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Leeds United target Charles de Ketelaere has said no to an Elland Road move in recent days, according to RTL Sport journalist Alexandre Braeckman.

The Lowdown: De Ketelaere links

The Whites were first name-checked with an interest in De Ketelaere by Fabrizio Romano last month.

Phil Hay has since added that Leeds are ‘serious’ about signing the Club Brugge star, who they view as a forward, and that the club will also target a winger and midfielder to replace Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha.

Braeckman previously claimed that Leeds were set to make an opening €30m (£25.8m) proposal for the 21-year-old, but it looks as if he is not keen on a move to Yorkshire.

The Latest: Braeckman’s comments

Braeckman was talking to MOT Leeds News regarding De Ketelaere and the links of a move to Leeds.

He revealed that the forward recently ‘said no’ to an Elland Road switch, and the journalist added that he ‘knows’ De Ketelaere’s wish is to play in the Champions League.

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“De Ketelaere said no when Leeds contacted him a few days ago.

“But I’m not around the table, if they’re pushing through, there must have a reason. If they think they can convince him, then they’re right to try, as we are talking about an absolutely brilliant player.

“De Ketelaere needs to play, as he’s looking for a spot in the Belgium squad for the World Cup, but I know he’d like to play Champions League. So if Milan comes too, which is likely to happen, I think it will be hard for Leeds.”

The Verdict: When will Leeds move on?

The Whites may well be fighting a losing battle when it comes to De Ketelaere, especially if AC Milan firm up their interest which, according to Braeckman, is ‘likely’ to happen.

Attacking reinforcements are needed at Elland Road to provide competition to the likes of star man Patrick Bamford and emerging star Joe Gelhardt.

Leeds clearly think De Ketelaere could still be the perfect addition, so it will be interesting to see how long they pursue him before giving up and moving on to an alternative target, especially with the new season fast approaching.

Manchester United will again loan out midfielder James Garner to Nottingham Forest next season, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.

The Lowdown: Garner excels at Forest

The 21-year-old joined Forest on a temporary basis last season, with United seeing it as beneficial to his development in terms of earning more regular minutes.

Garner was a revelation at the City Ground, proving vital to Steve Cooper’s side earning promotion to the Premier League, scoring four goals and registering eight assists in the Championship.

While the midfielder could return to Old Trafford for good this summer, it looks as though that won’t be the case.

The Latest: Garner going back to Forest

Taking to Twitter in sharing his report for Football Transfers, Talbot claimed that Garner would instead return for another season-long loan spell at Forest in 2022/23, amid reported transfer interest from other clubs.

He tweeted:

“Exc: Told Manchester United will fend off interest for James Garner as they wish to keep him permanently – but he will be loaned back to Nottingham Forest. Don’t think Everton or Leeds have a chance at this point.”

The Verdict: Great news for Forest

This is a massive boost for Forest, with Garner’s technical ability in the middle of the park proving to be influential last season.

Only three players registered more goal contributions for the Reds in their promotion campaign, while the 21-year-old led the way for key passes (two) and crosses (1.6) per game, as per WhoScored.

While they might not be getting the youngster on a permanent deal, this would be the next best thing, with Cooper no doubt delighted to retain the youngster’s services.

This boost is especially needed after negative reports surrounding the likes of Brice Samba and Djed Spence, both of whom may not be at Forest next season.

In other news, Forest have been dealt a transfer blow. Read more here.

West Ham United could well be facing a major post-season setback, amid reports that midfield star Declan Rice won’t be signing a new deal.

What’s the word?

According to Claret and Hugh, the Hammers have reportedly ‘confirmed’ that the 23-year-old will not be agreeing to a new contract this summer. This represents a twist as there were ‘hopes’ from within that club that he could commit his future to the London Stadium.

The England international has just two years remaining on his existing deal – with the option of an extra year – having been rumoured to have rejected a remarkable eight-year extension from the east London outfit worth an estimated £83m.

While it would appear he will remain at the club for at least another season, with the Premier League side placing a £150m price tag on his head to ward off any interest, the belief is that he will more than likely be moving on at the end of next term, as per this latest report.

Supporters worried

Although there is the positive news that the £62k-per-week gem should be a West Ham player for the 2022/23 season, that will seemingly only marginally soften the blow, with supporters facing what looks like an inevitable separation with their talisman, something that will no doubt leave them worried.

Having been plucked at the age of 14 after being released by London rivals Chelsea, Rice has gone on to become an integral asset to the Irons, notably taking on captaincy duty in the absence of Mark Noble in recent seasons.

Not just a leading figure at the club, the £67.5m-rated machine is also one of the most prominent players in the division, with pundit Paul Parker suggesting that he is “the best central midfield player in the country”, such has been his standout form of late.

In recent seasons, in particular, the 29-cap colossus has been a real driving force for both club and country, while he compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 5% for interceptions made, as well as in the top 6% for pass completion and the top 9% for progressive carries.

That latter stat is no real surprise, in truth, with the marauding midfielder so often seen winning the ball back in the centre of the park and driving right at the heart of the opposition defence, with his powerful surging runs forward so vital to dragging David Moyes’ side up the pitch.

Of course, with that £150m figure that has been bandied about the former Everton boss could likely strengthen in a number of positions were Rice to be sold, although supporters will no doubt agree that he is a simply unique and irreplaceable asset who would leave a notable void were he to depart.

The Hammers only have to look at the mess that Tottenham Hotspur made with their sizeable, £80m Gareth Bale sale back in 2013, with Spurs proving that even seven new signings couldn’t replicate the talent of just one, leading figure.

It may not be this summer that GSB cash in on their man, although it could prove an anxious 12 months for supporters as they wait and see where the midfielder’s long-term future lies.

IN other news, “Another target…”: Ex drops big WHU summer transfer claim that supporters will love

Celtic wrapped up the SPFL title at the end of Ange Postecoglou’s debut season in charge of the Parkhead club after his appointment back in June.

Despite this impressive feat, the Hoops did, however, fail to secure any of the other domestic trophies and also failed to make their mark in Europe.

This shows that the Bhoys certainly have some progress to make before they can be dominant in all competitions.

Luckily for them, the upcoming summer transfer window can give the Parkhead club the chance to make some improvements to their squad before their next campaign kicks off.

With that in mind, it seems as though an exciting Lennoxtown claim has emerged regarding what this window could look like for Postecoglou’s side.

What’s the talk?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist and transfer insider Pete O’Rourke had this to say about Celtic’s potential transfer plans for the summer window.

“I think if they could get those two in [Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers] it would be good business and they’ll probably be looking at, at least another four, maybe five signings for Celtic.

“I think there are positions in the team that they’ll need to strengthen, especially in midfield with Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic both leaving the club on free transfers, making a couple of midfield spots up for grabs.”

Great news for Celtic

Looking back to the significant overhaul that took place at Celtic during the previous summer transfer window when it came to moving players in and out of the club, this news will certainly reassure Hoops fans that the club’s hierarchy are capable of doing it again this time around.

It’ll also be great for the club to see many new players come in this summer to go on and not only potentially regain the league title but also win more silverware. An important area will also be going further in Europe with their previous Champions League campaigns ending before they’ve barely even got underway.

In addition to the areas of their squad that O’Rourke mentioned for Celtic to focus on in terms of recruitment, it’ll be interesting to see where else the 56-year-old would want to strengthen his side.

This could rely on which current players end up potentially making moves away from the club in the coming weeks and months.

With a recent report from The Athletic claiming that players such as Ismaila Soro, Boli Bolingoli, Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and possibly Christopher Jullien could be getting their bags packed this summer, it would be safe to assume that the club would immediately look to find suitable replacements for them.

Considering they rarely played, finding more high-quality replacements is an eventuality that will delight plenty at Parkhead.

In other news: Postecoglou can finally axe “selfish” flop as Celtic plot bid for £3.78m-rated machine

Victor Osimhen is ‘definitely’ on the ‘radar’ of Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The Nigerian striker joined Napoli in a £67.5m move from Lille in September 2020, and his £112,000-per-week contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona still has more than three years to run.

He has scored 27 goals in his 60 appearances for Napoli to date, including 17 in 30 games this season. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Azzurri will demand at least €100m (£85.6m) to let him leave in the summer.

United are gearing up for Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window in Manchester after he was announced as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor as manager. However, the Red Devils appear to have lost out in the race for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who now looks set to join local rivals Manchester City.

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The latest

Jones has said that Osimhen is an option for United as a centre-forward target in the upcoming transfer window. The player appears to boast the desired profile for Ten Hag, but his price tag could apparently be an issue.

The journalist told GiveMeSport: “He’s a really good player, and definitely somebody that’s on United’s radar for the summer.

“He is extremely expensive. That is a big drawback in terms of pursuing it. He does fit what they’re going to be looking for, though.”

The verdict

You can understand why Ten Hag would want to add a new number nine at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 24 goals this season but he is now 37 years of age, and he could leave at the end of 2022/23 when his contract expires. Meanwhile, fellow veteran Edinson Cavani is poised to leave in a matter of weeks as his deal winds down.

Marcus Rashford is capable of operating as a centre-forward, but he has endured a difficult campaign, scoring only five goals.

Osimhen may come with an eye-watering price tag, but he is only 23 and looks like an elite striker in the making.

The Serie A player of the month for March is a ‘thoroughbred bomber’ who can become ‘world-class’, in the opinion of his manager Luciano Spalletti, and he definitely appears to be a viable alternative to Haaland for United in the transfer market.

In other news, Sky Sports have dropped a live-on-air Paul Pogba update. 

How the St Lucia episode is far different to the punishments and public backlash in Australia in the aftermath of the ball tampering row

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Jun-20184:17

How sweets help alter the condition of the ball

Only two months ago, three Australia cricketers were slapped with long suspensions for their role in the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town. Dinesh Chandimal, however, is unlikely to face punishments beyond the one-Test suspension the ICC has dealt out for the tampering itself (the “spirit of cricket” charge is a separate one). Here is why the two incidents will be treated differently.There is minimal outrage in Sri Lanka
Where Cricket Australia’s response was spurred by public condemnation of the Cape Town incident, Sri Lanka’s public has, at most, expressed only quiet disappointment so far. Two possible reasons why the public reactions have been dissimilar:

• Australian sportspeople are generally put on a high pedestal, and allegations of cheating – even for what was a Level 2 ICC offence – are taken seriously. Sri Lanka’s cricketers are widely admired, but do not face anywhere near the level of public scrutiny that many others from around the world contend with. Several former players, including the super-popular Kumar Sangakkara, have spoken of the relatively laidback nature of Sri Lankan fame. As such, there is not so high an expectation of morality, even from a Sri Lanka captain.
• In general, Sri Lanka’s cricketers are perceived at home to be relatively well-behaved. Although there is widespread disenchantment with the country’s cricket administrators, the players themselves have mostly (but not totally) been immune to public anger over the state of the nation’s cricket. Chandimal, in particular, has cultivated an image of modesty and affability. Compare this with the less glowing public profile of the Australia team in the approach to their tampering fallout. As Brydon Coverdale wrote at the time: “with their culture of sledging, whingeing, hypocrisy and arrogance, Australia’s cricketers… have become an insufferable national migraine.”

The series has mostly been good-naturedAustralia’s ball-tampering had been preceded by sequence of escalating clashes, hearings and controversies that had brought the cricket spinning to a high-intensity vortex. David Warner had a stairwell confrontation with Quinton de Kock – an incident that went on to manifest itself in ugly and provocative ways, such as the masks some fans wore in the subsequent game (two CSA officials were even suspended for having their photo taken with fans wearing those masks). In addition, there were Kagiso Rabada’s brushes with indiscipline, Warner’s aggressive wicket celebrations, and sledging from both sides.This series in the Caribbean has been low-key in comparison. The teams have played to largely empty stands. At no stage has player discipline been an issue. The two quickest bowlers – Shannon Gabriel and Lahiru Kumara – have frequently breached 145kph, but have done so without riling up the opposition. In this context, Chandimal’s tampering was not the cheating cherry on top of an aggro sundae, it was merely a captain seeking an unfair advantage.That Cricket West Indies has been quiet through the whole affair is also unsurprising: SLC is assisting the West Indies board with some of the costs of this tour – costs the hosts would ordinarily be required to bear.Sri Lanka’s long-term tendency has been to forcefully defend its players
This is partly small-country syndrome, and partly skepticism of international cricket officiating based on past events. When faced with official sanctions, Sri Lanka sides have often closed ranks and adopted a siege mentality – a phenomenon that has sometimes inspired them to famous wins, such as in 2014 against England, where Sachithra Senanayake had been reported for a suspect action.There have been many occasions in which this sense of victimhood has been invaluable. The team’s unflinching support of Muttiah Muralitharan through the various unfair discriminations over his action, helped protect the player who would become their greatest matchwinner. In 2015, when Kusal Perera had allegedly tested positive for a banned substance, the board once again backed their player and had him cleared.This, for better or worse, is the culture this Sri Lanka team has inherited, and it explains a little of why the team was so incensed at their captain being charged on Saturday morning, that they refused to take the field for almost two hours. It also explains why SLC and the sports minister had already issued a release stating: “SLC shall take all necessary steps to defend any player, in the event any unwarranted allegation is brought against a member of the team,” before the ICC hearing had taken place.No delegation, no evidence of conspiracy.At Cape Town, Australia’s captain and vice-captain were found to have delegated the actual tampering to one of the most junior members of the side – Cameron Bancroft. Not so here – Sri Lanka’s captain stuck his own neck on the line. What had also made the Cape Town scandal worse, is that the men involved initially lied about the substance used. They first said it had been sticky tape, when it had been sandpaper.There is no strong leadership at SLC at present
Even in the unlikely event that there was public pressure to impose its own penalties on Chandimal, this particular leadership group at SLC is unlikely to take that route. In short: the board is presently defunct. Because the previous office-bearers had failed to hold elections before the end of their term on May 31, the government has stepped in and installed a temporary “competent authority” to run cricket while fresh elections can be organised.SLC still has a functioning CEO, but there are no policy makers to support him, and the government officials who are standing in, have no previous experience in serious cricket administration. It would be almost unthinkable for them to take as serious an action as strip a player of the captaincy, or hand him a suspension anywhere near as lengthy as those dealt to the Australia players.

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha wants individuals to take responsibility for themselves but will make a forceful point when he needs to

Mohammad Isam31-Oct-2016How does the morning after a big Test win look for you?
The reaction is more than what I expected, and not just in Bangladesh, but from the world over. It is beginning to sink in what a big achievement it is.How Bangladeshi do you feel right now?
I am very proud of the players, the board and fans. I think they waited a long time for this, after the Test status. I can see what it means for them as well. I am proud to be part of it.How difficult was it to translate the ODI success into the Test arena, particularly after the gap of 14 months?
The challenge wasn’t much ability-wise. It was about mentally preparing for Test cricket. We had to believe ourselves that we can compete and trust the game plan. The biggest challenge was not to be afraid of losing, and think about winning. We all believed that if we are not afraid to lose, we can achieve bigger things. All credit to the boys again, to believe in that as a group. If you notice lately, the team is not afraid to try things hoping for a better result.What are the major changes between your first Test series – West Indies 2014 – and this Test series?
One day I was watching those matches as they were showing reruns on TV, and I was surprised how much we have changed in every area of the game. Unfortunately I saw Shafiul [Islam] running away from the ball. I don’t mean to use him as an example, but this just sums up their change in attitude, and how they are no longer afraid of anything. Their demeanour has changed. Now they prepare and play to win. People have short memories, so if you watch those videos you can see how far they have come.How did the belief come about?
Belief comes with results. It is harder at the start but one success brings another success. If someone’s there to challenge the way you are doing things, you will always get better. If you’re happy to stay where you were, you will never achieve things. Your success can’t only be quantified by winning, there’s a lot of other things.How much hands-on coaching do you have to do in the Bangladesh team?
This group is still learning. They have a long way to go. Otherwise we would have had more success. I hope that after this win they will have better memories, if they get into such winning positions in the future, to do it on their own. They can find the ways on their own in the middle. There’s a lot of idea-sharing and making sure we create the environment in which they get challenged.When was the first time the idea of playing on these wickets came up in your planning? Who came up with the plan?
It was everyone’s idea. The players have to believe and come up with the plans as well. They have to change their ways of training and mental ability to handle situations, because the players are under pressure, not us. They also came up with those plans, not only us. Once the players start to believe, and embrace the idea, the job is much easier because they will do it.But is there a way to explain what goes on during a batting collapse?
I think it has a lot to do with what goes on between their ears. We don’t see it coming. In this series it was a challenge for everyone because of the pitches. Once that comes into your head, you are in a difficult place. All the training and experience you have goes out of the window once you press that panic button.The other challenge is that when you haven’t won many Tests and you are nearing one [victory], so many ideas come into you. So many people talk to you. We are not bulletproof. It takes a long time, many occasions you face such a situation, and then you come on top. I say, “your computer is full of ideas”, so you find your own solution rather than listening to someone else.You think that game in Bangalore can now be forgotten?
If you try to forget, you lose the sight of what you’re trying to achieve. You must not forget that game. The players have to learn from it. If they forget, they are losing sight of what they have in front of them.What goes through your mind when you see Shakib or Mahmudullah playing the kind of shots they played to get out in the first and second Tests?
They are human beings. They can make mistakes. The quicker they learn, the better for their careers.Hathurusingha wants Mehedi Hasan to enjoy his success but is aware of the challenges ahead for him•Getty ImagesHow much do they learn actually, especially the senior players?
What is the important thing in that situation? If you define that, you can find your own answer.How do you deal with these things when you see a senior player doing such a thing?
The best way to deal with this is for them to realise it. I am always open for them to come and ask me. That’s where the learning starts. Not if I start chasing after them and shouting at them.Are you getting what you want from the players?
I got a lot of support from the players who are open for ideas. I got lot of support from the board members, which is all you want. You don’t need everyone to like you. In that way, you’re pleasing people. The more people criticise you, it means you are challenging what is happening. Results on top of that give you a positive sign.Do you realise that you have challenged many things in Bangladesh cricket?
I know. My career has been like that. I have never been afraid of standing up for what is right. Whether I lose or not, it is all about not being afraid of trying things.When you see young guys like Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehedi Hasan, who have started so well in their international careers, what message do you have for them?
It is a bigger challenge in the subcontinent because this game is more than just a game. It is a huge burden of expectation on a young man to suddenly come from nowhere to stardom. The best thing you need is good people around you to keep your feet on the ground, and to support you and give you proper advice.I had a chat with Mehedi after the game. I told him the first thing you do is celebrate the success with the team-mates. He is a good kid, so he understood the message I was giving him. I hope they will handle it well.How do you look forward to the big challenge of a number of Tests next year being played abroad?
I don’t see it that way. Every day is a challenge, so it is regardless of whether we are playing abroad. We need to come up with a plan that we can believe in. I am happy with executing the plan, regardless of the result.Do you think there can be a way to keep Test specialists like Mominul Haque and Taijul Islam in touch with international cricket?
Yes. A-team tours. If I have failed to highlight that [lack of A-team tours], I don’t think I am doing my job.Everyone is talking about the teatime talk and how Tamim Iqbal was taking charge of the field after the tea break.
The best thing I can tell you is that the big players stood up. I was disappointed and upset that we were nearly wasting another opportunity we had in our hands. I had a chat with the boys. I challenged them to stand up. I told them that this opportunity will never come again. I am glad that a few people stood up and decided to do something different.What does Hathurusingha do when he gets angry?
I think I have kicked only two things in the two and a half years (). I am just joking. I can’t get angry as a head coach. I have to be the filter between the players and the ideas. At the same time we have to get the message across.Are you going through the best phase of your coaching career?
I always expect to do better in the future. I am enjoying the job.What makes you more proud – the result or their overall improvement?
The improvement. How they take ownership of their success and failure makes me more proud.

A chronicle of the most hedonistic period in English cricket, long before the bosses woke up to professionalism

David Hopps18-Jul-2015Such is the professionalism implanted in English cricket as a matter of course these days that the 1980s increasingly seem to be a hallucination. For an entire decade, the England side paraded its inadequacies, its excesses and its downright fun on the back pages of the tabloids, lurching from one crisis to the next in the most frenzied of soap operas.It was not all bad. There was a World Cup final appearance in India, three Ashes victories, and a win in India that would not be repeated for 28 years. Even the two 5-0 defeats against West Indies could easily be explained away by the sheer ferocity, with bat and ball, of one of the greatest Test sides of any era.But it was also laughter, incredulity and anger that tracked England through the most colourful and shameless of decades, a period when rampant individualism was rife, incompetent administrators belonged to a bygone age and were entirely unqualified – or not minded – to cope, and a voracious tabloid media in thrall to Ian Botham was at its most powerful and intrusive.It is easy to sympathise with the view expressed by John Emburey, the former England offspinner, that no professional sport had ever operated in such an amateurish fashion as England cricket did in the 1980s. Selection was hapless and haphazard, overseen for the most part by Peter May, who might well have been an exquisite middle-order batsman in the 1950s, but whose distance from those he sat in judgement on was an abdication of responsibility that only a man of considerable breeding could contentedly pass off. Surely England have never selected as chaotically as they did in the 1980s.David Tossell, five times shortlisted in the British Sports Book awards, would seem to be a reliable guide to a decade where English cricketers’ fondness for rebel South African tours brought them into conflict with politicians, racial tension dogged series against Pakistan in particular, sex and drugs scandals regularly filled the back pages, and where Botham became English cricket’s first no-holds-barred tabloid celebrity.Tossell tells the story of the decade efficiently enough through the recollections of many of those involved – a considerable number of whom hold prominent positions in the game today. But this is a strangely strait-laced rendition for a book entitled Sex & Drugs & Rebel ToursPitch PublishingEven the commitment that royalties will go to the PCA Benevolent Fund does little to break the code of “what goes on tour stays on tour” or encourage any real attempt at self-analysis by those involved. This is a decade that shrugs occasionally but believes it had more fun and sees no reason to apologise. Fun, along with the cricket, was part of the deal then.Neither is there a concerted attempt to explain or examine the social conditions that meant English cricket found itself in the perfect storm.In the 1980s, Thatcherism was the political creed of the day. Self-asserting individualism was encouraged and many of the old structures were unable to cope. There was no more creaking and antiquated structure than the Test and County Cricket Board – the forerunner of the ECB and little better than an Old Boys’ Club – which sent impressionable young cricketers abroad with no more backup than a tour manager and a former professional to carry the bags and organise the nets sessions and wondered why things got out of hand.As behaviour became more ribald, and alcohol was joined by enough dope-smoking for some players to begin to believe, in the words of The Who, that “the stars were connected to the brain”, the paternalistic instinct of the traditional cricket correspondent to concentrate only on the field of play was broken down by a more aggressive tabloid culture and, in Botham, they were able to document the hard-living lifestyle of one of England’s finest cricketers, much of it supervised, lightly, by his gracefully talented, insouciant captain, David Gower.England’s cricketers were living the heady final years before the public demanded more responsibility from the professionals they followed so avidly and now knew so much more about. “The personality and apparent peccadillos of Botham were now moving international cricketers into a new neighbourhood, one with a camera and notebook on every corner,” Tossell writes. Some journalists still talk longingly of the 1984 tour of New Zealand as the “tour of shame” and go misty-eyed at the memories.England was also out of step with much of the cricketing world. Few cricketers committed with any sense of social justice to the fight against apartheid, preferring to stay loyal to friends in South Africa and the prospect of a good payday, and they were repeatedly offended when their stance was questioned, parroting the belief that sport and politics should never mix.And, in the days before TV replays and neutral umpires, when upcountry hotels in Pakistan were an unwelcome imposition, an England captain could be involved in a slanging match with an umpire, Shakoor Rana, stumps could be bashed to the floor, and Botham could joke that Pakistan was the sort of place to pack off the mother-in-law.The first signs of change came in 1986, when Micky Stewart, father of Alec, who was to go on to captain his country, was appointed team manager in 1986 to sort out discipline. He sought to establish the prototype of a framework that Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower would develop so successfully, but there was another painful decade or more before it really began to have effect.Sex & Drugs & Rebel Tours: The England Cricket Team in the 1980s
By David Tossell
Pitch Publishing
256 pages, £18.99

The commanding performances of Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and Tim Southee against West Indies, with a little support from their team-mates, meant a dominant New Zealand showing. They’ll need more of the same when India arrive

Andrew Alderson23-Dec-2013New Zealand’s performance in the three-Test series against West Indies illustrated the value of a “core four”, who, with support from their team-mates, can reignite the country’s prowess in the longer format.The 2-0 series win is difficult to place into context given the calibre of a West Indies side missing Chris Gayle and a host of bowling options, one of whom, Shane Shillingford, was banned for an illegal action during the series.However, Ross Taylor, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson demonstrated New Zealand’s capabilities. At the very least, it has heightened anticipation for February’s series against India, given India’s parity against South Africa in their Johannesburg draw.The reassuring thud of Taylor’s bat against West Indian deliveries will be the series’ abiding memory.He became the second New Zealand player to score centuries in three consecutive Tests. Mark Burgess is the only other to achieve the feat. Burgess did it over 27 months (November 1969-February 1972) against three countries (Pakistan, England, West Indies); Taylor achieved the feat in 19 days against one and finished with a series average of 247.50.Taylor achieved a scroll of statistical accolades. His average of 47.51 is the country’s best for those who have played more than 20 innings. He joined Nathan Astle on 11 Test centuries with only Martin Crowe (17) and John Wright (12) ahead of him. His 495 runs are the second-most by a New Zealand batsman in a three-Test series (Andrew Jones made 513 against Sri Lanka in 1991). Taylor’s 866 runs in a calendar year (from 16 innings at an average of 72.16) are the second-most by a New Zealand batsman (John R Reid made 871 across 24 innings in 1965).His consistency enabled New Zealand to negotiate a green pitch in Wellington and repel the troublesome spin of Sunil Narine in Hamilton. Add his highest Test score (217 not out) in Dunedin and seven slips catches; it represents the best series of his career.Williamson missed the opening Test due to a hand injury but completed innings of 45, 58 and 56 on return. Add 114, 74 and 62 from the series in Bangladesh and you have 409 runs at an 81.80 average since his productive county stint with Yorkshire.He anchored the final innings chase for 122 with surety of footwork and a high left elbow in defence. It minimised anxious moments for New Zealand fans.Boult and Southee headed the bowling operation. Evidence suggests the pair is capable of scything through talented batting line-ups. India – particularly Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma – could provide their steepest test. Throw in green tracks and it will be an absorbing contest.Boult’s 20 wickets at 15.40 and Southee’s 18 wickets at 18.11 in this series showed they have taken up the mantle of Chris Martin. Boult’s swing, movement, pace and accuracy, including his 10-wicket bag in Wellington, meant the 24-year-old rocketed into third for wickets taken this year (46 in 12 Tests) behind Stuart Broad (59) and James Anderson (48) who have played one more Test.Southee completed the year as the 12th New Zealand player to take 100 Test wickets. He took three wickets in his final over to finish with a tally of 101.Like in the 1980s era, with Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe, the core four need backing. It was present against West Indies but becomes paramount with the arrival of India, the world’s second-ranked Test side.How do their team-mates stack up?

• Brendon McCullum produced a seventh Test century in Dunedin and 37 to support Taylor in Wellington. He appears to lead the team well but his form can’t afford to dip against India with Jesse Ryder accumulating three centuries and two 80s in five Plunket Shield matches.
• Corey Anderson is perhaps most vulnerable to Ryder’s resurgence but with a Test average of 37 in five matches and 11 wickets at 19.36, he has achieved. It would be a cruel and inconsistent twist to the selection policy to remove him from a winning side.
• Likewise Ish Sodhi has shown enough promise to be retained. It could depend on Daniel Vettori’s fitness but McCullum’s statement that Sodhi’s “looking forward to the India series” hints he’ll get picked. The only problem might lie with India’s accomplished techniques against spin. Sodhi’s skills will come under scrutiny, especially trying to stymie the boundary balls dished up in a legspinner’s search for control.
• Neil Wagner looks steady as the third pace bowler. He doesn’t get the glory of Boult and Southee but always does his fair share of grunt work in unfavourable conditions.
• BJ Watling keeps progressing as the wicketkeeper-batsman. His batting (average 42) impressed in three outings at No. 7, as did his keeping. Watling gave away six byes during a series where West Indies faced 2863 deliveries. The only ‘work-on’ (to use the modern parlance) might be up to the stumps against Sodhi’s legspin.

One area which could face selection scrutiny is the opening combination of Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford. They look competent on relatively flat pitches but have struggled technically (Fulton) or with discipline (Rutherford) when it comes to knuckling down on the seaming surfaces of England or Wellington. They had an opening stand of 95 in the first innings against West Indies in Dunedin but followed up with partnerships of 3, 14, 18 and 33 (series average 32.6). Rutherford’s 48 not out to see the team home in Hamilton earned him kudos.The pair might be under observation but an average opening partnership of 38.41 in 17 innings reads strongly. Compare that to the average of 31.82 in 56 innings between John Wright and Bruce Edgar, often cited as New Zealand’s best. However, in Wright and Edgar’s defence, they frequently faced West Indian and Australian attacks which, in the early 1980s, contained some of history’s quickest and most accurate bowlers. In contrast, Fulton and Rutherford have padded up against England, Bangladesh and the weaker West Indies of the modern era.

Stephen Chalke’s book on Micky Stewart is neither a biography nor an autobiography, but it works because it tells fascinating stories about its very likeable subject

Paul Edwards14-Oct-2012Micky Stewart’s father, Hector, was a professional gambler. One day, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, he came home from the races having won a lot of cash, only to find that his success prompted a disagreement about money. So Hector Stewart took a £10 note and, to the consternation of his wife, told his young son to throw it in the fire. Micky did so. “Never let money be your god,” the father told his child.It was a curious command from someone whose life was filled with the intricacies of odds and the realities of financial loss, and one of the pleasures of Stephen Chalke’s book about the former Surrey and England player and manager is that its 300 or so pages are filled with such intriguing recollections, vividly and unfussily told. They help unpack the fascinating life story of a man who has been closely involved with cricket for over 60 years and whose outlook on the world was formed by his parents’ values of integrity, dislike of hypocrisy, and belief in hard work.Stewart needed a strong ethical code too, not least as England manager in the late 1980s, when he had to deal with foolish players, dictatorial TCCB officials, and rapacious journalists who were keen to report any scandal and not averse to setting one up if nothing juicy was immediately available. Indeed, after a summer in which off-field issues have been dominated merely by the KP affair, during which England’s Test captaincy passed from Andrew Strauss to Alastair Cook with the ease of a boardroom handover at a successful multinational, it is useful to be taken back to a period that saw rebel tours to South Africa, an on-field slanging match between a Test captain and an umpire, and a five-Test series against West Indies into which England contrived to squeeze four captains.Facing such a variety of pressures, Stewart reminded one rather of the character Jim Prideaux in John le Carré’s novel : an essentially decent man with simple loyalties who was betrayed by some of those around him. He found it difficult to understand those who would endanger the interests of English cricket for financial gain.”As an Englishman, are you proud of this?” he asked a tabloid journalist after the headline “GATT THE PRAT” had appeared in his paper. All these travails, as well as the successful 1986-87 tour of Australia, are faithfully recorded by Chalke. Stewart’s own recollections and observations, along with those of other players and administrators, are quoted at length. It may not be the definitive history of a troubled time – indeed, it is not intended to be – but it is a very good read and a revealing insight into the thinking of a man whose management style married the strict with the sympathetic.The book is full of forward thinking and fond reflection. Stewart’s ideas for the development of the English game were ahead of their age, and his stress on fitness foreshadowed the detailed physiological analysis and preparation of the modern era. Indeed, can almost be seen as a prequel to face did not change. Hector Stewart would be proud of his son.Micky Stewart and the Changing Face of Cricket
by Stephen Chalke
Fairfield Books