Aaron Redmond, the latest player to earn a call-up into New Zealand’s ever-changing top order, is hoping to make his tour of England more successful than his father did 35 years ago. Redmond was named in the 16-man Test squad and could become the eighth person to follow his father into New Zealand Test cricket if he makes his debut in the three-game series.Rodney Redmond played one Test and was highly successful, scoring 107 and 56 against Pakistan in Auckland in 1972-73. However, he then struggled to adjust to new contact lenses on the visit to England later that year and managed only 483 runs at 28.41 and had to settle for being remembered as a one-Test wonder.The younger Redmond learnt of his call-up at his father’s house in Perth and he said it was a special moment for the family. “A big smile came over his face and he chucked out his hand to congratulate me and opened up a bottle of red wine to celebrate,” Redmond told the Otago Daily Times.Redmond was en-route from New Zealand to England, where he was planning to play league cricket for Wigan, when the phone-call came from the chairman of selectors Richard Hadlee. “It is something you always dream about, but it has definitely come as a surprise,” Redmond said. “My initial goals were hopefully to get the opportunity later down the track.”But to get the call [on Saturday] and be told it has come a little bit earlier, it just wasn’t in my wildest dreams. It’s one thing getting the chance – now I’ve got to make the most of the opportunity.”Redmond’s elevation came after a solid State Championship season during which he made 447 runs at 40.63 for Otago. However, he said it was “bitter-sweet” that his promotion came at the expense of his domestic team-mate Craig Cumming, who was left out of the squad after being one of four openers used by New Zealand in the past six months.”I’m great friends with Craig and he has played some awesome cricket this year and is a great player,” Redmond said. “I’m sure it won’t stop him. You have your good and bad times in cricket and I know he’ll bounce back.”
Tim Nielsen, the Australia coach, has predicted there will be no changes to the batting and fast-bowling line-ups for the first Test against West Indies unless there are injuries. Australia’s 15-man squad starts its pre-tour camp in Brisbane on Monday and the incumbents, who were part of the 2-1 victory over India, will be boosted by Nielsen’s faith.”The success Lee, Clark and Johnson had as a fast-bowling group last summer means if they are fit and well they’ll be leading the attack,” Nielsen said in the Sunday Mail. “The batting group has been quite stable – Hayden, Jaques, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke and Symonds had successful summers – so the guys that featured in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will have the first opportunity to represent Australia in the West Indies.”There are only two vacancies and Brad Haddin will become the country’s 400th Test player when he takes the gloves from Adam Gilchrist for the first Test in Jamaica on May 22. Stuart MacGill, who has recovered from wrist and knee injuries, is the leading candidate to replace the retired Brad Hogg while Beau Casson is also in the squad. “Traditionally, we like the balance of a spinner,” Nielsen said. “So unless it will be a raging greentop, I’d say we’ll play a spinner.”Ashley Noffke and Doug Bollinger were the two form bowlers during the first-class season, but Mitchell Johnson has the inside running to add to his six Tests. Noffke will start the tour, his second to the West Indies, as the first-choice back-up option.”He’s in the squad so that shows how close he is, but to be honest I wouldn’t expect him to be in the first team unless there is injury,” Nielsen said. “Ashley was rewarded with some one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket last year and he’s jumped up another level again. It’s really pleasing for us to know that if we have an injury, a guy like Noffke can step in and do the job.”
Geoff Boycott has not been approached to take up a coaching role with England’s leading batsmen, according to the ECB. Some English newspapers reported on Thursday that Boycott was being lined up for a part-time coaching position and would specifically be working with Andrew Flintoff, who has struggled with the bat for Lancashire.Although the ECB has had “informal conversations” with Boycott a spokesman said the intention was not for him to work with the senior players. He is more likely to be called on to offer batting advice to age-group teams like the England Under-19s.”We use people like Nasser Hussain already to go to the National Performance Centre in Loughborough to talk to the age-group teams and the England Lions,” the ECB spokesman told . “That is what we envisage other former players doing.”The ECB said any mentoring Boycott would undertake would be in an unofficial capacity and no extra coaches had been added to the current set-up under Peter Moores.
Concerns over the future of Northamptonshire are likely to deepen as the extent of the club’s debts become clear.ESPNcricinfo understands that Northants owe local councils over £2m and that, despite strong talk of new business plans, the year-end financial figures will show that turnover has dropped and losses grown.Northants declared a loss of £305,636 last year but, despite cutting the cricket budget by around £300,000 this year, that loss is expected to rise to somewhere approaching £500,000. Alarmingly, despite having invested in improved facilities, the club’s turnover – £3.7m last year – is expected to have dropped by around £200,000. Membership, meanwhile, has dropped well below 2,000 and appears oddly passive.It was announced in recent weeks that Northampton Borough Council had lent the club £100,000 with a further £150,000 to be made available as required. But it has now emerged that the club borrowed £2m from the city council (there were two separate loans of £1m each) for ground redevelopment work a couple of years ago, with the loan to be repaid by the ECB out of proceeds from the next round of broadcast rights expected at the end of 2019.It is understood that all counties can expect an additional grant of up to £2m from the ECB for investment into facilities at this time.Should the club go out of business before then, the council could expect to recoup no more than £700,000 under the terms of the agreement, meaning that £1.3m of public money is in jeopardy. They therefore have a keen interest in ensuring the club survives until the end of the decade, at least.The ECB has been offering advice to the club for some time. There has been a reluctance to loan more money – the club had requested up to £500,000 – however, until there is greater confidence in the club’s plans and management structure.While officials at the club continue to deny it, insiders maintain that the chief executive, Ray Payne, conducts the role in a part-time capacity and is a relatively rare visitor to the ground. Typically, that has meant he has been at the ground for a day or two each week.The club have also taken loans from directors – thought to be worth around £550,000 – and received grants from supporters. It is understood some players have accepted new deals on reduced salaries and that at least two players have been told their contracts cannot be confirmed until it becomes clear whether the ECB will lend more money. With the level of debt approaching £3m, the ECB have a difficult decision to make.Professional sport in Northampton is in a parlous state. The council this week has also announced an independent enquiry, to be conducted by KPMG, into the management of a £10.25m loan to the town’s football club and they are working with Northamptonshire Police to ascertain how the money has been spent. They have also loaned the rugby club over £5m. News that a further £1.3m of public money is at risk is likely to be acutely politically embarrassing.In August, ESPNcricinfo revealed that the club had approached the ECB for extra funding and had considered a ground move. The club originally denied the story and told the ECB there was a covenant on the ground that forbade development. They later admitted that they had approached the ECB for funding, had “briefly” explored the possibility of a ground move and admitted that the covenant had been lifted several years ago.They maintain it is not relevant that the chairman, vice-chairman and other board members have a background in land or property development. ESPNcricinfo understands that more than £10,000 was spent on drawing up plans for the move.The scale of the losses this year is especially disappointing given that the club should have benefited from several one-off events. They hosted a three-day game against Australia – which had been budgeted to bring in around £100,000 – they raised around £30,000 from the transfer of David Willey to Yorkshire (Willey was released from his contract a year early; Yorkshire paid a fee), they gained 25% of the gate for the T20 quarter-final at Hove and prize money of almost £50,000 for reaching the competition’s final. They also had the new conferencing facilities to sell that had been improved at a cost of around £400,000.Northants’ struggles do not come at a good time. While the ECB has found what amounts to emergency funding for several counties in recent years, there is currently a debate about ways in which to cut the domestic schedule. The other first-class counties appear well disposed to help, but there are those in prominent positions within the ECB who feel that losing a couple of counties would be no bad thing.
Former India batsman VVS Laxman believes the ODI side is one batsman short for their upcoming limited-overs tour of Australia. India’s ODI squad to Australia has only five specialist batsmen after the selectors dropped Suresh Raina, following a poor series against South Africa.Laxman, who was at a promotional event in Delhi, said the decision was harsh on Raina, but would make the batsman hungrier for success in the future, should he make the cut.”I think we are one batsman short. I still feel it was harsh on Suresh Raina. He did really well in the World Cup. He had a tough series against South Africa. Coming at No. 6, when the asking rate is 8 or 10 and with the change in the new rules, the conditions against South Africa were not ideal to play the big shots straightaway,” Laxman said at a Star Sports event to promote India’s limited-overs tour of Australia.”It’s always a pressure situation whenever he walks out to bat. This is also good for him. Raina is probably a very important member if India has to win the T20 World Cup. This will hurt him, but also make him hungrier.”Laxman also urged India’s pacers to refrain from bowling short-pitched deliveries at the Australia batsmen in the series. He brought up India’s World Cup 2015 semi-final against Australia in March this year as an example of why a short-ball strategy would hurt India. Led by Steven Smith’s 105, Australia rattled up 328 for 7 in the semi-final after opting to bat, and India could only muster 233 in reply.”You can bowl short to other teams, which are not used to playing in Australian conditions,” Laxman said. “But if you bowl short to the Australians they will cut and pull you. That is what happened during the semi-final.”Warner is most dangerous batsman in the line-up and you cannot bowl defensive lines to him. There is a formula to get him out and I am sure Ishant Sharma knows that because when he was in (Hyderabad) Sunrisers, we realised what shots he likes to play and what he doesn’t. It is important to make him play the cover drive, and once you do that you always have a chance to dismiss him early on. But don’t bowl short deliveries to him, because he will cut and pull.”Kapil Dev, who was also at the event, said that India would need to focus on getting early wickets in the first 15 overs, even if it came at the cost of a few runs. It was the only way, he said, India could keep Australia from making a strong comeback.”In Australia or even South Africa, the ball does something even after 35 overs. There is bounce and nip for a fast bowler,” Dev said. “I think that is the best part. After 35 overs, I hit the deck and the wicketkeeper holds it up very nicely. So if the batsman loses concentration you can get a wicket.”Somebody who can bowl close to 140 kph will be a success in Australia. At the same time, if you want to do well in Australia, it’s important for you to pick up wickets. Get three wickets in the first 15 overs, even if you have conceded 90 runs. Because then you still have a chance to make a comeback. But if you don’t take wickets and give away 45 runs, they can always make a comeback. Don’t concentrate on bowling maidens overs, think about getting wickets only.”Stating that the top four batsmen in the line-up would have to absorb most of the responsibility, Laxman stressed on the importance of playing with an angled bat in Australian conditions. He said that batters could not play with a straight bat off the back foot.”In Australia, you cannot afford to play on the back foot with a straight bat. The bat face has to be pointing down. Otherwise, it will straight away go to the slip owing to the extra bounce and pace,” Laxman said. “It’s important to play with an angled bat. Also the general mistake that a young batsman tends to make is that he will get out to the back of the length delivery. But then, it is the fuller delivery, which gets the batsman out. The challenge is not to lose wickets early on. There will be a lot of responsibility on the top four.”
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Kevin Pietersen marshalled Quetta Gladiators’ chase of 136•Cricket Australia/Getty Images
In the second thriller of the day, Quetta Gladiators knocked off seven runs off the last over with a ball to spare to establish themselves as the early pace setters in the Pakistan Super League. Quetta top the table with three wins in three matches.Elton Chigumbura thumped a four after two short balls, the second of which was deemed a wide, from the last over bowled by Wahab Riaz. The penultimate ball was deflected for four between slip and keeper, off Anwar Ali’s pad, as Quetta broke into big celebrations, mentor Viv Richards even getting off his seat and having his hands aloft.The victory was set up by 21-year old Mohammad Nawaz, who picked up his second Man-of-the-Match award in three matches. Bowling with a newish ball, Nawaz impressed with his skiddy darts and clever arm balls. He ended a promising opening partnership when he dismissed Tamim Iqbal for 14. Two balls later, Mohammad Hafeez swept the spinner straight to Chigumbura at square leg. Nawaz would also account for Shahid Yousuf to finish with figures of 3 for 29.Umar Gul rattled Peshwar Zalmi further with a double-strike in the 12th over, removing Dawid Malan and Shahid Afridi. By then, Peshwar had slumped to 59 for 5 in 12 overs. Darren Sammy, however, clubbed four sixes and one four during his 31-ball 48 to lift his side to 135.Quetta then lost their openers Luke Wright and Ahmed Shehzad within five overs of the chase. Kevin Pietersen dropped anchor and marshalled the youngsters even as Sarfraz Ahmed threatened to run himself and Pietersen out. Pietersen’s wicket tightened the chase, but Chigumbura and Anwar Ali showed good composure to steer Quetta home in a tense finish. For Peshwar, Afridi and Wahab took two wickets each.
Spain international Cesc Fabregas' proposed transfer from Arsenal to Barcelona has edged closer to reality after the influential midfielder admitted his future was out of his hands.
Fabregas has been a long-time target of the Catalan giants and they finally appear to be closing in on a player who left their youth team ranks for the Gunners seven years ago.
Speaking from Spain's training camp, Fabregas told Sky Sports:"I will only say one thing, I have great respect for Arsene Wenger, for Arsenal football club and for the Arsenal fans.
"Sometimes not even in my house I feel more love than I felt at Arsenal.
"I had a long conversation with Arsene, it was probably the greatest conversation I've had with someone in my life and I respect him so much and I don't want to say too much about this.
"He told me to concentrate on my football, he told me to concentrate on the World Cup, he told me to leave it in his hands, he will deal with whatever happens in my future and that's what I'm doing, just concentrating on football.
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"It's not up to me anymore and it's just now about Arsenal and whatever it has to be and that's it.
"I don't want to say anything else, I just want to be focused for the World Cup because it is the most important thing – the rest is the future and I'm not interested in the future."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Just over two weeks ago, I revealed my five least favourite football pundits. Unsurprisingly, several readers threw in their two cents, venting their collective spleens over the men they believe are responsible for hideous crimes against television and radio decency. According to the readers of footballfancast.com, the following five ‘experts’ shouldn’t be let anywhere near a camera or microphone…
5 – Joe Royle
Affectionately referred to as ‘Mr. Potato Head’ amongst a small section of Liverpool fans, ESPN’s decision to deploy the services of former Everton manager Joe Royle as a co-commentator adds further weight behind the argument that ‘Americans just don’t get football’. Royle is another man from the stable of ‘commentators who state the blatantly obvious’, although he also has a tendency to assert the ludicrous, having once stated that ‘speed’ is one of Emile Heskey’s qualities.
4 – Graham Taylor
Having annoyed the country for three years in the early 1990s with his pitiful work as England manager, Elton John’s best buddy has also built himself a reputation as a similarly rubbish co-commentator and pundit for the best part of the last six years. Like so many others, Taylor seldom deviates from stating the obvious, although Taylor seems to have turned said fault into an art-form. Speaking of a game featuring Arsenal, Taylor once stated “the thing Arsenal need to do here, is score a goal”. Thanks for clearing that one up Graham.
3 – Craig Burley
Hands up, who thought that the best thing about Setanta’s demise was the prospect of Craig Burley being removed entirely from our TV screens? Unfortunately, ESPN (Grrr, damn you again!) provided Burley with a route back into the punditry game, giving the nation the chance to hear more pearls of wisdom from the man with the missing teeth. Described by one forum poster as ‘the grumpiest man alive’, the former Chelsea man has additionally alluded to a lack of command over the English language, stating “Mark McGhee had the right word for the conditions – ‘not adept’” after a clash between Celtic and Motherwell was called off.
2 – Mark Lawrenson
Unlike former Liverpool teammate Alan Hansen, erratic former Eire international Mark Lawrenson has yet to provide the impression of a man with unquestionable, authoritative knowledge of football. The once moustachioed pundit/co-commentator frequently acts as if drunk on several pints of bitter, an illusion reinforced by his pathetic weekly Premier League score predictions on the BBC website. What’s more contemptible is Lawrenson’s proclivity for the cringeworthy ‘Dad/embarrassing uncle’ pun, as highlighted below.
“Much Adu about nothing.” (After USA international Freddy Adu came on as a substitute against England and misplaced a pass)
1 – Andy Gray
Part of television’s most ubiquitous commentary team (with the irrepressible Martin Tyler of course), Andy Gray has managed to become a figure of hate for a surprisingly large and passionate group of his detractors. Gray is allegedly anti-Liverpool, anti-Chelsea, anti-Tottenham, anti-Arsenal, whilst apparently being pro-Everton, pro-Manchester United, pro-Fernando Torres, pro-Wayne Rooney and pro-Steven Gerrard (phew!). Perceived sense of bias aside, the man responsible for coining the oft-mocked phrase ‘tikkaboo son!’ has suffered several bouts of verbal diarrhoea in his time narrating the game. The following quotes attest to this assertion.
“It’s what I call one of those ‘indefensible ones’ – you can’t defend against them.”
“People say footballers have terrible taste in music but I would dispute that. In the car at the moment I’ve got The Corrs, Cher, Phil Collins, Shania Twain and Rod Stewart.” (for the record, this writer LOVES Phil Collins)
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Read my selection of the game’s worst pundits here
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Click image below to see a gallery of the Brazilian babes at the World Cup
With England performing so dismally at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, many people have said that it’s time to get rid of the old and put in the new. Now could well be the time to give the youngsters a chance, but which English starlets have a chance to force out the out guard by the time the 2014 World Cup in Brazil comes around. Here’s a look at ten who are in with more than a chance:
Jack Rodwell – The Everton midfielder has represented England in all age groups and it shouldn’t be too long before he gets a full cap. The 19-year-old has already shown that he has composure ahead of his years and is close to making 50 league appearances for Everton already. At 6ft 2in, Rodwell has plenty of height, something that is always handy at set-pieces, and is an athlete you can get around the pitch and perform the box-to-box role. While it has often been said that Steven Gerrard wasn’t always used to his full potential for the Three Lions, surely a player from the blue half of Merseyside will be at the heart of England’s team for many years to come.
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Jack Wilshere – Another Jack, Wilshere is destined for big things and the Arsenal youngster has be touted as being the most talented English footballer since Paul Gascoigne. The diminutive attacking midfielder has the creativity that any team would crave and can unlock a defence with ease. Currently being eased into first team action at The Emirates by Wenger, it will be interesting to see whether the 18-year-old will be loaned out again this season or whether he’ll compete for a place at under the Frenchman. Either way, by the time the 2014 World Cup comes around, it will be a major surprise if Wilshere isn’t a certain England starter.
Adam Johnson – Perhaps no longer a starlet as such, Johnson will feel aggrieved that he didn’t make the 2010 squad, and will thus need no extra motivation to make sure that his form warrants an automatic place when 2014 comes round. The 23-year-old doesn’t need a second invitation to take full backs on, and he’s already shown in his short time at Manchester City that he has the confidence to ply his trade against the best in the country. I’m sure it will be no different when it comes to playing the best in the world, and with bags of skill and trickery in his locker, Johnson will be a regular fixture on one of England’s wings.
Chris Smalling – Sir Alex Ferguson’s purchase of the young defender came somewhat out of the blue last season. Smalling has achieved an incredible rise up the football ladder, having gone from non-league footballer to Premier League player in less than two years. Fergie has obviously seen something in the 20-year-old that he like and persuaded him to go for the player, but whether he will get many first time outings this season it remains to be seen. If Smalling were to go on to play for England at the World Cup it would be one of the most unconventional journeys in recent years, but at 6ft 4in he could become the tower at the heart of England’s defence.
Joe Hart – Having got the experience of going to a World Cup under his belt, there’s no reason why Hart shouldn’t go from strength to strength. After a stellar season at Birmingham City, the ‘keeper heads back to Manchester City where he’ll have the unenviable task of getting the gloves off Shay Given. The 23-year-old looks to have all the abilities required at the top level and now just needs to prove it on the European and in turn the international stage. As long as he passes those tests as and when he comes to them, there’s no reason why Joe Hart shouldn’t be the England number one for many years to come.
Kieran Gibbs – Another Arsenal youngster, Gunners fans will be hoping that Gibbs can follow in the footsteps of Ashley Cole (on the pitch at least) and become a world class left back. Already having played for the Arsenal senior team, Gibbs would have featured more were it not for injury, something that hopefully won’t plague him too much in the future. The 20-year-old has plenty of pace and isn’t afraid to get forward, something that has helped him to net three times for the England U21 team to date. Cole himself will be 33 in 2014, and by then Gibbs may just have nipped in ahead of the ex-Arsenal player.
Danny Rose – If his stunning volley against Arsenal at White Hart Lane in the Premier League last season is anything to go by, then Rose will be making plenty of headlines for himself in the future. The 20-year-old may not be the most hyped youngster in the country right now but there may just be a chance that he can use this to his advantage. Further first team opportunities at Tottenham will be hard to come by, but the midfielder has already signalled his intent to impress Harry Redknapp in pre-season. With Spurs battling on many fronts this season, Rose should get another chance to shine and show that he’s the latest Leeds starlet to make it at the top.
Andy Carroll – A bit of an outside bet this, there have been mumblings that the Newcastle striker might not be too far from the England set-up. The 21-year-old certainly has the physical presence needed to be a successful target man but it remains to be seen whether Carroll can score goals at the highest level, having only hit the back of the net in the Championship for the Toon thus far. Another thing that Carroll will have to ensure is that he doesn’t regularly get into trouble off the pitch, as this will only hamper his career. He will be much better served using that aggression on the pitch and turning himself into a combative striker.
Micah Richards – The career of Micah Richards has stalled in recent years but I can’t see any reason why future international honours won’t come his way. The 22-year-old won his first England cap four years ago and still has time on his side. Richards is a real athlete who plenty of speed and strength and has much to offer England, but whether right back is his best position it remains to be seen. You feel that the next few years could go either way for Richards, but I wouldn’t discounting seeing him in an England shirt once more and when 2014 comes around he’ll have the experience needed to perform at the highest level.
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Connor Wickham – There’s always a wildcard youngster who makes it to the World Cup and Wickham might just be that man in 2014. At just 17 years of age, it’s far too early to tell which way Wickham’s career will go but there’s a chance that he could just be a star of the future. The Ipswich Town striker has already shown that he’s prolific in front of goal, having netted 9 times in 13 games for England U19 and many people will be following his progress in the Championship this season. Roy Keane is very keen to hang onto the youngster amidst interest from Spurs and Harry Redknapp, and the prospect of a £10m transfer shows just how highly Wickham’s thought of.
These are just ten England starlets who will be hoping to feature for England in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As is the case with youngsters, some will go onto to big things and some will fall by the wayside, and it will be interesting to see how the players I’ve identified will fare. Who of the above do you think will dismantle the old guard ahead of 2014, and out of those not listed here, who do you reckon we should be keeping an eye on?
Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
Stoke City have tied up the signing of versatile Ipswich Town forward Jonathan Walters for a fee that could eventually exceed £3million.
The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at the Britannia Stadium, having been with the Tractor Boys since January 2007 – scoring 32 goals in 146 appearances in all competitions.
Potters boss Tony Pulis told his club's official website:"I have been looking to bring more goals to the squad and Jon certainly fits that bill.
"He has been one of the outstanding performers in the Championship over the past three years and I am confident the lad can make the same sort of impact in the Premier League now that he has been given this opportunity.
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"The fact that he is versatile will increase competition for places in the squad, which is something we have been looking to achieve."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email