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The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is seemingly intent on extending the festive season well into the new year in its annual first-class tournament. Some don’t share the vibes

Tony Cozier28-Dec-2009Pink balls, play at night under lights and, according to chief executive Ernest Hilaire, ‘a cricket festival atmosphere’. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is seemingly intent on extending the festive season well into the new year in its annual first-class tournament.Some don’t share the vibes.Dudnath Ramkeesoon, Trinidad and Tobago’s chief selector, is wary that the pink ball has not had sufficient testing and worried that dew might be a negative factor at night.Jimmy Adams, the former West Indies captain, now technical director of Jamaica cricket and influential secretary of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), makes the valid point that Jamaica and, it can be taken, the other teams as well, have not been provided with pink balls for necessary practice under lights prior to the tournament.Indeed, the ideal would have been a full, pre-season trial in a day-night match over four days at one of the lighted venues. Now the assessment must be made during the first such official fixture, between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, in Antigua starting January 15. Consequent controversy is inevitable if that happens to prove unsatisfactory.Even so, Adams is generally open-minded about the idea. “Let’s see what comes of it,” is his take, noting that only four pink-ball, night matches are scheduled, after which it can be determined whether it is feasible or not.If we accept Hilaire’s contention that the WICB “had to be brave and try new things and approaches to get fans coming back to the game they love”, its simultaneous decision to revert to one-round for the 2010 tournament has met with influential resistance.As, Dinanath Ramnarine, the chief executive of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), immediately noted, the first point of the WIPA’s recently-announced development plan for West Indies cricket stated that the first-class season should comprise two rounds with a minimum of 12 four-day games a year, to be played alongside the international series. That was the case last season. “One round is insufficient in this modern era of cricket,” Ramnarine said. “We have seen that in recent years.”He also claimed that the WICB made its move without consultation with the WIPA, as it should have under the memorandum of understanding between the two, and hinted at “activating the dispute resolution process” unless the issue is further discussed. Given the damage caused to West Indies cricket over the past decade by the constant feuding between the two organisations, such talk is enough to make everyone shudder at the prospect of more trouble ahead.At least Ramnarine now has the stated support of two WICB directors on this one. Joel Garner, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president, and Azim Bassarath, head of the Trinidad and Tobago board, have both bemoaned the reduction.There is an obvious reason for the cutback, given by Hilaire in an interview I had with him last month-although, strangely, not in the WICB’s subsequent official media release. In these times of the demise of even the biggest banks and most prominent insurance companies, it is the same faced by finance ministers, business executives and housewives everywhere-a lack of money.For the second year, the tournament has not been sponsored. Neither was the one-day competition in November. Without a proper marketing department, the WICB is unlikely to find one any time soon. It amounts to a serious drain on its treasury that was further diminished recently by the estimated US$2.5 million it put into retainer contracts for 33 players for the coming year. Of those, 18 were signed on as much because of their ‘commitment and sacrifice’ in answering the last-minute call for the Bangladesh series as the likelihood that they will be needed again by the West Indies.Garner accepts the point about financial constraints but not as a cause for the reversion to one round for the first-class season. “A lot of things were cut without understanding that they are important to the development (of cricket) and that is one we have to look at in a very serious way,” he told me in a telephone interview during the Australian tour.With opportunities drying up for emerging West Indians in English county cricket, in his day a virtual finishing school for most of the players in the great teams of the 1980s, Garner would like the home season to be longer (“six, seven, even nine months in the year”) not shorter. To compensate, Hilaire revealed the WICB is planning for more A team series for the next-in-line players, to be financed by the money saved on the cutback.The West Indies have had three such series in the past seven years, the last against England in the Caribbean in early 2006. Their Test opponents engage in two, sometimes three, every year. It is a catch-22 situation-either go back to two rounds a season and shelve the A team plan or vice-versa. The WICB and the WIPA between them must make up their minds.Unless Santa Claus makes a hurried return trip and arrives at the WICB headquarters carrying a sack filled with authentic millions, the A team idea makes more sense at present. While the WICB’s dilemma is understandable, it is difficult to follow Hilaire’s line that the new plan, that includes the staging of an entire round of three matches in the same territory, will “get fans coming back to the game they love” and raise standards “on and off the field.”Four day-night matches certainly give nine-to-five workers the chance to take in at least the last half of the cricket in the cool of the evening. Their novelty alone should guarantee better crowds than usual. But where will the local interest be in the other two involving neutral teams (Barbados v Leewards in Jamaica, Windwards v CCC in Barbados, for instance) in the same territory?And how will the new arrangement suddenly lift standards “on and off the field”, as the chief executive asserts? The WICB will seek the answers at the end of the season. “At the conclusion the format will be reviewed and compared to experiences with other formats used over the last decade,” Hilaire revealed. In the words of Jimmy Adams, “let’s see what comes of it.”

Manchester United have received a potential triple injury boost ahead of their Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace at Old Trafford this afternoon.

What’s the word?

New interim manager Ralf Rangnick is set to take charge of his first game in the Red Devils’ dugout when the Eagles visit today.

The German will be desperate to kickstart his reign with a positive result, and he could be aided in his mission to do just that by the return of influential trio Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Nemanja Matic.

While Rangnick’s first press conference on Friday was dominated by his long-term vision, former boss Michael Carrick provided fitness updates on Wednesday.

“We’re just being careful with Luke, assessing day by day. Hopefully, he won’t be too far away,” the 40-year-old said, before going on to assess Wan-Bissaka and Matic.

“Touch and go. (Callum) Hudson-Odoi stood on his hand (last Sunday), so he’s in a fair bit of pain. Nemanja has picked up a little niggle. He’s felt his hamstring, so he’s out.”

A recent report from Manchester Evening News suggested that all three could return to action for today’s intriguing clash with Palace.

Ralf Rangnick will be delighted

The reports that Shaw, Wan-Bissaka and Matic may all be able to feature today after missing out on the midweek clash with Arsenal will leave Rangnick feeling delighted, given their importance to the side.

Although the two full-backs have failed to consistently find their best form this season, they have remained the Red Devils’ first-choice options, and their underlying numbers indicate why.

As per WhoScored, Wan-Bissaka has averaged 2.2 tackles per league game this season, placing him second amongst his teammates, while also producing 1.3 interceptions, more than any of his colleagues.

Meanwhile, the more attack-minded Shaw has made 1.9 key passes, more than any United player bar Bruno Fernandes, and tops the crossing charts with 1.7.

The experience of Matic could also be hugely beneficial if the 33-year-old is able to return to the matchday squad, giving Rangnick the best possible chance of securing all three points.

In other news… Rangnick can get United firing with “intelligent” £42.3m-rated gem, he has “no weaknesses” 

“In terms of putting up results, we’ve just not learned anything on tour,” Daniel Vettori said after the game, and that pretty much summed up the outing with which New Zealand signed off a disappointing tour.The common mantra during New Zealand’s stay has been the need to learn from mistakes and play positive cricket, rather than letting defeat lead to further disappointment. After New Zealand beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Twenty20 internationals, Vettori validated that theme by crediting a tremendous turnaround and hoped to make the final of this tri-series keeping the Champions Trophy in mind. However, there appeared to be only one team that went for the jugular today. Unfortunately for New Zealand, it wasn’t them.Faced with a must-win scenario, they won the toss and batted. But their display in the first 15 overs of the match was so shockingly poor that they deserved what they got – nothing at all. India were in a celebratory mood as early as the first over, when Ashish Nehra trapped a leaden-footed Jesse Ryder lbw. He followed it up by having Brendon McCullum also lbw, to one that didn’t swing, and an indifferent start became a poor one when Ross Taylor flirted fatally with an RP Singh delivery.The bowling was very sharp, but not menacing. On a sluggish track that offered no malice, New Zealand’s batsmen simply failed to play proper cricket against accurate bowling. Ryder and McCullum’s feet went nowhere against the kind of sharp left-arm bowling they’ve faced for a fair amount of time on this tour. Ryder’s dismissal was a replica of how he was out in the last game. Martin Guptill, not for the first time in Sri Lanka, was out to an innocuous delivery before even judging the turn and pace of the track.Grant Elliott got a bad ball, adjudged caught down the leg side off his pads, but what had happened before was shocking. By the time Elliott was dismissed the damage had been done, thanks to another poor display of batting from a line-up struggling for form and confidence. Jacob Oram popped up a simple return catch to Ishant Sharma when he came back for a second spell. Yuvraj was called back and struck first ball, as Neil Broom gently chipped to midwicket.New Zealand’s batting card pretty much summed up the tour they’ve had: the message just hasn’t seem to get across. “I don’t want to go on like a broken record, but we’ve consistently put ourselves under pressure with the bat all series,” Vettori said. “Today we needed someone to go and get an unbeaten 70 or 80 but that didn’t happen. It’ll kill you in any game, not getting partnerships. Unfortunately, nobody stood up. It’s frustrating.”New Zealand came into this series as the No.4 team in the world. They had won three of their last four one-day series. They were apparently confident after winning the Twenty20s. Two walloping defeats later they look visibly shell-shocked. New Zealand have been surprised, it seems, by the ferocity of cricket played by Sri Lanka and India in two games. They crashed out of the series today due to the uncertainty and instability in their style of play.Where did it all go wrong? Look back to Tuesday, when after having Sri Lanka in deep strife at 69 for 5 they managed to capitulate to a 97-run defeat. The batting was woeful – New Zealand lost two wickets in one over and three in another – and that handed the momentum back to Sri Lanka. Andy Moles, New Zealand’s coach, wasn’t happy that night and insisted there were no easy answers as the team continued a downward spiral in the one-day game.The most vivid impression they have left through the tour is of an incongruent bunch of individuals, just not entirely with it when they take the field. Some of New Zealand’s younger and inexperienced players just looked overawed in alien conditions. There has been the odd flourish, notably in the Twenty20s, but the lack of direction is stark. Repeatedly, batsmen have been dismissed in the same manner. New Zealand’s line-up has struggled against left-arm pace. They have appeared torn between attack and defence. Having been in Sri Lanka near six weeks, it looked like they’d arrived on the same day as India when the batsmen faced up this afternoon.The series has been lost, but what has been gained? What has a player like Guptill taken from this tour? He struggled in all three formats, not once really making his presence felt. After showing glimpses of genuine talent against West Indies and India at home, he now resembles a walking wicket. What can the likes of Elliott and Broom, who were restricted to a couple of games, taken from watching their more experienced team-mates struggle?These are but a few questions facing Vettori and Moles as they enter a new chapter, as national selectors. The situation isn’t by any means unsalvageable, but it’s hard to see where the change is going to come before they play hosts South Africa – the No. 1 side in ODIs – at Centurion in two weeks.

West Brom are back in Championship action tonight with an away clash against Blackpool in their latest attempt at pushing for a promotion place back to the Premier League.

On the chalkboard In terms of which players Baggies boss Valerien Ismael could pick for his starting XI to face Blackpool, one figure that featured in West Brom’s 1-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town at the weekend that should not keep their place in the team this time around is Grady Diangana.In the 61 minutes he was on the pitch before being replaced by Jordan Hugill, Diangana failed to have any sort of useful attacking impact for his side.The 23-year-old, who is currently valued at £9m according to Transfermarkt, failed to even have one clear shot at goal, didn’t complete any of the two dribbles he attempted and lost possession on 15 occasions, which could be why he was taken off in the second half.This performance earned Diangana, who has been praised in the past by Ismael for the “huge quality” he has in him, a disappointing overall match rating of 6.4/10, making him one of West Brom’s lowest-rated players on the day according to SofaScore.Even though Baggies captain Jake Livermore was sent off in the match against Huddersfield, it’s safe to say that Diangana also let Ismael down at the weekend with his underwhelming performance.With this in mind and the fact that the attacker has only managed to score one goal and provide one assist in the league so far this season despite making 16 appearances, perhaps it would be in the club’s best interest if Ismael dropped Diangana, who has arguably been letting his side down with his lack of goal contributions, from the team on this occasion to see if he could have more of an impact coming off the substitutes bench instead.In terms of who could come in to replace Diangana, who is currently earning a weekly wage of £25k-per-week according to Salary Sport, if Ismael does drop him tonight, perhaps putting Callum Robinson back in the team after he stayed on the bench at the weekend after managing to score in Ireland’s 3-0 win over Luxembourg during the recent international break.In other news: Forget Furlong: Ismael must unleash “important” WBA machine, he’d terrify Blackpool – opinion

Test match cricket will return to Old Trafford in 2010 after it was awarded one of the two Tests against Bangladesh, while Lord’s will host three Tests in a season

Cricinfo staff11-Sep-2009Test match cricket will return to Old Trafford in 2010 after it was awarded one of the two Tests against Bangladesh, while Lord’s will host three Tests in a season for only the second time in history after securing one of the neutral Australia-Pakistan matches with the other going to Headingley.Leeds was originally due to host Bangladesh, but the switch has been made after recommendations from the ECB’s independent major match group. Lancashire had also bid for an Australia-Pakistan game, but the return of England to Old Trafford for a Test will be of some consolation after they controversially missed out on hosting an Ashes Test this summer. There is the possibility of one of the Bangladesh Tests – most likely at Lord’s – being converted to a day-night game, if the ICC approves the request from the ECB and the Bangladesh board.However, MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw stressed that day-night Tests were still dependent on a suitable ball being produced. “There has been much talk of a potential day-night Test match being held at Lord’s next season between England and Bangladesh,” he said. “MCC has made significant strides in the development of a pink ball and we remain hopeful that further match trials will be conducted here in England in the next few weeks and also overseas throughout the winter. I would stress, however, that we would not want to jeopardise the integrity of Test match cricket by using untested or unproven coloured balls.”The last time Lord’s hosted three Tests in a summer was in 1912 when England, Australia and South Africa contested a tri-series and Bradshaw said it shows MCC’s commitment to the five-day game. “MCC supports the view that Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game, which is why we bid competitively to secure all Test matches that were on offer to us,” he said.”In particular, I am thrilled that Bangladesh will be visiting the home of cricket and maintaining the tradition of overseas teams playing at Lord’s. MCC submitted a high bid for a neutral Test match in order to offer practical assistance to the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ICC.”It will be an honour for MCC to host a neutral Test match between two great cricketing nations, Australia and Pakistan – especially since Pakistan has been deprived of Test cricket in recent years.The Pakistan-Australia Twenty20s will both be at Edgbaston while Cardiff will host the two Twenty20 matches between England and Pakistan.”In 2011 the Twenty20 match against India will be at Old Trafford and the Twenty20 against Sri Lanka will be at Bristol.

Leeds United piled more misery onto Norwich City to move out of the Premier League relegation zone on Sunday afternoon.

After a lacklustre first half, the game fired into life when tricky winger Raphinha fired the visitors in front at Carrow Road with a sublime solo effort. He weaved past three Canaries players before slotting the ball home past Tim Krul.

Norwich hit back within two minutes after Andrew Omobamidele headed home from a needless corner before the Whites managed to wrap things up with another touch of class, this time Rodrigo firing in from range.

The home side remain winless on two points at the foot of the table, whilst the Yorkshire giants leapfrogged Burnley to move into 17th place. And Marcelo Bielsa has his Brazilian winger largely to thank as he clinched the ‘Man of the Match’ award down in Norfolk.

However, he wasn’t the only key player on the day after Pascal Struijk put in a monstrous display in their three-man backline.

Only two other players recorded a better rating than the Dutch colossus (7.2), one of which being the goalscorer, Raphinha, and that goes to show that the defender was rather influential indeed.

Daniel Farke’s side recorded more shots (14) than Leeds (13) and even had five more corners, so they enjoyed their fair share of chances and thanks to Struijk, they remained solid at the back.

Even more importantly, he played a major role in both of their goals scored, particularly the first after he drove the ball out from defence before playing a perfect ball into Dan James’ feet, who then fed Raphinha out wide.

“Struijk instrumental in the build-up to both goals,” described BBC journalist Adam Pope at full-time.

Furthermore, the 22-year-old recorded a joint-high five tackles, on top of one block and one tackle, whilst he also won 100% of his seven duels contended, both in the air and on the ground, as per SofaScore.

On that evidence, the Canaries really found it hard to get past the 6 foot 3 titan throughout the 90 minutes.

The £18m-rated beast arguably stole the show at Carrow Road as he not only looked resolute in his defensive duties but he also looked to create things and start attacks, and ultimately, that led to both Raphinha and Rodrigo scoring.

AND in other news, Sold for £10m, now a Championship outcast: Leeds had a blinder with “special” 24 y/o…

Andrew McDonald knows he needs runs in Australia’s Ashes warm-up matches if he is to hold his spot for the first Test

Cricinfo staff04-Jun-2009Andrew McDonald knows he needs runs in Australia’s warm-up matches against Sussex and England Lions if he is to hold his spot for the first Ashes Test. The return of Shane Watson, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark could encourage Australia to alter their balance and drop McDonald, who has played the past four Tests.He is confident that his style of medium-pace bowling – he has nine Test wickets at 33.33 – would be a valuable asset in the English conditions. But it wasn’t until the most recent of his six Test innings that he showed any batting form and his 68 in Cape Town might not be enough to secure his place.”At the moment I’m in the side, but the two lead-up games will probably tell more of a story,” McDonald told the . “It might swing a little bit over there, if it’s dry I can bowl stump to stump, I’m pretty flexible with what I can offer with the ball. It’s just a matter in those first couple of tour games getting some runs and consolidating my spot.”McDonald does not have a first-class batting record to match his fellow allrounder Watson – he has two centuries to Watson’s 13 – but he does have the advantage of incumbency in a winning team. One of the national selectors, Merv Hughes, said McDonald’s performance against South Africa had been “magnificent”.”He’s bowled for long spells and that’s allowed the fast bowlers to reload, so Ricky [Ponting] can attack with them,” Hughes told AAP. “His batting has been okay without being solid, but he showed in that last Test match what he’s capable of.”Before he has even left Australia, McDonald has been taunted by the English press, which he said was not necessarily a negative. “Any time you’re in the papers 60 days out from an Ashes series has to be a good thing,” McDonald said. “But no, I’m not motivated by it.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia Ederson foi operado na manhã desta sexta-feira, no Hospital Copa Star, em Copacabana, na Zona Sul do Rio. O atleta de 31 anos foi submetido a uma cirurgia de cerca de quarenta minutos para a retirada de um tumor no testículo. O médico Franz Campos, que conduziu o procedimento, explicou que foi necessária a retirada do testículo direito, substituído por uma prótese.

-Começamos uma guerra. A primeira batalha está vencida. É uma patologia rara, agressiva, mas que tem um índice de cura alto, desde que conduzido com celeridade, como está sendo feito pelo Flamengo. Correu tudo bem, ele já está no quarto, já está acordado, em companhia da esposa. Esperamos os melhores resultados para ele. Foi necessária a retirada do testículo direito que estava acometido pela lesão. Este material foi encaminhado para uma análise mais pormenorizada – disse o médico em entrevista coletiva após a cirurgia.

Ederson deve receber alta em 24 horas. O jogador está acordado, no quarto, na companhia da esposa,Patrizia Pighini. Os médicos acreditam que dentro de uma semana já tenham todas as informações necessárias para o tratamento adequado. O atleta deve ser submetido a novos exames em breve. Muito provavelmente, o meia será submetido a quimioterapia de dois a três meses.

A descoberta do tumor de Ederson deu-se de maneira surpreendente. Ele foi submetido a um exame antidoping no qual apresentou alterações hormonais. O Flamengo suspeitou do resultado e fez uma série de exames, nos quais descobriu o tumor nos testículos do jogador.

Por enquanto, Ederson fica afastado das atividades no Flamengo. Agora, os médicos vão avaliar a gravidade da lesão provocada pelo tumor. As chances de recuperação são muito boas e há diversos atletas que já passaram pelo mesmo problema, como o jogador Abidal e Nenê, do basquete.

O tratamento ao qual Ederson está sendo submetido é conhecido como multimodal, com a cirurgia na primeira etapa. O médico do Flamengo, Márcio Tannure, acompanhou a cirurgia na manhã desta sexta-feira e mostrou-se otimista com o procedimento.

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With Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side heading into Sunday’s Scottish Premiership fixture on the back of a 4-0 drubbing in the Europa League on Thursday, the 56-year-old manager will undoubtedly be hoping for a much better performance from the Bhoys against Aberdeen.

And, while Celtic are yet to pick up a single point away from Parkhead so far this season, Stephen Glass’ side also currently find themselves in a run of poor form, with the Dons being without a win in five league fixtures.

As such, the fixture at Pittodrie could provide Postecoglou with the perfect opportunity to finally secure a win away from home, however, with the Hoops having scored just once on the road this season, it may be wise for the Greek-Australian manager to change things up in his attacking lineup on Sunday.

Postecoglou must unleash Giakoumakis

While summer signing Georgios Giakoumakis did not have much time to make an impact on his club debut against Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, being brought on with just 16 minutes left to play in the match, the centre-forward’s form for VVV-Venlo last season would suggest that the 26-year-old is an extremely exciting option for Postecoglou to be able to call upon.

Indeed, despite his side’s eventual relegation from the Dutch top flight, the £2.25m-rated man highly impressed over his 30 Eredivisie appearances for VVV-Venlo, scoring 26 goals, registering one assist and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.2 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

These returns saw the player who Dutch journalist Jeroen Kapteijns dubbed a “phenomenon” earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.35, ranking him not only as Jos Luhukay’s best performer in the league, but also as the joint sixth-best in the entirety of the division.

As such, with Giakoumakis now appearing to be fit after suffering a number of injury setbacks in his short time at Parkhead, it would seem as if Postecoglou simply must unleash the striker against Aberdeen, as the 26-year-old’s goalscoring ability would undoubtedly terrify the Dons defence.

In other news: Huge boost: Ange drops Celtic injury update which is sure to have fans buzzing

Lee Ryder has criticised the performance of Miguel Almiron as Newcastle United drew 1-1 with Leeds United in the Premier League on Friday night.

The Lowdown: All square

It finished all square at St James’ Park after Raphinha had given the away side an early lead with a deceptive cross, before Allan Saint-Maximin brought the hosts level with a lovely run complemented by a fine finish into the bottom corner of the net.

It was not the three points that Steve Bruce would have wanted at home, but at least they did not come away with another loss.

The Latest: Ryder on Almiron

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, Ryder was critical of Almiron’s overall performance, claiming that he was ‘in the wars’ as Marcelo Bielsa’s team ‘targeted’ him.

The journalist gave the Paraguay international a mere 6/10 rating, the joint-lowest out of any player to have started the game, and wrote that he was “in the wars as Leeds targeted the playmaker” and “unable to make the impact we all know he can”.

The Verdict: Can do better

Almiron certainly has the ability to produce for Newcastle, and has shown that he can do better than what he did last night.

Getting a yellow card for arguing over what he thought was a foul after being knocked off of the ball too easily pretty much summed up his game, as he lost out on five of his duels in total (Sofascore).

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He also failed to record a single shot on target and only managed 29 touches of the ball in total (Sofascore). He squandered possession on nine different occasions, meaning that he lost the ball roughly once every 3.2 touches on average.

Nonetheless, if the Magpies are going to pick up their first win of the top-flight season, then Almiron needs to be at his best – which he certainly wasn’t last night.

In other news, many Newcastle fans slammed this man’s display against Leeds