Amit Varma and S Rajesh discuss the second day of the Jamaica Test Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”; 1.87 mb Streaming Audio: Real :: WMA Audio length: 7.58 minsRahul Dravid has set up many of India’s greatest wins, such as at Headingley, Adelaide and Rawalpindi, but in each of those Tests other batsmen had also pitched in. In contrast, he’s virtually doing it alone at Jamaica, and his half-centuries here are worth big centuries at any other Test. Amit Varma and S Rajesh discuss what a monumental role Dravid is playing in this Test, as well as this is turning out to be such a low-scoring pitch – it’s not all about the pitch.Listen in.Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”; 1.4 mb Streaming Audio: Real :: WMA
On losing two late wickets We would’ve loved to have gone in just two down. But we do have a lead of 9, and six wickets in hand. And there are three quality batsmen left – [Damien] Martyn, [Darren] Lehmann and [Michael] Clarke. It will be a good test for them. We’ll be looking to establish a total that makes it difficult for India.On what he considered a total that Australia could defend in the fourth innings Eight, and we’ve got nine (laughs). No, it’s very hard to set totals. Many recall that last time we played here when 160 was almost too many. We’d love to set them 250 or 300, but for that to happen, the batsmen need to do what [Mohammad] Kaif and [Parthiv] Patel did – get in and stay in. The objective is to get at least one decent partnership and have others play around that.On his team have coped with the oppressive heat and humidity We’ve had good recovery procedures. And we’re certainly ahead of India in that we haven’t had a player get crocked yet.On employing a night-watchman Stephen [Waugh] changed that, he wanted to demonstrate that the Australian team was different. Ricky [Ponting] has the same bent of mind, as does Adam [Gilchrist], but we will use night-watchmen if we need to. This evening, Jason survived with the aid of two glorious byes (smiles).On Gilchrist coming in at No.3 Let’s hope we can keep everyone guessing here in India. It was discussed in the build-up to the tour, and there was an option to move him up the order. It was a move supported by everyone, and he did really well, but unfortunately for us, he’s no longer at the crease.On whether the sameness of the pace attack might result in Brett Lee being given a go later in the series This sameness you talk of brought us a stunning victory in Bangalore. During the break, we’ll reassess the situation to see where we’re at, and revisit the selection process. But I’m happy with the way the three quicks are going. They’ve been a foil of sorts and also penetrative, allowing Shane Warne his first five-wicket haul in India. Brett [Lee] is champing at the bit, like our other support players. But we’ll only decide once we get to Nagpur.On how the fielding let his side down We made a number of errors yesterday. If we’d taken even 50% of those chances, I believe the two first-innings totals would have been comparable. We compounded the errors of the first day when we didn’t bat as we should have done.On whether the Indian tail’s defiance surprised him We bat all the way down, the Indian players know how to handle the bat so it wasn’t a surprise at all. But whether they continue to be effective for the remainder of the series remains to be seen.
And, finally, there is only the cricket. After a pre-tour build-up that almost counted as an entire tour in itself, weeks of diplomacy, goodwill, speculation, rumours and the inevitable war of words will be given a brief respite as some actual cricket is played at last.The Pakistan camp, no matter how much Inzamam-ul-Haq played down Pakistan A’s stunning victory over the Indians, will take heart not necessarily from the result, but from the manner of it. Defeats in inconsequential warm-up games rarely act as portents of things to come, but the ferocity of Taufeeq Umar and Imran Nazir’s assault on the Indian opening bowlers will ensure that some psychological ground will have been gained – not much, maybe, but definitely some. Javed Miandad, the coach, no stranger to taking advantage of the slightest of mental openings, will certainly not play down its significance.There will, in all likelihood, be some impact on the Pakistan line-up at Karachi. Shahid Afridi – who was not likely to play as an opener according to Wasim Bari some weeks ago – might well find himself in the front line against Zaheer Khan and co. tomorrow. In view of Inzamam’s claim that his side will hope to repeat the attacking policy adopted by the A team, this seems even more likely.The key to Pakistan’s performance will, as so often in recent years, lie in the bowling. Shoaib Akhtar, as well as being in destructive form in recent months, has been unusually quiet: the word is that his preparation for the series has been unusually intense and focused. The extent of his recovery from his World Cup mauling from Sachin Tendulkar will provide another intriguing aside in the mind-games stakes, although it probably won’t be as pivotal as has been trumpeted.That this series won’t just be the Shoaib-Tendulkar show is mainly down to the maturity of the supporting cast. India’s batting line-up, even without Tendulkar, is as strong as any in world cricket, and Pakistan’s bowling attack, while not as varied as it has been in recent years, is still destructive. The exploits of Shoaib and Mohammad Sami are becoming legendary, but the performance of Shabbir Ahmed, if he plays, will be crucial. While the extra pace of Sami and Shoaib can reap spectacular rewards or sow the seeds of disaster, Shabbir brings a steady, consistent, repetitive approach to his bowling – something that is vital in the one day game. Shabbir has been suffering from a mysterious finger injury, and although Miandad would only say that a decision on his inclusion would be taken on the morning of the match, Bari rated his chances of playing at about 70%.But, so often, it is the little things that make the difference in cricket: a no-ball here, a wide there, a stolen single here and a saved four there. India’s progress in the one-day game has been helped considerably by the improvement in their fielding, boosted by the presence in particular of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. But Pakistan, despite an indifferent showing in New Zealand, have improved their fielding beyond measure over the last year as well. Younger players, in the shape of Shoaib Malik, Imran Farhat and Sami, have injected a vitality that will be further enhanced by the expected return of Afridi. Both Inzamam – himself a much-improved outfielder – and Miandad were keen to ensure that the down-under dip was a temporary one. They worked hard at the training camp on fielding skills, and other basics such as running between the wickets. Both were happy with the amount of work the squad put in.It is hard to argue against the popular notion that the series boils down to Pakistan’s bowling against the Indian batting. Both teams are young with old hands at the helm, while few players on either side have regular experience of playing against each other. Which side handles the pressure of playing the oldest of enemies better might well turn out to be the decisive factor in this long-awaited series.Pakistan (probable): 1 Imran Farhat, 2 Shahid Afridi, 3 Yasir Hameed, 4 Yousuf Youhana, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Moin Khan (wk), 8 Shabbir Ahmed, 9 Saqlain Mushtaq, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Sami.India (probable): 1 Sachin Tendulkar, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 SouravGanguly (capt), 4 Rahul Dravid (wk), 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 Mohammad Kaif, 8 Murali Kartik, 9 Irfan Pathan, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ashish Nehra.
Central Districts will field an unchanged team for their penultimate round match of the State Championship against Northern Districts at Hamilton, starting tomorrow.The same 12 who played Otago in Invercargill last week have been selected. They are: Craig Spearman (captain), Jamie How, Peter Ingram, Glen Sulzberger, Greg Todd, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason, Brent Hefford, Ewen Thompson.Central Districts shares third equal place in the competition with Northern Districts and Otago, well behind the competition leaders Auckland and Wellington who are on 32 and 31 points respectively.
Greg Blewett completed his third century of the season in the CricInfo Championship as Nottinghamshire achieved an historic seven-wicket victory over Worcestershire.Making 461 for 3 to clear a target of 458 with more than two sessions to spare, they achieved their highest fourth innings total to win a match in more than 100 years as members of the modern Championship.While Notts surpassed their previous record of 419 for 6 in beating Leicestershire at Trent Bridge in 1926, the home side lost to a 400-plus total for only the second time in their history. They had been beaten by an Essex fourth innings score of 405 for 6 in 1994.Notts went into the final morning at 367 for 2 on the back of successive century partnerships involving Darren Bicknell (104), John Morris (94), Blewett (99 not out) and Usman Afzaal, unbeaten on 63.With only 91 more runs required from the last eight wickets, their first task was to see off the new ball which represented Worcestershire’s last hope of redeeming a depressing bowling performance on the third day.But this threat was dismissed as Afzaal carved into anything loose from Alamgir Sheriyar and Andy Bichel. The left-hander added 25 in half-an-hour before he was lbw to Sheriyar for 88 in a stand of 145.Blewett continued at a steady pace until closing on 134 when Paul Johnson rounded off a brisk knock of 22 by pulling Philip Weston for four. The remaining runs were scored in 65 minutes today to wrap up a remarkable win in a game which began with 20 wickets on the first day.
Pakistan cruised to a 131-run win over Zimbabwe in the first one-day international at Harare Sports Club, the match following what has become a familiar script during this tour. Pakistan’s lower middle order rallied their side to a good score, and their spin attack, led by Yasir Shah’s 6 for 26, then systematically dismantled Zimbabwe’s line-up. Yasir’s haul was the second best by a Pakistan spinner, and the best ever by a spinner in Zimbabwe.Asked to bat first, Pakistan’s top order stumbled against a spirited Zimbabwean bowling effort before Mohammad Rizwan’s career-best 75 not out and Imad Wasim’s 61, which was his maiden international fifty, boosted the visitors to a challenging 259 for 6. Rizwan and Wasim had added 124 for the sixth wicket, but no Zimbabwean partnership came close to matching them as the hosts crumbled under sustained pressure.Once again, the batsmen struggled to rotate the strike and then inevitably offered Pakistan chances as they sought to ease the pressure with a big shot. The 35-run stand between Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza was the most substantial of the innings, and legspinner Yasir collected his first five-for in ODIs with Zimbabwe having no answer to his combination of turn, bounce and guile.Pakistan had been reduced to a wobbly 35 for 3 in the morning as Zimbabwe’s new-ball bowlers found seam and swing on a slightly resher wicket before Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik combined to take the score to 100. When they were both dismissed attempting to attack spin Zimbabwe surged once again, but Rizwan and Wasim weathered their best efforts.Rizwan marshalled Pakistan’s effort from the halfway mark of their innings, starting watchfully against Zimbabwe’s spinners before he broke free with what was perhaps the shot of the day; a checked loft off offspinner John Nyumbu that soared over long on. With Nyumbu, Graeme Cremer and Sean Williams all included in Zimbabwe’s XI, Rizwan faced spin for much of his innings. He certainly showed that he had the aptitude to counter these bowlers in helpful conditions, milking the gaps and finding the boundary with a sweep off Cremer and a deft late cut off Nyumbu.A particular feature of Rizwan’s stand with Wasim was their running between the wickets: something which had been highlighted as an area of concern for both teams after the Twenty20s. Eight twos came off Rizwan’s bat during their stand, while Wasim added seven. This ensured that the score kept ticking over even when boundaries were not forthcoming, and set the platform for Pakistan’s charge at the death.Pakistan added 88 runs in the last ten overs as the big hits became more frequent, with Rizwan bringing up a 61-ball fifty in the 46th over. Wasim brought up a maiden international fifty of his own two overs later, reaching the mark with a superb reverse sweep off Tinashe Panyangara. Wasim had been given a life thanks to Williams’ drop at long-on earlier in the over, and there was a ragged edge to Zimbabwe’s effort at the death. Tempers also flared in Panyangara’s final over, from which Pakistan plundered 22 runs, as the bowler took offence to what he saw as Rizwan’s intentional obstruction of his fielding efforts. The batsman stood his ground as Sikandar Raza played peacemaker, and closed the innings on an emphatic note with his second six, straight over the bowler’s head.Pakistan carried that bellicose attitude into the field, and both Zimbabwean openers were given a thorough working over with the new ball. Yet all 10 wickets fell to spin. Chamu Chibhabha averages 19.72 in matches in which he has been dismissed by a left-arm spinner, and has collected more ducks against this type of bowler than any other – three. He had opened his account by the time Wasim was brought on in the ninth over, but then fell immediately, trapped in front by the left-arm spinner’s first ball.Yasir then took centre stage, nipping one through the yawning gap between debutant Brian Chari’s bat and pad and skittling Hamilton Masakadza with a ball that kept a touch low and rushed on. Raza and Elton Chigumbura fell on the drive, failing to cover Yasir’s prodigious spin, while Richmond Mutumbami’s dismissal came via a stunning reflex catch, low to the ground, by Hafeez at slip. When Panyangara gloved one to slip Yasir had his sixth, and Zimbabwe had crashed from 101 for 4 to 128 all out.
United picked up a valuable three points this afternoon to keep the pressure on at the top of the table. It was the perfect tonic for Sir Alex Ferguson who today celebrated his 25th anniversary at Old Trafford.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes a reason to love Phil Jones; a luxury Fergie can do without, the answer to the Red Devils mess.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this
Three youngsters causing a stir at Old Trafford
The answer to Manchester United’s mess?
A luxury that Manchester United can do without?
An unfortunate trend in football that shows no sign of dying
Sir Alex’s ‘Greatest XI’ in his 25 years…well in my view!
The Football media needs to end this continual farce
Fergie considering £20m move for Dortmund ace
Does Fergie’s transfer interest suggest an answer to the Giggs conundrum?
Another reason to love Phil Jones
Should Fergie and Wenger take this transfer punt in January?
Best of WEB
The Fans’ Responsibility – Red Flag Flying High
Ole takes first steps on long road to Old Trafford – United Rant
My Favourite Fergie Era Moments – The Busby Way
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Did Sir Alex Ferguson Nearly Jinx Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? – The United Religion
Women are football educated too, y’know – 7Cantonas
Real Sociedad’s hopes of a European berth have taken another blow after they fell 2-1 at Deportivo La Coruna in Monday’s lone La Liga match.Sociedad have taken just one point from their past three league outings, following a 1-1 draw at home with Levante and a 4-1 loss at Espanyol, and came undone at the hands of an improved Deportivo at the Riazor, who stretched their unbeaten run in La Liga to six fixtures.Substitute striker Riki, who was introduced in the 13th minute to replace the injured Nouioui Lassad, looked lively in the first half and produced a brilliant finish to put Deportivo ahead in the 41st minute.Diego Colotto nodded a free kick towards Riki near the penalty spot, and the Tunisian turned and fired an acrobatic volley beyond Sociedad custodian Claudio Bravo.There was more pain to come in the second half as Adrian stretched the hosts’ lead in the 57th minute, the former Spain Under-21 international threading his shot through Bravo’s legs after being put into the clear by Michel’s sublime through ball.Socieded forward Imanol Agirretxe kept the contest lively by pulling a goal back for the visitors in the 65th minute, but their efforts to find an equaliser were thwarted by Deportivo goalkeeper Aranzubia.Deportivo rise to 13th on the table, four points clear of the drop zone with 11 games left in the season, while Sociedad remain ninth and five points adrift of the Europa League places.
With Spurs having moved into pole position and after manager Harry Redknapp has openly confirmed that he has held preliminary talks with the England international over the past few days, one of Roy Hodgson’s first moves as Liverpool manager must be to follow suit and step up the club’s interest in the player to something approaching concrete rather than the rumour and conjecture we’ve all been subjected to the past few weeks.
The main problems facing Liverpool are well known to every man and his dog by now, the issue over new owners, the new stadium and the respective futures of messrs Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano are all of paramount importance, and whilst these all obviously and quite understandably remain of top priority, the issue of the playing staff and the reinvestment that is needed must not go unnoticed, no matter how cheaply it needs to be done.
The figures being bandied about in the press at the moment all point towards Hodgson having a transfer kitty in excess of £15m to spend, which may be somewhat buoyed by the departure of Yossi Benayoun to fierce rivals Chelsea for roughly £6m this week.
It was telling that in the press conference presenting Hodgson as the new Liverpool manager, that Chairman Martin Broughton pointed out that Hodgson’s qualities were what were needed in the current climate, and that he had been appointed ‘to steady the ship’ and it’s telling that he’s only been offered a two-year deal. He’s seen by most as a necessity for the problems that lay ahead for the club and his CV does show that he’s able to deal with the challenges that await him – namely uncertainty, unenviable odds and the ability to work within a budget.
This bring us to the issue of Joe Cole future, the mercurial winger capable of providing a spark out of nothing, something the Anfield outfit have long since sought after with numerous costly purchases to little or no lasting effect, with only really the departing Benayoun capable in this respect.
Cole labelled the reasons for his rather acrimonious departure from Chelsea as being ‘politically motivated’ and that it has nothing to do with manager Carlo Ancelotti or the fact that he had become a relatively peripheral figure since returning from injury under his tenure.
Man Utd have already, and rather surprisingly considering that Cole would seem to be a useful player to have about Old Trafford and is available on a free transfer, ruled themselves out of the running for his signature. Arsenal’s interest has been lukewarm and ‘Arry has done little but state on a number of occasions his strong interest, which to his credit he is at least following up now.
The assumption has always been made that Cole desires Champions League football above all else and that his wages demands are astronomical. The Champions League is obviously the pinnacle of European football and a place where any right minded player would wish to ply their trade, but please forgive me, it must be the cynic in me, but at the moment at least, Spurs have yet to fully qualify for the group stages and they may even have to negotiate a tricky tie to get to that stage before the champagne can truly be popped.
This would go some way to at least understanding the patience and unfamiliar fiscal prudence currently on display this summer down at White Hart Lane and whilst last season’s fourth place was a momentous achievement for the club, unless they finish it off, then all of last term’s hard work will have been undone and they will play their season out in the second-tier Europa League where Liverpool will find themselves next season.
One trump card that Spurs do possess is the fact that they are London-based and with a new sprog in tow, the likelihood of Cole being willing to uproot his family all the way to the North-West would present quite a bold move on more fronts than just a football one and a major stumbling block.
Liverpool do remain a big club despite their troubles, and the prospect of playing with the likes of Torres and Gerrard, should Hodgson be able to secure assurances of their loyalty to the club for the upcoming season, could be a deciding factor in Cole’s decision.
Like I conceded earlier, Spurs obviously remain the frontrunners and the fact that a reunion with Redknapp, the geographical location of the club and the fact that he’d be joining a growing team on the brink of Champions League football make them strong favourites and a salivating prospect for any footballer looking for a rebirth.
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But Hodgson will do well to follow up the rumours with some strong interest, for whilst it may be a long shot at the moment, it’s an avenue worth exploring and would go some way at least to showing the fans that whilst testing times undoubtedly lay ahead, Liverpool have not quite yet lost every semblance of ambition that they once possessed.
It would signal a statement of intent of sorts and would also be in keeping with the new manager’s intention that the club need to buy British for the future to keep in line with UEFA and Premiership rules – luckily for Hodgson, a deal for Cole presents a very real possibility and one that he’d be mad to ignore.
The reasons for a team losing a game of football vary. Sometimes a team does not play well, sometimes they lose to a better side. But usually the manager does not take the blame, instead an outside influence is ‘at fault’.
Considering the amount of pressure managers are under these days, it is no surprise that they have to justify every loss with an exact reason. But when there is no reason, managers and players are often guilty of creating them out of thin air, and they have become very good at it.
In the list that follows are some of the most unlikely excuses and some of the most ridiculous excuses that have been used in the world of football.
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Click on Pepe Reina below to see the Top TEN
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