Tuesday 22nd December, 2009 15 Messi hits back at Defiant Trott has the steel Argentina critics to be England’s Kallis by Nasser Hussain

I was there in Antigua in 1998 when West Indies took seven wickets in the final session - after had run me out - to defeat us in what became Mike Atherton’s last game as England captain. So what happened at Centurion yes- terday shows that you can never take this fantastic game called Messi for granted. Nobody would have dreamt that MADRID — Barcelona star Lionel South Africa could come so close to vic- Messi, the favourite to win the FIFA tory when and World Player of the Year award, has hit Jonathan Trott were going so well - even back at critics in his native Argentina when Pietersen was run out - but we had who are angered over his failure to some extraordinary drama with the new translate his club form to the interna- ball that summoned up memories of the tional stage. first Ashes Test in Cardiff. The Argentine media have suggest- And that is what England will ed the striker does not show the same remember now. They will be galvanised enthusiasm when he plays for the by this just as they were galvanised by national team as when he hits the pitch Cardiff. They will think: ‘We won the for the Catalan side, which he joined at Ashes after an escape like this. Now let’s the age of 13 as a youth team player. beat South Africa.’ “It really gets me when they say I do Before the late drama, it was fasci- not feel the Albiceleste. Nothing hurts nating to watch two very different types me more than when they say I am not of player bidding to save the Test for Argentine,” he said in an interview England before and with daily El Pais, using the Spanish Graham Onions were called upon to name for the Argentine national team. complete the job. “It does not bother me when they Trott and Pietersen may have both call me ‘the Catalan’ but it really bugs been born in South Africa but they have me that they think I am not Argentine,” very contrasting styles. the 22-year-old added. When Trott was batting with Messi clinched an extra-time winner in the morning England as Barcelona beat Estudiantes 2-1 were going nowhere because both were Saturday to win the Club World Cup trying to bat out the day with minimal final, the European champions’ sixth risk. What Pietersen did was change the trophy of the year. momentum of the day and you cannot Minutes after he hit the winner for overestimate his importance at his best Barcelona, fans took to the streets in the because England are one-paced without Argentine province of La Plata where him and look a weaker side. Estudiantes is based to protest against To me there are two types of batsmen the player, Argentine daily newspaper - personality players and situation play- Clarin reported. ers. Pietersen is so good that he always The fans left insulting graffiti plays the same way, the personality way, against Messi on walls throughout the the ego way. But Trott is impressive in a province and chanted “Messi is no very different way because he clearly Argentine”, it said. plays the situation, as he has done so England’s Kevin Pietersen, left, reacts after being run out for 86 runs as teammate Jonathan Trott, right, looks on, on the final day of the first Messi told El Pais that the Club well in his highly productive first two Test cricket match at the Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, Sunday Dec. 20, 2009. (AP) World Cup win was one of his best Tests for England. moments of the year. At against Australia, he when the likes of Atherton or Graham the dressing room he apologised to and then take it off him “It is much better than an individual was fluent when England needed him to Thorpe would have manoeuvred the ball Pietersen in front of all the other play- quickly for the second successive series prize because it is a collective prize that be and here he was watchful and very to release the pressure and rotate the ers even if he did not feel the need to do and, most important of all, I would ask makes many people happy,” he said. disciplined in the face of a difficult strike. so. them if they were happy to go in with Messi was awarded the Ballon d’Or morning session. I haven’t seen Trott play a sweep yet. He needed to play to the ego of his four bowlers. award for the European player of the Yesterday he just set his stall out to Trott looks very strong mentally and colleague. That is what KP would have These are close calls so it is not criti- year earlier this month, winning the bat six hours and was not going to let stubborn, a bit like . He expected and what would have made him cism, merely questions. prize by the biggest percentage of votes anything stop him, not even Pietersen was clearly in his zone when Pietersen feel good in front of the team. My gut feeling is England would be since it was created in 1956. coming charging down the wicket to try ran himself out because he had decided England played some pretty good happy to go into the last of these four He joined Barcelona from Newell’s to call him for a quick single, until he he wasn’t going anywhere, whatever KP cricket in this first Test and people like Tests in Johannesburg on level terms Old Boys which is based in Rosario, got a brute of a ball from Friedel de Wet was attempting. , Pietersen, Trott and because they would fancy themselves to Argentina in 2000. and was dismissed by an outstanding Runs like that are always round the Jimmy Anderson could all be pleased win at the Wanderers, where the ball In September the player signed a catch from AB de Villiers. corner with KP and if these two are with their performances. usually swings. two-year contract extension which will What I would say, though, is that he going to bat at three and four for But I would ask some questions of England got away with a draw in the keep him at the club until 2016. The deal needs a release shot against the spinner. England then Trott will have to realise the England think tank. I would ask end yesterday and they must be pre- increased his buy-out clause to 250 mil- In the first innings he was either ‘block that too. All it cost in the end yesterday them if they were happy about their pared to take their chances when they lion euros from 150 million euros. it or slog it’ against Paul Harris and yes- was a Pietersen hundred - just about - decision at the toss, I would ask them if are offered next time. Guardian terday he was subdued against him, but I hope that when Trott returned to they were happy to give the new ball to Daily Mail Sanga unsure about IPL Sri Lanka’s opponents will be captaincy role decided today Indrajith Subasinghe reporting from China

Sri Lanka’s opponents in the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship which is conducted for the first time under the super- vision of the Asian Volleyball Federation will be decided today. The draw will be held at 7.30 pm today concurrent to the first technical committee meeting and the first round matches will be Kumar held on 23rd. Sangakkara In all, 24 men’s teams and 22 women’s teams have qualified to to the second round if they could observing the wind directions and take part in the championship. record a solitary victory in the first other aspects of the game while Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman captain of Kings XI Punjab for the March Accordingly the teams will com- round. training on the sea beach which yesterday said he is 12 to April 25-slated extrava- pete in eight groups. Although the organizers earlier hosts the tournament. But the team yet to be contacted by Kings XI Punjab ganza after coach Tom Moody expressed Although it is the first occasion were scheduled to start the tourna- management has decided to mini- team owners on the leadership issue. his dissatisfaction over Yuvraj’s level of the Asian Volleyball Federation is ment on the 21st, the start has been mize the number of training ses- Speculations are rife that the Lankan commitment. ranking the teams in the Asian rescheduled to 23rd. sions to just one session per day to skipper has replaced Yuvraj Singh as Moody is said to have had complained level, the past performances at Meanwhile, Sri Lanka teams reduce hazardous effects from cold Kings XI Punjab captain for the third edi- to the owners of the franchise about world and regional championships who reached Hico on the 19th , sev- weather. tion of the Indian Premier League. Yuvraj’s attitude, saying he constantly will be taken into consideration eral days prior to the scheduled Wasantha Ratnapala, a member “Kings XI have not really spoken to ignored the team management’s advice. when grouping the teams. start due to unavailability of of Sri Lanka number 2 men’s team me on anything yet. I don’t know Asked whether he is open to captain- Since most of the teams taking flights, used their early arrival to was hospitalized due to a sudden ill- whether there is anything concrete there ing the IPL side if offered, Sangakkara part in the tournament have get accustomed to cold weather (13- ness, the day before yesterday. or not. I will have to wait and see,” said, “I don’t know whether Yuvi (Yuvraj impressed at international level, 12 Celsius ). “We must take this After conducting several tests Sangakkara said on the eve of the third Singh) is not going to captain this time Sri Lankan teams will have to fight opportunity to get accustomed to the doctors have termed his condi- cricket one-dayer between India and Sri around or not. When they do speak to me hard to advance to the second cold weather,” C. Ratnamudali, the tions not serious. After administer- Lanka. I will have to make a decision.” round irrespective of which group manager of the team said. ing several vaccines he had been According to media reports, Yuvraj led Kings XI in the first two they will be drawn in. But they Sri Lanka has a chance of get- discharged from the hospital. His Sangakkara has been named as the new editions of the IPL. ESPN have a definite chance of advancing ting accustomed to weather and condition was normal yesterday.