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The final word on Australian fast bowler Brett Lee may not be out, but coach Tim Nielsen said Lee was progressing well over the course of the ongoing series against Pakistan

Cricinfo staff29-Apr-2009Australian coach Tim Nielsen has hinted that fast bowler Brett Lee may be fit in time for the lone Twenty international against Pakistan, though he ruled out the possibility of Lee playing a part in the two remaining ODIs in the series.”He [Lee] bowled in the nets but we will not play him on Friday,” Nielsen told AFP. “If he continues to progress well, we may consider him for the Twenty20 match.”The 32-year-old, who has been absent from international cricket after an injury sustained last year during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, has been progressing well towards full fitness after ankle surgery in January.He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and trained with the Australian squad the following day. Australian team doctor Trefor James said Lee would be monitored and may be considered for selection later on during the series.Lee hoped to be at his best in time for the Ashes, and wanted to lead the bowling attack against England in two months’ time. “I am really close (to full fitness),” he said. “The main aim here is the Ashes, with all due respect to all other cricket. If I’m back to my best, which I hope to be doing, I don’t see a problem at all [in being selected]. Hopefully, my 10-year-career… will speak for itself, provided I am fit, of course.””I’ll be trying my best to be a team leader. Do I want to get back to that number one spot? Definitely. Yeah, I’m 32, but there’s no reason why I can’t bowl faster. I’m the fittest I’ve been in a long, long time, provided the ankle holds up,”Australia lead Pakistan 2-1 in the five-match ODI series, with the two remaining games to be played in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Sunday. Dubai will be hosting the lone Twenty20 international on May 7.

Allrounder Angelo Mathews is the new face in Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad named for the tour of Zimbabwe in November

Sa'adi Thawfeeq23-Oct-2008
A string of good performances with Sri Lanka A on the tour of South Africa has resulted in a call-up for Angelo Mathews to the national team for the tour of Zimbabwe next month © Cricinfo Ltd
Allrounder Angelo Mathews is the new face in Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad named for the tour of Zimbabwe in November. Mathews’ call-up comes on the back of impressive performances for the Sri Lanka A side on their tour of South Africa in August-September this year. Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas will miss the tour, while middle-order batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan, vice-captain for the T20 Canada, and Chamara Silva have been dropped.A former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain, Mathews scored 123 runs at 34.60 and picked up three wickets in the three-Test series against South Africa A, which Sri Lanka lost 0-1. He then went on to top the batting averages in the ODI series but played just the first two matches, picking up an injury. Following the tour, Sri Lanka A team coach Chandrika Hathurusingha said Mathews was “among the possibilities to represent the senior side”.Opener Upul Tharanga and fast bowler Dammika Prasad have also been picked for the tour. The two, along with Mathews, are currently playing with the A team in India. Tharanga benefited from the outstanding showing on the tour of South Africa with the Sri Lanka A side, scoring 250 runs in four one-day games at 83.33. He is expected to take Sanath Jayasuriya’s place at the top and will partner Mahela Udawatte. Prasad also got the selector’s nod after impressing against India in the third Test in Colombo.The Zimbabwe tour also marks the return of Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara after missing the T20 Canada. While Muralitharan was rested, Sangakkara underwent surgery on his finger, right after the home series against India.Among those missing the tour will be Jayasuriya, who has been given permission by Sri Lanka Cricket to play in South Africa’s domestic tournament for the Dolphins with whom he has signed a two-year contract, while Chaminda Vaas has opted out. Also missing out from the T20 Canada squad will be Dilhara Lokuhettige, Jeevantha Kulatunga and Kaushalya Weeraratne.Sri Lanka are scheduled to play five ODIs against Zimbabwe and two practice games, besides a four-dayer and a one-dayer against representative sides.Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Thilan Thushara, Dammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muthiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis.

Steve Elworthy believes the allure of international competition will enable the World Twenty20 to match the IPL’s glamour

Andrew Miller28-May-2009Steve Elworthy, the ICC’s tournament director, believes that the allure of international competition will enable the forthcoming World Twenty20 to rise above the fears of overkill that are currently circulating in English cricket, but warned that the ECB will have missed a trick if they fail to use the three-week event to attract a new audience to the game.Speaking to Cricinfo on the eve of the tournament, Elworthy admitted that the game’s administrators had learnt their lessons from the disastrous Caribbean World Cup in 2007, and were also mindful of overloading the calendar with too many marquee events. But regardless of the hype and glamour of the recently completed Indian Premier League, he insisted that tickets for the World Twenty20 were proving extremely popular in what he described as a “unique summer” for the ECB.”The key point with any product is the exclusivity,” said Elworthy. “You want people walking away at the end of a match wanting more, you want them to say: ‘I can’t wait for next season because I can’t wait for the next Twenty20 competition’.”[It’s true that] there’ve been a couple of very big competitions in a fairly short space of time, but it’ll settle down. It is a massive summer of cricket for the ECB, but it’s a unique summer. It doesn’t happen very often to get the Ashes and a world event in the same year and hosted by the same board.”Elworthy was appointed to his role by the ECB back in January, having successfully overseen the inaugural World Twenty20 in September 2007 in his native South Africa. That tournament was won in a thrilling final by India, who chose to return to the country to stage last month’s IPL, when the competition was forced overseas by the unstable political climate in the subcontinent.”The IPL is a fantastic domestic product and its success is widely recognised,” said Elworthy. “But this is nation versus nation, and everything we are doing goes back to that pride of pulling on your shirt and representing your country. What’s the hook when you’re watching the match? It’s the fact that you want your country to do well.”According to Elworthy, the ICC is still heeding the lessons learnt at the 2007 World Cup, which featured 47 matches in 51 days, unrealistic ticket prices and some grindingly dull cricket between ill-matched teams. The original World Twenty20 took place just six months on from that event, and was an unqualified success thanks largely to a rock-bottom pricing policy that opened the gates to a whole new audience.”Twenty20 is deemed a development product,” said Elworthy. “It is for attracting new markets and new spectators and fans, who will hopefully go on to play cricket and participate. You’ve got to be able to get to the youth market, because what you’re trying to achieve is dictated to you by your ticket price.”Tickets for the 2007 event ranged from the equivalent of £1.50 for the opening rounds to a top-tier cost of £11 for the final, and even allowing for a stronger UK economy and the knowledge of the event’s popularity, those prices are considerably lower than the ones on offer in 2009. This time around, adult tickets will range from £20 at Trent Bridge to £90 at Lord’s, even though Under-16s will be able to watch the final for as little as a tenner.”You can’t have an elite ticket price and expect it to be attended by loads of families and kids,” said Elworthy. “The structure of our ticket prices there was one of the key successes [of the 2007 tournament].”While South Africa proved to be an outstanding venue for both the World Twenty20 and the IPL, England has a less auspicious track record when it comes to global cricket events. The last major tournament to be staged in the country was the 1999 World Cup, which was memorable for a fizzer of an opening ceremony and a poor showing from the host nation, who were ejected from the competition in the opening round.Elworthy, however, is adamant that cricket fans in England will flock to the event, even though the Ashes remain the dominant attraction of the summer. “Twenty20 in this country is extremely popular,” he said. “Our first set of ticket allocations went out just under a year ago, and over 100,000 tickets were sold out in 48 hours. There are still tickets available, but we expect 95-98% capacity at the key double-headers, and we are well on target in terms of our goals of over 80% attendance across the entire tournament.””All the venues have been supportive,” he added. “Our ticketing strategy didn’t want to alienate the current markets and clientele that the venues have, but we wanted to reach new audiences and get new faces to the ground. All the dug-outs and DJ boxes and dance podiums, those have become part of the Twenty20 brand, and they’ll be delivered at all these venues.”

Sheffield United are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Peterborough United forward Jonson Clarke-Harris, according to the Daily Record.

What’s the story?

Clarke-Harris has been with Peterborough United since 2020, having signed for the club from Bristol Rovers, after catching the eye with some strong performances for the Pirates.

He’s gone from strength to strength with Posh, with the 27-year-old chipping in with 33 goals and three assists for Darren Ferguson’s side, as they won promotion into the Championship last term, as they were crowned champions of League One.

It appears as though Clarke-Harris’ strong showings haven’t gone unnoticed though, with Sheffield United reportedly rivalling West Brom, Rangers and Russian side CSKA Moscow to a potential deal for the striker, according to the Daily Record.

Do the Blades need another striker this summer?

Sheffield United will be preparing for life back in the Championship, after they were relegated from the Premier League last term, after a disappointing campaign.

The Blades finished bottom of the top-flight standings, and will be eager to win promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking this term, whilst under the management of Slavisa Jokanovic.

You can somewhat understand why Clarke-Harris has emerged on their transfer radar this summer, as he’s shown that he can score goals consistently in the EFL, even if that is to be in the lower leagues of English football.

Speaking in a previous interview with Peterborough Today, the club’s manager Darren Ferguson labelled Clarke-Harris as an ‘outstanding signing’, as well as a ‘leader’ and a ‘winner’.

“Jonson’s goals have been valuable, but he’s more than just a goalscorer. He is a leader, a winner and a real focal point for this team.

“He was our number one target when Ivan Toney left and we had to work hard on his fitness when he first got here, but he’s been an outstanding signing and a real pleasure to work with.”

But some should rightly question whether Sheffield United even need to sign another forward, as Jokanovic already has some strong options available to him heading towards the 2021/22 campaign.

The likes of Billy Sharp, Oli McBurnie and David McGoldrick have all shown that they can perform to a high standard in the Championship, having played their part for the club over the years at Bramall Lane.

With Lys Mousset also on the books with the Blades, it seems hard to believe that Clarke-Harris would be getting the regular game time that he’s looking to find in the future.

Whereas a move to either Rangers or West Brom are more likely, with both teams not having as much depth in attacking areas of their squads at this moment in time.

It would be somewhat of a bizarre and disastrous move for Clarke-Harris if he was to sign for Slavisa Jokanovic’s side this summer, as they go in search of a swift return to the Premier League, as he simply wouldn’t be getting the game.

This could be the 52-year-old’s first major blunder of his Bramall Lane career.

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has made a decision about Sam Greenwood amid speculation linking him with a move away.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider, six Championship clubs, including the likes of Swansea and Bournemouth, tried to sign the teenager before transfer deadline day, only for Leeds to reject that interest.

It’s added that a Leeds source has revealed that Greenwood wanted to stay at Elland Road, and that was part of the reason behind why a decision was made at Thorp Arch for the Whites not to pursue a new striker in the summer transfer window.

Leeds fans will be buzzing

In his first season with the club, Greenwood managed 12 goals in 18 games, playing in a number of different roles, including up front, behind the striker and further back as a central midfielder.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has previously been very vocal in his praise of the youngster, saying: “He’s started really well at Leeds and he was very well thought of at Arsenal, and they weren’t rushing to get him out (of) the door this summer. From what we’ve seen of him so far, his movement and his finishing and everything else, he looks like a very natural striker.”

Meanwhile, Leeds Live’s Joe Donnohue said: “He may have hit the ground running at Thorp Arch, but he has only been here for a matter of months. His start may have been excellent, so imagine how much better he could be with consistent football.”

A better pathway to the first-team is surely one of the things that the Whites would have offered Greenwood when they initially signed him, and they can live up to that end of the bargain right now, especially now they’ve made the statement of turning down offers for him.

Given how Leeds fans are already on board with the 19-year-old, it’s surely the right call from Bielsa to keep him in his thinking at Elland Road and potentially give him a taste of first-team action.

Meanwhile, Leeds United have another academy sensation in this teenager…

Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly will head the expert panel for a series of specialist skills coaching clinics starting at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore

Cricinfo staff12-Jan-2009Former India captains Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly will head the expert panel for a series of specialist skills coaching clinics starting at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on Tuesday.The clinics, to be held over ten days, will be attended by qualified Level Two and Three coaches from all over the country. A release said: “The initiative is in line with the BCCI’s mandate that all states establish their own academies by April 30 this year, and will ensure they are headed up by highly-skilled personnel.”Besides Kumble and Ganguly, the others in the panel of ‘master coaches’ include Robin Singh and Venkatesh Prasad – India’s fielding and bowling coaches – besides former internationals Saba Karim, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Venkatapathy Raju. The panel will be supported by NCA staff under Dav Whatmore, the director of operations.”B Arun, Dinesh Nanavati and R Sridhar will oversee the various cricket skills, supplemented by Dr Kinjal Suratwala (nutrition, psychology) and Paul Chapman (fitness),” the release said. “Noted Australian biomechanist, Dr Rene Ferdinands, will anchor the courses at the Academy’s facility at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.” Ferdinands, who played first-class cricket in New Zealand, developed the first three-dimensional kinetics model of bowling.

Daniel Vettori has confirmed his text message to Brad Haddin did not contain an apology for his comments on Haddin’s involvement in the dismissal of Neil Broom on Sunday

Brydon Coverdale05-Feb-2009
Daniel Vettori says his comments after the Perth match did not infer that Brad Haddin had cheated © Getty Images
Daniel Vettori has confirmed his text message to Brad Haddin did not contain an apology for his comments on Haddin’s involvement in the dismissal of Neil Broom on Sunday. Broom was given out bowled but replays suggested Haddin’s gloves had broken the stumps and a war of words over Haddin’s integrity erupted after the match.In the lead-up to Friday’s second ODI in Melbourne, Vettori said his message to Haddin was simply a statement of how his comments were intended, rather than an apology for how they were interpreted. However, he said the New Zealanders wanted to put the matter behind them and move on as they aim to build on their 1-0 series lead.”I sent a text to Brad saying whilst we agree to disagree on the situation, there was no inference of anything malicious on my part,” Vettori said. “I said there was no inference of that [cheating] from the team or myself.”Both teams will disagree on the situation and move on. You can’t always be expected to be on the right page with things. Everyone has their own opinion, whatever your opinion is, doesn’t mean it’s right or doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”Australia’s stand-in captain Michael Clarke, who did see the text message sent to Haddin, backed Vettori’s explanation. He said all the Australian players got on well with Vettori and the confusion over the incident would not change that.”I don’t know if it said ‘sorry’, put it that way,” Clarke said of the message. “‘I don’t think you’re a cheat’ – I do remember reading that – ‘and mate, let’s get on with it’.” Despite all the attention on Haddin over the past week and questions over whether he knew he had broken the stumps, Clarke said Haddin had retained his focus impressively.”He’s fine,” Clarke said. “Little things like that don’t bother him too much. I think the main thing was to make sure Brad and Dan were fine, which they’ve done, and he’s looking forward to playing a big role in the next few one-dayers for us.”

Southampton will take on Manchester United in their first home game of the new Premier League season on Sunday afternoon, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side looking to bounce back after their 3-1 defeat against Everton on the opening day of the campaign.

Saints fans won’t need reminding what happened when they faced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side last season and given the way the Red Devils played last weekend, it’s clear that Hasenhuttl’s side will have to be at their very best if they are to avoid defeat at St Mary’s.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Hasenhuttl to line his side up, with five changes from the team that started in the defeat at Goodison Park last time out…

After a disappointing return to the side at Everton, Alex McCarthy is relegated to the bench for this one, with Fraser Forster returning in between the sticks.

There are two changes in defence, as Kyle Walker-Peters provides a more defensively secure option than 18-year-old Tino Livramento at right-back, whilst Jan Bednarek partners Mohammed Salisu at centre-back, with Jack Stephens missing out.

Theo Walcott, who reportedly earns £75k per week at Southampton, was one of the poorer performers against Everton last weekend, so Stuart Armstrong replaces him on the right-hand side.

Moussa Djenepo is replaced by the exciting Nathan Tella on the left, with the youngster deserving a start after his performances in pre-season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“594431”]

Adam Armstrong and Che Adams keep their place up front, with their performances last weekend two of the few bright sparks at Goodison.

And, in other news… Saints dealt decisive transfer blow with “exceptional” beast, fans will be gutted

Cricinfo presents they Plays of the day from the opening day of the Test series between India and England

Cricinfo staff11-Dec-2008
After the events of November 26, no one will be referring to cricket in terms of war minus the shooting © Getty Images
The sound of silence
There were less than 5000 spectators in the ground at the time of the toss, and when the teams emerged wearing black armbands 10 minutes before the start of play, they rose as one to be part of the two minutes’ silence. This is a massive series for both teams, but after the events of November 26, no one will be referring to cricket in terms of war minus the shooting.Straight as a die
There wasn’t much strokeplay to savour in the first session, but when Zaheer Khan pitched one a bit too full, Alastair Cook produced the most pristine of straight drives. A vastly different stroke from the trenchant slog-sweep with which he reached his half-century.KP on the pull
This wasn’t an innings Kevin Pietersen will remember with much fondness. Tied down by Zaheer and Yuvraj Singh, he had laboured to 4 from 32 balls when Zaheer directed one at the ribcage. Pietersen’s attempted pull was more of a lame slap and it just ballooned up lazily into the bowler’s hands.Swing is king
Zaheer’s sensational spell of 6-3-12-2 after tea transformed the game, but the best delivery he bowled didn’t get him a wicket. Andrew Strauss knew little about a ball that shaped back more than a foot at 90mph. A combination of the toe end of the bat and pad kept it out, but it immediately made you think of Venkatesh Prasad and the progress that India’s bowlers have made in mastering the art of reverse-swing.Wakey wakey, Billy
Harbhajan Singh was brought back after the drinks interval in the final session, and his second delivery flew off Paul Collingwood’s pad to forward short leg. The Indians appealed, Billy Bowden fumbled with the hat in his hand and then raised the crooked finger. The bat wasn’t in the same postcode and the ball struck the pad outside the line. As Collingwood walked back after a distinctly scratchy 9, an English journalist called it a “euthanasia decision”.

Darren Gough’s final appearance at Headingley before retirement ended in a sodden abandonment against Warwickshire, but the Yorkshire supporters may not have seen the last of him after all

Cricinfo staff10-Sep-2008
More good times? Darren Gough is meant to be retiring, but it may be the case © Getty Images
Darren Gough’s final appearance at Headingley before retirement ended in a sodden abandonment against Warwickshire, but the Yorkshire supporters may not have seen the last of him after all.He has been approached by Yorkshire, and a few other counties, to play Twenty20 next season and says he will consider the offers after the winter. The IPL has also come calling. Retirement in the modern game doesn’t always mean the end.”Yorkshire are keen for me to play for them next year in Twenty20 and I’ve had a couple of offers from other counties,” Gough told the “If I am going to play Twenty20 next year, then realistically it would be for Yorkshire, but I’ve just told the club to plan ahead as normal and we’ll see where we are next March,” he added. “I’ll have to see how I feel after the winter because my body might be 100 per cent by then or it might be in bits, but I’m not going to rush into anything.”It will come down to what is right for both parties at the time. It might not be right for Yorkshire or for me, but if Yorkshire do need someone and I’m okay, then I’m an obvious candidate.”Gough’s Championship appearances have become fewer and fewer during his final season but he has remained a regular in one-day cricket. Typical of Gough he still believes he can perform in limited-overs cricket and is weighting up an IPL deal.”I’ve also had a lot of IPL interest because they know I can still perform in the one-day game,” he said.