Jason Gillespie has lashed out at the South Australian Cricket Association for speaking to the media about in-house problems with the team. The on Thursday reported that the Redbacks’ performance – they are last on both the Pura Cup and Ford Ranger Cup tables – had prompted the SACA to have stern words with the captain Darren Lehmann and the coach Wayne Phillips.The paper said the SACA chief executive Mike Deare and the high-performance director Rod Marsh were concerned with off-field behaviour, lack of team leadership, technical flaws in top-order batsmen, potential salary cap constraints and Mark Cosgrove’s ongoing weight problems.But Gillespie, who spearheaded the team’s return to form with five wickets against Queensland today, said airing their dirty laundry in public was no way to handle the situation. “As a playing group, reading the things said in the press from people within the organisation, it’s disappointing because you want support from your employers,” Gillespie told .”You don’t want people coming out and caning you, having a go at you. We’re all moving in the one direction and I’d like to think they’re supporting us. To come out publicly and have a go at us I think is the wrong way to go about it.”Maybe their idea is let’s put a rocket up them, but it doesn’t work that way. If you’ve got an issue, come and talk to us privately, don’t bring it out in the media, come out and give us support, say ‘we’re behind you 100 per cent guys’. Yesterday’s press didn’t show that.”We can’t win now because they’ll say that’s exactly what we want them to do, put a rocket up the guys and see if you perform, but guaranteed we weren’t doing it for them, we want to do it for ourselves, our support staff and supporters.”
Greg ChappellOn experimenting with new players and the squad for the game We intend to play all the players over the next three games. We haven’t taken a final decision on the squad yet and haven’t even decided on the 13. We will take a call depending on the conditions tomorrow. We need to give everyone a chance. You need more than 11 or 12 players in your side. It’s also good to keep freshness going and managing your assets well. It keeps everyone going and guards against injury and bad form.On the dew factor tomorrow Yes, it’s a factor to consider and we will think about it. But I think we’ve done well either way. It should not be too much of a concern.On Harbhajan Singh’s improvement in this series He has worked very hard. He did well in the Challenger Trophy in Mohali. He’s made technical changes with his flight and bounce and he’s such a good bowler when he’s getting bounce.On Yuvraj Singh’s poor run in the last four games He’s done well in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and saves us a lot of runs on the field. You need everyone to contribute in at least two out of the three aspects of the game and I think we’ve got quite a few allrounders in the side – Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj, Sachin Tendulkar. It would be great for him if he scores runs, but he’s contributing well to the side.On Mahendra Singh Dhoni He’s a confident individual without any cockiness. He has a good mind as he showed with a power innings one day and a finesse innings on another day. His great form with the bat is rubbing off on his wicketkeeping as well. It’s also rubbing off on the others in the side.On the players talking much more about cricket in the dressing-room It’s good for all the players. I think we’re talking much more about cricket, discussing scenarios, debriefing after the matches. It’s important to know what different players think of each other’s games. It’s been great with the seniors getting involved. Sometimes, only when someone asks you a question do you become aware that you know something. The best way to learn is to teach someone.Tom MoodyOn the pitch and conditions for tomorrow’s game It’s another good cricket wicket. Obviously, being a day-night fixture, we’re going to be faced with difference in conditions from afternoon to evening. But both teams have to face it and we need to rise for the challenge.On nothing working for the team during the series I don’t think it’s quite that blunt. I think India came out in the earlier part of the series punching and their chances came off. They shuffled their batting order and that came off. We performed a lot better in the last two games but have fallen short in a couple of areas.On the lessons from this series We need to be realistic. We didn’t perform upto our usual level. Playing here is different and playing in Sri Lanka is different. We’re enjoying the challenge. What we have to realise is that one-day cricket is played all over the world in different conditions and we need to adapt to it.Mahela Jayawardene On the team’s performance In the last two games, I thought the guys performed really well. We almost won the last game before Raina and Dhoni took it away. We’re lacking that final blow, the killer instinct. But as a team everything is coming together and we hope to win in the last three games.On what Sri Lanka learnt in the last four games There are a lot of positives to be taken from this series. We came back even after the Indians attacked. We will look at this as a three-match series from now on and push ourselves to the limit. That will help us get some momentum for the Tests.
Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the first leg of Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand after the selectors decided that he needed to prove his fitness first. Marvan Atapattu had urged the selectors to let Muralitharan accompany the team right from the start, but they have chosen instead to ask him to step up his rehabilitation at home.The selectors are also keen for him to bowl in a domestic match, and he will try to play in a board-organised internal practice game on Dec 27 to prove his fitness. This means that he will not be able to be monitored closely by CJ Clarke, the team physiotherapist, although he will have access to Sri Lanka Cricket masseurs. It will also reduce the risk of him being rushed back too early, as has happened in the past, particularly during the last tour of England in 2002.Nevertheless, Murali remains confident that his right shoulder will have recovered sufficiently for him to participate in the Test series, which starts at Hamilton on January 15. At the moment, he is working furiously hard in the team gymnasium at Sri Lanka Cricket’s headquarters, and is regularly treating the shoulder with ice-packs.He has also resumed bowling in the nets after Dr David Young, his Melbourne-based surgeon, pronounced himself satisfied with the speed of his recovery. Muralitharan currently bowls 24 balls every other day, and that workload will be gradually increased during the course of the month.The shoulder is still painful, but that was always expected to be the case until it had healed completely.
Hampshire’s bid to find an immediate replacement for Wasim Akram suffered a setback yesterday after they failed to sign Heath Streak as their second overseas player.Streak played for Hampshire in 1995 and scored 378 runs at an average of 15 and took 53 wickets at just under 31, but made a good impression with his positive attitude.Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said: “We have just talked to Heath but he can’t help. He has just completed a hard tour and has holiday plans before taking on Australia.”Streak’s refusal follows a succession of unlucky breaks concerning Hampshire and overseas players. Before Wasim’s departure, Shoaib Akhtar – now playing for Durham – turned them down for international commitments, and Shane Warne was unable to fulfil his captaincy role due to a one-year ban.And just to make matters worse, they have got problems with their English players. Ed Giddins, out of form and favour, has only played only three Championship matches and will today have talks with county officials to discuss his future. Add to that an injury list including Alan Mullally, Robin Smith, Shuan Udal and Alex Morris and all’s not rosy in Hampshire’s garden.
Sussex CCC are pleased to announce that Murray Goodwin has agreed a newtwo-year contract which will keep him at the Club until the end of the 2003season.This obviously means that Michael Bevan will not be coming back next year and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all he has done for the Club both on and off the field.
You know those pages on Facebook that clog up your news feeds? Annoying aren’t they. Usually pointless advertising and spamming of my own personal social media space (an oxymoron if ever there was one), however in amongst the adverts making me feel inadequate about my manhood (why these are on a Fifa banter page, god only knows) but one fan asked a question that got me thinking, ‘Who is the best left back in the Premier League?’
Firstly let me say, Ashley Cole is not going to be considered because my twenty year plan to make Cheryl Cole/Tweedy my wife will be ruined if she reads this article about what a wonderful left back he is/was.
Jose Enrique appears to be one of the bargains of the season so far at £6 million, with the Spaniard being key in Liverpool only conceding 18 Premier League goals this season, which is only bettered by Manchester City (16). The former Newcastle United player has defended with maturity and attacked with force, encompassing everything the modern day full back is about, however Enrique is yet to make his international debut which is surprising given his form and Spain’s supposed shortage at left back.
Leighton Baines, arguably the most consistent left back over the last two years or so which has started to earn the defender recognition at international level. The former Wigan Athletic man has an attribute that hasn’t been seen in a left back since Roberto Carlos and that is his ability from dead ball situations, which has proved invaluable to Everton with the likes of Louis Saha making Emile Heskey look prolific.
Neil Taylor has been one of several positives from the Premier League new boys Swansea this year, the Welsh outfit have been a great addition to the world’s best league. The Wales international has it all, the pace, the calmness when under pressure and the attacking tendencies; admittedly at 22 the former Wrexham defender isn’t the complete package but given a season or two at the top level and rumours such as the ones linking him with Arsenal will, no doubt be a common occurrence.
Admittedly I started this article thinking there were going to be five or six decent left backs but clearly I’m mistaken.
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Overall, you can’t overlook consistency and Baines has been a solid performer for two seasons now. Although the Englishman may not have the Spanish flair or the ability to reach the levels Neil Taylor can, at the moment you can’t look past the Everton man.
Let me know who you think is the best or just give me advice on how to make Cheryl Cole mine at www.danieltblazer.com or on Twitter @DanielTBlazer
Wikipedia tells me there are four types of defender: centre back, sweeper, full back and wing back, but I’m struggling to see where any of the players I will mention in my list represent these positions.
Defending is an art, and since the Premier League’s inception in 1992 it has given us world class defenders such as Tony Adams, John Terry and Steve Bruce. These players, like so many, commanded their backlines, put their bodies on the line to block a shot and popped up with the odd goal.
Like so many wonderful things there is always a downside, this downside comes in the form of ten reckless, clumsy and talentless defenders who have somehow made in onto the world’s biggest footballing stage.
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Click on Ramon Vega below to see the Top TEN
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Transfer deadline day saw ex-Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Eidur Gudjohnsen seal a one year contract with Stoke City. Potter’s boss Tony Pulis has been busy in the transfer window, building an exciting project at the Brittania Stadium bringing in Jermaine Pennant, Marc Wilson and Kenwyne Jones. However, the signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen is the most high-profile move of the lot and could prove lucrative in Stoke’s ambition to establish themselves as a Premier League mainstay.
Not to put down a club of Stoke’s stature but I was surprised other Premier League teams declined to bid for the Icelander. He is a player with a great pedigree in the Premier League having made his name at Chelsea where he is idolised by the Stamford Bridge faithful.
He joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in 2000 and spent 6 years at the Bridge where he was to become a firm fans’ favourite. He formed a deadly partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, scoring 23 goals in the 2001-2002 season. Not just an out-and-out goalscorer, Gudjohnsen also has technique, skill and vision in abundance which has led to him being cast in his present role as an attacking midfielder.
Gudjohnsen first found himself playing as an attacking midfielder under Jose Mourinho after competition for places upfront at Chelsea were limiting Gudjohnsen’s chances of starting for the Blues. Mourinho knew that Gudjohnsen was too good a player to leave out of the team completely and began to mould the striker to play in a deeper midfield role; a role which Gudjohnsen took to with relish.
The former striker was a revelation in midfield contributing 60 assists in his 6 year spell in West London. However, competition for first team places became fierce at Chelsea and Gudjohnsen moved to Spain and signed for Spanish giants Barcelona.
Gudjohnsen had his ups and downs at the Camp Nou but his quality as a player was never in doubt. He failed to establish himself as a first team regular under Frank Rijkaard or Pep Guardiola despite a number of impressive performances and was signed by Monaco at the beginning of last season. His stint in the French principality was not to be a happy one as Gudjohnsen struggled for form but Harry Redknapp was savvy to Gudjohnsen’s talents and brought him to White Hart Lane on loan for the second half of last season.
It was probably when Gudjohnsen was on loan at Tottenham that Tony Pulis first took notice of the Icelander as it was he who inspired Tottenham to a 2-1 win against Stoke at the tail-end of last season. Gudjohnsen was in inspired form, scoring Spur’s opening goal with a consummate left foot finish after he was played in by Peter Crouch. His movement and was a nightmare all game for the Stoke defence and it was to prove decisive as Gudjohnsen unselfishly dummied a cross from the left to allow Nico Kranjar to smash in the winner for Tottenham.
Now that Gudjohnsen has signed for Stoke, it will be interesting to see whether his arrival will signal a change in philosophy for manager Tony Pulis. His rugged, direct style of football has been hugely successful for the Potters to date but with players such as Tuncay and Gudjohnsen, Pulis certainly has the players to play a more progressive brand of football should he so please.
Gudjohnsen will need time to get to match fitness after missing preseason and has the two week international break before Stoke’s match against Aston Villa to do so. But once he does get there, I have no doubt that Gudjohnsen will prove to be a great addition to the Stoke team.
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A welcome addition to the Premier League’s Wag arena – Click on image below to view gallery
The excitement can begin, even though 2012 is just a few days old, preparations should be under way for this summer and Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland where England will once again fall at the quarter finals stage and the players will be roundly slated.
But the main positive for me and for plenty of Premier League players is that Mr Capello will be leaving his post as manager when England’s tournament comes to an end. The overpriced Italian coach has failed to improve the Three Lions in his spell here, even though a promising group of youngsters have emerged to work well with some key experienced players.
I feel that a number of players have not been given a fair chance over the past few years in a time of need; especially at the World Cup in South Africa where the squad was missing some key attributes that were obvious to the majority of fans. On that note, here is an alternate England XI that have been harshly ignored by Fabio Capello during his reign.
Click on Steven Taylor below to unveil the alternate England XI
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Who do you think should be in the alternate XI? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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Mid-table Maritimo extended their unbeaten run to four with a 1-1 home draw with Nacional in the Liga Sagres on Friday.The hosts entered the game on the back of three consecutive victories, which had lifted them to eighth, and grabbed a result against a Nacional side who are still fighting it out for third position with the likes of Sporting Braga and Sporting Lisbon.
Campos Djalma put Maritimo in the lead after just 16 minutes, with the Angolan continuing his hot streak of form with the early goal.
It was Djalma’s fifth goal in six matches for his side and handed the free-scoring Maritimo the initiative, although they could not add to their advantage in the first half.
Nacional came out in the second half keen to impress and grabbed an early equaliser through Brazilian Diego Barcelos.
Neither side could find a winning goal in a tense finale as both sides shared the spoils at the Estadio dos Barreiros.