Posts Tagged ‘World Cup’

Andrew Strauss: England captain has scored one century in 48 Test innings

Michael Vaughan expects England Test captain Andrew Strauss to prove his critics wrong and continue in the job for some time to come.

Strauss’ position has come under scrutiny after England, the top-ranked side in the world, lost their fourth straight Test in Galle last week.

The Middlesex opener, who quit one-day cricket after last year’s World Cup, has scored just one century in his last 48 Test innings.

He is part of an England batting unit that has struggled against spin this winter, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Pakistan in the UAE and undone by Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath in Galle.

Strauss and his team get another chance in Colombo, starting on Tuesday, a match the tourists must win in order to claim a share of the two-match series.

Ex-skipper Vaughan, who made a tearful resignation from the England captaincy in 2008 after his own poor run of form, does not yet think it is time for Strauss to consider his position.

“Captains, when they’ve been in the job for a while, you get to the stage where you make that decision (to resign),” Vaughan told Sky Sports.

“I did that, Nasser Hussain did that, Michael Atherton did that. You just get to a point where you wake up and go: ‘it’s time to move on’.

“I don’t know what Andrew Strauss is thinking but I don’t think it’s time for that yet.

Respected

“He’s a mature leader, very well respected, fantastic with the team. I actually think he’s playing OK. His feet are moving, in my opinion, better than they were two years ago. I don’t think it’s going to be long before he gets that big total.

“He can only answer what he’s thinking. To the public and press you always hide things that you are actually thinking behind the scenes.

“From what I’ve seen as a person, I think there is a bit in him yet and I think there is a lot of captaincy left in him.

“This week is a big week because England haven’t lost five on the trot since 2006-07 against Australia.

“I just think he needs a score. Forget the results, that doesn’t really count in my eyes, he’s a fantastic leader. He just needs a nice score of some sort to give himself some confidence.

“He’s 35, so naturally everyone starts talking about retirement and when it’s going to end. I really do think there is a few more years of good cricket left in Andrew Strauss.

“If he does decide to quit the captaincy – and I don’t think he will – I still see him in the team as a player. I don’t see any player who can open the batting to the standard that he can.”

Liam Phillips: Ready to compete in front of his home crowd in Birmingham

With little over two months to go before the BMX World Championships in Birmingham the event is shaping up to be the clearest indicator yet of form heading into the London Olympics.

Running from May 23-27 at the Birmingham Indoor Arena, the championships will give the world’s best riders a chance to gauge their form in top competition just 10 weeks out from the Games.

Not only is there a coveted rainbow jersey on the line, the racing is set to be hotter than ever as riders look to stake what could be their final claim for a place in their nation’s Olympic squad.

British stars Shanaze Reade and Liam Phillips will both be in action and looking to benefit from the roar of a home crowd, the first at a world championships in the UK since Brighton in 1996.

That year Brit Dale Holmes was crowned, while two-time world championship silver medallist Phillips believes that the competition in Birmingham will be the best indicator of form heading into the Olympics.

Home advantage

The 23-year-old told British Cycling: “I think the worlds will be a massive indicator of who is going to be there or thereabouts at the Olympics.

“I think with BMX more so than with track cycling the performances tend to be at 95% all year long and you get one or two big hits out each year where you are at 100%.

“Where you are at physically doesn’t tend to change much from the first world cup event in March to the last world cup in September and if you look back at the last few seasons the guys who have been going well at the first world cup are still going well at the end of the year.”

Competing in the UK also holds other advantages for Phillips who hopes the event can act in a similar way to the London World Cup on the track in allowing athletes a taste of what the atmosphere will be like in the biggest race of their careers to date.

He added: “It’s in Birmingham, which means straight away we don’t have to travel. Besides that it’s an opportunity to perform in the UK a couple of months before the Olympics and deal with a home crowd and everything else that goes with competing in the UK and that’s not really anything we’ve dealt with before. It should be great to us prior to the Olympics.”

Jake White: He has rejected the chance to coach England

World Cup winner Jake White has turned down the chance to become England’s new head coach.

White, who guided South Africa to the Webb Ellis trophy in 2007, is currently working with the Brumbies – with the Super Rugby outfit confirming on Thursday that the RFU had made an approach.

White, though, has a four-year deal with the Canberra-based franchise and had made it clear of his intentions to see out the current season at least.

However White has now opted to reject England’s advance and remain in Australia.

White wrote on Twitter: “Always hard turning down a chance to win a world cup, but rugby is about making the right decisions and that’s to stay with @BrumbiesRugby”

White’s decision to rule himself out means Nick Mallett and current interim coach Stuart Lancaster remain the front runners to replace Martin Johnson.

Williamson takes the plaudits after the match

James Franklin top-scored for New Zealand with 60 off 37 balls

Brendan Taylor smashed an unbeaten 75 in Zimbabwe’s 200-2 total

Kane Williamson: Match-winning cameo in Hamilton

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New Zealand were made to sweat before sealing a 2-0 whitewash series win over Zimbabwe in the final Twenty20 international at Seddon Park.

The Black Caps, chasing 201 for victory in Hamilton, were indebted to half-centuries from James Franklin (60) and Rob Nicol (56) and a superb five-ball cameo from Kane Williamson as they crossed the line with five wickets and two balls to spare.

Requiring 18 runs for victory with only seven balls remaining, Williamson struck a boundary from the final ball of the penultimate over before launching Shingi Masakadza for four, six and four to win the game in style.

The defeat was tough on Zimbabwe, who had earlier amassed 200-2 thanks to a swashbuckling unbeaten 75 from captain Brendan Taylor from only 43 balls.

Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri got Zimbabwe off to a blistering start with a stand of 76 in seven overs before the latter departed for 32, lifting Ronnie Hira to Tim Southee at long-off.

Masakadza reached a stunning 26-ball half-century with a six off Andy Ellis but slowed down thereafter and fell for 62 from 42, with three fours and four sixes, when he hoisted Michael Bates to Colin de Grandhomme.

Winless tour

Elton Chigumbura hit three fours in one Kyle Mills over and Taylor then reached 50 with a six off Bates from the 31st ball he faced as Zimbabwe piled on the runs.

Taylor then added two fours in Southee’s last over but Zimbabwe could only take five from the final six balls, bowled by Mills, which also saw Chigumbura (29no) dropped by Franklin.

Openers Nicol and Franklin then got New Zealand on track with a century stand in 10 overs before Nicol, having hit four fours and four sixes in an innings of 56 from 37, skied Chigumbura to Keegan Meth at deep cover.

Franklin kept the Black Caps up with the rate before he was superbly run out from the boundary by Meth for 60, also from 37 balls with three fours and five sixes.

Brendon McCullum added 38 from 24 but he and brother Nathan successively holed out off Kyle Jarvis, leaving Williamson as the key man.

A boundary meant 14 were needed from the last over and after Ellis squirted a single to deep mid-wicket, Williamson crashed Shingi Masakadza for four, six and four to win the game with two balls to spare. The 21-year-old finished 20 not out from five balls, four of which went to the fence.

Zimbabwe will therefore return home having been defeated in every match of their tour after the Kiwis won the one-off Test by an innings, the three one-day internationals by wide margins and then the two T20Is.

Jason Lowe: Hopes to emulate his friend Phil Jones and earn a call-up to the full England squad

Rovers youngster reveals international ambitions

Blackburn youngster Jason Lowe admits he would love to represent Great Britain at next year’s Olympics but insists he is focusing on helping lift Rovers up the table for now.

The 20-year-old has begun to establish himself in the Blackburn first-team squad this season after a successful loan spell at Oldham at the end of the last campaign.

The midfielder is following in the footsteps of close friend Phil Jones, who has earned a move to Manchester United and represented England since breaking into the Rovers team two years ago.

Lowe admits he would relish the chance to emulate Jones at international level, especially with next summer’s Olympics looming.

However, he is keen to put that to one side and concentrate on earning regular first-team football at Ewood Park and help lift the Premier League’s bottom side up the table.

“It’s definitely a goal to try and achieve but it’s a long way away – it’s at the back of my mind not at the front,” Lowe said of a possible Olympic appearance.

“There is a long season ahead of us and what happens here is most important to me and any international recognition after that is a bonus.”

Honour

“I have made my under 21 debut and that was a proud moment, and having the armband at the under 20 World Cup was a great honour.

“I just enjoy putting my boots on and playing and I am not too fussed which position I am picked in.”

Lowe has recently penned a new five-year deal at Rovers and is grateful to the club for giving him the chance of first-team football.

“This is my eighth year at Blackburn,” he added. “I signed as an under-11 and I have seen a lot of people come and go so I am very grateful for the position I am in at the moment.

“This club has respect all over the country for its academy and the fact they are not afraid to give young players a chance.

“It has been a fantastic year for me personally but now I want us to start getting the results.”

Viliame Iongi: relishing chance in RaboDirect Pro12 with the Scarlets

The Scarlets have boosted their back division with the signing of Tongan wing Viliame Iongi.

Iongi, 22, has signed a long-term contract at Parc y Scarlets after impressing at the recent World Cup.

He is expected to join up with the RaboDirect Pro12 club in early November.

Iongi can play anywhere across the back three and has won nine caps for Tonga.

“It’s is a great opportunity for me and as my first professional rugby contract, I’m now going to get the chance to play in Europe and hope the way I play will fit in well with their style,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to being part of such a professional set-up and will give it everything I can. The Scarlets play great rugby and I’m looking forward to being part of the team.”

O’Connor: Wants to play inside centre

Australia youngster James O’Connor is eyeing a switch towards midfield in the absence of injured playmaker Quade Cooper.

Cooper will be out for at least six months after it was confirmed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the World Cup bronze final win over Wales on Friday.

His absence will force Robbie Deans to reshuffle his midfield for the Wallabies’ upcoming fixtures against the Barbarians at Twickenham on November 26 and Wales at Millennium Stadium on December 3.

Berrick Barnes is the frontrunner to step in at fly-half, leaving a vacancy at inside centre.

And O’Connor, who has been used primarily on the right wing at Test level this season, is keen to take the number 12 jersey.

“It’s no secret I want to play 12. I want to get closer to the action and get my hands on the ball,” said O’Connor, Australia’s form back throughout the World Cup.

With Pat McCabe a major doubt due to a shoulder injury, Anthony Fainga’a and Rob Horne are both strong candidates for the inside centre role.

Hopeful

Even so, O’Connor remains hopeful Deans can be persuaded to give him a chance.

“For me it’s all about the team – if we’re winning, as long as we’re getting a few touches and I guess doing what I can going forward as much as possible,” said the 21-year-old.

“I’m pretty happy to have that goal-kicking role. It keeps me involved in the game as much as possible.

“Every Test in the jersey means a lot. For me it’s about developing my game. No matter what happens, I guess I’ll be putting my hand up for one of those inside jobs.”

Asked to rate his own form in the World Cup, O’Connor said: “I’ve been happy with most of my performances this tour. I try to take it each game at a time and try to make it like you’re playing your last.

Different style

“It is a different style of rugby. It’s not as quick and I think everyone plays the percentages.

“You can’t afford to make errors, and field position and territory plays a massive role in the World Cup.

“So that’s what I’ve taken out of it and it’s going to put us in better stead for not only next year but 2015.”

O’Connor will attend a strategy session with new Melbourne Rebels team-mates Kurtley Beale and Danny Cipriani next week before beginning preparations for the Barbarians clash.

He will relocate to Melbourne in early January after agreeing to a lucrative deal with the fledgling franchise.

Stephen Donald: Kicked the vital penalty

Fly-half Stephen Donald has started taking stock of his World Cup final-winning exploits, and admitted: “It is an unreal experience.”

Two weeks ago, Donald was enjoying a holiday fishing for whitebait on the Waikato River ahead of linking up with Aviva Premiership club Bath on a two-and-a-half year deal after the tournament.

But when New Zealand’s catalogue of injuries to their World Cup fly-halves continued, he found himself summoned by coach Graham Henry.

Dan Carter had already been ruled out of the World Cup, then Donald replaced Colin Slade before appearing off the bench at Eden Park as substitute for another injured number 10, Aaron Cruden.

And it was 27-year-old Donald who came up trumps for the All Blacks when it mattered, kicking a 45th-minute penalty that edged New Zealand home 8-7 against France and secured them a first world title since 1987.

Unreal

“It is an unreal experience to pretty much come from nowhere and find yourself playing in a World Cup final,” he said.

“It just feels funny. It hasn’t sunk in yet, and it’s the same for the rest of the guys. They were just sitting around the changing room, now moving much and not saying much.

“You wouldn’t exactly describe my preparation as ideal, but mentally I was fine. I am glad I only had 50 minutes because my fitness wasn’t what it might be.

“The coaches said to me to be ready because it could come down to me having to kick the winning goal, and that is exactly how it panned out.”

Donald has had his fair share of critics during a Test career that has blown hot and cold, but there was no questioning his contribution to a team riddled by nerves and rattled by a wonderfully fired-up French team.

“People have questioned me as an All Black, so I am pretty proud of this achievement,” he added.

“You don’t always agree with what is said, but I am proud that I was able to front-up. I was excited to go out there and show I am a genuine All Black, that I deserved to wear the jersey, even if this may be the last time I get that chance.”

Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his World Cup call-up, Donald said: “I was out with a mate having a few beers and white-baiting. We’d had a good day that day, hauling in around 11 kilos, but it got a lot better!

“I didn’t get any of Ted’s (All Blacks coach Graham Henry’s) calls because my phone was switched off, and it was only when I spoke to someone else later I found out they had been trying to contact me. Luckily, I had Ted’s number in my phone.

“You always dream about things like playing in World Cups, but as number four in line you start to give that up a bit. But when I got the call I felt like the dream just got that much closer to reality again.

“At half-time we agreed I would take over the kicking if we got any more shots at goal (scrum-half Piri Weepu had missed three), but I never lined that one up thinking ‘this is to win the World Cup’.

“I am just so proud we found a way to win when they (France) had a truck-load of possession in the second-half. The boys’ defence was something special, and I am proud to be part of that.”

Victory tour

The All Blacks will now embark on a three-day victory tour, starting in Auckland on Monday, then Christchurch on Tuesday and Wellington on Wednesday.

“I can see a few big nights coming up, maybe even a big week, and I am sure the whole country is going to have a pretty big hangover,” he added.

“Just being able to say we are world champions is almost unbelievable.”

Donald, meanwhile, looks likely to make his Bath debut next month, either in the Heineken Cup or Premiership.