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Andrew Strauss, whose 106 at Old Trafford guided England’s successful chase of 294 to beat New Zealand, has backed his struggling team-mates

Cricinfo staff27-May-2008
Paul Collingwood overcame his poor form to see England home in the second Test at Old Trafford © Getty Images
Andrew Strauss, whose 106 at Old Trafford guided England’s successful chase of 294 to beat New Zealand, has backed his struggling team-mates’ form in spite of their continued failure to post big totals.England haven’t made 400 in their first innings since the Chester-le-Street Test against West Indies in 2007 (11 Tests ago) and although they bounced back to beat New Zealand in the winter, there is a concern their batsmen have lost the fluency which marked their game three or four years ago.”It’s hard work when you’re not scoring as many runs as you want to,” Strauss told PA. “I didn’t realise how hard it was until I went through it. From my point of view I’m very lucky to have got the chance to come back and show I wasn’t a spent force and had an opportunity in the side when some people thought that I shouldn’t be in there.”It’s very much the case with the guys that are struggling a bit at the moment, but they’ll come through it, there’s no doubt about that. You only have to look at the records of the guys in the top six to see we’ve got a very strong batting line-up.”Paul Collingwood (24*) and Ian Bell (21*) saw England to their target yesterday with an unbroken stand of 46, but both have struggled with their form. Coincidentally, Collingwood’s last hundred was made against West Indies at Chester-le-Street – the last time England reached 400 in their first innings – while in this series, Bell has scores of 16, 8 and an unbeaten 21 yesterday.”When we start winning games in a row and building up momentum that will help the guys to score runs and by scoring runs it will help us win more games. If a few of the guys are in good form, that’s going to rub off on the other guys.””Having Bell and Collingwood out there at the end to hit the winning runs, should give them a massive confidence boost,” Michael Vaughan added. “They were under a lot of pressure, they know that, and came through it. We are a lot happier as a team because we looked like going 1-0 down in the series, but we’re now 1-0 up with a great opportunity of winning.”The third and final Test against New Zealand gets underway in Nottingham on Thursday week.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club has completed the signings of two overseas players for the 2003 season

Worcestershire CCC Media Release11-Dec-2002Worcestershire County Cricket Club has completed the signings of two overseas players for the 2003 season.The County has secured the services of South African Test all rounder AndrewHall and a fast bowler with Test Match experience who due to a confidentiality clause cannot be named until the New Year.All rounder Hall, aged 27, is a current member of both the South African Test and One Day sides having made his Test debut earlier this year against Australia when he made an accomplished 70. The right handed batsman has played four tests and 22 One Day Internationals, opening the batting on several occasions. Last season he was named as South Africa’s all rounder of the year and this season he has again had an excellent domestic season for Eastern Province making regular runs and taking regular wickets as an opening bowler.Worcestershire’s second overseas player is a genuinely fast bowler withinternational experience in both Test and One Day cricket. It is expected hewill be named early in the New Year.In addition to the two overseas signings the County have also added Dave Wigley and Stephen Moore to the squad on University contracts. Wigley, who played First Class Cricket with Yorkshire last season, is a fast bowler studying at Loughborough University and Moore, an aggressive batsman who impressed for the County’s Second XI last season, is at Exeter University. The pair will join the squad when academic commitments permit during the early part of the season and become full time once the summer term is over.Director of Cricket Tom Moody said: ‘I am delighted to have secured the services of two international players who will add real quality to our sideand also two young players with real potential for the future.’Andrew Hall’s all round ability will be a huge asset in all forms of cricket next season and our second overseas player, who unfortunately we cannot name at the present time, will add genuine pace, hostility and quality to our attack.’In Dave Wigley and Stephen Moore we have picked up two highly talented young cricketers who could well feature in our first team line up at some stage this season.’

Somerset County Cricket Club claimed another first when the Playing for Success Study Support Centre that is based at the County Ground was officially opened by Mr Michael Phipps, Divisional Manager from the Department of Education and Skills

SOMERSET18-Nov-2002Somerset County Cricket Club claimed another first when the Playing for Success Study Support Centre that is based at the County Ground was officially opened by Mr Michael Phipps, Divisional Manager from the Department of Education and Skills.In his opening speech Mr Phipps told the large group of representatives from the education and sporting world who gathered in the Centre of Execellence for the occasion that whilst three other first class counties, Durham, Leicestershire and Northants also have Playing for Success Centres, Somerset were the first Centre to be officially opened.The state-of-the-art ICT centre, which wasinitially launched at the ground in June, has already provided learning opportunities in literacy, numeracy and ICT for more than 100 young people.The students, aged from ten to 14 years, also benefit from the development of their personal and social education.A summer school was held during the summer holidays and regular sessions are held for up to 20 students at the end of the school day. The star pupil on each course is rewarded by a free membership to Somerset Cricket Club.Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson told those present: “It’s very pleasing that we have been able to put these facilities to good community use, and it is a delight to see the young people here at the County Ground.”The Somerset boss also paid tribute to Simon Lowe who is the Playing for Success Study Support Centre Manager. He said: “With all good ideas you need someone to put them into practice and Simon Lowe has done a superb job. He is very enthusiatic and a great ambassador for the Centre.”.Simon Lowe, a lifelong cricket enthusiast who taught PE and maths at Ladymead School in Taunton for 12 years before taking on his new job told me: “The centre is a fantastic place for young people to come and learn. The County Ground is a great setting for a classroom. Having the players as an integral part of the young people’s learning experiences and the environment of a professional sports club inspires them to attain higher levels than perhaps they are used to at school.”The Playing for Success Study Support Centre is open on four evenings a week, and at present is attended by students from four primary and four secondary schools in the Taunton area.

ADELAIDE, Aug 9 AAP – Australian cricket aims to lift its use of computer and video analysis with today’s appointment of South Australian assistant coach Tim Nielsen to the newly created role of Australian assistant coach.

Sam Lienert09-Aug-2002ADELAIDE, Aug 9 AAP – Australian cricket aims to lift its use of computer and video analysis with today’s appointment of South Australian assistant coach Tim Nielsen to the newly created role of Australian assistant coach.Nielsen, 34, will have a full-time position with dual roles as assistant to Australian team coach John Buchanan and the team’s performance analyst.He will start his job with next month’s tour to Sri Lanka for the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy.Nielsen, who played 101 first class matches for SA between 1990-91 and 1998-99, said his experience in applying technology in his role with the Redbacks had been a key to his appointment.”The role has two focuses, looking after the coaching side of things with John and helping out there, but also managing and implementing their technology side of things, using the video capture and statistical analysis work, and making that work a bit better,” he told reporters at Adelaide Oval.“That’s the major focus of the job, really.”They (the ACB) realise they’ve spent some money on getting the equipment and the software, it’s now a matter of using it as well as we can and getting the most out of it. We’ve got to make some value for the money.”He has been Redbacks assistant coach for the past three years.Nielsen expected his recent first class playing experience would also help.”I played against a lot of the blokes that are playing now, so that will hopefully break down a few of the barriers, we’ll just wait and see,” he said.ACB chief executive officer James Sutherland said Nielsen’s appointment would provide greater flexibility to the team’s coaching structure.”A need was identified for an extra coaching resource and further player performance analysis,” Sutherland said.”Tim comes to the ACB with an extremely impressive background.”

Another magnificent display of class and patience by Rahul Dravid has taken India within a single run of their immediate target of 316 to avoid following on in the final npower Test against England at The AMP Oval

Stephen Lamb07-Sep-2002India began steadily but with little urgency against tight bowling from Andrew Caddick and Matthew Hoggard with a near-new ball on the fourth morning of the final npower Test at The AMP Oval. 37 runs were added in the first hour as Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman dealt a further blow to England’s already dented victory hopes.When Dravid reached 139 he became the first batsman to reach 1,000 for the 2002 calendar year in his 17th innings. A firm cover drive for three by Laxman brought up the 50 partnership (172 balls), and when Cork replaced Hoggard he was immediately dispatched to the rope at long leg by Dravid. A single into the same zone raised his first 150 against England (360 balls, 19 fours).Ashley Giles replaced Caddick for the fifteenth over of the morning, as Nasser Hussain shuffled his pack in search of the all-important but elusive first breakthrough of the day.

Somerset find themselves in deeper relegation trouble in the county championship after losing their match against fellow strugglers Hampshire at The Rose Bowl earlier today

Richard Walsh17-Aug-2002Somerset find themselves in deeper relegation trouble in the county championship after losing their match against fellow strugglers Hampshire at The Rose Bowl earlier today.Resuming on 136 for 2 this morning, overnight batsmen Will Kendall and Robin Smith took the score onto 169 before Kendall became the first of Andy Caddick’s victims of the morning.The England paceman struck again seven runs later when he accounted for Smith, to give the Cidermen a glimmer of hope.However despite Simon Francis and Richard Johnson taking another wicket each, it was the hosts who helped themselves to much needed points, thanks to Dimitri Mascarenhas who hit an unbeaten 27, and wicket-keeper Adie Aymes, who hit the winning to help his side to a four wicket victory and the chance to climb away from the relegation zone.For the Cidermen with just five matches remaining their plight looks even more desperate, with the next side above them Lancashire having opened a nine point gap.With Somerset needing to win three of their remaining fixtures to realistically have a chance of survival the match against Warwickshire at Taunton on Wednesday is now of even greater significance.

Arsenal are reportedly keen on swooping for Tyler Adams this summer…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic, the versatile 22-year-old is of interest to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta due to his ability to play both in central midfield and at right-back, meaning he’s an ideal fit for his current tactical system.

However, it is thought that the Bundesliga outfit are reluctant to let another one of their key players leave this summer, having lost Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate, whilst Adams is under a long-term contract, too.

Valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, the US international is believed to have a release clause, though it remains to be seen just how much that is.

Imagine him & Partey

With the futures of both Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin up in the air at the Emirates Stadium right now, it’s no wonder a player in the profile of Adams is being targeted.

The Leipzig sensation is capable of playing in either role, as seen many a time during the 2020/21 campaign. As per Transfermarkt, the young dynamo played 20 times in the engine room and made another 16 appearances on the right.

His bustling energy in midfield could be most appealing, though. WhoScored recently revealed that Adams had finished the season with a better tackle success rate (71.4%), which was more than anyone in Arteta’s whole squad.

Furthermore, the 22-year-old also averaged 1.1 interceptions and managed an 86.1% pass success rate when making over 46 attempts each league outing.

The former New York Red Bulls graduate may well be an ideal partner for the box-to-box presence of Thomas Partey, with him filling in on the right when needed.

“He’s a special person, he’s a special personality, he’s a special talent and the ceiling for him is massive,” claimed his former and now incoming manager Jesse Marsch, with Bundesliga.com also described him as a ‘combative and creative midfielder.’

That defensive midfield role is also his favoured position, only bolstering the claims that he and Partey could be a dream duo for Arteta.

Gunners sporting director Edu Gaspar must look to seal a move for the 5 foot 9 beast this summer.

AND in other news, Edu could secure Arsenal’s next Tony Adams in £50m “warrior” who’s a “special talent”…

Queensland Cricket has put a down payment on the future of the XXXX Queensland Bulls with a host of promising rookies gaining the chance to pit themselves against international opposition next week.

Queensland Cricket31-May-2002Queensland Cricket has put a down payment on the future of the XXXXQueensland Bulls with a host of promising rookies gaining the chance topit themselves against international opposition next week.The Queensland selectors today named two teams to play practice matchesnext weekend against the Australian and Pakistan One Day Internationalteams as part of their build-up to the TOWER Super Challenge II seriesin Melbourne and Brisbane in June.The 40-over a side practice matches will see Queensland play Pakistan onSaturday June 8 and Queensland play Australia on Sunday June 9 at AllanBorder Field, Albion.Australia and Pakistan will be in camp in Brisbane from Wednesday nextweek before travelling to Melbourne to play two TOWER Super Challengematches at Colonial Stadium on June 12 and 15 before returning toBrisbane for the series decider at the Gabba on June 19.With Andy Bichel, Matthew Hayden and Jimmy Maher in the 13-manAustralian squad and the likes of Michael Kasprowicz, Stuart Law, MartinLove, Andrew Symonds, Lee Carseldine, Brendan Nash and Clinton Perrenplaying overseas, the Queensland selectors have looked to the next rungof prospective players for the matches.Among those called up are Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy trio DanielPayne, a member of the Bulls’ Pura Cup championship team, CraigPhilipson and Chris Simpson, young Wests allrounder Steve Paulsen,wicket-keeper Chris Hartley and rookie pace bowlers Steve Magoffin,Matthew Petrie and Nathan Rimmington.Pakistan and Australia have also agreed that their excess players willplay for the Queensland team to ensure all squad players will have theopportunity to practice prior to the series.Bulls wicket-keeper Wade Seccombe will captain the Queensland team foreach of the matches. Both games will start at 9.30am and admission isfree on each day. Allan Border Field is located at 1 Bogan Street,Albion.The Queensland selectors did not consider injured bowlers Adam Dale(shoulder), Matthew Anderson (knee), Mitchell Johnson (back) and ScottBrant (sidestrain) while Ashley Noffke and Joe Dawes are unavailable.Tickets for TOWER Super Challenge II are available through Ticketmaster7- phone 1300 13 61 22.Queensland v Pakistan, Saturday, June 8: Wade Seccombe (c), NathanHauritz, James Hopes, Steve Magoffin, Damien Mackenzie, Steve Paulsen,Daniel Payne, Craig Philipson, Chris Simpson, Michael Sippel, plus twoplayers from Pakstan squad. Coach: Terry Oliver.Queensland v Australia, Sunday, June 9: Wade Seccombe (c), Duncan Betts,Ben Edmondson, Nathan Hauritz, Chris Hartley, James Hopes, Daniel Payne,Matthew Petrie, Nathan Rimmington, Michael Sippel, plus two players fromAustralian squad. Coach: Terry Oliver.Australian squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (v-c), MichaelBevan, Andy Bichel, Jason Bichel, Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee, DarrenLehmann, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, ShaneWatson.Pakistan squad: Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana,Inzamam-ul-Haq – (Vice-captain), Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, AzharMahmood, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis – (Captain), Shoaib Akhtar, ShoaibMalik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Sami

Sri Lanka’s manager Chandra Shaffter has been told by the Board of Controlfor Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) that his contract will not be renewed afterthe current tour of England

CricInfo15-Jun-2002Sri Lanka’s manager Chandra Shaffter has been told by the Board of Controlfor Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) that his contract will not be renewed afterthe current tour of England.Anura Tennekoon, the BCCSL’s chief executive, broke the news to Shaffterduring a telephone conversation before the start of the third days play atOld Trafford.PA News Agency claimed that the decision to end his contract followed acomplaint from the new chairman of selectors, Guy de Alwis, to the BCCSLthat he had been denied entry to the dressing room during the Second npowerTest at Birmingham.It’s an allegation that’s flatly denied by Shaffter: "Guy de Alwis neverrequested access to the dressing room, so how could I possibly deny it?"Shaffter, 72, was controversially appointed days before the Asian TestChampionship final in March, replacing Air Commodore Ajit Jayasekera, who isnow a member of the interim committee that runs the BCCSL.He was given a short-term contract that included a Sharjah triangular seriesin April and Sri Lanka’s tour of England.Jayasekera is considered the favourite candidate to replace Shaffter.

He looked set to slip quietly into retirement; an unsatisfactory end forsuch a great cricketer

Rex Clementine25-Apr-2002He looked set to slip quietly into retirement; an unsatisfactory end forsuch a great cricketer. But after more than a year on the sidelines,Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer in both forms of the game,returns to the international frame, and, perhaps appropriately, England isthe location of probably his last hurrah.For some the return of the 36 year old may seem strange; after all, SriLanka have won their last nine Test matches without him. But winning at homeis far removed from success abroad. The selectors know that playing inEngland during early summer will be an entirely different challenge and DeSilva’s experience, gleaned from numerous tours and two seasons with Kent,makes him potentially invaluable.In January he was pulled to one side by Michael Tissera, a former Sri Lankacaptain and newly appointed chairman of selectors. It was the firstcommunication between a selector and De Silva for nearly nine months.Tissera offered him hope of an international recall, but he had to shedweight, return to domestic cricket and prove his fitness.”When the selectors approached me I hadn’t been playing cricket for close toa year,” says De Silva. “It’s no surprise that when you are out of the gamefor that long you put up weight and become a little rusty. The selectioncommittee met me and gave me a time frame.”Like many greats, De Silva has never shown a great appetite for the gym andtreadmill, but before long the rumours were floating through Colombo’scricketing grapevine. “De Silva’s serious about getting fit, we’ve seen himtraining like never before,” said idle men talking at club bars. De Silva isalmost smug when he announces: “During the past three months I’ve shed 11kilos.”Needless to say he was delighted when he was finally selected: “I’m reallyhappy to be in the side for the English tour and very much looking forwardfor the challenge. I love touring England. It’s my second home.”The 89-match veteran claims to be as enthusiastic as when he stepped intothe side at Lords exactly 18 long years ago: “There’s no pressure on me atall, I’m playing international cricket after an absence of one year and Ijust want to go there and give a shot. I like to think this as my firsttour. I started off in England in way back in 1984, I enjoyed that tour verymuch and want to go and enjoy this outing as well.”De Silva had all but given up hope of playing for Sri Lanka again: “To behonest with you I basically had given up everything at the start of thisyear. The selectors didn’t speak to me and wouldn’t tell me why I was leftout after England’s last tour when I had scored a hundred in Galle and wassecond in the averages.”He’s under no illusions as to the enormity of the task ahead for Sri Lanka,but he believes the tourists can win: “I think we can beat them if we playto our full potential, but it’ll be tough. We’ve got to play extremely well.Last time when we played there the conditions suited our type of cricket,but this time the wickets will be fresh and the weather will help the ballmove around, making batting very difficult. But on the other side of thecoin, our seam bowlers will love bowling there.”He’s also got tremendous amount of respect for the English side: “They haveimproved in the last couple of years. Now most of those players areexperienced. Graham Thorpe will be the man to look for. They’ve got a decentbatting line up, despite the retirement of Atherton, and also a decent seambowling attack.He’s looking forward to reliving fond memories: “The season I spent withKent in 1995 was really special for me. I’ve also had many memorable knocksthere, including a century against Wasim Akram’s Lancashire in the Bensonand Hedges final at Lords plus the 150 that helped us to beat England at theOval four years ago.”He’s giving few clues as to his plans after the tour, although one suspectshe would grab at a chance to leave the game on a high: “I haven’t stilldecided although a lot of people are asking me that question. It all dependson how I feel and what I want to do. So I’ll just wait and see.”