Nov
6
Flintoff: I won’t overdo it
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Andrew Flintoff has promised not to compromise his England and Lancashire commitments by over-stretching himself.
The 31-year-old all-rounder is currently recovering from knee surgery following his retirement from Test cricket in the summer and when he returns to fitness he will do so with ambitions to be the world’s best limited-overs cricketer.
Part of that plan involves him taking control of his own playing schedule, something which led to him rejecting an incremental ECB contract earlier this year.
Instead, he will be able to pick and choose his own assignments and the indications are that he will attract lucrative offers from almost every major cricketing country.
But, having signed a three-year deal to continue as a one-day player for Lancashire, Flintoff insists he will not compromise his fitness for club or country by taking on too much.
Flintoff told Sky Sports News: “We’ve looked at my injuries over the last few years and that’s why I gave up the longer form of the game.
“I was struggling to get through 20-25 overs day in, day out or week in, week out and it was taking its toll on my body. I’m not going to give up Test cricket and then kill myself playing any other cricket I can find.
“I want to play tournaments and games which excite me. The IPL is obviously one of them, and I’m contracted to Chennai for another year, and there’s Lancashire and England too, if selected.
“Personally, I’d also like to try and play in Australia. I wanted to go at 16 but my Mum wouldn’t let me. I worked at Woolworths instead, but as I said, I won’t be killing myself by playing anything and everything.”
Reflecting on his ongoing recovery, Flintoff appeared to backtrack somewhat from his previous declarations that he would be ready to feature in the one-day leg of England’s trip to Bangladesh in February.
“It’s going slowly, but hopefully everything can go according to plan and I can get back in the nets and get practising again because I’m desperate to get back to it.
“I’ve had 10 weeks on crutches so it feels strange walking again and there are some strange feelings around my knee. There’s a lot of hard work ahead of me to get back on the cricket field and when that’s going to be I can’t say at this stage.
“I did say I’d like to go to Bangladesh in the one-day squad but whether that’s unrealistic I’m not sure.”
As for his Old Trafford future, Flintoff was clear in his aims.
“To sign a new deal is what I wanted to do. I’ve played for the club since I was nine and I don’t want to play anywhere else in county cricket,” he said.
“I’ve got personal ambitions but I’ve got team ambitions as well. I’ve won two trophies at Lancashire. I’ve been at this club a long time and I want to add to that.
“Personally, yes I do want to be the best one-day player in the world, it’s something which I feel I can do. Just playing the two forms of the game I can focus all my attentions on trying to be that player.”
Nov
5
Ferdinand ruled out for six weeks
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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has lost his battle with a back problem and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Ferdinand will sit out Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge and Red Devils team-mate Wes Brown admitted that the 30-year-old has tried to play through the pain for months.
Brown said: “He’s been getting a lot of pain for a long time so he’s sorting it out now.”
The England international has come under fire recently for numerous poor performances.
Brown added: “When he comes back he’ll be a lot stronger.
“If you’re not fit and want to play it’s very hard. Believe me.”
Nov
3
Strauss nutty about KP return
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Andrew Strauss is excited by Kevin Pietersen’s return to the England fold next week ahead of the start of their battle with SA.
The England captain touched down with his team-mates in Bloemfontein on Sunday, but the middle-order batsman was a notable absentee at the start of the two and half month tour.
Pietersen has been recuperating from surgery to his right Achilles tendon - an injury that forced him to miss the last three Tests of this summer’s Ashes - but will link up with his country next Monday, arriving in his native South Africa on Tuesday.
This means he will miss England’s first two warm-up games, the first of which is a 50-over match against the Diamond Eagles on Friday.
However, Strauss, whose side held their first training session on Monday morning, is looking forward to his return.
“I’m genuinely excited about having him back,” he told a press conference.
“We’ve missed his quality, we’ve missed his influence and I also think he’s going to come back very refreshed, hungry and motivated.
“When you have a player of that quality with that frame of mind, you can expect him to go out and play really well.
“We don’t want him to come back before he’s ready, so he’s got to make sure he’s completely over his injury before we bring him back.
“But it’s going to be a great boost for us to have him back in the environment.”
“There is a lot of hard work to be done”
Strauss has played for his country for more than five years now - featuring in two Ashes series wins - but admits that for England to win, they would need to play better than they have ever done with him in the team.
He continued: “That (winning the series) would be an incredible achievement - beating the number one side in the world at home, that’s as hard as it can get.
“But we’re not going to get carried away with ourselves at this stage. There is a lot of hard work to be done if we want to get there and achieve that goal.
“In some ways, if we’re going to achieve that goal, we’re going to have to play better than we’ve ever played in my time as an England player. So it’s a bit of a step up for us and comes at a good time.”
The 32-year-old, who will lead England in the five one-dayers and four-Test series against the Proteas after two Twenty20 internationals to begin the tour, pointed out that one of their focus points over the next few weeks would be to gain consistency.
He said: “I think as a group we understand the extent and the challenge that this tour sets us - playing the number one ranked side.
“This is an opportunity for us to see where we are as a side and also to make some steps forward in terms of becoming more consistent and more able to deal with the best sides in the world on a consistent basis.
“We have some ideas as to how we might continue our development in one-day cricket in particular at this stage, and we look forward to putting those into action in the coming weeks.”
The skipper again brushed aside the issue of possible hostility for the four players in the squad - Strauss himself, Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior - with South African connections.
He added: “I think it’s only an issue if you let it affect you. I’ve been here before, Kevin Pietersen’s been here before, so it’s not something that will affect us.
“For Jonathan Trott it’s a bit of a step into the unknown, but he’s showed great ability to deal with the pressure that goes with playing in a must-win Ashes Test match, so he’s more than capable of dealing with it.
“From our team’s point of view it’s just a non-issue and not something that we ever talk about.”
Nov
1
Hughes: Given is the best!
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Mark Hughes has declared that Shay Given is the best keeper in the Premier League ahead of Man City’s clash against Birmingham. 
Hughes said that Given was right up there with some legends of the game, and was adamant that the Irishman was as good as advertised.
“I played in front of Peter Schmeichel and Neville Southall during my career as a player and I can’t emphasise enough the huge level of comfort you get from having them there,” Hughes told the Mirror.
“Now, having worked with Shay Given over the past 10 months, I would put him right up there alongside the very best ‘keepers I have seen.
“He’s got the experience of hundreds of games in the Premier League, he knows how to marshal his defence, and his presence behind the back four is immense.
“That’s the kind of goalkeeper I wanted for this club - and Shay hasn’t disappointed on any level.
“He has to be up there as the best ‘keeper in the League - if not the best. That’s because he’s got everything. Some ‘keepers are good shot-stoppers or good with crosses. Some ‘keepers can use their feet better than others.”
Given’s move to the City of Manchester Stadium ended the reign of previous Number One, Joe Hart, who has been loaned out to Birmingham.
However, Hughes insists that Hart is in his long-term plans and the loan move was to ensure that the youngster would have a chance to play first-team football.
He said: “Joe Hart is still our player, of course, and we still have a huge regard for his ability. But there have been too many examples when goalkeepers have shone at the start of their careers and then faded.
“They get damaged because they have been in the first team too long too early in their career and haven’t been able to recover when things have gone wrong.
“We didn’t want that to happen to Joe. We still have huge hopes that he will be a top goalkeeper for Manchester City in years to come.
“We were at the stage when we needed an experienced goalkeeper. That’s why I signed Shay Given.”
Hughes also refuted suggestions that the Sky Blues were inadequate in defence, a trait that has resulted in three consecutive draws in the league.
“Defensively we are doing OK,” he insisted. “There’s been suggestions that we are a little bit fallible at set-pieces, but you could direct that criticism at any team in the top six - just look at Chelsea at Villa.”
Nov
1
Benitez: We must win in Lyon
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Rafa Benitez is facing the very real prospect of trying to save Liverpool’s European dream without Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool boss was without his skipper at Fulham in the Barclays Premier League, and is seemingly clutching at straws that Gerrard will be available for Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Lyon.
Liverpool have lost back-to-back Group E matches to Fiorentina and the French club, and a victory in the Stade Gerland is now the only result that will realistically keep the Reds in with a chance of reaching the last 16.
With Fiorentina at home to Hungarian club Debrecen on Wednesday, having already won in Budapest convincingly against the group’s bottom club, Liverpool know they are up against it if they want to snatch one of the two qualifying places.
Lose to Lyon and the French side will have 12 points to Liverpool’s three. If Fiorentina win their match in Florence, they will have nine points.
And that will mean Liverpool are all but doomed with just two games left, with the top two sides being able to engineer a result when they meet in Florence on November 24 that will eliminate the Anfield club.
It is a shattering prospect for Benitez, and would cost Liverpool £20million of UEFA prize money.
Benitez said: “We must win in Lyon. No matter what happens elsewhere, anything but a victory will leave us facing a really bad situation.”
Gerrard is battling to overcome a groin injury, and is facing surgery if he fails to make the Lyon match.
Benitez added: “I do not know yet whether Steven will play in Lyon, we must work with him. But it is true there is a problem.
“We do have a problem if he is not fit for Lyon, it is a crucial time. In three days we will maybe have a better idea.
“He is doing well, and maybe he could be available. But Glen Johnson will be out for five days with a calf tear, so he is a problem too.”
He added: “We know we have to win in Lyon, we do not know what will happen in the other group game with Fiorentina at home to Debrecen, but the Italian club have already won in Hungary, so they must be favourites to win in Florence.
“If they do then we know we just have to win. But we really know that anyway, we already know we have to win to stay in contention.
“We expect Fiorentina to win their match, but football can produce surprises. We can only look after ourselves and try to win our match.”
Without Gerrard, the spotlight will fall elsewhere for the inspiration to keep Liverpool in the European hunt.
And Benitez sees Argentina captain Javier Mascherano as the perfect answer, despite claims of late that the midfielder is not happy and not at his best.
Benitez said: “Javier played his best game of the season when we won against Manchester United last weekend, I am happy with his form now.
“He was worried about whether Argentina would qualify for the World Cup finals, and sometimes you cannot stop players worrying about their countries.
“But they have reached the finals now and he is more relaxed and playing up to his best levels again.
“What happened in the summer with Barcelona is in the past now and not bothering him. We all knew about that interest, but it is not a consideration now.
“He is now doing really well and back to the very best level he was before.”
Liverpool’s form against French clubs, having won their last four matches on French soil in Europe, is good. A fifth is now critical.
Oct
30
Pieterson: Injury break a blessing
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Kevin Pietersen has admitted he was “falling out of love” with cricket before being sidelined by an Achilles injury.
The right-hander has endured a difficult 2009 during which he lost the England captaincy following his public falling out with then coach Peter Moores, before his Ashes campaign was cut short after just two Tests by an Achilles injury.
The right-hander was forced to undergo surgery on the complaint in July, but he believes the time out of the game since has served him well to refresh his mind.
Pietersen will make his return to the national team fold against his country of birth when England head off to South Africa for their winter tour next week, and is confident he will be fully fit to make an impact.
“This year has been one of the toughest of my career, with the captaincy debacle in January plus the injury,” Pietersen told The Times.
“This break has refreshed my head and who knows how I’ll come back as a player. My Achilles won’t hamper me any more and I definitely feel fresh mentally.
“I’ll be starting off really enjoying myself - and this year I haven’t particularly enjoyed playing cricket because I was in pain and because of what happened in January. It’s been a tough thing for me.
“I believe everything happens for a reason and these three months have happened to refresh me and knowing that I was sort of falling out of love with the game, it was a symbol or a sign for me to refresh and recharge my batteries.”
Oct
26
Mascherano: Let’s start again
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Javier Mascherano has urged Liverpool to go on a winning streak to build on their 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
Mascherano feels that this win will be wasted if the Reds lose their next game.
Fernando Torres and David Ngog both scored for Liverpool to grab a 2-0 win at Anfield, with Mascherano bossing the midfield.
The Argentine enforcer was key in the midfield, breaking up United’s forays into Liverpool’s half, before being sent off for a second yellow card, and he know just how important this win is.
Liverpool were on a four-game losing streak in all competitions going into the game, but the victory over United has broken the run and has raised expectations that the Reds are back in the BPL title race.
Mascherano hopes that this win can propel Rafa Benitez’s men up the table, adding: “It was difficult for us to lose four games in a row.
“But now I say, ‘let’s start again’. Now we have won we cannot stop, and (we will) try to keep going. We are pulling together.
“If we want to fight for something we have to play every game like that. We cannot be relaxed with this win, that is the message.”
Liverpool may just trail Chelsea by a mere six points, but Mascherano insists that he is taking it a game at a time.
“We need to think about continuing winning, not to look at the table and seeing we are six points behind Chelsea,” he said. “We have to look forward and not drop important points in the future.
“If we want these three points (against United) to be valuable we have to show this performance in the future.
“Maybe people thought we couldn’t play as we can against the top sides, but we showed we can and we are really happy.”
Oct
25
Liverpool chief stands by Benitez
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Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow insists Rafael Benitez’s job is safe even if the Reds do not win the Premier League this season.
He also says Anfield stars Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are not for sale at any price.
Purslow launched his support of Benitez as Liverpool attempted to arrest a run of four successive defeats against Manchester United this afternoon.
He said: “The most important aspect of the football club I was involved in in my first week in the job was securing Rafa for another five years. You only have to look at the Premiership era and our two major competitors in the last 10 to 12 years to see the benefits of longevity.
“Liverpool Football Club is on a long-term journey and that journey is to be the most successful club, firstly in our country and secondly in the world and you don’t do that by worrying about short-term results. You do that by having long-term plans centring on the people and the strategy. Rafa Benitez is absolutely central to that plan.
“The core of the team which won 86 points last season remains intact with some excellent additions so I have every reason to believe we can perform at that level this season over the season.”
To the direct question of whether he would guarantee Benitez’s position was safe even if the club did not win the league he said: “Yes I would.”
Purslow, who was speaking on BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme, also insisted Spanish striker Torres had no clauses in his contract which allowed him to leave Anfield if they did not qualify for the Champions League.
He said: “Fernando signed an extension to his contract this summer. He has a five-year contract. He is a crucial leader in our team. He loves Liverpool Football Club. He has been fantastic around the place. Fernando Torres and Liverpool Football Club go together and I believe they will go together for the length of his career.”
To the question that he was not for sale at any price, Purslow replied: “Correct.”
The same, he insisted, went for Gerrard, while he said Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, whose future has been the subject of speculation, was also happy at the club.
Purslow said: “He is the leading central holding player in world football. It is inevitable that big clubs will covet players of that quality.
“We also had another central midfielder (Xabi Alonso) coveted by a world team in the summer who left us.
“We sat down with Javier at the time and he reasserted his total commitment to Liverpool. He has had a lot going on with the Argentina (World Cup) qualification situation which is now behind him. He is a hugely important player for us. He is a leader and this week in the aftermath of Lyon he has been a powerful figure.”
Purslow also revealed Liverpool were four weeks into a process of raising new equity in the club which could take six months.
He insisted, however, that it did not mean controversial American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were prepared to sell.
Purslow said: “There has been a huge amount of interest in the club from some extremely wealthy and expert investors but it will take three to six months to pull that together.
“It means there will be new investment into the football club. Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett have no plans to sell their shares. We will be issuing new equity to new investors, broadening our ownership.”
Oct
24
Rooney: Ronaldo is irreplaceable
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Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has revealed that he is missing the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo on the Old Trafford outfit.
Ronaldo left to join Spanish giants Real Madrid during the summer in a deal worth some £80million, taking with him not only an enhanced reputation, but also a prolific goalscoring record.
The talented Portugal international bagged a staggering 118 goals in just 292 appearances for the Red Devils, and his departure prompted United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to tell Rooney that he would need to up his goals tally.
Although happy to oblige, Rooney has been left in doubt as to the impact Ronaldo had during his six-year spell in Manchester.
“I don’t consider I was ever in Ronaldo’s shadow but, no, I’m not happy he left the club and I don’t think any of us are,” he told The Sun.
“I’d prefer him to still be in the team if I’m being honest.
“He’s a brilliant player, irreplaceable, the best player in the world - so no one’s happy he left.
“The manager said he wanted me to score more goals - but then he tells me that every season. As the season goes on, if I am not scoring enough, he’ll tell me I need to improve.
“And if I am scoring goals, he’ll still tell me I need to improve. That’s just how he is.”
Rooney will have a late fitness test ahead of Sunday’s massive Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
United currently find themselves top of the table, and, despite some indifferent early season form, Rooney is adamant that the United juggernaut is set to carry on rolling - regardless of what the critics say.
“It’s funny because as soon as we got beaten at Burnley, people came out saying ‘we’re not as good as last season, we won’t win the title, we’ll be lucky to finish in the top four’ and all that.
“It was laughable, we’d only lost one game. But then they’ve done it the last three seasons when we’ve won the league - the next season they’ve been straight out saying Chelsea are the favourites.
“I think because of United’s dominance over the last couple of decades, a lot of people like to see us lose. We just have to get on with it.”
Oct
8
England reveal South Africa squads
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The England selectors today announced 16-man Test and one-day squads under the captaincy of Andrew Strauss for the tour of South Africa, which begins next month.
The Test squad contains three uncapped players; Surrey wicketkeeper Steven Davies, Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid and the Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright. Durham pace bowler Liam Plunkett has also been recalled to the Test squad.
Essex opener Alastair Cook has been named as vice-captain of the Test squad and has also been recalled to the one-day squad, together with Lancashire quick bowler Sajid Mahmood. Jonathan Trott, who made a century on his Test debut in England’s victory over Australia at the Brit Oval this summer, wins a place in both squads.
ECB national selector Geoff Miller said: “Andrew Strauss has made an outstanding impact as England captain over the past nine months and he will again lead the side in both five-day and one-day cricket in South Africa.
“Paul Collingwood led the side in the World Twenty20 this summer and he will continue to captain in this form of the game as we go forward this winter.
“We are delighted to welcome Steven Davies and Luke Wright into the Test squad for the first time. Steven is a player of great potential who has been a consistent performer for his county and he will act as understudy to Matt Prior in South Africa.
“The retirement of Andrew Flintoff has created a vacancy for an all-rounder in the squad and while we do not see Luke Wright as a like-for-like replacement for Andrew, we are excited by the way in which his all-round game continues to develop and believe he can make an impact at Test level.
“Kevin Pietersen is making good progress with his recovery from surgery on his injured Achilles. He will join up with the rest of the squad in South Africa following the first two Twenty20 internationals and his fitness will be reassessed ahead of the one-day series.
“Stephen Harmison has not been included in the Test squad because we feel his form has not been consistent enough over the past 12 months to justify a regular place in the side and we want to give an opportunity to other players to make a case for selection.
“Liam Plunkett has worked hard to improve all aspects of his game since he last played for England and his selection is reward for consistently putting in strong performances for Durham both with bat and ball. He will provide strong competition for a place in our pace attack this winter.
“Sajid Mahmood is another player who has had a taste of international cricket before and will be equally keen to make an impression in the one-day arena after continuing to show good form with Lancashire.
“Alastair Cook has shown great determination to improve his one-day game this summer, made runs at domestic level in both 50-over and Twenty20 cricket and the selectors believe now is the right time to re-introduce him to our one-day side.
“Likewise, Jonathan Trott who has made an immediate impact in our Test side and has also shown through his performances at domestic level that he has the talent and temperament to succeed in the shorter forms of the game.
“Ravi Bopara and Owais Shah will, of course, be disappointed not to be included in either squad but they are both high class players and will remain in the selectors’ thoughts as we go forward.
“Monty Panesar has struggled to find his best form this summer but he will play domestic first-class cricket in South Africa over the winter and we will continue to monitor his progress closely.”
Test squad:
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, captain)
Alastair Cook (Essex, vice-captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Steven Davies (Surrey)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Liam Plunkett (Durham)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)
One-day squad:
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, captain)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Paul Collingwood (Durham)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Luke Wright (Sussex)
Itinerary:
Nov 1: England squad arrives in SA
Nov 6: President’s XI - 50-over tour match, OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
Nov 8: President’s XI - 50-over tour match, De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Nov 10: South Africa A - 20-over tour match, OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein (d/n)
Nov 13: 1st Standard Bank Pro20 International, Wanderers, Johannesburg (d/n)
Nov 15: 2nd Standard Bank Pro20 International, SuperSport Park, Centurion
Nov 17: South Africa A - 50-over tour match, Senwes Park, Potchefstroom (d/n)
Nov 20: 1st MTN one-day international, Wanderers, Johannesburg (d/n)
Nov 22: 2nd MTN one-day international, SuperSport Park, Centurion
Nov 27: 3rd MTN one-day international, Sahara Park, Newlands, Cape Town (d/n)
Nov 29: 4th MTN one-day international, Sahara Oval, St. George’s, Port Elizabeth
Dec 4: 5th MTN one-day international, Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, Durban
Dec 9-10: SA Airways XI, tour match, Buffalo Park, East London
Dec 11-12: SA Airways XI, tour match, Buffalo Park, East London
Dec 16-20: 1st Castle Test, SuperSport Park, Centurion
Dec 26-30: 2nd Castle Test, Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, Durban
Jan 3-7: 3rd Castle Test, Sahara Park, Newlands, Cape Town
Jan 14-18: 4th Castle Test, Wanderers, Johannesburg
Jan 19: England squad departs