SPORTS 15
Wednesday, 1 April, 2015
assocIates vItaL to Make the WoRLD cUp a ‘ceLeBRatIon’
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AHUL Dravid and Martin Crowe reiterated their opposition to the planned trimming of the World Cup to ten teams in 2019, as both advocated for the participation of Associates, so as to make the tournament a “celebration” of cricket. Dravid and Crowe were part of a discussion on World Cup and ODI cricket at ESPncricinfo’s Lunch with Legends function in Sydney. Though Ian Chappell and Michael Holding agreed that Associates deserve a pathway to participation in the World Cup, they supported the proposed contraction to ten teams, arguing that a tournament played between fewer teams would produce a greater frequency of high-quality encounters. Dravid, who played for Scotland in 2003, said precluding Associates from the World Cup could “kill the game” in those countries. “In my three or four months in Scotland, one thing you realise is the passion for the game that so many of those players have, and the amount of sacrifices they make to play the game,” Dravid said. “Most of them are amateur cricketers who only play during the weekend - they have to work right through the week. “I think the sacrifices they make are done with the opportunity to play for Scotland in the World Cup in mind. It boils down to that big event. A lot of the
funding that comes from cricket Scotland for a lot of these Associate nations depends on their participation for a lot of these events. If you take away these world events from a lot of these nations, I’m afraid you actually kill the game. “They’re not going to get the participation, they’re not going to get the funding and they’re not going to be able to encourage the young kids to play the game. Does cricket want to say that the Associates don’t matter and all we want to do is play with the eight or ten best teams? I personally don’t think that’s what cricket should be.” Holding agreed with the sentiment that Associates should be given the chance to play in the World Cup and to develop their cricket, citing the example of Ireland, who do not have the resources to prevent their top players from pursuing more lucrative careers playing for England. However, he suggested a model where Associates could qualify for the World Cup within the ten-team structure. “If you’re going to have a ten-team tournament, perhaps you could have five or six teams that qualify automatically via the ICC rankings or international 50-over cricket. Whoever makes up the rest have to compete for those last four positions. Whether you are a Test nation or not, if you cannot compete against the Associates and beat them to make that four, tough luck. I don’t think that you should qualify automatically if you’re a Test
playing nation. We have seen what the Associate teams have done in this World Cup. You have to encourage them to get to the big stage.” Chappell supported a World Cup between the “ten best teams”, largely because he felt the current length of the tournament was “ridiculous”, and needed curtailing. He said Twenty20, not ODIs, should be the format that expands the sport. “It might suit television and it might be financially worthwhile, but I just think the World Cup goes way too long,” Chappell said. “I think the game’s got to globalise in T20 - a format that’s likely to improve the game in areas like north America, Japan, Malaysia, where I think it could be accepted. “What I would like, as an encouragement for those Associate nations, is that you have a second tier that’s giving the administrators a clue as to which teams are on the improve, and which teams are getting ready to play the bigger nations on a regular basis. I would include in their programmes every four years, visits from the stronger A sides, so that the global administrators and the local administrators get an idea of the type of players you need to succeed at that level.” Crowe, who has already laid out his support for an 18-team event in his column, said that tweaks to the current playing conditions would increase the number of competitive matches, and hence allow for viewer interest to be sustained over a much longer tournament that would feature more
teams. “When you have something every four years, surely you have to celebrate it in the best possible way,” Crowe said. “I’d like to see at least 16, possibly 18 teams at the World Cup, depending on if the 17th and 18th teams are up for it. “I’d like to build on the 14 we have now and see at least 16 teams split into two conferences, so all teams are getting seven games each. Then the top four teams from each conference take their points, and you start to have a proper
world series of the best of the best. The smaller nations will be blistered out of the park with the rules that are in place at the moment, but they’ll have a chance if the rules allow for a balance between bat and ball, and they have a chance to compete as a team. “That’s what I feel has been lacking in this particular tournament. What we’re seeing is six weeks of a one-sided contest where bat dominates ball. That to me is missing the point of cricket.
FURTHER BOOST FOR T20 BLAST AS BEARS BRING IN MCCULLUM
VAle suffer Moore blow SPORTS DESK Port Vale winger Byron Moore faces around two weeks on the sidelines with a groin strain. It was initially feared the 26-year-old may miss the remainder of the season with the injury he sustained during the defeat at Sheffield United 10 days ago. Moore missed the loss at Leyton Orient at the weekend but he is set to have an injection to help with his recovery in the hope that he may sit out just a couple more matches. “We’re disappointed for Byron but we’re hoping the injection will allow him to return soon,” Vale boss Rob Page told the club’s official website. “It has been a frustrating season for him but he has shown from his performances over the last few months that he has the quality to benefit this football club.” Moore joined Vale in the summer and has made 18 appearances for the club this season, scoring one goal against Doncaster in a 3-0 win at Vale Park in February. spOrts desK
LUcas sILva opens Up aBoUt poRto RUMoURs SPORTS DESK The Brazilian only joined Los Blancos in January from Cruzeiro and says his only aim right now is to earn a starting role in Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid side, despite stories he could be discarded. “I was surprised by the news because nobody has mentioned anything to me,” the 22-year-old told Globoesporte. “I have a contract with Real Madrid and it’s one I want to complete. I’ve already had a few opportunities and I want to be able to hold down a regular place and play.” However, Silva did not rule out the possibility of going out on loan to gain more experience, as was the case with Casemiro who is on loan with Porto but expected to return to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. “It could be a good option but, as I’ve already said, I’ve got a contract with Real Madrid,” he reiterated.
SPORTS DESK Brendon McCullum has agreed to play seven T20s for Birmingham this summer in a deal that further allays fears that the natWest T20 Blast will be starved of international quality. McCullum gained the love of world cricket with his batting, leadership and attitude in captaining new Zealand to the World Cup final. He brings his side to tour England this summer and will stay on following the internationals for his stint in the natWest Blast beginning on June 26 against Lancashire, giving a big boost to the reigning champions.
MCCULLUM’S WORLD CUP SPECIALS: 77 from 25 balls v England, Wellington The innings that will resonate most with England fans. This not only consigned England to one of their heaviest defeats in history but included a particularly murderous assault on Steven Finn with 44 coming off 10 balls with six sixes. 50 from 24 balls v Australia, Auckland McCullum threatened to humble Australia too in this blast in pursuit of another small target. This time Mitchell Johnson felt the force, being taken for 34 in 13 balls including an AB de Villiersesque scoop for six. 59 from 26 balls v South Africa, Auckland
This one really mattered. new Zealand were chasing an almost seven-an-over target and their captain delivered a perfect start that ultimately helped them to their first World Cup final. Dale Steyn was casually lofted over his head into the stands. “Brendon’s dynamic performances in the World Cup have demonstrated once again exactly why he is one of the most feared batsmen in the game,” Dougie Brown, Warwickshire director of cricket, said. “Securing his availability for our last seven games has to make him one of the biggest overseas player signings in the competition’s history. “His power at the top of the order and experience of playing in big matches are great assets to bolster our already strong squad as we look to win through to the quarter finals and defend our natWest T20 Blast title.” McCullum, who has previously played T20 for Sussex in 2010 and Glamorgan in 2006, joins Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Chris Gayle as World Cup stars who will play in this season’s natWest Blast. “Hopefully I can make a big contribution and ensure that we can progress in the tournament,” McCullum, the leading run-scorer in international T20s, said. “Edgbaston is a fantastic ground to play at and hopefully it will be rocking for the big Friday night matches. I’m really excited about becoming a Bear and the challenge ahead.” The Bears’ title defence begins on May 15 against nottinghamshire. McCullum will join for the final seven matches of the group stage.
MANCHESTER UNITED SET TO SIGN ‘HONOURED’ FABIO COENTRAO SPORTS DESK Portugal’s Fabio Coentrao celebrates his goal with his teammate Danny The Reds were on the verge of landing the Portuguese international two seasons ago and, according to AS, will try to sign him this summer after an administrative error blocked the deal last time around. And it seems the player himself is desperate to make the move happen, telling Portuguese newspaper O Jogo that, “it’s one of the best clubs in the world, a club that I admire a lot. It
would be an honour to play there.” In 2013 Coentrao was heading to Old Trafford on loan with the Premier League giants retaining an option to buy, while United now see the 27-year-old as the solution to their problematic left-back position, despite having signed Luke Shaw from Southampton before the start of the 2014-15 campaign. Coentrao joined Madrid from Benfica in summer 2013 but has since failed to hold down a regular starting role at the Santiago Bernabeu, although he has fea-
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tured in some of the club’s more important games in recent times. The players’ initial contract with Los Blancos lasted until 2017 but in november 2013 he signed a new deal, extending it by a year and increasing his salary, before surprisingly penning a new agreement last year which ties him to the club until June 2019.These renewals took place after the departure of Jose Mourinho, with whom Coentrao’s relationship had deteriorated after he turned up late for training following new Year’s Eve.