Shahryar Khan, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has denied reports that he made Inzamam-ul-Haq a dictator while expressing disagreement over the findings by the Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC).The PEC, formed by the PCB in order to dig into the World Cup debacle, released its report earlier this month and claimed that the former chairman had backed Inzamam during the Oval fiasco that made him a dictator and, in turn, led to Pakistan’s poor performance in the World Cup.”The PEC, in its proceedings, has discussed my tenure and criticised me, but its claim that I made Inzamam a ‘dictator’ is absolutely wrong,” Shaharyar told the daily . “I am not saying Inzamam was an ideal captain but he was a better choice. He had been performing well with the bat and as captain, too. There was not a single true cricket lover, who could say two years ago to change Inzamam as captain because he is a ‘dictator’ or more religious.””I believe Inzamam was Pakistan’s only reliable batsman during the critical period as Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan improved later to strengthen the middle order,” he said. “There are some shortcomings in Inzamam but his collaboration with coach, the late Bob Woolmer, had lifted Pakistan from seventh to the third spot in world rankings.”As a captain Inzamam has the right to make a demand to the PCB. But on many occasions I did not accept his demands. For example he wanted to retain Moin Khan in the team but we introduced Kamran Akmal and similarly the selectors had called up Yasir Hameed from the last tour of India, though Inzamam did not agree to that.”He dispelled the impression that he supported Inzamam, even after The Oval Test. “After the Oval flop, I did not support Inzamam,” Shahryar said. He also said that Inzamam was not only the team’s leader but their spiritual head as well.Shahryar resigned as PCB’s chairman last year. He was under pressure due to the handling of The Oval forfeiture and following Younis’s refusal to act as captain when Inzamam was unavailable for the Champions Trophy.
A Cricket Australia opinion poll has confirmed what has been evident Down Under since last September – that the Ashes loss to England hurt Australians more than any other sporting defeat.The survey of 1200 sports fans, conducted by pollsters Newspoll, found that 63% regarded the Ashes as the nation’s most-coveted sporting trophy, well ahead of the nearest contender, football’s World Cup, which recorded 8% of the votes.Cricket’s World Cup was next, with 7%, followed by the Davis Cup (6%) and the rugby World Cup, which polled 5%.”When it comes to Australian team sporting prizes, it’s clear that the public consider the Ashes to be the pinnacle,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. “We expect the whole country will be gripped by Ashes fever when the Ashes series begins later this year.”An in-form Australia will attempt to avenge its first Ashes loss in 16 years this southern hemisphere summer when England travel Down Under for the five-Test series.
Rod Marsh, the director of the ECB Academy, has begun the process of handing over the reins to his successor, Peter Moores, by stepping down from the selection panel for the remainder of the summer.For the remainder of the summer, a three-man panel of David Graveney, Geoff Miller and Duncan Fletcher will take charge of squad selection – for the NatWest Challenge and the five Ashes Tests – with Moores acting as an advisor until he takes over from Marsh in September.”Given my move back to Australia, I think it is right that David, Geoff and Duncan take the lead with the England Ashes squad this summer,” said Marsh, who has quit his post to spend more time with his family. “I shall always be pleased to fully support the selection panel and provide any input required.”Marsh has not always seen eye-to-eye with his selection-panel colleagues, and the unilateral decision to drop Marsh’s wicketkeeping protégé, Chris Read, in favour of Geraint Jones, caused a notable rift with Fletcher during the Caribbean tour last April.But David Collier, the ECB chief executive, was quick to praise Marsh’s efforts, as well as the timing of his handover. “It is typical of Rod that he has taken the initiative to ensure that we have a perfect handover. Rod has developed the facility and programme at Loughborough to world-class standards. Thanks to Rod we are the envy not only of the cricket world but also of many other sports.”
Jacques Rudolph led the South African fightback with a spirited 121 not out, but New Zealand struck vital blows late in the day to seize the initiative. Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis chipped in with breezy half-centuries, but the loss of four quick wickets – three of them to Chris Martin – left South Africa precariously placed, still 22 runs in arrears, by the close.The turning point came in the 72nd over of the day, 11 overs from the end. Kallis and Rudolph were sailing along, and their 146-run stand had allowed South Africa to entertain hopes of saving the match. But with the scoreboard showing 249 for 2, Craig McMillan managed some reverse-swing with his bubbly medium-pace, and beat Kallis with one that came in late. The ball kept a bit low, thudded into the pads, and Asoka de Silva upheld the appeal. Kallis thus missed out on his opportunity to equal Don Bradman’s record of six hundreds in consecutive Tests.More importantly, the momentum had shifted, and within the span of eight balls, Chris Martin had swung matters back New Zealand’s way. Gary Kirsten misread a straight one, and trudged away after a forgettable 100th Test. The first ball Neil McKenzie faced was full on leg stump, and he tried to scoop it over the infield. Michael Papps leapt up and grabbed it in stunning fashion.South Africa had lost three wickets for one run, and Martin hammered one more nail into their coffin in the penultimate over of the day: Mark Boucher poked nervously and the edge flew to first slip (272 for 6). Martin had taken four wickets in nine overs, and ten in the match, the best figures for a New Zealander against South Africa. Barring some lower-order heroics tomorrow, Martin’s bowling will have decided this Test.However, before the procession late in the day, South Africa’s top order had hit back hard. Gibbs wasn’t prepared to bide his time, and went after the bowlers with ferocity. By lunch, he had raced to 46, as nine fours whistled away. Two fours and a six followed after lunch, before he was rapped on the pads by one from Jacob Oram and given out. The TV replays, however, showed the ball to be missing leg stump (103 for 2).
That decision might have gone against South Africa, but there were two others that went their way. Rudolph offered no shot to Daniel Vettori when the ball appeared to be headed towards the stumps, while Kallis – on 16 – was palpably out when Scott Styris struck him on the pads with one that pitched outside off, cut back, stayed low and crashed into the front pad. The front foot wasn’t too far forward and everyone, bar the umpire Aleem Dar, was convinced.Both Jacques made the most of their reprieves. Kallis was in glorious touch right from the first ball. The first four he hit was a imperious straight-drive that burnt the grass as it zipped along. He continued in majestic vein, including a mighty six of Vettori, and brought up his fifty in 69 balls.Rudolph wasn’t as aggressive, but put away the loose stuff without any fuss. He pulled with confidence and was selective about his driving. He left most of the wide ones alone, as if making up for his first-innings dismissal, but didn’t miss out on the half-volleys. Neither batsman allowed Vettori to settle, and used their feet when it was tossed up.Rudolph reached his third Test century with a lashed pull, and continued in confident fashion while others fell around him. He wasn’t troubled by the reverse-swing late in the day, and even creamed a few gorgeous fours when edges and appeals were flying at the other end. Having come in for the second ball of the innings, after Smith had been bowled by Martin, he stroked 20 fours and a six in his unbeaten effort. Yet he will have to do even more if South Africa are to stay afloat.With the ball still new, New Zealand will smell blood tomorrow morning. They are now overwhelming favourites to go one up, with one to play. As for Martin, he just couldn’t stay out of the record books. When he batted, he was bowled third ball for 0 – his ninth consecutive scoreless innings in Tests, a record.
With less than one hundred days to go until the start of the first class cricket season everyone at Somerset County Cricket Club is geared towards making sure that everything is in place to enable the club to gain promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.The club has already made three significant new signings in West Indian fast bowler Nixon McLean, South African batsman James Bryant and former Middlesex all rounder Aaron Laraman, whose presence will change the make up of the side, and create renewed competition for places among established players."The players are already well into their preparations for the new season, and I have been very pleased with their reactions so far, " Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me, just before the Christmas break.He continued: "Every player has a full developmental programme with a specific training emphasis which have been drawn up as a result of looking at footage from the `crick-stat’ videos that has been analysed by Andy Hurry. We have sat down and talked with each player about how to improve their game."Looking ahead to the new year he told me: "Everyone will have a regular full specific skills session with me, and timetabled nets with the Academy players along with specific fielding sessions, in addition to working with Darren Veness and Andy Hurry on their physical fitness."What was he hoping for in 2003 I asked. He told me: "This is an exciting and important season for us and the players are all geared up and ready to go.We know that we have got to get promotion, it’s as simple as that."
A day after the comprehensive eight-wicket win against Zimbabwe in thefirst Test, every member of the Indian cricket team was savouringIndia’s first Test victory outside the sub-continent in 15 years whichhad a different significance for each of them.For the senior members of the team like Sachin Tendulkar and JavagalSrinath, who have been in international cricket for a number of yearsnow, the win hasn’t come a day too early.”It is very thrilling. I hope it starts from here,” said Tendulkar whoplayed a major role in the victory with knocks of 74 and 36 not out inthe two innings. “I would not like to compare it with any other Testwin. But the boys are sticking together and it is a great sign. I hopeit stays this way,” he said.Srinath, who took four wickets in the match, was more sombre. “Thiswin was overdue. It was time we succeeded. We lost out on winningquite a few close games in the last few years. It is time we make upfor those lost opportunities.”For Sourav Ganguly this was the fifth Test win in seven matches ascaptain and the stylish left-hander was obviously jubilant and echoedSrinath’s views.”There were occasions in the past when we came quite close to winning.There are so many Tests I can remember. There was one in Johannesburg,then Barbados, Wellington. Indeed Barbados was the saddest. We neededjust 120 runs to win the game and couldn’t do it,” he said trying toput the victory in proper perspective.Vice-captain Rahul Dravid was cautious in his hour of joy. “I am veryhappy at the moment. But there is still a lot of cricket to be playedin the next one year. We have to keep our feet on the ground.”For the younger lot, the victory was a continuation of thecelebrations that started with the stunning series win againstAustralia back home.Wicket-keeper Samir Dighe, who came up with another determined battingdisplay following his match-winning performance in the Chennai Testagainst the Australians, was very happy that he could contributetowards India’s win.”I am very fortunate that I have played two Tests so far and India haswon both the games. It is a great satisfaction that I could play arole in the victory,” Dighe, who made 47 runs in the first innings,said.Similarly, Harbhajan Singh, hero of the series win against Australia,made a fine contribution both with bat and ball. “I am happy I am amember of this team,” was all that he could say.Having won the match inside four days, the Indians could afford torelax today. Even coach John Wright, the hard taskmaster that he is,had no objections. “They have earned a break,” he said.The Indians declined an offer of a safari from Zimbabwe captain HeathStreak who also invited them to visit his farmhouse in the afternoonand were more keen to catch the evening flight for Harare where thesecond Test starts on Thursday.The Indians had a joint dinner at the hotel restaurant last eveningand the celebrations continued late into the night. The secretary ofthe Board of Control for Cricket in India Jaywant Lele was the firstone to call up and congratulate the team for its fine performance.However, amidst all the partying the team was well aware that the winwas just a start and the Indians had a hectic schedule abroad for therest of the year during which they need to continue the good work.”There is still a lot of cricket left in this tour and then over thenext one year. We must retain our focus,” Tendulkar said.Srinath said the task was only half over. “We must not forget there isstill a Test left in this series. We must not lose our overallobjective in this moment of victory – and that is to win the series2-0.”A final note of caution came from team manager Chetan Chauhan. “Wecan’t afford to be complacent. The Zimbabweans have it in them tobounce back.”
Crystal Palace have been given a huge boost ahead of their match with Arsenal as £1.3m-rated midfielder James McArthur is expected to return from injury.
The Scotsman was out for 12 weeks earlier this season after he suffered a hamstring tear, before picking up another injury when returning in February.
He has been a key player for the Eagles since he joined from Wigan in 2014 for £7.9m. The 34-year old has made 242 appearances in a Palace shirt and is the vice-captain at Selhurst Park.
His return will be huge for the dressing room, especially considering Palace are without their star forwards Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha who picked up injuries of their own whilst on international duty.
McArthur’s leadership qualities will be useful against a strong Arsenal side with Vieira describing him as “valuable” and “a warrior” when being interviewed earlier in the season.
The Eagles will be looking to better the result in the reverse fixtures at the Emirates Stadium where it finished 2-2. McArthur featured in that game but was lucky not to be shown a red card after ‘channelling his inner Vieira’ in a crunch tackle on Bukayo Saka.
His defensive attributes can be pivotal in stopping the Gunners, with the veteran midfielder ranking inside the top 10% in the past year across Europe’s top five league for blocks, clearances and recovering loose balls.
While Palace supporters are full of praise for McArthur’s impact, he is one of those players that go under the radar for those who aren’t followers of the club.
He may not be the most entertaining, but he fights and does the work that perhaps some other players are reluctant to.
Despite not featuring much this campaign, his impact has shown he is a player who picks up the ball a lot and has tallied 511 touches in the Palace midfield third, which is higher than Cheikhou Kouyaté who has featured a lot in his place.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Whether he will start in tonight’s game remains to be seen, he might only be partly fit, but as soon as Vieira can use him he should.
He could play a key part in making sure Palace finish as high as possible in the Premier League, meaning his manager will be delighted to have him back fit and firing.
IN other news: CPFC plot bid for “super talented” 34-goal gem, just imagine him & Olise…
Cricket fans in England who were up in arms when Sky Sports were given an exclusive four-year deal to televise all England’s home matches live have fortified themselves with the hope that come 2009, when the existing contract is up for renewal, the BBC or Channel 4 will re-enter the fray and bring coverage back to free-to-air terrestrial TV.However, a new player has emerged on the scene in the form of Setanta Sports, a rival to Sky but one with far fewer subscribers. Last month Setanta secured the rights to broadcast the Indian Premier League – neither Sky nor any terrestrial channel bid – and it has now set its sights on the bigger prize.”It’s something we are looking at,” Trevor East, Setanta’s director of sports, told The Wisden Cricketer. “I wouldn’t rule out Test matches … I wouldn’t rule anything out. Cricket’s one sports we haven’t had any involvement with in our short growth period and it’s been on my list.”If [the IPL] is a success we might look at some other cricket properties.”Setanta will take the Indian feed for the IPL but if they do expand their coverage of the game then East said they would look at finding their own presenters.
Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, was a key player in the negotiations which ended up with the rights being awarded to Sky. Click here to see what he said back then.
Marlon Samuels has been dropped from the 15-man squad for the four-Test series in England which starts next week. There are few surprises in the choices, although there is no back-up wicketkeeper or specialist spinner in the side. Ravi Rampaul returns while there is an overdue call-up for allrounder Darren Sammy.Gordon Greenidge, the former opener and current convenor of selectors, put his faith in the side when he explained the selection. “The task has not been easy, especially given the fact that the performance for the recently-completed World Cup wasn’t as great as we had all hoped,” he said during the announcement on local television. “We feel that this squad should perform credibly. We feel we have a good mix, and we’re hoping that this mix will start the ball rolling as far as the redevelopment or the re-defining of West Indies cricket for the future.”Greenidge also said he would address the squad prior to their departure regarding reports of indiscipline during the World Cup.Former West Indies selector Joey Carew expressed some surprise at the squad. “I can’t criticise the selections. The fact that [Marlon] Samuels and [Pedro] Collins are not there is noticeable,” he told . “I thought they would have chosen a spinner, Dave Mohammed, but they may think he is not up to Test standard.”Ramnaresh Sarwan, the newly appointed West Indies captain, insisted that the team needed support. ” I think it is important that the team gets the support which it needs to take West Indies cricket forward,” he said, while indicating that the team would struggle in the absence of Brian Lara.”I think it is an opportunity, obviously Brian was a tremendous player for us and a tremendous player for the world. I think that it is an opportunity for the younger players to actually show their skills and what they are made of. I am sure that they will be looking forward to it. It is very important for us to play as a team, as I have said before, and it cannot be a one-man show. I am sure that we will be able to pull together as a team and that the other players will be able to mature on the tour.”In regards to criticism of his game, Sarwan said the captaincy was an opportunity to step up. “Obviously, I have got out in different fashions – playing rash strokes – and maybe this is a blessing is disguise to give me more responsibility and this is something which I think that I need. So it is something which I am looking forward too and I am going to try and make the best of it.”The side leaves the Caribbean on May 8 and plays one three-day warm-up match against Somerset before the Lord’s Test on May 17. The squad for the three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches which follow the Tests will be named later.West Indies squad Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul.
Robert Key has been named as captain of a strong England A side for their four-day match against the Sri Lankans at Worcester, as the preparations for the first Test at Lord’s on May 11 step up another gear.The fixture represents a radical departure from the established pattern for touring sides’ warm-ups. In the past, visiting teams would often face second-string county attacks with key players rested, but the ECB has rightly taken the view that a chance for their reserve players to take on international opposition should not be squandered.”This is the first opportunity an England A side has had to take on a touring side in this country,” said England’s chairman of selectors, David Graveney, “and it allows players who are currently on the fringe of the international arena to press for places in our Test and one-day sides.”The team includes six players who were selected for England’s winter tours: Alastair Cook, Alex Loudon, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett and Owais Shah, together with Chris Tremlett, who had to withdraw from the Pakistan tour through injury. Key himself might have been called up in India had it not been for shoulder surgery, while Middlesex’s Ed Joyce was mentioned in several dispatches after a successful season in 2005. Surrey’s allrounder Rikki Clarke, meanwhile, played two Tests against Bangladesh in 2003-04.Perhaps the most intriguing selection, however, is that of Chris Read – England’s former wicketkeeper who has already scored two hundreds this season, one for Nottinghamshire v MCC in the season curtain-raiser at Lord’s, and another in the rain-ruined match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge last week.Read, the best gloveman in the country, was axed from England’s Test side two years ago after Duncan Fletcher voiced concerns about his batting, but another good show here and he could yet find himself pushing for Geraint Jones’s Test place, which remains in jeopardy after another mixed winter.A pace attack of Plunkett, Mahmood and Tremlett represents a three-way shootout between the likely lads of the next generation, and Sri Lanka’s batsmen can expect a hostile reception when the match gets underway. For Tremlett, it will be an important chance to test his problematic knee, which held together successfully in the C&G victory over Ireland on Sunday.Alex Loudon, the forgotten man of England’s winter, gets another chance to push his credentials in a match situation, an especially timely opportunity given that England’s leading spinner, Ashley Giles, is unavailable at least until the arrival of Pakistan.Graveney confirmed that these contests are intended to become an integral part of the English season. “We also look forward to England A hosting Pakistan at Canterbury later in the summer,” he said. “[They] will become an important yardstick for the selectors in measuring how our best young players shape up against top quality opposition.”England A Robert Key (capt), Alastair Cook, Owais Shah, Ed Joyce, Ravi Bopara, Alex Loudon, Rikki Clarke, Chris Read, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Sajid Mahmood, Coach: Peter Moores, ECB National Academy Director