The potential of an English Premier League to counter the dominance of its Indian counterpart may be gathering momentum, but already there is a split among the county chief executives.Last week Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, spoke candidly about his vision for the future and insisted that if England are to create a viable competition to the IPL, the 18 first-class counties must merge into six regional sides. Bold though the plan is, the counties are less certain.”My aim is to knock this idea on the head,” Richard Gould, the Somerset chief executive, told the BBC. “We are hugely against regionalising – that would lead, eventually, to the domestic game being reduced to eight regional franchises for all forms of the game.”I don’t have a problem with an EPL, as long as it involves the 18 counties. Otherwise it would drastically reduce the number of English-qualified players available. The Test-match playing grounds might benefit, because they would host the matches but the rest of county cricket would not.”Similarly, Neil Davidson, the Leicestershire chief executive, is concerned that the franchise system might threaten the game’s tradition.”Franchises would be a negative and could turn a lot of people off the game,” Davidson said. “As long as the idea is a revenue generator that favours the game as a whole, I’m in favour. But we need to think about everyone, the minor counties, grassroots cricket and the Test match grounds.”Lancashire’s Jim Cumbes, however, has greater confidence in the idea.”There’s really no need for us to merge, or Yorkshire or a number of other counties, but I think it could work in some areas of the country where the counties are pretty close together,” Cumbes said. “We should be seriously looking at setting up our own Premier League. I could envisage two divisions, with promotion and relegation between the two, like the football Premier League.”And I think it could happen as early as next year, with the top nine teams from our Twenty20 competition this year forming a Premier League.”
Sri Lanka Cricket has sold broadcast rights for the forthcoming three-Test series against India to Sony for $3.25 million – a $1.85 million increase from the bid the board had originally received from Ten Sports. As part of the new deal, SLC advanced the tour by six days, and moved the third Test from Pallekele to the SSC in Colombo, as Kandy was deemed too prone to rain to host a match in late August. Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell Test, meanwhile, was confirmed for the P Sara Oval in Colombo.
India’s schedule in Sri Lanka
Aug 6-8 Warm-up game v SL Chairman’s XI, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Aug 12-16 1st Test, Galle Aug 20-24 2nd Test, P Sara Oval, Colombo Aug 28-Sep 1 3rd Test, SSC, Colombo
The new figure remained well short of what SLC had originally expected, with a three-Test series against India usually worth more than $5 million. However, the increase came as some relief to the board, which has had payments from the ICC in escrow since April, and has additionally begun expensive infrastructure upgrades at Khettarama Stadium.The first Test in Galle had been scheduled to begin on August 18, but has been brought forward to avoid a clash with Sri Lanka’s general elections, which are set for August 17. India are also likely to play a warm-up match in Colombo before the Tests begin.SLC had expressed dismay in the original bid from Ten Sports, its usual broadcaster, before negotiating with other companies for an increase. The board has an ongoing seven-year deal with Ten Sports but this tour was sold separately because it had not appeared as a home series in the Future Tour Programme. These Tests were meant to be played in India, but the previous board had negotiated for them to be brought to Sri Lanka, in exchange for an impromptu five-ODI series in India last year.
Mitchell Starc’s troublesome ankle may finally have caught up with him, as Australia’s spearhead was struck out of the bowling attack due to a stress fracture on day one of the inaugural day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.After initially showing some signs of discomfort in his opening spell, Starc claimed three New Zealand wickets amid a strong display by Australia’s pace attack. His final spell, however, lasted only one over midway through the day and he spent one over looking decidedly ginger fielding at backward point before retreating to the dressing rooms.He went to hospital for scans, and after stumps it emerged that he had been diagnosed with the early stages of a stress fracture in the third metatarsal of his right foot. The injury is a major blow to Australia in this match and also clouds their plans for the new year – Starc may not be needed against a poorly West Indies, but he may now be doubtful for the tour of New Zealand and even the World Twenty20 that follows it.Having previously required surgery for bone spurs in his right ankle in 2013, Starc was again afflicted by the problem during the Cardiff Test of this year’s Ashes series. He recovered from that episode to take part in the rest of the series, but has since played under the cloud of his ankle eventually needing to submit to the surgeon’s knife.There was considerable discussion around Starc’s availability for the tour of Bangladesh before it was postponed due to security concerns. As it turned out, Starc was able to bowl without needing to resort to painkillers during a barnstorming Matador Cup campaign: 26 wickets in six games at an average of 8.11.However, his workload during the first two Tests against New Zealand was heavy, due in part to flat pitches at the Gabba and the WACA. In the Perth Test, both Starc and Josh Hazlewood bowled more overs in a single game than they had ever been put through in their careers.Australia’s captain Steven Smith seemed aware of this by using Starc only in short spells on day one, but by then it was already too late.
Cricket Australia’s security officials will sit in on a security briefing for ICC officials in Dhaka, on December 28 and 29, in view of the Under-19 World Cup that is scheduled to begin in Bangladesh on January 27. CA have not raised any specific concerns in public yet concerning its junior team’s participation in the tournament; the Australian security officials’ visit could be seen as a precautionary step, given the senior team’s tour to Bangladesh was cancelled in October due to security seasons.CA’s head of security Sean Carroll, who had visited Dhaka in September after the Australian government had issued security alerts for their citizens in Bangladesh, will arrive in Dhaka on Monday. Following that visit, CA had eventually cancelled their tour to Bangladesh due to the increased security risk. In November, Cricket South Africa had also cancelled their women’s team’s tour to Bangladesh.The ICC held meetings in Dhaka in November and December regarding security measures being taken for the U-19 World Cup, which is to be held in eight venues in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar.An ICC spokesman said the briefings on December 28 and 29 would be a follow up to those previous meetings. “The ICC and the BCB are working together to ensure complete safety and security of the event. In relation to this, and as follow up to the meetings held in November and December, the CA and ICC security officials are visiting Dhaka and receive security briefings on Monday and Tuesday,” the spokesman said.BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that a visit similar to CA’s was recently made by the security representative of two other boards, so he sees this as a routine visit. He also said that CA will be directing all its communication towards the ICC, who is the tournament organiser. “Reg [Dickason] came during the last ICC visit, possibly for England and New Zealand,” Chowdhury told ESPNcricinfo. “One part of a board’s inspection team is security. So CA can send anyone as a routine matter.”We don’t directly communicate with the participating boards. They have to communicate with the host [the ICC]. If it was a bilateral series, only then the communication is between the two boards.”Chowdhury reaffirmed that the BCB has made plans to provide the highest security levels for the participants. “As the host nation, our concentration is on making the event successful. The level of security offered for this particular U-19 event is unprecedented. There hasn’t been such measures taken for an U-19 tournament in the past and I doubt if it will be done in the future.”
India somewhat made amends for the botched Canberra chase on Saturday at the SCG by becoming the first team to chase down a 300-plus target against Australia in Australia. Along the way, they also halted Australia’s record 18-match winning streak at home.The man who played a monumental role in handing Australia a six-wicket loss was Manish Pandey, who struck an enterprising unbeaten 104 after the stiff chase of 330 was set up courtesy a 123-run opening stand in just 18.2 overs between Shikhar Dhawan (78) and Rohit Sharma (99).”I got the chance to bat at No.4 because Ajju (Rahane) was injured. Seeing the way the wickets have been behaving, with 300 being scored each game, it’s tough to get a chance at No. 6, so I thought I should make use of my chance at four,” Pandey said. “It was good to bat with the captain. His encouraging words helped.”MS Dhoni, far from his destructive best in his 42-ball 34, attributed the win to consistency of the top order. “Last time, we spoke about our batsmen being young and how they will be successful over time across all conditions if persisted with,” he said. “This is a result of sustaining with the same set of players.”The top order has been together for a long time now. They are all experienced. Especially in this series, considering all the matches have produced 300-plus totals, you needed that, and so the experience counts. Where we have been hurt is our lower-order batting, that’s where Manish did really well today.”As happy as he was with the batting, Dhoni hinted at a strong show with the ball towards the death that helped India save precious runs. India conceded just 28 off the last four overs to round off a mixed show, where Jasprit Bumrah, the debutant, was the pick of the lot with figures of 2 for 40 off his ten overs.”The first four games were quite close but we didn’t close it out well, which is important in the ODI format,” he said. “Every over matters in a high-scoring game. If you bowl two or three overs that go for 15-20 runs it really puts a lot of pressure when you’re chasing. It makes it easy for the opposition.”Dhoni felt the absence of a settled bowling group also played its part in the overall series score of 4-1 in Australia’s favour. “We wanted to pick bowlers who hit the deck hard, we decided even if they go for runs, you still have guys who bowl fast,” he explained. “This is perhaps the only time where our set of bowlers was faster than Australia’s. That’s the positive. But at the same time, you can’t only rely on pace. You need to close down overs well. You can’t keep giving away 15 or 20-run overs.”Looking ahead to the T20s, Dhoni said his biggest challenge was in managing some of the older players, albeit in a cryptic manner. “We have to improve our fielding slightly,” he said. “A few of the experienced players will be joining us. The grounds here are big, and if you don’t have a good shoulder, there will be a lot of pressure. That’s what is crucial in conditions like these. If we manage that well, we will have an exciting T20 series.”
Say what you like about all of the on-field errors that West Indies’ cricketers have committed on this tour of Australia. But save some energy for condemnation of the off-field howlers too. The omission of batsman Ricardo Powell from a Test squad sorely lacking attacking strokemakers, for instance, was a glaring oversight. And it was one that it took him just ninety deliveries to authenticate as he led his side to a tense one wicket win with eight balls to spare in the Carlton Series match against Zimbabwe here at the ‘Gabba ground in Brisbane tonight.For all of the unpredictability and mystique that one-day international cricket has relinquished over the course of the last nine months, it still retains an innate capacity to produce wonderful twists and turns and breathtaking finishes. This encounter was one to exemplify the fact. West Indies’ seventh match against international opposition on this tour and Zimbabwe’s first on Australian soil in six years, it developed into the sort of cliffhanger rarely witnessed in this country in recent years.With another disappointing West Indian batting surrender occurring around him, much rested upon the broad and powerful shoulders of Powell (83*). He strode to the crease in the twenty-fourth over with his team staring down the barrel of another defeat at a score of 4/119 as it set out after Zimbabwe’s 9/240. Yet he handled the difficult situation with the class and sophistication of a player who has been presented with far more than thirty-six one-day internationals and a solitary Test to underline his prowess.Powell was denied the opportunity of enhancing a career statistic that shows he has struck more sixes than fours – for the record, he struck nine shots into the boundaries and only one over it – but scored from exactly half of the deliveries that he faced. He deployed the sweep stroke and the cover drive with particular aplomb. Against an attack which was steady but unspectacular, his strokeplay was little short of magnificent.Had Stuart Carlisle and Travis Friend capitalised upon a golden opportunity to run him out in the fortieth over when he had only forty-seven runs alongside his name, Zimbabwe might have defended its total. The pair did not; the team did not.Variously, the Zimbabweans had reduced their opponents to scores of 3/72, 5/137 and 6/155 at different stages of the evening. Despite resolute performances from Sherwin Campbell (42) and Marlon Samuels (34), the West Indian top order was generally unable to effectively kickstart its team’s chase. Wavell Hinds (0), Brian Lara (21) and Jimmy Adams (24) again struggled to occupy the crease for anything but brief periods. Lara, in particular, played another carefree innings that looked unsuited to the situation.That the Zimbabweans had set the West Indians such a chase owed much to the hard work of opener Alistair Campbell (81) at the top of its batting order. On the occasion of his 150th one-day international, the hard-hitting left hander was in supreme form, rewarding captain Heath Streak’s decision to bat first on a hard, straw-coloured pitch upon winning the toss.The former Zimbabwean captain lost out-of-sorts opening partner Trevor Madondo (6) early in the day but looked comfortable from the outset, even amid a fine new ball burst from Cameron Cuffy (1/52 off nine overs) and Nixon McLean (3/48 from ten overs). He played straight early, hitting a number of solid drives through the arc between mid off and mid on, before gradually playing more expansively and striking some exquisite blows through the off side in particular. Moreover, in the midst of fifty-four and eighty-six run partnerships for the second and third wickets with Carlisle (29) and Andy Flower (33) respectively, he nullified any apparent threat offered by a West Indian attack that did not seem to have enough in the way of strike bowlers to crash through on the placid ‘Gabba surface.But the Zimbabweans ultimately lacked the necessary polish to capitalise upon Campbell’s performance. Wickets were surrendered too readily in the middle and latter stages of their innings; slips catches were dropped; misfields and overthrows were too prolific; run outs were missed. They played with a heart and a zest that, at times, was entrancing. However, they brought to their game some unforgivable sins too.The task of securing victory certainly requires more than just heart in circumstances like these. They conceded a forty-six run stand in thirty-four minutes to Powell and Mahendra Nagamootoo (8) for the eighth wicket that proved decisive in the final analysis. Nagamootoo was removed with twelve runs still left to attain, and McLean was forced to beat a path back to the pavilion with two runs required and eleven deliveries remaining. Cuffy (1*) scrambled a single from a shot played through square leg to level the scores and then Powell – by this stage with only the medium pace of Guy Whittall (2/16 off 3.4 overs) left to counter given that Streak had already fully utilised the services of all of his best bowlers – issued a powerful blow over mid wicket.The knowhow and nerve that the Zimbabweans had needed to ally to their enthusiasm had somehow eluded them. As it was, the West Indians possessed slightly more in the way of both commodities when it really mattered.
Manchester United did not disappoint in putting on a show at Elland Road this afternoon, in a fiery clash against Leeds United that ended in a 4-2 victory for the Lancashire side.
In an attacking performance at both ends of the pitch, Manchester United players shared out the four goals across the pitch with Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Anthony Elanga all finding the back of the net over the game.
Leeds United didn’t go down without a fight though, dominating possession throughout (54%) and scoring two goals in 24 seconds in the 53rd and 54th minute.
However Manchester United’s quality all over the pitch was inevitably too much for the home team to handle, and Ralf Rangnick’s side go home with all three points, putting them four points clear inside the top four, fourth in the Premier League table.
One player who failed to make an impact in the game, despite the tenacious win from the Red Devils, was Jesse Lingard who was given the golden opportunity of starting in the side this afternoon but could have blown it.
According to SofaScore, the Man United forward dropped a disaster-class against Leeds United, losing the majority of his duels (67.5%), committed two fouls, was dribbled past twice and lost the ball every 3 out of 29 touches.
That eventually resulted in Rangnick benching him in the 67th minute to make way for Elanga, who came on and made a much bigger impact in less time on the pitch, by scoring the fourth goal.
This performance from the £80k-per-week gem will only further Rangnick’s point of leaving the player out of the starting side in recent months, as the Manchester United manager gave Lingard the green light to leave in January, but when the club blocked the move, it left the player to see out the last six months of his contract at his boyhood club. As a result, this could be the last opportunity the manager offers Lingard to squander, after an ineffective display this weekend.
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Rangnick will be delighted that his side go into their Champions League game full of confidence and with a comfortable lead in the top four race as it stands, and will be hoping that the team can offer another collective performance to secure a win in the first leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
It is widely expected that Joe Cole will leave Chelsea this summer with bitter rivals Tottenham and Arsenal racing for his signature. A move to a London rival could be unpopular amongst Chelsea’s supporters even though they may understand the players need for first team football (or more money, if you believe the papers), but who are the real turncoats in football?
10. Roberto Baggio: First up is Baggio, who transferred to Juventus from bitter rivals Fiorentina in 1990 for a then world record £8 million fee. His inclusion is a little harsh as he insists he was “compelled to accept” the offer and he said: “deep in my heart I am always Purple (the colour of Fiorentina).” However, the deal wasn’t well received in Florence and two days of full scale riots broke out in which fifty people were injured.
9. Jermain Defoe: (Charlton, West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth and back to Tottenham) Loyalty does not seem to be Defoe’s strong point as he handed a transfer request in the day after West Ham went down in 2003 and ended up going to London rivals Tottenham the next season. After falling out of favour with Spurs he went to Portsmouth for a season only to jump that sinking ship to return to White Hart Lane. Also, Charlton fans were not impressed when Defoe snubbed a professional contract at the Charlton to go to West Ham and subsequently he is booed at the Valley.
8. Paul Ince: The former Blackburn manager is another who didn’t exactly endear himself to the Upton Park faithful during his time as a player. In 1989 Ince was photographed in a Man United shirt long before his eventual £1 million switch to Old Trafford and has received some stick from West Ham fans for it ever since. The player also played for United’s hated rivals Liverpool (1997-99) after spending a couple of seasons at Inter Milan.
7. Nick Barmby: He became the first player to be transferred from Everton to Liverpool since Dave Hickson in 1959. His move from relegation battlers Everton to Gerard Houllier’s trophy chasing Liverpool side in 2000 made him a hated figure at Goodison Park and one of the biggest turncoats in Premier League history.
6. Ashley Cole: Just about everyone hates Ashley Cole, not just for footballing reasons either as the tabloids have dogged the defender for cheating on one of the nation’s most popular women Cheryl Cole? Or is it Tweedy again? (bah, who cares, right?).
Nicknamed ‘Cashley’ the Chelsea left-back was caught up in a tapping up storm whilst at Arsenal after meeting Chelsea officials in a hotel. He also angered his fans moaning about wages and released a controversial autobiography. The troubled player has sort of justified his switch (William Gallas going the other way and also something of a Judas) to Arsenal’s bitter rivals Chelsea after winning a league and FA Cup double, but he will remain hated by many fans.
Continue to page 2 for the top five
5. Alan Smith: Smith is just one of a few players to make controversial moves across the Pennines from Leeds to Manchester United in 2004 following the Elland Road club’s relegation from the Premier League. Before him both Eric Cantona (1992) and Rio Ferdinand (2002) had previously made the same switch.
However, Smith must be considered a traitor as he was one of those annoying badge kissers, he was a local Leeds lad and although it was expected that he would leave following the club’s demise in the Premier League many Leeds fans were hurt when he opted to go to their hated rivals at Old Trafford.
4. Luis Figo: The Portuguese midfielder made a highly controversial move back in 2000 from Barcelona to Real Madrid for a then world record fee of £37 million. Although he wasn’t the only one to make the move as Michael Laudrup (1994) and Luis Enrique (1996) did also, but I bet he was the only one to have a pig’s head thrown at him whilst taking a corner. On his return to the Nou Camp with Madrid in November 2002 the Barcelona fans also showered Figo with lighters, cans, bottles and smoke bombs erupted all around the ground, which added to an atmosphere which was already heated and violent.
3. Harry Redknapp: ‘Arry comes across as a slightly dodgy character with all the tax evasion charges that have been levelled at him in the past and his seemingly fickle nature when it comes to football management.
After spending two years at Portsmouth he angered the Fratton Park faithful when he went to South Coast rivals Southampton, who he relegated from the Premier League to the Championship and left them peeved when he moved back to bitter rivals Portsmouth….was he a double agent or something? He also claimed he would end his career on the South Coast, then he went to Tottenham in 2008, which makes him a Judas and a liar.
2. Maurice ‘Mo’ Johnston: You would have to be a little bit crazy to pour fuel on the fire that is the Glasgow rivalry between Celtic and Rangers, but that is exactly what Johnston did and he infuriated both sets of fans in the process.
After a spell at French club Nantes the former Celtic man issued a desire to rejoin the Hoops, but made a U-turn on his decision and joined the Gers instead.
As Mo is a Roman Catholic, who went to a protestant club he became equally hated by both sets of fans and has to be considered as one of the biggest Judases in football history.
1. Sol Campbell: The biggest Judas in football has to be Campbell, who made the most controversial moves in Premier League history when he signed for Arsenal from their most hated rivals Tottenham on a free transfer in 2001.
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Ever since he has been labelled a ‘Judas scum’ and although that song (you know the one) is uncalled for the Spurs fans have every reason to be upset with the player who had been with them since he was 15, he was also there idol and captain.
Since then he has also walked out on Notts County after just one appearance and has been trying to sue former club Portsmouth over unpaid image rights, fees and bonuses. Sure he may be entitled to the money, but does he really need it and is it fair to kick a cash-strapped club when they are down? What a traitor.
Who do you think is football’s biggest traitor?
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Head coach Bert Van Marwijk was content with his Netherlands side's performance in their 2-0 win over Denmark in their opening game of the World Cup finals in South Africa.
An own goal and a clincher from Dirk Kuyt five minutes from time gave the Oranje a fine start to their Group E campaign.
Van Marwijk said:"I've been thinking about this first game for a long, long time.
"I've always said that this was the most important match, because a good beginning to a world championship is so important.
"It's always a tough match. Today, as you could see, there was a bit of tension with the players. It was difficult, but we won, which is the most important thing.
"Beforehand, I think we were the favourites, so you know you're going to face a very defensive opponent.
"That means that in your build-up you cannot afford to make many mistakes. But we played well, we didn't give away too many opportunities and all the players should be complimented for that.
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"I think we made a reasonably good impression and that we never panicked, not for one moment.
"In the end, we are really pleased with this win."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan dedicated his award for the outstanding player at the World Cup to his Uruguay team-mates.
Forlan, who finished in a four-way tie with Thomas Muller, Wesley Sneijder and David Villa for the Golden Boot top-scorer award with five goals, was named the recipient of the player of the tournament shortly after Sunday's final.
Villa of Spain and Sneijder of the Netherlands picked up the Silver and Bronze Ball awards respectively following Spain's 1-0 victory over the Dutch in the Soccer City final.
Forlan had earlier helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals where they lost to the Netherlands, but afterwards the Atletico Madrid striker paid tribute to the help he received from his team-mates.
"It's as great as it is unexpected. I never even imagined something like this, nor did I have my sights set on it," he said.
"As I'm a striker, I perhaps could have seen myself chasing the Golden Shoe, and in fact I came close. That would have been more normal.
"But to go from that to winning the prize for the best player, I'm enjoying it and I'm delighted, but I'm very aware that it's the result of the spectacular tournament the team has had.
"It's another reward for this positive period for Uruguayan football."
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Uruguay were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Germany in Saturday's third-place play-off and a rueful Forlan added:"I'm heading home a little sad because, having watched the final, it hit me how close we were to playing in it.
"Losing the semi-final was a really cruel blow, which took me a couple of days to get over and which I still find hard to swallow."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email