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“Our senior players have not performed and I am not especially happy with them,” Ottis Gibson said

Firdose Moonda at Shere Bangla stadium23-Mar-2011When Chris Gayle holed out to Shahid Afridi at mid-off in the third over, it summed up the performance of the senior players in the West Indies squad at this World Cup: listless, disinterested and uninspiring.”Our senior players have not performed and I am not especially happy with them,” West Indies coach Ottis Gibson said at the post-match press conference. “Our main batsmen haven’t performed consistently. We need some senior guys who have the hunger and the desire. We need to look at someone like Sachin Tendulkar who is the senior statesman of the Indian team, and goes out and gets runs almost every time.”It seemed that Gibson’s statements were directed at Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, both of whom have disappointed in the tournament. Gayle missed two matches through injury and scored 170 runs in the five innings he played, with 90 of those runs coming from four knocks. The other 80 runs came in one innings against Netherlands, which is where he looked most like the Gayle of old – the one that can take a bowling attack and make it dance to his tune. Sarwan fared worse, totalling 155 runs in seven innings and not crossing the half-century mark once. He looked uncomfortable at the crease and failed to conjure up the shots he once used to.It’s premature to imagine that these two, and some of the other older players like Shivnarine Chanderpaul, will disappear after this tournament, but Gibson was harsh on them and indicated that there could be an overhaul in the near future. He did not go as far as saying they would be wholesale axing, saying that it is “hard to say whether they [the senior players] had played their last game.”He did indicate that he felt growth was urgent and necessary if West Indies are serious about rebuilding, especially because “West Indies cricket for the last 10 years has been pretty much the same and we’ve had the same players.”With their next assignment, a series against Pakistan at home, only a month away, Gibson said that the analysis and change will have to come quickly. “There is not much time until the Pakistan series and there are serious decisions to be made, decisions about players, in that time.” Gibson seems hopeful that some of the younger members of the squad will be able to make those decisions easier for him by building on the intent they have shown here. “This tournament has seen the emergence of some young players and those are the players that we will build our future on.”Ramnaresh Sarwan had a poor World Cup, making 155 runs at 25.83 with no half-centuries•Associated Press

Darren Bravo, who also only had one innings of note, 73 against South Africa, may fit into that mould, as will allrounder Andre Russell and legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who impressed for Guyana before making his debut at the World Cup. Gisbon hopes that a combination of promising new players will be able to complement the more experienced set. “It’s not going to happen just with youngsters. We have to balance between the young guys being able to rely on the senior guys and the senior guys mentoring the young guys.”The winds of change could find themselves blowing through West Indies but one direction they are unlikely to go in is in the way of the captain. Darren Sammy has had calls for his head since he took over and they intensified at this World Cup, because his inclusion in the starting XI meant no place for Russell. Sammy has been a charismatic leader off the field but a relatively inept one on it.Gibson, nonetheless, gave the captain his backing, especially because of the circumstances under which Sammy took over. He was named captain last October, after Gayle was stripped of the captaincy. “The captain didn’t make runs that he was expected to make but I don’t expect to see a change of leadership at all. The decision [to appoint Sammy as captain] was based on decisions other people made. He [Sammy] didn’t set out to be captain, he has been made captain and he is doing his best to lead the team.”

The Bushfire Cricket Bash will take place on February 8 ahead of the BBL final

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2020Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh will coach the Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne teams respectively in the Bushfire Cricket Bash on February 8.The bushfire relief match will take place ahead of the Big Bash final with the venue to be confirmed on January 31 after the Qualifier is played with the winning team hosting the final. Before that double-header, the Australia and India women’s teams will play their tri-series match in Melbourne and it could be the city hosts the trio of matches if the Melbourne Stars secure the BBL final at the MCG.ALSO READ: Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting to lead teams in bushfire relief matchAlongside Ponting and Warner, Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Alex Blackwell and Michael Clarke have confirmed they will take part in the match.”We are absolutely honoured to be welcoming Sachin and Courtney back to Australia where they both enjoyed a lot of success as players, and we can’t wait to have them involved in what is going to be a special day,” the Cricket Australia CEO, Kevin Roberts, said.The Bushfire Cricket Bash is one of a range of initiatives the sport has undertaken to raise funds for those impacted by the devastating bushfires around the country over the last few months. They have included auctioning Test and BBL shirts and players donating money for sixes hit and wickets taken in various competitions.

Australia quick had been dropped in helpful conditions at Trent Bridge but believes Australia are more evolved in their strategy of how to play in English climes

Daniel Brettig28-Jul-2019Standing in the middle of the Trent Bridge outfield during warm-ups for the pivotal Test match of the 2015 Ashes series, Peter Siddle confided to Ricky Ponting that he thought his international career was at an end.Siddle had just been told by the selectors Darren Lehmann and Rod Marsh that he was being left out for the fourth Test match in a row, despite the Nottingham pitch looking absolutely tailored to his skills of seam, swing and accuracy with just enough speed. Exasperated, Siddle faced the very real possibility that at 30, he would not be chosen again.”I think it was very tough, it’s probably some of the toughest times,” Siddle said. “I know injuries are always a tough thing, you can deal with that and it’s not too bad. But I think missing out on opportunities … you always believe you should be picked, that’s how you should feel but when you see conditions that are suited to you, that’s when it hurts the most.”I remember at Trent Bridge just after being told I wasn’t part of that Test match, the boys were warming up and I went and had a conversation with Punter out in the middle of the field.”We were looking at the wicket and he couldn’t believe that I wasn’t playing, and that’s when I said to him ‘If I’m not getting picked here, I don’t think I’ll ever get picked again’. And that was the honest truth.”I thought at that time I mightn’t get another opportunity to play but obviously Joshy [Hazlewood] got a little bit injured and I got an opportunity to play the last Test and performed well there and that gave me another little crack at representing. But I thought at that stage I mightn’t get the opportunity again, so ever since then I definitely tried making the most of every opportunity I’ve had.”Of course, the chaos that followed after England won the toss, razing the Australians for 60 and underlining how the high pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood was not ideally suited to conditions that called for wobbling the Dukes ball around, led to a rethink once the urn was lost. Siddle returned for Test at The Oval, claimed six wickets at low cost in an innings victory for the tourists, and sowed the seeds for his return to England in 2019, via some prolific bowling spells for Essex in the county championship.To his evident relief, Siddle believes that the Australian team of 2019 has evolved its thinking about how to play in English climes, meaning that at 34, he is well and truly in the mix to take part in the series should similar pitches emerge to assist the likes of James Anderson and Chris Woakes.”I reckon it’s something we’ve developed and we’re a lot better prepared for coming into this series,” Siddle said. “The chats I’ve had with different coaches – Troy Cooley and JL and all the coaches around the squad – we’re a lot more aware of the set-up and the team dynamics to win a series in England.”A couple of other series I’ve played in we haven’t been quite suited to the conditions and we’ve gone about it the wrong way. But with the squad that’s been picked, and the players that are in and around the group, I think we’ve got a good skills set and whatever is dished up to us wicket-wise, we’ll be able to handle whatever they throw at us.”Certainly, Justin Langer has been eager to keep Siddle in the loop ever since he took up the national coaching job in May last year. “Last year, I was going well playing for Essex and I had a couple of messages and a couple of phone calls with him,” Siddle said. “It was one message after we chatted one time, he said ‘Just remember that every game counts’. That was how I was seeing things anyway, but to hear it from the coach is a good thing as well.”And that’s what I’ve done. It doesn’t matter who I’ve played, all I’ve wanted to do is perform well for the team.”That’s how I’ve gone about it, and that’s how I finished the summer back home. Then to come back here and perform well again for Essex, I knew I’d given myself every chance to be on another Ashes series and hopefully play again for Australia.”We’ve always been in contact over the years, at different stages. My first Shield game was against him – he abused me from first slip while I batted out a draw. It didn’t start off too well, but I think we’ve always been reasonably close Obviously his time as batting coach with the team as well, so there was always a bit of communication and that message is the one that sticks in my mind – just concentrating on every game, and making the most of it.”Much was made of the fact that Siddle had, in mid-career, adopted numerous lifestyle changes such as taking meat out of his diet. He also adapted his bowling from the rough and tumble of his earliest days for Victoria and Australia to being a far cannier operator, concentrating on persistence, accuracy and subtle movement in the style beloved of Terry Alderman (83 Ashes wickets in just two tours of England in 1981 and 1989).Getty Images

“I think it’s probably been a key to my last five or six years, as to how I go about keeping the body right,” Siddle said. “I’m only getting older, I’m a lot older than most of the other guys but it’s my commitment to being on the park. The only way you can get opportunities like this and play is if you’re fit, and on the park. So it’s just about doing everything right and the changes I’ve made over time have helped me to stay on the park, to be a bit more committed, it’s made me a lot more diligent about the way I go about my preparation.”I’m very focused on being right and being ready to go. I’m in a good frame of mind. The confidence I’ve got from the last two seasons, being over here and playing cricket for Essex has put me in a good position to know I’m comfortable with my game in England, and knowing that if I get the opportunity to play throughout this series that I’m as ready as ever. I’m definitely bowling a lot better than I ever have in these conditions, and I think that’s the best thing I bring to this team now.”I know I’ve done well, I’ve got a pretty good record in Ashes Test matches in England but I think my experience, over the last couple of years I’ve learned a lot of new skills. So I think I can play a big part in this series.”Now, Siddle is comfortable not only in his bowling, but his belief that the selectors see its value – even when they have Starc, Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson to call upon this time around. “I came here in 2009, and the blokes that played were myself, Mitch Johnson and Hilfy [Ben Hilfenhaus] and none of us had played an Ashes series or in England, and we were the ones who were thrown in to try and win it.”We still had Brett Lee and Stuart Clark on the sidelines, and we came out as a young side and we did all right but we just had no skills set in England. The next time round it was probably the same thing, a little bit inexperienced. Definitely in an Ashes series, I believe it is the strongest line-up in the time that I’ve played that we’re going to be able to put out there on the park. We’ve got players who have played cricket in England, I think that’s something if you go back 10, 15, 20 years ago, a lot of blokes had the opportunity to come over and play county cricket whether they were batters or bowlers.”They’d spent a little bit of time over getting an understanding and a feel for the conditions they might get at the international level. There’s obviously a few of us who have been over here this year playing county cricket, and especially from a bowlers’ point of view that they’ve had the opportunity over past series – whether it’s one-day or Test cricket – to have played in the conditions. We’ve given ourselves the best chance now. The players that we’ve got in the group are strong and ready to do battle here and hopefully, finally, get that away series win in England.”

Claydon to join Sussex next season after seven years with Kent

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2019Veteran seam bowler Mitch Claydon will leave Kent for Sussex at the end of this season.Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie said the 36-year-old Claydon would bring a wealth of experience to his squad. “We have been looking to secure an experienced seamer for the short term to add depth to our bowling stocks and Mitch fits the bill perfectly. His experience and knowledge will be valuable in our dressing room.”He is an important part of our plan for our seam bowling department. We are also seeking a younger, more long-term signing to complement our current bowling stocks.”Originally from Sydney, Claydon used his British passport to join Yorkshire, where he played alongside Gillespie in 2006. Claydon moved to Durham, where he was part of the Championship-winning sides of 2008, 2009 and 2013. A successful loan stint at Kent in 2013 led to a seven-year association with the club, where he was reunited with Gillespie in 2017 when the latter became an interim assistant coach.Having helped Kent win promotion to the Championship’s top division in 2018 and reach the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup the same year, Claydon was not offered a contract extension beyond this season.Claydon said: “After playing with Dizzy in my first year in England and spending time with him when he was with Kent, I’m really excited to be playing under him again. I still feel as though I have plenty to offer and look forward to hopefully putting in some match-winning performances for Sussex.”I’d like to give a huge thank you to all my coaches and team-mates over the past seven years at Kent. I’ve made memories and friends for life in the Garden of England.”Kent Head Coach Matt Walker said Claydon had been “an outstanding servant” to the club. “He’s also produced some great performances for us, whether that be in red-ball cricket or at the death in limited-overs formats. He’s been a real match winner for Kent on the field and a true champion off it. He’ll be hugely missed.”

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who made 150 appearances for Newcastle United, has called on Allan Saint-Maximin to become more consistent for the Magpies.

Saint-Maximin was named on the bench against Burnley but made a lasting impact after coming on and registering an assist, before running from his own half and scoring the winner, and he followed it up with another assist in the win against West Ham that moved the Toon nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Lee Hendrie spoke to The Transfer Tavern about Saint-Maximin and claimed that he would be a great signing for Aston Villa, who currently sit nine points ahead of Newcastle and hold an outside chance of qualifying for Europe.

When asked about that and speaking on how Saint-Maximin often fails to deliver on the pitch, Howey told FFC:

“I spoke to Lee the other day and he never mentioned that to me. I think he is one of those players that excites fans but at the same time, he is very frustrating.

“For me, to pay a vast amount of money for him is still a bit of a punt because sometimes you’re like wow, but other times he kind of whizzes around and doesn’t really do a great deal.”

The £38,000-per-week winger made two substitute appearances for Newcastle before starting against David Moyes’ men since returning from a groin injury that he picked up before the international break.

Steve Bruce’s side are unbeaten and have scored seven goals since reverting away from the split striker system and operating with a more conventional back three.

When the summer transfer window opens, Wolves will need to sign some attackers.

Without the injured Raul Jimenez, their strikers have been pretty non-existent in front of goal, scoring just four times between them all season.

Fabio Silva’s £35.6m move from Porto has pocketed just three goals while Willian Jose had to wait until the middle of April for his first strike in Old Gold.

With that in mind, it feels unlikely that Nuno Santo and Jeff Shi will utilise their option to buy the Real Sociedad forward in the summer.

One alternative could be Sheffield United’s Oliver McBurnie. Wolves are looking to take advantage of their relegation by prising the striker away from Yorkshire in a few months time.

The Sun claim a fee of £15m could be enough to tempt the Blades into selling.

However, with only seven goals in 65 outings for Sheffield United, he hardly looks like he’d be a wise investment.

Instead, Wolves could save themselves a bucket load of cash by unleashing Rafa Mir next season.

If that sentence had been used at the start of the campaign you’d have been laughed at. Though, such is the Spaniard’s impressive season on loan at Huesca that he deserves another chance at Molineux.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-wolves-news-and-views-lingard-leao-jimenez-mir” title= “Read the latest Wolves news and views!”]

Mir’s time in English football has been nothing short of a disaster so far. He’s not scored for Wolves and didn’t beat the goalkeeper during a temporary stay at Nottingham Forest either.

That being said, he is beginning to flourish in Spain and is now among the top scorers in La Liga.

The 23-year-old is enjoying the best spell of his career so far and has 15 goals in all competitions this term, 12 of which have come in the Spanish top-flight. That puts him seventh in the rankings ahead of the £107.6m Antoine Griezmann and the £113m Joao Felix.

Mir is very quickly defying the doubters and his good form, along with the high ceiling he still possesses, should lead to a second chance at Wolves.

He has evolved from a young striker lacking confidence and maturity to a forward with the world at his feet.

He’s even earned comparisons to one of the most bullish forwards around; “He’s a little bit like Diego Costa,” Spanish football write Richard Dunne told The Athletic.

“He’s aggressive, he likes running the channels, he holds off defenders, he’s athletic and strong.”

Dunne continued: “He’s not exactly technically gifted but he has an unorthodox running style that works for him, he can keep the ball, he’s got a powerful strike, he’s quick and he’s good in the air.”

Having become a regular goal scorer in one of the most reputable leagues in world football, Nuno should consider bringing him into the first-team group next season.

He has scored more goals than McBurnie this term and he’d prevent Fosun from shelling out needlessly on £15m.

AND in other news, Forget MGW: Wolves must unleash rarely-seen 18 y/o who creates “things out of nothing”…

West Brom have had to wait all weekend, but they finally return to Premier League action tonight.

And the Baggies will be going into their encounter with Southampton at the Hawthorns in great confidence after dispatching Europe-chasing Chelsea in a resounding and shock victory last time out.

Sam Allardyce’s men put five past the Blues to bolster their hopes of surviving in the top-flight, though the Midlands outfit still remain some 11 points adrift with only six matches left to play.

A win this evening would certainly be another big boost in the right direction and Big Sam must turn to one man in his hour of need after his impressive exploits at Stamford Bridge.

Enter Callum Robinson…

On the Chalkboard

The 26-year-old has largely been a forgotten man at West Brom this season, starting only 15 times in the Premier League. In fact, his 53 minutes against Chelsea were his first since the start of February, when he struggled to make an impact against his former club, Sheffield United.

All four of his league goals this season may have come against the same side, but he cannot be ignored after tearing Thomas Tuchel’s side apart last weekend.

talkSPORT claimed he haunted the Blues ‘like Sergio Aguero’ whilst ex-England shot-stopper Paul Robinson lauded his performance “amazing” to Football Insider.

Despite coming off the bench for the injured Branislav Ivanovic in the 37th minute, Robinson was indeed the Baggies’ star-performer, scoring both his shots at goal.

The former Blades forward also managed to pull off two successful dribbles, as many as the silky Matheus Pereira – who played the full 90 – and as many as Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic combined.

Whilst only one player on the whole pitch could better his three key passes, an impressive feat considering he was barely on the pitch for an hour.

Evidently, he was a thorn in Chelsea’s side and he could well repeat those exploits against the Saints tonight – if Allardyce finally unshackles him.

Albion Journalist Adrian Goldberg believes the Baggies boss has “missed a trick” with the £13m-rated dynamo this season, he told ‘The Liquidator’ podcast:

“I just think they’ve missed a trick with Callum Robinson, and I’ve argued this point long and hard that he offers you something that Hal Robson-Kanu doesn’t up front, if only it’s a bustling energy and determination, but also as that goal proved he’s got real quality.”

It’s that sort of presence a desperate team needs, so he must start at the Hawthorns tonight. Robinson can once again be West Brom’s game-changer.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Steve Bull urges Baggies star to stick with West Brom this summer…

Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts has exclusively told Football FanCast that Dele Alli can still become world class, but reckons his lack of effort in training saw him clash with the now-departed Jose Mourinho.

Alli was a regular during Mourinho’s early days at Spurs, but has hardly been used all season since being dropped from the squad following the opening-day defeat to Everton.

That first-half against the Toffees and three other brief appearances from the bench were the midfielder’s only Premier League outings until February, with Alli’s main involvement coming in the Europa League.

He did come back into the frame during Mourinho’s final few months, but never appeared part of the Portuguese’s long-term plans.

Despite his lack of minutes throughout this season, Roberts has backed Alli to reach his full potential at Tottenham.

He told Football FanCast:

“I still think he is going to be world class. It’s going to take a little while now because people have doubts about him.

“I think it’s to do with his training – he’s not the best trainer. I played with players and we’ve all been in those days where we aren’t the best trainers but on a Saturday you scored goals, but Mourinho wouldn’t have that.”