Pain from an unusual side and rib injury that has ruled James Pattinson out for the rest of the Test summer was so acute that Ricky Ponting revealed the 22-year-old fast bowler “could hardly breathe” after bowling on the third day in Adelaide

Daniel Brettig at Adelaide Oval25-Nov-2012Pain from an unusual side and rib injury that has ruled James Pattinson out for the rest of the Test summer was so acute that Ricky Ponting revealed the 22-year-old fast bowler “could hardly breathe” after bowling on the third day in Adelaide.As had been widely feared on Saturday, the results of scans have confirmed that Pattinson will miss a large chunk of the home Tests for the second consecutive summer, having suffered a serious foot injury in January during the series against India. Australia’s players worried for Pattinson’s welfare when he left the field after bowling seven deliveries with the second new ball.In customary manner for a fast bowler, Pattinson felt the severe pain during his first over with the new ball but ignored it in the hope that he would be able to keep going, but the first ball of his second over will be the final one he delivers in Tests this summer, meaning he will miss the series decider against South Africa in Perth and the series against Sri Lanka, starting in Hobart on December 14.”He was in a fair bit of pain,” Ponting told Channel Nine. “I spoke to him after the first over he bowled and he could hardly breathe, so he is in a fair bit of trouble.”Precisely how much trouble was quantified by the team physio Alex Kountouris, who noted that the injury extended beyond the common side strain or tear to include rib damage. This may well extend Pattinson’s recovery period, leaving the selectors to ponder how to get him fit in time for Australia’s major Test match assignments of 2013 in India and England.”James Pattinson sustained a left lower rib injury, similar to a ‘side strain’ on day three of the Test which will effectively rule him out of contention for the remaining Tests this summer,” Kountouris said. “Whilst side strains are not uncommon in bowlers, James’ injury involves some damage to the end of the rib and will need further investigation at the completion of this Test to determine the best course of management and the time frame to return to bowling.”Peter Siddle, who enjoyed an uncannily similar lead-in to the Tests that featured four Sheffield Shield appearances for Victoria and no Twenty20 matches, said he was unsure what else could have been done for Pattinson to avoid breaking down with major injury for the third time this year.”All the plan was for red ball cricket and get ready for the Tests,” Siddle said. “I think it’s just part of cricket, there’s a lot of talk about too much work or not enough work but I think his plan was perfect. It was no different to mine, he bowled a few more overs than me in the Shield games, but he was all primed.’He was bowling well, his figures showed that in the Shield games, he was in exceptional forms. It’s just one of those things, Test cricket, he bowled a lot of overs up in Brisbane and he’s worked hard, and it’s just hard work, it is tough to get through and get the body right and challenge yourself to push through. He’s broken down but we all know he’s a strong character and a tough competitor.”There’s been a lot of injuries around but he pushes through and get through. He’s just disappointed he can’t get out there now and help back us up and have a crack. It is a disappointing time for him, but he’s upbeat, he just knows he’s got to keep working towards getting that body right, getting back in the team and performing well. He’ll come back strong.”Siddle himself admitted that he was feeling the effects of numerous long spells in Brisbane and Adelaide, with much still to be done by both he and Hilfenhaus on the final day. “My body’s been better, a big first Test and a short turnaround between innings here,” he said. “It’s hard work, but there’s always that carrot at the end of tomorrow afternoon.”It’s a part of Test cricket, that’s the reason we play it, and we like that challenge. If we didn’t like that challenge we wouldn’t be playing, so that’s the start of it, you just pick the ball and charge in and do what we do best – bowling overs. We’ll keep doing that for the captain and the rest of the boys.”Pattinson was able to bat on day four, making a brave unbeaten 29, but his exit from the series means Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood are likely to come into contention for a bowling berth in the third Test at the WACA ground. The South Australia left-armer Gary Putland has also caught the eye with a 10-wicket haul for the Redbacks against Victoria at the MCG.

Former USA batsman Errol Peart was killed on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida

Peter Della Penna03-Dec-2012Former USA batsman Errol Peart was killed on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida. He was 59. According to police statements on local television news reports, Peart was shot sometime after 1pm when he tried to come to the aid of a customer during an attempted robbery at the car wash business he owned on the corner of Northwest 191st Street and Florida Route 7/441. “The victim tried to interfere to stop the robbery,” said Miami Gardens police captain Ralph Suarez.Originally from Jamaica, Peart represented the USA in five matches at the 1990 ICC Trophy in the Netherlands and was USA’s leading scorer at the event with 209 runs at an average of 41.80. He scored a century on debut opening the batting against East & Central Africa and followed it up with a half-century in a win over Denmark. USA went undefeated in the first round of the tournament before losing to Kenya and Zimbabwe in the second round of the event.Peart is the second Jamaica-born cricketer killed in the Miami area in three years. Shawn Riley, 25, was gunned down in Miami on March 7, 2010. Riley had represented the Southeast Region at USACA national tournaments and played in the South Florida Cricket Alliance for West Indies Alliance CC. Peart remained an active player in the SFCA competition from the 1980s through the early 2000s, playing most recently for Silver Whip CC.

A preview of the third South Africa-New Zealand T20 in Port Elizabeth

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria25-Dec-2012

Match facts

December 26, 2012
Start time 1430 (1230 GMT)Boxing Day scrap: Martin Guptill will be key with his gloves on•Gallo Images

Big Picture

The traditional Boxing Day Test has been replaced by a Twenty20 and although it may not match up to the drama or the prestige of a serious contest in whites, it is a decider. For the young South African side being led by Faf du Plessis, a win would reiterate the quality of the No. 1 Test side’s bench strength. But New Zealand need this one more after all the pre-series controversy regarding the captaincy and the main course of the tour – the two Tests – just a week away.The importance of the coming challenges was not lost on Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, who said after the win in East London that the game was not a “one-off” and that the team needed to keep similar tempo through the tour. There were other bright signs apart from Martin Guptill’s match-winning hundred. Rob Nicol and McCullum played responsible supporting roles to Guptill, Nathan McCullum was economical, and Doug Bracewell picked up wickets despite being expensive. These are the players the team will rely on through much of the tour and from New Zealand’s perspective, it is critical they take the confidence of a win in the T20 series forward.With no Boxing Day Test, the South African fans would have to contend with a four-day void after the match and would hope for a small Christmas present from their team. South Africa have had more balanced performances in the two matches so far, with du Plessis leading from the front, and still are favourites to wrap up the series.

Form guide (Completed games, most recent first)

South Africa LWLLL

New Zealand WLTLT

In the spotlight

Coming back from sickness, Martin Guptill produced an innings of such significance in the previous match that it lifted spirits like only a last-ball win can. He took his time to get settled and then selectively took the bowlers apart, being especially severe on Aaron Phangiso, the debutant spinner, whom he countered with his brutal sweeps. Can he jingle all the way?David Miller has played 10 T20s for South Africa in the last two years and has largely been kept out by a settled batting line-up. But South Africa have one eye on the future and T20s are a chance for him to impress. He certainly did in the 18 balls that he played in the last match as he effortlessly cleared the infield a few times with his timing.

Team news

South Africa have only 12 players at their disposal and with Richard Levi struggling for form, it could be a toss up between him and Justin Ontong.South Africa: (likely) 1 Richard Levi/ Justin Ontong, 2 Henry Davids, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Quinton de Kock (wk), 5 Farhaan Behardien, 6 David Miller, 7 Robin Peterson, 8 Ryan McLaren, 9 Aaron Phangiso, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Rory KleinveldtNew Zealand reaped the benefit of experience with the addition of Guptill in the last match. Trent Boult, the left-arm seamer, who sat out the first two matches due to sickness could make a return.New Zealand: (likely) 1 Rob Nicol, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 4 James Franklin, 5 Colin Munro, 6 Corey Anderson, 7 Nathan McCullum, 8 Jimmy Neesham, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Ronnie Hira, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan/Trent Boult

Stats and Trivia

• Martin Guptill’s hundred in the last match was only the second in the second innings of a T20 international. The first one was scored by Richard Levi earlier this year.
• Levi scored a sensational 117 in only his second T20 international innings. Since then, he has scored 106 runs in 11 innings with eight single-digit scores.
• The head-to-head record between the teams is 7-3 in favour of South Africa

Quotes

“It’s going to take one person or a couple of people to take the game away from the other team and hopefully that’s going to be us again. It was the same situation last summer back home. It was one-all leading into the third match, so it will make for a great finale.”
“David [Miller] came in and hit the ball sweetly to all parts of the field. It’s great to have him back, he is a young talent and he brings a lot to the team. It was a fantastic innings, to come in at that stage when conditions made it difficult to come in and start scoring was great, I certainly struggled when I came in.”

A preview of the playoff between Jamaica and Guyana of the Caribbean T20 in St Lucia

The Preview by Nagraj Gollapudi19-Jan-2013

Match facts

January 19, 2013
Start time 2000 (0000GMT)Chris Gayle has understood his responsibility is not just to be explosive, but also play the anchor•WICB Media

Big Picture

On paper, on form and based on the personnel Jamaica look favourites against Guyana, who had to scramble to a last-ball finish on Friday night against the Windward Islands. Incidentally, Guyana, who won the tournament in 2010, showed the same desperation in their first match, when they skipped past Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) by two wickets, scoring the winning run off the final delivery.In contrast Jamaica, apart from just one defeat in the beginning against Barbados, notched up three victories and a tie, finishing the preliminary rounds on a dominant note with a resounding victory against CCC. Chris Gayle, playing his first match of the tournament, ruthlessly exploited the inexperienced bowling, while racing to the tournament’s fastest fifty in 26 balls, in addition to hitting a record nine sixes. Gayle thus filled the void in the batting as no batsman had scored a fifty yet for Jamaica.Importantly, Gayle carries that aura of a match-winner regardless of his form and Guyana, in their current state, would obviously would be wary. It is not just Gayle, who is bound to occupy Guyana’s minds tomorrow. The Jamaican left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie has been aggressive with the new ball while simultaneously playing on the batsman’s mind with his clever change of pace. Though he has just eight wickets, the numbers only betray his dominance over the batsmen.Unfortunately for Guyana, not one player has shown consistent form. Chanderpaul scored a half-century, but he picked an injury on Friday. Ramnaresh Sarwan has been disappointing, scoring just 37 runs in six matches. The allrounder Christopher Barnwell has been the most consistent, whose spirited performances with both bat and ball have played a big hand in pushing Guyana into the playoffs.

Form guide

(most recent first, completed matches only)Jamaica: WWTWL
Guyana WWLLW

In the spotlight

Chris Gayle will walk into the beautiful Beausejour Stadium for the second successive evening, knowing he will have to once again provide the momentum to the Jamaican batting and remain its mainstay. Recent dip in form aside, one big facet of Gayle’s game that has changed in the last couple of years is that he wants to stay long at the crease. So often you will now see him hanging around tapping the ball early on harmlessly before unraveling those massive arms and the sending the ball deep into the stands. Gayle has understood his responsibility is not just to be explosive, but also play the anchor. With the Australia tour round the corner, Gayle will be hungry for runs and dominance.Devendra Bishoo was not so long ago the ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year (2011). He was even the Man-of-the-Series in the 2010 edition of the Caribbean T20 when Guyana won. But last year, he lost his spot in the West Indies team and is now on the fringes. On Saturday he could be in a face-off with Gayle and will need to stand up to the task.

Team news

With a final berth at stake Jamaica might be keen to get back their most economical bowler, the legspinner Odean Brown ahead of the offspinner Yannick Elliott.Jamaica (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 David Bernard, 3 Tamar Lambert (capt), 4 Nkrumah Bonner, 5 Danza Hyatt, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Aldane Thomas (wk), 8 Nikita Miller, 9 Krishmar Santokie, 10 Sheldon Cotterrell, 11 Odean Brown/Yannick ElliottChanderpaul pulled a leg muscle while batting against Windward Islands and doubts will persist about his selection till the toss.Guyana (probable): 1 Derwin Christian (wk), 2 Shivnarine Chanderpaul/Trevon Griffith, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Narsingh Deonarine, 5 Leon Johnson, 6 Christopher Barnwell, 7 Royston Crandon, 8 Steven Jacobs, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Veerasammy Permaul (capt), 11 Ronsford Beaton

Stats and trivia

Cricket Australia is to review the process for reporting suspect bowling actions in domestic cricket, to better enable cases to be resolved during the short time span of competitions such as the Big Bash League

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2013Cricket Australia is to review the process for reporting suspect bowling actions in domestic cricket, to better enable cases to be resolved during the short time span of competitions such as the Big Bash League.The current system requires a player to be “mentioned” on three separate occasions by three different umpires in a single season before an analysis of their action is undertaken. Although there is understood to have been only one case of a bowler’s action being mentioned in the 2012-13 season so far, CA operations manager, Sean Cary, said that the reporting system would be looked at.”It’s to tighten the process up so that it can be effective in competitions that run over short periods of time,” Cary told . “It’s not a crackdown because I don’t perceive we have a major problem.”We have to look at the current procedure because it doesn’t allow for the full process to be completed within the period of time that the BBL is actually played … If there is a doubtful action report or mention, then we need a procedure that deals with it there and then, so if there is an effect as a result of that, it doesn’t impact the competition.”According to CA policy, umpires in Australia can “bypass the mentions process” and report a player’s action directly for review but they are often reluctant to do so because of the controversy attached to accusations of “chucking”. During this year’s BBL, Darren Lehmann publically questioned the action of Marlon Samuels. Lehmann was subsequently reprimanded for doing so.The issue of legitimate bowling actions has provoked recent discussion in Australia. With specific reference to teaching offspinners to bowl the doosra, the national selector, John Inverarity, called it “a question of integrity”. The CA review comes in response to reported disquiet among state coaches about actions which exceed the 15-degree limit on elbow extension allowed by the ICC.

The backdrop to the Basin Reserve, one of the most picturesque cricket venues in the world, will change significantly if the go-ahead is given to build a flyover close to one corner of the ground

Andrew McGlashan in Wellington16-Mar-2013The backdrop to the Basin Reserve, one of the most picturesque cricket venues in the world, will change significantly if the go-ahead is given to build a flyover close to one corner of the ground.The project, part of a nation-wide road-improvement scheme, will see an elevated section of road about nine meters high skirt the north of the ground in order to alleviate traffic congestion around the Basin. It is expected to be rubber-stamped later this year although there is strong opposition from those who feel it will ruin the viewing experience while there are also worries over noise and pollution.Most vocal among these is Save the Basin who are lobbying to have the plan shelved. They argue that a tunnel would be a better option or a modification to the current roundabout network around the Basin while they are also worried about the impact on the heritage listed buildings in the area, not just at the cricket ground.”The Transport Agencies own ratings found the development would have negative impacts in seven of the nine categories, particularly the heritage of the area,” Tim Jones, from the Save the Basin campaign, said. “Cities around the world are deciding against flyovers for a host of reasons. We feel there are viable alternatives.”However, if the roadway is constructed it will not impact the ground itself. Cricket Wellington, who have been in long talks about the proposal with the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA), have given their support on the basis that suitable shielding be provided to hide the flyover.To that end, the ground is negotiating for a new stand to the left of the current pavilion. It will not be used for spectators – Cricket Wellington say they do not want extra capacity – instead it will provided enhanced player facilities to replace the current dressing rooms that have become outdated.Peter Clinton, the chief executive of Cricket Wellington, said: “The proposed plans for the flyover have always been that any structure would not impact the actual physical boundaries of the Basin. The plans are that it would skirt 20 metres north of the boundary of the ground.”Obviously there are some concerns around the visual impact and noise impact on any sport going on in the ground. The Trust has been very robust in its view on this, and has been from the start, that it won’t necessarily object to the building of the bridge – as it is known – as long as the environment inside the Basin isn’t compromised.”The other current key issue for cricket in Wellington is the allocation of World Cup matches for 2015 event that will be jointly held between New Zealand and Australia. The city have put in a joint bid between the Westpac Stadium, where one-day internationals and Twenty20s are held, and the Basin Reserve who hope to be chosen as a warm-up venue.Although, aesthetically, it would be ideal to have tournament matches at the Basin there is an acceptance that the Westpac is the more suitable location for limited-overs cricket with a larger capacity and floodlights. The construction schedule for the flyover would also have it being built during the World Cup.However, there are some scheduling issues to overcome before the Westpac is guaranteed matches as they are due to host the Rugby 7s during what would be the ICC blackout period around the World Cup and the venue is also used for the Wellington Phoenix football team.

Tim Bresnan will play his first match for nearly three months when he makes his comeback for Yorkshire in a three-day friendly against Lancashire at Headingley on Tuesday.

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-2013Tim Bresnan will play his first match for nearly three months when he makes his comeback for Yorkshire in a three-day friendly against Lancashire at Headingley on Tuesday.Bresnan underwent elbow surgery after England’s one-day series in India to try and overcome a problem that plagued him over the previous 12 months following a first operation on the joint in late 2011.Since that initial operation Bresnan had struggled to recapture the form that made him a key part of England’s rise to the No. 1 Test spot in 2010 where he impressed against India and Australia. During the Test series in India late last year, he did not take a wicket in his two appearances in Ahmedabad and Nagpur.He could yet come into contention for the Test series against New Zealand next month, although he is more important to England’s Champions Trophy planning where he can add balance to the side at No. 7.”It has been a while since I played,” he said. “I’m feeling good and looking forward to playing against Lancashire. I have been bowling in the nets and the elbow has responded well. I feel I’m getting back to my best. For me it is now playing as much cricket as possible with a view to playing well for Yorkshire and ultimately breaking back into the England team.”Bresnan is one of a trio of England bowlers at various stages of returning from injury lay-offs. Graeme Swann, who underwent a similar elbow procedure to Bresnan after being ruled out of the Test series in New Zealand, is hopeful of resuming bowling in the next few weeks while Chris Tremlett has recovered from an injury-hit 2012 that restricted him to one Championship match.

James Middlebrook struck 70 as Northamptonshire moved themselves into a winning position on the third day of their Division Two match against Glamorgan

12-Apr-2013
ScorecardJames Middlebrook struck 70 as Northamptonshire moved themselves into a winning position on the third day of their Division Two match against Glamorgan. Middlebrook top-scored with Northamptonshire making 292 all out in their first innings – opening up an overall lead of 158.In their second innings, Glamorgan were reduced to 71 for 4 before finally ending the day still 62 behind.Northamptonshire had resumed their first innings on 145 for 5, a lead of 11 after only 17.1 overs were possible on the second day. Andrew Hall and Middlebrook batted for the first 90 minutes of the third morning taking the visitors past 200 to register a batting point. But the sixth-wicket pair, who added 60, were separated when Hall drove Mike Reed straight to Ben Wright at point.Northamptonshire had reached 218 for 6 by lunch – a lead of 84 – boosted by a pull for six over backward square by Middlebrook off Graham Wagg. Middlebrook cleared the rope again after lunch striking slow left armer Dean Cosker for his second six as he moved into the 40s.Glamorgan took the second new ball and Michael Hogan broke through almost immediately to have David Murphy caught at slip. After a rain break Wagg claimed the last three wickets in the space of 13 balls as Northamptonshire were dismissed for 292. First he bowled David Willey before trapping Stephen Crook lbw for eight and then having Middlebrook at slip by Allenby.Glamorgan openers Ben Wright and Will Bragg survived until tea. Bragg batted with Cosker as a runner after not fielding for most of the day. The openers batted well until both perished in the space of only five balls.Bragg was trapped leg-before to Willey before Wright edged a rising Hall delivery to Trent Copeland at first slip. And former Australian international Marcus North failed for a second time, edging a good Crook delivery behind as Glamorgan slumped to 69 for 3.Stewart Walters then fell to a sharp catch by wicket-keeper Murphy standing up to Hall, meaning four wickets had fallen for the addition of only nine runs. Jim Allenby and Murray Goodwin, who scored 3 from 41 balls, took Glamorgan to the close without any further scares.

Yorkshire followers have been spoilt of late. Not only have they been winning matches, but they’ve been winning them in style, with both bat and ball

Les Smith at Headlingley08-May-2013Somerset 92 for 1 (Trescothick 53) trail Yorkshire 505 for 9 dec (Rashid 180, Ballance 107, Trego 4-107) by 413 runs
ScorecardAdil Rashid lifted Yorkshire over 500 for consecutive innings•Getty Images

Yorkshire followers have been spoilt of late. Not only have they been winning matches, but they’ve been winning them in style, with both bat and ball. On this occasion they were given more typical Yorkshire virtues: grit and pragmatism. They still saw another total of over 500, but there was less flair about its accumulation than in the victories against Durham and Derbyshire.The start of play was delayed for an hour by bad light and a little rain. Adil Rashid was 120 not out overnight, and he was to stay at the wicket until Andrew Gale declared at the fall of the ninth wicket. He was patient – he batted for exactly seven hours – but when the opportunity arose he was ruthless through the off side, and his wristy flicks off his pads were easy on the eye.He went past his previous highest score of 157 without any alarms, and when he was finally out for 180 he had reached exactly 4000 first-class runs. Rashid has reportedly settled his grievances with Yorkshire having gone public with a view that he has lacked support from the club, and this innings might launch his season.Rashid’s principal allies were Nos. 9 and 10, Rich Pyrah and Jack Brooks. Pyrah took guard shortly before lunch, and announced his intentions immediately after by taking four boundaries off a Peter Trego over: a leg glance, two sumptuous extra cover drives, and a streaky one through the slips. When he stepped away to leg and tried to chop behind square, losing his off stump, he had 55 of a stand of 79.Brooks has one first-class 50 and this innings suggested that it might not be his last. Two leg side sixes off successive balls by left-arm spinner Jack Leach took Yorkshire past 500 in successive innings.The main burden of the Somerset bowling was shouldered by Trego and Steve Kirby. Both conceded over a hundred runs, but at reasonable economy rates and they shared seven of the nine wickets to fall.At the start of the Somerset innings Tim Bresnan, who was being given the once over by Test selector James Whitaker, bowled with real menace, especially to Marcus Trescothick whose bottom hand he hit hard with a ball that rose sharply from a length. Both openers survived confident appeals for caught behind; Nick Compton off Brooks and Trescothick off Pyrah. Brooks in particular was, to put it mildly, very disappointed, and umpire George Sharp wisely had a quiet word with him at the end of the over.There was a lot of playing and missing as the ball moved in the air and occasionally off the pitch, but Compton and Trescothick played with the composure you would expect of Test opening batsmen. Trescothick reached his fifty off 114 balls with 10 boundaries, but was trapped next ball by Brooks, bowling from what is clearly his favoured Kirkstall Lane End.The rain promised never materialised, but the forecast for the third day is worse and if time is lost a positive result might be difficult to achieve although the way Yorkshire have played in recent weeks you can never tell.

The legspinner Fawad Ahmed appears likely to join Australia’s Ashes campaign after being rushed into the Australia A squad for the remainder of its tour of England and Ireland

Brydon Coverdale06-Jun-2013The legspinner Fawad Ahmed appears likely to join Australia’s Ashes campaign after being rushed into the Australia A squad for the remainder of its tour of England and Ireland. On Wednesday night, legislation was passed by the parliament’s House of Representatives which cleared the way for Ahmed’s Australian citizenship to be fast-tracked and although the bill must still be approved by the Senate, that appears to be a formality.That should mean Ahmed can obtain an Australian passport well in advance of the first Ashes Test, which starts at Trent Bridge on July 10. The Australia A matches against Ireland from June 14 to 17 and Gloucestershire from June 21 to 23 now loom as a genuine Ashes audition for Ahmed, who will join the incumbent Test spinner Nathan Lyon and the promising young left-armer Ashton Agar as the slow bowlers in the Australia A outfit.”It is a dream come true, after a long struggle and being through a really tough time,” Ahmed said in Melbourne on Thursday. “I am very happy now and it is a great opportunity for me to prove myself at that level … It’s an opportunity for me to give something to this country because this nation has given me a lot. They loved me, give me an honour and give me respect. This is now the time that I can give back to them and serve my nation.”The selectors had originally planned to send Ahmed on the Australia A tour of South Africa in July but that was when they thought he would be ineligible for a national call-up until the final Ashes Test. The expected passing of the parliamentary bill, which eases the residency requirements for certain individuals in exceptional circumstances where their becoming a citizen could benefit Australia, has encouraged the selectors to give Ahmed some time in England ahead of the Ashes.Under the ICC’s player eligibility criteria, Ahmed would be unavailable for Australian selection until August 18 unless granted a passport before then. The criteria do not apply to A-teams. When Australia’s selectors named their Ashes squad in April they chose 16 players and left one further space unfilled, which at the time was seen as an indication that Ahmed would come under consideration if he became eligible.”We are pleased to be able to provide emerging cricketers with an opportunity to show their abilities,” John Inverarity, the national selector, said. “Fawad is a spin bowler of interest and we look forward to seeing how he performs for Australia A.”Ahmed, 31, played ten first-class matches in Pakistan before fleeing to Australia in 2010 as an asylum seeker, saying his life had been threatened in Pakistan. Initially his claim was rejected but after Cricket Australia weighed in to support him, Ahmed was granted permanent residency last year and subsequently made his Melbourne Renegades debut in the Big Bash League and earned a call-up to the Victoria state side in February.”It’s just like a dream with open eyes, because I never expected something like this to happen after three and a half years,” Ahmed said of progressing to Australia A selection. “There was a question on my life [in Pakistan], there were people raising their fingers on my life, so I was just surviving. I just came here for a better life, and I was just thinking to survive here and be like other people who came here as immigrants. This is something amazing, it is like a dream. Even I couldn’t imagine this. This is something unbelievable for me.”In three Sheffield Shield matches towards the end of the summer, Ahmed collected 16 wickets at 28.37 and impressed his state captain Cameron White so much that White declared Ahmed “one of the better legspinners – if not the best – I’ve seen in first-class cricket outside [Stuart] MacGill and [Shane] Warne.”