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Andrew Strauss has said he knew Michael Yardy was struggling with depression before Yardy took the decision to withdraw from the World Cup and fly home

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-2011Andrew Strauss has said he knew Michael Yardy was struggling with depression before Yardy took the decision to withdraw from the World Cup and fly home.Yardy became the fifth member of England’s original squad to head home early and his departure inevitably drew comparison to Strauss’s old opening partner Marcus Trescothick, who retired from international cricket five years ago after suffering stress-related illnesses. Since then England have had structures put in place to help players but they couldn’t prevent Yardy from needing to leave the tournament early.”It’s a horrible thing for him to have to go through,” Strauss said. “It’s something he has been managing for a while and there have been systems in place to help him manage it but over the last week or so, it’s got too much for him and he has had to go home.”Geoff Boycott sparked controversy shortly after the news of Yardy’s departure surfaced when he suggested the depression had come from disappointing results on the field. “He must have been reading my comments about his bowling – it must have upset him,” Boycott told BBC Radio Five Live. “Obviously it was too much for him at this level. If any blame is attached it’s partly to the selectors because I’m sorry, he’s not good enough at this level.”Strauss waved aside Boycott’s remarks and said the squad were ‘disappointed’ when they heard them. “I think they showed a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue. I don’t think your cricketing ability or what you have achieved has anything to do with it whatsoever.”There are significant pressures, and as you get older a lot of us have kids and what not, which makes touring harder. It’s important to draw attention to the fact that it’s different having a hard time being away from home and actually suffering from depression. They are two very different things.”The schedule confronting England players has been a major talking point of their erratic campaign. Following their shock defeats to Ireland and Bangladesh in the group stages many suggested the team looked fatigued. Strauss, however, emphasised throughout that tiredness could not be blamed and said Yardy’s condition was separate from the general demands of touring.”Obviously if you are in a hotel room for five or six months one end, you’re going to have days when you feel down,” Strauss said. “I think that’s very different from suffering from depression. International cricket is challenging in terms of how you are temperamentally equipped with spending long periods away from home. That’s something we all go through. Depression is something completely different.”Despite the setback Strauss was confident Yardy’s departure wouldn’t distract the side ahead of their knockout match against Sri Lanka. “It’s not difficult to focus our minds on this game of cricket. It’s a must-win game of cricket. If we lose we are on the plane home. If we win we are in the World Cup semi-final. I think as players you get quite used to switching on and off when the situation demands it.”

West Bromwich Albion manager Valerien Ismael has outlined his plans for the remainder of the transfer window, admitting that the priority is now outgoing whilst not ruling out the possibility of new faces coming in.

What’s the story?

When speaking to the media, the Albion manager said: “Everything is on outgoings.

“It could be the typical case, that it’s a last-minute transfer, that it’s in the last few minutes that something happens. We will see. I think maybe next week things will take more speed.

“But [we] are working behind the scenes to make sure first we can get some outgoings before we can get some incoming.”The Baggies managed to make their priority signing on the first day of the window as striker Daryl Dike joined from MLS outfit Orlando City on a permanent basis, having been on loan at Barnsley under the Frenchman for the second half of last season.With just over a week left until the transfer window closes, the Championship promotion chasers will be looking to offload some players, with the early termination of striker Jordan Hugill’s loan deal from Norwich City a priority.However, with game time set to also be limited back at Carrow Road, it is understood that the Canaries want to find the 29-year-old a new club to join on loan before recalling with Hull City and Millwall interested.Should the next week go smoothly, there may also be enough time to bring in another new player.West Brom fans will be relievedWith aspirations of an instant return to the Premier League taking a hit in recent weeks, West Brom need to get their season back on track by offloading dead wood and potentially adding another player or two to their ranks who can make an impact. Consequently, fans should be relieved with Ismael’s plans to do exactly that.Prior to Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Peterborough United, the West Midlands club had gone on a run of just two wins in ten Championship outings which saw them slip out of the automatic promotion places.Sat in fifth and four points off of second place Bournemouth, promotion is still very much a realistic target for this campaign, however, the coming weeks will make a major impact, hence why tinkering within the squad will be vital.Albion have been excellent defensively this term, in fact, they remain the second tier’s best defenders having conceded a league-low of 20 goals; it’s at the other end where they’ve struggled.Ismael’s side have only managed 34 goals in 27 games, with only one other side in the top eight (Middlesbrough) having scored fewer. To put it into perspective, top of the league Fulham have scored over double the Baggies’ tally with 73.It is unknown how West Brom’s squad will look on 1 February but what is for sure is that if a new face is to come through the door at The Hawthorns, one will have to leave beforehand to make it possible.In other news: Sky Sports pundit drops worrying WBA January claim, it would be a “huge blow” for Ismael

Hampshire batsmen Michael Carberry and Michael Lumb put on 314 together in a record-breaking day against Durham in the County Championship at Basingstoke

03-Aug-2010
ScorecardHampshire batsmen Michael Carberry and Michael Lumb put on 314 together in a record-breaking day against Durham in the County Championship at Basingstoke. Carberry made 162 and Lumb scored 158 as Durham’s attack struggled to cope after losing the toss.Along the way Carberry and Lumb achieved the highest-ever stand for any wicket at Basingstoke’s tiny May’s Bounty Ground. The second-wicket pair also clocked up the highest score for any wicket against Durham, beating the 18-year tally by Tony Middleton and Jon Ayling.Carberry and Lumb came together after Hampshire had lost opening batsman Jimmy Adams who was caught at the wicket off Steve Harmison for 18 when the score was 31. Carberry should have been dismissed before he reached double figures but was put down at third slip by Dale Benkenstein off Harmison and there was no looking back for the batsman who made his only England appearance against Bangladesh in March.Durham appeared to have no answer as Lumb beat Carberry to the century mark and was then overtaken by Carberry as Durham’s attack faded after a bright start. But then when all seemed lost for Durham Hampshire lost four wickets for 20 runs in an eight-over spell of the new ball so that by the end of the first day Hampshire were not in as dominant a position as they had threatened to be. Hampshire closed at 373 for 5 from 95 overs with Carberry and Lumb long gone.Carberry was the first to go at 345 when he misjudged a drive against Benkenstein’s medium pace and lofted a catch to Steve Borthwick in the covers. The stand came in 67.4 overs and Carberry’s contribution came off 243 balls and included 30 fours.South African batsman Neil McKenzie was out three balls later, bowled round his legs by spinner Ian Blackwell for 1 and then in the 90th over the tiring Lumb followed. Lumb, a member of England’s Twenty20 squad in the West Indies, returned to form after a poor first half to the season and had played a significant role until he was lbw to Callum Thorp for 158.Lumb’s innings came off 249 balls and included 26 fours and a six off Borthwick. Sean Ervine was next to go at 365, also leg before to Thorp and Durham were suddenly right back in the match.At the close James Vince had scored 4 and nightwatchman James Tomlinson was undefeated with 8. Former England fast bowler Harmison had to be content with figures of one for 97, there was a wicket each for Blackwell and Benkenstein but Thorp was the most successful of the Durham attack in terms of wickets with 2 for 43.

Aston Villa are open to moving Trezeguet on during the January transfer window.

That’s according to The Daily Mail’s Tom Collomosse, which has had some Villa fans talking on social media.

Villa have already been extremely busy when it comes to transfer activity this month, with Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne arriving.

Axel Tuanzebe cut short his season-long loan to move to Napoli and Anwar El Ghazi is joining Everton on a temporary basis, while Trezeguet is another player who could depart over the coming weeks.

According to Collomosse, Trezeguet is thought to be available for transfer this month. The 27-year-old is currently away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and has missed the majority of the campaign through injury.

His first appearance of the season came in the 2-1 defeat to Brentford, and it seems as that could turn out to be his final outing in a Villa shirt.

Villa fans react

@villareport shared Collomosse’s claim regarding the winger on Twitter. This is what these fans had to say in reply, with a mixed response.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”

Credit: @alexiawhite

“Whilst it feels harsh on El Ghazi and Trez it would seem to me that Gerrard is getting rid of those who aren’t quite good enough for the level he wants. Removing sentiment from it I agree, but I’d be sad to see them both go for various/obvious reasons.”

Credit: @Benjmeister85

“I’m sad”

Credit: @catrinavfc

“Really?”

Credit: @ZM_AVFC

“The clear out has begun”

Credit: @DOUGLASLUlZ

“Good don’t wanna see that diver in a villa shirt again”

Credit: @ryanavfc7

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

Alan Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, has said Abdur Razzak, the Bangladesh left-arm spinner, has been the difference between the two sides during their ODI series in Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2010Alan Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, has said Bangladesh left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak has been the difference between the two sides during the ongoing one-day series. Razzak took 4 for 14 in the third ODI in Mirpur on Monday, helping Bangladesh to a win and a 2-1 lead in the series. He now has 13 wickets in the series and many of them have come in a clutch, early in his spells.”Razzak is winning matches for them as a bowler,” Butcher said. “Our bowlers, though effective, haven’t given a match-winning performance, so I think that’s the difference.”It’s disappointing that we keep giving him three wickets in two overs. It is as much a technical problem as anything else. Whether it is psychological or that we are not picking him, we have to work on it in the next couple of days.”Razzak, who has taken 53 wickets against Zimbabwe at an average of 15.30, said the conditions were helping him. “I am confident and there’s help from the wicket,” he said. “These two things are combining and working in my favour.”Bangladesh bowled Zimbabwe out for 181 on Monday and Razzak was supported by the seamers, with Shafiul Islam taking 4 for 43 and Mashrafe Mortaza, who missed the series against New Zealand in October with an ankle injury, taking his first international wicket since July. “The performance of the fast bowlers was the most pleasing part of the match,” Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, said. “Mashrafe-‘s bowling was a big positive. I said before that it would take him a few matches to get back to his old self, so that’s what happened today.”Shakib set up the win with his 73 that took Bangladesh to a total of 246, but was out in the batting Powerplay for the second time in the series. “It seems my responsibility is till the Powerplay,” he said. “The moment it starts, I’m gone. We should work at it but I don’t know what’s going on.”In the first match, which Zimbabwe won by nine runs, the batting Powerplay worked against Bangladesh as they lost three wickets for 25. On Monday, they fared much better and scored 46 runs during the restrictions, which were in force for the last five overs. “We didn’t take the Powerplay earlier because we don’t do well in it,” Shakib said. “If we took it earlier, the innings would’ve been over earlier. I don’t think we did too badly [today]; we scored over 40 and anything over 50 is good. We played 10 dot balls in this Powerplay, so if a boundary came off one of those balls, it would have been better.”Shakib said he was happy with the assistance his bowlers got in Mirpur, the venue of the first three games. “Whenever we have bowled in this series, we have got help from the wicket,” he said. “We bowled first twice, and today the wicket hardly changed throughout the day. It worked as an advantage for us.”The last two matches of the series will be played in Chittangong, which, along with Mirpur, will host Bangladesh’s league games in the 2011 World Cup. If Bangladesh make it past the first round – and their backers think they have a fair chance given their mastery of home conditions – their quarterfinal fixture could also be a home game.

A huge update has emerged on Newcastle United’s chances of landing Hugo Ekitike from Stade Reims this summer.

What’s the talk?

Journalist Ryan Taylor has relayed quotes from the Ligue 1 side’s president stating that the striker will move on from the club at the end of the season.

Fabrizio Romano reported on deadline day in January that a Toon deal for the young Frenchman fell through in the final hours, with the Magpies now looking to resurrect their interest.

Taylor Tweeted: “Newcastle have been told they can sign Hugo Ekitike this summer after January deadline day deal collapsed. NUFC Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot: “Hugo will be allowed to go & he’s probably going to leave.” Also interest from West Ham, Wolves, Fulham.”

Eddie Howe will be delighted

The Magpies head coach will surely be delighted with this news as it comes as a huge boost to the club’s hopes of signing the striker.

Reims are seemingly resigned to him departing and this means that Newcastle can swoop in to strike an agreement with them this summer. Their talks with the Ligue 1 outfit in January could also give them a leg up over their rivals as they will already have a relationship with their French counterparts and will know, roughly, how much money they will want for him after discussing a deal earlier this year.

Howe will also be buzzing with this update as the prospect of signing Ekitike is an exciting one. He is a promising young talent who has also shown that he has the quality to make an impact at senior level in a top European league.

At the age of 19, he has the majority of his career left ahead of him to develop and hone his skills. This means that he would come in as a player for the future as he would be able to play for the club for a number of years, improving as he gains more experience.

However, he would also be a fantastic addition in the short term as he has been superb in Ligue 1 this season. He has scored nine goals and provided two assists in 14 starts in the division as he has shown that he can score on a regular basis, which is a quality Newcastle have lacked this term.

Callum Wilson is the club’s top scorer with six goals in 14 games and one of only four players with more than two goals in the Premier League. Therefore, Ekitike would be an excellent signing for the Toon in the short and long term.

AND in other news, Forget Burn: Howe can find new leader as NUFC plot bid for £24m tank with “no nerves”…

Shahid Afridi has said one of his immediate priorities as Pakistan’s new captain is to ensure his players aren’t guilty of any unruly behaviour while on tour

Cricinfo staff10-Jun-2010Shahid Afridi has said one of his immediate priorities as Pakistan’s new captain is to ensure his players aren’t guilty of any unruly behaviour while on tour. Pakistan cricket has had its reputation in tatters of late with a history of infighting within the team and Afridi sent out a warning to his team-mates before departing for the Asia Cup that any indiscipline will not be tolerated.The squad for the tournament in Sri Lanka includes two controversial players in Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar, who have been accused of either flouting team rules or creating rifts within the team. Afridi said he had a word with both in particular and expected them to set a better example going forward.”In the training camp I spoke to Shoaib and also Malik and explained the new set of rules that we expect them to follow in the team,” Afridi told reporters in Lahore.” I explained that being senior players I require their support to introduce a new culture in the team.”The board has also made it clear that the captain and manager have full authority to take action against any player they feel is getting out of line.”Pakistan’s turbulent tour of Australia earlier this year resulted in several senior players, including Afridi, being fined or banned indefinitely for various offenses. After the players appealed, the PCB reduced and wrote off the punishments of five players. The indefinite ban on former captain Younis Khan was lifted, Malik’s one-year ban was removed, the Rs 3 million fine on captain Afridi, for ball-tampering, was revoked entirely, while the fines on the Akmal brothers for acts of indiscipline were reduced.Following the retirement of Mohammad Yousuf, who was also banned indefinitely, Afridi was appointed captain in all formats for the Asia Cup and the tour of England. Aiming to make a fresh start, Afridi called on his players to put the past behind them and perform.”We have enormous talent and we have some exciting new players coming up. I am confident that if we play as a unit we can beat any team in the world.”

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Zenit striker Sardar Azmoun…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are eyeing a swoop for the centre-forward as they attempt to beat Ligue 1 side Lyon to his signature.

The report claims that he is out of contract at the end of the season and Lyon are struggling to land him this month a they will not pay more than £3m, with Newcastle now looking to take advantage of the situation by making a move of their own.

Could solve big NUFC problem

Eddie Howe could solve a big problem for Newcastle by completing a deal to sign Azmoun this month. Callum Wilson recently suffered a calf injury and could be out for several months, which leaves the squad light at the top end of the pitch.

The 29-year-old has scored six Premier League goals for the club this season and is one of only two Magpies players to have netted more than once in the top flight in 2021/22. This illustrates the overreliance on him to find the net and get the team out of trouble, a key issue which needs to be addressed before the end of the transfer window.

By signing Azmoun, Howe could find a solution. The Zenit marksman has scored 10 goals in 21 games this season, including two goals in three Champions League starts.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz previously heaped praise on the attacker, saying: “He has all the qualities to succeed at the highest level. He is improving all the time. He has to keep his feet on the ground, work hard and make the right decisions. If so, he could be a real star of Iranian and Asian football for years to come.”

Azmoun himself once admitted that he would like to play in England, saying: “I’m a fan of Real Madrid. but I’m in love with English Premier League and it would be a dream for me to play in England’s top division.”

Last season, he scored 19 goals in 21 league starts for Zenit, adding further weight to his goalscoring pedigree. This shows that he could have the quality to join Newcastle and fill the scoring void with Wilson out injured, which is why they must complete a deal for him ahead of Lyon this month.

AND in other news, Hammond could save NUFC’s season with £20m January deal for “extraordinary” predator…

Jim Allenby and James Harris helped promotion hopefuls Glamorgan recover from a shaky start against bottom-placed Derbyshire

13-Sep-2010
ScorecardJim Allenby and James Harris helped promotion hopefuls Glamorgan recover from a shaky start against bottom-placed Derbyshire before rain brought at early end to the first day of the County Championship Division Two encounter at Cardiff.The seventh-wicket pair shared an unbeaten 54-run stand as the hosts progressed from 66 for six before lunch to finish on 120 for 6 from 39.2 overs when play was abandoned for the day at 1630.Glamorgan captain Jamie Dalrymple won the toss and decided to bat after naming an unchanged team from the side which drew with Surrey last week. Derbyshire did not include Graham Wagg, who is set to be unveiled by Glamorgan this week as a new signing for next season.Glamorgan began solidly enough, reaching 31 without loss, but then proceeded to lose three wickets in the space of 24 balls for the addition of just 12 runs. Opener Gareth Rees, who has been struggling for form, was bowled by Jon Clare, who struck in his next over when Dalrymple – also having a poor season with the bat – was caught at third slip by Wes Durston.And two overs later Ben Wright drove loosely at Greg Smith’s first ball and was caught by Chesney Hughes at second slip without having troubled the scorers. The collapse did not stop there. Tom Maynard was next to go when he was the victim of a sharp caught and bowled by the accurate Tim Groenewald as Glamorgan slipped to 48 for 4 in the 15th over.A brief break for rain did not help as the home team lost Mark Cosgrove to the first ball from Smith after the resumption. Cosgrove, who had looked relatively secure in reaching 32, was bowled leaving the home side on 56 for five.That became 66 for 6, six overs later, when Mark Wallace drove a Steffan Jones delivery straight to Robin Peterson at extra-cover. Allenby and Harris then came together and shared an unbeaten stand of 54 for the seventh wicket either side of lunch before the umpires – David Millns and Steve Garratt – took the players from the field at 2.20pm because of rain.

Brett Lee wants to help Australia escape their Ashes misery with success in the limited-overs formats and a tilt at a fourth consecutive World Cup title

Andrew McGlashan in Canberra09-Jan-2011Brett Lee wants to help Australia escape their Ashes misery with success in the limited-overs formats and a tilt at a fourth consecutive World Cup title. Lee is back in the national set-up for the Twenty20 internationals and hopes to be part of the 50-over squad against England and beyond.Lee, 34, believes he still has plenty to offer Australia having retired from Test cricket last year to preserve his body for the shorter formats. However, he had to fly home from the World Twenty20 due to injury before he played a match and also missed the tours to England and India. He was overlooked for the three ODIs against Sri Lanka before the Ashes, but feels primed to lead the attack again.”I love it when people right you off and say you won’t be back,” he said. “Or a doctor says you probably won’t get back. Ten or twelve ops later I’m still hanging in there. If the body still feels good I’ll try to keep playing. My pace is back to 150kph so I’m really happy with where it is at. I don’t look at 34 and think I’m past it. I think there are a few good years ahead of me. I hope to be in the World Cup team and then let’s see what happens.”Australia’s experiment with split innings one-day cricket in their domestic 45-over tournament has worked to Lee’s advantage because he has bowled longer spells than he would have managed in traditional 50-over games and has no regrets about ditching Tests.”I’ve been bowling 12 overs each match in the 45-over competition which is more overs than I could bowl in a 50-over match,” he said. “I’m really happy with the way the ball has been coming out and have enjoying it this season. It’s easier on my body not bowling five days straight.”Lee tasted one Ashes-series loss during 2005, although was also part of the 5-0 whitewash four years, and admitted Australia and fallen from their lofty standards of previous years. “We now have to think as an Australian team that it’s behind us,” he said. “We have to leave the Ashes. England have played well and we haven’t played our best cricket. But that’s done and dusted now so we can move on and focus on the Twenty20 and one-day format.”If we can win the one-day tournament then that might ease the burden of the Ashes. As I said, congratulations to England they played really well. That’s finished. We have a new format coming up and it’s a different squad for us as well. I’m not sure what the 50-over squad will be but I know the guys who get their opportunity will be very keen to put a few wins on the board.”In the Twenty20 internationals at Adelaide and Melbourne there is the enticing prospect of Lee joining forces with Shaun Tait in a high velocity opening attack. “To have us at both ends might stir a few batsmen up,” Lee said. After facing some insipid bowling during the final two Tests, England may just find life a little tougher.