Newly appointed Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, whoreplaced Laksman Kiriella on Friday after a cabinet reshuffle, has vowed tocome down hard on endemic corruption within national sports bodies, the mosthigh profile of which is the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL).Speaking at his first public appearance, the closing ceremony of the 27thNational Sports Festival at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala, on Saturday,the minister declared: “I will not allow the businessmen to misuse money.”He warned officials that he would not hesitate to “punish” any guiltyoffenders.During the course of his speech he pledged greater support for out-stationareas, commenting that: “One has to invest money on rural sports developmentto produce more Sanath Jayasuriya’s.”In March this year the previous minister decided to dissolve the cricketboard and launched an ongoing inquiry into claims of financialmismanagement. The accusations centered on tenders by and payments for theconstructors responsible for constructing a five million dollarinternational stadium in Dambulla. No substantive evidence, however, has yetbeen revealed and no charges have been made.Since the dissolution, the board’s affairs have been managed by an InterimCommittee, headed by Vijaya Malalsekera, who is close to the PresidentChandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The Sports Minister also had met the officials of the Interim Committee on Saturday.
England have beefed up their spin department by picking offspinners Danielle Hazell and Danielle Wyatt in the 14-member squad for the three-match Women’s Ashes T20 series. Left-arm spinner Rebecca Grundy has also been included in the squad. Seamers Kate Cross and Fran Wilson, who were part of the Test squad, have been left out of the T20 series, which starts at Chelmsford on Wednesday.Hazell is currently the top-ranked T20 bowler in the ICC Rankings while Wyatt has also featured in more than 50 T20s, claiming 46 wickets and scoring 395 runs.”We have called-up Danielle Hazell and Danielle Wyatt for the three must-win Women’s Ashes NatWest IT20s,” England’s head of performance, Paul Shaw, said. “Together they offer us a lot of international T20 experience, with well over 100 caps in this format between them, and Danielle Hazell currently topping the ICC T20 bowling rankings.”We know that we face a huge challenge to get back into this Women’s Ashes contest, but there is a lot of pride and fight within this England women’s squad, and I know that the players will give it everything in these last three matches.”The hosts, trailing 8-2, need to sweep the T20 series if they are to mount a successful defence of the Ashes. Australia, on the other hand, need only one win (or a no result) to reclaim the Ashes, after clinching the solitary Test and sealing a 2-1 victory in the ODI series.England squad: Charlotte Edwards (capt), Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Lydia Greenway, Rebecca Grundy, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt
Sam Allardyce is no stranger to bringing a team up in to the Premier League and then establishing them as a solid top-flight team under his watch.
He did it with Bolton between 1999 and 2007 and is now in a similar position with West Ham, having led them back to the Premier League after just one season in the Championship. But just how far can he take the Hammers?
The early signs have been impressive in the Premier League for West Ham, despite their style of football being increasingly criticised by rivals fans and the media. But his so-called ‘long-ball’ or ‘direct’ style of play sees West Ham sit eighth in the league after collecting 19 points from their opening 13 games.
Those that have watched West Ham regularly this season will have also noticed that they like to play on the floor, too. The likes of Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Mohamed Diame in the centre of midfield allow them to play slick, passing football whenever they need to, while the towering presence of Andy Carroll up front gives them the option of direct, route one football as well.
It is this type of versatility in Allardyce’s tactical approach that can see West Ham become an established top-flight team once more. Record signing Matt Jarvis and the currently injured Ricardo Vaz Te add width to West Ham’s attacks, and will both cause defenders arial problems with their crossing ability throughout the season.
The most notable mark he has already made at West Ham is the tightness of West Ham’s defence. Under Avram Grant, in the season they went down, West Ham conceded a whopping 70 goals and finished the campaign with the division’s worst goal difference of -27. They kept just five clean sheets all season and shipped, on average, 1.84 goals a game.
Thirteen games into this season and the Hammers have already kept five clean sheets and have shipped an average of 1.15 goals a game, which is a significant difference after just one season out of the top flight.
The one thing Allardyce will see that needs improvement is his strike force. Andy Carroll is doing a fantastic job up top on his own, but with just one goal in his first nine appearances for the club, West Ham clearly need more of an out-and-out goal scorer to aid Carroll, who’s role at the moment involves more holding the ball up for the likes of Nolan to run out to from midfield.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, we can expect Allardyce to bring in the type of striker they need in helping the midfield and defence in scoring the goals that will ultimately see them win games. They have been a tough side to beat so far this season, which is evident from their win away at Newcastle and their goalless draw at home to champions City. But with just three of their 16 league goals coming from strikers so far, they’ll be looking for some extra help up top to re-enforce their attacking capabilities.
That brings me on to Allardyce’s shrewdness in the transfer market. The ability to prize Kevin Nolan away from Newcastle into the Championship for a reported £4 million has to be one of the best bits of business the club has seen in recent years. Additionally, players like Ricardo Vaz Te, Joey O’Brien and George McCartney have all admitted that they owe a lot of their recent good form to Allardyce’s faith in them after their careers had initially looked to have hit brick walls.
Furthermore, Allardyce seems to be getting the best out of Andy Carroll after he clearly struggled with life at Liverpool and he saw him as the perfect fit into his team, especially with his best mate and captain Kevin Nolan already making a big influence at the club.
This is where West Ham have uncovered a gem in Sam Allardyce. His ability to identify players he feels can slot seamlessly in to his team and then get the best out of them is second to none. The relationship he has with his players is unrivaled and that has been rewarded with the evident high confidence within the camp thus far. Several players have recently told the press there is a good vibe within the dressing room at the moment and that has a lot to do with the way Allardyce runs things.
Beyond this season, depending on where West Ham end up by the end of the campaign, West Ham can expect much of the same. Shrewd transfer dealings, confident players and a mixture of route one and slick, passing football is Allardyce’s recipe for success and, so far, it is working at Upton Park.
Also, if the Hammers are handed the keys to the Olympic Stadium, that will give Allardyce even more scope for West Ham to become more than just an established top 10 Premier League side.
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Having said that, he eventually took Bolton into Europe in his fifth season at the Reebok without much of a budget, and that was after seeing his side narrowly avoid relegation for two successive seasons before then.
The world is Allardyce’s oyster at West Ham at the moment and, although West Ham fans should not expect instant success, he has everything at his disposal to ensure West Ham will not suffer another relegation battle in the near future and begin their quest to be an established top-flight club once again.
And that is why I think Sam Allardyce is West Ham’s best managerial appointment since Harry Redknapp. It’s a bold statement, I know, but we’ve done a lot worse sine Redknapp. Do I really need to name names?
With a bit of patience and with the fans behind him, he and West Ham can go places.
Leeds United continue to monitor the situation of Ryan Kent ahead of this summer’s transfer window, and it’s thought that the winger would seriously consider a switch to Elland Road…
What’s the word?
That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who delivered a fresh update on the 25-year-old’s future at Rangers amid persistent interest from west Yorkshire.
Just last month, Football Insider claimed that the Whites had a long-standing interest in the Oldham-born talent, whose future in Scotland is in doubt as he enters the final 15 months of his current contract. He remains on Leeds’ radar, even despite the departure of Marcelo Bielsa.
“If Leeds were to meet that [his £20m release clause], I’m sure it’s something that Ryan Kent would seriously consider, moving back down to England and to the Premier League at this stage of his career,” the reporter told GIVEMESPORT.
Summer boost?
With uncertainty over the futures of Raphinha and Jack Harrison, who both have been linked with interest from Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, it would make sense for Leeds to remain keen on Kent.
The £12.6m-rated left-winger has continued to impress north of the border, delivering 19 goal contributions across 36 appearances this season, building on his efforts of 13 goals and 15 assists during their title-winning campaign last term, via Transfermarkt.
In 164 games for the Teddy Bears, Kent has delivered 30 goals and 44 assists, averaging a direct contribution once every 177 minutes.
Such form has seen him lauded as a “magician” by Gers teammate Leon Balogun, whilst journalist Andrew Dickson described him as “completely unplayable” on his day only a few months ago.
It seems more likely than not that the Brazil international leaves Elland Road in the summer, though things are less clear for Harrison, so paying £20m for Kent would surely be fantastic business for the club and they have been boosted by these comments from transfer expert O’Rourke.
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Whilst it would be painful to see Raphinha – who is in “advanced talks” with the LaLiga outfit – leave, they can soften the blow with the arrival of the former Liverpool graduate this summer, and that should leave many around west Yorkshire absolutely delighted.
AND in other news, Orta could truly kickstart the Marsch era at Leeds by signing £75m-rated “big talent”…
It would not be a surprise if Mahela Jayawardene spent time each day looking into his hotel mirror chanting the line “We believe we can beat Australia”. Like The Little Engine That Could, Jayawardene must hope that if he says something often enough it will come true and mountainous tasks will be conquered.Over the past two weeks he has used a lot of lines about challenging Australia. He has never been boastful or confrontational, but at first he was mildly convincing even when his team was struggling for runs in the final warm-up. When he repeated the message after the innings-and-40-run Test defeat at the Gabba it sounded more like an empty promise.”We need to believe in ourselves that we can beat Australia,” he said quietly. “If we don’t have that belief there’s no point turning up in Hobart. I firmly believe that we’ve got the personnel to do that and we just need to back our ability … Our all-round game needs to improve and I believe we can do it.”The motivational mantras must be swapped for on-field toughness in Friday’s second Test and the tourists require more than a good talking over the next couple of days. Methods to deal with Australia’s suffocating bowling line and restrictive fields need to be found along with tactics to stifle the hosts’ powerful batting order. Trevor Bayliss, the coach, will have a busy few days and the team will be desperate for the return of Kumar Sangakkara to provide some backbone.Sri Lanka may have arrived in Australia with a balanced squad but that changed when Sangakkara’s hamstring tore in the first week of the tour. Ricky Ponting, who recognises the threat of the wicketkeeper-batsman and has caught glimpses of his training and net sessions during the match, expects Sangakkara to play along with Lasith Malinga, who was left out in Brisbane.Jayawardene was too cautious to predict the return of either, but Malinga’s cause was helped by Ponting’s local knowledge. The ball did not swing when Ponting scored 96 and 124 in the Pura Cup match at Bellerive Oval two weeks ago and the lack of movement will boost Malinga’s chances of inclusion. Vaas was picked at the Gabba because of his swing capabilities and he may have to wait until Sri Lanka face England next month for his 100th Test.It would be brave if the visitors dumped such an experienced performer for a vital game, but they need to have their most potent combination available if they are going to create any Australian cracks. Their tactics in the first Test were conservative and they were beaten easily despite the public mutterings of self-belief. Attacking actions must replace the words on Friday.
John Buchanan feels no sympathy for his opposite number Duncan Fletcher after England’s second consecutive Test loss. “That’s a difficult thing to do in my position,” Buchanan said in the . “He would not have felt that way towards me when the shoe was on the other foot last year.”In 2005 it was Buchanan who was under pressure as the series wore on while Fletcher was sitting comfortably on the way to winning the Ashes. “When all is said and done, they are your opposition,” Buchanan said. “He and I respect that, and realise that we have jobs to do. You understand what other teams go through, but it’s your job to find weaknesses to exploit. To a certain degree, you have to be emotionless in your approach.”One of the off-field problems for Fletcher over the past week has been his role as coach and selector. However, Buchanan, who has no official say on the make-up of the squad, told the paper the approach has merit.”If you look around other countries, and not just England, the coach has a very significant role in team selections,” Buchanan said. “In many ways, they set the agenda and direction for the team. Right the way through, they have an active involvement in the way those teams perform. That role is still evolving in Australia.”Buchanan will walk away from the side after the World Cup and has only three more Tests in the inner sanctum. “We have not won the series yet, but should we achieve that, I think there will be a hint of personal satisfaction,” he said. “It’s probably in the recesses of our minds.”
Out of the several aspects of cricket that baffles the Americans, the concept of the draw ranks high. Many of them just cannot understand how two teams, after five long days on the field, can manage to walk off with neither a victory nor defeat. Now one wonders what they will make of the dead rubber. How can two teams, after one has clinched the seven-match series 4-0, carry on playing the next three? The NBA finals are played over seven games too, but the moment the series is settled, no more points are scored and all action ceases.Welcome to the world of cricket. There is momentum to be sustained, morale to be dented, pride to be salvaged, reputations to be restored, individual glory to be attained, personal battles to be won and there’s an audience to be entertained. And it’s not as if the masses, or the sponsors, are going to be turned away just because the games are only of academic interest. In fact, the situation might have been exactly the same had the scoreline been reversed and Sri Lanka been leading 4-0. We just love our cricket in these parts, don’t we?TeamsUnlike the previous four games, India didn’t announce the 13 on the eve of the game but just like in Pune, there was talk of Sachin Tendulkar being rested. However, considering Tendulkar’s awesome record on this ground – a Test double-hundred, a hundred and an ODI hundred – and the fact that he was out to low scores at Jaipur and Pune, it’s tough to imagine him sitting out. In the event he, or any other batsman, is rested then Gautam Gambhir is likely to get his first chance of the series.Sri Lanka will hope that they can finally strike a winning combination. With the series gone and the intensity lessened, it’s an ideal opportunity for youngsters like Upul Tharanga, who impressed with his brief cameo in the previous game, and Dilhara Lokuhettige to express themsleves with freedom. One thing, though, remained consistent for the fifth successive game – the Sri Lankan camp revealed absolutely nothing about the composition of the side on the eve of the game.Bucketful of runsIn the 10 games played here, the team that’s batted first has won seven times but the last two games have seen the chasing side – West Indies, under lights, and Pakistan – hunt down totals in the excess of 300 and come out on top. The pitch here has traditionally been an absolute belter and, in all likelihood, even the smattering of green, which one observed on the eve of the game, will be shaved off before the first ball is bowled. Rudra Pratap Singh, who might get his first chance of this series, might face the sternest test in his fledgling career while Gautam Gambhir, if chosen, might not get a better chance to prove his worth in ODIs.Rebirth of the dead rubberIt’s nearly five years since a one-day series in India was settled before the last game with the last five bilateral series going down to the wire. With the series settled in emphatic fashion, the last three games, all in the state of Gujarat, will give the Indians an ideal chance to tinker with their combinations and rest key players. Despite the reversals, Sri Lanka will have one eye on the forthcoming Test series, starting on December 2, and, with most of the current bunch in the Test squad as well, hope to gain some sort of momentum before their return leg.House fullThere will be no let up from the stands though. The series may be wrapped up, but the vocal, frenzied crowds will not stay back home. Tickets have all been grabbed up and there was even talk of touts buying large numbers and selling them at higher prices. This will only be the second day-night clash here and most Ahmedavadis will tell you that there aren’t too many better ways to entertain yourself on a Sunday evening than watch a rampaging Indian side try to carry on their red-hot winning streak. Now try and explain that to an American.TeamsIndia (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Yuvraj Singh, 4 Rahul Dravid (capt), 5 Venugopal Rao, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Jai Prakash Yadav, 9 Ajit Agarkar, 10 Harbhajan Singh, 11 Murali Kartik, Supersub: Suresh Raina.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 3 Upul Tharanga, 4 Marvan Atapattu (capt), 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Nuwan Zoysa, 11 Dilhara Fernando, Supersub: Farveez Maharoof.
On going past Murali as Test cricket’s highest wicket-taker I’m obviously proud of that achievement. It’s been a few years since I made my debut against India in Sydney, and back then I was happy to get one wicket, forget 500. It’s something to tell the grandchildren.On the day’s play We toiled hard, created a lot of chances, even took a wicket off a no-ball. I think it’s the best I’ve ever bowled in India. I troubled all their batsmen, and there were a few chances that didn’t go to hand. If I continue to bowl like that, hopefully I can play a big part in this series.On the dropped catches, and whether the conditions might have contributed None were really easy. We’re usually renowned for turning games by taking such chances, but not one stuck today. To mention heat and humidity would be an excuse. Hopefully, this won’t happen again during the rest of the series.On Australia’s chances of winning the match If we can make what India make in their first innings when we bat, I think it’ll be a great game. We’re going to fight back. On the prospect of Murali taking back the record Let me just bathe in it for a while, OK [laughs]? Look, Murali will probably end up with 1000 wickets. But whether I hold the record for two weeks or a month, it can’t be taken away from me. It’s something to hang your hat on.On when he plans to call it quits I don’t want to stop yet. The key thing is enjoyment. I’ve retired from one-day cricket, but I think I can play Tests for a while yet. You have guys like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan [Singh], Murali and Saqlain [Mushtaq] who have shown that spinner can play both forms of the game. They’ve proved that the guys who reckoned that there wasn’t even a place for spinners in first-class cricket didn’t have any idea what they were on about.On the response from his opponents and team-mates Rahul Dravid came in and shook my hand even before he’d faced a ball. I thought that was a great moment, and it said a lot about the spirit in which this series is being played. Sehwag shook my hand too, and Kumble and Yuvraj (Singh) came in to the room later. Also John Wright. I’d like to thank all those guys.My team-mates? Well, you could see that they were really happy for me.On the extra aggression when he bowled to Sehwag I wanted his wicket [smiles]. He was the man to get today the way he was smacking us across the park. He has an eye like a dead fish (laughs). If you bowl anything half-loose, he’ll smack it. It’s great entertainment.He got away with a few as well. But he was just too good for us today. Hopefully in the second innings, we’ll be too good for him.On how he’s soldiered on despite several rough patches Oh look, I’ve had some great times too. Been really lucky to do something I really enjoy – not many people get that chance. I’ve made a few bad choices, and I’ve learnt my lessons. I’m 35 years old now, got three kids. It’s great that my wife is here to see me go past the record. But if we lose this game, the world record itself will be a bit of a downer.On how he accounts for his comparatively poor record against India, given his outstanding figures against other subcontinental teams I’ve been inconsistent against India, mainly when I’ve been over here. The first two times I came here, I was carrying injuries – the shoulder the first time and trouble with my spinning finger on the last tour. But I also think they play me really well. I just hope I can carry on like I bowled today and cause them a few more hassles.
The Super Fours champions of 2003 will be decided on Saturday 21st June when the four teams meet at The Parks and Radley College, Oxford.Super Fours is the domestic competition for elite women cricketers, now in its second year, aimed to bridge the gap between domestic and international women’s cricket.Currently topping the Super Fours table by just one point are The Super Strikers, captained by England batsman, Claire Taylor (Berkshire). They will face The V Team at Radley College, who have yet to win a match in the competition.Title contenders The Knight Riders, skippered by England’s leading run-scorer Charlotte Edwards (Kent), will face The Braves who won the title in 2002 and are led by England Captain, Clare Connor (Sussex).With bonus points awarded for attacking run-scoring and economical bowling, the Knight Riders could still steal the title if they win and individuals perform at their best.Both matches start at 12 noon.Berkshire and England bowler Isa Guha (The Braves) has the most wickets in the competition, leading the table with 14. She is closely followed by England team-mates Lucy Pearson (Knight Riders/Staffordshire), Laura Spragg (Super Strikers / Yorkshire) and Clare Connor who all have 13.England all-rounder Laura Newton (Lancs) is leading the batting averages with 85 for The Super Strikers; with Edwards on 82 and Taylor 57.5 completing the top three.This final round of matches provides England selectors with their last opportunity to see those players in England contention face each-other.Full tables and statistics can be found at www.super4s.play-cricket.com
Opening batsman Andrew Strauss led a spirited Middlesex revival at the Rose Bowl with his third century of the season.Strauss followed his defiant half-century made in the first innings with an equally obdurate 100 not out to leave the match, vital to both sides, finely balanced at the end of the second day.Middlesex, 90 behind on first innings, ended at 232 for five which gives them a lead of 142 with two days remaining.After 17 wickets had fallen on the first day, Hampshire resumed at 99 for seven in reply to the Middlesex first innings of 101 and in Adrian Aymes and Shaun Udal they found two batsmen ready to build a decisive advantage.Aymes and Udal put on 102 for the eighth wicket, Udal first to his fluent half-century but Aymes just as important in a less ostentatious way.Udal made 62 with ten fours before he was superbly caught down the leg side sweeping Phil Tufnell by Stephen Fleming running round from first slip.Aymes was 57 not out when Hampshire were finally prised out for 191, leaving Middlesex the task of batting far better in their second innings than they had done in the first.Strauss was dropped in the slips by Kenway at 14 but from 58 for two and still in arrears, Fleming joined Strauss in a stand of 127 for the third wicket.Suddenly Hampshire lost their poise and purpose in the field with Strauss reaching his 1,000 for the season one over before Fleming.Then spinner Shaun Udal came into the attack and again the complexion of the match changed.In swift succession Udal removed Fleming, lbw on the back foot, Ed Joyce in his next over not offering a shot and then Paul Weekes caught at the wicket off his gloves.Strauss reached his century in the last over of the day and Middlesex will need him at his best on the third day if they are to leave their promotion rivals a difficult target in the fourth innings.