To select your XI click here Games of football were one of the ways Bob Woolmer liked to break down barriers based on age and experience. With the ball at their feet, there were no juniors and seniors, just team-mates having a good time and aware that the goal couldn’t be reached without everyone doing their bit. So it was poignant that Pakistan started their pre-match preparation for Wednesday’s game against Zimbabwe with a game of football.Mushtaq Ahmed, Woolmer’s assistant, took charge of proceedings, and played himself, as did Inzamam-ul-Haq, who will captain Pakistan for the last time against Zimbabwe. Many in the team were absolutely devastated by Woolmer’s death, but back on the grass and with a ball to kick around, the smiles started to return to faces. There was even some of the banter that typifies these sessions, and it was only once the boys were sufficiently relaxed that Mushtaq took them across for nets.Pakistan have never departed a World Cup without winning a game, a fate that befell neighbours India in 1979, but Zimbabwe – who could still qualify for the Super Eights with a win – will pose a stern test. Mushtaq acknowledged that rousing the team for one last push would take quite some effort.”The worst news was Bob’s death,” he said. “For many of the boys, it was like a father passing away. And quite a few were also depressed about Inzamam deciding to retire [from one-day cricket]. I went to each and every room to comfort them. Some of them were in tears [after Woolmer’s death]. It’s the biggest blow in the history of Pakistan cricket.”As a player, Mushtaq had a reputation of being a bit of a practical joker, but he admitted that coaxing a laugh or smile out of his wards was difficult. “Whenever we lost badly, I’d do my best to cheer the boys up. But this is not a game of cricket that we’ve lost. It’s a life. I can’t even begin to explain how much passion Bob had for our country’s cricket, and how much he’ll be missed.”As for Inzamam, Mushtaq reckoned that history would view his time in charge with kind eyes. “He took charge at a time when many of the boys had no experience,” he said. “Some of them didn’t even think maturely. He helped to nurture them. At times, he would even forego his own practice to take care of them. He always thought first of the team.”He was a very good captain and role model for the boys. After he announced his retirement, they all went to talk to him. Some of them even told me: ‘We need another man like that to captain us’.”Mushtaq also said that nothing would change on the field against Zimbabwe. “The one thing Bob taught us was that you have to be professional,” he said. “My job is to organise things, Inzamam’s job is to captain them. Before and during the match, each person has a role to play, and we’ll all concentrate on that.”According to Pervez Mir, Pakistan’s media manager, the team would have a remembrance meeting for Woolmer after the Zimbabwe game. “Tomorrow evening after the game, the boys will come out and pay their respects. And some of them may speak about what he meant to them.”Those words may be of solace to the Woolmer family, but the best possible homage to the man who spent three years with them will be a victory, with some of the men whose careers he resurrected delivering keynote performances.To select your XI click here
Rahul Dravid slipped right back into the thick of the action in Indore, the city of his birth, after a well-deserved two match break and was at once stoutly defending two of his team mates, the out-of-form Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif.”They are both proven performers and both have done really well for India in the past,” he said the day before the final ODI against England. “You just have to look at their records to see what they bring to the side. Our aim is to try and get the best out of players, irrespective of whether it is Sehwag or Kaif or VRV Singh. The aim is try and build a good side. We will do whatever it takes to achieve our goal of trying and picking a good team that we think will take us forwards.”In a team situation, it is not always possible to say that everyone will get the same number of opportunities. We all know what Sehwag is capable of doing at the top of the order when he is at his best. Some players will get more chances than others, who may not be lucky enough to get the same number of opportunities. That’s the way international cricket goes, it is part and parcel of international cricket.”Dravid said that while his team was very keen to end the series on a winning note, they were not viewing the match in isolation, and would use chance to give some of the younger cricketers a chance to put their hands up. “It’s a good opportunity for the young guys to show what they are capable of,” he said. “There are a few areas that we need to address. We have a bunch of good young fast bowlers, and we need to identify the best prospects, we must find out who is the best of the lot. Sometimes, you can make the mistake of looking at it as just one match, but we must look ahead. Now that the opportunity presents itself, we must give them a chance.”Dravid also lavished praise on Ramesh Powar, whose stocky build has been a talking point despite some skilful bowling and determined batting. “Sometimes, size can be a bit misleading,” he said. “Ramesh is working very hard on his fitness, he understands that he needs to be fitter. He batted very well in the last one-dayer, and his bowling has been exceptional right through this series. He is a very good and handy cricketer to have. It’s very heartening to see his development; when you have a player like him who can contribute with the bat and with the ball, it mades a difference to the combination of the side. We need to develop players like that.”While conceding that he had watched parts of the last ODI on television Dravid said he had not seen much of Robin Uthappa, the young batsman from his own state of Karnataka. “To be honest, I have not seen too much of him myself. But the selectors have seen something in him, they believe he has the potential. Even without playing a game, it is a very good learning experience for him. He will also be playing in the `A’ team’s outings in Abu Dhabi. It’s like an apprenticeship period for a lot of the young boys, and they can benefit in the future from just being with the Indian team now.”
The final Test in Antigua set a record or two – never before have eight individual hundreds been scored in one match, and that’s not counting the six bowlers who conceded three figures – but it was over as a contest and as meaningful entertainment long before the end of the fifth day.The problem was the pitch, which was as flat as a freshly-tarmaced road but one which offered marginally less reward to bowlers. The same could be said of the Antigua Test last year. The two most recent Tests at the Recreation Ground have produced 2720 runs and 37 wickets; this year, there were 1462 runs and 17 wickets.And spare a thought for Makhaya Ntini, who slogged away for 33 overs for his one wicket, and then watched as two wicketkeepers with no pretentions to being bowlers took three between them. AB de Villiers grabbed 2 for 49 as even West Indies grew weary of batting, and then Mark Boucher took his first wicket with his eighth ball in Test cricket.Andy Roberts, Antigua’s first Test player and someone who has been involved in pitch preparation at St John’s for more than a decade, said the two games were played on different tracks. “This particular pitch has not been used for a couple of years now,” he admitted. “In fact, I have been told the last time it was used was when Brian Lara scored his 375 against England in 1994.”Five-day matches need to offer something to both batsman and bowler. This strip of concrete was so unchanging that the match could have been extended to 10 days and a result would probably have still not been forthcoming.The authorities, in a bid to placate television companies, are looking to come up with pitches which will last. While low-scoring matches are often high on drama, they leave TV executives with too many hours of empty space to fill and rob the grounds of valuable income.Roberts said that his hands were tied and that as the West Indies board only allowed that strip to be used once a year, he could do little to improve its pace and bounce. His frustration was evident before the game. When asked by a reporter how he expected the pitch to play, he replied: “It is very difficult to make a prediction … as we haven’t played cricket here in Antigua for the year, so I have nothing to judge how it will play on.”Whatever the reasons, something needs to be done to redress the balance at St John’s, otherwise even the cricket-mad Antiguans will start to stay away from matches which are anything but contests.
Wavell Hinds’s groin injury, which cut short his tour of South Africa, may force him to miss the forthcoming Test series against England as well.Hinds picked up the injury during the third Test at Cape Town, and wassent home with orders to rest it for 6-12 weeks. But, talking to the last night following his return from South Africa, Hinds wasn’t very optimistic. He said: “After six weeks we will assess it because at that point in time it will be better to say if I will be ready for the English tour.”Hinds insisted, however, that his groin problem did not contribute to his poor form in the South Africa series. Hinds mustered only 59 runs in six innings, and was moved down to No. 5 for the third Test. “I was out of sorts – I wouldn’t put it down to the injury,” he said. “I have played on those wickets before. I’ve played in Australia, which is just as bouncy, or even bouncier. It was just a matter of not moving accordingly and being out of co-ordination. I think that’s something I have to adjust in the near future.”The opening Test of the England tour starts in Jamaica on March 11.
Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson are included in the SA “A” team and GarnettKruger has been called up as 12th man for the 4-day game against Australia,starting on Friday at St. George’s Park.Adi Birrell, EP Coach, says he is extremely pleased about their inclusion.”It is a great opportunity for them to play against the best side in theworld. A good showing during the match can enhance their careerssubstantially. Kemp, Peterson and Kruger has worked very hard and we areextremely excited to see these three in action on their home ground.”The performance consultant to EP Cricket, Kepler Wessels, says they areobviously elated that the players now receive recognition for theirperformance. “We just wish them all the luck and hope everything goes well.”Now that EP has three players in the SA “A” team, there is no reason why youshould stay home and NOT support Kemp, Peterson and Kruger. There is stilltime to enter for the World Record Attempt that will be hosted by EP Cricketin conjunction with the Knysna Oyster Co. and Protem Agencies.The current World Record is held by James Arney. He devoured 64 oysters in2.5 minutes at Bentley’s Restaurant in London on 1 September 2000.A tasty thing to remember is Sunday – which is a family day, but what betterway for the family to spend it than at St. George’s Park. Lunch is availablefor families at the Bojangles Club. Bookings can be made with Katherine Longof Megapro on041-5851646.During the four match days there will be many Castle Lager and MTNgive-aways in Castle Corner. On Sunday, SAB will give away Castle Hampersand there will also be a chance to win a ticket to the World Cup and”Beer-for-a-Year”.Spec-Savers will give away thousands of Rands worth of sunglasses at thegame. EP Cricket’s coaching department will also provide exciting on-fieldentertainment during the lunch break.Ticket prices are as follows:Adults (unreserved) – All 4 days R30Adults (unreserved) – Per day R10Scholars (unreserved) – All 4 days R10Scholars (unreserved) – Per day R5Terrace Level (unreserved) – All 4 days R30Terrace Level (unreserved) – All 4 days R10Executive Seating (Reserved) – All 4 days R60Executive Seating (Reserved) – Per day R20Gates open at 8:30 for patrons and at 9:00 for the general public. The matchwill start at 10:00 every day.
The Western Australian Cricket Association is pleased to advise and confirm that two more players have been added to its list of WA State Contracted players – with the inclusion of Sean Cary and Geoff Cullen.Geoff Cullen has been given a contract in recognition of outstanding performances with the bat for Claremont Nedlands, at first grade level in the Sunsmart league. Last season Cullen scored 852 runs at 56.8 in the Sunsmart League, to add to his 164 runs at 27.33 for the WA BGC 2nd XI, in the ACB Cup. Cullen also played one Pura Cup game for WA late last season against Victoria at the WACA ground.Cullen said, “I’m very excited about being a part of the Western Warriors squad next season, but realistic too, about my ranking position. I know that I’ll need to continue scoring runs heavily for Claremont Nedlands, before I can get a game for WA, and am looking forward to the challenge.”While Sean Cary is already a highly experienced player for WA, he too has been rewarded for his outstanding form in first grade cricket last season. Cary took 52 wickets at 17.77 in the Sunsmart league to confirm his swing bowling abilities. So far in his career, Cary has 99 wickets at 34.28 from 36 Pura Cup and Sheffield Shield games for WA.The WACA intends to add two more State Player Contracts and two more Rookie Contracts to its overall list. The ACB’s deadline for states to sign off on final contractual appointments is the end of September.This season sees the inclusion of the Rookie Contract into the State Contract system. The rookie system allows each state to contract between two and five players under the age of 23, over and above their senior list. Players deemed rookies receive an annual retainer of $10,000 and are automatically upgraded to a state contract upon Pura Cup or Mercantile Mutual Cup selection.
Pakistan’s trip to Zimbabwe is a short one, and in just over two weeks they will face an England side buoyed by their recent success in the Ashes. Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s coach, has said that the games against Zimbabwe will be good preparation for his team, as well as helping the side to build towards the World T20 next year.”We’ve got a very big tour coming up straight after this against England, so this is kind of a preparation,” Waqar said. “We had a couple of months layoff before this which we needed after a long tour to Sri Lanka, but I think the boys are fresh and we want to make the most of it. We’re going to make sure that we get the experience out of it and also have a look at the younger boys. We are in a situation as well where every team is looking to that [T20] World Cup, and that’s what we’re trying to do as well. That’s why we’re bringing youngsters in to have a look at them and see what our best team can be for the World Cup.”One of those youngsters is left-arm seamer Imran Khan, whose stellar performances in domestic T20 cricket earned him a national call-up and, potentially, a debut in the first T20. “We’re very excited about what he’s going to come out with because he has been very good on the domestic circuit,” Waqar said. “He’s not very quick, he has got that X-factor, he bowls a good slower one, he’s very young and inexperienced but he knows what he’s doing. If he plays, you’ll see something different.”Waqar credited the hosts whose tour of Pakistan in May broke a six-year cricketing drought in the country, and repeated the mantra that Zimbabwe are not a side to be taken lightly. “I’ve been here a few times, it has been wonderful. The hospitality here is superb and we’re also thankful to them because they’ve been to us. After six years we were in serious trouble so it’s a payback kind of a tour and it’s going to be a tough one.”Zimbabwe have always been a fine side, especially when they are playing on their home soil. They know the pitches and the conditions very well, so the idea is not to take them easy. It doesn’t matter how much experience you’ve got, especially with Twenty20 cricket it’s on the day. You have to really be on your toes to play against any side. So we’re going to make sure that we put up our best team and deliver the goods and hopefully win both of the games.”Waqar suggested that Pakistan weren’t quite sure of what to expect from the Harare Sports Club pitch, but good preparation meant they were ready for whatever was presented. “We’ve been keeping a close eye over the last few series and this pitch at Harare hasn’t really given much to us. On the odd day we have seen the ball spin a lot and on the odd day the ball going through. It gives a lot of flavour to cricket so we have to be really ready for it and make sure that whatever we come across we’re ready for.”Waqar added that Pakistan are looking to shed their reputation as an inconsistent side. “It has been the case from the past and we’re trying to cut it short and make sure that it doesn’t happen so often. Any side can falter on a given day – you’ve seen Australia go down badly in the Ashes when they were the favourites. We’re going to try and minimise that and make sure that if we put our right foot out then we’ll be able to win these games.”Pakistan’s preparations will also have been helped by the presence of Grant Flower on their coaching staff, who has worked extensively with Zimbabwe in the past.”That’s why we hired him – especially for this tour,” Waqar joked. “Grant has been superb, his work ethic has been superb. He has become very friendly, he understands the culture, he understands the boys and the work ethic is superb. So of course we are going to dig something out of him. That’s the advantage I guess.”
When Nottingham Forest were in a rich vein of form, relying heavily on the strong midfield, the form of the strikers could be forgiven. A snap shot from Simon Cox dragged wide, or an over-zealous Darius Henderson in an aerial challenge, could usually be laughed off.
With the goals from midfield drying out, and the shaky defence becoming exposed, the horrible habit the strikers have adopted is now unfunny. The security of a Lewis McGugan late goal has disappeared, seeing Forest drop out of the playoffs, with no win in four.
Dexter Blackstock labelled a donkey by some and made a scapegoat by so many more. Simon Cox praised endlessly for his work ethic and commitment to the cause, but rarely getting in positions to threaten, to make himself an option for the onlooking midfield. The closest Forest have to a striker who has an established place in the starting eleven is January signing Darius Henderson, who now misses three crucial games through suspension.
Arguably the most potent striker in the league, Billy Sharp, is unfortunately not getting a look in. Disillusioned? Whatever the justification for his absence, 23 other clubs in the league are looking on enviously, as we dump a striker on the bench with one of the best reputations in the Championship.
Before Darius Henderson’s strike against Hull City at the KC Stadium, the last meaningful goal from a Forest striker came on December 29th 2012, as Billy Sharp scored a last gasp equaliser in Alex McLeish’s first game in charge of The Reds. The brilliance of the midfield has done enough since to paper over the cracks of the poor showing from the strikers, but it’s now that they must show what they’re made of, before it’s too late.
Simon Cox, despite his commendable efforts, is currently a clone of the heavily criticised Fernando Torres when it comes to his purpose in and around the box. Often finding himself on the wing, it is rare to find Cox in a dangerous position providing a threat, maybe due to his visible lack of confidence.
Supporters look on and argue the possibility that the midfielders are struggling to create, but then, what are they supposed to do when strikers are lacking the required confidence and fearless attitude to get in threatening positions?
Billy Davies has opted for the approach that epitomises his managerial strengths, by blaming the team for not providing, in an attempt to aid the psychological condition of the strikers lacking in belief.
As a fresh Billy Sharp sits on the bench, the off form Dexter Blackstock and the newly recovered Marcus Tudgay are getting minutes before him. In the rare opportunity at Turf Moor that Sharp got to flaunt his quality, the team selected lacked the guile that would’ve been to his strength, as was the case in the early parts of the season, with both Radi Majewski and Adlene Guedioura missing.
Approaching the last four games, Billy Davies could do no worse than to throw Sharp in, as the side looks to make the most of the limited opportunities. A monumental part of the magnificent sequence of results that alarmed the division, was the shrewd management of Billy Davies. The timing and the process of thought behind the substitutions were mostly faultless, seeing him pick up another Manager of the Month award.
Now though, his management of the strikers will be the key behind getting over the line.
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And for the strikers, it’s time for them to prove their worth. Millions of pounds worth of genuine Championship quality, it’s time for them to take responsibility. Get in the positions, and see Forest over the line and into the playoffs.
You don’t win the lottery, if you don’t buy a ticket. But Nottingham Forest won’t stand a chance of ending the season victoriously in the lottery of the playoffs, if the strikers don’t want to buy the ticket by commanding dangerous positions, to be the hero.
Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Oscar Mingueza to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Spanish media outlet Diario Sport (via Barca Universal), who claimed that Jesse Marsch has identified the Barcelona centre-back as one of his primary transfer targets this summer, with the American said to be hoping to beef up his defensive options ahead of 2022/23.
The report added that, with the Catalan club being very interested in getting a deal of their own over the line for Leeds winger Raphinha at the end of the current campaign, the 22-year-old defender could be used as something of a bargaining chip in the negotiations between the two clubs.
Marsch’s dream
Considering Leeds’ desperate need to address their defensive frailties ahead next season – the Whites have shipped a league-high 67 goals over their 30 Premier League games so far this term – it is not difficult to understand why Marsch would be interested in a move for Mingueza this summer.
Indeed, after making his Barcelona debut as a result of a defensive injury crisis at Camp Nou in 2020, the £25m-rated centre-back – who can also operate on the right – highly impressed over his 27 LaLiga appearances last season. He helped his side to keep seven clean sheets, scoring two goals and registering two assists, while also averaging 0.7 interceptions, 1.9 tackles, 1.6 clearances and 54.9 passes and winning 3.3 duels per game.
These returns saw the £19k-per-week Spain international earn a very respectable seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.96, ranking him as Barcelona’s 11th-best player in the Spanish top flight last term. That led to football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing the 22-year-old his “unexpected hero” of 2020/21.
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Should Mingueza go on to replicate this level of form following a potential switch to Elland Road, he would certainly be an upgrade on a number of Marsch’s current options in the heart of his defence. That leads us to believe that Orta must do all he can to secure the signing of the Spaniard this summer.
AND in other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals huge Leeds United development, supporters will be devastated
Gerald Majola, the chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), has confirmed Mickey Arthur, the South African coach, cannot be axed from the national selection panel as he is under a contract. The board’s general council, which reaffirmed its stand on the transformation policy, had “removed” Arthur from the panel on Saturday. However, only the board’s professional arm, headed by Majola, had the power to remove him.”Mickey Arthur is contracted by Cricket South Africa (Pty) Ltd, and his contracted duties include being a national selector,” Majola said in a statement. “Only the board of directors of CSA (Pty) Ltd can change this, and therefore the resolution taken at General Council’s teleconference on Saturday to remove Mr Arthur from the selection process is unconstitutional.”I have been in contact today (Sunday) with the convenor of selectors, Joubert Strydom, and have informed him that the same selection panel will finalise the team to tour Bangladesh. The panel comprises Joubert Strydom (convener), Mickey Arthur (national coach), Vincent Barnes (assistant national coach), Graeme Smith (captain), Mustapha Khan (selector) and Shafiek Abrahams (selector). The team will be announced tomorrow (Monday) after three players have undergone fitness tests, namely Hashim Amla, Andre Nel, and Neil McKenzie.”With any luck, Arthur and Norman Arendse, the CSA president with whom he has been having a running battle, will bump into each other in a deserted parking lot sometime soon. Maybe then, with no one watching and nothing more lethal than a pair of jabbing index fingers, we might get to the bottom of this week of Monty Python mayhem. Until then, let’s try and make sense of what has happened.On Tuesday Arendse rejected the squad selected for South Africa’s imminent tour to Bangladesh. He did so, we believe, on the grounds that only four black players were included in the squad and not seven as called for in terms of CSA’s plan for the ongoing racial transformation the game. It doesn’t matter if we euphemise that bit of legislation as a policy or a target: what matters is the number. And that number is seven. Four isn’t even close.Where was Herschelle Gibbs in the wake of his spectacular century in the last one-day international against West Indies, Arendse wondered. And didn’t Monde Zondeki deserve some recognition for the 54 wickets he took in 10 SuperSport Series matches this season? Both are black, which would leave us just one short of the required number.Arthur countered with a similarly sharp perspective. The South Africans return home briefly from Bangladesh before returning to the subcontinent for what is sure to be a challenging series against India. Arthur wanted his best team on the field in Bangladesh to ensure they hit the ground running when they encountered the big brothers next door.Arendse countered that, with a lengthy tour of England looming after the Indian venture, South Africa needed to find out whether players like Zondeki – and other bowlers – were up to international standard.At this point, non-South African readers might wonder what all the fuss has been about. Even allowing for what in other countries would be the novelty of a racially based selection policy, this is the stuff of the average committee meeting, surely. Why all the acrimony?The upshot was that Arendse laid disciplinary charges against Arthur, who duly fired back a salvo of charges of his own against the president. Except that Arendse, as an elected official, was not subject to the same set of rules and regulations as CSA employees like Arthur. So the coach’s charges are unlikely to stick. Instead, Arthur is likely to find himself on the carpet on charges of bringing the game into disrepute in the next day or so, and he might well find himself out of a job shortly after that.