Wednesday, October 30, 2013
England in Australia ASHES SERIES
England's tall quicks go head-to-head
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England have set up a potential fast-bowling shootout in their opening tour match against a Western Australia Chairman's XI with Boyd Rankin, Steven Finnand Chris Tremlett all vying for what is likely to be the final bowling slot in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.
Bailey 156, Watson ton set India 351
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Australia scored just 89 runs in the first 22 overs. They even struggled against spin. Amit Mishra even toyed around with George Bailey and Shane Watson for a
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Platini in favour of bigger World Cup
UEFA chief Michel Platini has said he is in favour of increasing the number of teams taking part in the World Cup finals from the current 32 to 40.
The Frenchman has been behind several innovative ideas since taking over at the helm of European football's governin'g body in 2007, notably in encouraging the sport's global growth.
'I am in favour of there being more teams from Africa, ASia, Oceania and north America playing in the World Cup,' he told AFP.
'So why not move from 32 teams to 40?. That would give us eight groups of five. And going by our research, it would only add three days to the World Cup schedule.'
Platini's views came just two days after FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said he was in favour of increasing the number of World Cup finalists.
'We need to ensure that the African and Asian federations get what they deserve. The Europeans and South Americans between them have the majority of places at the World Cup although they have fewer member federations than Africa and Asia,' Blatter said.
'It is not normal that Africa has just five places.'
Ronaldo says to leave ailing teammate Bale alone
Ronaldo says to leave ailing teammate Bale alone
MADRID — Cristiano Ronaldo says the best medicine for ailing teammate Gareth Bale is to leave him alone.
Ronaldo says “Gareth Bale is doing well. It’s better to leave him alone and do pressure on other players.”
Bale has had two muscle injuries since his record transfer, limiting his playing time and leading to speculation about whether he had a back hernia that he and the club have denied.
Ronaldo says that “people make a lot pressure around him because of how much he cost coming from Tottenham, but I think it’s not good for him.”
Ronaldo praised Bale’s desire “to learn” and said he was sure Bale would “do well for the club.”
Bale returned to play 15 minutes on Saturday. He is expected to play against Juventus on Wednesday.
De Gea is best keeper in the world, hails Chicharito
David de Gea is the best goalkeeper in world football, according to Manchester United team-mate Chicharito.
The Spaniard turned in a fine performance on Saturday to deny Stoke City on numerous occasions as United twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Old Trafford.
It was Hernandez's first Premier League goal of the season that clinched the victory but the striker was quick to heap praise on De Gea's all-round performance and quality, likening him to former United star Edwin van der Sar.
'We are a team and there are no heroes, but in some games there are players who make the difference and David was the one on Saturday,' the striker told the club's official website.
'He's a wonderful goalkeeper. For me, he's probably the best one in the world.
'People don't like to say that but, for me, he probably is.
'David and Edwin van der Sar are two of the best goalkeepers I have trained with - wonderful. Same level, same style and David is improving day by day.'
The Spaniard turned in a fine performance on Saturday to deny Stoke City on numerous occasions as United twice came from behind to win 3-2 at Old Trafford.
It was Hernandez's first Premier League goal of the season that clinched the victory but the striker was quick to heap praise on De Gea's all-round performance and quality, likening him to former United star Edwin van der Sar.
'We are a team and there are no heroes, but in some games there are players who make the difference and David was the one on Saturday,' the striker told the club's official website.
'He's a wonderful goalkeeper. For me, he's probably the best one in the world.
'People don't like to say that but, for me, he probably is.
'David and Edwin van der Sar are two of the best goalkeepers I have trained with - wonderful. Same level, same style and David is improving day by day.'
FIFA to meet Toure over racism claims
The head of FIFA's anti-racism task force will meet Yaya Toure tomorrow to hear at first hand his experience of being racially abused by CSKA Moscow fans.
Jeffrey Webb, a FIFA vice-president, will go to the Chelsea v Manchester City game at Stamford Bridge and has asked to meet the Ivory Coast midfielder afterwards.
CSKA have been charged by UEFA with racist behaviour by their fans but will contest the allegations at a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.
Webb, head of the CONCACAF federation, told Press Association Sport: "I am going to be at the match tomorrow and I have asked to meet Yaya Toure.
"For me it's about how he felt and I would like to speak to him first to find out what his experience was."
Toure has raised the spectre of black players boycotting the 2018 World Cup if the racism problem in Russia does not improve.
Webb, in London for the Football Association's 150th anniversary dinner, discussed the incident in Moscow at a meeting this morning with fellow task force member Piara Powar, the executive director of European anti-discrimination body FARE.
Reading striker Jason Roberts was also at the meeting and they left Webb in little doubt about the need for the FIFA task force to put pressure on the Russians to improve their record on racism.
Toure complained to the referee Ovidiu Hategan about the abuse during the 2-1 win and UEFA is now investigating why the Romanian official did not follow the European governing body's guidelines and stop the match for a warning to be issued on the public address system.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has insisted a boycott of the 2018 World Cup would achieve nothing.
Blatter, addressing the Oxford Union on Friday night, said: "He suggested a boycott, but a boycott has never been any solution.
"We have already seen boycotts of the Olympic Games, and what was the result? Nothing - because if you have a problem, you cannot run away from it. The problem is still there. You have to solve it, and we know this.
"We will make sure at the next FIFA executive committee meeting, in Brazil in December, we will again appeal to everybody to deliver sanctions.
"If you take one of the teams out of the Champions League, think about what will happen. This will only stop if the sanctions work."
CSKA and Russian officials have denied there were monkey chants towards Toure.
The club's deputy media manager Michael Sanadze said: "There is no subject to discuss. Nothing special happened.
"There was a lot of noise in the stadium. Nobody else, other than Yaya Toure, heard anything. The only trouble that has come about was because Yaya Toure heard something."
Del Potro too good for Federer in Basel
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro overcame home favourite Roger Federer to retain his Swiss Indoors title in Basel.
The top seed beat the five-time former champion 7-6 2-6 6-4 in a repeat of last year's final in a match which lasted two hours and 21 minutes.
Federer was hoping home advantage would help him secure a victory which would earn him a place in the ATP World Tour Finals in London early next month.
"I was lifting my level and in the end I wasn't playing too badly," Federer said at the trophy ceremony.
The Swiss must now beat Kevin Anderson or Mikhail Youzhny in his second-round match at the Paris Masters on Wednesday to equal Ivan Lendl's record of 12 consecutive appearances at the season finale.
Earlier Britain's Dominic Inglot won his second ATP World Tour doubles title with Filipino partner Treat Huey.
Inglot and Huey won their first title in Washington last year and had come out on the losing side of three further finals this season.
But they recovered from losing the second set to Austrians Julian Knowle and Oliver Marach to win 6-3 3-6 10-4 on a match tie-break.
The victory also kept alive their slim hopes of qualifying for ATP World Tour Finals in London heading into next week's Paris Masters.
Fabregas: Pepe's foul was a definite penalty
Barcelona’s attacking midfielder has claimed that his team should have been awarded a penalty after he was knocked down by Madrid’s Pepe during the El Clasico match.
The Spanish star has hit back against Madrid complaint’s about Cristiano Ronaldo’s unawarded penalty by stating that Pepe had obviously taken his legs away in a penalty box foul during the match.
Neymar and Sanchez scored two outstanding goals that ensured theBlaugrana beat their arch-rivals 2-1, which clears them six points ahead of Real Madrid in the table.
After the match, Sergio Ramos was vocal in his complaints about what he thought to be an obvious penalty when Ronaldo was fouled by Mascherano with just 20 minutes left to play.
"They lost and are looking for an excuse," the 26-year-old Fabregas was quoted as saying by Marca.
Referee Alberto Undiano came under fire from the Real Madrid camp for not awarding the spotkick at Camp Nou, sealing their defeat against Gerardo Martino's side.
The Spaniard was unimpressed by the claims of Los Blancos and was quick to point out a similar incident between him and Pepe.
"I should have had a penalty. Pepe took my legs away, but it was not awarded," Fabregas pointed out.
Barcelona has faced Real Madrid a total of 258 times since their first ever clash in the 1902 Copa de la Coronacion on 13 May 1902.
They will be slated to meet again in Round 29 of La Liga on 23 March 2014
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I did not intend to offend, says Mourinho
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho moved to defuse any ill-feeling between himself and Manchester City's Manuel Pellegrini after their dramatic win on Sunday.
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres profited from a huge error by City goalkeeper Joe Hart to seal a last-gasp 2-1 victory and delight the Stamford Bridge crowd.
Mourinho celebrated the goal in the section of Chelsea supporters behind the visiting dugout and City manager Pellegrini neglected to wait for a full-time handshake.
Asked about Mourinho's actions in the post-match press conference, Pellegrini replied: 'I don't expect a different way to celebrate from him. It's normal.
'No, I didn't shake (his) hand. I didn't want [to].'
But Mourinho has explained that he went to celebrate the goal with his son, pinning the blame on Chelsea for allocating his season ticket behind the away bench.
'I think Chelsea is guilty because I want to buy a season ticket for my son and they give season tickets for my son behind the opponent's dugout,' Mourinho told reporters.
'They have to change and give my kid tickets behind my dugout. I went for him, I went for him, I promise that I went for him and next match you will see him there again.
'This is the drama of the last minute. I beat Manchester City in the last minute with Real Madrid [3-2 in last season's Champions League], I slid on my knees and I destroyed my trousers.
'If they [City] believe that my son is there, great. If they don't believe, I apologise if they feel I did something wrong.'
Mourinho also had no problem with Pellegrini's decision to go down the tunnel following the whistle, claiming he rarely engaged in post-match pleasantries during his time at Real Madrid.
'He lost the game in the last minute and I have sympathy with that,' he said.
'In other cultures and other countries we shake hands before the game and that's enough. At the end of the game we don't. In Madrid, normally I never did it so I don’t feel it is a lack of respect.
'If he was sad because of the result I understand, if he was sad thinking I did something wrong, I accept that too, so no problem.'
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres profited from a huge error by City goalkeeper Joe Hart to seal a last-gasp 2-1 victory and delight the Stamford Bridge crowd.
Mourinho celebrated the goal in the section of Chelsea supporters behind the visiting dugout and City manager Pellegrini neglected to wait for a full-time handshake.
Asked about Mourinho's actions in the post-match press conference, Pellegrini replied: 'I don't expect a different way to celebrate from him. It's normal.
'No, I didn't shake (his) hand. I didn't want [to].'
But Mourinho has explained that he went to celebrate the goal with his son, pinning the blame on Chelsea for allocating his season ticket behind the away bench.
'I think Chelsea is guilty because I want to buy a season ticket for my son and they give season tickets for my son behind the opponent's dugout,' Mourinho told reporters.
'They have to change and give my kid tickets behind my dugout. I went for him, I went for him, I promise that I went for him and next match you will see him there again.
'This is the drama of the last minute. I beat Manchester City in the last minute with Real Madrid [3-2 in last season's Champions League], I slid on my knees and I destroyed my trousers.
'If they [City] believe that my son is there, great. If they don't believe, I apologise if they feel I did something wrong.'
Mourinho also had no problem with Pellegrini's decision to go down the tunnel following the whistle, claiming he rarely engaged in post-match pleasantries during his time at Real Madrid.
'He lost the game in the last minute and I have sympathy with that,' he said.
'In other cultures and other countries we shake hands before the game and that's enough. At the end of the game we don't. In Madrid, normally I never did it so I don’t feel it is a lack of respect.
'If he was sad because of the result I understand, if he was sad thinking I did something wrong, I accept that too, so no problem.'
Torres never gives up, says Cech
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has hailed Fernando Torres and sided with Joe Hart after the Manchester City stopper's latest calamitous episode.
Torres profited from a mix-up between Matija Nastasic and England goalkeeper Hart to net the winner in Chelsea's 2-1 defeat of City on Sunday.
Nastasic headed a long punt down field from Willian back towards Hart, who had already raced to the edge of his area, and Torres exploited the mistake to score his first Barclays Premier League goal of the season.
"He (Torres) never gives up," Cech told Chelsea TV.
"This is why he scored the second goal, because he was chasing the guy all the way and the defender (Nastasic) made a mistake.
"He didn't see the goalkeeper (Hart) coming, which I thought he had plenty of time to see the goalkeeper coming, but he didn't because Fernando was putting him under pressure.
"And because he (Torres) followed he had an easy tap in."
Torres' performance against City, following on from his two goals at Schalke, led many to suggest the World Cup-winning striker is back on top form.
The 29-year-old's performances have been scrutinised since his £50million move from Liverpool, particularly due to his perceived lack of goals, but Cech insists his contribution has always been valuable, even when he has not been scoring.
"This is the debate everybody's been having for a long time," Cech added.
"There were so many games when Fernando was absolutely brilliant, but because he didn't score everybody's saying 'oh, he didn't score'.
"Now he's scoring goals, he's making goals, he's playing as well as he has during his life."
Gnabry signs new long-term contract with Arsenal
Gnabry signs new long-term contract with Arsenal
Serge Gnabry has signed a new 'long-term' contract with Arsenal, the club have confirmed.
The 18-year-old, who joined from Stuttgart in 2010, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium this term with five outings.
Gnarby has been afforded two Premier League starts following injuries to the likes of Theo Walcott, and scored is first proffesonal goal against Swansea City in September and Wenger has backed him to continue improving.
'We signed Serge Gnabry because I believe that he will be a great player,' Wenger told the club's official website. 'He's nearly there now, and competes for a regular place in the team in the Premier League.
'He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He's a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal.'
The 18-year-old, who joined from Stuttgart in 2010, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium this term with five outings.
Gnarby has been afforded two Premier League starts following injuries to the likes of Theo Walcott, and scored is first proffesonal goal against Swansea City in September and Wenger has backed him to continue improving.
'We signed Serge Gnabry because I believe that he will be a great player,' Wenger told the club's official website. 'He's nearly there now, and competes for a regular place in the team in the Premier League.
'He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He's a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal.'
Messi on the right, Valdes kicking it long – Clasico proves Martino is changing Barcelona
ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer
It may have been a Clasico but it was far from a classic. Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino revealed on Monday that his squad had watched a video of the Catalans' 5-0 humbling of Real Madrid in 2010 prior to their 2-1 win over Carlo Ancelotti's men on Saturday evening. But Tata's team barely resembles the side which wowed the world under Pep Guardiola. Changes are afoot at Camp Nou.
Martino told the press in his unveiling that he had not come to alter anything and has stuck to that party line ever since but his actions are making those words sound hollow: Two months into the season, this is a very different Barca side from the one we became accustomed to watching over the last five seasons under Guardiola and then Tito Vilanova.
The Clasico proved that. Instead of two teams tearing into each other as in recent encounters between Barca and Real, this was a tense tactical battle - something of a war of attrition as both sides approached the fixture with extreme caution. 'Barcelona speculate now and are no longer that team admired by the world,' former River Plate coach Angel Cappa said.
Martino, meanwhile, had hoped - he claimed - for his team to play like Pep's, but admitted on Monday that they had a lot to live up to. 'Over lunch, we watched the 5-0. I would like to have played like they did that day but the bar was set very high,' he explained.
With the way Barca set out on Saturday, however, there was never much likelihood of emulating what was one of the club's greatest games in recent years and it was not only the performance that was different - there were changes all over the pitch.
The most obvious was the position of Lionel Messi. The Argentine cemented his status as the world's best player in a 'false nine' role under Guardiola but was switched to the right on Saturday as Cesc Fabregas filled a more central slot, dropping deep to operate between midfield and attack.
It was one of Messi's more subdued showings and the 26-year-old still seems some way short of full fitness. The Argentine drove one effort way off target from the right and made minimal impact but Martino claimed that he was happy with his countryman. 'I am not worried about Messi - he is fine,' said the coach.
Guardiola occassionally opted to move Messi back to the right flank, although the former Barca boss ultimately marginalised Zlatan Ibrahimovic and later David Villa by continuously choosing the Argentine as the focal point of the forward line for the Catalan club.
Now, however, Barca are without a recognised centre forward and Martino is keen to recruit an out-and-out striker - perhaps in the January transfer window. 'I spoke to Messi,' Tata told the media on Monday. 'He had been playing as a false nine for some time and I asked him what had happened with him playing on the right. We thought he could have even more of an impact on the outside and we also think he can play with a centre forward, which we don't have ... [and] we think it is a great thing to be able to use him in different areas of the pitch.'
So even though Messi is likely to start the majority of matches in the centre as a false nine, the Argentine is also set to be utilised in a number of different positions by Martino in what is probably the biggest change of all to this team.
But it is not just Messi. Barca recently 'lost' the possession battle in a 4-0 league win at Rayo Vallecano - the first time that had happened in 317 games - and finished the Clasico with just a 54 per cent share of the ball. That figure is much lower than the 66% of which Martino had spoken and far from the 73% recorded at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010-11. Under their Argentine coach, Barca have adopted a more direct style, although against Madrid on Saturday the persistent pressing from years gone by was also absent as the home side allowed the visitors plenty of time on the ball.
Another aspect which will have surprised many was how Barca defended deeply in the second half, a feature seldom seen in recent seasons as the Catalans have almost always opted for a high line at the back. There is a notable difference, too, in goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who is now not afraid to kick the ball long or blast into touch if necessary - something out of the question in recent seasons.
That surprised many at Camp Nou on Saturday, as did the withdrawal of Andres Iniesta for the more combative Alex Song with Barca 1-0 up. Was it a defensive substitution? 'Yes,' said Martino, 'and I would do it again.'
As it turned out, substitute Alexis Sanchez scored a stunning second just minutes later as he lobbed Diego Lopez from outside the box, but that goal - which ended up being the winner - had come on the counterattack. It was Barca, just not as we know it - the Clasico clash giving a glimpse into a future of considerable changes at Camp Nou
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer
It may have been a Clasico but it was far from a classic. Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino revealed on Monday that his squad had watched a video of the Catalans' 5-0 humbling of Real Madrid in 2010 prior to their 2-1 win over Carlo Ancelotti's men on Saturday evening. But Tata's team barely resembles the side which wowed the world under Pep Guardiola. Changes are afoot at Camp Nou.
Martino told the press in his unveiling that he had not come to alter anything and has stuck to that party line ever since but his actions are making those words sound hollow: Two months into the season, this is a very different Barca side from the one we became accustomed to watching over the last five seasons under Guardiola and then Tito Vilanova.
The Clasico proved that. Instead of two teams tearing into each other as in recent encounters between Barca and Real, this was a tense tactical battle - something of a war of attrition as both sides approached the fixture with extreme caution. 'Barcelona speculate now and are no longer that team admired by the world,' former River Plate coach Angel Cappa said.
Martino, meanwhile, had hoped - he claimed - for his team to play like Pep's, but admitted on Monday that they had a lot to live up to. 'Over lunch, we watched the 5-0. I would like to have played like they did that day but the bar was set very high,' he explained.
With the way Barca set out on Saturday, however, there was never much likelihood of emulating what was one of the club's greatest games in recent years and it was not only the performance that was different - there were changes all over the pitch.
The most obvious was the position of Lionel Messi. The Argentine cemented his status as the world's best player in a 'false nine' role under Guardiola but was switched to the right on Saturday as Cesc Fabregas filled a more central slot, dropping deep to operate between midfield and attack.
It was one of Messi's more subdued showings and the 26-year-old still seems some way short of full fitness. The Argentine drove one effort way off target from the right and made minimal impact but Martino claimed that he was happy with his countryman. 'I am not worried about Messi - he is fine,' said the coach.
Guardiola occassionally opted to move Messi back to the right flank, although the former Barca boss ultimately marginalised Zlatan Ibrahimovic and later David Villa by continuously choosing the Argentine as the focal point of the forward line for the Catalan club.
Now, however, Barca are without a recognised centre forward and Martino is keen to recruit an out-and-out striker - perhaps in the January transfer window. 'I spoke to Messi,' Tata told the media on Monday. 'He had been playing as a false nine for some time and I asked him what had happened with him playing on the right. We thought he could have even more of an impact on the outside and we also think he can play with a centre forward, which we don't have ... [and] we think it is a great thing to be able to use him in different areas of the pitch.'
So even though Messi is likely to start the majority of matches in the centre as a false nine, the Argentine is also set to be utilised in a number of different positions by Martino in what is probably the biggest change of all to this team.
But it is not just Messi. Barca recently 'lost' the possession battle in a 4-0 league win at Rayo Vallecano - the first time that had happened in 317 games - and finished the Clasico with just a 54 per cent share of the ball. That figure is much lower than the 66% of which Martino had spoken and far from the 73% recorded at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010-11. Under their Argentine coach, Barca have adopted a more direct style, although against Madrid on Saturday the persistent pressing from years gone by was also absent as the home side allowed the visitors plenty of time on the ball.
Another aspect which will have surprised many was how Barca defended deeply in the second half, a feature seldom seen in recent seasons as the Catalans have almost always opted for a high line at the back. There is a notable difference, too, in goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who is now not afraid to kick the ball long or blast into touch if necessary - something out of the question in recent seasons.
That surprised many at Camp Nou on Saturday, as did the withdrawal of Andres Iniesta for the more combative Alex Song with Barca 1-0 up. Was it a defensive substitution? 'Yes,' said Martino, 'and I would do it again.'
As it turned out, substitute Alexis Sanchez scored a stunning second just minutes later as he lobbed Diego Lopez from outside the box, but that goal - which ended up being the winner - had come on the counterattack. It was Barca, just not as we know it - the Clasico clash giving a glimpse into a future of considerable changes at Camp Nou
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