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James Anderson hopes his return to the England team can help turn around their poor one-day form which has left them in a must-win situation heading into the fourth ODI at Adelaide

Andrew McGlashan in Adelaide24-Jan-2011James Anderson hopes his return to the England team can help turn around their poor one-day form which has left them in a must-win situation heading into the fourth ODI at Adelaide. Anderson arrived back in Australia at the weekend following a post-Ashes break back home that left the visitors with a second-string attack.Along with Anderson’s absence for the first three matches, Stuart Broad is also out injured while Graeme Swann hasn’t played the last two games due to a knee problem and has also suffered a back spasm. Tim Bresnan has now been forced out of the series with a calf strain so Anderson’s return will be a timely boost for the squad. However, he still has to show he’s over the effects of another long journey before taking his place.”To be honest we’ll just see how the next couple of days go,” he said. “I’ll practice tomorrow [Tuesday] and if I come through practice I’ll certainly be putting my name forward for selection.”I’d like to think I bring some energy with both my bowling and fielding. I don’t think we are that far away having seen the first three games. We aren’t far away from a win and turning the momentum around.”Energy has been a buzzword for England in this series. It’s one of the reasons Matt Prior was recalled to the World Cup squad because of the part he plays in the fielding unit and it was noticeable on Sunday, at the SCG, how Paul Collingwood, who replaced the injured Kevin Pietersen, tried to get under Australia’s skin.The end result, though, hasn’t proved very effective although the depleted bowling attack has done a reasonable job only to be let down by some poor batting in the last two matches. But despite the scoreline, and the prospect of conceding the series very early, Anderson insists the squad are as buoyant as when he departed in the afterglow of the Ashes.”I know we are 3-0 down but the dressing room seems just as positive as when I left,” he said. “They are still in good spirits. We know we are just one game away from turning the momentum around. We are looking to Wednesday to be a good all-round performance with both bat and ball.”Anderson has twice benefited from England’s rotation policy, firstly last winter when he missed the tour of Bangladesh and now this latest break. He was the stand-out bowler during the Ashes, sending down 213 overs in the five Tests for 24 wickets, so was grateful of the down time and believes the current injury problems show how important it is to factor in these periods of rest.”It was nice to get a break. My body certainly needed it after the Test series,” he said. “As you’ve seen we’ve got a couple of injuries at the minute. It’s crucial that we go into the World Cup with a full-strength squad. The management have made good decisions in the past resting players so I’m sure they are going to do exactly the same leading up to the World Cup.”England will again have to consider the balance of their side at Adelaide because, for two matches running, they have not had the ideal attack for conditions. In Hobart they were a quick bowler short then they strengthened that department on a slow pitch at the SCG where James Tredwell could have been useful.Spin is likely to play a role in this match, but Anderson has fond memories of what a swing bowler can do following his Test performance. His first-morning burst when he removed Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke to leave Australia 3 for 2 set England on their way to victory. They are desperate for something similar again from their leading bowler.

Tamim Iqbal has looked good, but the other batsmen haven’t contributed, says the Bangladesh batting coach

Mohammad Isam26-Jan-2020Bangladesh’s progress in specific areas in the batting haven’t been in evidence in the ongoing T20I series in Lahore, according to batting coach Neil McKenzie. The former South Africa batsman, who opted against touring Pakistan and has been working with the Test specialists in Dhaka instead, said the players must trust the “no fear” mantra that coach Russell Domingo has been trying to drill into them.Bangladesh have already conceded the three-T20I series after losing the first two games. They batted first on both occasions and only managed 141 and 136. They hardly dominated any phase of the games, and failed to build any impetus in the middle overs, which seemed to have improved after McKenzie became the batting coach.”There’s lot of inexperience in the squad at the moment. We knew that was going to be the case before we got there, but still it is disappointing,” McKenzie said. “I think we missed out on a good start the other day (in the first T20I). What’s been disappointing for me has been the intent. We have been working so hard in the last couple of years on rotation of strike, putting the bowler under pressure, where you are standing, making him bowl to where you want him to bowl, but I haven’t seen too much of those in the last T20s.”The intent, looking to be a little bit more hungry, really playing with that ‘no fear’ that Russell and everybody tries to instill in the players. It is human nature. You have a few young guys and some guys who are getting back. There’s a lot of pressure on the guys to perform and stay in the side, which is understandable, but hopefully they all understand that they are getting the backing from all the selectors and coach. They just have to go out there and play.”McKenzie, who has been praised for bringing about a fresh approach to Bangladesh’s batting in limited-overs cricket, said that with so many top-order batsmen in the squad, Bangladesh don’t have the required experience and expertise in the middle order. Shakib Al Hasan is out of the picture, and the absence of Mushfiqur Rahim – who also opted against touring – is certainly a big factor, but with Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Afif Hossain all having made runs in the top-order, it might have been difficult for them to adjust to a new batting position.”I think you have to look at the combination of who is playing,” he said. “Russell as a new coach is trying to look at some different combinations. I think at the moment we have too many batsman that bats at one, two and three. If you look around the squad, they are quality players but they are all top-order batters.”It is a different skill to bat at No 4, 5 and 6. You are on nought, and all of a sudden you are facing a quality spinner. It is a different mindset. You have to know your game, try to rotate the strike and then go with your boundary options.”Neil McKenzie has a chat with Liton Das•BCB

McKenzie explained that the players should think selfishly on behalf of the team, so that they finish off games after getting set. “I think there’s an improvement [but] the turnover of players – by which I mean there’s been a lot of players in my tenure here – is still too high for my liking. It just looks like no one is jumping out of the box, we need someone like [Mohammad] Naim. He got a great eighty [81] in India. He struggled the other day but he got a 40-odd, but we need more consistent innings like that from the Bangladesh batsmen.”There’s no doubt that Bangladesh is full of very talented cricketers, but we need a little bit more consistency. I want someone to be selfish in terms of winning games for the side. Not selfish for their own right. Selfish for not giving it away. If I have an 80, why can’t I follow it up with a hundred, 140 or 200?”A little bit more hunger for that consistency. A lot of the time, the guys are happy to play the next game. If you get a 40 or 60. It is the wrong mentality. I want the guys to try to be the best in the world, or be the best Bangladesh batsman. I think that’s what we are trying to instill. We are making progress. But it has been a little bit frustrating.”McKenzie also asked for patience about Tamim Iqbal, who has scored 39 and 65 in the two games, but wasn’t able to lift the scoring rate.”I think you have to cut him a little bit of slack,” McKenzie said. “He has been one of Bangladesh’s best performers through the years. He is coming back from an injury and a few other things, so he is settling in. I think the positive thing for him is his runs under the belt. We all know what he can do, what he is capable of. You saw how he took it in the BPL final last year. I think we all want him to play more innings like that. He is probably one of Bangladesh’s most consistent players.”We know how he can play but it’s also up to him to trust the guys around him. But the guys around him also have to be performing. When you have faith in the team and batting order, you can play a few more shots. I am glad to see him back. It seems he is in a good frame of mind. Hopefully it is the confidence he needs to kick-start and get him going, and turn those sixties into an eighty off 55 balls.”He is an experienced player. He knows what he should be doing and how important he is for Bangladesh. It is a process, but we are looking for a little bit more fearless batting,” he said.

Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria have been given till the end of December to submit their replies to the PCB’s integrity committee’s queries, in order to gain clearance to play for Pakistan.

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2010Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria have been given till the end of December to submit their replies to the PCB’s integrity committee’s queries, in order to gain clearance to play for Pakistan. The three players have been excluded from the Test and Twenty20 squads for the tour of New Zealand but could still be selected for the 2011 World cup after the ICC extended till January 5 Pakistan’s deadline to name their 30 probables. reported that the three players, who are facing inquiries over their possible roles in spot-fixing, had been asked by the board to present details regarding their movable and immovable properties, and activities other than cricket. The players had asked for more time to answer the questions and the board has given them till the end of December.The PCB, who were supposed to announce their 30-man squad for the World Cup on December 19, asked the ICC for a later date and have been given till January 5.The three have not played for Pakistan since their controversial tour of England in August and were left out of Pakistan’s tour of the United Arab Emirates to play South Africa. Kamran and Malik have also been denied permission to play league cricket in Bangladesh. The PCB has remained fairly tight-lipped about the reasons for their exclusion.Kaneria had said, after a meeting with the integrity committee, that he was cooperating with the board and providing them with details of his bank accounts and assets in order to gain clearance to play for the national side. He was the subject of a criminal investigation in August by Essex police over allegations that he was involved in spot-fixing during a county game but was released without charge in September.Kamran and Malik had both criticised the board’s decision not to clear them for the New Zealand tour. Kamran had written to the ICC asking if he was under investigation and was cleared by them. The ICC had sent him and Salman Butt notices during Pakistan’s tour of England in August, seeking information about events related to the 2010 World Twenty20 held in the Caribbean in May.Last month, Pakistani news channel aired footage featuring alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed claiming Kamran was among seven players obeying his orders during matches. Kamran admitted Majeed was his marketing agent but denied that he had been involved in any wrongdoing.Malik claimed he had not even been part of any of the Tests which were under the scanner for spot-fixing. He was not in the team for the Sydney Test nor against England at Lord’s.

Bailey has retorted to questions about bias by saying “I’m not going to pick myself”

Daniel Brettig25-Nov-2019Former Australia ODI captain and current Tasmania batsman George Bailey is set to become the third member of the national selection panel alongside chairman Trevor Hohns and head coach Justin Langer, adding the contemporary voice that Cricket Australia has been searching for in their deliberations for the national team.Bailey, who is widely respected in Australian cricket circles, will be a departure from tradition by taking on a selection role while still a player, though numerous cricketers have been selectors either as captain or in the summers immediately after retirement, including Hohns, Peter Taylor and Greg Chappell. It was Chappell’s retirement from his role as selector following the Ashes series this year that opened up the place taken by Bailey.CA had previously flirted with the concept of having a current player as a selector when Hohns floated Darren Lehmann as a candidate prior to his retirement, before the concept was thwarted at board level. Usman Khawaja, the Queensland captain, spoke favourably of the prospect of choosing a current player as a selector when asked about it on Monday.”I think there is always an option there. I think there is no one more involved and more relevant in the game than people who are actually playing the game,” Khawaja said. “I think players are one of the biggest stakeholders, sometimes the most under-utilised and undervalued stakeholders in the game. I think it’s always important to have someone in the skin of the game.”Communication between selectors and players has improved over the years, but it is believed that the players have suggested it can get better still, something that Bailey will be keenly aware of. Equally he will bring along the perspective of a cricketer who has played more or less his entire career in the Twenty20 era, leading Australia to the global tournament in Sri Lanka in 2012 when they reached the semi-finals.Other candidates to make the final three included the former Victoria and South Australia batsman Michael Klinger and also Greg Shipperd, presently the coach of the Sydney Sixers. Langer had also spoken positively of wanting to find a role in Australian cricket for Trevor Bayliss after the conclusion of his time as England coach this year.”Really pleased with the people who put their hat in the ring for that role,” CA’s head of national teams Ben Oliver said on Monday. “There will be some people who are really disappointed no doubt [at missing out on the role] but they should all take great encouragement and they all have a lot to offer. Really looking forward to getting to the end of that process. Not quite there yet, but we’re not far away.”The panel, and all three, will be responsible for all Australian men’s teams. What we’ve tried to achieve in this recruitment process is adding in some complementary skills to support Trevor and Justin, and one of those is a consideration around short-format cricket.”Oliver explained that the national pathways manager Graham Manou, who had previously worked closely with Chappell in his role as national talent manager, would have a major linking role to keep the selectors abreast of developments in junior and pathway competitions, though like the national captains Tim Paine and Aaron Finch he will not be formally added to the panel.”It’s important for our selection panel to be across the talent that’s emerging through domestic cricket,” Oliver said. “Graham Manou as the national talent and pathway manager has a key role to play in connecting the domestic system but certainly we’re looking for this particular role that we’re recruiting for now, to have a close connection to Graham and to our domestic teams and our domestic coaches.”Sticking with three and Graham’s an important conduit between the panel and domestic cricket. He’s been helping throughout this period as well. At the moment sticking with three [selectors].”Bailey has retorted to questions about bias by saying “I’m not going to pick myself”, while Paine revealed during the Gabba Test against Pakistan that he was firmly in favour of the appointment. “In last week’s Shield game he was batting at five, I was batting at seven, so we were both sitting in the change rooms and set up a mock interview,” Paine told ABC radio. “He’s ready to go, so hopefully he gets the nod, I think he’d be ideal.”

Logie takes over the role from former Barbados batsman Henderson Springer

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2019Gus Logie, the former West Indies batsman, has been named the head coach of West Indies Women on an interim basis as Cricket West Indies begins their recruitment process for a full-time head coach.Logie takes over the role from former Barbados batsman Henderson Springer, who will continue to assist CWI’s coaching education programs.Logie, who has been the assistant coach of the women’s team since 2017, will guide the side’s preparations for India Women’s tour of the West Indies next month. India are scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is from November 1 to November 20, with matches to be played in Antigua, St Lucia and Guyana.”Gus has a long history with West Indies cricket, both as a player and as a coach,” Jimmy Adams, the CWI director of cricket said via a press release. “He has been a part of the women’s team for the last two years and knows the players’ techniques and skillsets. I have no doubt he will continue his hard work in preparing the team for India Women and then the T20 World Cup next year.”We are extremely grateful to Hendy for his contribution to the women’s program over the last two years and we will continue to exploit his prior experience within coaching education.”Apart from that, Evril Betty Lewis was named the new team manager of women and girls’ cricket after interim manager Anne Browne-John was appointed the lead selector for the outfits.

After the deal struck with Andrew McDonald as assistant coach, CA are likely to adapt their player contracts

Daniel Brettig31-Oct-20191:14

‘ACA must do better to help players like Cummins’ – Siddle

Australian cricket’s leadership is open to returning to the option of multi-year contracts for their top players in the wake of the agreement of a groundbreaking coaching deal with Andrew McDonald that will allow him the flexibility to maintain pre-arranged commitments in the IPL and the Hundred.Earl Eddings, the Cricket Australia chairman, followed his first AGM in charge by agreeing that the rapidly changing cricket world required both better relationships and greater flexibility from administrators, as underlined by the decision to agree to McDonald’s preferred terms and so ensure his skills would not be lost to the head coach Justin Langer.He told ESPNcricinfo that the new dual high performance chiefs Ben Oliver (manager of national teams) and Drew Ginn (manager of high performance) can be expected to look at the option of multi-year deals for top ranked players, a part of the CA contracting system in the first decade of the 21st century but less common following the performance-based recommendations of the Argus review in 2011, and presently a recommendation to the board before the next contract cycle.”The game has changed so quickly, in terms of the various other options players and coaches both now have, which I think is great for the game,” Eddings told ESPNcricinfo. “It gives them an opportunity to show their wares to the rest of the world and Cricket Australia’s got to adapt to that as well.”Have we discussed multiple year contracts? I’m sure our high performance people will be looking at that, and something for them to come back to the board with their recommendations. For Andrew I think it’s a great opportunity, as a world class coach, I know he’s highly sought after around the world. The fact we’ve got him as our assistant coach speaks volumes for Cricket Victoria for producing a great coach but also to Andrew for becoming one of the best young coaches in the world.”Pat Cummins, this year’s No. 1 ranked CA contracted player, has been a vocal advocate of multi-year deals for the past two years, noting the physical toll on the bodies of fast bowlers in particular that often preclude them from stretching their physiques in search of greater financial returns in the IPL and elsewhere.”No it didn’t happen this year. They just said they weren’t offering anyone longer term this year,” Cummins told this week. “I hope [it changes in the future]. You can only ask the question and see what comes of it. Like anyone in your job, you want more than 12 months security always.”Pat Cummins claims another scalp•Getty Images

The issue is a little more complicated than the players wanting more security and the board wishing only to hand out contractual rewards on a strict year-on-year performance basis. The possibility of players remaining under contract to CA at the end of an MoU period would have been an awkward scenario for the Australian Cricketers Association during the 2017-18 pay dispute, when all players falling out of contract at once played into the union’s hands.Since the Argus review, the offer of multi-year deals to players has become perceived as being used only as a defensive move by CA, as was the case when the former team performance manager Pat Howard offered three-year deals to Steven Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins as the pay dispute was heating up. A different landscape prevailed in the early 2000s, when the likes of Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist enjoyed greater certainty in return for compelling and consistent performances as the world’s top team.Peter Siddle, the most experienced Australian pace bowler currently in national contention, noted that he was given a two-year deal at the outset of his international career in 2008, saying that players would be happy in many cases to enjoy extra financial security in exchange for foregoing additional domestic T20 events overseas.”We used to have them. I remember my first contract I signed a long time ago, about 11 years ago now, I signed a multi-year deal then,” Siddle said. “It was only two years but it did give you at least that second-year sort of guarantee. I think with certain players you could probably look at it. It’s definitely something the ACA and Cricket Australia can look to maybe improve on over the coming years because there are players like, especially someone like Patty [James Pattinson], who is in all formats, not just the one format player, you might want to lock him down.”It gives them the opportunity to keep him out of maybe tours outside of the country, whether it’s IPL or other T20 leagues around the world, where they can then control where he goes a bit more. But in saying that the player then wants to be reimbursed a little bit for what he may be missing out on. It is definitely that’s something worth discussing. Maybe it’s not for everyone. But that’s what it comes down to when discussing contracts and deals.”

According to a report by The Mirror, West Ham United are considering a summer bid for defender Joachim Andersen, with many Irons supporters erupting over GSB’s alleged transfer plan.

Andersen, who is attracting plenty of top-flight attention following a solid season on loan at Fulham from Lyon, has now enticed West Ham into a possible summer swoop. The 24-year-old has started 27 Premier League matches under Scott Parker this season, whilst averaging the sixth-best clearances per game average in the entire division.

West Ham are allegedly considering Andersen ahead of what is hoped to be a 2021/22 season in the Champions League.

Flocking to this claim, it’s safe to say this news has attracted plenty of attention from Hammers fans, with the majority pleading for GSB to get a deal done. Given his credentials, it’s not hard to see why – and he is reportedly valued at around £20m.

Here is a flavour of the reaction from the Irons faithful on Twitter.

West Ham fans erupt over alleged GSB transfer plan

“Oh my yes please”

Credit: @whulouie

“Sign Andersen in the summer or we riot”

Credit: @Jackcoyi

“Yes please, 100% needed”

Credit: @RobWaldon

“Omgggggggg”

Credit: @joelitt78828048

“Please, he’s class”

Credit: @westham_hub

“100% would take him…..”

Credit: @Jay8320

“Fantastic player”

Credit: @WHUDan7

“Andersen and Ogbonna would be unreal at the back”

Credit: @oliverrrwhu

In other news: These West Ham fans flock to ExWHUemployee claim, find out more here.

According to a teasing update by reliable Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold, the Lilywhites have now begun to filter out the long list of managerial candidates and are about to ‘formally’ approach more targets in the coming weeks – with the hunt for a boss now seemingly heating up.

Gold drops teasing managerial update

Indeed, Tottenham are allegedly well underway in the search for Jose Mourinho’s successor to take over after interim boss Ryan Mason sees out the 2020/2021 campaign.

As well as chairman Daniel Levy narrowing down his options and prioritising certain targets to be formally approached, Spurs are also believed to have definitely begun the managerial search process according to Gold.

football.london and the reporter’s information is that Tottenham Hotspur hope to announce their next boss before the end of this season – but that factor could make it difficult to speak to managers already in work.

It is unclear who has now entered the favourites position to be appointed with recent top target Erik Ten Hag having signed a new deal at Eredivisie giants Ajax.

Ralf Rangnick, Roberto Martinez, Graham Potter and Massimiliano Allegri are still mentioned by Gold in this report as gaffers who have admirers within the club.

Transfer Tavern take

The Ten Hag blow, coming after fellow former target Julian Nagelsmann opted for Bayern Munich, is particularly concerning given the shrinking list of alternatives.

We are surprised that Champions League-winning and free agent boss Rafael Benitez hasn’t been mentioned more given he is without a club and has vast experience at the top level.

However, of the men seriously linked, Rangnick certainly presents himself as Tottenham’s next best target.

He is the dubbed father of gegenpressing and a ‘perfectionist’ in his craft according to RB Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen – as well as being a potentially cheaper appointment for Levy than previous targets like Nagelsmann.

While the search grows more complicated, Gold’s update that Spurs are preparing to ‘formally’ approach candidates comes as a teasing one holding encouragement.

In other news: Tottenham are reportedly set for a significant end of season decision, find out more here.

Many Glasgow Rangers fans were delighted with a video of Gordon Strachan during the Gers’ Scottish Cup fourth round victory on Sunday.

The Gers progressed to the quarter-finals at Ibrox this past weekend with a 2-0 victory over their fierce city rivals Celtic. Steven Davis opened the scoring before a Jonjoe Kenny own goal doubled the lead and, although Allan McGregor later saved a penalty from Odsonne Edouard, the Gers were able to see out the tie with relative comfort. The 55-time Scottish champions will now face St Johnstone as they look to complete a domestic double.

However, Strachan clearly didn’t believe the Gers were that impressive. He was eager to point out that McGregor was man of the match, while he also said repeatedly that Celtic created a number of chances.

A clip of his comments was shared on Twitter by @chr1sbe55, and it attracted plenty of attention from Gers supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Strachan video below

“Priceless, this is comedy gold of the highest level.”

Credit: @Wallis819

“Mate that tune in the background is the icing on the cake”

Credit: @Euan1986

“Glorious. Trolling of the highest order from The Famous Glasgow Rangers on greetin-faced that Strachan as he goes full meltdown”

Credit: @1872Rck

“All that was missing was a big cheesy from Boydy in the background whilst Strachan went on his frivolous rant. Love it when they can’t admit it we won the game in second gear, yet again”

Credit: @halestorming1

“You’d almost think that song was added after it. That is absolutely, utterly glorious!!!”

Credit: @tmcvey077

“Perfect timing”

Credit: @Baxter1872

In other news, James Bisgrove makes this Castore claim which could affect Rangers.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has told The Transfer Tavern in an exclusive interview that he expects his old side to get £100m for Jack Grealish if they do decide to sell him in the summer.

Grealish has really excelled for Villa this season, with 16 goal contributions in the Premier League.

He is now being linked with a move to Manchester City, who have reportedly made the attacking midfielder their top target.

Getting him out of Villa Park, however, will not be easy, with the Midlands club managing to tie him down to a five-year contract at the start of the campaign.

In fact, Hendrie believes it could cost Manchester City or any other club that is interested in Grealish as much as £100m to acquire his signature.

Speaking exclusively to TT on the player’s future, the ex-Villa star said:

“Jack’s possibly going to go for, if he does go, he’s going to go for probably around £100m. That’s the sort of bar the top players are sitting at, if not more.”

Transfermarkt currently value Grealish at £54m but, given the England international’s importance to Dean Smith’s side, it would not be a surprise to see Aston Villa demand a fee closer to £100m.