All posts by h716a5.icu

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants to be in charge of incoming and outgoing transfers at the club, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: New era at Old Trafford

The 52-year-old will head to Old Trafford at the end of the season, looking to bring the glory days back to United after a dismal few years for the Red Devils.

Ten Hag enjoyed great success during his time with Ajax, winning two Eredivisie titles, along with reaching the Champions League semi-finals back in 2018/19.

It is now nine years since United won a Premier League title and it is imperative that the rot stops sooner rather than later, with the 52-year-old hopefully the man to fix the club’s issues.

The Latest: Ten Hag makes key demand

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Ten Hag wants to have a big say in which players leave and which individuals arrive this summer. The journalist outlined:

“He wants to be involved in the incomings and outgoings at Old Trafford, alongside Richard Arnold.

“If Ralf Rangnick is still there in an advisory capacity as well, I’m sure they’ll all be working together to see if they can get the best players to Manchester United because it’s going to take a bit of a rebuild at Old Trafford this summer.”

The Verdict: Makes complete sense

Part of United’s failure in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era is that it doesn’t always feel as though managers have had the final say over new signings.

That is something which simply has to change now, with Manchester City and Liverpool both perfect examples of allowing their managers to have a big say on transfer dealings. Painful as it is to admit for United, those two clubs are proof of that setup working.

It makes complete sense for Ten Hag to have exactly the players that he wants to work with, which could leave quite a few current Old Trafford individuals sweating going into the summer, given this season’s ineptitude.

In other news, United are expected to make an offer for a La Liga star. Find out who it is here.

England look set to go into the Boxing Day Test with an unchanged side, after James Anderson allayed fears about his fitness with a lively performance in the team’s first nets session since Perth

Andrew Miller in Melbourne24-Dec-2010England could go into the Boxing Day Test with an unchanged side, after James Anderson allayed fears about his fitness with a lively performance in the team’s two net sessions following the 267-run defeat at the WACA. Steven Finn also hit a good rhythm in an hour-long spell at the MCG, as the squad set about refocusing following a four-day break from practice.In the aftermath of the Perth defeat, changes appeared to be on the cards for England, with the 21-year-old Finn looking weary following a rigorous introduction to Ashes cricket. More worryingly from the team’s point of view, Anderson reported stiffness in his side following his less-than-ideal preparation for the match, which had involved 48 hours of flying time to return to England for the birth of his second daughter.However, a chance to rest and recuperate appears to have done the job for both bowlers. “He’s 100% fit,” Andrew Strauss, the England captain said, “he had a niggle but has managed to shake it off and is available for selection.”Finn, meanwhile, went head-to-head with Ajmal Shahzad, whose old-ball skills could yet come into play in the final reckoning, if England feel that the surface will be conducive to reverse swing. Prior to England’s return to action, Strauss had hinted that Finn was set to be retained in the bowling attack, having claimed 14 scalps at 33.14 to be the leading wicket-taker in the series.”It has been a demanding Test series, especially with our reliance on only four bowlers, and Stuart Broad didn’t bowl in the second innings at Adelaide,” said Strauss. “So the bowlers have had quite a lot on their shoulders, but I don’t think that’s a reason for him not to play. We must look at the conditions here and decide what type of bowling attack will most suit, and also how fresh Finny is and the rest of the bowlers before we make any decisions.””It’ll definitely be harder for their attack,” said Australia’s vice-captain, Michael Clarke. “On a big stage, a very important Test match, to lose such a big player, it would definitely put a dent in their team, but I’m very confident that Anderson will be fit to play. Tremlett did really well, grabbing his opportunity in Perth, and Finn has done well in this series as well. But Anderson is probably the leader of their attack, the most experienced, They will miss him if he’s not fit, no doubt.”The deciding factor in the make-up of England’s team will be the nature of the pitch, which is expected to be slow and low and a far cry from the high-kicking conditions that greeted bowlers on both sides at the WACA. For the sake of the Boxing Day spectacle, it has to be hoped that it is a better surface that the one which England encountered for their three-day warm-up against Victoria earlier in the month, but either way, it is likely to be a pitch that rewards patience and accuracy.Those are traits which Finn is renowned for possessing in abundance, although his adjustment to Australian conditions has not been entirely smooth on this trip. Australia have taken him at 4.5 an over in the course of the series, and at over 5 during the WACA defeat, although with Graeme Swann expected to play a much greater holding role in the forthcoming match, Finn’s ability to force breakthroughs is a knack that England are reluctant to overlook entirely – especially if, as Strauss implied, England are going all out for victory rather than looking to settle for a drawn series and a retention of the Ashes.”I think Finny has been a little frustrated that he hasn’t been as consistent as he would like,” said Strauss. “Last summer in England, his lengths were very good consistently and maybe he has not done it on this tour. But he is a bowler with a knack of taking wickets and it’s a great skill to have. Every match he plays he is learning about bowling in Australia. The vast majority of what he has done on this tour I’ve been very happy with, and I expect him to continue getting better.”The other factor that could count against Finn is the prospect of reverse swing, which has been a regular weapon at the MCG in past campaigns, although the unseasonably damp weather in Victoria this year has led to more lush conditions and hence less abrasion on the Kookaburra balls. Shahzad is England’s best exponent of reverse swing, and for that reason, he appears to have leap-frogged Tim Bresnan in the pecking order.Strauss, however, will defer all such decisions until England have had a better read of a wicket which the MCG curator, Cameron Hodgkins, said “will offer something up front, then get quite flat.””It’s always dangerous to assume a pitch is going to play a certain way,” said Strauss. “The wicket we played on against Victoria was very slow and low and there wasn’t much in it for the bang-in-type bowlers, but according to reports the wickets have actually gone OK, so it would be wrong to think the Test wicket will be like that.”They will be two tough Tests, you expect that out here,” he said of the challenge awaiting England in the coming fortnight. “Huge support for Australia, Ashes on the line, there’s going to be a lot of pressure around and personally that excites me. It’s a great test for us as a side and I think we’ll handle it well. I’m very confident that the team won’t be overcome.”England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ian Bell, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Chris Tremlett, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn.

Paul Collingwood has announced he will retire from Test cricket following the current Sydney encounter against Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2011Paul Collingwood has announced he will retire from Test cricket following the current Sydney encounter against Australia. He will continue to play both Twenty20 and one-day internationals for his country.Collingwood, 34, made his Test debut in 2003 against Sri Lanka at Galle and has gone on to earn 68 caps. With the potential of one innings remaining in Sydney he has 4259 runs but has struggled during the Ashes with just 83 runs in six innings.”Representing England at Test level has always been a dream of mine and I’ve been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some amazing highs throughout my Test career,” Collingwood said. “I’m proud of the fact that I’ve always given my all for the England Test team but I feel that this is the right time to leave Test cricket having reached some very special achievements, none more satisfying that retaining the Ashes in Australia.”I also feel now is the time to ensure some of the younger players are given an opportunity at Test level as we have a wealth of talent pushing for places in the England Test team,” he added. “Clearly I still feel I have a huge amount to offer England in terms of limited overs cricket and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue leading the Twenty20 squad and playing a significant role in England’s ODI team.”His highest Test score of 206 came against Australia, at Adelaide, in 2006 and he confounded many by having a long and successful career. After his debut in Sri Lanka he played the final match of the 2005 Ashes, at The Oval, before earning a permanent place in the line-up during the following winter tours of Pakistan and India.Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, said: “Paul Collingwood has made an outstanding contribution to the England Test team. His performances have been admired and recognised by his team-mates and England supporters over many years and his tireless commitment in the Test match arena will be something he will always be remembered for.”I’m delighted that Paul will be available to continue to make important contributions to our ODI and Twenty20 teams.”Last weekend Collingwood admitted to the that the end of his Test days were drawing close. “My form during this series and most recently my latest failure in the fourth Test in Melbourne means the subject of my Test future was bound to be raised sooner or later,” he said.”I am at the crossroads and what happens in the final Test may well determine what direction I go in. I am sure by the end of this Test, I will know more myself and be better able to judge what the general feeling is in terms of where I am as a Test player and the contribution I can still make to the England team in future and what is the best way forward.”Collingwood struggled to 13 in England’s first innings before lofting Michael Beer to mid-on, but even though the runs haven’t come he has played a role in the team’s Ashes success with his impressive catching at slip and useful medium pace. In Australia’s first innings he bowled Mike Hussey with what could prove his final ball in Test cricket.

Everton are confident in securing at least £50m for their star striker Richarlison this summer and may have a perfect replacement for him already at the club in Lewis Dobbin.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider sources, the Toffees are willing to listen to offers of £50m for the Brazilian who has been key in their battle for Premier League survival. Selling him would allow them to save money on wages which will be crucial if they are relegated, but would also provide an opportunity to re-invest the profit.

However, they don’t need to spend the money made on another striker. Unsurprisingly, Everton who are renowned for giving young players opportunities, have a rising star in their ranks who could be the player to step up.

Dobbin can be the perfect replacement

19-year old Lewis Dobbin has looked good in the youth setup at Finch Farm and now could be the time for the club to reward him for his hard work and impressive displays.

This season he has appeared 17 times in Premier League 2 and has directly contributed to six goals in that time. He has also made five first-team appearances this season and if Everton do end up going down he could be the perfect man to build for the future with.

He has been described as “class” by journalist Will Magee who told his followers on Twitter to “remember the name”. Whilst there has been a lot of hype before around young players, Everton aren’t really in a position where they can spend loads of money and in the past trusting in their youth setup has paid off.

The most recent example is Anthony Gordon who has been a key figure in their side this season and has been one of the positives to a poor campaign. The Toffees are sixth when it comes to the least amount of goals scored in the league this season, so trying something different with Dobbin certainly wouldn’t make things much worse.

Everton correspondent at the Liverpool Echo Adam Jones agrees that he should get “a chance to impress” saying that he has been “fantastic” for the U23s.

The England U19 international may not be at the levels of Richarlison straight away, but he does have great potential and using him would allow Everton to focus their transfer efforts on positions where improvement is needed much more than up front.

IN other news: Sources: Everton now eyeing move for £19.8m-rated “rock”, he’s far better than Keane…

South Australia and New South Wales will battle for the Big Bash title in Adelaide on Saturday

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale04-Feb-2011Match FactsThe teenager Patrick Cummins has unexpectedly become a Twenty20 star•Getty ImagesSaturday, February 5, Adelaide Oval
Start time 7pm (0830 GMT)The Big PictureThe Big Bash final determines who holds the silverware but in reality, both South Australia and New South Wales are already big winners. By qualifying for the decider, they have earned a place at the Champions League Twenty20 later this year and, as the Blues are well aware having won that worldwide tournament in 2009, there are serious riches on offer at the multi-million dollar event. But for now, the prize is the Big Bash trophy, and it will be the last chance for the states to win the competition in its current format, because by next season the new Big Bash League will feature eight city-based teams instead of the existing state sides.It’s also an opportunity for the Redbacks to end a trophy drought that has stretched out to 15 years. They haven’t won any silverware since the Sheffield Shield in 1995-96, and the state’s cricket fans are anxious for something to celebrate. New South Wales haven’t much room in their prize cabinet after a successful decade, and they are the only team apart from Victoria to have won the Big Bash, having triumphed in 2008-09.Form guide (most recent first)South Australia WWWWW
New South Wales WLWWL
Watch out for…Patrick Cummins is only 17, but already he’s created a stir. A fast bowler who has hit remarkable speeds for a teenager – up to 146kph – Cummins is the leading wicket taker in the competition with 11 victims at 11.54. He has been such a standout that there have been calls to rush him into the Sheffield Shield side, but his captain Stuart Clark is mindful of giving him too much work.”There is perhaps a case of too much cricket at a young age for players, who then all of a sudden are not doing a lot, then bowling a heap,” Clark said. “It seems that’s where injuries happen with the young guys and that we need to be mindful of that at the moment. We need to be careful we don’t burn Pat out, as the risk would be high. The workload of going from four overs to bowling 40 overs a week in Shield cricket is very different.”At the other end of the pace spectrum, the equally inexperienced Nathan Lyon has been a revelation for South Australia in the Big Bash this summer. A 23-year-old offspinner who moved from the ACT five months ago, Lyon was picked for his adopted state in their Big Bash opener in January, and now he’s collected nine wickets at 17.55. The Redbacks have used him to open the bowling on several occasions, and he could be especially useful in taking the pace off the ball against the New South Wales opener David Warner, who enjoys hitting the fast men.”Darren Berry and Michael Klinger have been really good, telling me to be brave and back my skills against all these top-class bats, the likes of Chris Gayle,” Lyon said. “Our gameplan has been to take the pace off the ball. It’s been working pretty well for us.”Team newsThe Redbacks are missing three important players, with Kieron Pollard having returned to West Indies duties, and Callum Ferguson and Shaun Tait in the Australian one-day squad. The batsmen Tom Cooper and James Smith will vie for Ferguson’s place, while the attack will once again be based around spin – Lyon, Aaron O’Brien and the English import Adil Rashid, whose legbreaks have been particularly difficult for opposition batsmen to get away.South Australia squad Michael Klinger (capt), Daniel Harris, Aiden Blizzard, James Smith, Cameron Borgas, Tom Cooper, Daniel Christian, Graham Manou (wk), Aaron O’Brien, Adil Rashid, Kane Richardson, Jake Haberfield, Nathan Lyon.The Blues also have a few players with the Australian side, as usual, but there is still plenty of class in their line-up – so much so that they couldn’t squeeze Phillip Hughes into the side. Warner is the key at the top, while Ben Rohrer has guided the middle order and Cummins has been the star with the ball. Unlike South Australia, New South Wales rely more heavily on their fast men, and the spin duties could fall to the uncapped left-armer Luke Doran, along with the part-timer Dominic Thornely. Steve O’Keefe was unavailable due to a calf injury.New South Wales squad David Warner, Daniel Smith (wk), Phil Jaques, Ben Rohrer, Peter Forrest, Dominic Thornely, Moises Henriques, Tim Armstrong, Sean Abbott, Scott Coyte, Luke Doran, Stuart Clark (capt), Patrick Cummins.Pitch and conditionsThe Adelaide Oval surface usually helps the spinners more than the fast men, and that’s been even more apparent this summer. “The wicket has been a bit slower than what it has been traditionally for this competition,” the South Australia batsman Aiden Blizzard said, “and the spinners have done a great job in our team.” The forecast for Saturday is for a light shower or two clearing by the evening, and a top temperature of 23C.Stats and triviaThe teams have met in five Twenty20 matches, of which South Australia have only won one – in Newcastle four years agoAiden Blizzard will be playing in his fifth Big Bash final – more than any other individual – having turned out in four for VictoriaThe two leading run scorers in the tournament this year are both playing in this game – Warner has 277 runs at 55.40, while the South Australian opener Daniel Harris has made 256 at 51.20Last time South Australia won any silverware – the 1995-96 Sheffield Shield – their fast bowler Kane Richardson was five years oldQuotes”A lot has happened since that game. We’ve had five really good wins since then. Their team was a little bit different, they had Brett Lee and Bollinger; now they’ve got a very young team.”
“I was just happy to get the opportunity to play one game, but to play in five and get to a final, it is unreal.”

John Hastings is a giant allrounder who is new on the scene and preparing for a bits-and-pieces role in Australia’s World Cup defence

Peter English31-Jan-2011John Hastings is a giant allrounder who is new on the scene and preparing for a bits-and-pieces role in Australia’s World Cup defence. Hastings contributed with the vital wickets of Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in the series-sealing victory against England on Sunday to continue his steady rise.That is just the sort of effort the Australians want from him, although they are also hoping for some handy runs from No.8. At Victoria Hastings is seen more as an evenly weighted allrounder, but the national set-up likes him for his clever changes of pace, including the slower bouncer that upset Pietersen on Sunday night.Usually at this time in the World Cup cycle the teams are relying on players who have developed on the international stage over the previous couple of years. Hastings has appeared in only five ODIs and one Twenty20, so he will be learning on the job.”I have played a Champions League [Twenty20] over there and made my international debut over there as well, I love playing in India,” Hastings said before the team left for Sydney to prepare for Wednesday’s sixth ODI. “There’s massive crowds, lots of pressure, that’s what I strive to play for. The wickets are lower and slower so you have to mix your pace up a little bit and that’s why I think I have been brought into this team.”Hastings, 25, stands at 1.95m and is an intimidating presence on and off the field. He hasn’t modelled himself on anyone but rates himself similar to Andrew McDonald, his Victoria team-mate. “He’s a medium pacer with a lot of tricks and slower balls, and bats in the top six,” he said. “My batting is probably not there at the moment, but I’ve got to play my role as best I can.”He was a batsman as a junior in New South Wales but has graduated into an accomplished bowler since switching states. “Batting is there in the background so I’ve got to keep working away at that,” he said. “I can come in at No.8 and contribute, I’ve normally got five to 10 overs to bat.”Australia’s World Cup plans have started to come together during the four wins against England and the one loss in Adelaide. Brett Lee is fit and bowling fast, and the opening combination of Shane Watson and Brad Haddin is beginning to settle.Openers have been a major feature of Australia’s three World Cup wins, with Matthew Hayden dominating in 2007, Adam Gilchrist doing well in 2003 and Mark Waugh succeeding in 1999. Michael Clarke, the stand-in captain, said Watson and Haddin were capable of providing a similar partnership to Hayden and Gilchrist.”Watto and Hadds are a wonderful combination,” he said. “They suit each other because on any given day one of them can go off and the other can play that anchor role. Add Ricky Ponting into that top four and I think we’ve got a pretty good batting order. The subcontinent conditions will really suit Watto and Hadds and the first 10 to 15 overs will be crucial to get off to good starts.”

Graeme Smith said South Africa had played enough games against India to understand what they are up against in Nagpur

Firdose Moonda in Nagpur11-Mar-2011Graeme Smith may have anticipated walking into a wind tunnel for his pre-match press conference at the VCA Stadium. With Group B’s headline clash, between South Africa and India, just a few hours away, the media conjured up a gale force of questions, many of them not about the upcoming game. It began as a breeze, with a few small chats about bowling options, got gustier once the line of questioning changed to mindset, and then the hurricane arrived. “This team usually arrive as favourites and end up being branded chokers, how do you stay sane?”The reporter meant little malice, but it was just the type of question that had the possibility to annoy Smith. But he was stronger than that. The smile stayed on his face as he answered. “The sanity in the squad is keeping all the outside influences out,” Smith said. “We’ve been able to put a decent perspective on things in the group.”It’s the angle that Smith and his team are viewing things from that refused to allow him to be swayed by the sentiment that the loss against England has left them in crisis, not necessarily as far as qualifying for the knockouts goes, but mentally. Smith said that it has not. “I’d like to think that our confidence and strength within the group is more powerful than one result.”What that one result seems to have done is given the team the confidence to face the graves of all their past stumbles that the critics have dug up. “Our past is our past and we can’t hide from it. There is no point in trying to hide from the perception [that we struggle under pressure], the current group of players have to challenge the perception.”Even if it means that until they win a major tournament, they will be challenging that perception every time they step onto a cricket field, it’s something they are willing to do. The challenge starts again against India, who South Africa beat 3-2 in an ODI series at home before this World Cup, and at a venue where they have enjoyed success, albeit in a Test match, just a year ago.Dale Steyn is one of the many wicket-taking options that Graeme Smith says South Africa have•Getty Images”I think I’ve spent a month of my life in Nagpur now, so we know it pretty well,” Smith joked before turning to the more serious matter of the value that familiarity of the opposition will add. Although the Indian ODI squad in South Africa was without Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar, Smith feels that South Africa have seen enough of them to feel comfortable that they have adequate first-hand knowledge of India. “We know each other quite well having spent the whole summer playing against each other. It’s going to be a wonderful occasion and we’re looking forward to it.”The Indian batting line-up, in particular the three who missed the series in South Africa, will be drooling at the sight of the Nagpur pitch, devoid of grass and promising runs. What they have to come up against is a South African attack that has conceded less than 230 in all three outings in the tournament so far. Besides being disciplined, they’ve been dangerous and have bowled out all three sides they have come up against. “As a bowling unit, we’ve been very strong and our unpredictability stands us in good stead,” Smith said.It’s the element of surprise that makes them so different to the seam-heavy attacks of the past and the fact that all bowlers are now wicket-takers that makes them a tricky attack to plan to. While Dhoni said he was happy for his bowlers to concede sparsely and not take wickets some of the time, Smith feels it’s the attacking intent which has proved a good form of defence for them. “We feel it’s the best way to curb run-rate and to control the game. We’ve got a lot of wicket-taking options in our line-up, which is what we wanted.”With legspinner Imran Tahir a doubtful starter, South Africa may bring back left-armer Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who has not played a game in the tournament yet. He was the leading wicket-taker in the series against India, with 13 scalps and in batsmen-friendly conditions, the extra seamer could be a better option than the extra batsman.With the bowling options appearing limitless, and the batting strong, South Africa seem to have few worries ahead of the big match. Smith wasn’t allowed to breathe in the fresh air outside the media cauldron, or even just a sigh of relief, before being asked about his own nemesis, Zaheer Khan, who has the better of him in five out of 13 ODIs. “He is a quality bowler but I have worked on a few things with Duncan [Fletcher] and hopefully it will pay off.”

Cosmetic surgery? Moisturiser? Who cares? Shane Warne is still ripping them legbreaks

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga24-Apr-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
After 4-0-50-1 came 4-0-16-3•AFPCosmetic surgery? Moisturiser? Who cares? Shane Warne is still ripping them legbreaks. He is still getting vicious dip and drift. He is still producing key wickets – tonight those of Brad Hodge and the top-scorers Parthiv Patel and Ravindra Jadeja – to keep Rajasthan Royals alive in the tournament. On a pitch where the bounce varied from shoulder to shin-high off similar lengths, Kochi Tuskers Kerala threatened to convert their ordinary start into a decent total, but Warne came back to remove both Parthiv and Jadeja off successive deliveries to end the 48-run fourth-wicket partnership. The resultant target was sub-par even on the slightly two-paced pitch, and Rahul Dravid and Shane Watson ensured there were no hiccups in the chase, with a 71-run opening stand.Rajasthan were right at home in conditions that their two spinners and predominantly slower-ball bowlers enjoy. They also had the injured Johan Botha back, who removed Mahela Jayawardene with the first ball he bowled. It all started inauspiciously for Kochi, with Brendon McCullum missing out because of a bad shoulder. His replacement, VVS Laxman, ran himself out. Botha came on and turned one across Jayawardene, and with some help from the protruding thigh pad, the ball found a way into the stumps. Warne did Brad Hodge in with one that kept low. As a consequence of those big wickets, once Kochi’s run-rate fell below six in the fifth over, it never crossed that mark.Rajasthan’s international bowlers – Warne, Botha and Watson – went for 58 in 12 overs between them. Warne even found time to settle a personal score. He welcomed Ravindra Jadeja, who had tried to move away from his franchise last year and was banned in the process, with a bouncer at 110kph. Jadeja and Parthiv, though, kept their heads and put Kochi on their way to what could have been a defendable target. They picked their battles wisely, taking risks against the domestic bowlers, running hard, not looking for ambitious shots.At 88 for 3 after 15 overs, though, they decided they needed to push for more runs, especially considering it was the expected dew that had made Rajasthan field first on this pitch. Jadeja came down to Warne, who bowled the straighter one and got a thick edge along the ground. Two balls later Jadeja tried the slog sweep, but this one bounced at him, taking the top edge. Back-pedalling, Warne completed the catch around mid-on. Parthiv lost his head next ball, trying the reverse-sweep, and was stumped off a slider.After that Kochi lost their way with new batsman struggling to time the ball on the slow track. In all, seven wickets fell for 21 runs. The momentum continued into the second innings as Watson smashed the first ball to the cover boundary. Dravid took over from there, playing proper cricketing shots to counter the tricky pitch. He also hit the first six of the match shortly before running himself out, going for an ambitious second run. At 71 for 1, only formalities remained, but Watson pushed the rate up, ensuring the target was achieved with 5.5 overs to spare, giving Rajasthan’s net run-rate a boost.

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan allrounder, has withdrawn from the squad for the two one-day internationals against Ireland later this month for personal reasons

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2011Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan allrounder, has withdrawn from the squad for the two one-day internationals against Ireland later this month for personal reasons, according to a PCB official.”Afridi has informed PCB that due to the illness of his father he had to stay longer in USA, so he would be unable to join the squad for Ireland.” PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar told ESPNcricinfo.The pull-out comes after days of speculation about Afridi’s unhappiness at the decision to remove him as captain, with some local reports even suggesting he would retire from the game altogether, though there is no indication yet that this is the case. Last week the board chose to replace Afridi as ODI captain with Misbah-ul-Haq, despite the former having led Pakistan to the semi-final of the World Cup.Pakistan are expected to arrive in Ireland on Wednesday, with the two games scheduled for May 28 and 30. The board will not be sending a replacement for Afridi.Afridi took over as ODI captain properly in June last year, before the Asia Cup, having been appointed the Twenty20 captain the previous year. He was never given the leadership on a full-time basis, but first irked the board by walking away from the Test captaincy on the tour to England, one Test after being appointed. Misbah, currently the Test captain, now becomes the fifth ODI captain under the near three-year tenure of Butt; there have also been six Test captains in that time.

England captain Andrew Strauss insists his team are focussed on the task of finishing their series against Sri Lanka on a high, despite India’s impending arrival

Andrew Miller at the Rose Bowl15-Jun-2011There was a peculiar atmosphere at the Rose Bowl on the eve of the third Test against Sri Lanka. The unfamiliarity of the venue contributed to a strange sense of detachment, as indeed did the persistent drizzle that limited the team’s practice and left players and journalists alike milling around in the pavilion foyer. For all the history that will be made on Thursday when England inaugurates its tenth Test venue, it was hard to escape the feeling that the summer had reached a hiatus – a calm before the Indian storm that is looming next month.No doubt the England team would wish to view this challenge differently, because as they’ve discovered to their cost in the past, any such notion tends to be corrosive, especially against opponents as traditionally under-estimated as Sri Lanka. After all, England have not beaten them in a Test series for the best part of a decade, and five years ago they came a cropper at the exact same stage of their three-match series, squandering a 1-0 lead as Muttiah Muralitharan tore through them at Trent Bridge.Nevertheless, as England welcome back their attack leader James Anderson after a side strain curtailed his game in Cardiff, Sri Lanka are facing up to the loss of their captain and leading run-scorer Tillakaratne Dilshan – with Kumar Sangakkara’s reluctant return to the helm adding a frisson of political intrigue to their preparations. They aren’t exactly a team in crisis just yet, but England have encountered happier tourists in recent years.From Andrew Strauss’s point of view, however, England are five days and 20 wickets from wrapping up a 2-0 series win, and nothing that has happened or been spoken since the end of the Lord’s Test need deflect them from their singular purpose – especially at a venue that has never before hosted a five-day contest, and will therefore involve a certain element of the unknown.”All our language throughout this series has been to not look too far ahead and not beyond each Test match,” said Strauss. “We come here with a good chance of finishing this series off on a high and winning 2-0, but Sri Lanka have shown enough in the first two games to show they are not a pushover by any means.”We’re going to have to work hard and both sets of players will have to adapt to the conditions here, which we’re not entirely sure how they are going to be,” he added. “In one sense home advantage of knowing the wicket here is slightly negated, so we’re going to have to work hard and earn the right to get on top.”Anderson’s impending return leaves England with a dilemma of sorts, given that one of the three pacemen who under-performed in the draw at Lord’s will have to make way in the starting XI. With 25 wickets in his last five Tests, Chris Tremlett’s position is secure for now, but neither Steven Finn nor Stuart Broad has anything like the same sort of job security.”It is always a tricky decision,” said Strauss. “I thought in the last game at Lord’s all our bowlers bowled some good spells at times, and some less good ones as well. We have to look at the wicket in the morning and decide what the best attack will be for this game, but this is a good position to be in. Even though we weren’t at our best at Lord’s, we had some good spells.”The probable man for the chop is Finn, who recovered from a shaky start to pick up four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings at Lord’s, but Broad’s recent Test form is the cause of some concern for the England management. A succession of injuries limited his participation in both the Ashes and the World Cup, and so far this series he has managed six wickets at 48.00, at a loose economy rate of 3.52.”We always want our bowlers to be taking wickets so from that point of view it is a concern, but he’s done a lot of good things,” said Strauss. “He’s gone past the bat a lot and the fact is we’ve got a good squad of bowlers and they’re all being pushed hard to make sure they keep performing.”The challenge for Stuart is to keep improving, but you also have to realise with bowlers that sometimes one guy will get the wickets, but the other bowls better. You have to look beyond how many wickets they’ve got, you have to look at how many balls they get in the right area.”The other man with a point to prove right now is the captain himself. Kevin Pietersen’s confident 72 at Lord’s alleviated the pressure on his position at No. 4, but with scores of 20, 4 and 0 in his three innings of the series to date, Strauss is aware that his own form is now under some scrutiny – especially after he was extracted by the left-armer Chanaka Welegedara in both his innings in the second Test.”I’m not sure it is right that someone is always under the spotlight, but that is the fact of it,” Strauss admitted. “I was frustrated with my returns at Lord’s, but it is the nature of the beast as an opening batsman. Sometimes you get a couple of good balls early.”But I’m very comfortable with my own game and I’m very comfortable with us as a batting unit, with six out of seven being in great fettle in the first two Tests. But now it is my turn to come to the party, there is no doubt about that.”Strauss’s batting form as England captain was exceptional in his first few outings, as he recorded four scores of 142 or more in eight Tests, including a matchwinning 161 against Australia at Lord’s in 2009. But since that innings he has reached a century on just one occasion in 33 attempts, despite passing fifty 11 times.”You can over-think these things a bit, but it is right I’ve scored a lot of fifties and not turned them into hundreds and that is something I’m determined to change,” he said. “[My conversion rate] has been one of my strengths and I need to find it again. As an opening batsman if you can get big hundreds then it sets the side up pretty well and that is the challenge for me.”But you’re never going to have all seven batsmen firing at the same time. That’s unrealistic,” he added. “I’ve just got to make are that I do everything I can to get back in the runs and get a hundred. This is Test cricket and there are hundreds of guys in county cricket who want your job, so you have to do everything you can to be successful.”