All posts by h716a5.icu

Everything you need to know about Ukraine and Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk!

Mykhailo Mudryk is a Ukrainian professional footballer who primarily plays as a winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the Ukraine national team. He was born on January 5, 2001, in Krasnohrad, Ukraine.

Mudryk began his football journey at Metalist Kharkiv in 2010, before switching to Dnipro's academy four years later in 2014. Due to his impressive performances, Ukraine Premier League giants Shakhtar Donetsk took interest in him and he joined their academy in 2016.

During the 2018-19 season, Mudryk was promoted to Shakhtar Donetsk's senior team, however after a single appearance he was shifted on loan to fellow league side Arsenal Kyiv for the rest of the season. The next few campaigns saw him sporadically appear for Shakhtar before again going on loan to Desna Chernihiv in the summer of 2020.

It was under manager Roberto De Zerbi that Mudryk found his footing and finally got his breakthrough. During the 2022-23 season, the winger showed the football world how talented he is, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk. As a result, he was also awarded Ukrainian Footballer of the Year and Shakhtar's Player of the Year awards.

Due to his impressive performances, Mudryk began gaining attraction from European giants. On January 15, 2023, the winger signed for Chelsea for a fee of €70m (which could rise to €100m) which saw him become the most expensive Ukrainian player of all time and the most expensive transfer in the history of the Ukrainian Premier League.

Mudryk made his official debut for the Ukraine national team on June 1, 2022, in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland which his side won 3-1. Since then he has made nine appearances for his country, failing to open his account for them.

Here are 13 fun facts about Mykhailo Mudryk you need to know.

Afraid of the dark

Like many young children, the Chelsea winger was afraid of the dark and had trouble sleeping as a child. Whenever he would close his eyes he would imagine demons and other scary stuff.

However, Mudryk's grandmother had a pivotal role in helping the young lad overcome his fear. She told him to pray and sign the cross before sleeping, which would ensure that he is protected from all evil when he closes his eyes and goes to sleep.

AdvertisementNicknamed Misha

For family and friends, Mudryk is known as "Misha" which means someone who resembles God. The nickname is very common in Ukraine and is often given by loved ones to young children.

GettyReligious tattoos

By now it is clear Mudryk is devout based on the tattoos on his body. The first is the tattoo with the words "Only Jesus" on his neck. On his chest Mudryk has a tattoo which translates as "Dear God, if today I lose my hope, please remind me that your plans are better than my dreams".

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

The most expensive Ukrainian footballer

When the winger moves to Chelsea for a fee of €70m (rising to €100m) in 2023, Mudryk not only became the most expensive transfer in the history of the Ukrainian Premier League but also the most expensive Ukrainian player of all time.

While he will have to do much to live up to the expectations of his price tag, Shakhtar Donetsk Director of Football Darijo Srna believes he is the best winger in the world after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and PSG ace Kylian Mbappe.

Ousmane Dembele was at the heart of everything for Barcelona as they kept the pressure on Real Madrid with a 4-0 win against Athletic Club.

Barcelona continued their perfect response to last weekend's Clasico defeat thanks to goals from Dembele, Sergi Roberto, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

In truth, the game was decided inside the first quarter of the match as Barcelona raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of an 11-minute spell that their visitors were unable to deal with. Dembele – who was involved in all four goals – got the ball rolling as he finished off Lewandowski's cross with a somewhat surprisingly well-taken header.

Once he had scored the opener, he was keen to take on the role of provider and that started by laying off the ball for Roberto who raced into the penalty area and – courtesy of a rather fortunate deflection – made it 2-0. Lewandowski was then the beneficiary of Dembele's hard work as he latched onto the perfect through ball before taking a brilliant first touch and emphatically finishing past a helpless Unai Simon.

While Barcelona's pressure waned somewhat following the injury and subsequent withdrawal of Gavi, they were still in total control of proceedings throughout the 90 minutes. That control led to a fourth goal fairly late in the second half as Dembele, once again, took on a host of opposing defenders before picking out Torres expertly inside the penalty area and he made no mistake, sliding through the legs of Simon and into the back of the net.

Read below for GOAL's winners, losers and Barcelona player ratings on a brilliant night at Camp Nou.

Getty ImagesWinners

Ousmane Dembele:

Dembele is enjoying quite the renaissance for the Blaugrana this season. After it looked as though he would be leaving in the summer, he has become one of the star players in Xavi's side.

He was in the mood from the very first minute and he got Barcelona started with an excellent header from a cross that he would usually be supplying for Lewandowski! He was keen to return the favour for his Polish teammate later in the first half – after assisting Roberto's goal as well – with a perfect pass into his feet inside a rather crowded penalty area.

A goal and two assists weren't enough for the Frenchman though as he put another chance on a plate for one of the substitutes, playing a perfectly weighted through ball into Torres for the home side's fourth goal.

Alex Balde:

He seems to be getting better with every passing week as he is handed greater responsibility by Xavi. His performance – both defensively and offensively – provided a glowing endorsement of his credentials to fill the starting left-back position every week.

Learning from Jordi Alba will be excellent for the 19-year-old and, at the moment, he is a more valuable option in the backline than his senior teammate. It's a testament to the way he has performed this season that he is keeping two much more experienced left-backs in Alba and Marcos Alonso out of the team.

He simply has to start whenever he is fit and available as his progress is only going to move in one direction. A hugely exciting prospect for Barcelona and Spain.

Pablo Torre:

One of the most highly-rated players at the club was finally handed a La Liga debut for Barcelona when he replaced Dembele in the 77th minute. With his side already four goals in front, it was the perfect environment for the young midfielder to get to grips with first-team football at Camp Nou.

In terms of his actual performance, there were very few touches but the experience is invaluable and will leave him much better prepared perhaps later in the season when he will be needed by Xavi.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLosers

Ernesto Valverde:

A return to Camp Nou to forget for the ex-Barca manager against his apprentice. He watched his side get torn apart in a frantic opening 22-minute period and, after conceding three goals, there was no way back for the visitors.

Dropping the likes of Iker Muniain and Oihan Sancet to the bench – despite their below-par performances in midweek – didn't work and he was soon without another key member of the squad in the first half. Ander Herrera lasted little longer than 20 minutes and had to be replaced by Dani Garcia, giving Valverde yet another selection headache.

On a slightly more positive night, his return was well received by the home supporters at a packed-out Camp Nou.

Gavi:

A bitter blow for the 18-year-old, for Barcelona and potentially for Spain. He looked in extreme discomfort after his collision with Garcia and was inconsolable as he left the pitch a few minutes later.

Purely based on Gavi's reaction, it seems very unlikely that he'll be fit for the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich on Wednesday and there will be worry within the fanbase over his fitness in the longer term. Barcelona have plenty of important fixtures over the next few weeks and then there is the small matter of the World Cup.

He did return at the end of the game to shake the hands of the opposing players in his club tracksuit so he, as well as plenty of Spanish fans, will be hoping it isn't too serious.

Raphinha:

Since making the big-money switch from Leeds in the summer, he hasn't quite been able to find his rhythm yet. Having played a part in each La Liga game this season, he was an unused substitute for the visit of Athletic Club and his teammates didn't struggle in attack without him.

Against a decent side, it was probably the most complete performance of the season which doesn't bode well for the Brazilian's hopes of returning to the side. Ansu Fati and Torres were the preferred players to come off the bench in the second half while the withdrawal of Dembele handed Xavi the perfect opportunity to bring Raphinha into the game but he, instead, chose to hand Torre a league debut.

It may well take an injury for one of this evening's starters for him to return to the starting XI in the next couple of weeks.

Getty ImagesRatings: Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6/10): Another quiet night for the German goalkeeper. Although, when he had to be alert to any danger, he was always a step ahead of the Athletic forwards. He was, however, caught on the ball in the closing stages but it didn't cost him his clean sheet.

Sergi Roberto (7/10): Showed that he is still a very good option at right-back for Xavi and Barcelona. His performance was solid defensively and included a goal after his lung-busting run with the ball into the box. Unfortunately, he had to be replaced in the last few minutes with a seemingly dislocated shoulder.

Jules Kounde (7/10): The Barcelona defence looks so much stronger when he is at the heart of it. He didn't put a foot wrong all night and continues to show why there was so much fuss made about him in the summer.

Eric Garcia (6/10): The jury is still out on the former Manchester City centre-back. It was one of his better performances this evening but there were still a few lapses in concentration and he was booked for a rash challenge in the second half.

Alex Balde (8/10): Yet another glowing endorsement that the youngster is more than capable of being the starting left-back at Barcelona. He defended against the dangerous Nico Williams brilliantly and was just as good on the ball as he helped to launch attacks. A coming-of-age performance.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyMidfield

Sergio Busquets (7/10): Had his fair share of critics this season but still provides a very solid option at the base of the midfield. He benefitted massively from having De Jong next to him but there were still a few mistakes from the veteran. He preserved his side's clean sheet in the closing stages as he kept out a certain consolation goal after Ter Stegen was caught on the ball.

Frenkie de Jong (7/10): A very convincing showing in his favoured position on the right of a three-man midfield. He isn't often played in the role that he filled so well at Ajax but, when he is, he shows exactly why he cost so much money.

Pedri (7/10): Another productive evening. As always, he was everywhere during his time on the pitch and was very nearly rewarded with, what would have been, an ingenious goal as he blocked Garcia's clearance onto the outside of the woodwork.

Gavi (6/10): A sad evening for the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy winner as injury forced him off just after the half-hour mark. He'll be hoping that it is nothing serious as the World Cup pulls closer into view.

Fans will decide the order of this year’s GOAL50 lists, but our correspondents are also sharing their preferences during the voting period

With voting underway in this year’s GOAL50, fans around the world are having their say on which men’s and women’s players had the best 2021.

Our team of correspondents are also having their say, revealing their GOAL50 preferences this week.

Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella has compiled his list, which you can see below.

Voting is open on Goal from November 2 until November 16. 

Getty10Bruno Fernandes

It is impossible to doubt the creativity and impact that Bruno Fernandes has had on Manchester United over the last 12 months.

Not only has the Portugal international returned 18 goals and 15 assists in the last calendar year to date, but he has transformed his club as a leader on and off the pitch.

AdvertisementGetty9Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe ended last season as the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the third year running, while he also won the French top-flight's Player of the Year Award.

However, even after failing to win the league, it was the Champions League where the 22-year-old really made a name for himself.

A series of clutch performances in the knockout rounds ultimately ended in disappointment, as Manchester City knocked out PSG, but Mbappe still made a statement.

Getty8Joshua Kimmich

Joshua Kimmich is the heartbeat of Bayern Munich's midfield, but equally performs as one of the best right-backs in the world when moving out to play in defence.

The versatile leader of the German champions has marked himself out as arguably the most consistent performer in the Bundesliga in recent history.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty7Karim Benzema

Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid, Karim Benzema has stepped up to become the club's talisman.

The France international's goals were crucial to Los Blancos' push to win the Champions League and La Liga.

Although they fell short in both, it was through no fault of the 33-year-old, who has continued his good form this season with 11 goals and eight assists in his first 13 games.

Aaron Beard has been on Essex’s radar since playing for their U-9s and against the Sri Lankan tourists their hopes began to come to fruition as he took four wickets in an eye-catching first-class debut

Will Macpherson at Chelmsford08-May-2016
ScorecardAaron Beard is still a schoolboy but he has already carried a decade of hope for Essex•Getty ImagesNot many, least of all the tourists, knew much of Aaron Beard when he ran in for the first ball of Sri Lanka’s trip to England, but he certainly knew how to draw attention to himself. With wickets in each of his first two overs, the 18-year-old Chelmsford-born schoolboy began his first-class career in dreamy fashion as he picked apart Sri Lanka’s top order.Beard, who has been with Essex since he was nine, ended with 4-62 as they were bowled out for 254. With the fourth ball of the match, after Angelo Mathews had opted to bat upon winning a not-terribly-fiercely-contested toss, Beard got one to nip away and take Kaushal Silva’s edge. Then, with the third ball of his next over, Beard had the other opener, Dinuth Karunaratne trapped in front by a full delivery.There is mitigation for not knowing much about Beard. Only the most eagle-eyed viewers will remember he was a substitute fielder for England during a 2013 Ashes warm-up here, aged just 15. That is a responsibility given to few, whatever the occasion.All Essex’s quietly-held hopes for him began to distil on a debut he will never forget. He does not turn 19 until October and is working under Graham Napier, a star pupil as Napier takes his Level 3 coaching qualification; Napier believes his charge has a wrist position of unusual quality.Worryingly, Beard has already had two major back operations, but here all the moving parts looked in fine working order again; he is not tall, but is relatively broad shouldered, and a repeatable, attractive action arrives at the end of a smooth run. He found some movement, both off the seam and in the air, while the yorker he castled Milinda Siriwardana with suggested he could enjoy success with a white ball too. Graham Ford, Sri Lanka’s coach, was suitably impressed.”It was an amazing day,” said Beard. “I was very nervous running in first up, but once you’ve bowled a couple of decent balls you settle and I was lucky to get my wicket in the first over. That eased the pressure completely. I wouldn’t have wanted to make my debut anywhere else than Chelmsford, definitely not. I went to school about six minutes up the road and first played for Essex in the under-9s.”I don’t actually remember the first wicket because my adrenalin was rushing so quickly and it was very surreal. I settled as I bowled more.”Beard’s exciting intervention apart, this was probably not how Sri Lanka imagined their first day of their tour of England. Having been spooked by England’s recent snow, the Sri Lanka’s were surprised to find that the sun blazing throughout – ice cream and increasingly salmon-coloured skin were abundant.There was even a chance for the attack Sanath Jayasuriya this week described as the “best attack in the world” to feel the sun on their backs. They toiled as Essex – who bat deep – reached stumps 81 for 2.Flashback: Aaron Beard substitute fielded for England as a 15-year-old in 2013•Getty ImagesIf 254 seemed underpar, it was a decent enough day for the two men Mathews has suggested are jostling for the No.3 spot. Kusal Mendis, who batted at first drop today, scored a fluent, at times extravagant 66, having found himself at the crease so early.Then Niroshan Dickwella, who came in as low as No.8, chanced his arm for the only other half-century, looking particularly good through the covers. Lahiru Thirimanne, the third member of the touring party with designs on the spot at first drop, is said to be operating at about 85% and remains a week away from a full recovery from his hamstring injury.When Sri Lanka took the field, Dinesh Chandimal took the gloves, but Dickwella remains in contention for the role in the Test series, and may keep later in this match.After Beard’s early burst, Mendis and Chandimal rebuilt. West Australian Matt Dixon, whose bowling improved as the day worn on and who appears to have a fine bouncer, and Tom Moore bowled loosely, and Mendis was quick to profit, particularly through midwicket and on the cut. The pair had shared a jaunty and stylish 88 when Chandimal edged Jesse Ryder to second slip.After lunch, wickets fell periodically. Beard returned with good pace to dismiss Mendis caught at the wicket, then Siriwardana, while Ryder pinned Dhananjaya de Silva in front. Mathews was defiant and was well caught at mid-off off Ravi Bopara. Dickwella was left to swing, then slog, with the tail, which was mopped up by Moore’s seam after tea.Sri Lanka’s frustration continued as Nick Browne and Jaik Mickleburgh played attractively to guide Essex in sharing 76, before Dhammika Prasad got one to nip back from round the wicket at Browne, who played attractively on the drive after a slow start. Nightwatchman Moore attempted to guide Essex to stumps, but was bowled not offering a stroke to Shaminda Eranga.This, though, was emphatically Essex and Beard’s day. Sri Lanka – indeed, all of us – certainly know a bit about him now.

With the race for the playoffs getting tighter, Mumbai Indians will aim to bounce back, having suffered back-to-back defeats at their new home in Visakhapatnam

The Preview by Arun Venugopal in Visakhapatnam14-May-2016Match factsSunday, May 15, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)3:29

Cullinan: Nos. 2, 3, 4 a problem for Mumbai

Big PictureThis is usually the time when Mumbai Indians make a frenetic dash for a playoff spot from the lower rungs of the table. Mumbai have started well this season, and despite a few stumbles, they are in with a chance to make the top four. Their recent performances, however, would be a concern, especially at Visakhapatnam, which was assigned as their ‘home’ ground after the IPL was forced to move out of Maharashtra.Mumbai have lost both matches at their new home by big margins, having struggled to cope with a sluggish surface that has fettered their stroke-makers. Rohit Sharma might not admit it, but the batting has been too reliant on him. With only two games to go and a congested points table to negotiate, Mumbai would need Nitish Rana and Krunal Pandya to step up.Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, have had a fine season, but have stuttered a bit because of injuries and a flurry of changes to their regular XI. With most of the support staff having worked with Rajasthan Royals in the past, they might remember how odd tinkering perhaps cost the team a playoff spot two years ago. Now is the time for them to zero in on a settled line up.Form guideMumbai Indians LWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Delhi Daredevils WLLWWIn the spotlightAmbati Rayudu has been a crisis manager for Mumbai this season. He has either set the innings up at the top of the order or held it together after the loss of early wickets. In conditions that haven’t been the easiest to bat on, his contribution will be critical.Sanju Samson may not have blitzed his way through Daredevils’ campaign like he did with Rajasthan Royals when he first burst onto the scene. But his consistent contributions at the top have empowered a relatively inexperienced batting line-up. His ability to milk the bowling at a fair clip will be handy on a surface that hasn’t been conducive to big-hitting.Team newsMumbai have generally been loath to fiddling with their combination, but given the need to shore up their batting, there is likely to be a rethink in this regard. Rohit Sharma hinted after the loss against Kings XI Punjab that they might play a foreign batsman in place of either Tim Southee or Mitchell McClenaghan. Either Martin Guptill or Corey Anderson, who also gives Mumbai a bowling option, is likely get a look in. If Guptill is picked, he will probably replace Unmukt Chand at the top, and one of Vinay Kumar or Shreyas Gopal is likely replace Southee, depending on the pitch and conditions.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Unmukt Chand/Martin Guptill, 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Tim Southee/R Vinay Kumar/Shreyas Gopal, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Jasprit BumrahZaheer Khan’s fitness has been a constant worry for Daredevils. During training, Zaheer began by bowling off a few steps and then gradually went full tilt with no apparent discomfort. A call on his availability would be taken on the morning of the game. If Zaheer is fit, Jayant Yadav will make way for him; if he isn’t, JP Duminy will continue to lead the side.Delhi Daredevils (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Sanju Samson, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Jayant Yadav/Zaheer Khan(capt), 8 Chris Morris, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 11 Mohammed ShamiPitch and conditionsThis is a fresh pitch, different from the one used in the last game, but it isn’t known if it will offer more comfort for batsmen. The city also received moderate showers on match eve, but there is no rain forecast for Sunday.Stats and trivia Amit Mishra has the most wickets (12) for a spinner in IPL 2016.Three of Daredevils’ bowlers who have played at least three games – Imran Tahir, Chris Morris and Jayant Yadav – have an economy rate of less than seven.Quote”His cricket brain is unrivalled, I think, especially with the fields he sets and his thinking around what the batsman is thinking, and where they are going to try and hit the ball. When you’re seeing a bowlers meeting, and he’s talking about these plans and you’re not quite sure what’s going on. He’s one of those blokes – when he talks, you really listen.”

Hagley Oval is a permanent reminder of the earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011, but such reminders will only be intensified over the course of the upcoming Test between New Zealand and Australia

Brydon Coverdale in Christchurch19-Feb-20163:47

Christchurch’s coming back to life

Hagley Oval is a permanent reminder of the earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011, but such reminders will only be intensified over the course of the upcoming Test between New Zealand and Australia. Monday, the third day of the Test, is the five-year anniversary of the earthquake, which registered 6.3 on the Richter scale and resulted in the deaths of 185 people.February 22 will be recognised in Christchurch with a civic memorial service in the Botanic Gardens and a minute’s silence during the lunch break of the Test, at 12.51pm – the same time the earthquake struck. The date will be particularly significant for the Canterbury-based members of New Zealand’s team, including captain Brendon McCullum, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Corey Anderson.As if the city needed any further reminders of the tragedy, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch on Sunday. And on Thursday night, a 4.3 magnitude aftershock occurred, and was felt by members of both teams, who had arrived from Wellington the previous day.”Obviously a little reminder of what Christchurch can serve up with the earthquake over the last week or so,” McCullum said on Friday. “I guess that’s the beauty of sport as well: we get to go out and give the people of Christchurch the ability to support their team and enjoy the occasion rather worrying about things rocking and rolling.”Last time Australia played cricket in Christchurch was February 2010: the venue was Lancaster Park, and McCullum scored an audacious 116 not out as New Zealand won a Twenty20 match in a Super Over. Steven Smith played in that match and was still in his first month as an international cricketer; now he returns to Christchurch as Australia’s captain, and the redeveloped Hagley Oval is now the city’s major cricket venue due to earthquake damage to Lancaster Park.”The security side of our team’s given us a few pointers of what to do if there was a big earthquake,” Smith said. “And obviously on Monday it’s five years since the big earthquake. I guess until you’ve been here it’s hard to fathom what has actually happened in Christchurch, and you really feel for the people that experienced what went on five years go. It’s a tough time for the people of Christchurch.”This will be just the second Test match played at Hagley Oval, the first having resulted in an eight-wicket win for New Zealand over Sri Lanka in December 2014. The first two days of this Test – McCullum’s farewell to international cricket – are already sold out.

Jason Holder’s mental strength was on display on the third day against Australia in Kingston, where he scored an unbeaten 82 despite what he called “a lot of chirping” from the Australians

Daniel Brettig in Kingston14-Jun-2015Jason Holder’s toughness was on display twice on day three. First of all he demonstrated it in the morning with an innings of real chutzpah, taking West Indies past the follow-on by clattering Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon with fearless intent as well as the natural leverage provided by his considerable height.An equally striking impression was to be provided at day’s end when Holder spoke about the series and his encounters with an Australian side seldom shy of being aggressive in word and deed. Holder was harried by both these avenues throughout his 82, but spoke boldly of how much he enjoyed the verbal sparring.He even went as far as saying there should be more of it at international level, and that he had fed on it for motivation across both these Test matches. Holder is clearly made of stern stuff, and has earned the respect of his Australian opponents for the way he has carried himself in a pair of lopsided contests.”You get a lot of chirping – they’re that type of team,” Holder said of Australia. “They’re always at you, whether they’re bowling or just at you verbally. You expect that from the Australians, and that’s what they thrive on, so for me personally I just try to stay in the game and try to feed off it as much as possible.”I think they get tired at some stage. But there’s always someone in your ear at some stage of the game. But I love it, that’s cricket. I don’t think it would be international cricket without it, it’s something that should be done more often – obviously in a very discreet way – and I think that’s part of the game and I look forward to it. There’s always a chance for us to give it, and that’s cricket, you give it and you get it.”Holder’s attitude is also typified by the way he has taken on whatever role the captain Denesh Ramdin has set out for him. Based on technique and temperament there is plenty of evidence to suggest Holder should be batting higher up the order than No. 7, but he did not complain about a posting that left him stranded 18 runs short of a hundred when Hazlewood winkled out the last two wickets.”It’s whatever the team requires,” he said. “I’m pretty much able to do whatever the team wants me to do and I’m one of those players who tries not to give up and try to give a big effort whatever. If the captain decides that he needs me up the order I’ll do it.”I back my technique. It’s more mental than anything. I just need to apply myself more mentally to get through any situation. The Australians as a team come at you really hard and I think once you get over the chirp from the boys, it’s a lot easier as it goes on.”My mental game is improving each game. It’s been very tough physically, I’ve been going since November last year, we’ve been playing cricket straight through. So it’s been pretty taxing on the body and a challenge to motivate myself day in, day out. But I can say one thing that’s improving is my mental game and I’m very pleased that I can stand here today after each day’s play still standing.”Towards the end of a season that also featured Holder leading the ODI team to the World Cup down under amid a hail of criticism about team selections, he said he took great encouragement from the words of the latest ICC Hall of Fame inductee Wes Hall in his speech at the WIPA awards before this match. Hall’s resilience and energy have stayed with Holder, who showed similar qualities at Sabina Park on day three.”It was very inspirational for me,” he said. “He’s one of the few people who could talk for a very long time and still draw your attention. It’s not the first time I’ve sat and heard him speak. He’s very inspirational for me, and to see the things he’s achieved and the path he’s taken in life is just inspirational for me. You can take a lot from it.”Spoken like a future Test captain.

James Whitaker, the England national selector, has poured further cold water on the notion of Kevin Pietersen returning to play for England saying the batsman is “not part” of England’s plans

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2015James Whitaker, the England national selector, has poured cold water on the notion of Kevin Pietersen returning to play for England saying the batsman is “not part” of England’s plans.Pietersen, buoyed by incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves’ suggestion that an England return is possible, is attempting to mount a challenge for an England recall by cancelling his IPL contract and fully committing to county cricket – but a deal with Surrey might be delayed until more clarity on his potential future is gained.Graves has had a telephone conversation with Pietersen and intends to meet him when Pietersen returns from his BBC radio commentary duties at the World Cup. By that time, Graves will be officially in office.Pietersen T20 record since England split

Delhi Daredevils (IPL) R 294 Ave 29.40

Surrey (NatWest Blast) R 225 Ave 22.50

St Lucia Zouks (CPL) R 30 Ave 15

Melbourne Stars (Big Bash) R293 Ave 41.86

Pietersen used his commentary stint to reaffirm his ambitions: “If I can do anything that can help me get back into it for England then it’s something I want to do. I love playing for England.”But Whitaker, also speaking to the BBC, refused to entertain talk of Pietersen playing for England again, saying there was no place available in the England middle order.”We haven’t had discussions at all about Kevin,” he said. “I know Colin very well, he is entitled to his opinion, but Kevin isn’t part of our plans. We’ve been developing our team for a year in Test match cricket. We’ve had some good conversations about what happened after the end of Australia.”We’ve produced some good middle-order players with Gary Ballance, Joe Root and Ian Bell continuing to perform well, so we are happy with where we are in the middle order.”England Test captain Alastair Cook also played down the prospect of Pietersen returning, saying: “I think it’s very unlikely,” he said. “There’s been a hell of a lot of stuff happened with his book and all that kind of stuff. It’s a long way back from that.”

Phillip Hughes’ death is to be the subject of an independent review, commissioned by Cricket Australia in order to “see what could be done to prevent a similar accident happening in the future”

Daniel Brettig14-May-2015Phillip Hughes’ death is to be the subject of an independent review, commissioned by Cricket Australia in order to “see what could be done to prevent a similar accident happening in the future”.Having flagged the possibility of a review in the days after Hughes’ death in November last year, the CA chief executive James Sutherland on Thursday announced the measure, which will be helmed by the QC David Curtain, a former chairman of the Victorian Bar Council and president of the Australian Bar Association.”When this tragedy happened, I said that it was a freak accident, but it was one freak accident too many,” Sutherland said. “Never again do we want to see something like that happen on a cricket field. We have a deep responsibility and obligation to look into the events of that awful day to understand everything that occurred and then see what could be done to prevent a similar accident happening in the future.Terms of reference for review

The causes and circumstances which led to the injury and ultimate death of Phillip Hughes

The policies, practices or systems in place to prevent a similar accident from occurring including those in relation to the prevention of traumatic injuries to the head and heart

CA’s approach to mandating, and enforcing the use and wearing of personal protective equipment in order to protect the head and heart

CA’s approach to the provision and use of cricket helmets, including consideration of helmet certification standards and suitability

CA’s approach to the medical screening of contracted players – especially those players with particular vulnerabilities

CA’s approach to the provision of a safe working environment at venues for both matches and training, including management of participants who suffer (or may be perceived to have suffered) head and heart injuries, and specifically the extent and appropriateness of CA’s concussion and head trauma policy and reporting mechanisms

The extent and appropriateness of the medical support and coverage afforded to players and on-field support staff, including match officials, at matches and training

“This is not an exercise designed to apportion blame on any individual for what took place. It is about making sure that as a sport we are doing everything in our power to prevent an accident of this nature happening again. David Curtain QC is one of Australia’s leading law practitioners and is highly qualified to lead the review which is being undertaken with the support of the Hughes family.”Hughes’ death, when felled by a routine bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG on November 25 last year, caused an unprecedented outpouring of emotion across Australia and the world, as many struggled to come to terms with the loss of one of the game’s most promising players.At the time there were some questions raised over various elements of the day’s events, from the time it took for an ambulance to arrive at the SCG to the model of helmet Hughes was wearing – though no helmet currently in production would have covered the spot where he was hit.Sutherland said that while numerous steps had already been taken to avoid a repeat of the awful scenes witnessed that day, the review would seek to determine whether more could be done between now and the start of the next Australian season.”There were certain measures put in place soon after Phillip’s passing such as increasing the medical presence at all CA matches and working very closely with our helmet supplier to investigate the suitability of protective head equipment offered to all players,” he said. “This review will help determine whether we need to implement further measures before the 2015-16 season.”We fully recognise that undertaking a process such as this may be a traumatic experience for some and we will be as respectful and understanding as possible throughout that time. As such Cricket Australia and all states continue to make available counselling and support to any players and staff who feel they need help at any time.”CA have indicated that once the review is complete, its findings will be released to the public.

Swapnil Gugale stole the limelight with a sterling 174 on the opening day of Maharashtra’s crucial Ranji Trophy Group B tie against Delhi, keeping the team on course for posting a big first-innings total at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium

The Report by Amol Karhadkar in Pune21-Jan-2015
ScorecardFile photo: Chirag Khurana provided Swapnil Gugale ample support during a 106-run stand for the sixth wicket•ESPNcricinfo LtdSwapnil Gugale stole the limelight with a sterling 174 on the opening day of Maharashtra’s crucial Ranji Trophy Group B tie against Delhi, keeping the team on course for a big first-innings total at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium.Thanks to Gugale’s chanceless innings and his 106-run partnership for the sixth wicket with the in-form Chirag Khurana, Maharashtra ended the day at 312 for 6. Had it not been for Gugale’s heroics, the hara-kiri committed by the rest of the Maharashtra’s top-order batsmen would have ended up justifying Delhi’s decision to field first.Looking at the flat deck, most teams winning the toss would have opted to bat first and put on a gargantuan total on the board. But Gautam Gambhir sprung the first surprise of the day by inserting Maharashtra.Gugale pleased after ‘important’ ton

Swapnil Gugale had a forgettable debut in first-class when he was castled by Rajasthan’s Deepak Chahar in Nashik four years ago. Since then, while he saw many of his teammates in Maharashtra’s developmental squads, the opener had to wait for another opportunity.
On numerous occasions, he would be drafted into the Ranji squad, but would not break in to the XI. On Wednesday, he proved his credentials in style by piling on 174 against an in-form Delhi attack.
“It was frustrating to see others getting a look into the Ranji Trophy. But with a sort of a settled opening combination, I had no option to keep scoring in CK Nayudu Trophy and wait for my chance. It was difficult but I am glad that I could do it and play an important knock for the team today,” Gugale said.
On the bench during the zonal one-dayers this season and ignored for the first three Ranji games, Gugale finally got the call-up when the team travelled to Rajkot. He was told by the team management that he will be given at least two to three games to come good. He failed to make an impact in Saurashtra and in the first innings of the game against last week, but scored a morale-boosting 59 not out in the second innings.
Unlike the two previous games, the pitch in Pune was flat, but by scoring more than half of Maharashtra’s run tally on the day, Gugale made a strong impact.
“Playing against Delhi was a big occasion,” he said. “A team with three international players and as many more IPL regulars is a big challenge to face early on in my career. I am happy that I could score against them.”

Though the ball was bouncing nicely, the wicket did not challenge the batsmen. Gugale, playing his fourth first-class match, got off the blocks with a sweetly timed drive off Parvinder Awana. Sumit Narwal got one to rise in the seventh over to manage an edge off Harshad Khadiwale’s willow that rested into Unmukt Chand’s safe palms at second slip.Gugale, however, was undeterred at the other end and unleashed drives and cuts at will. His nimble footwork was equally impressive against both the seamers, as well as the left-arm spin duo of Manan Sharma and Varun Sood.Just as Rohit Motwani appeared to be set for a big knock, he missed a straight one from Rajat Bhatia. While the bowler and close-in fielders appealed for lbw, the batsman took off for a single assuming the ball had passed wicketkeeper Rahul Yadav. The ball had only lobbed close to the keeper and Yadav showed presence of mind to whip the bails off and find Motwani short of the crease.In a surprising move, Maharashtra sent in Ankit Bawne ahead of their star batsman Kedar Jadhav, who was padded up. Bawne adopted an aggressive approach and went after Bhatia. He struck a couple of boundaries off him on the off-side and followed it up with a towering six over long-on. Bhatia, though, had the last laugh when he eventually trapped the batsman leg before for 18.Soon after lunch, Rahul Tripathi gave Yadav catching practice off Vikas Tokas just after he had got his eye in. At 139 for 4, in walked Jadhav. Despite Gugale having raced into his eighties, he required support at the other end. The Delhi bowlers noticed this and stifled Jadhav’s flow of runs and allowed him only two singles off the first 14 balls he faced.While Jadhav was stuck at one end, Gugale eventually celebrated his maiden first-class century with a splendid cover drive. Even before the ball had crossed the boundary for his 15th four, Gugale jumped in the air and pumped his fists to acknowledge loud applause from a decent crowd that had primarily turned up to get a glimpse of Virender Sehwag. The fact that Maharashtra’s total was 164 when Gugale crossed the milestone showed how much Gugale had dominated the bowlers.Soon after, Jadhav managed a boundary off Manan Sharma to break the shackles but two balls later, he attempted a pull off a full delivery, missed it and was plumb in front of the wickets. Maharashtra, for the third time in succession, had to fall back on Khurana for avoiding a collapse.With Khurana playing a perfect second fiddle, Gugale continued his assault. He went after Manan, hitting him for two sixes and a flurry of boundaries that tarnished the bowler’s figures. Gugale was set to pile on the misery on the Delhi bowlers by converting his century into a double and carrying his bat into the second day, but then came the last surprise.A tired lofted drive off Manan to Mithun Manhas at covers nine deliveries before the new ball was due brought curtains on Gugale’s innings. Khurana and Shrikant Mundhe then dealt with the red cherry, which was taken with seven overs remaining, with little trouble, as Khuranna completed his third successive fifty.In the midst of the surprising strategy by the Delhi camp, amateurish shot selection by the Maharashtra batsmen and sensational strokeplay by Gugale, there was some light-hearted banter in the Delhi camp. Sehwag was heard taunting the bowling coach Amit Bhandari during tea break for having suggested to field first. If Mundhe and Khurana pile on another big partnership, then even the fancied Delhi batting line-up would be put under pressure.