SUNDAY CHRONICLE January 5, 2014
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Gooch accepts England’s Ashes flops may have cost him his job GRAHAM Gooch wants to carry on as England batting coach, but after another abject display accepts that his hapless batsmen may cost him his job. The former England skipper has spent a lifetime in the game and has seen it all before – and, as unthinkable as it is, he has seen worse than this current Ashes thrashing. But the scale and nature of this series defeat, with a fifth and final loss just around the corner, Gooch accepts the brutal truth that heads may roll. He said: “Everyone on this tour would not like to leave under the circumstances and the debris of this tour. “Personally, I have total belief in the messages I give to the players, but we’ll have to look at it and see whether there’s a better way. “The powers that be will definitely be reviewing everyone after this series and we’ll all be under scrutiny. That goes for coaches and the players. I’ve not had the effect that I would have liked in this series. “If you don’t perform, ultimately you get left out. Our players have not met the challenge with the bat, obviously. “We’ve not competed as we would have liked to and not shown the skills necessary. We’ve gifted too many wickets. “Everyone has to look at themselves and we all have to take the criticism on the chin.” Just two days into the Fifth Test England were already staring at a 311-run deficit thanks to being bowled out for 155 by tea and watching Chris Rogers guide Australia to the close. Once again England’s first innings batting performance let them down and it was the senior men Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell who were most culpable. They should be showing the youngsters how it is done, but instead Gary Ballance showed skill and courage after being hit in the helmet by Mitchell Johnson on debut to reach 18. Ben Stokes continued the fine start to his Test career with 47, before leaving a straight one. Stuart Broad and Boyd Rankin avoided the follow-on, but that was hardly something to cheer when still behind by 171 runs. Australia’s bowlers kept the upper hand they’ve had all tour and Ryan Harris, 34, who took 3-36, said: “I’d love one more trip to England to try and defend The Ashes. That would be amazing. (Daily Mirror)
Windies women to hold training camp in New Zealand ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The West Indies women’s team will have a full camp in New Zealand ahead of their eight-match series next month The World Cup runners-up will arrive in New Zealand on Monday, February 10 for a one-week camp as they prepare to face the White Ferns in three One-Day Internationals and five T20 Internationals. The series will form part of the preparations for the ICC Women’s World T20 in Bangladesh in March and April. “It is great for us that we will have this camp in New Zealand before we play the matches there,” said long-standing captain and wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira. “This will be the first time for most of the players playing in New Zealand and we don’t know a lot about the foreign conditions, so it will be very useful to get there early and get acclimatised”. This is the second time the West Indies Women will face New Zealand Women in a short period. Last October, the Windies came from behind to win the ODI series 2-1 at Sabina Park in Jamaica. “We played well in both ODIs and T20s last year and we want to take that good work into 2014,”said Aguilleira. “This will be the start of a really big year for us and this will be a major tour. We have the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh and we want to win that, so the time in New Zealand will be a crucial step towards that goal.” TOUR SCHEDULE February, 2014 Tuesday 11th to Tuesday 18th: Training camp at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Saturday 22nd: 1st ODI at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Monday 24th: 2nd ODI at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Wednesday 26th: 3rd ODI at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln March, 2014 Saturday 1st: 1st Twenty20 at Queens Park, Invercargill Sunday 2nd: 2nd Twenty20 at Queens Park, Invercargill Wednesday 5th: 3rd Twenty20 at Queens Park, Invercargill Saturday 8th: 4th Twenty20 at Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui Sunday 9th: 5th Twenty20 at Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui.
Brains trust: Graham Gooch with England head coach Andy Flower.
Lehmann gets backing from Simpson … Hall of Fame inductee says Boof has talent to make long-term impact
COACHING doyen Bob Simpson says Darren Lehmann has the talent at his disposal to make a long-
the most encouraging sign is the young players with ability coming through the ranks. Lehmann has been the
tional side in the mid-1980s. Test teams are currently struggling to win big overseas tours and Simpson says
ICC Hall of Fame inductees Debbie Hockley and Bobb Simpson with ICC president Alan Isaac at centre. . term mark in charge of the Australian Test side. Simpson warns Lehmann’s challenge is still to come – winning away from home against stronger opposition than a dispirited England team in disarray – but says
driving force behind Australia’s revival this Commonwealth Bank Ashes series, praised for tapping into some of the old school methods implemented by the influential Simpson, who took charge of a floundering na-
it is Lehmann’s job to instil a culture of not being satisfied with home success alone. One of Australia’s finest ever players before he transitioned into coaching, Simpson was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame on Thursday,
along with New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley. He would like to see the motivation of players improve, but overall Simpson believes Australia’s future is bright under Lehmann. “The reality is if you haven’t got the goods there’s not much you can do,” Simpson said. “The lucky ones are those of us who have a very good group of youngsters whom you can work with and bring them on. If you didn’t have that talent you couldn’t make anything. “He’s fortunate he has a really talented group and that’s half the battle ... but the challenge will come of course. “Maybe (players) are content with the level a little below what they should be doing. “ T h a t ’s w h e r e a g o o d coach can really come through.” Simpson, who came out of retirement to play international cricket at age 41, says age should be no barrier for veteran players Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin. The 77-year-old former batsman was joined by former teammates Neil Harvey and Alan Davidson at his induction at the SCG on Thursday night alongside New Zealand Women’s great Hockley. Simpson says he’d like to see his former opening partner Bill Lawry join him in the Hall of Fame. (CA)