Simon Katich says the prospect of regaining his place in the Test side in Michael Clarke’s absence is an “awkward situation”. Clarke appears to be out of contention for the first game, which starts in Jamaica on May 22, and Katich is the likely beneficiary of the batsman’s decision to stay home to help his fiancée Lara Bingle through the death of her father.Katich has come back into the Test squad for the first time since West Indies visited in 2005, having completed a record-breaking season of 1506 Pura Cup runs for New South Wales. He said a recall would be a reward for his work over the past three seasons, “but it is something of an awkward situation”.”It is very delicate,” he told AAP. “Obviously we don’t know when Pup is going to arrive, so it is a bit of an unfortunate situation.”The second Test in Antigua from May 30 appears to be the best option for Clarke, who was due to start his first Test tour as vice-captain until withdrawing last week. Brad Hodge, who was taking part in the Indian Premier League, has joined the party as a shadow player until Clarke arrives, but is only an outside chance of entering the first-team calculations.Australia’s only warm-up before the opening Test is the three-day affair against a Jamaica XI from Friday and Katich is likely to win a chance to impress. “It’s just a matter of hopefully playing the tour match and then hopefully getting some runs in that and putting my name up there for selectors to hopefully pick me,” Katich said. “I’ve been picked as the extra batsman and my role is to just make sure I’m ready to go if something happens, and that hasn’t changed.”Katich is determined to “grab the opportunity” and hopes to add to his 23 Tests. “I didn’t make the most of it the last time around,” Katich said. “I had plenty of opportunities to try and nail down a spot and I didn’t. If you don’t grab the opportunities when they’re there, you just don’t know when they will come back around.”
The organisers of the Stanford 20/20 have announced the creation of a Stanford 20/20 Professional Team in Antigua as part of their ultimate goal of establishing a professional 20/20 cricket league in the West Indies.Made up of Antiguan nationals, the team in Antigua is being described as a test case to establish the format for setting up other such professional teams throughout the region. Players on the team will be paid to play cricket full-time. They will also be able to carry out West Indies, Leeward Island Cricket Association and Antigua national team duties as part of the programme.”In addition to creating more competitive play in the Stanford 20/20 tournament, the purpose for the Stanford 20/20 Professional Team in Antigua and the league overall is to provide the West Indies with a pool of players that they can tap into when making selections for their National and West Indies Cricket Teams,” explained Sir Allen Stanford. “These players are going to live, eat and breathe cricket.”They are going to be paid for it. Their job will be to play cricket and they will make a living doing so. The West Indies cannot help but benefit from the caliber of cricket that we are going to see come out of this team and the league when it all comes together. We are very excited about what this means for West Indies cricket.”Along with training and playing cricket, the Stanford 20/20 Professional Team members will also participate in educational classroom activities focusing on such topics as motivation, financial planning and advanced technical cricket and work with the youth programme and in the schools with up and coming youth cricketers. The players will also travel extensively in order to gain valuable competitive experience.Seventeen players have been selected for the team following a camp in May. Another 13 will train with the team on a regular basis.The selection panel comprised the local selectors from the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association along with the coach for the team, Eldine Baptiste and the Stanford 20/20 legends from Antigua – Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose.The team will have a full time coach and personal trainer in Antiguans Eldine Baptiste and Evans ‘Jawakie’ Jones, as well as a full-time manager. Other specialists will be brought in when necessary to assist in the physical and mental development of the players.Stanford 20/20 Professional Team Sylvester Joseph (capt), Justin Athanaze, Michael Challenger, Wilden Cornwall, Juari Edwards, Chad Hampson, Larry Joseph, Anthony Martin, Stephen Matthew, Branco Payne, Austin Richards, Mali Richards, Curtis Roberts, Carl Simon, Devon Thomas, Gavin Tonge, Gavin Williams. Coach – Eldine Baptiste. Trainer – Evans ‘Jawakie’ Jones.
Graham Thorpe, the former England batsman, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours.Just over 12 months ago, Thorpe made an unbeaten 66 for England against Bangladesh; his 100th Test, It was to be his last as England opted to introduce Kevin Pietersen to the Australians the following month.His 100 Tests earned him 6,774 runs at the healthy average of 44.66; in a 13-year career, dogged by back injuries, marital problems, and a period out of the game, he was one of England’s finest middle-order batsmen.”I was really taken aback by it,” Thorpe told BBC Sport. “But I am extremely proud I have been recognised in this way. This is not the reason you play cricket – but getting this sort of recognition is something I am very proud of.”Thorpe, England’s 10th highest run-scorer in Tests, joined a select band of players to make a hundred on debut (114 not out against Australia, at Trent Bridge, in 1993), and later shone against Sri Lanka and Pakistan on England’s successful subcontinent tour in 2000-01.
Left-arm spinner Raymond Price bagged six wickets for Midlands as Matabeleland took a commendable lead on the third day of the Logan Cup match between the two provinces at Queens Sports Club on Sunday.Matabeleland took a lead of 390 runs after closing at 276-8 off 72 overs in their second innings. This was after they had bundled Midlands out for 348 in 93.2 overs in reply to their first innings of 462.The Matabeleland pace bowlers, Pommie Mbangwa and Mluleki Nkala, utilized the second new ball well and put the pressure on Midlands. The visitors lost their first wicket of the day when Travis Friend departed for 25, Charles Coventry catching his powerful drive off Jordane Nicolle at mid-off. Midlands lost another wicket when Alester Maregwede was dismissed by Mpumelelo Mbangwa, caught behind by wicketkeeper Wisdom Siziba for 23 runs.Left-hander Donald Campbell failed to find his best form with the bat and departed for 14 runs after he was caught in the slips by Mark Vermeulen off the bowling of Mluleki Nkala. Mbangwa claimed his third wicket when he trapped Innocent Chinyoka leg-before wicket for eight runs. Nkala claimed the last Midlands wicket when he removed last man Campbell McMillan for two runs.Nkala and Mbangwa claimed seven wickets between them, with Nkala the more successful with four wickets for 83 from 19.2 overs while Mbangwa took three and gave away 74 runs from 25 overs. Nicolle was close behind with two wickets, while spinner Gavin Ewing claimed one victim. Midlands fell 114 runs short of the Matabeleland total in their chase.In their second innings Matabeleland got off to an excellent start with their opening pair of Gavin Rennie and Mark Vermeulen producing 131 in the face of loose bowling from the Midlands pacemen. The two proceeded steadily before Vermeulen, soon after reaching his half-century, fell to left-arm spinner Price when he was successfully caught at long-on by Vusumuzi Sibanda after a remarkable juggling act. He departed for 55, which came off 124 deliveries.The left-handed Rennie appeared on course for another century and together with Charles Coventry put on 36 for the second wicket. But Rennie was run out after Coventry called for a quick single before changing his mind and stayed at his crease with Rennie caught out of his ground. This brought an end to another brilliant innings by the Zimbabwe Test player which saw him score 79 runs, facing 135 deliveries and smashing 12 fours.The young Coventry continued his heroics and went on to get his half-century from 51 deliveries. Matabeleland lost their third wicket when another error of judgement by Coventry saw Barney Rogers run out for 30.The fourth wicket failed to add any runs when Andre Hoffman went out for a duck, nicking a Price delivery to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Maregwede.Coventry had his moment of reckoning when he smashed two sixes and a four off Price before falling to the same bowler, running out of luck when his powerful drive was caught by Friend at extra cover. This brought an end to the 19-year-old’s innings in which he smashed 81, facing 78 deliveries.Price took his fourth wicket when he had Mluleki Nkala caught at silly mid-on by Terrence Duffin before he opened his account. Gavin Ewing followed, caught in the slips by Sean Ervine for four runs. Mbangwa became the last Matabeleland wicket of the day to fall when he was given out leg before wicket to Price with the last ball of day, without offering a shot.Wisdom Siziba was unbeaten with five runs to his name, with Keith Dabengwa and Jordane Nicolle still to bat. Price finished with the best figures of six for 75 in 31 overs and bowled 11 maidens, using the wearing pitch well. The other bowlers did not take any wickets as the other two wickets fell to run-outs. Ervine proved expensive, conceding 45 runs from seven overs.
Sudden collapses have been a feature of England tours of the West Indies in recent times. For once, though, on this trip the dramatic demolitions have been happening to the opposition. And true to form, today the Carib Beer XI – effectively a West Indies 2nd XI – did a passable impersonation of the senior side and subsided from 163 for 3 to 195 for 9, and only some last-wicket resistance prevented an innings defeat. England still wrapped up another satisfying victory shortly after tea.The unlikely destroyer was Gareth Batty, the Worcestershire offspinner, who was playing his first match of the tour. Enjoying the chance to get into the selectors’ ribs ahead of the third Test, with Ashley Giles having failed to set the world alight in the first two, Batty inspired the collapse with four quick wickets, and finished with 5 for 53.After Tonito Willett fell to Giles shortly before lunch, top-edging a sweep to the substitute Steve Harmison at short fine leg for 21 (165 for 4), Batty stole the limelight. After the interval Dwayne Bravo was trapped in front for a handy 35 (175 for 5), Denesh Ramdin drove a catch to Paul Collingwood (179 for 6), Omari Banks was caught by Rikki Clarke (182 for 7), and Dave Mohammed was caught behind by Geraint Jones (193 for 8). Earlier Batty had ended Daren Ganga’s long vigil, persuading him to chip a return catch after he’d made 39 (116 for 3).James Anderson returned to remove Ravi Rampaul (195 for 9), and although Jermaine Lawson had a bit of a slog, it didn’t delay the end for long. Anderson ended the fun – and a last-wicket stand of 34 – by bowling Dwight Washington for 8.England needed only 12 to win, and knocked them off in 2.4 overs, although they did lose two wickets. Collingwood was caught behind off Lawson for a duck, and Batty, promoted to No. 3 after his bowling exploits, was leg-before to Lawson for 5. But Clarke ended the wobble with a couple of meaty blows.The main resistance had come earlier in the day, when Ganga and Sylvester Joseph took their second-wicket stand to 82. Clarke thought he’d made an early breakthrough when he bowled Joseph, but it was a no-ball. England had to wait till Joseph reached 50 before they finally broke through, when Joseph – who clouted ten fours in his 60-ball knock – holed out to Matthew Hoggard in the deep off Giles (91 for 2).Ganga – restored to the Test squad yesterday as cover for the injured Devon Smith – took the opportunity to have a look at the England attack very seriously, adding only ten runs to his overnight score in the first hour. But after their captain became the first of Batty’s five victims, the wheels of the Carib Beer XI’s delivery lorry fell off.
The Australian Cricket Board is wary about the potentially thorny issueof what Shane Warne can do during his 12-month suspension.The ACB will carefully consider any bid from Warne to train with theVictorian state team until February 10 next year, when his ban ends.Warne announced on Wednesday he would not appeal the suspension fortesting positive to banned diuretics.He added he intended to give it his “best shot” to return to the Testside.The question now is whether Warne can put this disaster behind him,maintain his motivation and be ready for first-class cricket early nextyear.It also remains to be seen exactly what cricket resources he will beallowed to use.”His suspension means he can’t play in any cricket, nor can he hold anyoffice in any cricket,” said ACB public affairs manager Peter Young.”Technically, he can do anything outside that suspension.”When asked if Warne could train with the Bushrangers during his ban,Young replied: “Technically, he’s free to do that.”We’d have to consider that for any policy issue.”For example, if he was to train with Victoria and got injured, whowould be liable?”During his suspension he’s not contracted, so he’s not covered byinsurance.”Young said it was up to Warne and Channel Nine, where he already holds acontract, whether he became a commentator for the cricket broadcaster inthe next year.Young added Warne would still be subject to random drug tests during hisban.AFL club St Kilda, where Warne once played in the lower grades,indicated last week it could be interested in giving the leg spinner aconsultancy role there.The league said it would look at the matter if it received a formalrequest from the club, while Young said: “Our view is it’s a matter forthem (the AFL).”Also, the ABC reported Warne’s wine venture could be in doubt because ofhis ban.Warne had some wines named after him late last year, but it isunderstood that deal is now under review.Earlier, World Anti-Doping Agency boss Dick Pound has again attackedAustralian cricketers, describing as ridiculous claims that druginformation sessions are too difficult to absorb.Pound said the drug education program for elite athletes does not needto be changed despite claims by Warne and Test captain Steve Waugh thatthe information was too complicated.”It’s not rocket science to be perfectly candid, you know if you’re anelite athlete you’ve got to be careful with what you take and you knowthat diuretics are one of the things about which you’ve got to becareful,” Pound told the ABC.Pound also said Warne’s decision not to appeal was the right one, addingthe Australian Cricket Board’s anti-doping committee would certainlyhave increased his suspension to two years if he had appealed.
Hatton National bank beat Seylan Bank convincingly by eight wickets, to win the Mercantile Cricket Association Challenge trophy, 2001, at NCC grounds today. The star studded HNB side, captained by Russell Arnold, completely outplayed their opponents; restricting them to 153 for nine and reaching the victory target with more than 20 overs to spare and with eight wickets in hand.Seylan came to the final full of confidence having been the only side to remain unbeaten throughout the competition and having defeated HNB in their league round encounter.In the final,however, nothing went Seylan’s way. They lost the wicket of Nuwan Shiroman in the very first over of the game, bowled by Dulip Liyanage, and from there onwards it was HNB’s day. They slumped further, by losing two more wickets, with the score on eight in the sixth over of the day.Seylan batsmen’s efforts to stage a come back were in vain and if Akalanka Ganegama had taken the return catch which Mahela Jayawardene offered him when he was on 29, Seylan wouldn’t have gone past the 150 mark. Jayawardene went onto make a half century with a solitary boundary and a six. He occupied the crease for 113 minutes and faced 91 balls. The only other noteworthy contribution came from the bat of Kaushalya Weerarathne, who made an unbeaten 20. In the bowling department, Akalanka Ganegama, Sajeeva Weerakoon and Kumar Dharmasena picked up two wickets apiece.Seylan could manage only 153 for nine in their allotted 50 overs and that’s not something Chaminda Vaas and co. could have defended against a strong HNB batting line up.When HNB replied, Avihka Gunawardene, who made a fine hundred in the four day unofficial test against Pakistan A, at the same venue, continued from where he left off, to lay the foundation for an easy HNB win. He made 82 off just 76 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries and one six, off Kaushalya Weerarathne over long off. On their way to victory HNB just lost the wickets of T.M Dilshan and Malintha Warnapura. Dilhara Fernando accounted for the wicket of Dilshan who was caught by Jayawardene while Tilan Samaraweera clean bowled Warnapura.HNB reached the target with just two wickets down in 28.2 overs with Gunawardene on 82 and Chamara Silva on 21. Gunawardene was declared man of the match.
Moeen Ali looks to have won the race to open alongside Alastair Cook in the first Test against Pakistan after England’s coach, Trevor Bayliss, admitted the allrounder had “his nose in front”. Amid several selection issues, Jos Buttler’s place as wicketkeeper could also be under threat and Bayliss said he hoped to be able to inform the players of the team over the weekend.Neither Moeen, who batted twice, nor Alex Hales made a significant score in England’s final warm-up match, a situation Bayliss described as “not ideal”. Moeen, England’s senior spinner, had been batting at No. 8 but is now set to become Cook’s seventh opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012.”I think at this stage Mo has probably got his nose in front,” Bayliss said. “Alastair and I will sit down over the next day or so to discuss it and come up with the eleven so everyone knows what it is probably by [Sunday’s] first practice session.”It’s probably not ideal. Obviously we’ve got Alex Hales here who we know can be an explosive batter. But I think Mo has shown that he’s a good player against spin and he can play the pace bowling and he’s handled the pressure during that Ashes series. If he is batting in the top six it does give us opportunities further down the line with the make-up of the team.”England dropped Adam Lyth after a disappointing Ashes and brought the uncapped Hales into the squad for the UAE. He has come to the fore in limited-overs cricket, and could yet get his Test opportunity against Pakistan or on the subsequent tour of South Africa, but England are set to go down the makeshift route despite the fact Moeen has never opened in first-class cricket.Nevertheless, Bayliss backed Moeen to provide the same sort of impetus with the bat as he did from lower down the order during the victory over Australia, when he was England’s third-highest scorer.”I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a problem position because Mo is a good enough player that he could actually be the answer,” Bayliss said. “He could turn himself into that opening batter.”My advice to him if he gets the nod is to go out and play his natural game. I think it will be very important to get decent starts over here against the new ball. The older the ball gets and the lower the wickets get, the harder it gets to score runs. We’ll be looking to get off to a good start and if Mo can play his natural game that gives us the ability to get off to those good starts.”England also have concerns over the form of Buttler, although he enjoyed a lengthier spell in the middle after batting for a second time in Sharjah on Friday, and Bayliss was not able to guarantee his place. James Taylor made a half-century in his first appearance on tour and could come into the side, allowing Jonny Bairstow to take the gloves.”His form has been a concern,” Bayliss said of Buttler. “But it was good to see him out there looking like he was getting his touch back this afternoon and scoring some runs. But we’ve got to make a decision.”The final selection call is likely to be a straight choice between Mark Wood and Steven Finn for the third seamer’s position, with Finn saying he would be “surprised” to play despite taking an impressive 4 for 16 on the first day against Pakistan A.
Wayne Rooney has admitted that he was devastated by the three match ban handed down by Uefa after his red card against Montenegro, and would understand if Fabio Capello left him out of England’s Euro 2012 squad.
The Manchester United striker kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic in The Three Lions final qualifying fixture in Podgorica, and the governing body punished the attacker with the maximum possible suspension.
With Rooney set to miss the entire group stage of the tournament in Ukraine and Poland next year, the FA has not yet decided whether to appeal Uefa’s decision, and Capello is tossing up whether to bring him to the competition.
“I am disappointed with it,” Rooney told The Guardian.
“I’ve got no excuse but I still feel the punishment is a bit harsh. All the details we have been waiting for came through so we will be making a decision as to whether we will be appealing.
“Obviously that is my own fault so I can’t really complain. It will be a bonus if it is cut by one game. And I thank the Montenegro player [Dzudovic] who has sent an email to Uefa saying that he felt the punishment was too harsh. He didn’t have to do that.
“It was stupid. I regretted it as soon as I did it. I honestly don’t know why I did it. It was one of those moments which I live to regret now. There was no tackle on me beforehand, so it wasn’t retaliation.
“I didn’t set out to ‘beat’ him; it just happened. I just can’t explain it but, obviously, it’s devastating for me,” he stated.
A national debate has ensued whether or not Rooney should be included in the European Championships squad, with opinion split down the middle. If he was omitted from the travelling party, Rooney would understand due to his three match ineligibility.
“I will understand if I am not in the squad because I’ll be missing out on those first three games at the minute and he has to look at other players – it is as simple as that. I want to play but I understand if I don’t,” he concluded.
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Fabio Capello is set to leave Rooney out of the international friendlies against Spain and Sweden, as the striker’s selection for Euro 2012 hangs in the balance.
No, this is not an anti-Arsenal blog or one jumping on the band wagon of another Arsenal disappointment, but rather a topic in football that every fan has an opinion on which differs from the Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger. The mix-up between goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny in the dying minutes of the Carling Cup final cost the Gunners their first piece of silverware for nearly six years. So is it time that Arsene Wenger focused on strengthening his back four instead of his attacking midfielders and strikers?
Firstly, the two players in question are not bad players – their performances against Barcelona at home in the Champions League were both impressive, for a young ‘keeper, Szczesny looks competent in goal for a 20 year old and his half season at Brentford last season looks to have paid off in terms of confidence in his own ability, a trait that the other two Arsenal ‘keepers have been lacking. Despite a slow start at the Emriates, Laurent Koscielny is looking like a competent centre-half, his interceptions during the Barcelona game were vital in keeping the former European Champions at bay whilst also making up for his defensive partner, Johan Djourou’s nervous display.
However, since the days of Jens Lehmann, Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell, who were all important for the Gunners’ unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04, there have been rumours and debates over Arsene Wenger signing established players to boost his defence, rather than relying on youngsters (like Szczesny and Fabianski) or lesser known players (like Squillaci and Koscielny). If you believe reports, Arsenal were very close to signing the Fulham goalie, Mark Schwarzer, at the start of this season and recently in January reports suggested an approach for West Ham United defender Matthew Upson was made.
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Whether it’s listening to debates on the radio, reading forums or speaking to mates down the pub, there is a general disbelief as to why Arsene Wenger does not seem to invest in his back five like he does with attacking players. Of course, Arsenal’s philosophy focuses on the attacking side of the game but a number of mistakes in defence have been one of the reasons why they have remained trophyless in recent years.
If Wenger signed the likes of Schwarzer and Upson (or in my opinion Shay Given and Gary Cahill) would the mistake like the one in the final have been made? Of course there is not a guarantee, some of the best players make mistakes but I do think that more established and experienced players would have dealt with that situation better.
However, it would be silly of me to not mention the likes of Thomas Vermaelen who cost £10 million in 2009, proof that Wenger does put emphasis in his defence and the Belgium player has been hugely impressive since his arrival in North London. Perhaps if he was fit for the final, he would’ve been able to deal with the threat of Nikola Zigic better than the likes of Djourou and Koscielny did?
The 5-0 defeat of Leyton Orient last night will do wonders for the dressing room in getting their mentality back into the right focus. I was impressed by the performance of Ignasi Miquel in the centre of defence, the reserve team captain looked competent and tidy in his defending against the League One opposition.
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If Arsenal do finish this season without a trophy, would there start to be some pressure on Wenger to strengthen his defence? Quite possibly, pundits and fans alike can’t see why Wenger does not sign an established and quality goalkeeper and central defender. The Frenchman will never get the solid back five that he inherited when joining the club but he could try and make an attempt? Arsenal have two more chances of playing a final at Wembley this season, and are still in the race for the Premier League title, so maybe I will be proved wrong….. but it’s doubtful.
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