Worcestershire season preview

County: Worcestershire

Ground: New Road

Director of Cricket: Steve Rhodes

Captain: Daryl Mitchell

2012 in a nutshell: Last season was a huge disappointment for Worcestershire, experiencing relegation to division two of the LV= County Championship, winning just one game, and finishing bottom in their Clydesdale Bank 40 group. Both aspects of their game weren’t at the level Steve Rhodes would have liked; summed up by Phil Hughes being the only batsmen to average 35 in the LVCC. The Friends Life t20 gave the side a much welcomed break and a considerable improvement on previous seasons, making it to the quarter final stage, only to lose out to Yorkshire at Headingly.

How they finished:

County Championship Division One: 9^th (relegation)

CB 40 Group A: 7^th (bottom)

Friends Life t20: Quarter Final stage

Ins: Graeme Cessford (2^nd XI), David Lucas (Northamptonshire) Michael Johnson (Western Australia), Thilan Samaraweera (Sri Lanka), Jacab Oram (FLt20)

Outs: Vikram Solanki (Surrey), James Cameron, Ben Scott (released), Phil Hughes (Australia)

Overseas Players:

Thilan Samaraweera recently retired from international cricket, with an average of 48.76 in Test cricket, displaying the quality that Worcestershire have captured. The 36 year old will bring much needed experience to the side, collecting 81 caps for Sri Lanka. Despite failing on the 2009 tour of England, Samaraweera has the game and technique to dominate the county circuit. There will be huge pressure on the Sri Lankan, coming in to replace Australian Phil Hughes, who impressed last season in all formats. Worcestershire will look to the middle order batsmen to guide the relatively young side back to division one at the first attempt. Samaraweera will be a huge influence on the productivity of their campaign and will hope to strike up positive relationships with the experienced batsmen Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali.

Michael Johnson has also agreed a deal for the 2013 season. The Australian wicket keeper who holds a duel passport and will not count as an overseas player, hasn’t played first class cricket since late 2011, representing Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, but is seen as competition for Ben Cox. The 24 year old played for Kent 2ndXI last summer and will want to make his mark and break into the first team.

For the t20 competition Jacab Oram will link up with the club which will be a huge boost to their chances of making it through the group stage. The Kiwi is somewhat of an expert in the format, travelling the world playing it. He will improve the bowling with his medium pace and slower balls and the batting line-up with his big hitting.

Key player:

Moeen Ali will have a big role to play with bat and ball

Moeen Ali– The England Lion will have more responsibility on his shoulders this season with former skipper Vikram Solanki leaving new Road for Surrey. He will want to get back to business after a quiet 2012, averaging just 26.08 in the LVCC. Ali showed he had the quality to dominate division two in 2010, hitting 1260 runs at 48.46. If Ali collects those kind of figures Worcestershire could bounce straight back to division one. It’s not just the 25 year old’s batting that will be a threat, his off spin claimed 33 victims last season at an average of 27.30, but the bowling attack may lean on veteran seamer Alan Richardson once again.

The 37 year old collected 57 first class wickets at 19.52 in just 14 games, but Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes and captain Daryl Mitchell will be wanting younger members of the bowling attack to step up and support Richardson.

One to watch:

Ben Cox– The 21 year old will have the chance to claim the gloves a New Road, after the county released Ben Scott after three years service. Cox will have competition with the signing of Australian Michael Johnson, but has shown glimpses of his quality with the limited chances he has been given, making 61, as a 17 year old school boy in 2009 on debut against Somerset. In 17 county championship matches the youngster has claimed 44 victims with the gloves, while having a batting average of 17.28, and he will be hoping to development and improve on those stats.

How they’ll fare:

The losses of Vikram Solanki and Phil Hughes could have been a season defining moment, especially with their preseason training being disrupted by flooding at New Road, forcing them to move to Kidderminster’s Chester Road ground, practising under a marquee on the square.

The signing of Sri Lankan Thilan Samaraweera was crucial for their season and should give the team consistency with the bat as well as experience, which is what they missed last year. Worcestershire’s primary objective will be to bounce straight back up to division one of the county championship, which would be the fifth time in 11 campaigns. It won’t be as easy as past years with Lancashire, Kent and Hampshire all having the same ambition and it could go down to the wire between the four of them.

In the Friends Life t20, Jacab Oram is a huge addition to the side, as he has become a specialist in the format and they will be hoping to improve on last season’s quarter final defeat. It will be a struggle to get through the group stage this season and the same could be expected in the Yorkshire Bank 40.

Odds:

LV= County Championship 7/1

Yorkshire Bank 40 33/1

Friends Life t20 33/1

Redfern relishes his chance in the top flight

Dan Redfern is looking forward to the season ahead

Derbyshire’s Dan Redfern is relishing the chance to compete in the top flight of the County Championship, while creating history for the club.

Redfern,22, amassed 792 runs last season, helping the county pip Yorkshire to the Division Two title as they gained promotion to Division One for the first time in 13 years.

The left handed batsman insists the club are looking further than survival and the introduction of West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul shows the club’s ambition and goals.

“Being in Division One is where everyone wants to be,” Redfern told the Sentinel.

“It’s a massive chance for people to be noticed because the top division does attract more attention.

“We’d take staying up, of course, but we believe we can end higher than that.

“Our ambition is to become the best side that Derbyshire has ever fielded and I don’t see any reason why we can’t achieve that.

“Signing a player like Shiv is fantastic for the club and shows that we are developing as a county because we can attract a batsman of his calibre.”

Redern’s preseason hasn’t gone to plan after dislocating a finger on his right hand, on the opening day of their trip to Barbados.

The injury has kept the Derbyshire academy graduate out of action, missing all competitive cricket as the county look to iron out any problems.

“It was the first training session over there,”Redfern added.

“We were doing some slip catching and I took one on the end of my finger. It was dislocated and there is a small fracture in the joint as well.

“There were a few other counties out there, so I missed out on playing two-day games against Notts and Northants, plus a twenty20 tournament.

“It was frustrating, but I had some fitness work to do.

“I know I could have played in the matches, but the danger was if I was hit again, I’d need surgery and be out for a long time, which isn’t what I want.

“We’ve got a warm up game at Somerset next week, so hopefully I’ll be able to have a hit in that game and be ready for the first match.”

Derbyshire have a difficult start to life in Division One as they take on champions Warwickshire on April 10.

Derbyshire “fearless” on return to the topflight

Wayne Madsen has stated his side are in it to win it and have to be “fearless” upon their return to division one of LV= County Championship. 

Derbyshire are featuring in the top flight for just the second time, since the two tier split in 2000, following promotion last year.

Madsen’s men are the favourites to be relegated, but that isn’t going to affect his team’s mentality, as they will be approaching each match looking for victory. With only three points for a draw and 16 for a win, the South African realises what his county are up against.

Madsen said on the preseason trip to Barbados told the ECB: “You start the season looking to win it (the championship). There’s no point in us trying to just survive and stay in the division; if you do that, you’re going to be fighting at the bottom.

“We’re going to look to play positive cricket, fearless cricket exactly like we did last year and we’ll see where that takes us.

“You have to win games if you want to finish anywhere in the table and that’s what we did last year. We were able to win more games than anyone else, hence we won division two.”

Madsen wants his young side to build upon their championship winning season.

He continued: “We’ve started to get that winning mentality and the guys have learnt to finish off games, both with the bat and ball. That’s going to be a big asset to us.”

Derbyshire have added West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul to their side, who has 10,722 Test runs to his name and Madsen knows he is the “man to look out for.”

Despite the threat Chanderpaul will bring at the County Ground, Madsen is adamant his youngsters can’t be overlooked after their achievements last season.

“We’ve got a few youngsters coming through,” he added.

“Our bowling line up did particularly well for us last year and on the batting front we’ve got young Dan Redfern in the middle order and a few older heads at the top, who contributed last year and will be looking to do more of the same.”

The Middle East to move for Terry

John Terry’s name is being bounded around in the United Arab Emirates, as the money men look at the possibility of bringing the former England captain to the region.

Terry, 32, has been pushed to the outskirts of the Chelsea team by Rafa Benitez and clubs in the UAE are investigating a lucrative deal as the Blues captain nears the end of his career.

A source in the UAE told the Sunday Mirror Sport: “There are a few clubs that could afford John Terry and his signing would be a massive coup over here.”

One of those rumoured to be interested is his former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, who is the current Sporting Director at  Al Nasr, others are UAE Pro League champions Al-Ain and Al Jazira.

Terry has already been approached by the chairman of Al Jazira Sports Company, Sheikh Mansour, who tried to tempt him to Manchester City in 2009.

The 32 year old’s contract, which he got as a result of City’s interest, runs out next year, meaning Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich will have to decide if he wants to keep Terry at the club beyond his current £150,000 a week deal. The Russian’s choice of new manager could play a role in the defender’s future, as some may favour him more than others.

Terry has expressed his desire to stay at the Bridge for the remainder of his career, but he and his family regularly holiday in Dubai and negotiations over a new contract haven’t taken place yet, alerting clubs in the Middle East of his possible availability.

Sides in the region have moved away from buying players towards the end of their career; who were brought in for off the field benefits, and have recently gone for players at the peak of their powers.

As Terry enters the twilight period of his career, he may see the opportunity to move to the UAE as one last big pay day, but he has turned down large money moves in the past, as football is usually his first choice.

PSG will go to all lengths for Welsh winger

PSG “will do everything in their power” to sign Bale

Paris Saint-Germain “will do everything in their power” to attract Gareth Bale to the French capital, according to the person who brought him to White Hart Lane, say the Daily Mail.

Former Tottenham director of football, Damien Comolli, identified Bale as a future prospect while at Southampton and advised Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to sign the Welshman in 2007.

Bale has been the main threat in a Tottenham side that sit third in the Premier League and are in pole position to claim Europe’s elite prize; Champions League football, with North London rivals Arsenal seven points adrift in fifth place.

Comolli told the Sun: “When you leave Tottenham and you are a player like Bale, there are only three or four clubs you can go to.

“If PSG know the player is on the market – and there is a possibility – it wouldn’t surprise me if they did everything in their power to get him.”

Bale would be offered a huge deal to move to Paris, as the French club aren’t shy to throw their money about, in their attempt to make the club a world superpower.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Sliva were brought to the Parc de Princes in the summer, David Beckham was added to the roster in January and Bale would be a huge coup over the rest of Europe.

The 23 year old has impressed domestically and abroad scoring 11 goals in 2013, attracting the interest of Europe’s elite, with Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona showing interest.

Bale has hinted that the French leaders could be out of the question if he is to leave North London. He told French TV show Telefoot: “PSG are a great team. This is a club for the future, but they are still not at the level of great clubs. Not like Bayern, Real or Barcelona.”

Clubs will have to pay huge sums for the winger, Real Madrid are rumoured to be weighing up a £110 million package to land the winger, knowing they will have to compete with a pay rise at White Hart Lane if Spurs make the Champions League.

Bale hasn’t ruled out staying in North London and Daniel Levy will fight to keep his man by shattering his strict wage structure, offering the Welshman up to £160,00 a week.

PSG can fight fire with fire in the financial department, the big stumbling block for the French side will be the player’s needs. Bale’s footballing needs will see him stay at Spurs or move to either Spain or Germany, wage needs would land him in France.

If Bale can believed through his quotes, it is his footballing needs that will prevail; then it will all depend on whether Champions League football will make its return to White Hart Lane next season.

Leicestershire have recruited Australian Joe Burns

Leicestershire CCC have confirmed the signing of Australia A batsmen Joe Burns, as their overseas player for the majority of the 2013 season.

Joe Burns signs for Leicestershire CCC

Burns has been in impressive form for Queensland in the last two seasons, topping the clubs batting averages in the Sheffield Shield in 2011/2012, scoring 781 runs at 41.10, as well as notching up 146 runs in three list A games.

Last season was equally exciting, scoring 900 across all three formats for Queensland, Brisbane Heat and Australia A. This included top scoring for the Heat with 43 in the KFC Big Bash final as they went on to beat Perth Scorchers. Overall the batsman records an average of 40.62 in 41 first class innings, scoring 1503 runs.

The 23 year old has already imposed himself on the top county bowlers, as he made 114 for Australia A last month against the England Lions, which boasted an attack of Stuart Meaker, Chris Wright, Craig Overton, Simon Kerrigan, Scott Borthwick and Rikki Clarke.

Burns speaking about his move to Grace Road said: “I’m very excited to get the opportunity to join Leicestershire for the 2013 season. In my discussions with the staff of LCCC, I feel this is a fantastic opportunity personally for myself and to continue to develop my cricket and to perform at the highest level.

“I’ve heard great things about the club’s setup and players and I am very motivated with the ambition of promotion in the county championship. I’m looking forward to joining up with the team in May and contributing to a successful and enjoyable season”

Burns will be welcomed at Grace Road on May 15, making his debut against Glamorgan in the LV=CC and will depart on August 30, which will see him play seven LV=CC games, 11 YB4o matches and the whole of the FL t20. He will appear as West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan leaves for international commitments, but the 32 year old will return for the end of the season.

Leicestershire CCC Chief Executive Mike Siddall said: “We are delighted to have signed the up and coming batsmen Joe Burns. We are hoping he will have a similar impact at Grace Road as previous Australian overseas players, Brad Hodge and Michael Bevan. Joe is on the fringes of the Australian team and will be keen to impress during and Ashes year in England.”

Leicestershire CCC Head Coach Phil Whitticase said: “I am really pleased that Joe is joining Leicestershire. He is a talented batsman with a bright future ahead of him. His availability, before departing for the 2013 Champions League at the end of August, dovetails perfectly with Ronnie Sarwan and we expect both players to make a big impact during the season.”

Burns’ actions in Australia were rewarded as he won the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Award and joined a long list of players, such as Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee and Shane Watson. Every player that has been honoured with the accolade has gone on to represent Australia in at least one format at the international level; Leicestershire will be hoping they are the beneficiaries of the promise he has shown.

Derbyshire travel to Leek as they take on Essex

Derbyshire look to broaden their fan base, moving away from the County Ground for the Yorkshire Bank 40 contest against Essex on Sunday 9 June.

The fixture will take place at Highfield, Leek, three years after an enthralling encounter between the same two counties, which saw 547 runs; with Essex winning by five wickets through D/L after the home side racked up 299-7.

Leek host YB40 match between Derbyshire and Essex

They returned to the Staffordshire Moorlands ground for a Friends Life T20 game against Warwickshire in 2011, which Derbyshire won by six wickets, Martin Guptill smashing 72 off 44 balls.

There was a break in their travels across the county border in 2012, but an eagerly awaited return is in prospect in the coming season, with the likes of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Wes Durston and local boy Dan Redfern available to make the visit.

Derbyshire Chief Executive Simon Storey said: “By taking this fixture to Leek we are making county cricket accessible to communities outside our usual catchment area.

“Leek will appeal to cricket fans from the Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-On-Trent as well as areas in Derbyshire, particularly, Ashbourne, Buxton and the Peak District, all of whom I hope will come out in support of the match.

“Having played matches at Highfield before, we know the facilities and infrastructure are in place to host a very successful match-day operation. It promises to be a very good for cricket supporters and families.”

Leek CC chairman Brian Mellor commented: “It’s a pleasure to host county cricket at Highfield and we’re looking forward to the opportunity of doing so again this summer.

“It will be a real treat for our members and the local community to see Derbyshire’s title winners, plus the new signing of (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul, in action at our venue.”

Lancashire sign Emirates sponsorship deal

Emirates have agreed a 10 year deal with Lancashire County Cricket Club that will make them the official stadium rights naming partner at Old Trafford.

As part of the deal the iconic stadium will now be named Emirates Old Trafford, and the airline’s brand will appear on the front of the club’s Friends Life t20 kit, as well as a number of marketing rights that will come into effect immediately.

The agreement is another huge move for Lancashire as they aim to redevelop Old Trafford after the Point was constructed and the square turned around, with the deal thought to be worth around £10 million.

“This announcement represents another major step in the redevelopment of Old Trafford,” said Michael Cairns OBE, Chairman of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

“The intention to secure a naming rights partner was always on our list of objectives; however, it remained paramount that we secure a partner who was actively committed to cricket and its future while at the same time had significant interests in Manchester and the North West.

“The financial benefits of this deal are a core component of our long-term strategy for commercial sustainability. The partnership will support our intention to be regarded as one of the top county cricket clubs in the country and undisputed as a category A Test Match venue. We remain committed to providing the very best facilities for our members, players and spectators.”

The agreement broadens Emirates’ ties with cricket globally and nationally, as Lancashire County Cricket Club are not the first club to have made a deal with the Dubai based airline, as Durham gained sponsorship in 2010.

“This is an excellent opportunity to build upon our Emirates’ commitment to cricket, a sport that we have been associated with in the UK since 2002,” said Sir Maurice Flanagan, Emirates Executive Vice Chairman Emirates Airline and Group.

“We’re hugely looking forward to supporting Lancashire cricket and its fans both here and abroad, in what is a further significant investment by Emirates to the region. Cricket at Lancashire County Cricket Club is of the highest quality, it has a global reach and has produced legends in the sport and we are proud to be lending our name to such an incredible success.”

http://deepextracover.com/home/lancashire-sign-emirates-sponsorship-deal/

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez vs Manchester City’s David Silva

Two players shine week in, week out for Manchester City and Liverpool and they didn’t disappoint in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

David Silva and Luis Suarez are the stand out performers for their sides this season, and whoscored.com put together a comparison table of the two players to highlight where they may just have the edge over each other.

whoscored.com

They both play an integral role for their respective clubs, but who is more valuable to their team?

They undertake different roles, while being equally pivotal to their sides goal threat; Liverpool look to Suarez to be their hit-man, while City see Silva as the mastermind just behind the front man, but also chipping in with the odd goal.

Suarez, 26, has had his troubles on and off the pitch in his time at Anfield, but has the Kop’s hopes resting on him. In 24 Premier League games he has notched up 17 goals, scoring a goal every 126 minutes of football, making him the leagues second highest goalscorer behind Robin Van Persie.

The Uruguayan’s importance in front of goal is represented in the club’s goal tally, as captain Steven Gerrard is second on the list with six league goals and January singing Daniel Sturridge third with three.

The down side to the striker is his discipline, Suarez has picked up seven yellow cards this season and is starting to get a reputation for simulation, but there is no doubt he is key to Liverpool’s chances of reaching European football and Brendon Rogers knows this. When he is fit and available, Suarez starts, and he hasn’t found himself on the bench this season in the league.

Silva on the other hand goes about his business quietly keeping his head down, not picking up a single booking in 22 games. He is the typical modern Spanish midfielder, small, quick, agile, with a great touch and vision.

Silva creates space between City’s midfield and striker, finding that killer ball that splits defences in half. The World Cup winner has a pass completion rate of 85.5%, which is highly impressive given that the Spaniard has made 1,304 passes, which has enabled him to  create 64 chances for his teammates, while having five assists.

Both players are two of the best in world, but for the impact each has on their team, Suarez is the most valuable. Liverpool wouldn’t have thoughts of Europe if the Uruguayan wasn’t at Anfield; and even with the additions of Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, Suarez is still the main threat for opposition defences. While at City they have a number of players that could come in and do a similar job; maybe not to the same quality but who still have that creative mindset.

Cavani’s £54m buyout clause doesn’t phase Manchester City or PSG

A week hasn’t gone by since transfer deadline day, already managers and chairman are lining up transfer targets for the summer, with Manchester City and PSG setting down their markers for Napoli’s £40 million Edinson Cavani according to the Daily Mail.

Cavani, 25, has a buy out clause of £54 million in the five year contract he singed in 2011 and buyers have been warned they will have to pay up if they want the services of the Uruguayan international.

Roberto Mancini is reportedly looking to offload Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri in the summer as a result of the UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, and has made the striker his main target for the summer to replace January export Mario Balotelli.

Cavani has scored 18 goals in 20 appearances this season in Serie A, 26 in all competitions, but its not just this season in which he’s been exceptional. In the previous two seasons for Napoli, the Uruguayan recorded 26 and 23 goals in 35 league games each term, showing why he has such a high price on his head and attracting admirers with the capabilities of City and PSG.

The French giants have the financial power to meet the Italian’s price demand and the Star reported that PSG’s director of football Leonardo and Cavani’s representatives met in January and they are still showing interest in the striker as he tried arrange the beginnings of a summer transfer.

They are looking to strengthen their forward line which is currently dominated by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 20 goals in Ligue 1; PSG’s next highest goal scorer is Kevin Gameiro with only five and so Cavani would give the Swede much needed support.

The 25 year old, who had been linked with a bid from Arsenal in January, has been quoted as saying: “If a club has a clear project and they want to focus on me, they can’t be frightened in front of this figure.”

Both clubs also  have their sights set on the same second choice striker, Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao, so be prepared for a high price shootout between two of football’s richest clubs.