Steve Kirby, the Gloucestershire pace bowler, is in hot water with officials again after being ordered out the attack towards the end of the Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.Bowling the penultimate over of the game, Kirby let fly a ball that thudded into the chest of Andy Gray, the Derbyshire tail-ender. Kirby tried to apologise but Gray had already turned away, dropped his bat and ripped off a glove. Neil Mallender, the former England seamer who was officiating the match, told Jon Lewis, the Gloucestershire captain, to remove Kirby from bowling.The two players later shook hands but Kirby will still be reported to the ECB. The Gloucestershire chief executive, Tom Richardson, told the Press Association: “Kirby was taken off under Law 42 [fair and unfair play] but I don’t want to say anything else at this stage.”The umpires have to make their report but at the moment I don’t anticipate there will be much further action. Everyone knows Kirby is a whole-hearted trier who gives everything to the game.”It isn’t the first time Kirby, who joined Gloucestershire from Yorkshire, has been in trouble. Last season he was found guilty of ball tampering during a match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.
A groin injury robbed this match of a gladiatorial match-up between England’s brash new boy Kevin Pietersen and the discarded Graham Thorpe, but a record run-chase from Hampshire more than compensated. Surrey racked up 359 – which they considered ample – but Shane Watson hit a pulsating 132 from 105 balls in his first game as Shane Warne’s replacement to ensure Pietersen’s big-hitting wasn’t missed.An eighth-wicket stand of 63 between Watson and Shaun Udal forcibly dragged Hampshire from 279 for 7 to just 17 runs from victory before Udal and Chris Tremlett knocked off the remaining runs to book Hampshire’s place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2000. “That was just an astonishing game of cricket,” Udal said afterwards. “We always felt we had a chance – you have to think that. We had an astonishing innings from Shane Watson. We did well; we did it in a professional way, in a very accomplished fashion.”In the morning, Pietersen’s absence due to his injury meant the spotlight belonged to Thorpe. He was denied the chance to captain Surrey due to Mark Ramprakash’s return from a broken thumb, but he was bubbly while batting and while fielding, too. Thorpe hasn’t been this animated for some time – he clearly doesn’t want people to think he has reverted to his old head-hanging, brooding stereotype.He received the loudest applause of the day as he strode to the crease, purpose pumping visibly in his legs. The applause for his first run was almost as deafening. Fifty-nine runs later, Thorpe was welcomed back into the pavilion after a classy, composed 60. Yet, the scene from two years ago when he scored his magnificent hundred against South Africa in his comeback Test on the same ground was incomparable. Then he was the returning hero, today he returned as dispensable to England’s cause. How has this happened?His Test average since that hundred is 56.37 and he has scored 1,635 runs. He has seemed happier, more open in that time – more importantly, he appeared happy with himself. He had become the Graham Thorpe he wanted to be. Then he struggled in South Africa in the winter; his form this season hasn’t been encouraging, averaging 34.50 from 11 innings, which is only four runs shy of Pietersen’s season average, but the man with the bigger bouffant has the momentum behind him.Thorpe is the last of the breed from the 1990s, when England’s mentality was firmly set on losing. The chances of him playing for England again are slim; even with injuries, England are likely to go with a younger man. Yet, he hasn’t been allowed the send-offs afforded to Alec Stewart and Michael Atherton, nor has he gone out gloriously as his great mate Nasser Hussain did last summer, a centurion and match-winner at Lord’s. Instead, Thorpe’s last action as a Test batsman was a single off Bangladesh’s Aftab Ahmed, a 19-year-old occasional medium-pacer. A month ago, maybe even a day ago, he would have been justified in dreaming of hitting the runs that brought England the Ashes.So Thorpe didn’t have the chance to abdicate. Instead his strings were yanked from above by those who had brought him back so memorably at the Oval two years ago. So what now? Many had expected him to announce his retirement immediately after his rejection. On today’s evidence, he is very happy, and more than able, to play a full, vital part for Surrey this season. Their coach Steve Rixon has said Thorpe will reassess the situation at the end of the season, while Thorpe issued a statement saying he was “looking forward to playing a key role for Surrey.” So, Pietersen’s gain is also Surrey’s.What price a few boos if Pietersen had been passed fully fit for this match; what price him revelling in those boos? As it was, Watson’s ferocious hitting meant that England’s golden boy was forgotten for once. It could have been a much different story. Surrey’s openers James Benning’s and Jonathan Batty’s blistering start meant that a big run chase was on for Hampshire after just 10 overs – then they must have been cursing Pietersen’s absence. The partnership reached three figures in the 13th over, Tremlett, named yesterday in England’s Ashes squad, and Billy Taylor leaking 62 from their opening eight overs. Tremlett’s rhythm was badly disrupted by 22-year-old Benning; a handy hitter but no Matthew Hayden or Justin Langer.Udal, who has taken over captaincy responsibility from Warne, was forced to bring himself on as fifth change in only the 11th over. Surrey’s openers put on 142 – the kind of foundation that Pietersen will be hoping for from Strauss and Trescothick come next Thursday.Batty went on to an undefeated 158. His 115-run partnership with Thorpe was a mastermind in controlling the tempo; Thorpe’s contribution a typical mix of boundaries and singles. His ability to push the score along without having to go for the big shots was rare in the England team; Ian Bell, who seems to have inherited this role, has a lot to live up to. “We thought 350 was a fantastic score,” Ramprakash admitted on Sky Sports afterwards, “and Jonathan Batty played a fantastic knock, and we were very, very happy with that.”But it was Watson’s day. “It’s great to play well at the right time and get us over the line,” said Watson, who didn’t bowl owing to a leg injury. “It was a nice flat wicket to bat on and would have been a bit nasty to bowl on.” If Watson isn’t deemed good enough for a place in the Ashes squad, England will have reasons for concern.
Sussex 200 and 399 for 7 (Montgomerie 50, Goodwin 102, Ambrose 60, Prior 92) drew with MCC 539 for 8 dec ScorecardSussex made sure that they didn’t start their year as champions with a defeat, batting solidly through the day at Lord’s until bad light brought about an early finish at 5pm to force a draw with MCC. By then Sussex were just about safe, 60 runs ahead with three wickets still remaining.Sussex’s batting heroes were Murray Goodwin, their stand-in captain, and the highly rated Matt Prior. Goodwin played attractively for 102, which included 18 fours and a six, while the Johannesburg-born Prior just missed out on his century, falling to Martin Saggers for 92. He hit 15 fours before becoming one of four victims behind the stumps for James Foster, whose century yesterday will have interested the selectors. There was also a breezy 60 for Tim Ambrose, Sussex’s own keeper/batsman.Saggers – he of the one Test appearance at Chittagong last October – was lively, and finished with 3 for 67, but MCC’s other bowlers proved a little expensive as the early-season cobwebs were dusted off. But all in all, the resumption of this fixture after 13 years was a success, despite the occasionally wintry weather.
Thursday, March 20, 2003::: “Indians were just not geared up for the big stage — right from Tendulkar downwards,” Indian spin great Bishan Singh Bedi Source: Mid-day “I don’t subscribe to the fact that we have taken the game to a new level. We can get better – no question – in every part of the game. If we sit back, we will do world cricket a disservice,” Australia’s coach John Buchanan Source: The Guardian, UK “India had a very good outing (sic) till the final, but unfortunately they squandered away a great opportunity by choosing to bat second,” former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar Source: The New Indian Express, India
Lymington are backing their three-pronged spin attack to hold the key to Wednesday’s (August 1) Southern Electric Contracting Cup final against Andover at the Hampshire Rose Bowl (5.45pm).The Premier League duo are likely to be using the same strip on which Hampshire beat Australia on Monday – and Lymington skipper Neil Trestrail reckons it could be tailor-made for his spinners.”The pitch assisted the spin bowlers on the last day – and I fancy that could be to our advantage.”I know we haven’t got anyone of Shane Warne’s class in our attack, but Dan Peacock, Glyn Treagus and Wayne Smith are all quality spinners – and I’m going to back them,” he said.Two players who can’t wait to get into tonight’s action are workmates Glyn Treagus and Sam Miller, Andover’s Australian all-rounder, who will be on opposite sides.The pair work together making cricket bats for Jon Hardy, who runs Chase Sports, near Basingstoke.And, according to Hardy, the former Hampshire left-hander, the pair haven’t stopped talking about the final for the past ten days.”There’a a pretty fair chance Glyn and Sam will bat and bowl against each other, so there’s an enormous amount of personal pride at stake.”The problem is one of them is going to finish a loser – and probably ask for Thursday off sick !” Hardy smiled.Even tough the pitch is likely to turn, a run feast could be the order of the day this evening.Both sides are packed with batting, Andover having totted up 165-plus scores in each of the four previous rounds.Lymington are no slouches either with the bat, and will expect Glyn Treagus, Daniel Peacock, Ben Craft and Neil Trestrail to be among the prominent run scorers.With neither club having won the trophy before, a new name will be inscribed on the SEC Cup.Teams:Andover: Jerry Hayward (captain), Ian Langdown, Sam Miller, Roger Miller, Marc Kavanagh, Neil Staddon, Mark Miller, Stuart Clackson, Ali Fleming, Ian Gardner, James Manning.Lymington: Neil Trestrail (captain), Brian Clemow, Glyn Treagus, Daniel Peacock, Ben Craft, Ian Young, Dave Griffiths, Paul Allen, Trevor Phillips, Wayne Smith, Jason Carr, Christian Pain.Route to the finalRound 1 – Andover 160-5 (Langdown 69, 51, Williams 4-44) Hook & Newnham Basics 138-9 (Kaminski 64, Langdown 5-41) Andover won by 22 runsOld Tauntonians & Romsey 75 (Treagus 4-17, Smith 3-21) Lymington 77-1 (Clemow 38, Peacock 27) Lymington won by 9 wicketsRound 2 – Andover 199-3 (Langdown 69, Staddon 51, S Miller 35) South Wilts 138 (Rowe 61, M Hooper 3-31) Andover won by 61 runsPaultons 135 (Park 47, Smith 3-9, Treagus 3-31) Lymington 139-2 (Craft 63, Peacock 53) Lymington won by 8 wicketsRound 3 – Andover 168-6 (S Miller 61, Kavanagh 42, Staddon 42) Flamingos 166 (Manthorpe 49, Merkel 35, Brewster 32, S Miller 3-31, Langdown 3-46) Andover won by 2 runsLymington 141-9 (Peacock 42) BAT Sports 130-8 (Kenway 53, Treagus 3-26) Lymington won by 11 runsSemi-finals – Andover 176-6 (Kavanagh 65, Hayward 33, Loat 3-30) Havant 161-6 (Hindley 60, Gillies 46) Andover won by 15 runsRowledge 103-9 (Phillips 4-20) Lymington 105-0 (Treagus 53, Peacock 44) Lymington won by 10 wickets
Manchester United have now opened talks to sign an “unbelievable” midfielder, who Ruben Amorim has been pushing INEOS to sign.
Man Utd eyeing new midfielder amid Mainoo controversy
Kobbie Mainoo’s brother, Jordan Mainoo-Hames, has sparked controversy after wearing a ‘Free Kobbie Mainoo’ to Man United’s 4-4 draw against AFC Bournemouth, with talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham slamming the former Love Island contestant.
Durham said: “Can you imagine his brother doing that when Fergie was in charge? Fergie would have had Kobbie Mainoo out of the club by the next morning.
“It was an utterly insane thing for him to do, it’s selfish for him to do that, the brother. It’s totally about him getting attention, it doesn’t help Kobbie Mainoo, it doesn’t help Manchester United.”
The midfielder has already been struggling for game time this season, with his only start coming in the EFL Cup defeat against Grimsby Town, and it remains to be seen what effect his brother’s stunt has on his future.
With Mainoo’s future in doubt heading into the January transfer window, amid interest from Everton, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, the Red Devils have now stepped up their pursuit of a new midfielder.
That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which reveals Man United have opened talks over a deal for Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves, with the Saudi Pro League side now ready to sell the midfielder in the January transfer window.
Al-Hilal have been unable to agree terms on a new contract with the Portuguese maestro, and given that his current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, a return to Europe is on the cards next month.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have also held talks over a deal for the central midfielder, so there could be competition for his signature, but Amorim will be hoping United can win the race, having personally been pushing to sign him.
"Unbelievable" Neves impressing in Saudi Arabia
It is no wonder Al-Hilal were keen to extend the 63-time Portugal international’s contract, given that he has impressed from an attacking point of view this season, recording five goals and one assist in five matches in all competitions.
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Journalist Raj Chohan also waxed lyrical about the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man during his previous stint in the Premier League, suggesting he has the ability to play for a top club.
It is unclear what sort of fee Al-Hilal are looking to receive for the 28-year-old, but with his contract due to expire in the summer, they aren’t exactly in a strong negotiating position.
As such, Man United should try their luck in the January transfer window, particularly if Mainoo leaves, amid widespread interest in the 19-year-old.
England crashed out of Euro 2012 as their penalty shoot-out misery continued against Italy in Kyiv setting up a semi-final date with Germany.
It’s the sixth time the Three Lions have exited a major tournament in such fashion and the fourth time at the quarter final stage as Ashley Young and Ashley Cole missed the decisive spot-kicks after holding Cesare Prandelli’s men over 120 minutes.
The Azzurri dominated much of the game and on the balance of play deserved to win in normal time squandering a host of chances with Daniele De Rossi setting the tone early on with a rasping drive from 25-yards that smacked off Joe Hart’s right hand post.
Roy Hodgson’s men were starved of possession in a frenetic opening but soon settled as Glen Johnson’s scooped effort forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a smart save. Wayne Rooney then sent a diving header over the bar before John Terry bailed out his side with a last ditch challenge on Mario Balotelli after he beat the offside trap to latch onto Andrea Pirlo’s lofted pass.
Balotelli then volleyed straight at Manchester City teammate Hart after being found by Riccardo Montolivo’s disguised loop pass before a neat interchange between Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney saw the former screw wide from 18-yards. After the break Italy took over and should have been in front within four minutes as Claudio Marchisio found De Rossi four yards from goal but mis-hit his volley despite having time and space to take a touch.
Hart then palmed a De Rossi drive straight into the patch of Balotelli who was also denied by the keeper before Montolivio fired the second rebound over the bar. Pirlo continued to dictate from a deep lying midfield position as England struggled to get anywhere near the 35-year-old but it was substitute Alessandro Diamanti who came closest to breaking the deadlock clipping the post with a cross-cum-shot. Antonio Nocerino then thought he’d won it six minutes from time after heading into the roof of the net but was correctly denied hero status by the offside flag.
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Extra time passed without incident as the inevitable penalty shoot out loomed for both teams. England looked to be on course for an unlikely victory after taking the lead after the first two rounds but Young rattled the bar before Cole’s tame spot kick was saved by Buffon allowing Diamanti to strike the critical blow to send Italy into the semi finals.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that he will look elsewhere if he cannot tie down a move for Tottenham star Luka Modric.The Blues have been chasing the Croatian midfielder over the English Premier League offseason, with Modric attempting to push the move through by handing in a transfer request at White Hart Lane.
But Chelsea’s 27 million-pound bid two weeks ago was dismissed out of hand by the north London club and Villas-Boas admits it will take ‘incredible’ money to entice the midfielder from their Premier League rivals to Stamford Bridge.
“You know what the situation is, it is public,” Villas-Boas said after his side defeated Portsmouth 1-0 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. “You can understand the position that the club has taken.”
“At the moment we are scanning the market for everything. (Modric plays in) one of the positions we are looking to strengthen.”
“But here you saw we adapted Yossi (Benayoun)’s position in the middle and also against Wycombe he was marvellous in the position.”
“It is just a question of finding the solution. If it happens it happens, if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen.”
The Portuguese boss hinted that if a deal is not done soon, he will move on to other options.
“It does not depend on us. Spurs have a right to defend their player and property. We just have to wait,” he added.
“We respect whatever position Tottenham takes and the prices we are talking about is an incredible amount of money.”
Crouch began his career at White Hart Lane and he apparently hopes to end it there. His first stay at the Lane as a teenager ended without him making a first team appearance. After moving about a fair amount, he found his way back to Tottenham once more with a move from Portsmouth in 2009. He’s now a Spurs regular and is keen for things to stay that way.
“I’m so happy here that I want to be here for the rest of my career,” Crouch told The People.“For a time at Liverpool, I didn’t think I would ever leave there – but eventually felt I had to move on. Here I am so settled and there is no limit to what we can achieve. Unless they kick me out, I’ll be hanging around!”
Although he looks back at his time with Liverpool with something approaching affection, he’s clearly very happy at Tottenham. Of course, players show a different face to the media than they do when it comes to contract negotiations, but Crouch seems to be sincere. Will the news that Crouch is willing to commit to Tottenham for the long-term have fans jumping for joy?
Now I’ve always thought that Crouch was underrated striker. He has a great touch, is dominant in the air, and does chip in with the goals. When things go right for Crouch, he’s as good a striker as anybody else in the Premier League. He has been England’s most consistent striker for the last couple of years. Yet, some might say that that reveals more about the state of England’s attack than Crouch’s ability.
There is room for criticism – does Crouch score enough goals? He has played 62 games for Tottenham and scored 21 goals. Not the best return for a striker. In his time at Portsmouth he scored 11 goals in 38 appearances. Whilst at Liverpool he scored a measly 22 goals in 85 appearances. Whilst these stats aren’t bad per se, they aren’t particularly prolific either.
If Spurs really are ready for the big time as Harry Redknapp and a number of pundits seem to be claiming, they are going to need strikers that provide the goods. At the moment too much of the goal-scoring burden is put on midfielders like Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale. If Spurs are going to contend for the title, they desperately need a 20+ goals per season striker. Perhaps this man could be Defoe, but it certainly doesn’t look to be Crouch.
Whilst his comments are flattering for Spurs fans, the cold hard truth of the matter is that Crouch either needs to raise his game or consider his future. As Spurs aim for glory, certain players will get left behind as others go onto great things. I hate to say it, but at the moment, Crouch looks more likely to get left behind, rather than swept along with the tide.
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Manchester United made sure not to hand the Premier League title over to rivals Manchester City and take the battle down to the last day with a 2-0 win over Swansea on Sunday.
With the Red Devils level on points but behind on goal difference with their cross-town rivals the emphasis was on an emphatic victory, with Paul Scholes and Ashley Young scoring in the first half.
However, the champions could not add to their tally in the second 45, and are now dependent on QPR getting something from their game against City at the Etihad Stadium on the last day.
Despite being underdogs to lift the crown, Sir Alex Ferguson is refusing to give up hope.
“We have to go there with the right spirit to win the match. You never know,” he told Sky Sports.
“Our responsibility next week is to win the game.
“We’ve got next week. QPR need a point, so you never know. I just wish Sparky (QPR boss Mark Hughes) was playing,” he stated.
In regards to the victory over Swansea, the Scottish trainer felt his team played well and were good value for their win.
“We did what had to do. We won the match. We had a lot of chances. I thought we played very, very well.
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