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Lasith Malinga’s searing yorkers removed Chris Simpson and Andy Bichel with successive balls © Getty Images

Performances in tour games should not be used to dismiss a team’s Test chances, but the batting displays from the Sri Lankans against Queensland have provided plenty of concern. The top and middle orders struggled in both innings before help came from lower down, and it was the bowlers who frightened the hosts again as they sneaked home by four wickets.With Queensland needing 142 for victory, Farveez Maharoof surged through the first three batsmen and Lasith Malinga’s searing yorkers accounted for Chris Simpson and Andy Bichel in consecutive balls. The Bulls had suddenly lost 5 for 16 and an easy chase of 142 became a seriously difficult one. Clinton Perren (62 not out) absorbed the pressure, coped with the loss of Chris Hartley and led the Bulls with support from Ashley Noffke’s 21.Maharoof, who had six victims for the game, collected a trio of edges, including the important one of Andrew Symonds, who could not make an impact in either innings ahead of his first Test in Brisbane. Mahela Jayawardene grabbed the stunning left-handed catch at second slip to make sure the visiting batsmen will not be the only ones feeling uncertain before heading to the Gabba on Thursday.It is almost impossible to win matches against Australia with a fragile line-up and while the home attack will miss Glenn McGrath there are still plenty of threats for tentative shot-makers. The main worries for the Sri Lankans, who will be without the injured Kumar Sangakkara, are that their captain Mahela Jayawardene and the opener Sanath Jayasuriya have struggled for runs in the springy Queensland conditions.The senior players will be heavily targeted by the Australians and the final day of the tour match at Allan Border Field started with the Sri Lankans hoping Jayawardene would add significantly to his overnight 22. However, the shoulders of the tourists slumped when he edged trying to drive Mitchell Johnson and finished with a double of 35 and 0.A firmer, bouncier pitch than the one produced here is likely for the Gabba, which will intensify the difficulties with rising deliveries. Eight of the Sri Lankans’ second-innings dismissals fell to catches in the cordon as Johnson, Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz and Bichel caused the discomfort. In the final session Sri Lanka returned some of the pain.Queensland’s fast-bowling duties were scaled back after lunch when the legspinner Daniel Doran was given 10.5 overs and was dominated by Chaminda Vaas. Vaas, who outshone his more accomplished team-mates with a sparkling 84 from 76 balls, was the reason the Sri Lankans reached 226.After watching his batsmen fail, Vaas strode out and quickly stepped into boundary mode. Bichel and Symonds were both hit for two fours in an over between point and cover and Vaas’ half-century arrived after 40 balls. His two sixes then came from Doran, who finished the innings when Vaas clipped to midwicket. Malinga had joined the late rally by thrashing Johnson for three fours in an over during a short battle that will be resumed over the next week.The bright conclusion came after the dark start to the Sri Lankans’ morning. Noffke opened with another breakthrough early in his spell when he forced Chamara Silva to deflect a short ball to Maher at second slip, dropping the Sri Lankans to 5 for 64. They were again troubled by Noffke’s pace and movement and he picked up 3 for 21 on the way to match figures of 8 for 57.Jayawardene tried unsuccessfully to steer his side and Maharoof, who is a contender for No. 7 in the first Test, was upset by the lift created by Kasprowicz and edged to Perren. Prasanna Jayawardene offered some promise with a half-century in the first innings and he again seemed in control, hooking a Symonds long-hop for six. However, Jayawardene’s resistance ended on 22 when he became Kasprowicz’s third victim and the side was in deep trouble at 8 for 133. Vaas arrived in a hurry, but his performance could not mask the dangerous problems at the other end of the order.

As the clearout across the counties continues, Sussex have released Sean Heather, Neil Turk and Tim Linley. Sussex say they have released Heather, 24, and Turk, 23, because of their age and their ‘perceived lack of future opportunity’ while it was simply stated for Linley that ‘opportunities are sparse’.Sussex’s cricket Manager, Mark Robinson, said of Heather and Turk: “Both have been outstanding in how they have conducted themselves, always with grit and integrity and great enthusiasm.”He praised Linley’s “willingness to work hard and help others whenever possible.” Linley, 24, played one first-class match for Sussex, against Sri Lanka, in 2006. Heather had just two first-class appearances for Sussex in his two years there, while Turk, a graduate of the Academy, had just one.

Scorecard

Only 2.1 overs play were possible in the opening match at Grace Road © Leicestershire CCC

The opening match of the International 20:20, between Chilaw Marians, the Sri Lanka champions, and a PCA Masters XI, was reduced to a bowl-out of stumps in the indoor school at Leicester. The PCA won 6-2 after only 2.1 overs were possible at Grace Road before the heavens opened for a second time.The PCA Masters XI – including a mixture of county players, fringe and former international cricketers – had won the toss and opted to bowl first. An experiment of giving the first over to Chris Gayle was an expensive decision as he went for 16 runs. But Jon Lewis, the Gloucestershire and England seamer, conceded just a single before the players were forced off the field.After their bowl-out win the PCA take two points and with the weather still poor the remaining two matches on the opening day of the tournament are heading the same way.
The second match of the opening day in the International 20:20 was also decided by a bowl-out as rain continued to fall at Grace Road. Leicestershire won 5-3 in the indoor school to take two points.Darren Maddy, Hylton Ackerman, John Sadler, Jim Allenby and Jeremy Snape were on target as the batsmen showed the bowlers how it should be done. Although Abdul Manan and Mohammad Hafeez scored hits with their first bowls for the Wolves, they struggled after that with only Imran Khalid being successful.
The third match of the day was, again, decided by a bowl-out. PCA were trailing 5-4 in a thrilling nail-biter, and were indebted to Jon Lewis, who saved the day by rattling the stumps with the final attempt.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have been handed a stark ultimatum by Sport England: get your act together or risk losing funding.Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said: “We are concerned that the governance of the ECB may threaten the future growth and success of this sport. We may have to consider future funding if significant changes are not made before cricket’s four-year business plan is submitted in November.”Draper, speaking in blunt terms, was critical of the board which he said was unaccountable and undemocratic. He was speaking following the publication of The Sports Nexus Report on English Cricket today.The survey claimed that England’s recent good form has failed to lift the pervading sense of gloom around the national team. ECB officials will be disappointed to read that nearly half of the supporters questioned said that they should be given only little or absolutely no credit at all for the national team’s success.And equally damning was the assessment of the job the ECB is doing with the grass-roots game. Around 53% of those questioned were either fairly or very dissatisfied with the structure and support given to cricket at the lower levels.A statement from Sport England said that they had, "become increasingly concerned by the governance of English cricket and have endeavoured to work with all parties to modernise this sport. The approach to the ECB has been inclusive, charting a course of reform from within. Sport England has worked with all key partners including the ECB, the MCC, cricket sponsors and broadcast partners.”

Day One report: Weston hundred highlights Zimbabwe’s inadequaciesClose Middlesex 516 for 6 dec. (Weston 129, Weekes 102*, Brown 98) lead Zimbabwe 176 for 2 (Vermeulen 59, Carlisle 39*) by 340 runsMark Vermeulen and Stuart Carlisle went some way to restoring a bit of national pride – not that there’s been much of it on this tour – as Zimbabwe finished the second day’s play at Shenley on 176 for 2, 340 runs behind Middlesex. Paul Weekes and Michael Brown had earlier subjected Zimbabwe – whose bowling looked as bankrupt as their country’s economy – to long and fruitless day-and-a-half in the field.At a sun-baked Denis Compton Oval, Zimbabwe failed to take a wicket throughout the morning session, in which Weekes and Brown tucked in to some wayward bowling. Brown started the morning with no score to his name, and it surprisingly took him a further 15 minutes to get off the mark – to the 35th ball he received. This was more through nerves than good bowling, though, as the Zimbabwean seamers again produced their regular assortment of the good, the bad and the ugly. Brown soon started to gain in confidence to the extent that he began to outscore Weekes, and set the tone of his innings by smashing all of his first 36 runs in boundaries.Brown, aged 23 and making a rare appearance in place of the rested David Alleyne, smashed 18 fours and one six in all during a partnership of 184 with Weekes before, aiming for his century with another boundary, swung at Grant Flower and was caught on the long-leg boundary by Sean Ervine for 98. He quite rightly deserved a standing ovation from the 1000-strong crowd, and he also received a smattering of applause from the Zimbabwe bowlers, who were relieved at finally taking a wicket. The total was exactly 500 when Brown departed – the first time Zimbabwe had conceded a total that high in England.And after Weekes brought up his century – off 209 balls with 16 fours – halfway through the afternoon session, Middlesex declared on 516 for 6 – their highest ever total against a touring team. None of the Zimbabwean bowlers returned figures they would want to remember, with Ervine, Travis Friend and Raymond Price all conceding unwanted centuries.However, in the Zimbabwe reply, the Middlesex bowlers were none too clever at finding their line either, and openers Dion Ebrahim and Mark Vermeulen got things under way with a series of easy singles mixed with an occasional powerful cover-drive. Vermeulen, in particular, then stepped up the pace in the evening session to reach his fifty off 65 balls, while Ebrahim, though, was a little too impatient in trying to keep up, and he paid the price when he chipped a catch to Chris Peploe at mid wicket off the bowling of Weekes. Ebrahim departed for 30, ending a promising opening stand of 96.And Vermeulen did not last much longer either, playing all over a yorker from Thos Hunt to be bowled for 59. Stuart Carlisle then maintained his reputation for taking an age to get off the mark before finally pulling a boundary, and with the help of another grafter, Flower, the pair saw Zimbabwe to the close. They did, however, have a little good fortune as both snicked balls over the slips to the boundary, but they and the rest of the batsmen are going to need some more fortune tomorrow to keep in touch with Middlesex’s huge first innings.

It could be said New Zealand Cricket got itself into quite a ‘State’ today.The worst-kept secret in New Zealand sport is out today, State Insurance has become the sponsor of domestic cricket.It will have naming rights for four competitions, State Max, the State Championship which is the men’s four-day competition, the State Shield which is the men’s one-day competition and the State League which is the women’s one-day competition.All of New Zealand’s major associations are also under the State banner now that Canterbury has joined.Teams will be known as: (Men’s) State Auckland Aces, State Northern Knights, State Central Stags, State Wellington Firebirds, State Canterbury Wizards, State Otago Volts; (Women’s) State Auckland Hearts, State Northern Spirit, State Central Hinds, State Wellington Blaze, State Canterbury Magicians, State Otago Sparks.New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden said the sponsorship would give a much-needed fillip to the domestic game at its top level.”For the past five years New Zealand Cricket has concentrated much of its effort on strengthening the elite level of the game and appropriately resourcing the CLEAR Black Caps and CLEAR White Ferns.”This investment has paid off with the winning of the ICC KnockOut and CricInfo Women’s World Cup respectively.”However, it is now time to focus on revitalising the domestic game,” he said.The sponsorship would allow NZC to provide a comprehensive domestic programme which was the key to producing strong international teams.”It is interesting to note that there has been significant improvement in the standard of the women’s game since the sponsorship of State allowed the introduction of a national league three summers ago,” Snedden said.”Strengthening our senior men’s domestic cricket competitions is an immediate priority for NZC.”State’s chief executive David Smith said domestic cricket helped New Zealand’s largest insurer to reinforce its presence in communities nationwide through a direct association with the premier sport for both men and women.”It gives us the opportunity to support and develop up and coming young talent throughout the regions where we’ve always had a strong presence and loyal customer base,” he said.

Arsenal are ready to make a shock move for out-of-favour Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou , according talkSPORT.

The 26-year-old Ivorian is out of contract at the end of the season and, with Andre Villas-Boas ’ blessing, is ready to speak to interested clubs.

Kalou has only managed to start four games for Chelsea this season under AVB and looks set to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.

This has alerted the attention of Arsene Wenger , who is looking to add to his striking options despite bringing back Arsenal legend Thierry Henry on loan.

It is understood that Wenger will offload either Marouane Chamakh , who seems to have lost his way since the return of Robin van Persie last January, or Andrey Arshavin , who has become more and more ineffective as the years have rolled by since his big money move from Zenit in 2009.

Wenger, who has been linked with Kalou in the past, is thought to have made an enquiry about a proposed move this month, with the Frenchman readying a £3 million bid to land him.

However, Kalou’s reported £90,000-a-week wages could prove to be a problem for the Frenchman, and will have to fight off interest from Italian outfit Juventus if he wants to acquire the Ivory Coast international.

Article courtesy of  Tony Merakli from Gunnersphere

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Nicklas Bendtner, all footballers need an air of arrogance about them to succeed but the big Dane oversteps the mark more than John Terry on Chelsea’s version of ‘Wife Swap’. The striker has become a ridiculed figure after numerous, well lets not beat around the bush, remarkably egotistical comments about his ability and ambitions. ‘I’m very sorry to see Adebayor injured as we need him fit and to be playing in the league. But it does not really matter to me who is fit and available I should start every game, I should be playing every minute of every match and always be in the team.’ (four four two)

It is one thing talking the talk but walking the walk is a totally different matter and as of yet Bendtner’s progress at Arsenal has been more of a slow burn rather than a red hot inferno lighting up the Emirates and despite this the Arsenal man continues spouting absolute gems, such as “I want to be top scorer in the Premier League, top scorer at the World Cup and, within five years, I want to be among the best strikers in the world.” (mirror football) Ok so not the most ludicrous thing for an up and coming forward to say, however this was Bendtner bragging after winning Danish Player of the Year, with all due respect, what was his closest rival? A pastry.

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Even among Arsenal fans, Nicklas Bendtner will never top the popularity charts at the Emirates. I mean even Robbie ‘Everyone hates me but I don’t care’ Savage is embraced and loved by his own fans. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Bendtner is the same man who missed a sitter in the final moments of Arsenal’s second leg clash against Barcelona costing them a place in Quarter Finals of the Champions League but goes on to justify his enormous weekly salary by saying “There is a price to pay as well for us players…the biggest thing I miss because of football is that I really, really love to go on a skiing holiday but as long as I have my career, I can’t do that because of the risk of being injured.” (The Hardly Normal Best eleven) Comedy gold right there; I’m sure in his retirement there will be enough in the bank to enjoy the odd ski trip but one thing is for sure Bendtner will no doubt be a pro on the slopes, well at least he will think he is.

This next bit is just so brilliant it sounds like it should be made up, in a recent psychological ‘self-percieved competence’ test at Arsenal, the Danish international scored 10, on a scale that only went up to 9, Bendtner is so assured of his ability, he scored off the charts, quite remarkable but probably oh so accurate, especially when you read in an interview from the end of last season with regards to Bendtner’s goal drought a journalist asked Arsene Wenger how would he boost the player’s confidence. The journalist added at the end: “Not that he needs a boost, of course.” The thing is with Arsenal’s ‘homegrown’ forward is that he is not a bad striker, he is just not nearly as good as he says he is. “If you ask me if I am one of the best strikers in the world, I say yes.” (Daily Mail)

Rant Over…kind of, despite his obvious arrogance in abundance, does the self proclaimed Great Dane really warrant the ‘abuse’ I have directed his way in the previous paragraphs? Well yes. The Danish international has been at the North London since 2004 and the signs were promising; with prolific performances in the reserves and impressive showings on loan at Birmingham, which subsequently forced his emergence into the first team squad in the season of 2007/08, Bendtner appeared to really have ‘the bit between his teeth’. But as Arsenal’s team have evolved, it has become apparent that their players need to be versatile, something which Bendtner is not. He is very much a specialist player, who can only offer one thing to the Arsenal side and that, coupled with squandered chances, an innate inability to beat players one-on-one and his lack of aerial prowess considering his height, really means that Arsenal should cash in on any move Bendtner creates for himself with his own media hyperbole.

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Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!

When Manchester United won the league in 2008 and 2009, they played a formation that was quite different to the one they employed last season. The team played a 4-3-3 with Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney playing as three interchangeable forwards. With the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez at the start of last season, the formation changed largely to that of a 4-5-1, with three central midfielders and two wingers playing behind the lone front-man in the form of Wayne Rooney. The Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez triumvirate brought great success to Man Utd, picking up two league titles and a Champions League triumph. This season, Sir Alex Ferguson may just have the personnel to replicate that formula, with Berbatov and Hernandez available for selection. Hernandez is obviously relatively unproven, and Berbatov is yet to find his true form for United, but this has the potential to form a devastating strikeline that would strike fear into the hearts of Premier League defences.

In Manchester United’s first game of the current season, a 4-4-2 formation was employed. It was one that Ferguson also used last season, with two central midfielders, two classic wingers in the form of Nani and Antonio Valencia, and two strikers in Berbatov and Rooney. This might well be the formation that Ferguson uses for the majority of the season, that is as long as Berbatov is firing. If he is not Hernandez could be brought in, or Ferguson could revert back to the 4-5-1 he used last season. The formation worked against Newcastle, but there will be much tougher tasks for Man Utd as they take on the top sides at home and abroad. In this case, and especially in away games, it is probable that Sir Alex will want to have three in the centre of midfield. In this case United could play a 4-5-1, or they could use a 4-3-3.

The latter formation could prove to be a potent attacking force for Man Utd this season. Javier Hernandez has pace to burn and could operate anywhere in a front three. Dimitar Berbatov is probably most suited to a central striking role, with his first touch and ability to hold up the ball a great asset going forward. The Bulgarian is no slouch however, and he has the ability to pick out killer passes so he could also interchange within a front three. In the Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez trio, Rooney was given a free role, and although he scored less goals he also set more up, and was able to use his energy to greater effect. With three midfielders behind them, Rooney, Berbatov and Hernandez would have license to concentrate solely on attack, and few defences would fancy their chances of holding out.

The formation does have its drawbacks however. Tevez and Ronaldo were tremendously gifted players and are not easily replaced, there is no guarantee that the formation with different personnel would enjoy the same success. Hernandez looks a great talent but is still unproven, whilst Berbatov has tremendous ability but does not always perform. Rooney, playing as a lone striker last season, scored more goals in that position. The formation might also lack width, if Ferguson did select these three forwards it is unlikely that he would also pick Nani and Valencia and this could pose its own problems.

Sir Alex Ferguson has lots of options this season, something he perhaps lacked somewhat last term. As of yet we do not know what formation he is going to settle on, but the 4-3-3 will definitely be worth a try, if it plays as well as it looks on paper, Manchester United could have a fearsome frontline this season.

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Manchester City travel to the Midlands to face West Brom desperate to keep their noses ahead of rivals United at the top of the Premier League table.

They’ll be in for one of their tougher fixtures of the season against Roy Hodgson’s side who will be full of confidence after two successive wins on the road. The Baggies have soared up into the top half table on the back of those two victories and now sit seven points clear of the relegation zone. A mixed start to the season left Hodgson and his players facing a battle to pull themselves away from danger but after beating struggling Blackburn at Ewood Park last Saturday they emerged victorious from their trip to Newcastle four days later to fly into 10th. That win on Tyneside was arguably their finest performance of the campaign as they tore the Magpies apart on their own patch. Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie were the stars of the shower as they terrorised the Newcastle back four with their pace and movement with Odemwingie scoring for the second successive game. Those two will need to be on top form if Albion are to end 2011 on a high against the champions elect.

City have been simply delicious this year and will be hoping to end it in style starting with victory over West Brom to keep themselves ahead in the title race. Roberto Mancini delivered the FA Cup and Champions League football in 2011 but holding the Premier League title aloft in 2012 is the Italians primary objective. Their lead over fierce rivals United has been cut to just two points over the last month or so and maintaining that advantage will be tough going into the New Year. Defeat to Chelsea looked like it could possibly derail their challenge for the title but wins and clean sheets against Arsenal and Stoke in the space of four days has put them back on track. With a squad possessing players like Sergio Agüero and David Silva it’s inconceivable that City could throw away their chance at claiming Premier League glory. They’ll begin the second phase of their mission at the Hawthorns and will be confident of providing the Citizens faithful with a late Christmas present in the Midlands.

West Brom 10th : 21 points 

Team news: Albion will be without key players Youssuf Mulumbu and Steven Reid after both picked up injuries at Newcastle on Wednesday. James Morison could return after missing the trip to Tyneside.

Key Player: Shane Long

What a season it’s been for Albion’s record signing so far with his performance against Newcastle arguably his best since he joined the club. Long’s pace and movement made him unplayable and he’ll be eager to pit his wits against City’s world class back four.

Manchester City 1st : 44 points 

Team news: City are still without Micah Richards and Edin Dzeko but have no other injuries to report.

Key Player: Sergio Agüero

The Argentinean has been in stunning form since his big money summer move and with 16 goals to his name already he is already a shoe in for the Golden Boot. Will be expected to provide more goals in 2012 to ensure his debut season in England ends in success.

PREDICTION

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West Brom will be full of confidence after consecutive wins but come up against a City side who are desperate to keep their place on top of the league. Roberto Mancini’s side should have more than enough to see off Albion at the Hawthorns.

Score: 0-3 

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