A very confident South African team arrived at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad on Thursday morning, ready to take on all-comers, as their preparations for the World Cup enter the final phases.South Africa were the first squad in Trinidad for the biggest event in the region, flying in at around 12:40 a.m. when they were greeted by members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), including CEO Anand Daniel, and a handful of media representatives.Mickey Arthur, South Africa’s coach, expressed satisfaction with his team’s readiness for the tournament, saying: “It is all about peaking at the right time and I think, for us, things have been going nicely this season. We have shown an upward curve so hopefully our planning is coming to fruition.”South Africa overtook defending two-time World Cup champions Australia in the official ICC One Day International championship table, after a string of good performances in the past 12 months.One of the highlights last year was a 3-2 series win over Australia, sealed by scoring a world-record 438 for nine, as well as seven victories from their last eight completed matches. The main thing on the South African’s minds right now is acclimatisation. The last time they visited the Caribbean was in 2003 and their objective in the warm-up games, according to Graeme Smith, is “finding our feet before the tournament starts”.Smith expressed confidence in his team’s ability to do well in the Caribbean. “We have a good bowling attack…we have got a lot of variation so I think we back ourselves pretty well and I think this will be the key with the wickets not being tested and the team that adapts best will be able to get the most of it.”We are trying to get as much information about what we are up against and hopefully adapt to what we are going to face,” Smith added.Speaking about the West Indies team, Smith was adamant that the World Cup hosts played fantastic cricket in the ICC Champions Trophy last year, when they beat South Africa on the way to the final against Australia.Smith singled out hard-hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle as a key figure in the home side’s success in the Champions Trophy. But he hinted the South Africans have been working on some plans to counteract the “terrific” players on the West Indies side.
The Carib Beer Cricket series match between Windward and Leeward Islands has been abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled at the Mindoo Phillip Park on Monday. The rain, which left the pitch and outfield under water, prevented play on all four scheduled days.Both teams have collected four points as a result. In the next round of matches Leeward Islands host Barbados in St. Thomas, the US Virgin Islands; Trinidad & Tobago entertain the Windward Islands at Shaw Park in Tobago and Jamaica face Guyana at Chedwin Park, Jamaica.
John Buchanan, the Australian coach, has said that Australia played “ugly” cricket to win the VB Series recently, and that one-day cricket needs to be be spruced up. Speaking to AAP, he said: “I think it’s a tired old format, but that’s what the rules are and that’s what we play to. Until somebody changes the game then really it’s our duty to work out ways in which we can play better cricket within the existing format.”Buchanan admitted that Australia’s performance in the recent triangular was less than appetising. “I think one thing we did do through the whole series was learn to play some ugly one-day cricket,” he said. “Everybody’s quite used to Australia dominating with the bat and then backing it up in the field with our defence, but I think this time it did show that while we didn’t dominate with the bat our defence was [of a] pretty high standard right throughout the tournament. Overall I would have thought our batting is an area that can do with some improvement.”Buchanan said that the Australian selectors will take a long-term view when they meet to select the squad for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand. “We are looking to develop a broad squad so we might have 20-plus players that selectors can pick from come World Cup 2007, which means we cover all our bases and positions,” he said. “The other principle will be trying to understand how we want to better play the game, balance of sides, makeups of sides, the types of players we need to do that and the strategies we want.”He refused to comment on Darren Lehmann, who, at 35, is in danger of having his career ended by the selectors. He was also non-committal about whether Matthew Hayden would play both Tests and one-dayers in the upcoming series. “[Hayden] wants to be part of that Australian one-day side,” he revealed. “I think basically his foundations are good … he’s basically trying to deal with the mental side of his game.”On a broader issue, Buchanan was all for Twenty-20 cricket, but did not believe that it could replace one-day cricket. “It’s part of the overall package that encourages people to enjoy cricket, to understand the game a little bit,” he said. “It’s a good part of the mix if used correctly. I think it provides some fun and excitement. It is a game that is condensed to a shorter period of time so I think that offers parents, families and clubs a real opportunity to encourage more people into the game.”
Safety and security concerns over England’s tour of Sri Lanka have eased despite a state of emergency following advice from the British Foreign Office and the Sri Lanka government.Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Sri Lankan president, suspended parliament and sacked three powerful ministers on Tuesday. She also ordered troops to guard key installations, including the state television station, and declared a state of emergency on Wednesday.However, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We have now advised the ECB there is no reason to change their plans for Sri Lanka. The north and the east of the country are heavily mined and UK nationals should exercise caution when travelling to that part of the country. The rest of the country is trouble free.Earlier, Sri Lanka cricket board officials had insisted that the tour would not be affected by the political situation: “There is nothing to get alarmed about and there is no danger to the tour,” said board secretary Mohan de Silva.”What has happened is just a swapping of ministries. Cricket has been played in much worse situations.”The Sri Lanka government and the President’s Office also gave assurances about safety. Lakshman Kadirgamar, a presidential aide, told a media conference: “Everything that is humanly possible will be done to ensure that the tour goes on without any disturbances.”England are due to arrive in Sri Lanka on Nov 13 for a series of three one-day internationals and three test matches.
The South African international wicketkeeper-batsman Nic Pothas has joined Hampshire on a two-year contract.
Nic Pothas
Pothas, 28 from Johannesburg, qualifies as an EC player as he holds a Greek passport. He represented South Africa in three one-day internationals in Singapore in August 2000.Pothas, who had been chased by four other English counties, was classified only recently as an EC player and now plays for Gauteng, formerly Transvaal, as their overseas player. He made his Transvaal debut eight years ago and has a batting average of 36 with a top score of 165.”He is a quality player,” says Hampshire’s Director of Cricket Tim Tremlett, “and comes highly recommended by our South African coach Jimmy Cook.”
Mustering up drive to play hard in a dead rubber is not always theeasiest thing to do. However, India had no such problems when theybeat Pakistan by 33 runs in their final league match at the AsianCricket Council (ACC) Under-15 tournament on Wednesday. BeatingPakistan before the final should give the Indians a psychological edgeover their arch rivals.India took on Pakistan at the Club Aman in Ampang, Malaysia. Comingoff a winning streak, India were under no pressure. It must also besaid that Pakistan were in a similar situation. While India had wonfour matches on the trot, Pakistan had won three without losing any.After playing India, they will take on hosts Malaysia on Thursday.There is very little doubt about the possible outcome of thatencounter. The two sides have been a cut above the rest in thetournament.Winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Kashif Mahmood put India in to bat.The Indians have enjoyed a good run of form with the bat in thetournament thus far. However they were up against by far theirtoughest opponents and could muster only 181.Although this did not seem like a winning target, it proved to beenough for India at the end of the day. The Indian innings revolvedaround wicketkeeper Abhinav Kumar who made a steady unbeaten 52. Bothcaptain Subhash Dixit (25) and Navin Chaudhary (28) chipped in asIndia ended on 181/6 off 40 overs.In response, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and thisstifled their chances of mounting a serious assault on the target. Thewickets were shared all around in the Indian camp with MrigenTalkukdar (2/16) once again producing the best returns as Pakistanended on 148 for nine.India go into the final with an all win record. In the final, to beplayed on July 9 India will again play Pakistan.
Tottenham Hotspur remain without four first-team stars ahead of their FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough this evening…
What’s the latest?
That’s according to Evening Standard reporter Dan Kilpatrick, who delivered a worrying update to social media ahead of tonight’s encounter at the Riverside Stadium.
“Team news for Boro is the same as Leeds,” he revealed.
“[Oliver] Skipp, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, Lucas [Moura], [Japhet] Tanganga [are] all still sidelined.”
Spurs face the Championship outfit with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Huge blow
This will come as gutting news to manager Antonio Conte as he is still without four important players, in which three are arguable starters with the latter – Tanganga – usually in line for an appearance in a competition like this.
The FA Cup presents one last opportunity for the Italian to seal instant silverware in north London at a club starved of glory since 2008. They are out of both the Carabao Cup and the Europa Conference League, whilst only a place inside the Premier League’s top four is viable from here.
It’s also a competition that Conte has won before at Chelsea, so he knows all too well what it would mean to clinch it at the end of the season and there’s a promising opportunity to be only three games away with a victory tonight.
Skipp and Bentancur are huge absentees in the engine room as it leaves the manager with only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Winks as his only senior options available, and they both played the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 win over Leeds on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Moura poses a different type of threat in the attack and whilst he may have lost his place to deadline day signing Dejan Kulusevski, this game would’ve been the perfect chance to hand him some more minutes.
Just like with Tanganga, whose versatility of playing anywhere in defence makes him a valuable rotation option.
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To not have any of these four players available at the Riverside is surely a gutting blow, regardless of the opposition, as Conte may not be able to freshen up his starting XI as much as he would’ve perhaps liked.
With important top-flight games against Everton and Manchester United on the horizon, the 52-year-old will be hoping some of, if not all, of his absent stars are back in time.
AND in other news, Forget Bale: Conte has a new secret weapon at Spurs in “explosive” £27m-rated monster…
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.