Luca Toni has outlined why Juventus signing two players from the Premier League could be decisive in catching up with Napoli and Inter this season.

Toni calls for Juventus to sign Tonali and ChiesaTurin club must invest after key departuresVlahovic’s uncertain future amid AC Milan reportsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Italy striker Toni has urged Juventus to strengthen their squad by targeting two Premier League players for a return to Serie A. Toni, speaking from his perspective as one of Italy’s best ever forwards, highlighted the need for the Bianconeri to close the gap on rivals Napoli and Inter by making significant additions, especially if key attackers like Dusan Vlahovic depart. He specifically recommended a move for Sandro Tonali, who could bolster the midfield, and Federico Chiesa, who has struggled at Liverpool and expected to leave.

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Juventus find themselves in a crucial phase of squad rebuilding, following key departures and uncertainty around Vlahovic’s future. Toni believes that without two or three major signings, Juventus risk falling further behind reigning champions Napoli and Inter in the Scudetto race. He also pointed out that the competition at the top has intensified, with Napoli reinforced by the signing of Kevin De Bruyne and Inter retaining much of their core squad. Despite setbacks, Toni is confident that Juventus, under new manager Igor Tudor, can compete if they act decisively in the transfer market.

WHAT LUCA TONI SAID

Speaking on signing Premier League stars, Toni said told : "Juventus must step up their game if they want to get close to the top teams and get back into the Scudetto race… I'd try to sign Tonali forever: he's expensive, but he's someone who can change your midfield. If I were Juventus, I'd bring Chiesa back on loan. He's out of the Liverpool project, so I'd bet on his desire to redeem himself."

Highlighting the transfer window situation, he added: "The departures of some key players are slowing down the Bianconeri's transfer window, but if you let Vlahovic go, you need two or three big signings. Right now, there's a long way to go between Juventus and the Napoli-Inter duo. And Massimiliano Allegri's Milan, lacking the European competition, will be able to focus solely on the league. Sometimes it's an advantage to have just one fixture, even if European fixtures bring excitement. The Bianconeri are missing something, but I'm confident they'll make the right move, and Tudor will ultimately be competitive."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR JUVENTUS?

Juventus continue their search for reinforcements, with the transfer window open and speculation mounting over possible incoming and outgoing players. The club’s pre-season under Tudor is expected to clarify strategic decisions, especially regarding the pursuit of Tonali and Chiesa. Attention will also turn to Vlahovic’s situation and whether Juventus will secure a prolific striker if he leaves.

Former fast bowler appointed in December 2021 following Azeem Rafiq scandal

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2024Darren Gough has stepped down as Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket, the club has announced.Gough, the former Yorkshire and England fast bowler, took on the role in an interim capacity in December 2021, in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism crisis that saw a swathe of the club’s management depart. He oversaw the appointment of Ottis Gibson, the current head coach, and a raft of changes to the playing squad as Yorkshire sought to rebuild.”It’s been an absolute honour to work for my boyhood club over the last two seasons,” Gough said. “Having stepped in at a very challenging time, we’ve worked hard to steady the ship and develop our cricket department to ensure we can return to the top tier of English cricket.Related

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“In my time here, we have achieved a great deal that I am proud of. The men’s squad has been totally rebuilt with significant improvements behind the scenes across all support areas. This has put both the men’s team and the Northern Diamonds in a much better place to be able to compete going forward.”The performance pathway is thriving and continues to lead the way nationally, and there is a real energy around what is happening with the Women’s game and the next few years will be transformational I’m sure.”Following conversations with the club, I have decided now is the right time to step away from my role and give someone else an opportunity to take our playing squads forward. I’d like to thank all of our players, staff, members and fans for their considerable support over the last few seasons and wish them all the very best for the coming year.”I will always be a Yorkshire Cricket supporter and look forward to returning to watch our teams in the coming years.”Gough, who worked as England bowling consultant in 2020, had previously carved out a successful media career and was part of the talkSPORT team broadcasting England’s recently concluded Test tour of India.His departure follows the return of Colin Graves as Yorkshire chair, with the club now on a more secure financial footing.Stephen Vaughan, Yorkshire’s chief executive officer, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Darren since taking on this role. The contribution he has made to stabilise the club and drive our playing squads forward has been critical and, I know that, as a Yorkshireman who lives and breathes this club, he has been so proud to carry out the role.”The work that Darren has done over the last two seasons has built some fantastic foundations and we are very grateful for his time, commitment and the manner in which he has set about his role.”Graves said: “I’d like to express our sincere thanks to Darren for the work he has put in over the last few seasons. Darren is a club legend in his own right, having enjoyed two very successful stints as a player here and now helped us through some very difficult times in his role as managing director of cricket. Everyone at the club would like to wish him all the best for the future, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Headingley again soon.”

Quetta Gladiators overcame a late batting collapse to beat Islamabad United by three wickets on Thursday for their third straight win in the Pakistan Super League.Quetta dismantled United’s batting through spinners and restricted them to this season’s lowest total of 138 of 9.United pushed for an unlikely win when they grabbed three late wickets off eight balls. Naseem Shah (2-34) knocked back the off stump of Sherfane Rutherford (29), Akeal Hosein was run-out when he went for a needless third run, and Mohammad Wasim (1) was clean bowled by Shadab Khan (2-24) while attempting a reckless swipe at the Islamabad skipper.Mohammad Amir showed plenty of courage to smash two boundaries with captain Rilee Rossouw scoring an unbeaten 34 as Quetta reached 139-7 with 10 balls to spare.Quetta joined Multan Sultans at the top of the leaderboard with six points from three games. Islamabad has lost back-to-back games and has two points.Jason Roy had provided Gladiators a brisk start of 51 in the powerplay when the Englishman smashed 37 off 18 balls before he played fast bowler Hunain Shah’s PSL debut ball back onto his stumps. Hunain is one of the three brothers picked by Islamabad this season along with Naseem and Ubaid.Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was relieved from the Gladiators captaincy after leading the franchise for eight seasons in a row, could make only one before he was trapped leg before wicket by Shadab before Rutherford and Rossouw combined in a 62-run stand.Earlier, after being sent in to bat, United faltered after cruising along at 69-1 in the first seven overs. Salman Ali Agha (33), who was dropped by Amir early in his knock, Alex Hales (21) and Colin Munro (20) all couldn’t convert good starts and threw away their wickets.Abrar Ahmed (3-18) and Hosein (2-32) dismantled Islamabad’s batting power-house on a slow and dry wicket while Wasim ran through the lower order with 3-20 that included wickets of Faheem Ashraf and Rumman Raees off the last two balls of the innings.Hales smashed Hosein for back-to-back sixes before he went for a needless third big hit against the left-arm spinner and was caught at covers. Munro and Agha both miscued big shots and were caught in the deep as Islamabad lost eight wickets for 69 runs in the last 13 overs.

Opener finally converts after six half-centuries last term as Northamptonshire’s attack toil by the sea

ECB Reporters Network07-Apr-2024

Sussex opener Tom Haines made 133 – his first hundred in the Vitality County Championship since September 2022 – although their game against Northamptonshire at the 1st Central County Ground looks likely to end in a draw.The 25-year-old left-hander – who hit six fifties last season without converting any of them into a century – eased to the tenth first-class hundred of his career as Sussex reached 351 for 6 at stumps on day three, trailing by 20.They had been in a spot of bother at 94 for 3 but James Coles, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week, embellished his burgeoning reputation with a stylish 78 in a fourth-wicket stand of 137 to go with his three wickets.Left-arm spinner Saif Zaib checked Sussex’s progress by removing both set batters and Sussex captain John Simpson, but in the final hour Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Danny Lamb wrested back the initiative with some aggressive batting, Hudson-Prentice thrashing a 38-ball fifty as they added 93 from 70 balls before bad light intervened with 7.4 overs remaining.It was Haines’ day though. He offered one difficult chance on 107 which was put down by wicketkeeper Lewis McManus diving to his left, but otherwise looked comfortable driving or accumulating steadily off the back foot.Haines and his new opening partner Tom Clark had launched Sussex’s reply with an untroubled stand of 55 before Clark was leg before pushing forward to off-spinner Rob Keogh, who struck again when Tom Alsop missed a delivery down the leg side which went between his legs and Lewis McManus completed an easy stumping.The persevering Ben Sanderson – the pick of the Northants’ attack – knocked back Oli Carter’s off stump with a no ball and did so again (this time with a legitimate delivery) two balls later. But with the Kookaburra offering little movement and only gentle turn Haines and Coles turned things around.Haines pulled Australian Chris Tremain for four to reach his fifty and Coles, demonstrating his strengths through the leg side, was soon into his stride, skipping down the pitch to loft Zaib over long-on for six. He offered a chance on 38 which the diving Bartlett shelled at mid-on but otherwise made serene progress. It wasn’t Bartlett’s day as deep into the final session he was hit on the helmet by Haines and had to go off.Haines reached his second hundred against Northants with a single off Sanderson and Coles seemed certain to follow him but both gifted their wickets to Zaib. Coles drove a long hop to mid-on and Haines drilled a full toss to mid-off after facing 183 balls and hitting 19 fours. In between Simpson played on as Zaib collected three wickets in a Championship innings for the first time since 2016.At the start of the day, Northants added 78 runs in an hour before being dismissed for 371. Sussex made an early breakthrough when Michael Finan drove loosely to extra cover to give Jayden Seales his fourth wicket. He would have had a debut five-for had Jack Carson not put down a regulation chance at fourth slip to reprieve Sanderson when he had yet to score.It was to prove costly when Sanderson cut loose. He greeted Ollie Robinson by hitting two boundaries off his first over and put on 41 at more than a run a ball for the ninth wicket with McManus.Robinson eventually got his man when Sanderson (27) top-edged an attempted pull but McManus progressed on to a well-made fifty before he was caught off a top-edge to give left-arm spinner Coles his third wicket. Seales, with 4 for 86, was the pick of the attack but Robinson would have been pleased to get 22 overs under his belt which included seven maidens in his 2 for 67.

Usman Khawaja’s blow to the head showed the risk of not having a concussion sub, but Andrew McDonald remains comfortable with releasing players

Alex Malcolm20-Jan-20242:28

Malcolm: ‘A very one-sided match at Adelaide’

Australia could release Matt Renshaw to play in the BBL Challenger on Monday, and the final on Wednesday if Brisbane Heat qualify, despite the second Test starting at the Gabba on Thursday and Usman Khawaja needing to be monitored following his head knock in the first Test against West Indies.Australia’s selectors took a rare gamble during the Adelaide Test when they released Renshaw from the squad on the second night of the match to fly to the Gold Coast to play in Friday night’s BBL Qualifier against Sydney Sixers.Related

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• Khawaja cleared of jaw fracture and first concussion test after bouncer blow

• Brathwaite: Shamar Joseph 'gave a lot of confidence to the team'

It left Australia without a reserve batter at the venue if they needed a concussion substitute on the third day and they got a glimpse of how much of a risk that was when Khawaja was struck on the head by Shamar Joseph in Australia’s second innings and had to retire hurt. But the state of the game meant a substitute wasn’t required as Australia only needed one run to win.Khawaja passed his first concussion test on Friday and scans cleared him of any damage to his jaw. He will need to pass another concussion test on Saturday to ensure he is not experiencing delayed symptoms and he will be monitored in the lead-up to the second Test in Brisbane.But despite the scare, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said the selectors are unlikely to add another batter to the squad and they may release Renshaw again to play for the Heat on Monday on the Gold Coast and possibly for the final in Sydney on Wednesday.”I think the information that comes from Uzzy [Khawaja] will then dictate how that sort of unfolds,” McDonald said. “I suppose the positive for the Brisbane Heat is that the final now will be on the east coast somewhere which makes it probably time-friendly to be able to potentially play the final. If it was on the west coast it would be much more difficult.Matt Renshaw was released from Australia duty to play for Brisbane Heat•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

“We consider the risk when we release players and I think it’s about 0.5% chance in terms of a concussion happening. So it was ironic that the first time we’ve let a player go back during the Big Bash that there was a head knock. Fortunately enough, the game was in a position where we thought that it wasn’t going to be a higher risk than necessary. So we were happy for Renners to go back and perform for the Heat.”We feel as though we’ve got flexibility when we need to be able to release players and we like seeing players play.”McDonald said it was difficult to judge how the revamped batting order had functioned after just one game on a very challenging pitch where two players in the match passed 50. Steven Smith only got to face 48 balls in his first game as an opener as he finished 11 not out in Australia’s chase of 26.”Sample size of one is always difficult to judge,” McDonald said. “We’re comfortable with where it’s all landed. We feel as though that top six and the way they complement each other gives us the best opportunity to maximize [scores]. We’re very comfortable with Smudge at the top of the order and then seeing Cameron Green back out there in the field, with ball and bat in hand was great to see as well. So we’re optimistic that they will work. And I suppose hindsight will tell us everything.”Australia’s batters were impressed by the quality of Shamar Joseph’s bowling during the Adelaide Test but the coach believes they will be better prepared for him in Brisbane after getting a good look at him.”Sight unseen is always difficult for batters,” McDonald said. “When you haven’t seen someone and got used to their rhythm and the cues that they present sometimes you do get drawn into shots that potentially you don’t play and we saw that with Marnus as well. It was maybe his second bouncer, he probably didn’t have the cues and it rushed him a little and brought about his demise.”So we feel as though now that there’s less unknowns going into the second Test match. We’ve had a good look at them. A lot of those little decision-making errors that may have crept in I think will have ironed themselves out.”

Chasing 262, PBKS reached their target with eight balls to spare on a night of unstoppable hitting

Himanshu Agrawal26-Apr-20242:07

Rapid fire: Is this the worst time to be a bowler?

Like temperatures across the whole of India, run-scoring and six-hitting in IPL 2024 are going only one way – up. In an unbelievably ruthless display of batting, Punjab Kings hunted down 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders to record the highest successful chase in all of T20 history, and got there with eight balls to spare. They hit 24 sixes, six more than what KKR managed, and the two teams together set the record for the most sixes in any T20 game.In the process, Jonny Bairstow roared back to form to smack his second IPL hundred. Shashank Singh, one of PBKS’ finds of the season, clubbed 68* from only 28 balls, eight of which disappeared over the boundary. Amid all that, Sunil Narine stood apart with figures of 4-0-24-1 for KKR.That came after he continued his dream season with the bat, pummeling 71 off 32 deliveries in an opening partnership of 138 in 10.2 overs. Phil Salt, Narine’s opening partner, also rode on his form – and some luck – to rush to 75 from 37. But all of that went in vain.Jonny Bairstow shellacked KKR to all parts and brought up his century in 45 balls•BCCIPrabhsimran dominates the powerplayEden Gardens had just taken in the enormity of the home team’s batting effort when PBKS replied in kind, pumping their highest-ever powerplay score of 93 for 1. And Prabhsimran Singh dominated this phase despite not getting to face a single ball of the sixth over. Coming on as Impact sub at the start of the chase, he hammered 54 off 20 balls, the highlight of his innings coming when he went after KKR debutant Dushmantha Chameera in a 23-run third over. There were five sixes in his innings, including a scoop over fine leg off Chameera.Bairstow then went 4, 6, 4, 4, 6 off Anukul Roy in the sixth over, before Prabhsimran, responding to the call for a quick single from the non-striker’s end, was run out off the last ball of the powerplay.Bairstow carts KKR all aroundBairstow was dropped by PBKS after managing just 96 runs in his first six innings this season. And he took his time finding his feet in his return game, scoring just 12 off his first 10 balls. But his assault on Roy gave a hint of what was to come. He found a bit of help in the ninth over, though, when Roy dropped him while flinging himself to his left at long-off, and failed to prevent the ball from going for six. That shot off Varun Chakravarthy brought up Bairstow’s fifty, off 23 balls.Bairstow went after Varun again in the 11th over, launching him for a six over long-off, chipping a four over the bowler’s head, and swat-pulling him for another six. When Bairstow got to his hundred off 45 balls to end the 16th over, PBKS needed 52 from 24.2:07

Rapid fire: Is this the worst time to be a bowler?

Shashank helps PBKS sail throughShashank came to the crease when Narine, who somehow conceded just two fours and a six in his four overs, dismissed Rilee Rossouw for a 16-ball 26 in the 13th over. It was the first time he had batted above No. 6 for PBKS, and he quickly made his liking for the promotion evident, hitting Varun for back-to-back leg-side sixes when he had just faced three balls.The game was tilting PBKS’ way when the last four overs began, and the 16th made them clear favourites, as Shashank thumped Chameera for three sixes – a swat, a scoop, and a pull – as PBKS’ required rate fell to less than two runs per ball. The match ended in a hurry, as Shashank clattered three more sixes, off Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh, and the crowd began to disperse even before the result was officially confirmed. Shashank was batting on 25 when Bairstow reached his hundred; the match ended with Shashank on 68 and Bairstow on 108.Phil Salt and Sunil Narine put on 137 off just 62 balls•BCCISalt, Narine set up daunting KKR totalPBKS dropped Salt twice and Narine once inside the first seven overs, and the two turbocharged openers ran away to 83 for no loss in that time. By the time KKR had reached the halfway point of their innings, they had added another 54 to their score. Narine reached his fifty in the eighth over, bringing it up 23 balls, and Salt got to his in the next over.At the 10-over mark, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster predicted a KKR total of 282.PBKS finally separated the opening pair when Rahul Chahar got Narine to mishit a big shot and find Bairstow at long-on. Who knew then that Bairstow would have so much of a say later in the day?KKR promoted Andre Russell up to No. 4, and he entered in the 13th over. Facing his second ball, he upper-cut Sam Curran for four to deep third. Chahar then bowled a quiet 14th over, conceding just seven runs, but it was only a temporary bit of respite, as Russell, Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer – who hit Curran for 6, 4, 6, 6 to end the 19th over – joined hands to take 85 off the last six overs.KKR’s total of 261 for 6 would have been the second-highest in IPL history if it had been made before this season. As it happened, it was only the seventh-highest at the halfway point of this game, and the eighth highest by the time it was done.

Austin delivered a world-class experience, but frustrations remain over Messi's absence and how the league handled it

AUSTIN, Texas – Major League Soccer’s 29th All-Star Game, in many ways, mirrored the city that hosted it. Austin is a hip, tech-forward city with a distinct sense of funk – just ask anyone who’s wandered down its famous Sixth Street. In a place where there are driverless taxis and robotic cowboys, MLS leaned into the same spirit of innovation.

Commissioner Don Garber used the midsummer showcase to unveil the league’s new initiative, dubbed MLS 3.0.

From Austin FC’s striking Q2 Stadium and pristine St. David’s Performance Center to the league’s increasing emphasis on artificial intelligence and tech-powered enhancements – spanning everything from gameday experiences to scouting – MLS made its priorities clear during its Future of the Game Showcase.

The ambition: stay ahead of the curve. And the fans showed up, too, taking over downtown and packing the stands at the various events – including Wednesday's All-Star Game, in which MLS downed Liga MX, 3-1 – regardless of which players actually featured.

“I’m going to start by thanking the fans that came to the stadium yesterday and today,” MLS All-Star coach Nico Estévez after the game. “When you do these types of events, it’s great to have fans around and supporting. We felt the passion they show every time we play at home. It’s good that everyone in this country can see that, too.”

Yet, it wasn't all great for MLS. Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, for whatever reason, was a no-show for All-Star week, despite being the leading vote-getter. So was teammate Jordi Alba, who technically skipped two All-Star events, as he was also scheduled to play in the Skills Challenge. The league's response to all of that left a lot to be desired.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from eventful MLS All-Star week.

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• WINNER: THE ACTUAL ALL-STAR GAME

  All-Star games across all sports are losing relevance, as seen in declining TV ratings and engagement among younger audiences. Some of that is due to a perceived lack of competitiveness – particularly in the NBA's showcase and the NFL's Pro Bowl, which has literally been converted into a high-priced flag football game.

  MLS had come under the same microscope after it's All-Star teams lost by a combined 9-1 scoreline to Arsenal and Liga MX over the previous two events.

  On Wednesday, both MLS and the Liga MX All-Stars put on a show, and the two-goal win by the home side was slightly flattering, considering Liga MX trailed by just one goal until the final 10 minutes, when Vancouver's Brian White sealed it.

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  LOSER: LIONEL MESSI AND INTER MIAMI

  Austin's leading local newspaper, the Austin Chronicle, had this to say about Messi's decision to skip the 2025 MLS All-Star Game.

  "We can easily guess why Messi isn’t coming," wrote Eric Goodman. "Either A) he’s scared to death to be on the same pitch as old El Clásico rival Sergio Ramos once more, or B) because he just simply doesn’t feel like it. We’re gonna go with B, and that’s some weak sh*t."

  Well said.

  There is a human element to all of this, with some families spending exorbitantly just to get a glimpse of their icon. The Argentine also made unwanted history. In the last 30 years, no top vote-getter in North American professional sports has declined to play in their league's annual All-Star showcase.

  Inter Miami also deserves their fair share of blame. Imagine a MLB All-Star Game not featuring a New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers star? Or an NBA All-Star game without Los Angeles Lakers players involved? Messi wasn't the only Miami player slated for the match, as Alba could have represented the team.

  And if, as Garber says, Alba had a potential injury, it is incumbent on the organization to notify MLS and coordinate a replacement to represent the team.

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  WINNER: THE CITY OF AUSTIN

  Yes, University of Texas Football still reigns supreme, and is everywhere. But Austin acquitted itself well as a soccer city, especially for younger fans – which is MLS's target demographic. There were hipster cafes selling Austin FC-themed gear. There was signage all over town – highlighting both the All-Star Game and the city's local team.

  There were Austin FC-focused bars, and the club listed more than 25 pub partners on its official website.

  All-Star week was a celebration of the city's first professional franchise, which played its first game in 2021 and has sold out every home game since. Judging by its turnout and engagement, there's room for more professional sports in this fast-growing city.

  "The events have been spectacular. It's probably one of our most successful in history," Garber said.

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  LOSER: DON GARBER AND MLS

  The moment Garber praised Messi's social media following in his midseason address Wednesday, saying how much it has been as a boost to the league, it was clear that accountability isn't necessarily on the table for player or team – despite rules and precedent set by the league.

  Being a Commissioner is difficult. The league's 30 owners are the boss, and Garber's job – among other aspects – is to sell MLS as an attractive destination for potential players from around the globe. But he sent the wrong message to fans and players in the league.

  Garber declined to say whether Messi or Alba will be disciplined for their absences, but admitted the league should have been more proactive in confirming the players' status ahead of its marquee summer event. It's unclear whether either player will be suspended for Miami's next game, but the fact Garber wasn't decisive on the issue is concerning.

  If they Miami duo are not suspended, that could set precedent for future All-Star participation. The Commissioner needed to be firm and resolute, and he wasn't.

Andrew Miller assesses the key head-to-heads in this summer’s Ashes

Andrew Miller16-Jul-2005By common consent, England have their best chance in a generation to reclaim the Ashes this summer. But for that to happen, certain key confrontations will have to go their way. Andrew Miller sums up the seven principal battles-within-the-battle that could make or break the summer

The Ashes ablaze: Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting will have key confrontations against Glenn McGrath and Steve Harmison © Getty Images
This is a contest that has never yet got past the first round. Trescothick’s disappointing returns in his first two Ashes series have been epitomised by the vice-like grip that Gillespie has had on his strokeplay. Seven times in ten Tests, Gillespie has used his buzzsaw line and length to climb across Trescothick’s bows and graze the edge of a limp defensive stroke. Caught behind four times, caught in the slips twice, and lbw once by way of a change. This summer, however, Trescothick has a chance for retribution. Gillespie is not the bowler he once was – he has lost a yard of pace and his confidence has been sapped during a dispiriting one-day series. And, as Trescothick demonstrated so amply against Bangladesh, he knows how to bully an opponent when he’s down. Verdict – England winEngland’s golden boy has made the most serene entry into international cricket since David Gower in 1978, but the recent one-day series marked the first real challenge to his confidence since that heady Lord’s debut in May 2004. And nobody did more to undermine his progress than Lee, for whom 2004, by contrast, was an annus horriblis. Axed from Tests since January of that year, all that is set to change after a series of turbo-charged performances. Strauss’s uncomplicated technique has withstood most opponents so far, but Lee is fast, furious and fully focused, and has clean-bowled him twice this summer already, for a total of five runs. Verdict – Australia winThe one world-class strokemaker in England’s top five versus Australia’s greatest fast bowler of the modern era. This could be the absolute clincher of the summer. Two winters ago in Australia, the pair were inseparable – Vaughan’s three sparkling hundreds couldn’t disguise the fact that McGrath claimed his wicket in half his innings, four times with the ball, and once with a stunning catch-of-a-lifetime in the deep at Adelaide. But Vaughan is the living proof that England have nothing to fear this summer, not even from Australia’s most fearsome predator. Verdict – honours evenNow this is going to be interesting. Pietersen is England’s brash young egomaniac, Warne is Australia’s wiliest winner of mindgames, and the pair profess to be bosom buddies. Something has got to give this summer. Warne has no doubt who will come out on top, and has already earmarked Pietersen as his 600th Test wicket; Pietersen, equally, is utterly cocksure, and claims to have seen everything that Warne has to offer during their time together in the Hampshire nets. This is going to be a formidable clash of egos, but ultimately, the duel could come down to that most humdrum of issues – technique. Pietersen loves to plant his front pad and swing across the line, which will suit Warne’s wiles just fine. It’ll take more than just mind over matter to cope with his full repertoire of trickery. Verdict – Australia winIf Gilchrist fails to fire, Australia will be vulnerable; if Flintoff is off-colour, on the other hand, England have no hope. That is the stark truth of this crucial match-up between the two genuine allrounders in the series. Batting-wise, Australia already have the edge. Gilchrist’s brutal century in the final NatWest Challenge match was a flawless and timely performance that ensured that England’s nerves will jangle when he walks out to bat at No. 7 in the Tests. Flintoff, by contrast, was edgy in the one-dayers, and at No. 6 in England’s order, he is arguably one batting slot, if not two, too high for such a crunch contest. Flintoff’s bowling, on the other hand, has improved beyond recognition in the past year. He has developed from a workhorse into a strike force, and whereas Gilchrist can only catch the chances that come his way, Flintoff now has the menace to make the incisions himself. Verdict – Australia winOne shot at Lord’s said everything one needs to know about Ponting’s intentions this summer. A stunning pick-up for six off Flintoff singled a return to his twinkle-toed best, after an early season spent toppling across his stumps and inviting lbw at every opportunity. Ponting possesses the best pull shot in the modern game, so length is going to be imperative when England take him on in the Tests. This is where Harmison comes in. He has the ability to extract steepling bounce where others just skid into the screws, and even Ponting will not be able to take his usual liberties – assuming the Harmison of April 2004 turns up at Lord’s next week, of course, rather than the lost soul who traipsed round South Africa this winter. Verdict – Australia winThis was an utter mismatch on the last Ashes tour, but times they are a-changing. Back in 2002-03, Hoggard’s stock delivery tended to arc onto Hayden’s pads and disappear over midwicket with alarming regularity. In recent months, however, he has tightened his line, recognised that his role is “to sweep the shop floor”, in Vaughan’s memorable words, and become a force to be respected. In South Africa this winter, he dismissed one opening batsman in each of the first eight innings of the series, including that other left-handed former England nemesis, Graeme Smith, on four occasions. What is more, Hayden’s stock has been slipping in recent months – since Australia’s tour of India last October, he has averaged 20 runs below his career average of 53.46. With his stiff-limbed technique, the last thing he needs is to have to come looking for runs. Verdict – England win

Sreesanth may not be able to bowl himself into a sure place in the World Cup squad, but he certainly won’t want to bowl himself out of contention

Anand Vasu in Rajkot10-Feb-2007

Sreesanth steamed in at the nets in Rajkot, bowling quickly, with a fluent action and good carry through off the pitch. While he went through his paces bowling to pretty much the whole Indian top order, the memories of his incisive spells in South Africa were very much on the mind, but equally, his performances in the one-dayers since were not far away.When you look at Sreesanth bowling in one-day internationals, it’s hard to see what he is doing differently. The action is very much the same, the rhythm seems to be alright, the intensity is inevitably cranked up, and yet, for some reason, he is neither the wicket-taking threat that he was in the Tests, and nor is he able to control the flow of runs. Against West Indies, in two ODIs Sreesanth picked up only two wickets from two games, at 73 apiece and an rate of 7.82. In the last match against Sri Lanka the rains came down when his figures read 4.2-0-36-1.Dilip Vengsarkar, the chairman of the national selection committee, and a man who will be watching Sreesanth closely in the next game before picking the 15-man squad for the World Cup said: “Sreesanth needs to adjust his length in the one-dayers. He bowls full looking for swing, but when there isn’t a lot of movement in the air or off the pitch then the batsmen are able to hit through the line.” And that sounds entirely logical, although Sreesanth did get a bit of tap even when he was bowling short of a good length in Kolkata, being cut and pulled by Sanath Jayasuriya. But surely, if it were only a matter of shortening his length, then Sreesanth and the brains trust within the team would have worked that out and made the necessary adjustments.About a year ago, India had a strong group of young fast bowlers coming through the ranks, led by Sreesanth, and now, all of a sudden, it’s the old firm of Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar who are shouldering most of the burden, especially on the trying surfaces on which one-day cricket is played in India. When asked about this, Dravid was sympathetic to the lot of the young fast bowler. “In these conditions, you are going to take longer to learn and adapt. I think the young bowlers probably take a bit longer than the experienced ones,” he said. “We have got a happy blend of youth and experience in this squad, especially with Ajit and Zaheer. Munaf probably been one of our better one-day bowlers in the last 10-12 games that he has played. He seems to have found the right length and line to bowl.”At the same time, Dravid conceded that not every one has found the solution as easily as Munaf has. “Some of the other younger guys are finding it a bit difficult and finding it a bit of a challenge but that’s true of everyone. Any of the fast bowlers I have played with, whether it’s [Javagal] Srinath or Venky [Venkatesh Prasad] or even Zak and Ajit, they have taken a bit of time to get used to these conditions and that is but natural. The more they play and learn quickly the better it is. It is up to them to analyse their own bowling quickly, it is going to be better for them and for us.”In recent matches, Dravid, who stands in the slips to the spinners, has been taking a visibly proactive role when it comes to speaking to his fast bowlers from either mid-on or mid-off. When asked about this, he explained what he was talking to his young quick men about. “We talk to them about what we discuss in the team meetings – about the lengths and lines that are ideal for that kind of wicket and particular batsmen,” he said. “It’s mostly to reiterate what we have already discussed and keep reminding them and sometimes just to give them a bit of encouragement. There’s sometimes not much you can do when a good batsman is going great guns – even good balls get hit for fours. The important thing for these guys is not to panic when good batsmen are hitting them for runs. It’s important not to try too much and keep focussing on the basics.”Sreesanth, though, seems to be struggling, inputs from his captain, coach and selectors notwithstanding. With Irfan Pathan still not finding form with the ball, Sreesanth could have a big role to play in the West Indies if he is picked. There’s one match to go before that decision is made, but he’ll be hoping that he can at least keep things quiet against Jayasuriya and Co. on Sunday. After all, he may not be able to bowl himself into a sure place in the World Cup squad, but he certainly won’t want to bowl himself out of contention.

The regular Monday column in which Steven Lynch answers your questions about (almost) any aspect of cricket

Steven Lynch28-Aug-2006

Umpires have never been far from the headlines during the past week © Getty Images
I was surprised to see that Darrell Hair had written anautobiography. How many other Aussie umpires have done this?asked George Thompson from Melbourne
Hair’s book was called Decision Maker, and came out in 1998. Itstarts with the story of how he no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan forthrowing in the Boxing Day Test atMelbourne in 1995-96 (“I feel his action was diabolical,” he wroteof an ODI in which he stood earlier that season). Before Hair’s bookcame The Umpire’s Story (1972), by Lou Rowan, who stood in the1970-71 Ashes series Down Under, followed in 1974 by BodylineUmpire, the memoirs of GeorgeHele, who stood in all five Tests of the fractious Bodyline series in1932-33. English umpires who have penned autobiographical books includeFrank Chester, Frank Lee and David Shepherd … and of course Dickie Bird, whose 1997autobiography was a huge best-seller. The New Zealander Steve Dunne hasalso written a book.What is the most lbws in a Test match asked David Shorten from Australia
The record for a Test is actually 17, in the first Test between West Indies and Pakistan at Port-of-Spain in 1992-93. For the record, the umpires were Dickie Bird and Steve Bucknor. There have been two Tests with 15 leg-befores, and three with 14 – and the match at Kandy that you mention is one of four Tests which included 13 lbws. The record for a Test innings is seven – five of them by Richard Johnson – inflicted on Zimbabwe by England at Chester-le-Street in June 2003.During the 1921 Ashes series, Australia’s wicketkeeper Hanson Carter apparently advised his captain Warwick Armstrong that the England captain was trying to make an illegal declaration. What was illegal about it? asked Chris France from Australia
This happened in the fourth Test of 1921 at Old Trafford, when The Hon. Lionel Tennyson, captaining England, wanted to declare late on the second day of what started as a three-day match. However, as the first day had been washed out, it had become a two-day match: and under the rather strange regulations in force at the time, any declaration had to be timed so that the side about to go in could have 100 minutes’ batting. Prompted by Carter, his astute Yorkshire-born wicketkeeper, Armstrong pointed out to the umpires that the declaration was illegal. After an interval of around 20 minutes, while the matter was discussed (Wisden‘s match report calls it “an unfortunate and rather lamentable incident”), England carried on batting, and declared first thing next morning. After the break, Armstrong mischievously bowled the next over, having bowled the last one before the interruption too.What unusual event delayed the start of the fifth Test between South Africa and England in 1930-31? asked Terence Frederick of London
This was the fifth Test of that series, at Durban, and the reason for the delay is one of Test cricket’s most unusual ones: the bails were the wrong size, and the umpires had to make a new set! It’s not as incompetent as it sounds – not quite, anyway – as the laws had recently been changed to increase the size of the stumps to the current size of 28 inches high by nine inches wide (previously it was 27×8). The stumps at Kingsmead were the right size, but the bails weren’t. Gerald Brodribb, in Next Man In, his excellent study of the evolution of cricket’s laws, reports that a new set of bails had to be made on the spot, and adds: “England, who had won the toss and put South Africa in on a drying wicket, made a strong protest at this annoying delay.”Inzamam-ul-Haq was out “obstructing the field” against India last winter. How often has this happened in Tests and ODIs? asked Rahul Shetty from Bangalore
Inzamam’s unusual dismissal in the first one-dayer against India at Peshawar was only the third instance of a batsman being given out obstructing the field in ODIs. The first was another Pakistani, Rameez Raja, against England at Karachi in 1987-88. He knocked a fielder’s return away when trying to complete the second run which would have taken him to 100 from the last ball of the match. Two years later, India’s Mohinder Amarnath was the second man to go this way. He kicked the ball away from the bowler to avoid being run out against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad in 1989-90. The only man to be out obstructing the field in a Test match is England’s Len Hutton, against South Africa at The Oval in 1951. Hutton top-edged a sweep against the offspinner Athol Rowan, and the ball looped upwards. Worried that the ball would bounce onto his stumps, Hutton knocked it away, but in doing so prevented the wicketkeeper, Russell Endean, from making a catch. In a weird coincidence Endean, who was making his Test debut at The Oval, was also involved in Test cricket’s next peculiar dismissal: he was out “handled the ball” against England at Cape Town in 1956-57. Ask Steven will return fully on September 11.