Adam Gilchrist has recommended that Australia rest some of its key players for the Champions Trophy one-day tournament so that they are fresh and ready to take on England in a bid to regain the Ashes later this year. Australia, who lost in England 2-1 last year, host them in the 2006-07 season, and Gilchrist recommended that the selectors plan the teams for the season around that series.”We have to get our priorities right there,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying in Sydney Morning Herald. “It is important that selectors, administrators, players and whoever else needs to be involved sits down and nuts that out.”I am not saying no-one goes, or all key players [don’t go to the Champions Trophy] … I don’t know. But we have to sit down and address it, definitely. I think we have to look very, very seriously at that lead into the Ashes.”There is the Champions Trophy, and I believe there are potentially other games of one-day cricket that may come up prior to that. We are going to have to be very careful about what we want to prioritise as most important.”While Gilchrist made his views clear, they certainly didn’t find much support from Cricket Australia – Michael Brown, their operations manager, ruled out a “mass rest”, instead stating that the best team will be selected.”We are worried about the whole seven months of cricket. The ICC Champions Trophy is clearly important to Cricket Australia. We’ll be sending a very, very good team, the best team available at the time,” Brown said. “For us, the ICC tournaments are of number one importance. We have never won a Champions Trophy and would like to win it. I can’t stress this enough about the Champions Trophy: we’ll be going with a team that we intend to win it [with].”Part of our strategic plan is to lead the world in cricket performance, so to entertain the thought that we’re going to be mass resting players is not going to happen. What we will do is individually manage every player’s workload over the period because let’s not forget that some players over the next 12 months play very little cricket.”There are suggestions that England might rest some of their players – including Andrew Flintoff – for the Champions Trophy. However, Brown defended Cricket Australia’s stance on the matter by pointing to the schedules for the two teams: England play seven Tests and ten ODIs in the summer before heading to India for the Champions Trophy in October; Australia, on the other hand, have a five-month break before the tournament.”What we will do is prioritise the whole summer,” Brown said. “We’ve got an incredible six or seven months of cricket and we’ll prioritise to make sure that all our players are prepared in the best way they can be for every match they play.”
Kumble strikes, finally Never before in a Test has Anil Kumble waited so long for hisfirst wicket. After 46 overs in the first innings – where he wasmilked, cut and blasted – and 16 overs in the second – where he wasreduced to firing it down legside to stem the run-flow – the momentfinally arrived. Shifting to the pavilion end, reverting to over thewicket, he speared one on middle stump and managed to break it justenough. Yasir Hameed, who was in the midst of a superb spell as heupped the ante, pushed forward and was beaten by both spin and pace.Kumble spun around to ask the question, Simon Taufel’s hand slowlybegan its ascent and the Bangalore crowd let out a mighty relievedgasp before going completely berserk. (SV)Glorious certainty In an unpredictable game, there is at least one element that is always predictable, though not monotonously so: Shahid Afridi will attack. The first time he gets strike in Pakistan’s second innings is off the last ball of the first over, from Irfan Pathan. Pathan drops short. Afridi pulls him for four.He comes on strike to play the fifth ball of Lakshmipathy Balaji’s over. No-ball short outside off, Afridi slashes and misses. Next ball, drifting down leg, glanced for four to fine leg. Last ball, lofted off-drive for four. That’s now 12 off 4, an average of 3 runs per ball. But don’t be misled – Shahid Afridi does not deal in threes. (AV)Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is on the staff of Cricinfo.
Shane Warne’s return from the sporting wilderness has reignited the debate about drugs-testing in cricket. Although Australia’s federal government is a strong supporter of the controversial World Anti-Doping Agency drug code, several of the country’s cricketers are opposed to its adoption, and are preparing to speak out against it.According to a report in Australia’s Courier-Mail newspaper, Tim May, the joint chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers Association and the Australian Cricketers Association, is expected to put the cricketers’ case to the ICC at a meeting in Bangladesh this week. “Along with most, if not all, professional team sports,” said May, "we have concerns about the application of WADA to our sport."Not only is WADA’s list of banned drugs considered too broad, but it is considered more applicable to individual events such as the Olympics, where success and failure is judged purely in terms of seconds or centimetres, and not by extraneous factors such as hand-eye co-ordination, or in Warne’s case, the ability to spin the ball prodigious amounts.Cricket’s officials would prefer the code to be more sport-specific. With a degree of flexibility, it would be possible to draw up a banned list for different sports, rather than imposing a blanket ban on any athletic who transgresses in any way. Under the current rules, a player cannot be exonerated even they prove exceptional circumstances. WADA’s code also includes a ban on recreational drugs, which do not enhance performance, leading to fears that players might have their drinks spiked by team-mates and opponents.Rod Kemp, the Australian Sports Minister, is on the board of WADA and was instrumental in its rise to prominence over the past two years. But even Kemp was unable to influence Cricket Australia last year, when they handed down a one-year ban for Warne’s use of a banned diuretic. It was a ruling that contravened their own drug code, which advocates a minimum sentence of two years, and the decision provoked scorn from WADA’s president, Dick Pound. Such tensions are likely to flare if the cricketers push this issue any further.
HOBART – A revitalised Glenn McGrath is confident he’ll be fit to playas England sweat over star batsman Michael Vaughan ahead of theirone-day cricket match in Hobart tomorrow.McGrath, who’s been out with a side strain, said today it had been toughwatching from the sidelines as Australia lost the fifth Test and wasbelted by Sri Lanka last night.”I just can’t wait to get back out there,” he said.The fast bowler said he was “90 per cent-plus fit and feeling prettygood”.But management will wait until they see how he pulls up following anafternoon bowl before deciding whether he will play.”If it’s going the same way it has from the last few bowls I’ve had, yesI’m confident I’ll play,” McGrath said.However the management, which also has worries about Darren Lehmann’sfitness following illness, will wait until the morning before finalisingthe team.Captain Ricky Ponting said Lehmann was still feeling a bit tired andrundown.”He’s had a couple of days of not doing too much and we’ll see how hepulls up in the morning,” Ponting said.England, with concerns over Vaughan’s knee and shoulder and fast bowlerSteve Harmison’s shin splints, will also wait until the morning to nametheir team.Captain Nasser Hussain is anxious to slot Vaughan, who made a mountainof runs as an opener in the Tests, into the top three of the one-dayside.Oddly, Vaughan has always batted at four or lower for England and hiscounty Yorkshire in one-dayers.”We would like to bat him in the top three, definitely,” Hussain said.”When he is the number two batsman in the world there’s no point hidinghim down the order.”But with the World Cup a month away, Vaughan and Harmison would betreated very carefully.Hussain seemed unsurprised by Sri Lanka’s stunning form reversal lastnight.He said that while they appeared down and out after their match againstAustralia A in Adelaide, they had a much better batting lineup thantheir recent statistics suggested.Ponting was still smarting from the heavy loss.”Last night’s game was disappointing,” he said.”It was not really an Australian team that took the field last night, Idon’t think.”Our performance was not up to the high expectations we have of the teamand we have spoken about that and we will speak about it again today andwe will make sure that we are a better side tomorrow.”He agreed fatigue may have been a factor.”I would be lying if I said some of the guys weren’t a little bittired,” he said.In that regard, McGrath’s enforced rest may be a blessing in disguise.McGrath said he’d been able to have a rest, work on his fitness andspend more time with his family.”So even though it’s been negative in one way, I’ve used it as apositive,” he said.The match should be played in fine weather on a Bellerive Oval wicketcurator Peter Apps said should be dry, even and hard.The match is a sell-out at the 16,000 capacity ground.
Kent are on the lookout for a new overseas player after Darryl Cullinan was forced to withdraw from his contract because of a persistent knee injury.Cullinan returned to South Africa this week for scans on the injury, having played only three Championship games for the county this season.But he has been told that the injury requires prolonged rest. Kent chief executive Paul Millman said: “This is clearly a disappointing outcome to what has promised to be a most fruitful relationship. We will now be looking for a replacement to take the field as soon as possible.”Cullinan wants to stay on in England to assist the club until the end of theseason.Millman added: “We will be discussing with Darryl his offer to help in anyway that he can and very much appreciate this gesture.”Cullinan said: “I’m naturally very disappointed and deeply regret thedecision that had to be made. It is the first time in my career that I havesuffered an injury this serious but I do feel that rest is the only solution.”I wish the team and my replacement all the very best for the remainder ofthe season. Kent’s new overseas player will be very fortunate to be involvedwith a great club and a great bunch of lads.”
Liverpool have submitted a £53m offer for a Tottenham Hotspur star, and they are confident it will be accepted, with talks now progressing.
Reds survive late scare to secure win at Tottenham
With Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike scoring to give the Reds a 2-0 advantage at 10-man Tottenham on Saturday afternoon, Arne Slot’s side appeared to be cruising to an easy victory in north London, but they ended up making hard work of it.
Richarlison’s goal just minutes after being brought on as a substitute offered the hosts a route back into the game, and they continued to push right until the very end, despite captain Cristian Romero being given his marching orders in injury time.
It wasn’t a vintage performance, with Slot’s men recording an xG of just 0.66 throughout the match, but the three points is what matters, and the victory means the Merseysiders have now moved up to fifth in the Premier League table.
Having got one over on Thomas Frank’s side, Liverpool are now looking to sign one of Spurs’ stars, according to a report from Spain, which states they have submitted an offer of €60m (£53m) for Lucas Bergvall, and they are confident it will be accepted.
As such, although talks are still at an early stage, negotiations are now progressing, with the north Londoners not completely opposed to cashing-in on the central midfielder, who they signed from Swedish side Djurgården back in 2024.
Bergvall is now considered a priority target for the Reds, and they are trying to move ahead of the other clubs in the race for his signature by submitting a mega-money bid.
"Super creative" Bergvall could be future star
Scout Ben Mattinson has provided an overview of the Swedish maestro’s key strengths, saying: “The Swedish playmaker has great football IQ. A super creative midfielder who loves to pass through the lines and has top vision to play key passes/through balls to advancing teammates.”
The 19-year-old’s ability to create chances has been on display this season, registering four assists in 21 matches for Spurs across all competitions, with perhaps his best performance coming in a 3-0 win against West Ham United, during which the youngster scored one goal and created another.
Liverpool now on red alert in race to sign £66m VVD successor ahead of Real Madrid
Van Dijk has less than two years left on his current deal.
ByTom Cunningham
The six-time Sweden international is exhibiting very promising signs, and he could be a future star, but there are doubts over whether Liverpool need to bring in another central midfielder, given the number of options Slot already has at his disposal.
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In the summer, Harvey Elliott had to join Aston Villa, having been unable to displace the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister in the starting XI, while Liverpool also have Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch on the books, so Bergvall could struggle for game time.
ScorecardNick Compton took on the extra pace of Uxbridge, and Steve Finn, with aplomb•Getty Images
When Nick Compton was dropped by England, it was suggested that his batting was too slow and stodgy. He didn’t have enough shots and, with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott also in England’s top three, the side would get stuck.It always seemed a slightly peculiar logic. And slow batting was hardly England’s problem during the Ashes series in Australia.In the first innings Compton scored 94 off 278 balls. Laborious, perhaps, but without those runs – or if he had been taken by Paul Stirling at second slip on 16, when Eoin Morgan was off having been stung be a bee – Somerset may well have lost this game.If Compton felt the need to show Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket and the watching England selector, that he could play more expansively, he took the opportunity the last day at Uxbridge presented. He pulled particularly pleasingly, displaying a relish for the short ball that those in England’s Test side have sometimes lacked.”He’s at his best when he’s facing the likes of Steven Finn on these type of pitches when there’s a bit more bounce and a bit more pace,” Marcus Trescothick purred.For Chris Rogers, the upshot of Compton’s defiance was to reflect once again on his declaration. He set Somerset 390 in 72 overs, which sounded on the cautious side, though he had a rapid outfield to consider as well as the memory of Nottinghamshire’s heist of 385 last month.”Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Maybe we could have pulled out a bit earlier but we had a hard loss a few weeks ago and that’s in the back of our minds. I think if we were to lose this game we’d probably fall off that chasing group so it was probably important that we didn’t lose.”Both sides retain title pretensions. Somerset are in third, and have both their games against Northamptonshire to play, while Middlesex go to Scarborough next week to play Yorkshire. “I think they’ll be a bit wary of us and hopefully we can pull off an amazing win and then we’ll be right up there,” Rogers said.The spectre of a drab final day, for all the fine cricket in the match, also prompted discussion over the lack of disintegration in the pitch. “I was hoping for a bit more up and down on day four but it didn’t really do that. It was essential you used the new ball but after that it became a bit lifeless,” Rogers said.”With the sun out the wickets here become a bit dead and then it is hard to bowl teams out, particularly as they don’t seem to be breaking up that much. I’m sure groundsmen are trying their best. They probably just need a bit of rain!”If the crowd felt underwhelmed at the spectre of early handshakes, at least they had a morning of pyrotechnics to enjoy. Paul Stirling, promoted to number five, bristled with stocky intent. He followed an uppercut off Lewis Gregory for six with a bludgeoned straight drive and reached 50 in only 37 balls.It was his fourth in five Championship innings in 2014, seemingly rendering his years marooned in the 2nd X1 all the more curious. But not to Rogers.”He was still developing his own game and he’d be the first to say he had no form with the red ball but he’s come round and he’s doing very well,” Rogers said. “It’s great to say we should have picked him early in hindsight but that’s a rubbish call. I’m just really happy he’s doing well.”Rogers’ new opening partner is also in fine form. Nick Gubbins reached 95, including lofting George Dockrell for six over midwicket, but was run-out after a mix-up with Stirling. Still, on the evidence of his composure and mature shot selection, Gubbins’ maiden first-class century will not be long in coming.Somerset’s prospects of threatening their target always depended inordinately upon Trescothick, especially with Craig Kieswetter missing this game because of a family funeral.He flickered briefly, swatting a few trademark late cuts, but when Eoin Morgan smartly took him at second slip a meandering draw seemed inevitable. With a lively spell that accounted for Chris Jones and Alviro Petersen, Toby Roland-Jones briefly offered the prospect of Rogers being vindicated.But James Hildreth made a second silky half-century of the game, adding 93 with Compton. As he accelerated, unfurling a reverse-sweep, Somerset may have entertained fanciful notions of a run chase. He was caught at long on to end those. No matter: Compton remained unperturbed.
Charl Langeveldt, the South Africa fast bowler, has opted out of the Test series in India beginning next week, saying the controversy over the selection of the squad so upset him he feels he won’t be in the right frame of mind for the matches.Langeveldt was picked ahead of Andre Nel in the 14-man squad for the three-Test series, a move seen by many as pandering to Cricket South Africa’s transformation policy. Nel was reportedly disappointed after his exclusion, and there was speculation over his future with South Africa.Gerald Majola, the CSA chief executive, said Joubert Strydom, the convenor of selectors, had accepted Langeveldt’s request to withdraw from the touring party, and that the selectors were considering a replacement.”Charl Langeveldt called me today in an emotional state saying he wanted to withdraw from the tour of India so that he can consider his international future in the right frame of mind,” Majola said. “He said that the public controversy over the selection of the Proteas team to tour India had upset him to the extent that he would not be in the right frame of mind to tour India and do his best.””Charl said he wanted to use this time instead to consider his future in international cricket in a cool and calm manner.”I have assured Charl that he is very much in the plans, and is regarded as one of our best fast bowlers in both ODI and Test cricket.”We will have in-depth discussions with him, and hopefully he will continue to be available for international selection.”No replacement has been named as yet for Langeveldt in the squad, which arrives in India later this week.
Scoreboard Sri Lanka A held the advantage going into the final day of the second four-day match against Bangladesh A at the Colombo Cricket Club. Chasing a target of 341, Bangladesh A finished on 16 for no loss at stumps, 325 runs away from victory.Bangladesh A resumed on the third day on 201 for 7, trailing by 194 runs. Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, ran through the tail to restrict Bangladesh A to 239 and give Sri Lanka A by 156 runs. Herath finished with impressive figures of 5 for 45 in 25.2 overs.Sri Lanka A sought to build on their lead and their openers, Kanchana Gunawardene and Mahela Udawatte, gave them a solid start by adding 86 for the first wicket. Udawatte added 43 and Gunawardene 51 before Mosharraf Hossain dismissed both of them in quick succession. Hossain checked Sri Lanka A’s momentum by taking wickets at regular intervals. None of their middle-order batsmen, with the exception of Jehan Mubarak who was unbeaten on 51, got going and Sri Lanka A declared on 184 for 6. Hossain ended with 5 for 69 in 27 overs.Chasing 341 is a daunting task but Bangladesh A managed to reach stumps on 16 for no loss and gave themselves a strong chance of drawing the game.
Faisalabad were left with only 76 runs to win the opening match of the 2005-06 Pentangular Cup Cricket Championship, when they bowled out Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for 283 in their second innings at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.After having dismissed PIA for a pathetic 69 runs on the opening day, Faisalabad had gone on to make 277 in their reply, which gave them a first innings advantage of 208 runs. Although PIA did considerably better in the second innings, with two full days to go, their effort has not been enough.The depleted PIA team once again faltered against the relentless medium-fast attack of Samiullah Niazi and Asad Ali. Samiullah captured 4 for 74, taking his match haul to 8 for 105. Asad Ali’s 3 for 71 gave him an analysis of 7 for 90.Following his first innings duck, Agha Sabir made a worthy 44 off 93 balls for PIA with eight fours. Captain Yasir Hameed, the Pakistan discard, hit 10 boundaries in his 55 off 90 balls. Veteran Mahmood Hamid (47), young allrounder Jannisar Khan (44 not out) following his bowling figures of 5 for 63, and offspinner Tahir Khan (34) contributed substantially but PIA, batting one man short due to an injury to Aizaz Cheema, were all out before the day’s close.The season’s Patron’s Trophy champions National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) ran up an impressive total of 357 for 6 on the opening day of their match against national champions Sialkot at the Multan Cricket Stadium.Captain Naumanullah scored his eighth first-class hundred, as he compiled the day’s top score of 142. He stayed at the crease for five hours 24 minutes, facing 213 deliveries and hit 25 fours.With Hyderabad’s Faisal Athar, his second-wicket partnership was worth 112 runs. Faisal scored 72 that came off only 94 balls with 15 boundaries. Later, allrounder Mansoor Amjad capped off a satisfying day with an unbeaten 62, having faced 110 balls with eight fours.Incidentally, three Sialkot players are assisting National Bank in this match. Imran Nazir, Shahid Yousuf and Mansoor Amjad are on the Bank’s rolls and thus unavailable for their home region’s cricket team.