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Managers from the United States are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding jobs in Europe, but Emmy-winning show shouldn't be blamed

Hit streaming show Ted Lasso follows an unqualified American coach trying to succeed against the odds in England – and it has become a go-to talking point used to mock U.S.-born managers.

With Season 3 airing just a month after Leeds fired Jesse Marsch, the third-ever Premier League coach from the U.S., there is renewed debate about whether the show is harmful for future managerial candidates.

"I have to say I like it, because if I say I hate it I’m some elitist coach," Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin recently told. "I love the humanness of it. I watched the whole first season.

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"I give them credit for being at least close to capturing the feeling in the locker room. They get that there are people from different cultures, a**holes, nice guys, there are wives who are annoying who are problems. That’s all real. He comes off as loveable.

"Do I think it’s set back the American coach 20 years? Yes, I do. We worked so hard to get to Europe and then Jesse kind of breaks in and it’s like… what a curse to have that show break out at the same time he’s there. You can feel it with [Jesse]. He seems so angry at it, but to go back to my earlier point, if you show that they’ll chew you up and spit you out."

The sentiment there comes from an understandable place, but it's misguided. There are far more significant obstacles for American coaches than a three-season comedy, including UEFA rules that make it difficult to gain necessary licenses and the Premier League's avoidance of coaches from outside Europe, stemming in part from a stubborn love for mediocre but familiar candidates.

Allow GOAL to explain why there is no such thing as a Ted Lasso "curse"…

GettySo-called Ted Lasso effect, explained

The opening season of Ted Lasso begins with the owner of fictional Premier League club, AFC Richmond, hiring an American football coach in an effort to get back at her ex-husband. She wants to sink the team to relegation.

Lasso arrives in England knowing nothing about soccer. The press rips him to shreds and he struggles to gain respect in the dressing room.

Even though the story characterizes Lasso as a strong emotional leader, and eventually shows him inspiring the club to improved performances, his comical arrival to the country as an ignorant American plays into stereotypes about people in the U.S. not being able to properly understand the nuances of soccer.

Curtin, then, is far from the only one to believe Ted Lasso harms the perception of American coaches in Europe. Marsch himself called out a “stigma” created by the show when Leeds hired him.

“There’s probably a stigma. I’m not sure Ted Lasso helped [us],” Marsch told reporters at the time. “I haven’t watched the show…but I get it. People hate hearing the word soccer. I’ve used the word football since I was a professional player. We’re adapting to the culture in this country.

“All I can say is the only way I know how to do things is to go all in and if you do that you can be surprised. That sounds like Ted Lasso so I’ve heard!”

Curtin, Marsch and like-minded coaches are not wrong that people in England smirk when Americans are involved in soccer. But the negative, skeptical perception of their kind existed long before the show, which first aired in 2020.

Ted Lasso didn't create the stigma towards American coaches; it merely put a magnifying glass up to it.

Former USMNT player and current pundit Alexi Lalas properly downplayed the difference Ted Lasso makes for his compatriots wanting to cut it in England, saying on his podcast that “American soccer is going to be just fine” while adding that a show meant to make people laugh ultimately won’t move the needle.

“Make no mistake, Ted Lasso is built around a stereotype of American coaches. It consistently reinforces a stereotype of American coaches, and in that sense I think Jim Curtin is absolutely correct," the former USMNT star added. "But I think more often than not, it laughs with us, American soccer people, than at us.

"This is about entertainment. Ted Lasso has no responsibility to American soccer or American soccer coaches, it has a responsibility to entertain.”

AdvertisementGettyA broader Premier League dilemma

Many European coaches with sparkling track records have come to the Premier League and succeeded in modern times. Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are among those to have been embraced by fans as excellent tacticians.

Beyond continental borders, though? Marsch is the only person not from Europe to have served in a Premier League dugout full-time in 2022-23, and just two were present last season.

But of course, Brazil, Argentina and Ghana, who each have plenty of players in the league but no coaches, do not blame any Ted Lasso “curse” for their lack of dugout representation.

They are just as left out as the Americans – even without a show about them.

Getty ImagesLack of American up-and-comers

There are very few promising American managers venturing beyond MLS, partially because U.S. Soccer coaching licenses are not valid in Europe, and the long process of obtaining one requires approval from a UEFA nation.

"These are very selective spots," said Brian Clarhaut, who is now coaching in the USL after dipping his toes in Europe, to . "So that's a huge, huge disadvantage for American coaches. It's a problem."

Added HIFK Helsinki boss Mike Keeney: "They told me, 'You're an American guy with no UEFA badges, no coaching licenses. It's almost impossible for us to get you hired, let alone get you the work permit.'"

Beyond Keeney, Pellegrino Matarazzo (Hoffenheim) and David Wagner (Norwich City) are also currently in charge of European clubs. Historically, Bob Bradley and Gregg Berhalter have taken on prominent roles on the continent. But it's a small fraternity.

Perhaps the recent linkage of MLS clubs to European counterparts – such as NYCFC, New York Red Bulls and now even LAFC – will eventually lead to an easier process for fast-tracking licenses, as clubs use their powerful networks to push people up the ranks.

▶ Ted Lasso is available on Apple TV+. Start watching now

But there must also be ambition from MLS, USL and college soccer managers to leave their jobs for the complicated coaching food chain in Europe – a risk that requires life upheaval.

Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes, for example, recently rejected an opportunity to interview with U.S. Soccer for the vacant USMNT role so he could re-sign with his current club. The 56-year-old could have also gotten a foothold across the Atlantic with a small-sized organization.

There’s no reason to knock people such as Vermes for their career decisions. In fact, there is some credit due for being loyal to a project and wanting to see it through to its completion.

But if enough coaches stay in the U.S., it reduces the number of possible hires at European feeder clubs – and that makes it awfully challenging to get a crack at the ultimate prize of a Premier League position.

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Getty ImagesWhat's next?

The USMNT's 2022 World Cup manager Gregg Berhalter – currently out of a job – gave an intelligent answer when pointedly asked whether U.S. coaches have done enough to show they can succeed in England.

“What I would say is, it is too small a sample size,” Berhalter told. “We just can’t make blanket statements about American coaches based on two coaches [Marsch and Wagner].

"That’s the way to look at it. Everyone has a unique quality. I could see if it had been 100 U.S. coaches and you had more data. If I was trying to figure how, say, players from Poland perform in England and only looked at two cases, I wouldn’t be doing my job very well. Everyone has a different upbringing and a different culture.”

Unfortunately, though, fans don't care about sample size. Sports are often an exercise in blowing individual data points out of proportion – particularly when biases are confirmed. It does sting a bit that Marsch couldn't last through the campaign at Leeds because of what might unfairly be extrapolated from his failure.

There is yet reason for optimism, though. A new wave of ex-USMNT players who competed for European clubs are starting to try their hands in management. Perhaps one of them – a Landon Donovan or a Steve Cherundolo – will eventually become a long-term Premier League head coach. Or perhaps Marsch will earn another chance.

As Ted Lasso says: “I believe in hope. I believe in 'Believe.'"

The race to succeed 2019 winner Megan Rapinoe is on, with the best players from around the world all vying for top spot on the podium

After the award was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the race for the Ballon d'Or Feminin is back on in 2021.

It will be just the third time that the prize is won, having only been introduced in 2018. Lyon star Ada Hegerberg won the inaugural edition, before U.S. women's national team winger Megan Rapinoe picked the award up in 2019.

After difficult years for the two iconic teams, it is unlikely that anyone from Lyon or the USWNT has their names called out this winter, with Barcelona's incredible treble-winning season putting their stars at the forefront of the discussion.

But how much weight will the summer Olympics have? With a few of Canada's gold medallists nominated, plus some big names that always garner interest, it's difficult to predict how the voting will go.

With all that in mind, GOAL looks at how things may pan out…

Getty/Goal20Ellen White (Manchester City)

Ellen White was something of a surprise nomination on this list, given that Manchester City fell short of silverware in 2021, England's woes continued and Great Britain bowed out in the quarter-finals of the Olympics.

However, none of that was down to a lack of goals from the 32-year-old, who has netted consistently all year. In fact, perhaps the moment that defines her 2021 the most was her hat-trick in that last eight clash in Tokyo, which still, somehow, ended with her on the losing side.

AdvertisementGetty/Goal19Sandra Panos (Barcelona)

Sandra Panos can often be overlooked as one of the best goalkeepers around, simply due to the nature of the incredibly strong defence that protects her at Barcelona – and with the Spain national team, too.

However, her place on this shortlist is well deserved, for the 28-year-old is an incredibly dependable shot-stopper who more than played her part in Barca's treble-win.

Getty/Goal18Stina Blackstenius (Hacken)

Stina Blackstenius is the type of player whose excellent form might have been overlooked were it not for the Olympics.

The 25-year-old has netted a superb 31 goals this calendar year, five of which came at the Games in Tokyo and two of them coming in that mauling of the U.S. women's national team.

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Getty/Goal17Sam Mewis (North Carolina Courage)

Sam Mewis' 2021 has been incredibly mixed. She shone with Manchester City in the first half of the year, though they would fall short in the Champions League and the Women's Super League title race.

She then had a less impactful Olympics with a struggling U.S. women's national team, though she did score a big goal in the quarter-finals and picked up a bronze medal.

But Mewis has not played since winning that in August, suffering an injury that continues to keep her out of action for the North Carolina Courage.

The Toffees legend joins a number of world-class footballers who have returned to their national sides after initially retiring

England and Everton veteran Wayne Rooney recently announced his decision to come out of international retirement for a one-off special charity match against the U.S. National Team – but the Three Lions' all-time record goalscorer isn't the first player to have reversed his decision and feature for his country again.

Getty1George Weah | Liberia, 2018

Liberia legend George Weah returned to the national team for a special friendly against Nigeria in September 2018, playing at 51 years of age while also balancing his duty in office as the country's president.

The No.14 shirt which was worn by Weah at the peak of his playing career was retired during the friendly, and the former striker received a standing ovation when substituted in the game.

AdvertisementGetty Images2Tim Cahill | Australia, 2018

In July 2018, the Australia veteran announced his retirement from international football shortly after the end of the World Cup finals in Russia, but immediately overturned with the decision to participate in one final home friendly planned against Lebanon in November 2018.

AFP3Kevin-Prince Boateng | Ghana, 2013

In November of 2011, Boateng announced his retirement from the Ghana squad due to fatigue from travel at 24 years of age – and missed out on participating in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

In October 2013, however, the midfielder was called up for Ghana's 2014 World Cup qualification play-offs against Egypt, and his goal against the Pharoahs in the 89th minute secured qualification for the Black Stars in Brazil.

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Getty4Asamoah Gyan | Ghana, 2014

During the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2008, Gyan and his brother Baffour opted to leave the Black Stars after his team were criticised for their unconvincing 1-0 win over Namibia.

The media became aware that the brothers intended to walk out on the Ghana side and were ready to leave the team hotel, but were persuaded to stay by their teammates.

After Gyan missed a crucial penalty kick in the 2012 African Cup of Nations semi-final, however, that led to Ghana losing 1-0, he decided to take an 'indefinite break' from international duty – but announced his return to the Black Stars a few months later and still features for the side.

Follow the latest on the Lodha committee’s verdict on corruption in the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-2015

ESPNcricinfo previews the Group 1 encounter between England and Sri Lanka

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Mar-2016Match factsMarch 26, 2016
Start time 1930 local (1400 GMT)2:37

Chappell: England mild favourites against SL

Big PictureA drubbing at the hands of West Indies, a sensational run chase against South Africa, and a nerve-jangling finish against Afghanistan – England have perhaps had the most interesting campaign in Group 1, and they haven’t even had their customary big-tournament meltdown yet. There is a chance they will not have a meltdown at all. Eoin Morgan leads a side that has a little steel to it, which perhaps has not been the case in previous England sides. They have withstood onslaughts, and done enough – even if it is just enough – to win.Despite the middling total against Afghanistan, England’s batting still appears their latest asset. Joe Root is the form batsman from either side, and there is a spark to that top order, which has poise, imagination and power in equal measure.They have also handled spin moderately well, so far in the tournament. They played Samuel Badree out safely for 34 runs in their first match, which is much better than the performance Sri Lanka mustered against the same bowler. Imran Tahir didn’t rattle them either. Sri Lanka will have been encouraged that Afghanistan’s talented Rashid Khan did claim figures of 2 for 17 on a slow Delhi surface however, and will hope their own leggie, Jeffrey Vandersay, can inflict similar damage.If it’s Sri Lanka’s spinners England are worried about, Sri Lanka should be worried about Sri Lanka’s batsmen. It would be a waste of time to unpack the top order’s failure against West Indies, because those same flaws had been evident in Sri Lanka’s previous series, and the one before that, and the one before even that. There have been hard words, from fans and ex-players alike, from across the Palk Strait. “Take responsibility,” is an oft-heard refrain. Encouragingly, the team has at least stopped referring to their current state as a “transition period”.Defending champions Sri Lanka have to win to stay alive (barring a no-result), after West Indies overcame South Africa in Nagpur. With just one game remaining, England will book their berth in the semi-finals with a victory, but a loss – by any margin – will see them eliminated since their net run rate is lower than that of South Africa.Thisara Perera could have a key role to play for Sri Lanka•ICC/Getty ImagesForm guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)

England: WWLLL
Sri Lanka: LWLLL
In the spotlightHe’s promised much in the competition to date but, with a top score of 30 in three innings, more is expected of Jos Buttler, England’s T20 vice-captain and superstar-in-waiting. With the sharp end of the tournament now upon England, there’s no time to fit in another dress rehearsal. Against Afghanistan, Buttler was guilty of attempting too much too soon on a wicket that demanded a hint of circumspection. Admittedly, it took a scorching catch to remove him but, given how destructive he can be when he gets going, he’ll know this time around that he can afford a few sighters to find his range.In the midst of an otherwise forlorn performance against West Indies, the batting exploits of Thisara Perera were a lone crumb of comfort. From the depths of 47 for 5, his 40 from 29 balls at least offered his side a token target to defend. As it happens, he then conceded the contest in the space of two legal deliveries, but his introduction in the 19th over – with just seven runs to defend – was an unfair reflection of his status as Sri Lanka’s go-to death bowler. In the absence of Lasith Malinga, recovering back home from a knee injury, he has big shoes to fill.Teams newsAlex Hales was playing football with the rest of the squad before training on Friday, so he seems to be on the mend after his back injury. James Vince will make way at the top of the order if so. Liam Dawson’s international debut is sure to be put on the back-burner following the success of Liam Plunkett against Afghanistan, plus the fact that Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid bowled just five overs between them in that match.England (probable) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jos Buttler (wk), 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 David Willey, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Liam PlunkettSri Lanka have three frontline spinners on tour. There is a chance each of them will feature in this match, which means a seamer may miss out. Nuwan Kulasekara appears likeliest to exit the side.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Lahiru Thirimanne, 4 Chamara Kapugedara, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Milinda Siriwardana, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Sachithra Senanayake, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Jeffrey VandersayPitch and conditionsBoth teams expected the pitch to play slow – as it did for England during their match against Afghanistan. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will take much turn, though. The weather is not expected to impede play.Stats and trivia Joe Root is the highest tournament run-scorer of the batsmen who have only played in the Super 10s, hitting 143 runs at a strike rate of 162.50.Thisara Perera’s highest T20I score remains the 49 off 25 he hit against England at the Oval in 2014. England’s last meeting with Sri Lanka at the World T20 was also their sole highlight of a disappointing campaign. On a memorable evening in Chittagong, Alex Hales toppled the eventual champions with a brilliant 116 not out from 64 balls. His onslaught secured a six-wicket victory and remains England’s only T20I hundred.Sri Lanka’s sole WT20 victory in three previous meeting with England came on home soil in 2012, a 19-run win in Pallekele where the absent Malinga took 5 for 31, his best figures in T20Is.Quotes”Being from England and facing completely different conditions for the majority of your career, you’ve got to work pitches out pretty quickly and be quite smart. The guys who have experience of playing in India have really got to try and work that out and communicate to the rest of the guys.”
“In T20 formats it’s always better to chase. When you’re batting first you don’t have a target in your mind, but you do when you’re chasing. You realise first six overs how you need to bat. Chasing is an advantage as far as I’m concerned.”

Trevor Bayliss has been confirmed as England’s new coach the day after it emerged that he had become the ECB’s preferred choice ahead of Jason Gillpesie.

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-20150:31

‘An Aussie in the ranks is a brilliant idea’ – Prior

Trevor Bayliss has been confirmed as England’s new coach the day after it emerged that he had become the ECB’s preferred choice ahead of Jason Gillespie. He will join the ECB next month ahead of the Ashes series which begins in July.Bayliss, 52, a former Sri Lanka coach who led them to the World Cup final in 2011 and No. 2 in the Test rankings, is currently coach of New South Wales where he has won two Sheffield Shield titles in separate stints, Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He briefly coached Australia last year during a Twenty20 series against South Africa and his appointment will see him reunited with Paul Farbrace who was his assistant with Sri Lanka. Both men were in the team bus that was attacked by terrorists in Lahore in 2009.His pedigree in limited-overs cricket was a key factor in his favour ahead of Gillespie as England look to overturn their horrendous white-ball form in time for next year’s World T20 in India followed by the 2017 Champions Trophy and 2019 World Cup – both of which will be held in England.Bayliss can be ‘strict’ – Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene, who was Sri Lanka captain for part of the Trevor Bayliss was coach, has said Bayliss could be “strict” and “doesn’t like the limelight” but thought he would help the captain and players and a new-look England side.

“Trevor is a good, old-fashioned coach who likes to work behind the scenes,” he told the . “He doesn’t like the limelight very much and just lets the players get on with it most of the time.

“If he sees something wrong he is very strict about it and will keep a firm line around the team, putting his foot down to make sure certain things do not happen.

“He will give the team a clear game plan but then he will let them play. He will try to help the captain in his decision-making and is very sharp on tactics, although he is not a huge guy for statistics.”

Jayawardene dismissed the suggestion that Bayliss’ lack of international playing experience was a issue.

“I don’t think it is a problem that he never had international playing experience. A lot of good coaches around the world are in the same position and you just need to look at Trevor’s record. He has been very consistent in all forms of the game.

“I am sure he knows what needs to be done and that he will give it a good try. It is a great time for him to take the job, because this is a young England side with a lot of talented players.”

“It’s an honour to be appointed England coach,” Bayliss said. “There’s a great opportunity to help Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan shape the direction and development of their respective teams. I am also looking forward to working alongside Paul Farbrace once again as we have a similar outlook on the game, get on well after two years working together and have kept in touch.”What particularly excites me about the role is the chance to work with a very talented group of players. I firmly believe that the team has a bright future and I’ll be doing everything I can to help them realise their potential and achieve success on a consistent basis.”Bayliss was the only non-Englishman interviewed just over a year ago when England searched for a replacement for Andy Flower before they eventually settled on returning to Peter Moores – an appointment that lasted barely 12 months. Bayliss was told, at the time, that he had interviewed well but that the preference was for an English coach. While England have used specialist Australian coaches in the past – the likes of David Saker, who was bowling coach – and have had two head coaches from Zimbabwe, they have never previously employed an Australian as head coach.Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, said: “Trevor has an outstanding record as coach, has global experience and is very highly regarded in the game. He has proved himself in both domestic and international cricket, has a strong reputation for man-management and has shown how to build winning teams in all three formats.”His expertise in the shorter forms of the game will be vital as we build towards three major ICC events over the next four years”Trevor will also work well with Paul Farbrace, an exceptional coach who will continue as assistant coach after helping us to an outstanding victory over New Zealand in the first Investec Test of the summer. This has been a very competitive recruitment process and we’re grateful to all of the candidates who showed their interest in this role. I’m excited to have him on board.”Meanwhile, the current Australia coach Darren Lehmann looked forward to locking horns in the Ashes. “Trevor has been a great servant of the game in Australia and has had great success with NSW in both long and short format, as well as with the Sydney Sixers and Kolkata Knight Riders in T20s,” he said. “He did a great job for us when he took the reins in the International T20s against South Africa last year.”A trademark of Trevor’s teams is that they are well prepared and this just serves as another reminder to us that this Ashes will be a tough contest. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him all the best.”Andrew Jones, the New South Wales chief executive, said: “Trevor has been an outstanding coach for NSW and internationally. He has a wonderful ability to get the best out of sides with his firm but low key approach. And his attacking attitude as a batsman develops a belief in proactive and entertaining players and teams.”His appointment as England coach is another feather in the cap for NSW cricket, which continues to produce players and coaches of outstanding quality. The highly anticipated Ashes series will now have an extra dimension, with Trevor coming up against nine NSW players he helped mentor who make up the bulk of Australia’s squad.In the short term, Farbrace will remain in charge for the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley and the limited-overs games that follow it.

Zimbabwe will become the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since March 2009, when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-20154:41

Pakistan’s international isolation ends

Zimbabwe will be the first Full Member nation to tour Pakistan since March 2009, when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, rendering the country untenable as an international cricket venue because of security concerns. Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed the tour in Harare on Thursday, saying all the games would be played in Lahore.The PCB announced on Twitter that Zimbabwe would arrive in Lahore on May 19, and play two Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs between May 22 and 31. The T20s will be played on May 22 and 24, and the ODIs on May 26, 29 and 31.New deal for Whatmore

Dav Whatmore will coach Zimbabwe for four more years, Zimbabwe Cricket has announced.
“We can also confirm that @dfwhatmore has signed a new four year contract with @ZimCricketv, ” ZC chairman Wilson Manase was quoted as saying by the board’s Twitter account.
Whatmore had been announced as Zimbabwe coach in December last year, taking over the role from Stephen Mangongo.

“I can confirm that @ZimCricketv will tour @TheRealPCB in May,” Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase was quoted as saying by the board’s Twitter account. “We have taken cognisance of all the factors for us to arrive at this decision, so let’s not be alarmist about the situation in Pakistan.”Alistair Campbell, Zimbabwe Cricket’s managing director, said Pakistan would also tour Zimbabwe in August. “We are touring Pakistan as a measure of establishing bilateral relations between us and them,” he was quoted as saying on ZC’s twitter account. “They will also come to Zimbabwe in August.” Zimbabwe Cricket had already announced tours by India and New Zealand in July and August.On March 3, 2009, gunmen had ambushed the vehicles transporting the Sri Lankan players and match officials to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the Test. Several players suffered injuries, while security personnel and civilians were killed, and as a result the match was abandoned and the tour called off. Ever since, Pakistan have had to play their home matches at offshore venues, primarily the UAE, as the ICC and other Full Members considered the country too much of a security risk.

Real-time Snicko and Hawkeye ball-tracking will be used, while Hot Spot will be absent from DRS deliberations at the World Cup in what looms as the final ICC event for the review system in its current form

Daniel Brettig07-Feb-2015Real-time Snicko and Hawkeye ball-tracking will be used, while Hot Spot will be absent from DRS deliberations at the World Cup in what looms as the final ICC event for the review system in its current form.The ICC’s cricket operations manager Geoff Allardice confirmed that the entire DRS system was to be reviewed and perhaps re-imagined between now and the next major event to use it – the 2017 Champions Trophy to be hosted by England. A review of the entire DRS system, in use in various forms since 2008, is set to land on Allardice’s desk at the ICC headquarters in Dubai in the second half of 2015.When combined with India’s longtime intransigence, that report may mark significant changes to the system, meaning the 2015 World Cup may come to be seen as 1987’s was – the last event to be played in whites and without any day/night matches scheduled. For now, Allardice confirmed the format of the DRS for the next six weeks, explaining that Hot Spot was largely ruled out due to the cost and difficulty of getting the required equipment to all venues across the two host countries.”They’ll be using ball tracking and the snicko for all matches. So it will be applied evenly across every match in the pool stage and the final stages,” Allardice said in Adelaide. “So the umpires all have tools and they’ve spent two days working through how to do the preparation for the tournaments and how to use the umpiring tools.”The primary reason for no Hot Spot is that the number of cameras needed to cover all matches given the schedule was just far in excess of the number available. So it wasn’t practical to do it for all matches under the same conditions, so that was the reason we didn’t go down that path.”The decision was taken a long time ago that the DRS was going to be used in ICC events in this cycle from 2007 through 2015. It was used in the 2011 World Cup, it was used at the Champions Trophy in 2013, and it’s used in this World Cup, so it’s business as usual.”Given the changes made to the ICC’s governance during 2014, Allardice hinted that it would be a rather different system in place by 2017, though the recommendations of the review are yet to be known. “I think the arrangements are around future events, so the next event wouldn’t use DRS under the current regime,” he said. “So 2017 as far as ICC events goes would be the next one International event we’d look at. I think there is still negotiation to take place as to how DRS will be used in that tournament.”There is work going on at the moment around reviewing DRS and the use of technology, and I think it’s been status quo to the World Cup using the same system we’ve used for a while. But I think after the World Cup we’ll revisit the last few years and see how it’s going and whether the protocols that are in place at the moment are the ones that serve our game the best.”Allardice also confirmed that, as reported by ESPNcricinfo in January, match officials would be encouraged to make stricter use of the flexible conditions contained within the ICC code of conduct to penalise players for poor on-field behaviour. Bans for level two offences will be far more likely at the World Cup than they have been for some time, something Allardice has stated to the competing teams during his pre-tournament technical briefings.”The main message is the umpires over the last four months or so have been quite strong in the way they’ve been reporting players who step over the line with the way that they conduct themselves either towards their opponent or towards the umpire or the game,” Allardice said. “And for the tournament itself, the umpires probably aren’t going to do things a lot different in terms of reporting players, but I think it’s with the World Cup coming along, the penalties might be just a touch higher than they’d otherwise be.”A level one offence you only have the option of fines, and the majority of incidents that occur in matches are at that level. So it might be stiffer fines. If players are conducting level two charges, suspension is an option. We don’t take the suspending of players lightly or there is not going to be an overreaction in that regard. But I think if a player does step across the line to such an extent that he warrants a suspension, I think the referees will consider that.”Each incident is case by case. But I think the general view is the starting point wouldn’t be at the minimum point of the range, it might be more in the middle.”

Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, have recruited Azhar Mahmood and Johan Botha as replacements for the injured pair of James Neesham and Chris Lynn for this IPL season

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Mar-2015Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, have recruited Azhar Mahmood and Johan Botha as replacements for the injured pair of James Neesham and Chris Lynn for this IPL season due to begin on April 8.Neesham, who failed to make New Zealand’s World Cup squad, has not regained match fitness after an unspecified injury. He had played four matches for Delhi Daredevils in 2014, was let go and later bought by Knight Riders for Rs 50 lakh during the auction in February.Lynn was ruled out for 10 weeks after a hamstring problem in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month. He equalled the record for the fastest fifty in the Big Bash League and finished ninth on the charts with 243 runs at a strike rate of 148.17. His first-class season had begun with a shoulder concern, but they were laid to rest during a double-century against Victoria in Brisbane. With form behind him, Lynn could have filled the vacancy left by Jacques Kallis, who retired from all forms of the game last year.Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders chief executive, admitted losing Lynn and Neesham was untimely, but was confident that Mahmood and Botha would excel.Mahmood’s vast experience – he has played 213 T20s – and knowledge of Indian conditions worked in his favour. He has played two seasons in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab – 2012 and 2013 – and made 382 runs at a strike-rate of 129.05. In 22 matches, he has also taken 29 wickets at an economy rate of 7.61.Botha, who played three seasons with Rajasthan Royals and then turned out for Daredevils in 2013, was picked by the coach Trevor Bayliss as cover for allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who will miss a part of the IPL due to national commitments since Bangladesh are scheduled to host Pakistan from April 15.Botha had an average BBL as a bowler, but as captain he led Adelaide Strikers into the semi-final. “He is the Shakib type of player,” Mysore said. “Whenever Shakib is unavailable Botha fits in in with similar skills.”Shakib is likely to play the first two matches at Eden Gardens – the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians on April 8 and three days later against Royal Challengers Bangalore. “He will play as many games as possible before and after the Pakistan tour,” Mysore said. “BCB has been most cooperative with us and keeping mind the Pakistan schedule he will be allowed to play to the extent possible.”

Dale Steyn had bided his time while South Africa built a position of supremacy against West Indies, but when he stirred the effect was lethal. West Indies were blown away within 15.3 overs, their last seven wickets falling for 55 runs

The Report by David Hopps20-Dec-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:59

Moonda: Steyn had figured out the correct lengths to bowl

Dale Steyn had bided his time while South Africa built a position of supremacy against West Indies, but when he stirred the effect was lethal. West Indies were blown away within 15.3 overs, their last seven wickets falling for 55 runs. It was a feeding frenzy and Steyn was the central figure, licking his lips over a morning spell of six for 31 in seven overs.What ails West Indies? Are the Caribbean islands so locked into an instant world that they no longer have the wherewithal to play Test cricket? A Test between the sides ranked No 1 and 8 in the world always had the potential for a mismatch, and South Africa’s victory by an innings and 220 runs – a win achieved by playing efficient but by no means unstoppable cricket – illustrated just as much.A wicket every 31 balls at SuperSport Park

1 Number of Tests South Africa have won by a bigger margin than this one. They had beaten Sri Lanka by a margin of an innings and 228 runs in Cape Town in 2001, which is their biggest win.

2 Tests West Indies have lost by a margin bigger than this one. Their worst defeat came against England in Leeds in 2007, when they lost by an innings and 283 runs. West Indies have now suffered 36 innings-defeats in Tests.

11 Number of five-wicket hauls by Dale Steyn in the second innings of a Test. Among fast bowlers, only Wasim Akram is ahead of him with 12 second innings five-wicket hauls. Richard Hadlee and Malcolm Marshall also have 11 such hauls. Steyn has taken 168 wickets in the second innings, the fifth highest by any fast bowler.

25 Five-wicket hauls by Steyn in Tests; he is now joint-fourth in the list of fast bowlers with most five-wicket hauls. Only Hadlee (36), Glenn McGrath (29) and Ian Botham (27) are ahead of him.

30.8 Steyn’s strike rate at SuperSport Park; he has taken 48 wickets at an average of 17.91 at this venue. Steyn’s strike rate at this venue is second only to Waqar Younis’ strike rate of 28.6 in Faisalabad among bowlers who have bowled at least 1000 deliveries at any venue.

Steyn had not taken a wicket in the first innings; he groused at a niggle or two when South Africa imposed the follow-on and left the field for most of the third evening, only bowling five deliveries. But South Africa were blasé about talk of injury. A good night’s rest sustained him. He beat Leon Johnson’s outside edge with the last ball of his first over, had him caught at the wicket with a rising delivery at the start of his third over and from that point restated his reputation as one of the finest fast bowlers in the history of the game.Steyn against Chanderpaul promised a contest. Chanderpaul squeezed a boundary through third slip and gully, squared up in the stroke. The crab sensed the tide was rushing out. Steyn banged one in short and Chanderpaul stooped into a ball that did not rise as much as he anticipated. AB de Villiers, deputising behind the stumps for the injured Quinton de Kock, who is out for the rest of the series, completed an easy catch. Steyn was now all malevolence.Even with only four wickets down, the suspicion was that the Test might be over with indecent haste. Steyn’s removal of Marlon Samuels in his next over was even nastier. Samuels’ intention was to work him to the leg side but the ball bounced more from a good length and as Samuels flinched back the ball arced gently off a leading edge to cover. The Centurion pitch, which had behaved impeccably on the first three days, was by now standing in Steyn’s corner.And so it went on. The captain, Denesh Ramdin, lasted two balls. He pushed blindly at the first and gained a boundary through point that he knew he did not deserve. Steyn responded with a short one, as if offended, and as the ball flew off the shoulder of the bat, de Villiers sprung in front of Amla at first slip to take the catch. When Steyn is in this mood, expectation makes men giants in the close-catching cordon.The overs at the other end, whether propelled by Vernon Philander or Morne Morkel, had merely seemed back-up entertainment while Steyn rested. It felt like an error in the programme when Steyn went an over without a wicket, even more so when Morkel intervened, jagging one back at Jermaine Blackwood. His bottom hand flew off the handle – the West Indies looked spooked – and from the released glove the substitute, Temba Bavuma, took a good catch at short leg.With Kemar Roach not batting, South Africa only needed two more wickets. That they would be taken quickly was never in doubt. Steyn’s fifth was a regulation catch at first slip; his sixth another leading edge – Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cottrell two tail-enders out of their depth. Somewhere amid the final throes, Sulieman Benn managed a faint riposte by whacking Morkel through midwicket. But the presentation platform was hauled out with lunch still 70 minutes away. West Indies had been dismissed twice in four sessions.In Brisbane, a proper Test series was enthralling crowds, India ultimately overpowered at The Gabba. Elsewhere in Australia, the Big Bash was providing more instant gratification. In South Africa, the No 1 Test side felt itself all-powerful as an emphatic victory was completed. It no doubt felt gratifying. But it was best not to analyse it too deeply, even allowing for the classical sight of Dale Steyn sniffing the muggy Centurion air in anticipation of the easy pickings to come.