Mark Cosgrove is disappointed after it emerged he was dropped for being out of shape as well as his poor form, saying South Australia should base selection on runs only. This is the second time in three seasons that Cosgrove, who debuted for Australia 18 months ago, has been dumped owing to fitness concerns.Cosgrove, 23, denied that his weight affected his game. “I don’t think it makes any difference at all,” he told the Adelaide Advertiser. “All you have to do is watch the ball, hit the ball. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to play cricket.”He averages 26.15 in first-class matches this year but he is the fifth highest run scorer for the struggling team. After retirements and the poor batting form of some team-mates, he still also averages in the top five of the recognised and available batsmen.”I don’t think I have let myself down in any shape or form. I can bat, bowl and I’m catching pretty well, so I am pretty disappointed. I didn’t think I was going that bad. I didn’t see it coming. I am the first to say I am not hitting them that great. This year was pretty disappointing but it was still a shock.”Graham Manou, South Australia’s captain, offered his support. “Mark’s got to go away and decide what he wants to do and what’s best,” he told . “That’s him playing good cricket and obviously presenting himself in the best possible fashion like the 28 other blokes in the squad.”As a mate it disappoints me to be honest with you, he’s got more talent in his little finger than a lot of other people going around playing parkland cricket and I’m sure they’re frustrated for him. We need him playing for us, he’s by far our best batsman when he’s going well and this week was one of the saddest I’ve had as a mate for him.”Mark Sorell, South Australia’s coach, said that Cosgrove was dropped for form and fitness reasons. “He knows he needs to be in the best possible shape to be a three-tiered player for us – batting, bowling and fielding,” Sorell told the Adelaide-based Messenger earlier this month. “We’ve talked about the need for him to be the best he possibly can and he’s got to keep working at that.”The batsman has played three ODIs, making 74 on his debut against Bangladesh in 2006 but a return to international cricket seems further away than ever. He can’t even buy a run at club level, in two knocks for Northern Districts this season he has made 3 and 12.
Craig McMillan has added to New Zealand’s injury problems ahead of Friday’s match against England after suffering severe foot bruising.McMillan was struck on the big toe by a Shane Bond yorker during a net session in Gros Islet on Wednesday and was sent for x-rays.No break was revealed but he has bad bruising and a team spokesman told NZPA McMillan’s hopes of playing on Friday were in severe jeopardy.New Zealand also have concerns over the batsman Peter Fulton and the bowler Mark Gillespie.Gillespie has a lingering virus and is not expected to play while a New Zealand television report said Fulton would turn out despite a broken finger.It was also a painful day for England with James Anderson suffering a fractured little finger during catching practice.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet taken any decision on retaining Mushtaq Ahmed, the legspinner, as the assistant coach of the senior team for the home series against India. According to Shaharyar Khan, the board Chairman, although Mushtaq worked as a bowling analyst in the one-day series against England only the ad-hoc committee was authorised to take a decision on retaining and promoting him as assistant coach of the senior team.”We have taken no decision on the assistant coach so far. It is true that Mushtaq’s credentials are strong and he did a good job against England according to the team management. But we have some other candidates in mind and the final decision would only be made by the ad-hoc committee,” he said.Mushtaq was first selected as a member of the Pakistan squad for the Test series against England but was then dropped for the five one-dayers. But the Board on the recommendation of the team management then appointed him as a bowling consultant. Shaharyar said the next meeting of the ad-hoc committee would be held soon when all members were available. “Obviously we would want to reach a decision on this issue before the first Test against India from January 13,” he said.However, although Inzamam-ul-Haq and Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, both support the appointment of Mushtaq as the assistant coach there is a hitch to this happening on a permanent basis because Mushtaq has a lucrative playing contract with English county Sussex and is signed up for them next season. “We have to see whether he can make himself available for the Pakistan team’s tours to Sri Lanka and England after the home series against India because their dates clash with the county season which runs from April to September,” another board official said.He also maintained that not everyone in the board or the ad-hoc committee was in favour of appointing an assistant coach with the team as they felt that this post was not really necessary in the presence of a well paid and full-time professional coach in Woolmer. “The coach is someone who should be able to manage everything,” the source said.
Waqar Younis is likely to be named the bowling coach of Pakistan for their tour of India. According to a report by Press Trust of India, Waqar has already given his verbal consent to the offer, which has the backing of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach.Commenting on the issue, Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, told PTI: "Yes he is under consideration but no negotiations have started. In the next few days we intend to write to him to seek his availability," Shaharyar said, adding, "We all know Waqar has recently been doing television assignments. We want to know if he is free during the Indian series so that we can utilise his services."If Waqar does come on board to help out, it will be a huge boost for Pakistan, who might be forced to field an inexperienced bowling attack after injuries to several of their frontline bowlers. Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed have been ruled out, while Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Khalil are all doubtful.Waqar had an outstanding record in international cricket, taking 373 Test wickets and 416 scalps in one-dayers, averaging less than 24 in both forms of the game. Known for his devastating inswinging yorkers, Waqar had a phenomenal strike-rate of 43.4 per wicket in Tests, third in the all-time list of bowlers with at least 100 wickets.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, who was re-elected as president of the BCCI for a third term on Saturday, has warned the ICC that they will be taken to court unless India’s share of World Cup money is released by November 1 at the latest.A lengthy contracts dispute threatened India’s participation in the World Cup, as the personal endorsements of India’s players clashed with the official sponsors of the tournament. The ICC eventually negotiated a compromise with the BCCI, but subsequently withheld India’s money, owing to damage claims from its financial agencies, the Global Cricket Corporation and World Sport Nimbus (GCC, WSN).The GCC has made a claim of US$47 million for lost sponsorship, a figure which Dalmiya described as “frivolous and fictitious”. “We will wait till Nov 1 for our share of $6.5 million along with the interest. If we do not hear from the IDI [ICC’s financial wing] by this date, we will move the court of arbitration.”Dalmiya also complained about the crowded international schedule which the ICC has put in place. “We’re concerned with the amount of cricket being played. The ICC schedule is too crammed. The 10-year program requiring each country to play two home and away series against every opponent during this period is a punishing schedule. The players are getting no respite under the present structure.” Dalmiya said that the Indian board had suggested spreading out the program over a 12- or 14-year period.Dalmiya informed that the BCCI had also put on hold an ICC proposal to have the Indian team play two tri-series tournaments in the United States, as part of an attempt to popularise the game there. “The ICC wants India to play two tri-series in the United States under its ‘Project USA’ program, but the board has decided to wait until the pending issues with the ICC are cleared.”
At 16, Martin Nurse is already living part of his life-longdream and making good on a promise he made to his motherwhen she was alive.He has put the early trauma of losing his mother at just 11years old behind him and moved on to become one of theyoungest players to be named to the island’s senior cricketteam.My mother always supported me and I know if she were stillhere she would be proud of me.From young I always told her that I wanted to play cricketfor Barbados and, hopefully, the West Indies, he said.The Deighton Griffith Secondary School student has beenraised mostly by his older brother, Mark, who, he said,really pushed him to go after his dream.I am really excited and happy to be playing with some of theolder members of the team and the guys have all supportedme, said the quiet youngster.I honestly didn’t feel I did that great during the trials,but I still felt like I had a chance of making the team.I was surprised but happy when I heard I had been selected.All of my friends and family said they were proud of me andhope I do well.My ultimate dream, of course, is to one day play for theWest Indies, said the left-handed opening batsman.Nurse has been on a high since hearing the news and,yesterday, the confidence showed as he strutted out on theEmmerton Playing Field next to Barbados captain SherwinCampbell in the Emmerton Tapeball Cricket Competition.The fifth-form student was the leading Division 1 batsmanthis season with 737 runs, including a century his second atthat level.The first was a match-saving knock for Combined Schoolsagainst Spartan in Queen’s Park on his debut.He was a late bloomer, never seriously taking up the gameuntil he reached secondary school. Even then, the residentof Foursquare, St Philip, was never a part of the nationalUnder-15 or Under-19 teams.But a strong will and determination has seen him leapfrogover many players who were elevated while he had to sit backand watch.He creates history by becoming the first player to make thesenior side while still a junior, without making theUnder-19 team.He will, however, not be in Barbados for the season-opener.He leaves on January 8 for a three-week stint in Australia,where he will attend the Bradman Coaching School in Sydney,and other camps in Melbourne.From there it’s all in his hands.
JP Duminy will take no part in the South Africans’ two-day warm-up match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai as he continues to recover from a cut to his right hand sustained during the third ODI against India in Rajkot on October 18.His stitches will be removed in the next few days and then he will be assessed for availability for the first Test, which starts on November 5 in Mohali. At the moment, team management have listed Duminy as a “50-50” chance. Duminy had to miss the fourth and fifth matches of the ODI series because of the injury, and was replaced in the squad by Dean Elgar, who is also part of the Test side.Morne Morkel’s news is more positive. He is receiving treatment for a quad strain and will increase his bowling intensity ahead of the first Test. There is no confirmation on whether he will play the warm-up game. Morkel had bowled in the nets ahead of the fifth and final ODI but failed to recover fully in time for that match.
Not many would have guessed last week that Liverpool’s back-up keeper with just 17 senior career appearances in all competitions would be called the hero as they lift a piece of silverware.
That is exactly though what Caoimhin Kelleher did yesterday in the EFL Cup Final against Chelsea, after keeping a clean-sheet before scoring his spot-kick as the Reds won on penalties.
The Irish shot-stopper was trusted by manager Jurgen Klopp to keep out the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount – and the decision came under criticism from the likes of Jamie Carragher, who said: “I was the idiot before the game who questioned playing Kelleher – he’s the hero now!”
The 23-year-old, who was described as “faultless” didn’t just earn a medal for his heroics, he also wrote himself into the Liverpool history books after becoming the first goalkeeper to win three penalty shootouts for the club.
He was also singled out by his manager for praise, with Klopp calling him “the world’s best number two goalkeeper.”
Despite all the plaudits earned and heads turned with his performance, having been behind in the pecking order for four years now, it’s unlikely that the Cork-born keeper would be happy with being a ‘number two’ for much longer – however it’s crucial that the Merseyside club hold on to him.
Having a ready-made back-up option with enough quality to step in and replace Alisson – one of the world’s best, is something not many teams have the luxury of utilising.
An even bigger advantage to retaining Kelleher is his homegrown status, having been with the club since he joined as a 16-year-old back in 2015.
The club could look at letting Adrian go to free-up a foreign player spot in their squad registration, and they would not need to replace him with another goalkeeper either as the 6 foot 2 Republic of Ireland international has transitioned smoothly into becoming Klopp’s second-choice, and another keeper from the academy could soon follow suit.
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Having a quality keeper like Kelleher who has come through the academy and knows the club inside and out as well as being able to cover for Alisson whenever required will also prevent the club from potentially spending millions, as other clubs have done, on a back-up.
In other news: Forget Ox: Klopp must now unleash “classy” £1.8m-rated LFC maestro one last time
Brett Lee believes Australia’s strong bowling depth will ensure they can cope without the fiery pace of Shaun Tait throughout the CB Series. Tait became a one-day regular over the past year when Australia boasted two potent weapons, but he has taken an indefinite break from all forms of the game.Australia unveiled a fresh fast-bowling attack on a sporting pitch in Brisbane and it succeeded in reducing India to 194 in the rain-ruined contest. Lee made sure Tait and Clark, who was absent for family reasons, were not severely missed with an exceptional haul of 5 for 27 from nine overs.”It’s not nice that we haven’t got Shaun to pick from,” Lee said. “But we have got a great bowling squad including Clark and Ashley Noffke, who bowled very well. The talent is around and we’ve got heaps of depth.”Usually at this time of year Lee would be expecting a short break, but his extra responsibilities as the attack leader mean he will probably be needed until Australia move closer to securing a safe passage to the finals. He will wait on the advice of the team coaches and wants to appear in his home-ground game against Sri Lanka on Friday.”I have bowled a lot of balls this summer and my workload has increased a fair bit,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see [about a rest]. I’m looking forward to playing in Sydney and we’ll see what happens after that.”
I have bowled a lot of balls this summer and my workload has increased a fair bitBrett Lee
Mitchell Johnson performed strongly, taking 1 for 33, while Nathan Bracken was loose in steamy conditions that should have suited him more. Noffke, the debutant, was nervous during his first four overs but came back well in his final two spells to finish with 1 for 47 off nine.Lee was confident Noffke, who came in for Clark, would be a useful addition to the squad in Tait’s absence. “It’s always hard in your first game,” Lee said. “After his first couple of overs he was rushing through a little bit and we had a chat and a laugh and he was fine.”The way he’s played over the past couple of seasons, he’s a great find for Australian cricket, not only with the ball, but also with the bat. He’s a fantastic allrounder and can do some great things for Australia.”The match ended early due to the rain with Australia 3 for 51 in the eighth over, 89 short of the revised target. “It would have been a good fight from us to get home from there,” Lee said. “With our batting we would have had a good chance, but it was disappointing the rain came.”Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the India captain, was also frustrated by the no result. “It was evenly poised,” he said, “but the momentum was with us, especially in the second session when our bowlers bowled really well.”
With just 50 days to go until the World Cup starts in the Caribbean there is concern over dwindling ticket sales. The problems with some nationalities needing to obtain visas is believed to be playing a major part.Applicants who require visas must either reach their nearest office or mail their passports along with $100 and join a long waiting list.”This is the worst public-relations nightmare that the Caribbean has ever created for itself,” said Josef Forstmayr, managing director of Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica.George Goodwin, chief executive officer of the local organizing committee in Antigua and Barbudam, added: “Ticket sales are not going as robust as people had originally hoped.”However, Chris Dehring, the chief executive of the World Cup organising committee, was more upbeat: “This event has faced so many challenges that at this stage, everything is full steam ahead,” he told , “the little hiccups are simply rolled out.”