Former England paceman Darren Gough on Saturday hinted that he may have played the last match of his career.The 38-year-old had already announced this would be his final season and after suffering a series of niggling injuries in the county championship summer, he may skip the final game against Sussex next week.
"I wanted to go out in style today - and that proved to me I am ready to retire, I am absolutely shattered now," said Gough on Saturday after Yorkshire's drawn clash with title-chasing Somerset at Scarborough.
"I bowled as quick as I have for a long, long time in my first spell. I had the opposition saying that is the quickest they have faced all season and when they say stuff like that, I'd like to finish on that note.
"When I look back I'm glad my last wicket was Justin Langer. I've had some great battles against him and it's nice to know my last wicket in Yorkshire was someone as good as him." Gough will decide over the next few days whether he is fit to play at Sussex.
"I will see how I rock up on Monday morning and how the other bowlers are," he said.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Fabregas not for sale even at US$183m
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has announced that Cesc Fabregas is not for sale even at US$183million (£100m).The Gunners recently announced an increase in turnover and pre-tax profits but their overall debt has risen by US$91.5m in the past year. BUt Hill-Wood is adament that, despite a rise in his club’s debt to US$582m, they are under no pressure to sell Fabregas or any key player even if they received an offer of US$183million. “I don’t think for us to sell our best players for almost any figure makes any commercial sense for us,” Hill-Wood said. “We don’t have to. If someone gave us US$183m we’d have to pay 40 per cent tax on the damn thing and what the hell are we going to do with the extra £60m? I’d rather have a couple of good players. We will resist any overtures that are made for any of our star players.” Arsenal announced an increase in turnover and pre-tax profits last week but their overall debt has risen by £50m in the past year. Yet Hill-Wood is confident that the club’s business plan is working and that they do not need to follow the path of Manchester City – or Chelsea and Manchester United who meet today at Stamford Bridge – in seeking foreign billions. Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire and a major shareholder in the club, has made no secret of his desire to buy Arsenal outright. “If we looked for an outside benefactor then that would lead us to become a business that’s unsustainable,” he said. “If you’re expecting some sort of sugar daddy to top up the coffers every time you overspend then I don’t think that would be our way of doing things. “A rich benefactor can easily get bored and decide to buy another yacht or go into horse racing. It makes you very slack in the way you run the business
England can play like Brazil
Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident the English game is on track to match the style of Brazil by playing with flair and power.
Chelsea boss Scolari believes this weekend's clash against Manchester United will be an exhibition of "beautiful" football, with the Barclays Premier League improving standards every year.
"English football is fantastic and they have very good players," Scolari said.
"They play now and I think in two, three, four or five years in the future the players could be, like you say, playing like Brazil.
"Before in Europe just one national team played like Brazil. Now it's many countries do but before it was Yugoslavia. I think in England in a few years they play the same as Brazil and the Brazil national team."
Part of the learning process for English clubs has been keeping hold of possession.
Scolari has been known to stop training sessions after just 10 minutes if he feels his players are not passing as instructed.
"I don't want to put the ball 40 metres in front and lose it," Scolari said.
"I want the ball at my feet. I spend 50% of my training time on this every day.
"Now the game has changed. After the last 10 years it has been changing well.
"Coaches have come from other countries and given more and mixed ideas. Arsene Wenger is French, I'm from Brazil, Juande Ramos for Spain, and Rafael Benitez.
"In Spain they play football and they do not like the long ball. This is what I think they changed in England. If the football is there with the power then it will be very good."
Chelsea boss Scolari believes this weekend's clash against Manchester United will be an exhibition of "beautiful" football, with the Barclays Premier League improving standards every year.
"English football is fantastic and they have very good players," Scolari said.
"They play now and I think in two, three, four or five years in the future the players could be, like you say, playing like Brazil.
"Before in Europe just one national team played like Brazil. Now it's many countries do but before it was Yugoslavia. I think in England in a few years they play the same as Brazil and the Brazil national team."
Part of the learning process for English clubs has been keeping hold of possession.
Scolari has been known to stop training sessions after just 10 minutes if he feels his players are not passing as instructed.
"I don't want to put the ball 40 metres in front and lose it," Scolari said.
"I want the ball at my feet. I spend 50% of my training time on this every day.
"Now the game has changed. After the last 10 years it has been changing well.
"Coaches have come from other countries and given more and mixed ideas. Arsene Wenger is French, I'm from Brazil, Juande Ramos for Spain, and Rafael Benitez.
"In Spain they play football and they do not like the long ball. This is what I think they changed in England. If the football is there with the power then it will be very good."
Ferguson ready to rebuff Real's Ron bid
Sir Alex Ferguson expects Real Madrid to make another move for Cristiano Ronaldo when the transfer window reopens.
But the Man United manager insists United are in a good position to retain the winger
Real's pursuit of the Portugal international dominated the summer transfer talk but Ferguson stood firm in his desire to keep the player and an ankle operation eventually put an end to speculation.
But, with the 23-year-old now back in first-team contention, Ferguson is ready for the Primera Liga side to renew their interest.
"Real Madrid's interest in Cristiano will continue," Ferguson told the Daily Express.
"They didn't sign anyone in the summer. The coach Bernd Schuster went on holiday when they would not sign David Villa. He will be champing at the bit to get a big player in the summer so it's all going to happen again.
"Don't worry, it will all happen again in January."
Regardless of Real's position, though, Ferguson insists United will stick to their guns and keep Ronaldo.
"He has four years left on his contract," he added. "We are in the right position to dismiss Real Madrid."
But the Man United manager insists United are in a good position to retain the winger
Real's pursuit of the Portugal international dominated the summer transfer talk but Ferguson stood firm in his desire to keep the player and an ankle operation eventually put an end to speculation.
But, with the 23-year-old now back in first-team contention, Ferguson is ready for the Primera Liga side to renew their interest.
"Real Madrid's interest in Cristiano will continue," Ferguson told the Daily Express.
"They didn't sign anyone in the summer. The coach Bernd Schuster went on holiday when they would not sign David Villa. He will be champing at the bit to get a big player in the summer so it's all going to happen again.
"Don't worry, it will all happen again in January."
Regardless of Real's position, though, Ferguson insists United will stick to their guns and keep Ronaldo.
"He has four years left on his contract," he added. "We are in the right position to dismiss Real Madrid."
Dhawan fit for Irani Cup tie
Delhi batsman Shikhar Dhawan has recovered from his thumb injury and will join Ranji champions Delhi for their Irani Trophy tie.
Dhawan, who had to pull out of the India 'A' squad to play against Australia 'A' due a right thumb injury during a camp in Bangalore last month, will replace Gaurav Chhabra from the 15-member Delhi squad that was selected for the Mohammad Nissar Trophy.
"Dhawan who is now fully fit will join Delhi Ranji team as replacement of Gaurav Chhabra for Irani Trophy match to be played at Baroda from September 24 to 28," a Delhi and District Cricket Association release said today.
The squad: Delhi: Virender Sehwag (captain), Gautam Gambhir (vice-captain), Aakash Chopra, Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Tehlan, Mithun Manhas, Virat Kohli, Rajat Bhatia, Puneet Bisht (wk), Ishant Sharma, Pradeep Sangwan, Ashish Nehra, Chetanya Nanda, Amit Bhandari, Narender Singh.
Dhawan, who had to pull out of the India 'A' squad to play against Australia 'A' due a right thumb injury during a camp in Bangalore last month, will replace Gaurav Chhabra from the 15-member Delhi squad that was selected for the Mohammad Nissar Trophy.
"Dhawan who is now fully fit will join Delhi Ranji team as replacement of Gaurav Chhabra for Irani Trophy match to be played at Baroda from September 24 to 28," a Delhi and District Cricket Association release said today.
The squad: Delhi: Virender Sehwag (captain), Gautam Gambhir (vice-captain), Aakash Chopra, Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Tehlan, Mithun Manhas, Virat Kohli, Rajat Bhatia, Puneet Bisht (wk), Ishant Sharma, Pradeep Sangwan, Ashish Nehra, Chetanya Nanda, Amit Bhandari, Narender Singh.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Badri to replace Sachin in Irani tie
Badri to replace Sachin in Irani tie
S Badrinath has replaced Sachin Tendulkar in the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup tie against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi.
Tendulkar had pulled out of the match to be held at Vadodara later this month on medical grounds.
"Badrinath is to replace Tendulkar," said Cricket Board secretary Niranjan Shah when queried on the issue.
Earlier chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar told PTI that Tendulkar was still experiencing some slight stiffness in his injured elbow and has been advised by National Cricket Academy physio Paul Close to skip the match which is touted as selection trials for the upcoming series against Australia.
Vengsarkar said the choice of selectors was Badrinath who led India 'A' team in the two-match series of four-day ties against Australia A and the subsequent limited overs series against the same opponents.
Tendulkar suffered the elbow injury while fielding for India during the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August and has not played any competitive cricket since then.
He was selected to represent the Rest outfit, to be led by Anil Kumble, in the September 24-28 Irani tie which is to be played at the Reliance Stadium (formerly IPCL) on the outskirts of Vadodara.
S Badrinath has replaced Sachin Tendulkar in the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup tie against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi.
Tendulkar had pulled out of the match to be held at Vadodara later this month on medical grounds.
"Badrinath is to replace Tendulkar," said Cricket Board secretary Niranjan Shah when queried on the issue.
Earlier chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar told PTI that Tendulkar was still experiencing some slight stiffness in his injured elbow and has been advised by National Cricket Academy physio Paul Close to skip the match which is touted as selection trials for the upcoming series against Australia.
Vengsarkar said the choice of selectors was Badrinath who led India 'A' team in the two-match series of four-day ties against Australia A and the subsequent limited overs series against the same opponents.
Tendulkar suffered the elbow injury while fielding for India during the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August and has not played any competitive cricket since then.
He was selected to represent the Rest outfit, to be led by Anil Kumble, in the September 24-28 Irani tie which is to be played at the Reliance Stadium (formerly IPCL) on the outskirts of Vadodara.
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