's semi-final and final. Already the PR machine is whirring away. News arrives of the release of the inevitable song, this time a "contagious, upbeat and proudly West Indian song" featuring the dancehall maestro Mr Vegas and, once more, the queen of soca, Fay-Ann Lyons. It is called Bring It, a clear knock at the previous Caribbean effort in which spectators were instructed to do the opposite.Even Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, is getting very excited by it all in a dad-at-the-wedding-disco sort of way. "We want this event to be a celebration of nation-versus-nation cricket," he said this week, "with all the atmosphere, fun and excitement traditionally associated with the game in the West Indies. So, we are calling on the people of the Caribbean to 'Bring It'."If that is the sort of sentiment that preceded the World Cup, then this time there is every chance that the message will get through. "We invite you to bring your biggest voices," Lorgat continues enthusiastically. "We invite you to bring your loudest noisemakers. We invite you to bring your most outrageous costumes and facepaint. The world will be playing. The world will be watching. It's time for Twenty20 international cricket, West Indies style."It is not just the lure of a noisefest that will bring an audience, however, nor even the attraction that is Twenty20 cricket. Rather it is the pricing. Affordability, so goes the official line, is the key. Tickets cost from US$3 (about £2) for single group stage matches (US$5 for double headers) and US$8 for Super Eight games, while semi-finals are US$10-20, with admission to the final in Barbados on May 16 costing US$20-40.Under 16s get free entry to group matches and discounts elsewhere while there is no charge for entry to the women's matches on St Kitts. If they have learned nothing else from the 2007 fiasco, then this at least is a step in the right direction. Personally, I shall be packing some earplugs.Twenty20CricketMike Selveyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Northamptonshire sign Virender Sehwag for Twenty20 campaign

www.guardian.co.uk - Last year's semi-finalists intent on improvement I am delighted to join the county, says Indian batsmanVirender Sehwag is set to play for Northamptonshire in this summer's Friends Provident Twenty20. The Steelbacks have announced the signing subject to approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.Northamptonshire, Twenty20 Cup semi-finalists last year, are hoping the Indian batsman's destructive stroke play can help them go even further this time.Sehwag, top of the International Cricket Council rankings for Test batsmen, has played in 76 Tests and 220 one-day internationals in a prolific career. The 31-year-old, whose previous experience of county cricket came with Leicestershire, said of his new deal: "I am looking forward to the T20 campaign and I am delighted to have joined the county."Northamptonshire's chief executive, Mark Tagg, added: "This is absolutely fantastic news for the club and shows everyone that we want to continue our year-on-year improvement. We hope this shows our fans we are serious in our ambitions to become the best county cricket club in the country."India Cricket TeamNorthamptonshireCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Old Trafford aims for 2013 Ashes after development clears local hurdle

www.guardian.co.uk - £32m development gets council permission Plans must now be approved by governmentLancashire have secured local planning permission for the £32m development that they say is essential to preserve Old Trafford's future as an international venue, after a three-hour council meeting described as "harrowing" by their chief executive, Jim Cumbes.A packed council chamber - including Lancy the Giraffe, the club's mascot - heard a number of objections to the Tesco superstore that will be built between the cricket and football grounds to fund the redevelopment, as well as a rival application for another supermarket to be built on a nearby site.But Trafford Council's planning committee approved Lancashire's plans on a majority vote. The decision will now be referred to the Government Office for the North-West, who have 21 days to decide whether it should be sent for a national inquiry.But with the Northwest Development Agency meeting next week to vote on a £7.2m funding package to add to Lancashire's pot, the club are cautiously optimistic that there will be no further delays - allowing them to submit a bid to stage a Test in the 2013 Ashes series to the England and Wales Cricket Board, which is due in Manchester for a meeting next month."We're absolutely delighted," said Cumbes, the former Lancashire seamer who deferred his retirement as chief executive to see the five-year redevelopment project through to the end. "It was always going to be difficult but it means the club can now move forward in terms of continuing with international cricket at Old Trafford."It does get referred to Government North-West, but the government likes decisions to be made locally, so we would hope they would endorse what Trafford Council have said. Then we can start to talk to contractors, and getting ourselves set up for starting work at the end of this year or early next year at the latest."We've now got a great chance of retaining international cricket in the North-West because it means we can get on with doing what we want to do, and meeting the requirements that the ECB have."Matt Colledge, the leader of Trafford Council, said: "If the committee's decision is supported by Government Office North-West, this is the beginning of exciting times for the Old Trafford area and the borough generally. It is an important milestone for the cricket club and will hopefully enable them to achieve their ambition to bring international Test match cricket back to Old Trafford."These developments will bring £16m of additional value into Trafford and create more than 600 jobs."CricketLancashireAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Umpire review system may be used at 2011 World Cup

www.guardian.co.uk - ICC considering expanding use of technology in one-day game 'It is clear that everyone believes technology is here to stay'The International Cricket Council's decision review system is "here to stay" - and may even be used in next year's World Cup.DRS has already given rise to its share of controversy since being introduced for Test matches last year. It was a notable source of disenchantment at times during England's recent tour of South Africa, where the furore over the third umpire Daryl Harper's decision to uphold a not-out verdict against the home captain Graeme Smith after a review for caught-behind threatened to overshadow the entire match.Yet following a meeting of the chief executives of the ICC's member nations in Dubai this week, the system - by which teams are allowed to review on-field decisions to the TV official - was reported to have universal support. It is also under consideration to expand the use of DRS, currently operational in five-day cricket only, to the 50-over format.David Richardson, the ICC's general manager, conducted a two-day 'workshop' following this week's meeting, which benefited from the input of broadcasters, technology suppliers and umpire representatives."It was an extremely valuable two days for technology development, and we are grateful to all those who attended," he said. "It was clear that everyone believes technology is here to stay."That conclusion was less evident from the immediate response of the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Giles Clarke, following the controversy which erupted around Harper in the Johannesburg Test in January.Neither the workshop nor committee had specific remit to make recommendations on the events of the Wanderers, however. The ICC announced two months ago it would conduct an inquiry into those matters, and others arising, and that investigation is still ongoing."The scope of the discussion covered the protocols for broadcasters and umpires, as well as the playing conditions around DRS," Richardson added.At issue back in January was the quality or otherwise of the audio feed available to Harper as he tried to ascertain whether Smith had edged a ball from Ryan Sidebottom on its way into Matt Prior's gloves.Richardson explained: "We also looked at the preferred technology, whether there was a need for standardisation for all Tests around the world and the cost of providing equipment at all Test matches."There was also constructive discussions on whether DRS should be used for the ICC Cricket World Cup."Cricket world cupCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Indian Premier League: team-by-team guide

www.guardian.co.uk - The essential preview for every superstar-heavy side in the razzmatazz world of the 2010 IPLDeccan ChargersFranchise notes Owned by a local newspaper, the Deccan ChronicleCoach Darren LehmannCaptain Adam GilchristStar player Hard-hitting West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Smith.Didn't you retire? Ostracised by the Australian set-up after a series of off-field misdemeanours, Andrew Symonds holds the record for the fastest-ever Twenty20 century, off 34 balls.New faces The 21-year-old West Indian paceman Kemar Roach, who cost $720,000.Tournament record: 2009 champions, 2008 eighth in group stage.Did you know? The Chargers are based in the central Indian city of Hyderabad. The team are named after the plateau which covers much of the south of India.Kolkata Knight RidersFranchise notes Part-owned by Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan.Coaches Dav Whatmore, Wasim AkramCaptain Sourav GangulyStar player Brad Hodge, the scorer of more runs in Twenty20 cricket than any other player (2,547).English interest Discarded once again by the national selectors, Owais Shah has an excellent Twenty20 record.New faces Injury-prone Kiwi fast bowler Shane Bond, available after an ICL ban.Tournament record 2009 eighth in group stage, 2008 sixth in group stage.Did you know? The wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum made Twenty20's highest-ever score in the very first IPL match, 158 not out off 73 balls.Rajasthan RoyalsFranchise notes Part-owned by Bollywood actress and former Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty.Captain and coach Shane WarneStar player Indian Swapnil Asnodkar, a fearless opening batsman with a penchant for the spectacular.English interest Dimitri Mascarenhas and Michael Lumb. Both play for Hampshire but the South African-born Lumb was one of the surprise picks of this year's auction, Warne obviously being impressed by his 442 runs in 11 games in last year's Twenty20 Cup.Didn't you retire? The former Australian batsman Damien Martyn left the international stage during the 2006‑07 Ashes, saying he had "lost faith in the system", but Shilpa Shetty says he is still "a world-class player".New faces The Western Australian batsman Adam Voges, snapped up for a bargain $50,000.Tournament record 2009 sixth in group stage, 2008 champions.Did you know? The former Gloucestershire off-spinner, "moon-ball" inventor and psychology graduate Jeremy Snape is the team's "high-performance coach".Mumbai IndiansFranchise notes Purchased for $111m by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries.Coaches Robin Singh, Shaun Pollock, Jonty Rhodes.Captain/star player They don't come much more star-like than Sachin Tendulkar, scorer of 46 ODI centuries, including a double against South Africa last month.English interest Graham Napier. The Essex all-rounder scored 152 not out off 58 balls against Sussex in 2008 but is deemed surplus to requirements by England.Didn't you retire? Sanath Jayasuriya is still going after first announcing his retirement in 2006.Tournament record 2009 seventh in group stage, 2008 fifth in group stage.Did you know? Kieron Pollard was one of only two players to fetch the maximum possible bid at the pre-tournament auction, with the Indians paying $750,000 for the West Indies all-rounder's services. The other was Kolkata's Shane Bond.Royal Challengers BangaloreFranchise notes Owned by drinks magnate and Force India F1 team chief Vijay Mallya.Coach Ray JenningsCaptain Anil KumbleStar player The Australian leg-spinning all-rounder Cameron White, one of a select group of players to score more than one Twenty20 century.English interest Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan. Two players whose careers are going in opposite directions at the moment, Pietersen will be looking to relocate his mojo after a rotten run of form for England.Tournament record 2009 finalists, 2008 seventh in group stage.Did you know? The Royal Challengers are named after a whisky, produced by the owner's company who have found a clever way round India's ban on alcohol advertising. The alternative, Bagpipers Bangalore, was quickly rejected.Delhi DaredevilsFranchise notes Owned by the GMR Group, "one of the fastest growing infrastructure organisations in India."Coach Eric SimonsCaptain Gautam GambhirStar player Tillakaratne Dilshan, one of very few batsman who can claim to have invented a new shot, the cheeky, over-the-shoulder Diliscoop.New faces The up-and-coming South African left-arm paceman Wayne Parnell, bought for $610,000.Tournament record 2009 semi-finalists, 2008 semi-finalists.Did you know? Last year, the Daredevils opener David Warner made his international debut for Australia before making a first-class appearance for New South Wales.Chennai Super KingsFranchise notes Owned by N Srinivasan, who also happens to be the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.Coach Stephen FlemingCaptain/star player As well as leading the side, MS Dhoni keeps wicket and is his side's main source of runs. He'd probably bowl as well if you asked him nicely.Didn't you retire? Apparently more interested these days in commentating and cookery, the former Aussie opener Matthew Hayden will be trying to maintain an impressive Twenty20 batting average of 53.45.New faces The young Sri Lankan allrounder Thissara Perera and the former ICL rebel Justin Kemp.Tournament record 2009 semi-finalists, 2008 finalists.Did you know? Stuart Law captained the Chennai Super Stars in the IPL's short-lived rival, the Indian Cricket League.Kings XI PunjabFranchise notes Recent reports that Kings XI's owners, including the Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, had sold their stake to Hero Honda were quickly denied by both parties.Coaches Tom Moody, Trevor PenneyCaptain Kumar SangakkaraStar player Yuvraj Singh, who was replaced as captain in January amid concerns that his batting performance was being adversely affected.English interest Ravi Bopara. After initially expressing concerns about the security situation, the Essex batsman was talked round by the IPL's big cheese and Twitter fanatic, Lalit Modi.Didn't you retire? After consulting with Andrew Flintoff, Brett Lee gave up Tests in February. "I'm not 21, I'm 33," he said.New faces The Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif, and South African left-armer Yusuf Abdulla.Tournament record 2009 fifth in group stage, 2008 semi-finalists.Did you know? According to the franchise's website, the team's coaches are two cartoon lions, Ranjit Singh and Rocky.IPLCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

PCB chairman defends bans for Mohammad Yousuf and company

www.guardian.co.uk - Ijaz Butt says severe punishments were necessary 'We are not worried about the consequences of our action'The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, has defended the punishments imposed on seven of the country's top players, saying strong action was needed to stamp out indiscipline in the national side."I am not apologetic; I think the board has taken the right decision and such strong action was urgently required to put Pakistan cricket back on the right track," Butt said. "This problem of indiscipline and groupings in the team has been festering for a while now and we thought this was the best time to take action."Yesterday the PCB imposed various bans and fines on Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal after considering the recommendations of a committee that looked at poor performances and infighting on the recent Australian tour."We are not worried about the consequences of our action," said Butt. "There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan and we want players to remember they have to give 100% to the country and follow the code of conduct."The board, after issuing two statements to clear up confusion about the bans yesterday, said it would not consider the former captains Yousuf and Younis for national team selection for an unspecified period. Malik and Rana are banned for one year and were fined two million rupees (£29,000) each.Afridi and Kamran were each fined three million rupees (£43,000) and put on six months' probation while Umar was fined two million rupees.Pakistan lost every match of their three-Test, five one-day and Twenty20 series in Australia.Pakistan cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

PCB chairman defends bans for Mohammad Yousuf and co

www.guardian.co.uk - Ejaz Butt says severe punishments were necessary 'We are not worried about the consequences of our action'The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ejaz Butt, has defended the punishments imposed on seven of the country's top players, saying strong action was needed to stamp out indiscipline in the national side."I am not apologetic; I think the board has taken the right decision and such strong action was urgently required to put Pakistan cricket back on the right track," Butt said. "This problem of indiscipline and groupings in the team has been festering for a while now and we thought this was the best time to take action."Yesterday the PCB imposed various bans and fines on Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Rana Naved, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal after considering the recommendations of a committee that looked at poor performances and infighting on the recent Australian tour."We are not worried about the consequences of our action," said Butt. "There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan and we want players to remember they have to give 100% to the country and follow the code of conduct."The board, after issuing two statements to clear up confusion about the bans yesterday, said it would not consider the former captains Yousuf and Younis for national team selection for an unspecified period. Malik and Rana are banned for one year and were fined two million rupees (£29,000) each.Afridi and Kamran were each fined three million rupees (£43,000) and put on six months' probation while Umar was fined two million rupees.Pakistan lost every match of their three-test, five one-day and Twenty20 series in Australia.Pakistan cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Australia secure one-day series victory over New Zealand

www.guardian.co.uk - Ricky Ponting and Cameron White score half-centuries Tourists ease to six-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victoryAustralia wrapped up the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand with a game still to play thanks to a comfortable six-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis method in Auckland.After being put in to bat by the Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, a rejigged New Zealand line-up struggled to a below-par total of 238 as they were bowled out in just 44.1 overs.But with rain delaying the start of the Australians' run-chase they were set a revised target of 200 in 34 overs and, when play finally resumed, the tourists reached it with 17 balls to spare to take an unassailable 3-1 series lead.Not even the early loss of Brad Haddin for a first-ball duck could knock the visitors off their stride as Ponting and Shane Watson added 82 runs for the second wicket.Ponting was however lucky not to go in Daryl Tuffey's first over when the medium-pacer had him plumb leg before wicket. The umpire Asad Rauf inexplicably turned down the appeal.The pair launched a blistering attack on Tim Southee, who went for 55 off 5.1 overs, and Tuffey in the overs immediately following, taking 39 runs off just 18 deliveries.Watson was trapped lbw by Daniel Vettori for 32, but with Australia at that stage 84 for two off just 12.2 overs, the damage had largely been done. Ponting followed Watson back to the pavilion in Vettori's next over after a blistering 50 from 35 balls, but Cameron White (50 not out off 57 balls), Adam Voges (34 off 36) and Mike Hussey (28 not out off 17) saw Australia home with time to spare.Brendon McCullum had top-scored for the hosts with 61, before becoming one of three wickets for Nathan Hauritz. McCullum and Martin Guptill had got New Zealand off to a flier, with Guptill falling for 30 to Watson after putting on 63 in 7.4 overs for the first wicket. Wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter, however, with only Tuffey, who hit four sixes in a quickfire 34 from 17 balls, providing resistance.Australia Cricket TeamNew Zealand cricket teamCricketJohn Ashdownguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Graham Onions flies home from England tour of Bangladesh

www.guardian.co.uk - Seamer's back injury rules him out of two-Test series England also sweating on fitness of Stuart BroadThe England seamer Graham Onions will fly back to England after being ruled out of the two-Test series against Bangladesh due to a back injury.The 27-year-old suffered the complaint in training last week after arriving in the sub-continent for the Test series and missed the three-day warm-up game against Bangladesh A.Onions was yesterday ruled out for the opening Test, which begins in Chittagong tomorrow, but with the problem showing no signs of improving the Durham seamer has now been ordered home to recover.England are also sweating on the fitness of Stuart Broad who yesterday resumed bowling after suffering back spasms, with no replacement for Onions expected to be named.England in Bangladesh 2010Cricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

All players have weaknesses but Kevin Pietersen will meet his head-on

www.guardian.co.uk - The struggling Kevin Pietersen will need guidance from England's novice captain and vice-versaBangladesh may not be the most glamorous of tours, but that does not make it any easier. England deserved credit for winning the one-day series but did not get much because people took their victory for granted. That is the one thing the team cannot afford to do. Bangladesh are slowly getting better and more difficult to beat. And off the field, it is a very difficult tour.The weather is hot and muggy, the pitches can be slow and awkward and some of the hotels can be a shock to players who are used to staying in more luxurious conditions. It can be difficult to keep your mind focused on the cricket rather than the other frustrations. That is a real test of a player's attitude and ability to adapt.For English batsmen the tour is also an examination of their technique against spin. Bangladesh have an abundance of spinners who, while they may not be well known, are very crafty and skilled at what they do.On many of the wickets there the ball grips so much that it can seem to stop or slow after pitching. In England a batsman must be able to judge the turn, but pace off the pitch tends to be easy to read. That is not the case in Bangladesh.One aspect of the tour which is getting a lot of attention is the form of Kevin Pietersen. He called me at the end of the one-day series and we had a long chat about his game. We discussed certain technical points.It is noticeable that his balance is still slightly out of kilter early in his innings. He has a tendency to play to the leg side, which is the result of his head moving too far across to the off, outside the line of the ball. To fix that he has to keep his head straight and upright and not let it fall outside the line.All players have weaknesses. One of the things that impressed me most about Pietersen when I worked with him was that where a lot of people run away from their problems, he has always been willing to meet them head-on. If he feels that facing left-arm-spin is an area of concern, then he will practise playing that style of bowling over and again in the nets.If he does have a flaw in his technique he can still rely on his decision-making, his judgment of how or whether to play a delivery, to see him through. It is a question of how he approaches the early part of his innings. There is a perception that Pietersen is an exciting, attacking player and because of that people expect him to go out there in Test cricket and hit the ball from the start.That is not his style. If you look back at his best innings for England, in both one-day and Test cricket, he was definitely someone who got himself established at the crease before he expanded his game to attack the bowling. Pietersen has always been a player who is prepared to take a long time scoring his first 20 or so runs.He has to be careful and patient, to build a platform for himself. Get in and then look to play the more exotic shots which he is capable of. That is crucial. This does not mean that he has to be cautious, he does not want to slip into a negative mindset, but he just really has to appreciate the situation and accept that sometimes it does not matter if the runs are not coming freely. He is skilled enough to be able to get through that and then turn the innings round later on.This is where the management have a big role to play. They must keep reassuring him that they do not mind if he only scores 10 runs in his first hour. Even if he has to block just to exaggerate the point.This may be an area where England will really miss Andrew Strauss's captaincy. As his stand-in, Alastair Cook is the main player in the touring squad. It is not just the less experienced players who are going to be looking to him for guidance; he also has a big role to play in motivating his senior team-mates.Even a player of Pietersen's stature looks to the captain for a little motivation, help and direction. Does Cook have enough of Pietersen's respect? Is there much communication between the two?As a novice, Cook will need Pietersen's support in steering the team, and as a player struggling for form, Pietersen may need a little guidance in return. The next two weeks in Bangladesh is going to be a tough test for both men.Kevin PietersenEngland in Bangladesh 2010England Cricket TeamCricketDuncan Fletcherguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)