Category Uncategorized

South Africa’s Thami Tsolekile has talked down his non-selection in the Test team, following Makhaya Ntini’s comment about race playing a role in him being consistently overlooked for the wicketkeepers’ role

Firdose Moonda18-Nov-2012Thami Tsolekile has talked down his non-selection in the Test team after being nationally contracted in February. His statements come after former Test bowler Makhaya Ntini implied race played a role in Tsolekile being consistently overlooked for the wicketkeepers’ role despite the retirement of Mark Boucher.Tsolekile was identified as Mark Boucher’s successor even before his injury-enforced retirement in July, but has not played a match because AB de Villiers was tasked with the keepers’ role. While Tsolekile’s omission has been put down to strategy, with South Africa using Boucher’s absence to lengthen their batting line-up, two weeks ago Ntini presented another argument.He said Tsolekile “would have been playing if he was white” and questioned why there is only one black African player in the Test squad, 20 years after South African cricket was unified. But Tsolekile said Ntini may have been reacting out of hurt.”Having played most of my cricket in the township and, with Makhaya, also growing up in the township, obviously he was an icon,” Tsolikile said. “He has done very well over the years. What he said was quite disturbing and I wouldn’t know why he said that.”He was speaking on behalf of himself. Maybe he has got his own reasons for why he said that. The fact is that he is talking from a point [of view] where he wishes to and would love to see more African players playing for the Proteas. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what he meant.”Ntini was the only black African to consistently represent South Africa at international level after readmission in 1991. He is one of only seven black Africans to play for the country in any format. Five of those have played Test cricket but under Gary Kirsten no black African has worn the whites. Since Ntini’s retirement in November 2010 the only black player to take the field has been Lonwabo Tsotsobe – he played just five Test matches but rose to the top of the ODI rankings in the last year.Tsolekile was believed to be the next black African Test player but has yet to make his comeback. Instead of delving into the race politics, though, Tsolekile was softer in his approach: “I feel good that I have been recognised and I’ve spoken to the selectors. I’m happy because I know exactly where I stand. I had a long chat with Gary in England and again in Australia, and I think he made it clear where I stand and I am happy with that.”He did not elaborate on where that is but he believes that he will, eventually, play a Test. “It might take three weeks, three months or a year for me to play another Test match. I don’t know,” he said.De Villiers has shown no signs of giving up the gloves, despite the effects on his back and his batting. He said his body is coping with the extra burden even though he suffers from chronic and recurring back pain, and he feels on the verge of a big score though he has not managed a single half-century since taking over from Boucher.”I got a lot of value out of both my innings [in Brisbane]. I was in in both innings. I felt like I could score a hundred in both innings and I had the energy to do so. It’s a little unfair to look at the stats. I’ve only had seven or eight innings as a wicketkeeper and there’s still a lot to come. It’s got nothing to do with wicketkeeping, or energy levels, or mental fatigue or anything of that sort. I just haven’t been able to push through.”With Duminy being ruled out of the series with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, Tsolekile – who played three Test matches in 2004 and was quickly replaced after appearing out of his depth – may yet get his chance on the Australia tour. He said that whenever it comes “it will feel like I am making my debut”.

Cricket South Africa have not been able to secure a sponsor for the Twenty20 series against Australia and have given the exclusive title rights to a charity organisation instead

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2011Cricket South Africa have not been able to secure a sponsor for the Twenty20 series against Australia and have given the exclusive title rights to a charity organisation instead. In the aftermath of the yet-to-be-resolved bonus scandal, corporates have veered away from associating themselves with the body, and only Castle Lager have remained as backers of the Test and ODI teams. As a result, the T20 team, all international events and two of the three domestic competitions are without sponsors.Two of CSA’s long-time sponsors, Standard Bank and the mobile communications company MTN opted out of their sponsorship agreements with cricket during the off-season. Standard Bank said the move was in line with their cancelling of all sports sponsorships, while MTN declined to give a reason for their withdrawal. Since then, the bonus scandal has dragged into its second year and CSA have been unable to bring any new company on board.Instead, CSA has given the Make a Difference (MAD) foundation the title rights for the series free of charge, and will allow the foundation to promote itself at both matches, as a way of giving back to the community. The organisation seeks to give academically talented but disadvantaged children an opportunity to get a good education, something CSA sees as closely aligned to its own development goals. “An important focus for CSA has always been in the mentoring and development of young players to become the very best cricketers in the world. And MAD shares a similar vision,” Majola said.South Africa’s ODI and T20 captain, AB de Villiers, who is not playing in the series because of a finger injury is an ambassador for MAD, after being introduced to the organisation through former rugby hero Francois Pienaar.Richard Glover, CSA’s commercial manager, said that many companies had expressed interest in sponsoring various cricket properties but have asked to hold off until a “line had been drawn under the bonus scandal”. As the season drew close, with only Castle Lager continuing their relationship, Glover remained confident that CSA would secure sponsors before the season started. On September 20, he told ESPNcricinfo that a “sponsor will definitely be announced for the T20 series” against Australia.However, the CSA’s infighting has continued, and no sponsor has been unveiled. Reliable sources have confirmed that four companies have been asked to put their negotiations with CSA on hold until their issues have been resolved. That could happen as soon as this Saturday, when president Mtutuzeli Nyoka faces a second vote of no confidence.Five of the eleven provincial unions – Gauteng, Free State, Boland, Easterns and Eastern Province – have confirmed that they will support the motion against Nyoka. Northerns has said they will vote against it, but it is understood that at least one other union is in favour of the motion, and Nyoka is set to be removed from office.That should end the ongoing battle between him and chief executive Gerald Majola which started when 4.7 million Rand ($671,428) was paid in bonuses after South Africa hosted the 2009 IPL and the Champions Trophy. The payments were not processed through CSA’s remunerations committee (Remco) and Nyoka asked for an external audit to be carried out to investigate them.CSA held an internal audit, which cleared Majola and voted Nyoka out of office unlawfully three months later. Nyoka challenged them in court and, when he was reinstated, also won the right to have CSA’s financials examined. KPMG, who conducted the inquiry, recommended that CSA seek legal advice after finding that Majola may have breached the Companies’ Act on four occasions, and opinion was sought from Advocate Azhar Bham. Majola was severely reprimanded at the AGM in August and CSA vowed to improve their corporate governance methods but denied Nyoka’s request for copies of the audit report and legal advice.They have since met Nyoka and his lawyer to show him both documents, but have also claimed that he has breached media protocol and is no longer fit to be their President. If he is removed on Saturday, CSA’s 15-month-long saga will come to an end, albeit unsatisfactorily for some, the day before the second T20 against Australia. That leaves too short a time frame to rubber-stamp the sponsorship.There is, as yet, no indication of when CSA will announce sponsors for the ODI series against Australia or the domestic one-day and twenty-over competitions. SuperSport have continued to back the first-class competition in accordance with their television rights deal.

Round-up of the third day of the fifth round of Division One of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2010Water and Power Development Authority have gone clear of Habib Bank Limited at the top of the table after an innings and 82-run victory over Karachi Blues at the National Stadium in Karachi. WAPDA had won their prior two matches in just two days, and needed just 38.1 overs on day three, this time, to bowl Karachi out for 189 in their second innings. WAPDA captain Naved-ul-Hasan took 4 for 54 to take his match-haul to eight wickets, while seamer Umaid Asif finished with figures of 3 for 62 in the second innings. WAPDA had shown their intentions of winning the match early after declaring on Tuesday, 271 runs ahead. Karachi started the day on 19 for 1, and lost wickets consistently, their tail finally capitulating as the final four wickets fell for nine runs. Karachi opener Rameez Raja managed to hold up one end for a while, scoring 58, but the next highest scorer was extras with 25, as Karachi did little to improve their first innings batting performance, which saw them get 128. Karachi are just three points off the foot of the table.Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited suffered a dramatic collapse as they fell to 57 all out, giving Islamabad a 73-run victory at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad. Islamabad seamer Nasrullah Khan took 7 for 31 to finish with ten wickets for the match, and Rauf Akbar chipped in with the other three wickets for Islamabad. SNGPL started the day on top and got Islamabad’s last wicket without too much damage, leaving themselves a target of 130. The match had been a low-scoring affair till the third morning, with neither team having gone past the 200-mark in their first innings. SNGPL lost three early wickets, but a 20-run sixth-wicket stand put them in with a chance at 53 for 5. Nasrullah, though, ripped through the tail as SNGPL’s last five wickets fell for four runs. The win gave Islamabad six points, which takes them up to sixth in the table, just one place behind SNGPL.Multan’s dismal season continued, as Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited consigned them to their fifth consecutive defeat, at the Multan Cricket Stadium. ZTBL neded just 28 overs on the third day to complete the nine-wicket win, after having reduced Multan to 149 for 7 on Tuesday. Multan at least forced ZTBL to bat again as debutant Mazhar Bashir scored 71 off 77 balls, to set target of 40. ZTBL seamer Iftikhar Anjum, who has played 62 ODIs for Pakistam, took Multan’s last two wickets to finish with four for the innings and six for the match. ZTBL are now level on points with Habib Bank Limited in second position.The run-fest at the Sports Stadium in Sargodha continued as Faisalabad moved to within 35 runs of National Bank of Pakistan’s first-innings total of 467, with five wickets still in hand. Faisalabad look set to pick up their first points of the season as Asif Hussain’s unbeaten 149 took them within touching distance of a first-innings lead. Faisalabad had responded well to NBP’s big score, reaching 151 for 0 on Tuesday. And, after a couple of wickets fell early on the third day, Hussain held fort, batting through the rest of the day, and adding 90 runs for the fourth wicket with Faisalabad captain Naved Latif. The hosts’ strong reply means that Kamran Akmal’s double-century for NBP in their first innings may go rewardless.Rawalpindi seamers Rizwan Akbar and Nasir Malik set up what should be an upset against Habib Bank Ltd at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Akbar and Malik had shared seven wickets to bowl out HBL for 164 on Tuesday, and repeated the dose on the third day of the match, taking three scalps apiece to reduce HBL to 265 for 8 after the hosts had enforced the follow on. HBL are now just 39 runs ahead, and barring a miraculous recovery by their tail, Rawalpindi should have a fairly easy chase tomorrow. Malik and Akbar followed a similar formula to HBL’s first innings, with Akbar getting the early wickets, and then Malik coming in to dismantle the middle-order. Aftab Alam and Khaqan Raja got half-centuries for HBL, but there was little back-up from the rest.Sialkot got their foot in the door against Pakistan International Airlines, taking four wickets in the last session, after PIA had done well to dismiss the hosts for 274 in their first innings. Sialkot’s opening bowlers, debutant Waqas Ahmed and Prince Abbas, struck early in PIA’s second innings, reducing them to 3 for 2 at one stage. Ahmed struck again, as did fast bowler Mohammad Abbas, to leave PIA at 55 for 4 at stumps. PIA’s first innings total of 388 means they have a 169-run lead, and Faisalabad will need to strike early tomorrow to make sure they don’t have to chase too much. Sialkot had started the third day at the Jinnah Stadium at 142 for 3, and PIA seamer Ali Imran and Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain, took four wicket each to get them out for 274.

Brad Hodge has played his last first-class game after a knee injury ruled him out of what was intended to be his finale against New South Wales in Newcastle starting on Friday

Cricinfo staff16-Dec-2009Brad Hodge has played his last first-class game after a knee injury ruled him out of what was intended to be his finale against New South Wales in Newcastle starting on Friday. Hodge struggled with knee soreness after aggravating an existing problem during Tuesday’s FR Cup match against South Australia.He announced his impending retirement from first-class cricket last month after family commitments won out over the desire to add to his six Test caps. Hodge leaves the first-class arena with 17,084 runs at 48.81 from 223 appearances, with 51 centuries and a top score of 302 not out.However, Hodge is keen to play on for Victoria in Twenty20 and one-day cricket and he has not given up hope of making the Australia squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies next year. The Bushrangers will reassess Hodge’s fitness next week before the one-day against New South Wales in Sydney.Victoria have also lost Darren Pattinson to a calf strain, while his brother James Pattinson is having his workload managed and will miss Friday’s Sheffield Shield match. Jon Holland, Steven Gilmour and the uncapped left-arm fast bowler Will Sheridan have been included in a 12-man squad.New South Wales will again be captained by Moises Henriques, who at 22 last week became the fourth-youngest skipper in the state’s history. The legspinning allrounder Steven Smith will rejoin the side after a quick trip to Perth to act as cover for Nathan Hauritz in Australia’s Test squad.Victoria squad Chris Rogers, Nick Jewell, Lloyd Mash, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Andrew McDonald, Matthew Wade (wk), John Hastings, Jon Holland, Bryce McGain, Steven Gilmour, Will Sheridan.New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, Phil Jaques, Usman Khawaja, Moises Henriques (capt), David Warner, Ben Rohrer, Daniel Smith (wk), Steven Smith, Grant Lambert, Stephen O’Keefe, Aaron Bird, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc.

Former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has been accused of "inappropriately touching" England players after the Women's World Cup final.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Rubiales accused by FA chair Debbie HewittHe also allegedly forcibly kissed Jenni HermosoRubiales has hit back at allegationWHAT HAPPENED?

According to new documents released by FIFA, to support their decision to ban Rubiales for three years over his alleged forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso and conduct at the World Cup final, Rubiales behaved inappropriately towards both Lucy Bronze and Laura Coombs. Debbie Hewitt, the Football Association's chair, alleges that Rubiales "cupped and stroked" Coombs' face, and "seemingly forcefully kissed Lucy Bronze on her face".

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

In addition to his alleged kiss on Hermoso, Hewitt also claimed that Rubiales' behaviour towards the Spanish team made her "deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed", as she stood just metres away from the former head of the Spanish Football Federation. Hewitt claims that she did not see any evidence that the kiss with Hermoso was consensual, although he has denied sexually assaulting the player.

WHAT RUBIALES SAID

Rubiales has issued a fierce rebuke to the claims, insisting that Hewitt's allegations are "astonishing".

He added: “Applying the same logic she [Hewitt] used, that [hugging] could be understood as a forceful non-consensual physical contact. The hypocrisy is blatant."

He also claims he was merely trying to comfort Coombs, who did not play in the final due to an injury.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RUBIALES?

Rubiales resigned in September, but will await the verdict of the investigation from FIFA to discover whether his three-year ban is ratified. It remains to be seen if FIFA will release any further testimony.

MatériaMais Notícias

A exemplo do que fez na última quinta-feira, após a vitória do Corinthians sobre o Red Bull Bragantino, Andrés Sanchez voltou a usar suas redes sociais para ironizar os críticos do clube. Desta vez a motivação foi o triunfo sobre o Mirassol, neste domingo, que garantiu vaga em mais uma decisão do Paulistão.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansTiago Nunes celebra Corinthians na final do Paulistão: ‘Grande sonho’Corinthians02/08/2020VídeoConfira o gol de Éderson na vitória do Corinthians sobre o MirassolVídeo02/08/2020CorinthiansCorinthians valoriza a pontaria de Éderson e brinca: ‘Sniper Corintiano’Corinthians02/08/2020

Logo após a vitória por 1 a 0, na Arena, o mandatário corintiano usou seu perfil oficial no Twitter para cutucar aqueles que não acreditaram no Timão para este campeonato estadual. Segundo ele, haverá dificuldade para algumas pessoas explicarem a chegada do Alvinegro nesta final do Campeonato Paulista.

-Mais uma vez Corinthians na final. Vai ter gente com dificuldade de explicar por aí amanhã. Um dia vão entender que o Corinthians não se explica, se sente. Parabéns pro time, pra comissão e pra quem acreditou – postou o mandatário.

Mais uma vez Corinthians na final. Vai ter gente com dificuldade de explicar por aí amanhã. Um dia vão entender que o Corinthians não se explica, se sente. Parabéns pro time, pra comissão e pra quem acreditou

— Andres Sanchez (@andresanchez63) August 2, 2020

Na última quinta-feira, Andrés já havia se manifestado de forma irônica após a vitória sobre o Red Bull Bragantino, que era considerado favorito nas quartas de final. Mesmo assim, o Timão superou o rival que tinha a melhor campanha da competição e triunfou por 2 a 0, no Morumbi, rumo à semifinal.

-Quinta força. Disseram até que ia ser rebaixado. Agora estamos aí, time encaixando e a camisa pesando. Faltam três jogos – provocou o corintiano.

continua após a publicidade

Quinta força. Disseram até que ia ser rebaixado. Agora estamos aí, time encaixando e a camisa pesando. Faltam três jogos

— Andres Sanchez (@andresanchez63) July 31, 2020

Vale lembrar que na volta da paralisação o Corinthians tinha uma situação delicada no Paulistão, com alto risco de eliminação e sem se livrar da chance de rebaixamento. Era necessária uma combinação de resultados difícil, em que o Timão teria que vencer seus dois jogos e o Guarani não pontuar nessas duas rodadas. Foi exatamente o que aconteceu, e agora está na final estadual.

Após esses quatro jogos, com quatro vitórias, seis gols e sem ser vazado, o Corinthians chega na final do Campeonato Paulista, na próxima quarta-feira, com outro status, muito diferente daquele com o qual iniciou essa retomada do futebol. A busca agora é pelo quarto título consecutivo no Paulistão.​

Barcelona enjoy healthy representation in the best XI from this first round, with Luis Suarez also making the cut – but there is no room for Leo

• Getty
  

  1Wuilker Farinez | Venezuela

  It took 262 minutes for someone to finally put a goal past Wuilker Farinez at the Copa America, Leonel Justiniano firing home a late consolation for Bolivia in a game which nevertheless saw Venezuela qualify for the quarters. 

  Against both Peru and Brazil, the 21-year-old phenomenon was at the height of his game, pulling off a string of top-quality saves to secure two clean sheets and two valuable draws for his team. 

  Talk of a transfer to Barcelona has only intensified as a result and the Millonarios No. 1 will get a major chance to impress – and frustrate – Blaugrana skipper Lionel Messi in Friday's last-eight meeting with Argentina.

  The in-form Farinez will likely relish the challenge.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  2Dani Alves | Brazil

  Age is just a number, as Dani Alves is gleefully proving in this home Copa America for Brazil. 

  At 36, the marauding right-back is relishing the chance to shine for his country again after missing out on last year's World Cup through injury. 

  The Selecao skipper rounded off Saturday's 5-0 mauling of Peru by finishing a terrific team move that he had started, just reward for the constant outlet he has offered his team-mates throughout this tournament so far.

• Getty
  

  3Jose Gimenez | Uruguay

  A towering presence alongside Diego Godin at the back for Atletico Madrid, Jose Gimenez is once again proving just as reliable a partner at international level and, so far, looks even sharper than his captain.

  The 24-year-old centre-half helped Uruguay back from the brink against Japan with a 66th-minute equaliser to secure a draw, which, thanks to results elsewhere, ensured the Celeste would make the knock-out stages.

  Gimenez then put in a similarly accomplished display to keep Chile out and send the Celeste into the quarters as Group C winners.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  4Davinson Sanchez | Colombia

  Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez is clearly on a roll, having played a big role in helping Spurs to their first-ever Champions League final in 2018-19. 

  The 23-year-old has now taken his fine form into the Copa America, proving equally impressive for his country, helping Colombia win their first two games by nullifying the Argentina attack and restricting Qatar to barely a shot on goal.

MatériaMais Notícias

“Falavam: ‘Aquele peladeiro vai para o Goianésia e ser igual estilingue, ir e voltar'”.

Michael sabe como poucos o peso de ter que dar certo em uma profissão cruel e concorrida. A frase acima foi ouvida por ele quando engatinhava na carreira profissional e passava aperto financeiro.

Os anos anteriores de várzea estavam sobre as suas costas e, para quem o esnobava, serviam para alimentar desconfiança e chacota.

Além de seis portas fechadas nos tempos em que era para estar nas categorias de base, Michael superou as drogas e ameaças de morte para, hoje, ser o protagonista da transferência mais cara do futebol brasileiro do ano (até aqui).

E Michael segue longe de se livrar das críticas destrutivas e atreladas à sua trajetória.

Em uma ocasião, um técnico conhecido no cenário nacional confidenciou em uma roda na qual eu estava: “Todo treinador gosta de um peladeiro”. Desta vez, contudo, o termo não pendeu para o lado pejorativo. Pelo contrário, apontava justamente para as características encontradas em Michael: a do drible corajoso, e até inconsequente – cada vez mais raro em nossos gramados.

No último Campeonato Brasileiro, Michael foi quem mais tentou e quem mais acertou dribles. Tinha uma equipe que se limitava a reagir às ações adversárias e a dar campo para que o “Robozinho” fosse letal nos contra-ataques.

RelacionadasFlamengoDirigentes do Flamengo citam expectativa por ‘final feliz’ com Gabigol e atualizam mercadoFlamengo21/01/2020Flamengo‘Há três anos estava no terrão, e hoje estou no Maior do Mundo’, diz MichaelFlamengo21/01/2020FlamengoAntes de ser apresentado, Michael treina com bola no Ninho do UrubuFlamengo21/01/2020

🎙 Fala, Michael! 🎙

"Pesou a grandeza do clube. Qualquer atleta quer estar aqui. Sou grato. Pretendo dar o meu melhor. Meu maior sonho é ser campeão pelo Flamengo e vou dar o meu máximo pra isso."

📸: Marcelo Cortes/CRF pic.twitter.com/A3PPutVdq8

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) January 21, 2020

Agora, com a camisa do Flamengo e sob o comando de um técnico perfeccionista, terá que se adaptar a uma nova proposta de jogo e contar com a paciência de todos os envolvidos neste processo, inclusive a das arquibancadas.

Ainda é cedo para arriscarmos como Jorge Jesus o utilizará na equipe. Pode ser mais aberto, em um esquema pontual com extremos, ou até como “avançado”, ao lado de outro atacante, podendo repetir a receita de sucesso de Bruno Henrique.

Aliás, o exemplo de Bruno Henrique corrobora com o principal motivo para que eu aposte no êxito de Michael, já que o camisa 27, embora mais rodado ao chegar no Ninho do Urubu, também era ponta, sem a bagagem das categorias de base e que, nas mãos certeiras de Jorge Jesus, fez a melhor temporada de sua carreira, em outro setor do campo.

Acredito que Michael seguirá esta toada, sobretudo pelas provações já suplantadas e lucidez quanto a uma oportunidade que, como o jovem de 23 anos conhece bem, é raríssima para quem saiu de onde ele saiu.

* Lazlo Dalfovo é setorista do Flamengo desde junho de 2019

Cricket Australia is expected to announce the schedule for next summer’s home international matches on Wednesday, despite an ongoing reluctance from South Africa’s cricketers to play in a day-night Test in Adelaide. After the success of the inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand last year, it was widely expected that two day-night Tests would be part of the 2016-17 fixtures, but the South Africans are concerned they will be disadvantaged.The Australian Test summer typically begins at the Gabba but this year it is likely to start at the WACA, with South Africa to play in Perth, Hobart and Adelaide. Pakistan will then arrive for Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The third Test against South Africa and the first against Pakistan were expected to be day-night fixtures at Adelaide Oval and the Gabba respectively, and the Pakistan game is not considered in danger.But the South African players have expressed their concerns about playing a day-night Test, despite being offered a day-night tour match to prepare for the Test. Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association, said the players lacked experience against the pink ball in night conditions.”Our players are not in favour of playing the game under those conditions,” Irish told the . “The main reason is we feel disadvantaged. Not one of our players who will compete in that Test has played Test match cricket or any cricket with a pink ball… The reluctance to play is a sign of how much importance the South African players place on the series against Australia.”New Zealand’s players expressed similar reservations last year ahead of the inaugural day-night Test but a $1 million prize pool, split 60-40 between the winners and losers, was offered by Cricket Australia to sweeten the deal. Although the match was considered a success, it finished inside three days after a grassy pitch was prepared in order to help protect the pink ball from too much wear and tear.

Australia’s captain Michael Clarke has said he feels for Kevin Pietersen over his ongoing exclusion from the England side and said any team without Pietersen in it was weaker for his absence

Brydon Coverdale17-May-2015Australia’s captain Michael Clarke has said he feels for Kevin Pietersen over his ongoing exclusion from the England side and said any team without Pietersen in it was weaker for his absence. Clarke flew out of Sydney on Sunday for Australia’s two-Test series in the West Indies, which will be followed by an England tour during which he will aim to lead the first Australian side to win the Ashes in England since 2001.Clarke’s men hold the urn after their 5-0 thrashing of England in Australia in 2013-14, a series during which Pietersen was England’s leading scorer. It also marks the last time Pietersen played for his country, and the newly-appointed England director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, last week effectively ruled out any return for Pietersen due to a “massive trust issue” between the two of them.”There’s probably two sides to me, there’s the personal side where I feel for KP because I get on well with him,” Clarke said. “I’d love to see him back playing cricket for England. His form has been outstanding. He’s still a great player. I know he wants to play. I feel for him on that side.”On the other side, we go there soon to play against England. Any team without Kevin Pietersen in it, I don’t think is as strong. I think his statistics speak for themselves. He’s been a wonderful player over a long period of time. He’s still in career-best form.”However, that was as far as Clarke would be drawn on the Pietersen issue, noting that England had a series against New Zealand before the Ashes and Australia’s immediate focus was their trip to the Caribbean. There, the Australians will face a West Indies outfit that under new coach Phil Simmons recently drew a three-Test series with England 1-1.”The last thing we can afford to do as an Australian team is get caught up in what’s happening in England, or West Indies or anywhere else,” Clarke said. “I think it’s really important we stay focused and make sure we’re as well prepared as we can be. Playing away from home is your greatest challenge as an international sporting team. England will be tough.”When we get there, no matter what XI players they put on the field, they’re going to be really tough. They know their conditions really well, as do West Indies. I think it’s important we stay really focused on this West Indies tour and try to have some success there.”They’ve got a really good bowling attack. I think they swung the ball well, whether that was with the brand new ball or reverse swing. They’ve got some handy spinners as well. The conditions we’re about to face will be very similar to the subcontinent. The wickets will be slow and low and will spin. They’re coming off some form against England.”Australia have one warm-up match in the West Indies, a three-day game against a WICB President’s XI in Antigua, before the first Test starts in Dominica on June 3. The make-up of the side is not necessarily straightforward, with two members of Australia’s most recent Test team – Joe Burns and Ryan Harris – missing from this touring squad.That could mean the tour game is an important audition, however it is unlikely that players will be available for that match if their teams make the IPL final, which is to be played on May 24. Shane Watson, Steven Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc are among the players who remain in contention to be part of the IPL final.