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Australia’s selectors aren’t the only ones who will spend the winter wondering about leaps of faith after naming their 25-man contract list

Peter English07-Apr-2010Australia’s selectors aren’t the only ones who will spend the winter wondering about leaps of faith after naming their 25-man contract list. The release of the 2010-11 squad will cause some twitching for Andrew Hilditch and his panel during the next 12 months as well as forcing some of the overlooked players to fret over their next steps.Nathan Bracken, David Warner and David Hussey sit in the uncertain queue after missing out on deals ranging from A$200,000 for the bottom earner to an average of $1.5m for the top five. In 2008 Bracken was ranked the world’s No.1 one-day bowler and was fifth on the list during his 116th ODI in September. He has not bowled for Australia since then and returned late in the season after surgery to his right knee.At 32, he has a couple of years left to impress the national selectors, but given the strength of the fast-bowling ranks he might consider it’s not worth the extreme effort. With his control and pace variations, Bracken is an attractive option to Twenty20 outfits and would be valued as a member of the growing group of short-form freelancers.Warner and Hussey suffer from being restricted to international Twenty20 duty and there are concerns, including from the Australian Cricketers’ Association, that the lack of incentives for these types of specialists could end in them abandoning their domestic commitments for lucrative international spoils. Both Warner and Hussey have been tried in one-day internationals without sustained success, which restricts their attractiveness to the selectors.Players are rated between one and 20 on their overall limited-overs ability, not just their T20 exploits, before that score is combined with a Test ranking. It’s almost impossible to make the list while only appearing in the game’s newest format, although Shaun Tait achieved it with help from his one-day potential.There are 25 contracts handed out, but once someone from outside the squad accrues 12 playing points they are automatically upgraded from their state agreement to Cricket Australia’s minimum base rate of A$200,000 a year. A Test is worth five credits and marks are also awarded for ODIs, Twenty20 internationals, overseas tours and domestic 12th man duties. By the end of the 2009-10 season there were 31 contract holders, so there is scope for a quick return for the spurned.Warner and David Hussey will be on the verge of qualifying for an upgrade if Australia reach the World Twenty20 final in the Caribbean next month and they play every game. More T20s are scheduled in England in July that will also beef up their tally. Hilditch said Hussey was unlucky to miss out and indicated he would have a more convincing argument if he added to his 23 ODIs.There was no mention of Warner and his case is complicated by him not being a first-choice member of New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield team, even though he is an essential member of their one-day and T20 outfits. Those circumstances limit his domestic earnings as well and have contributed to him considering switching states.

Older bowlers aren’t told they are finished by selectors in public, but are encouraged instead to keep going next summer. It usually means the same thing

He is only 23 and wants to play Tests, but is part of the new generation that has the choice between a decade of potentially fruitless searching for national recognition and instant financial security in the T20 leagues. The selectors don’t see Warner as essential at the moment and if the snubs continue he is someone who could switch focus to the overseas engagements.At the other end is Stuart Clark, a respected fast man who has taken 94 wickets in 24 Tests, but hasn’t played since Australia lost the Ashes in August. Clark knows he is unlikely to figure in the national plans again and at 34 his body is worn down to the extent he is not going to Kent for a season of county cricket. Older bowlers aren’t told they are finished by selectors in public, but are encouraged instead to keep going next summer. It usually means the same thing.While Clark misses a golden handshake for his toil over five years, Brett Lee deserves his sunset deal after such valued long service in 76 Tests. Lee’s body has let him down in the past couple of years and his latest comeback from elbow surgery isn’t going smoothly.This is the biggest risk taken by Hilditch and his panel, although it is not the loss of money that is the danger. Lee’s ranking has tumbled due to the elimination of his Test ranking so he is among the lower earners. The problem with Lee, who is already in the World Twenty20 squad, is whether he remains good enough to trouble international batsmen.Early in a comeback is not the best time to judge an elite bowler, but in three IPL matches for Kings XI Punjab he has figures of 10.3-0-111-0. “We’re hoping he will make the recovery we expect and get back to his best,” Hilditch said. “So I suppose it is a leap of faith, but a leap of faith in a player who’s taken 300-odd Test wickets and been one of our best.”

Many Everton fans have been left fuming over some transfer news on Vitaliy Mykolenko.

As per Italian football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Ukraine international is currently now undergoing his medical at Goodison Park ahead of a move from Dynamo Kyiv.

The final price is between €21-23m (£17.8-19.5m), and personal terms have already been agreed with the player.

The fee itself certainly seems hefty given the Merseyside club’s problems with Financial Fair Play (FFP), and some Toffees supporters are now worried that there will not be money elsewhere to spend on other priority positions, as they already have Lucas Digne at left-back.

While club captain Seamus Coleman has been a faithful servant, he is 33 years of age now, and so needs replacing soon, while deputy right-back Jonjoe Kenny has only played in a mere four games in total over all competitions so far this season, with that area in particular one that certainly needs strengthening.

Everton fans on Mykolenko transfer news

These Blues fumed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that they were ‘concerned’:

“Everton with no money and gaping holes in the squad on the right side, spending €20m+ on a left back. WHY?”

Credit: @0ptimumvelocity

“We’ve replaced our replacement for Baines before replacing Coleman”

Credit: @Ofearns7

“How’s he worth £18m yet no one’s heard of him… that’s a stupid amount to pay.”

Credit: @Evertxn

“Took us 2 weeks to find a replacement LB but 4 years after Coleman broke his leg we still have no RB”

Credit: @J_Reck90

“Madness that this is a priority when we have Nkounkou out on loan too, priority has to be to replace Seamus Coleman surely”

Credit: @gally1878

“Seriously concerned.”

Credit: @The_Penny_Blue

In other news, find out who is now a candidate to potentially replace Rafa Benitez here!

Michael Clarke believes he might need to rediscover the attacking approach of his youth to become a successful Twenty20 batsman

Cricinfo staff20-May-2010Michael Clarke believes he might need to rediscover the attacking approach of his youth to become a successful Twenty20 batsman. Clarke has no intention of giving up his place as Australia’s captain in the shortest format despite struggling to lift his scoring rate in the World Twenty20, where he led Australia to the final, which they lost to England.Ricky Ponting has been impressed with Clarke’s leadership and in the on Thursday, Shane Warne argued that Clarke was the best captaincy option and No. 3 for the Twenty20 team. However, after arriving home to Sydney, Clarke conceded he might have to dust off some of the more aggressive strokes he played as a younger man.”Who knows? Maybe I need a little bit of that back,” Clarke said. “Everybody has a different role in our team though and that is one thing that players certainly are aware of, and you need to do your role to the best of your ability.”For me my role is not the same as Dave Warner or Shane Watson. I always want to perform, I always want to score runs, it doesn’t matter what form of the game I’m playing, but like I said in this game, sometimes you can’t always make those runs.”Clarke’s immediate future in the format is expected to be decided over the next week as the selectors settle on the squads for the upcoming tour of England. Clarke is determined to stay in charge of the Twenty20 side, a role he took over last year when Ponting retired from that version of the game.”No doubt [I want to continue], I’m disappointed we couldn’t win the World T20, win the final, but I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity,” Clarke said. “I’ve loved playing with the guys, I’ve had a lot of support from people back at home, the people who came and watched the games in the West Indies, and family and friends, so it’s been great and I’m enjoying it.”Clarke said that while the loss to England was disappointing, there was no reason to panic ahead of next summer’s Ashes series in Australia. The urn is held by England following their triumph at home last year, but the previous series in Australia was won 5-0 by Ponting’s men.”It always hurts losing to England in any form of the game, but obviously a lot of guys in both teams that won’t take part in the Ashes series,” Clarke said. “They will take confidence out of it, no doubt about it, but I can guarantee the way we’ve been playing Test and one day cricket of late, or even T20 cricket in this tournament, we’re very confident.”

West Bromwich Albion must start picking up a good run of form if they want to be in contention for an automatic promotion spot at the end of the season, the side is currently four points adrift from the top two in fourth place in the table behind Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and Bournemouth.

What’s the word?

Valerien Ismael has confirmed the return of two influential players back into the side ahead of the Cardiff City clash at the Hawthorns this afternoon.

Both Alex Mowatt and Karlan Grant will be available for the fixture against the Bluebirds today, with Mowatt completing the isolation period after testing positive in a virus outbreak in the West Brom camp, and Grant has been said to have had a false positive test, so will be available sooner than anticipated.

The Albion manager spoke in his pre-match press conference to explain Grant’s situation in particular;

“KG (Grant) received a negative PCR test after the (Derby) game,”

“He missed the game due to a wrong positive test, lateral flow. He has trained since midweek completely, with the squad.

Although the pair return to the side, Ismael confirmed that Robert Snodgrass remains out, Matt Phillips is expected back for the FA Cup game with Brighton, Kean Bryan is out with a season-long ACL injury, Kenneth Zohore is recovering from a muscle injury and Dara O’Shea is expected back in training in January.

Fans will be buzzing

Fans will be buzzing that Mowatt and Grant are back and available for team selection, after an abysmal performance from the Baggies in defeat against Derby last weekend that prompted fans to take to social media and make a point of how missing the duo affected the game;

One fan tweeted after the shocking Derby County defeat;

“Missing Grant and Mowatt yday our 2 best players was killer. Defence is brilliant, Val cannot be blamed for the team missing chances or making mistakes. The things he can control are very good.”

Indeed, Grant’s return to the team will be colossal considering the striker is currently the club’s top scorer on nine strikes this term. As for the latter, he has also been a crucial part of the side, bagging three goals.

Albion need to give everything today to attempt to close the gap on their Championship promotion competitors, Cardiff City are in a relegation battle down in 20th, but could escape the drop zone today if they were to beat the Baggies away from home, so we expect to see a passionate game as both teams fight to gain points at opposite ends of the table.

Either way, Ismael’s side will have a huge advantage by welcoming back two key performers.

In other news: Ismael must start Taylor Gardner-Hickman against Cardiff

Forty-year-old opener Sanath Jayasuriya has been dropped from the 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup

Sa'adi Thawfeeq09-Jun-2010Forty-year-old opener Sanath Jayasuriya has been dropped from the 15-member Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup starting in Dambulla next week. Also missing from the line-up is spinner Ajantha Mendis, while fast-bowling allrounder Farveez Maharoof is back in favour after recovering from a side strain which had kept him out of contention since February last year.This was the first squad picked by Sri Lanka’s new selection panel, headed by former captain Aravinda de Silva, who took charge two weeks ago.Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss had warned at the start of the year that Jayasuriya was unlikely to be picked as a specialist opener and that he would have to force his way in as a spinning allrounder if he was to play the 2011 World Cup. He had been left out of Sri Lanka’s side for the tri-series in Bangladesh earlier this year as well, and had been moved out of his favoured opening slot to the middle order late last year. Jayasuriya’s most recent outings for the national side were at the recent World Twenty20 in the West Indies, where he had a miserable time, averaging 3.75 in six matches.There were some surprises in the slow-bowling department with left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who last played an ODI in 2004, chosen ahead of Mendis, who has had a reasonably good tri-series in Zimbabwe. Two offspinners at opposite ends of their careers, 38-year-old Muttiah Muralitharan and newcomer Suraj Randiv, are the other specialist spinners.The Asia Cup will be held in Sri Lanka from June 15-24. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the other participating countries.Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Muttiah Muralitharan (vc), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Thilina Kandamby.

Newcastle United are reportedly now eyeing up a move to sign Moussa Dembele in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Wilson replacement needed

With the recent news that Callum Wilson could be out injured for longer than the original six weeks thought, the St. James’ Park faithful are now in desperate need of an able deputy to fill in for him, and then potentially partner him when he comes back.

Gabriel Barbosa and Edin Dzeko are just two names that have been mentioned as possible new arrivals in the North East, as the next few weeks are set to be very busy ones for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

The reliable Mark Douglas has confirmed the Magpies are seeking a new centre-back and striker, and there has now been a development on the latter.

The Latest: Dembele eyed

As per Foot Mercato journalist and transfer expert Santi Aouna, Dembele is ‘one of the options’ who is currently being studied by the Tyneside outfit, and he is ‘liked’ by both Nick Hammond and Eddie Howe.

However, no contact has been made with Lyon at this moment in time, although a bid has not been ruled out.

The Verdict: Smart move

Signing up Dembele would certainly be a smart move by the Magpies, as he can temporarily fill the void left by Wilson on the pitch, before potentially becoming his strike partner once he is back fit.

The Frenchman has been a lethal finisher wherever he has been, scoring no fewer than 154 goals in total for both club and country combined at youth and senior levels, and by helping Atletico Madrid win the La Liga title last season, he has that extra winning mentality that will be vital if the Toon are to pick up enough wins to get them out of the relegation zone.

Nonetheless, at 25 years of age, Dembele still has room for improvement, and so his true potential can be fulfilled at NUFC should they sign him.

In other news, find out which £40.5m-rated ‘beast’ Newcastle are now targeting here!

Aston Villa are still looking to sign Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma during the January transfer window.

That’s according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, with a number of Villa fans reacting to the update on social media.

Steven Gerrard has already bolstered his midfield ranks in 2022 by bringing in Philippe Coutinho on loan, and it appears as if a holding midfielder is next on the radar following Marvelous Nakamba’s serious knee injury.

Bissouma is capable of playing in a defensive or central midfield role and has made 100 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls – he averages 3.6 tackles per game this season, far more than any Villa player.

The £22.5m-rated Mali international has just 18 months remaining on his Amex contract and has also been linked with a summer switch to Manchester United.

Dorsett said on Twitter on Wednesday that Villa are still chasing Bissouma this month with a move for Everton’s Lucas Digne now done, ending his post by calling the move a ‘statement’ by the Villans.

Villa fans react

@villareport relayed Dorsett’s claim on Twitter soon after, with these Villa supporters buzzing and one labelling the Brighton man as a ‘game changer’.

“Gerrard pull”

Credit: @Jamie_UTV

“Please”

Credit: @BenAvfc94

“This one would be the game changer. He is so good”

Credit: @Nakamba_19

“Top six incoming The league best be afraid”

Credit: @CoutinhoProp

“Make it happen”

Credit: @deniswhite1114

“If we actually pull Yves Bissouma off, it’ll be scary hours.”

Credit: @avfcIewis

In other news: ‘Called it a week after Gerrard arrived’ – Lots of AVFC fans flock to Ornstein’s transfer update.   

Kevin Pietersen wants the inspiration from England’s Barbados victory over Australia in the World Twenty20 final to carry into the upcoming ODI series against Australia and the Ashes later this year

Cricinfo staff14-Jun-2010Kevin Pietersen wants the inspiration from England’s Barbados victory over Australia in the World Twenty20 final to carry into the upcoming ODI series against Australia as thoughts turn to the Ashes series later this year.England swept Australia aside to claim their first ICC title, with Pietersen finishing Player of the Tournament, and he believes the fact that the success came away from home will give England confidence that they can produce a repeat come the winter.”It’s a huge boost to beat Australia away from England and it’s something we haven’t done for a long time,” he told Sky Sports News. “They always beat us in Australia and they beat us in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy [in South Africa] too. Whenever I’ve played Australia away from home we’ve never really come up trumps but to win [the World Twenty20] the way we did – I think India were only team we didn’t get to beat on the big stage – that will give us a lot of confidence.”Pietersen’s only experience of an Ashes tour was the 5-0 routing in 2006-07. Back then an injury-ravaged side could not challenge a strong opposition but now, on the back of their home success against Australia last summer, Pietersen feels England have a deep enough squad to compete against the best teams.”A lot of our good players and experienced players are coming to the party and we’re all dovetailing with each other,” he said. “If one guy doesn’t do well another guy does. The key to beating Australia is for all 11 to dovetail together – or all 12, 13, 14 even 15 if they get an opportunity to come in.”Everyone talks about this word consistency but we’ve been doing it for a while and we have had some good results in the last 18 months so we want to continue that.”England play the first of five ODIs against Australia on Pietersen’s home ground, The Rose Bowl, on June 22 and Pietersen wants to use the opportunity to ram home the momentum they generated at Barbados. “It would have been nice only to play them again on November 25 after we beat them in Barbados but if we play the way we played in the Caribbean then we’re moving in the right direction.”

Leeds United are still interested in signing Lazio striker Vedat Muriqi in the January transfer window, with the Serie A side now desperate to get rid.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Muriqi move

The Whites are still waiting to conduct any business this month, with new signings potentially needed in order to stave off the threat of relegation.

Muriqi has been linked with a move to Elland Road a number of times, with Leeds seemingly seeing him as a good option to bring in and bolster the attack.

The 27-year-old has fallen out of favour at Lazio this season, making just one solitary start in Serie A and none in the Europa League, so a January exit may be on the cards.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Lazio desperate to get rid

According to Corriere della Sera [via Sport Witness], Leeds are looking at signing the Kosovo international on loan, and they are hoping to add a €10m (£8.3m) option to buy him in the summer.

While that information had already been reported in the week, this fresh report adds that Muqiri is seen as a ‘problem’ for Lazio, saying that the Biancocelesti supporters ‘mock him’ and Maurizio Sarri needs to sell in order to unlock funds to spend in the market.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-31/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Bamford’s ideal deputy?

Muriqi hasn’t registered a single goal or assist in 14 appearances this season, which suggests he wouldn’t be a particularly exciting signing for Leeds.

However, a loan move has less of a risk element to it and his international record speaks for itself, with 18 goals coming his way for Kosovo in 37 caps.

Depth is key for Marcelo Bielsa in the coming months, and with Patrick Bamford hopefully back soon, Muriqi could be a strong backup option, taking the burden off the Leeds star and offering a different type of centre-forward, standing at 6 foot 4.

The key factor may well be whether Victor Orta and co will be able to convince Lazio to allow the player to leave on a temporary basis, rather than for an immediate fee.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly ‘pressing’ to sign another player this month. Find out who it is here.

Kevin Pietersen would have been rested from the one-day series against Bangladesh even if a thigh strain hadn’t ruled him out

Cricinfo staff05-Jul-2010Kevin Pietersen would have been rested from the one-day series against Bangladesh even if a thigh strain hadn’t ruled him out. Geoff Miller, the national selector, played down the seriousness of Pietersen’s injury but said they had identified the next couple of weeks as a chance to give him a break.Pietersen could only muster 95 runs in the five ODIs against Australia and finished with a duck at Lord’s when he was bowled by Steven Smith having come in at No. 6 with a runner. It means he hasn’t scored an ODI half-century since November 2008 – the unbeaten 111 he made against India at Cuttack in his last game as captain – a run that now stretches 17 innings.”We would have rested him,” Miller said. “We know what his qualities are. Everybody is concerned when a batter is not getting runs, similarly when a bowler is not getting wickets or not bowling well. But we know very well he is very capable of getting big runs, and they will be just round the corner.”The situation is he has a niggle, which we are very wary about,” Miller said. “I think it is a minor injury. But we are obviously wary, because there is a lot of cricket coming up over the rest of the summer and the winter as well,” Miller added.”I am sure he will be all right [for the Test series against Pakistan] but can’t say that categorically at this stage. We are just being cautious. I think he will be all right in the very near future.”Pietersen’s absence means Ian Bell is likely to get a chance at No. 3 against Bangladesh while his Warwickshire team-mate, Jonathan Trott, has been recalled after impressive county and England Lions form. Trott had been eased out of the one-day set-up in recent months although he averages 49.33 from his four ODIs after playing an important role in the victory against South Africa last November.”Our policy is to find out about players – keeping one eye on the future, for the World Cup on the sub-continent in the new year,” Miller said. “We want to win games at this moment in time but also keep an eye on what is happening later on.”Graeme Swann has also been given a well-deserved break and is replaced in the squad by Kent’s James Tredwell who made his international debut on the tour of Bangladesh earlier this year and was part of the World Twenty20 squad without playing a match.