Michael Vaughan criticises ICC for Ireland snub

Michael Vaughan says the International Cricket Council's move to exclude Ireland from the 2015 World Cup is a "poor decision".

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the International Cricket Council's decision to exclude Ireland from the 2015 World Cup.

The ICC ruled on Monday that only the 10 full-member countries would compete in the 2015 competition.
"It's wrong. Ireland are the 10th best one-day team in the world as we speak," Vaughan told BBC Breakfast.
"It's a huge blow for Ireland because of all the work they have put in. The ICC have again made a poor decision."
Vaughan added that two qualifying spots should have been made available for the 10-team 2015 competition which will take place in Australia and New Zealand.

Continue reading the main story

I'm pretty sure Ireland would have won that (pre-qualifying) tournament because they are the best associate team

Michael Vaughan Former England captain

"You look at the progression Ireland have made over the years. They did well in 2007 (at the World Cup) and did well again at this year's World Cup where they beat England.
"I would have liked to have seen a pre-tournament qualifier with the likes of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe thrown in as well with Ireland, Canada, Kenya and all the other associates teams and the best two going on to the World Cup.
"I'm pretty sure Ireland would have won that tournament because they are the best associate team and they showed that at the World Cup."
The ICC's decision has enraged Irish cricket with national team coach Phil Simmons describing his team's exclusion from the 2015 World Cup as "despicable".
In its latest response to the ICC's decision, Cricket Ireland said that the decision showed an organisation "unfit for purpose or governance".
"Ireland are currently in discussions with their fellow associates and affiliates about the avenues of action left open to them following the shameful ruling by ICC."

Read More

Michael Vaughan criticises ICC for Ireland snub

Michael Vaughan says the International Cricket Council's move to exclude Ireland from the 2015 World Cup is a "poor decision".

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the International Cricket Council's decision to exclude Ireland from the 2015 World Cup.

The ICC ruled on Monday that only the 10 full-member countries would compete in the 2015 competition.
"It's wrong. Ireland are the 10th best one-day team in the world as we speak," Vaughan told BBC Breakfast.
"It's a huge blow for Ireland because of all the work they have put in. The ICC have again made a poor decision."
Vaughan added that two qualifying spots should have been made available for the 10-team 2015 competition which will take place in Australia and New Zealand.

Continue reading the main story

I'm pretty sure Ireland would have won that (pre-qualifying) tournament because they are the best associate team

Michael Vaughan Former England captain

"You look at the progression Ireland have made over the years. They did well in 2007 (at the World Cup) and did well again at this year's World Cup where they beat England.
"I would have liked to have seen a pre-tournament qualifier with the likes of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe thrown in as well with Ireland, Canada, Kenya and all the other associates teams and the best two going on to the World Cup.
"I'm pretty sure Ireland would have won that tournament because they are the best associate team and they showed that at the World Cup."
The ICC's decision has enraged Irish cricket with national team coach Phil Simmons describing his team's exclusion from the 2015 World Cup as "despicable".
In its latest response to the ICC's decision, Cricket Ireland said that the decision showed an organisation "unfit for purpose or governance".
"Ireland are currently in discussions with their fellow associates and affiliates about the avenues of action left open to them following the shameful ruling by ICC."

Read More

Sussex coach Mark Robinson targets successive titles

Robinson took charge of first-team affairs at Sussex in 2005 Sussex CCC coach Mark Robinson is targeting successive titles following their return to Division One of the County Championship. Sussex were promoted as champions of Division Two last year. He told BBC Sussex: "We want to win it. Everything is to play for. We've won it three times since 2003 and we'd like to do it again. "We've worked hard and any team can get momentum, get belief and confidence. It can take you a long way." However, Sussex will begin their four-day campaign away to Lancashire on Friday without three key players, all of whom are England internationals. All-rounder Luke Wright is out for at least three weeks after an injection for a knee injury, wicketkeeper Matt Prior is carrying a shoulder injury, while captain Mike Yardy is still recovering from a stress-related illness. "To lose your captain and your leading all-rounder is a bit of a blow," Robinson said. "It's giving me headaches that you've got big players' spots to fill. But it gives me excitement that you've got younger members to come in and stake a claim." Robinson added that there is no timescale for when Yardy will return to first-team duties. "Mike has had five months away from home and is spending time with his family," the 44-year-old continued. "He came in on Tuesday and had a hit, but he'll take it day by day. If you rush these things it will only come back to bite you."

Read More

Sussex coach Mark Robinson targets successive titles

Robinson took charge of first-team affairs at Sussex in 2005 Sussex CCC coach Mark Robinson is targeting successive titles following their return to Division One of the County Championship. Sussex were promoted as champions of Division Two last year. He told BBC Sussex: "We want to win it. Everything is to play for. We've won it three times since 2003 and we'd like to do it again. "We've worked hard and any team can get momentum, get belief and confidence. It can take you a long way." However, Sussex will begin their four-day campaign away to Lancashire on Friday without three key players, all of whom are England internationals. All-rounder Luke Wright is out for at least three weeks after an injection for a knee injury, wicketkeeper Matt Prior is carrying a shoulder injury, while captain Mike Yardy is still recovering from a stress-related illness. "To lose your captain and your leading all-rounder is a bit of a blow," Robinson said. "It's giving me headaches that you've got big players' spots to fill. But it gives me excitement that you've got younger members to come in and stake a claim." Robinson added that there is no timescale for when Yardy will return to first-team duties. "Mike has had five months away from home and is spending time with his family," the 44-year-old continued. "He came in on Tuesday and had a hit, but he'll take it day by day. If you rush these things it will only come back to bite you."

Read More

Sunday's Cricket World Cup gossip

Coach Andy Flower is looking for England to raise their game

England coach Andy Flower says the team are "turned on" by the challenge awaiting them in the knockout phase of the tournament but must be more consistent. He warned: "There is probably an element so far that we have got out of jail a bit."
Full story: Sunday Express

Flower, meanwhile, is ready to leave out James Tredwell for England's next game despite the Kent off-spinner taking four wickets in the win over West Indies - his first appearance in the tournament. "If we are in a situation where we play one spinner, then it will be Swann in the team, ahead of Tredwell", he said.
Full story: Sunday People

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has no regrets about not walking when he edged to the keeper during their defeat by Pakistan. "I knew I hit it but as always I wait for the umpire to give me out. That's the way I've always played the game," he said. Ponting was eventually given out by the TV umpire but only after an angry exchange between team-mate Brad Haddin and the Pakistan players.
Full story: Fox Sports

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori expects to return to action in their quarter-final against South Africa. Vettori sat out he last two games despite a knee problem. He said: "I have to be a bit brave on it, and realise I am not going to do any more damage. I just have to deal with a little bit of the pain."
Full story: Dominion Post

Pakistan paceman Shaoib Akhtar, who will retire after the World Cup, has admitted Adam Gilchrist and Brian Lara are the only batsmen who have "scared the hell" out of him during his career. "Gilchrist would simply take me on. Lara was class apart... I would be so attracted to his persona that I wouldn't know where to bowl - his body-language was just too cool." Full story: Times of India

Read More

Sunday's Cricket World Cup gossip

Coach Andy Flower is looking for England to raise their game

England coach Andy Flower says the team are "turned on" by the challenge awaiting them in the knockout phase of the tournament but must be more consistent. He warned: "There is probably an element so far that we have got out of jail a bit."
Full story: Sunday Express

Flower, meanwhile, is ready to leave out James Tredwell for England's next game despite the Kent off-spinner taking four wickets in the win over West Indies - his first appearance in the tournament. "If we are in a situation where we play one spinner, then it will be Swann in the team, ahead of Tredwell", he said.
Full story: Sunday People

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has no regrets about not walking when he edged to the keeper during their defeat by Pakistan. "I knew I hit it but as always I wait for the umpire to give me out. That's the way I've always played the game," he said. Ponting was eventually given out by the TV umpire but only after an angry exchange between team-mate Brad Haddin and the Pakistan players.
Full story: Fox Sports

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori expects to return to action in their quarter-final against South Africa. Vettori sat out he last two games despite a knee problem. He said: "I have to be a bit brave on it, and realise I am not going to do any more damage. I just have to deal with a little bit of the pain."
Full story: Dominion Post

Pakistan paceman Shaoib Akhtar, who will retire after the World Cup, has admitted Adam Gilchrist and Brian Lara are the only batsmen who have "scared the hell" out of him during his career. "Gilchrist would simply take me on. Lara was class apart... I would be so attracted to his persona that I wouldn't know where to bowl - his body-language was just too cool." Full story: Times of India

Read More

Friday's Cricket World Cup gossip

England limber up for their match with Bangladesh in Chittagong

Pakistan are rallying around besieged wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who missed two key chances in his team's loss to New Zealand on Tuesday. "I hope with the support of players and the team management he will make a strong comeback," said vice captain Misbah-ul-Haq. (Associated Press)

England captain Andrew Strauss is adamant Kevin Pietersen made the right choice to leave the World Cup with a hernia injury. "The World Cup is the sort of thing that floats his boat," he said. "So if the pain was so bad he didn't feel he was able to play then it is a simple conclusion to draw." (Press Association)

South Africa's pace bowler Morne Morkel believes reverse swing will be key to bowling out India when the two teams meet on Saturday.
Full story: Yahoo

Sri Lanka opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan says he is looking forward to bowling more often after taking four wickets for four runs in the win over Zimbabwe.
Full story: Yahoo

Australian bowler Brett Lee says he has learned to bowl smarter against creative opponents. "As batsmen are working on new shots, lap sweeps, reverse lap sweeps, we as bowlers have to be evolving as well - slower-ball bumpers, wide-line yorkers, those type of things," he said.
Full story: Cricinfo

Pakistan's teenage batsman Ahmed Shehzad faced a blasting from coach Waqar Younis after turning up late to fitness training following the team's loss to New Zealand on Tuesday. Full story: Indian Express

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will sit out Sunday's match against Canada because of a strained cruciate ligament in his right knee, suffered during the win over Pakistan. "It's not a tear or anything significant. He's in a rest phase at the moment," said a team spokesman. (Associated Press)

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has suffered an injury to his right index finger in a training session and was rested on Friday for team practice ahead of their match with Zimbabwe on Monday. (Reuters)

Read More

Friday's Cricket World Cup gossip

England limber up for their match with Bangladesh in Chittagong

Pakistan are rallying around besieged wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who missed two key chances in his team's loss to New Zealand on Tuesday. "I hope with the support of players and the team management he will make a strong comeback," said vice captain Misbah-ul-Haq. (Associated Press)

England captain Andrew Strauss is adamant Kevin Pietersen made the right choice to leave the World Cup with a hernia injury. "The World Cup is the sort of thing that floats his boat," he said. "So if the pain was so bad he didn't feel he was able to play then it is a simple conclusion to draw." (Press Association)

South Africa's pace bowler Morne Morkel believes reverse swing will be key to bowling out India when the two teams meet on Saturday.
Full story: Yahoo

Sri Lanka opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan says he is looking forward to bowling more often after taking four wickets for four runs in the win over Zimbabwe.
Full story: Yahoo

Australian bowler Brett Lee says he has learned to bowl smarter against creative opponents. "As batsmen are working on new shots, lap sweeps, reverse lap sweeps, we as bowlers have to be evolving as well - slower-ball bumpers, wide-line yorkers, those type of things," he said.
Full story: Cricinfo

Pakistan's teenage batsman Ahmed Shehzad faced a blasting from coach Waqar Younis after turning up late to fitness training following the team's loss to New Zealand on Tuesday. Full story: Indian Express

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will sit out Sunday's match against Canada because of a strained cruciate ligament in his right knee, suffered during the win over Pakistan. "It's not a tear or anything significant. He's in a rest phase at the moment," said a team spokesman. (Associated Press)

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal has suffered an injury to his right index finger in a training session and was rested on Friday for team practice ahead of their match with Zimbabwe on Monday. (Reuters)

Read More

Thursday's Cricket World Cup gossip

O'Brien's bats were mixed up by a member of the groundstaff

Star India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has offered to supply Niall O'Brien with some bats after a bag of equipment belonging to the Ireland wicketkeeper/batsman went missing.
Full story: Joe.ie

But Yuvraj's help is not required as O'Brien's missing bats have been returned to their grateful owner, having mistakenly been mixed up with the Indian team's luggage.
Full story: Yahoo

India captain Mahendra Dhoni has defended the selection of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and said: "You want your bowlers to be in a good mental state."
Full story: The Hindu

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has urged fans to back under-fire wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who he says may be promoted to open the batting against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Full story: dawn.com

West Indies captain Darren Sammy says his team have been given extra motivation and been brought closer together following the attack on their bus by Bangladesh fans after the recent nine-wicket win by the Windies.

"The one good thing about West Indies as a team is that we have a lot of camaraderie," he said. "We always fight together. Now we are a long, long away from home so we are each other's family."
Source: Agence France Press

Read More

Thursday's Cricket World Cup gossip

O'Brien's bats were mixed up by a member of the groundstaff

Star India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has offered to supply Niall O'Brien with some bats after a bag of equipment belonging to the Ireland wicketkeeper/batsman went missing.
Full story: Joe.ie

But Yuvraj's help is not required as O'Brien's missing bats have been returned to their grateful owner, having mistakenly been mixed up with the Indian team's luggage.
Full story: Yahoo

India captain Mahendra Dhoni has defended the selection of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and said: "You want your bowlers to be in a good mental state."
Full story: The Hindu

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has urged fans to back under-fire wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who he says may be promoted to open the batting against Zimbabwe on Monday.
Full story: dawn.com

West Indies captain Darren Sammy says his team have been given extra motivation and been brought closer together following the attack on their bus by Bangladesh fans after the recent nine-wicket win by the Windies.

"The one good thing about West Indies as a team is that we have a lot of camaraderie," he said. "We always fight together. Now we are a long, long away from home so we are each other's family."
Source: Agence France Press

Read More

Monday's Cricket World Cup gossip

Smith's side were beaten when seemingly set for victory

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has hit back at suggestions that his side "choked" again. Needing only 172 to win, South Africa lost by six runs against England in Sunday's group game.
Full story: Mail & Guardian (South Africa)

Paul Collingwood's hopes of becoming the first England player to appear in 200 one-day internationals may have been helped by team-mate Kevin Pietersen's withdrawal from the World Cup because of injury. Collingwood has featured in 196 so far.
Full story: the Times (requires subscription)

Mike Hussey's recall to the Australia squad could be bad news for his brother David, who may be dropped to accommodate his older sibling in Ricky Ponting's outfit. Mike Hussey had been named in the original World Cup squad but was removed because there were concerns he might not recover from a hamstring injury in time.
Full story: Brisbane Times

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has been angered by International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat playing down the Group B side having their team bus stoned by Bangladesh fans.
Full story: Daily Star (Bangladesh)

New Zealand paceman Tim Southee has his sights set on ending Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq's good form against the Kiwis and at the World Cup when their teams meet in a group game on Tuesday.
Full story: New Zealand Herald

Read More

Monday's Cricket World Cup gossip

Smith's side were beaten when seemingly set for victory

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has hit back at suggestions that his side "choked" again. Needing only 172 to win, South Africa lost by six runs against England in Sunday's group game.
Full story: Mail & Guardian (South Africa)

Paul Collingwood's hopes of becoming the first England player to appear in 200 one-day internationals may have been helped by team-mate Kevin Pietersen's withdrawal from the World Cup because of injury. Collingwood has featured in 196 so far.
Full story: the Times (requires subscription)

Mike Hussey's recall to the Australia squad could be bad news for his brother David, who may be dropped to accommodate his older sibling in Ricky Ponting's outfit. Mike Hussey had been named in the original World Cup squad but was removed because there were concerns he might not recover from a hamstring injury in time.
Full story: Brisbane Times

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has been angered by International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat playing down the Group B side having their team bus stoned by Bangladesh fans.
Full story: Daily Star (Bangladesh)

New Zealand paceman Tim Southee has his sights set on ending Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq's good form against the Kiwis and at the World Cup when their teams meet in a group game on Tuesday.
Full story: New Zealand Herald

Read More

cricket gossip

cricket gossip

Read More

cricket gossip

cricket gossip

Read More