England 319 and 99 for 3 beat West Indies 208 and 209 by 7 wickets and lead the series 2-0 ScorecardDay 5 Bulletin – England wrap it up in half-an-hour Verdict – From world-beaters to woeful losers Quotes – ‘It’s taken a hell of a lot of hard work’ News – Lara and Jones fined News – Ricky Skerritt resigns as manager Day 4 Bulletin – England on the brink of victory Verdict – England’s discipline made the difference News – Jones apolgises for Sarwan outburst News – Lara reported to referee Roving Reporter – Limited satisfaction Day 3 Bulletin – Thorpe extends England’s lead Verdict – Patience, persistence, resistance Quotes – ‘Personal scores are irrelevant,’ says Nasser Hussain Day 2 Bulletin – Rain halts West Indian fightback Verdict – Survival of the grittiest Roving Reporter – Backbench rebellion Quotes – Fletcher backs the old guardDay 1 Bulletin – Harmison demolishes West Indies … again Verdict – From damage limitation to Curtly imitation Roving Reporter – Taking the strain in Port-of-Spain Pre-matchPreview – West Indies pick up the pieces
The first week of the 2003 World Cup has gone by after causing agreat deal of heartache for a lot of people. The biggest surprisewas South Africa losing twice. And if the double blow was not badenough for the host nation, they have lost Jonty Rhodes to aninjury while Allan Donald seems to be struggling in his finalhurrah.
Talking of Donald, another great cricketer who was looking tosign off in style by winning the World Cup, Shane Warne, hassadly been forced to fly back home after failing a drugs test. I,for one, was looking forward to seeing the blonde bombshell takeon the world’s best batsmen. Arguably the best spin bowler of hisera, Warne’s loss to diuretics has taken some sheen off the WorldCup. He would definitely have played a major role in the latterstages of the tournament when the tracks were expected to takeincreasing turn.Despite Warne’s loss, the popular wisdom is that Australia willgo all the way and win the coveted Cup. But I still have mydoubts regarding their batting. In the game against Pakistan,they probably got away because Waqar Younis failed to apply morepressure when his team had their opponents on the mat. As for thegame against India, Australia did not even have to bat for morethan 20 odd overs.All credit, though, to Andrew Symonds for playing such a superbinnings under pressure against Pakistan. Despite this, I,however, still feel that the Australian middle-order might justcave in during an important game. That is when they would sorelymiss the experience of Steve Waugh, their saviour on moreoccasions than one. Remember, that in the previous World Cup, itwas two great efforts – one by Steve Waugh and the other abrilliant spell from Warne – that took Australia to the covetedtrophy.Brian Lara’s brilliant comeback has, meanwhile, revitalised theWest Indies’ World Cup ambitions. No team can under-estimate thebatting strength of the men from the caribbean, but it is their bowling that looks a bit weak with the part-timers having to chip in with 20 overs.This will leave them exposed against a strong batting side.India’s performance thus far in this World Cup has been dismal. Their batting looks woefully short of confidence, and sadly the message that is being communicated by the body language of the senior players does not make for happy reading.That said, I am deeply saddened by the violent reaction of somefans in India; such mindless acts will only have a negativeeffect on the team. It brings to mind the sad scenes towards theend of the 1996 World Cup semi-final game against Sri Lanka atKolkata. No matter what, violence is certainly not the solutionto any problem.
I feel for the passionate fans of this wonderful game, who feelhurt and let down by the performance of the Indian team. Theunhealthy extent to which the media and the commercial folks havehyped up the game is beginning to prove detrimental now. If thetrend continues, Indian cricket is in real danger of sufferingthe fate of the proverbial golden goose.Having said that, the Indian cricket team and the management, inparticular, deserve all the criticism that is coming their way.The voices that are coming out of the Indian camp provides littlereassurance. If the team management can’t really make out what isgoing wrong with the players, then it is a serious problem thatthe BCCI has to address as soon as possible.I do not doubt the talent and ability of the Indian cricketers,may it be Sourav Ganguly or Mohamad Kaif. These guys have provedto us in the past that they have it in them to do well and wingames for India. With this being the case, I feel that if theforeign coach, sports psychologist, and the computer analyst workdiligently, the players wouldn’t be left feeling as clueless.When it comes to giving advice, I can, for starters, tell our batsmenthis – they need to work hard on their footwork! I am amazed thatsomeone like Rahul Dravid looks so stiff and immobile at thecrease. The same is the case with most of the other players -their feet are not going anywhere, and they have been playingaway from the body, a cardinal sin as far as any top-notch batsman is concerned. All said, my best wishes are still with the Indian team. They nowhave to win the next game against Zimbabwe, though I cannot help but shudder at the very thought of it possibly being a green top at Harare.New Zealand is one team I expect to be in the World Cup final.They have in Chris Cairns a quality all-rounder who can win agame on his own. He will certainly bowl more in the coming gamesand that will add a definite edge to their cricket.
When it comes to their skipper, Sourav Ganguly should try tolearn something from Stephen Fleming. It was a few tacticalblunders by the Kiwi captain that lost his team their openinggame against Sri Lanka. I wouldn’t have expected Fleming to dropVettori, and even decide to bowl first against Sri Lanka. Themistake was made, the game was lost, and New Zealand got off to apoor start. But importantly they did not give up.Fleming and his boys were not willing to let their heads drop,even when South Africa scored 306 against them. Had not rainintervened, I am certain that New Zealand would have scored allthe runs needed to win the game. Fleming led from the front,played a knock that was simply surreal, and took New Zealand tovictory. Indeed, he richly deserves the title – Captain Marvel.This World Cup has gotten off to a stunning start, breaking a lotof hearts and yet providing joy to millions of fans around theworld. The quality of cricket too has been excellent. As we headinto the second week, Australia are at their dominant best. SouthAfrica, meanwhile, are continuing to choke. As for India, theymust play for their life in the remaining games. But when itcomes to picking the team that would go the distance, New Zealandstill remain my favourites.
A fighting century from John Crawley and some adventurous strokeplay from Lancashire’s lower order batsmen blocked Yorkshire’s victory charge on the third day of the Roses match at Headingley.Lancashire closed on 280 for eight with a lead of 122, leaving Yorkshire favourites to clinch their sixth victory of the season and strengthen their position at the top of Division One of the CricInfo Championship table.Resuming their first innings in the morning on 376 for five, Yorkshire added a further 155 before their last wicket fell at 531.Darren Lehmann, whose overnight 222 was already the highest by a Yorkshire batsman at Headingley since Maurice Leyland’s 211, raced on to a record score in a Roses match, 252, before his epic display finally came to an end as he swung at Glen Chapple and was bowled.The Australian had given a flawless exhibition of batting in which he received 288 balls and struck 35 fours and a six.Yorkshire’s innings was far from over when Lehmann departed, however, because Darren Gough continued to blaze a trail, putting on 83 in 24 overs with last man Steven Kirby.Gough was looking set for the second Championship century of his career until he edged Peter Martin to Warren Hegg and was out for 96 from 101 balls with 14 fours and a six, Chapple finishing with a creditable five for 83.Lancashire got off to a shocking start as Michael Atherton edged to slip in Kirby’s first over and Mark Chilton then fell lbw to Gough to make it three for two.Yorkshire’s bowlers kept chipping away at Lancashire but they were defied by captain Crawley who batted superbly for the second time in the match. He never gave a chance as he moved on to his century out of 176 for five but when he had made 113 off 141 balls with 14 fours and a six he cut at Craig White and was caught behind.In the same over, White dismissed Chapple, whose drive was edged to David Byas at first slip, but Chris Schofield laid about him until he was caught at mid-off for 34 and Yorkshire were denied any further successes by Martin and John Wood who slammed the weary bowlers for 47 off the day’s last eight overs, Martin ending unbeaten on 32 and Wood 28.
The goal for Arsenal this season has to be to finally get their hands on the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s side finished the last three campaigns in second place and have been building towards finally getting over the line.
However, while the fans and team will be focused on the here and now, the board and powers that be have to take a longer-term view and plan for the next squad and the one after that.
It’s this approach that has seen the club sign one of the most exciting youngsters in the game, a player who could provide Arsenal’s own Ethan Nwaneri with real competition for the ten position a few years from now.
The future of Arsenal's ten position
After years of building it, Arsenal finally have a squad in which most positions have at least two players competing for a place.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
This is especially true when it comes to attacking midfield.
The two main competitors for that role this season have been and will likely continue to be Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze.
The former has held the position for the last few years but had an underwhelming campaign last year, registering just 18 goal involvements in 45 games.
Eze, on the other hand, racked up a brilliant haul of 25 goal involvements in 43 games for Crystal Palace in the ten role last year.
Neither one has genuinely made the position their own this season, but the Englishman has been more productive, racking up seven goal involvements there to his captain’s two.
Both players will need to start improving, though, as within a year or two they are likely to face more serious competition for gametime from Hale End stars Nwaneri and Dowman.
Nwaneri in 24/25
Appearances
37
Minutes
1378′
Goals
9
Assists
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement
125.27′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
The former spent most of last season on the right, where he scored nine goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances, but is mainly seen as a number ten.
The latter, while still just 15, is seen as one of the best prospects to ever come through the club’s academy, where he once again spent most of his time playing in attacking midfield.
Overall, the future of Arsenal’s number ten position is hugely promising, and now, thanks to Andrea Berta and Co, another incredible talent will be competing to play there, which could be bad news for Nwaneri.
Arsenal's new Dowman-like Gem
With people like talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing Dowman “the most exciting prospect” they’ve seen “since Lamine Yamal,” you have to be pretty special to be compared to him.
Fortunately, from what those in the know say, Holger Quintero seems more than special enough to warrant that comparison.
Arsenal completed the signing of the 16-year-old wonderkid and his twin brother earlier this month, but, due to rules on foreign-born youngsters, neither will be able to join the first team until they’re 18, in 2027.
The good news is that it will just give them more time to develop away from the spotlight.
Although, based on what is being said about them, like Dowman, they’d probably be able to feature on the snore side this season.
Subscribe to our newsletter for Arsenal youth insights Dive deeper into Arsenal’s emerging talents by subscribing to our newsletter — in-depth prospect profiles, development tracking and tactical context to follow the club’s next generation and transfer planning. Subscribe to our newsletter for Arsenal youth insights Dive deeper into Arsenal’s emerging talents by subscribing to our newsletter — in-depth prospect profiles, development tracking and tactical context to follow the club’s next generation and transfer planning.
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For example, respected analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson has described Holger as “a decisive creator with a killer final ball” who has “excellent vision to see the whole game” but also “1v1 prowess to take on players.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Kulig has described the teenager as “one of the most exciting U17s in South America,” which is high praise indeed considering the level of talent coming out of the continent.
Finally, on top of everything else, U23 scout Antonio Mango described him as someone blessed with “high technical & intellect qualities.”
In all, the Ecuadorian wonderkid sounds like the perfect ten prospect, someone who can create chances through a brilliant range of passing, or be the goal threat himself due to his elite close control.
However, while the 16-year-old is unlikely to develop quickly enough to be a genuine rival for Odegaard and Eze, it seems he’ll be competing for game time with Dowman and Nwaneri.
Ultimately, while some might worry about the impact he could have on the two Hale Enders, finding enough game time for all three teenagers is a problem Arteta and Arsenal will probably be glad to have.
Arsenal can revive Gyokeres by signing "the best winger in the country"
The international game-changer could be just the player Arsenal needs to get Gyokeres firing.
A scare circulated around Adelaide Oval on Tuesday afternoon. David Warner, who had been struck on the left hand during fielding practice, reeled away in obvious pain, and disappeared into the Australian dressing room accompanied by Peter Brukner, the team doctor.As cameramen circled, journalists placed or received calls from editors and urgent snap stories were pulled together, it seemed Australia had a major injury problem on their hands. Warner, of course, had entered the season with a still healing left thumb, fractured during the ODIs in England that followed the Ashes. A re-break would require serious recovery work, and a long time out of the game. Live television news services speculated as such.But just as quickly as it happened, the Warner thumb “story” slipped away. The team media manager walked into the rooms to check on his injury and found him striding back the other way, padded up for the nets. Observers who saw Warner face mainly throw-downs needed to be reminded that this was not uncommon for the opener. Call backs were made, updates posted, stories spiked.All this spoke volumes for the goldfish-like attention span of the news cycle these days, but it was equally powerful as a reminder of Warner’s value. Were he to be injured, Australia’s batting strength would be severely affected, while the captain Steven Smith would be shorn of his deputy and most destructive player. Warner is growing increasingly aware of his own responsibilities too, if his unusually careful responses to questions before training were any indication.While most eyes are on the pink ball and the new concept of day-night Tests, Warner’s memory was filled with hurtful memories of 2011, when Australia gave up a 1-0 series lead over New Zealand in a low-scoring Hobart encounter. That day, Warner’s unbeaten hundred in the second innings was not enough to stave off defeat, and he is adamant that will not be happening a second time on what promises to be a more lively Adelaide pitch than those of Brisbane or Perth.”Going back to when we last played New Zealand here, to sit in the change rooms and listen to the Kiwis celebrate was quite tough,” Warner said. “We were expected to win that game down in Hobart, only chasing 240 on a seemingly deteriorating wicket where Doug Bracewell bowled fantastic and won New Zealand the game. We take those memories into this game.”We definitely want to win every game we can, but it would mean a lot to us if we can get up here in Adelaide. A drawn series, I think, we would consider that as a loss because we’ve played so well. And then for New Zealand to fight back in the last game, to bat the game into a draw was a credit to them. So now we’ve got to be on our guard to try and do what we can the best and that’s to try and get early wickets and put runs on the board again, and put pressure on them.”Something Warner has convinced himself about is that there will be minimal difference between facing a pink ball under lights and its white equivalent. He would not be lured into anything but the most rudimentary discussion of the concept, and flirted with the absurd when saying the verdant green square and pitch – devised to preserve the pink ball – was no different to that of the Gabba.David Warner – “A drawn series, I think, we would consider that as a loss because we’ve played so well”•Getty Images
The prominent grass on the surface is expected to be shaved back by the curator Damian Hough before Friday afternoon, but it is still likely to be the most lively wicket of the series. Warner counselled that an Australian batting line-up used to dictating terms over the first two Tests will need to leave their egos at the dressing room door this time around, and adopt some of the more painful lessons learned in England earlier this year.”The last two [Adelaide] wickets have been very batter friendly. It’s going to be a different story playing here and I think you’ll see the ball move around a bit off the wicket,” he said. “It did so during that Shield game, but it was a very good cricket wicket. That’s one thing: us as batters are going to have to take our ego out of it and say to ourselves: ‘we’ve had two very good wickets, now it’s about knuckling down and finding that respect again’.”There is going to be the new-ball factor with this wicket, we know that. I don’t know what millimetres they’re going to cut the grass to, but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be anything like the last two wickets. We’ve got to be prepared to see out that first session, work out if it’s going to move off the wicket or swing, then go from there.”We know early on their key is swing bowling and if it happens to be swinging around here you’ve got to see that spell of bowling out like we have done in the last two Tests. I think that’s what we have done well as a top six batting unit. We’ve put on the runs that we have, we’ve actually been able to see through that spell and wait for the bad balls. That’s something Steve wanted us to do as a top six unit, to score all the runs, and at the moment we’ve been doing that and I think a lot of that has to do with the way we played in England as well.”Warner has struck another note of cautiousness in recent times, declining consistently to take first strike after a pair of cheap dismissals when doing so in the West Indies before the Ashes. In England, it was Chris Rogers facing up to the opening over, and so far here, Joe Burns has done likewise. Commonly referred to as the aggressor and the provocateur, Warner is evolving into something else: the pragmatist.”I think statistically something came up the other day about me facing only a certain amount of first balls so that hasn’t even come into my mind actually, I might have to think about that,” he said. “But nah, it’s just what I do. I just go out there and I think I have learnt from a lot of other experienced opening batters around the world, to just give the other person the first ball.”
Marcus Trescothick has declared himself unavailable for September’s Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa as well as England’s winter tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand.Trescothick hasn’t played for England since pulling out of the Ashes tour of Australia last November with a recurrence of the stress-related illness which dogged him throughout last year. And although he said two weeks ago was “delighted to be named in the [Twenty20] squad”, he insists he has not yet sufficiently recovered to give England his all – in South Africa for the Twenty20 World Championship, or for England’s other two tours.”Whilst I have been enjoying my cricket for Somerset this summer and feel that I am making good progress, I need to ensure that I am completely ready for a return to international cricket before making myself available for selection,” Trescothick said. “I recently informed the selectors that I was happy to be included in the 30-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup to leave all options open but I am now clear that I should take more time to complete my recovery. I still have ambitions to play for England.”The Twenty20 World Championship had appeared to be the perfect halfway house for Trescothick’s comeback. Such a short tournament it would, as Trescothick himself admitted two weeks ago, have acted “as a way of testing myself in an international environment abroad”. And though disappointed, the England chairman of selectors, David Graveney, insists that Trescothick has made the right decision.”The selectors have been acutely conscious that it would be counter-productive to try to rush Marcus back into international action before he was ready,” Graveney said. “We appreciate the fact that Marcus has alerted us at the earliest opportunity of his decision which will avoid there being any disruption to the team’s one-day planning processes.”Marcus has proved himself to be a very special talent on the international stage and we look forward to his making himself available again for England when the time is right and to his pushing his case for selection through his performances for Somerset.”
John Wright has given England some Ashes series advice by telling them not to let the Australians know if they are overawed. Wright was in charge of India’s drawn series with Australia in 2003-04 and he has used his new book John Wright’s Indian Summers to outline his successful plan, which was initially devised from his time as a New Zealand opening batsman in the 1980s.”You don’t look up to them, you look down on them – if you give any hint of being overawed you are gone,” Wright told the India team as he stood on a chair to deliver his series address. “The players looked up at me with bemused expressions probably wondering if I planned to jump or fly.” The tactic worked as Sourav Ganguly guided India to a 1-1 result in Steve Waugh’s final series, although Australia gained revenge with a 2-1 win on their tour in 2004.Wright told The Courier-Mail the New Zealand teams of the 1980s just stood and watched the “guys in green and gold track suits”. “As soon as you start doing that you are losing the battle,” he said. Despite the attitude to their opponents, New Zealand won four of 16 Tests between the teams in the decade and beat Australia in consecutive home-and-away series in 1985-86.Wright, who scored two hundreds and averaged 38.69 in 19 Tests against Australia, told the paper touring teams also had to accept they would be targeted by the media. “It’s so predictable it really should be on the itinerary,” he said. “Some well-known ex-players start to talk then one of the current team chips in with his view. Depending on your view it’s either psychological warfare, cheap pointscoring or the same old bullshit. We were never intimidated in that series [in 2003-04], which is the key to playing in Australia.”England showed in the first session of the 2005 Ashes series that they would not be overawed, with their fast bowlers striking Hayden, Langer and Ponting. Despite losing the opening Test, the side recovered to seal a 2-1 victory that set up a thrilling rematch that starts at the Gabba in November.
Surrey are confident that they will get the go ahead from the Indian board for them to sign Harbhajan Singh for the 2005 English season.”We are currently at an advanced stage of negotiation with Harbhajan,” a club spokesman told the BBC. “We are hoping to secure his services and are waiting to hear.”Surrey have been looking for a replacement for Saqlain Mushtaq for several months. Saqlain, whose season was cut short by injury, was generally regarded to have been a disappointment and Surrey are in need of a cutting edge.Harbhajan has not played county cricket before. Although he was signed by Lancashire as their overseas player in 2003, injury meant that he had to withdraw from the contract.
The fast bowler Alex Tudor has signed for Essex for one year – but will join on a performance-related basis amid concerns about his injuries. Tudor, 27, moves to Chelmsford after being released by Surrey at the end of last season, following a career-threatening side injury.Essex had previously played down speculation of the move, after Graham Gooch, the former England captain who is Essex’s coach, joined Tudor when he went to Munich for treatment, prompting rumours that he would sign for Essex. Tudor has played ten Test matches since 1998-99, but never more than two in succession because of niggles and injuries.And for Surrey, he’s turned out for them in just 67 first-class matches since 1995 when he made his debut as a 16-year-old. He played just one County Championship game in 2004.But, despite his injury concerns, Tudor was confident of reaching his potential for Essex next season, and steer them back into the top flight. “I am determined to repay Essex for the faith they have shown in me by regaining my top form in 2005,” said Tudor. “This is a new start for me and I am now just itching to get out on the field. My aim is to help Essex get promotion.”David East, the chief executive of Essex, backed his new signing. “Alex is a proven performer who has had a difficult time with injury recently,” he said. “We are confident that, when fully fit, he will be a huge asset to the club.” Ronnie Irani, Essex’s captain, also lent his support. “I am absolutely delighted with the world-class signing of Alex Tudor,” said Irani. “Alex is an outstanding cricketer who will be a major factor with the new ball for Essex in the future.”
Members of the South African Cricket World Cup squad are meeting theirsupporters and doing signing sessions around the country before and duringthe ICC Cricket World Cup to give the players an opportunity to chat totheir fans and to sign autographs.Cape Town fans can come and meet the whole South African Cricket World CupSquad at the V&A Waterfront on Sunday 2 February to chat to them and wishthem luck for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Supporters may being any items fortheir cricket heroes to sign, but will be limited to two items per person.When: Sunday 2 February 20032:30pm to 4pmWhere: V&A Waterfront (amphitheatre)Johannesburg fans will have a similar opportunity at Eastgate ShoppingCentre on Thursday 13 February at 2.30pm to 4pm.