14 Friday 9th January, 2009

resigned.” “I don’t think so. Brian Stewart feels Pietersen may Lara, , Geoff look back with some regret at Boycott - don’t put them any- the developments which seem- where near the captaincy; keep Gooch - England ingly caused the end of his them as your star player.” reign after just over five Former England months. Nasser Hussain is exasperated “In football the manager by an unnecessary crisis runs everything,” said the for- which, he believes, is of the mer Surrey wicketkeeper-bats- ECB’s own making. ‘an unholy mess’ man. “What disappoints me is “If any Manchester United there was no real need for Former England captain before a big series in the West a tour of the West Indies. favour of him being England player questioned Sir Alex this,” Hussain told Sky News. Graham Gooch has described Indies and of course the Ashes. “This should have been captain. He had a lot to offer Ferguson they would be on the “As per usual, just before the current turmoil surround- “As soon as (the rift) went sorted in-house. whether by both as batsman and captain. transfer list and out very the Ashes they go and shoot ing the national team as “an public one or other of the par- Giles Clarke or (managing “Captain is a 24-7 job. It’s quickly. themselves in the foot.” unholy mess”. ties is backed into a corner and director) Hugh Morris and not just about making deci- “In , it’s generally Hussain, who has particu- Skipper Kevin Pietersen something has to happen. again we’re allowing English sions on the field - the responsi- seen that the captain is the lar sympathy for Moores, is and coach Peter Moores are “It’s going to take a strong cricket to become a laughing bilities are off-field. It’s vital boss. He’s making decisions on frustrated by the administra- both widely reported to have character as captain and a stock.” that partnership with the the field - he’s accountable. tors. left their posts but there has strong character as coach, or as Pietersen, 28, was only coach and manager is very “The coach/manager in “It is up to the ECB to make been no official comment from an interim coach. England appointed in August and has strong. They won’t always cricket is there to support the it crystal clear. They should be the England and Wales Cricket have got to concentrate on the been in charge for just three agree. captain. out there telling us who is cap- Board. cricket and not have these off- Test matches. “It’s about working with the “I can understand Pietersen tain and who is coach - who is The pair’s status has been field distractions. It is an He reportedly voiced con- authorities - in this case the wanting things his way. In in charge of the England under intense scrutiny over the unholy mess at the moment.” cerns about working with ECB, the coach - planning for hindsight maybe he’ll think he team,” he added. past week amid continuing Former England all-round- Moores then and now it seems game practice sessions, etc. It went about it the wrong way.” Moores’ apparent departure reports of a power struggle at er Dominic Cork criticised the their relationship has broken appears Pietersen had a differ- Erstwhile England coach is a particular cause for regret, the top of the English game. ECB for failing to deal with the down irretrievably. ent outlook to Peter Moores in David Lloyd believes the ECB according to Hussain. Gooch told BBC Radio Five issues surrounding Pietersen Another ex-England cap- how they wanted the team to were on a sticky wicket from “I do feel a little bit for Live: “I thought one of them and Moores. tain, Alec Stewart, told Sky move forward. the moment they chose their Moores - what has he done so was going to go because they He told Sky Sports News News: “Inside a few months “I understand the ECB best player, Pietersen, as cap- wrong?” he asked. don’t get on and they don’t see that England were now “a that relationship proved not offered Peter Moores a two- tain. “He has been a little bit let eye to eye. laughing stock” and this would strong enough and now we’re year extension to his contract That, Lloyd contends, is a down. He has not spoken out “What really worries me is give Australia “a bit of confi- talking about who will be the and the extension of that offer flawed policy in cricket - borne about Kevin Pietersen or any of what’s going on in the dressing dence before the Ashes” next new England captain. came before Christmas. They out by history. his team - but unfortunately, room. There are obviously summer. “I’m a big fan of Kevin obviously felt Peter Moores Lloyd said: “You have a star because of what has happened some factions in the dressing Cork said: “This gets trans- Pietersen. He’s a tremendous was the right man to take player - and make no mistake this last week, his position has room, some with Pietersen and mitted all round the world. It’s player and will probably be a England forward. Pietersen this guy is world-class - but do become untenable.” some not, and that’s not the an important year, not just the great of the game by the time obviously felt he was not being you have your best player as sort of harmony you want Ashes, but the World Twenty20, his career finishes. I was all in backed and that’s why he captain? (cricket365.com)

Dropped Hayden considers his cricket future Abramovich drops down Man City owner tops A “VERY disappointed” Mercurial paceman and Twenty20 squads. as being committed to playing Matthew Hayden will consider Shaun Tait is also Hayden said: “My out the summer and then tak- British football’s rich list his career over the back in the one day immediate future is to ing the time to either get back next few weeks after being go back home to my on the horse or make a decision Manchester City’s hugely Rooney (£35million). dropped from Australia’s one- family and the peo- not to. It’s as clear cut as that.” wealthy owner Sheikh Mansour Beckham is 38th in the overall day and Twenty20 sides this ple that love me the The Australian understand bin Zayed Al Nahyan has toppled list, while England head coach morning. most and just enjoy Hayden was told in the dressing Roman Abramovich to head Fabio Capello is at number 73 “It’s very disappointing this time, to tack rooms after the side’s win in British football’s rich list. worth an estimated £25million not to fill the cricket cal- guard again, it’s been a the Sydney Test that he would Sheikh Mansour, a member of with a £6million-a-year contract endar,” the veteran pretty long last four not be part of the team to play the royal family of Abu Dhabi, has and a £10million private art collec- opener said on learn- months. in the 50 over games against a personal fortune of £15billion tion. ing of his exclusion “I am going to take South Africa and New Zealand. according to the Football Rich List, Manchester United boss Sir from the short the time to get my mind He is also out of the one day researched and published by Alex Ferguson is at number 78 in form squads. around what the future does sides which indicates he is no FourFourTwo magazine. the list (£22million) and Arsenal Mitchell hold. I will take my time and longer part of the selector’s The 38-year-old bought City in manager Arsene Wenger at num- Johnson is also make a good decision going long term plans for the next the summer, while Abramovich, ber 92 (£14million). out, along forward.” world cups in either format. Chelsea’s Russian owner, has Celtic shareholder Dermot with a num- Hayden said he Hayden was a key figure in slipped to third in the list - his Desmond, the Irish entrepreneur, ber of the respected the selectors’ Australia’s recent world cup tri- wealth is estimated at £7billion and is the richest person in Scottish players decision to drop him umphs but would be almost 40 he has been said to have lost over football - he is eighth on the list from the from the short form by the next ODI world cup. £3billion in the economic down- and said to be worth £1.2billion. Sydney games and give youth a Chairman of selectors turn. Rangers chairman Sir David match chance and that he would Andrew Hilditch said this He has also been overtaken in Murray is 19th on the list, worth who play the Shield game for morning that his panel would the list by Lakshmi Mittal, the 58- £600million. are Queensland at the end of the not make any decision on the year-old Indian industrialist worth Despite the huge fortunes of month. Test future of Hayden until £12.5billion who joined Formula the wealthiest owners, football “When you are short of they sat down to discuss the One’s Bernie Ecclestone and finance experts fear British foot- runs you have to start asking squad for South Africa in Flavio Briatore investing in ball’s bubble may be about to burst. questions and they (the selec- February. Queen’s Park Rangers. Professor Tom Cannon told the tors) do that better than anyone,” The batsman has the one David Beckham remains the magazine: ``Season-ticket numbers he said. Shield game to reiterate his richest player associated with will probably be down by about “For my mind it’s as simple claim. British football - his personal for- 10% but renewals will be down by Hilditch, who had previous- tune of £125million being streets at least 15 or 20%. That’s where the ly endorsed Hayden for the ahead of his closest rivals Michael problems will be as you go down Ashes was less effusive about Owen (£40million) and Wayne the divisions.’’ the batsman’s recent efforts. “As far as Matthew is con- cerned we thought the time was right to move on in Twenty20 Beckham ready for cricket and in One Day cricket it’s our view that he wouldn’t have got to the 2011 World Cup,” Roma after Milan debut Hilditch said. “Matthew didn’t give me David Beckham feels he is ready He said: ‘’Beckham had a really being rested. any indication about his future for his Serie A debut after playing his good game doing what he’d been However, plans. He wasn’t happy when first game for AC Milan on Tuesday. asked to do. Obviously it’s difficult selectors have we told him, but you would be Beckham enjoyed a solid first out- to immediately demand his best signalled their unhappy was.” ing in the Rossoneri shirt, playing the when he’s only been training with faith in youth by pick- “My feeling is that he will first 45 minutes of a friendly against us for eight days. ing young Sydney play for Queensland.” Hamburg in Dubai, which his new ‘’I’m very pleased with the tyro Dave Hayden has had a gruelling team won 4-3 on penalties. work that’s been done in the past Warner for the schedule too, but has not scored And the former England captain, few days.’’ Twenty20 side. more than 40 in the five Tests who has joined Milan on loan from (channelnewsasia.com) Warner, 22, is an against New Zealand or South the Los Angeles Galaxy until March electrifying pres- Africa. He only managed two 8, now cannot wait for his first Serie ence at the wicket. half centuries in four matches A experience which could take place He hit 65 from 35 against India before that. against Roma on Sunday. balls against South He averaged 33 against ‘’I’m very happy about my first Australia this week. India, 10 against New Zealand game in the Milan shirt,’’ said He has given a con- and 19 against South Africa. Beckham. ‘’I’m pleased with my per- tract with an Indian Hayden has looked out of formance. IPL franchise after sorts and out of form since ‘’I feel a bit tired now, but that’s hitting 97 from 54 missing the West Indies series normal after all these days of intense against WA and a mid-year because of a ham work. I felt good. My team-mates are record one day string strain. extraordinary and it’s easy to play 165 for NSW The 37-year old must now go with them. against back to state cricket if he wish- ‘’I’m available (for the game Tasmania. es to regain the form that made against Roma) and it’ll be a great Nathan him one of the world’s great moment for me, whether I play or Hauritz and opening bats. not. I’m happy to be in this team Peter Siddle, The first T20 against South and this intense period of work who have come Africa will be held at the MCG has really helped me a lot.’’ into the Test on Monday. Michael Clarke is Beckham, 33, has not played team this sum- being resated because of an since the end of the Major League mer, will be in injured thumb. Soccer season in October, but the 50-over Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti squad. Matthew Hayden (The Australian) was delighted with his display. David Beckham