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Manchester City midfielder Rodri called on his team to 'be brave' after they dropped crucial points against Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday.

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Rodri calls on team to take responsibilitySpaniard levels game late onDefensive showing alarms midfielderWHAT HAPPENED?

The Spaniard drew City level in the 83rd minute after his side had trailed to Raheem Sterling's first-half goal. The hosts created a string of chances with Erling Haaland passing up a number of opportunities to score. But it was an alarming first-half defensive performance that was foremost in Rodri's mind when he spoke after the game.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT RODRI SAID

"I think we weren’t great in the first half," the midfielder told after the game. "We conceded another easy goal. I think we have to defend better. They almost created nothing in the first half.

"We knew about their counter-attacks and fast players, we have to defend the counter-attack better. From there it’s always more difficult to come back.

"It’s a matter of defending better. We tried in the second half. We wanted the ball and wanted to take risks. We were a bit scared of the counter-attack. You have to be brave."

In a separate interview with , Rodri again emphasised the need for defensive improvement. "It was in our hands and we have to do better individual actions and you can't let the game go this way. I'm not blaming anyone but we have to take responsibility if we want to win the league.
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GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

City had been on an ominously strong run of form of late, further boosted by the return of Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. But Saturday's issues at both ends of the pitch is a reminder of some of the problems they faced earlier in the season where the control of last season's treble-winning campaign gave way to more chaotic performances such as the 4-4 draw against Saturday's opponents at Stamford Bridge in November.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

City have a chance to make amends when they play their game in hand on their title rivals against Brentford at the Etihad on Tuesday night. A win would put Pep Guardiola's men a point ahead of Arsenal and just one behind Liverpool with 13 rounds of Premier League fixtures to play.

Craig Kieswetter has described the England team he played in as divided by cliques and changed by success

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-20154:52

Cliques within the England dressing room?

Craig Kieswetter has described the England team he played in as divided by cliques and changed by success. In an exclusive interview with ESPNcricinfo, Kieswetter also explained his decision to retire following an eye injury and his frustration with his own England career.But it is his views on the England dressing room that will gain most attention. While Kieswetter stopped short of repeating Kevin Pietersen’s claims of bullying in the England environment, he does not paint a flattering picture.Though he says he came into a united dressing room in early 2010, he believes that winning the World T20 and then the Ashes in Australia “changed people”.”It wasn’t just us competing against the opposition,” Kieswetter said. “There was a sense that some of us were competing against one another. By the time we were No. 1 in the world, it was a very different dressing room. Success changed people. Cliques developed. There were jokes made in the dressing room if you had a South African background. When we warmed up in training, we were split into sides: South Africans v English.”There was lots of talk about it in the media and here we were making it worse. It created an unnecessary divide. A sense of them and us.”It grew worse. The Test players were together so much that, when the limited-overs players turned up, it felt like you were on the outside. The Test guys hung out with each other; the limited-overs guys hung out. The spirit I experienced in those first few weeks was never there again.”Craig Kieswetter’s England career peaked at the World T20•Getty ImagesThose “first few weeks” saw Kieswetter become the second youngest England player, after David Gower, to make an ODI century and win the Man-of-the-Match award in the 2010 World T20 final. But while he started out playing with rare freedom, he feels that prolonged exposure to the England environment left him feeling “caged” as a batsman.”Of all the England teams I played in over five years, that was the one that had the best spirit,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t remember it that clearly: we played golf, we went to the beach and we drank rum. Training tended to be optional. KP was at his best. So were Broad and Swann. But we were a proper team and everyone got on brilliantly.”I started out playing with freedom; I ended up caged. I guess if I was in the current set-up I would thrive, but I had a good record as an opener and they asked me to bat at No. 6. It’s tough, but I’m disappointed with the way I responded to it.”Kieswetter also explained his decision to retire from cricket following a blow to the eye sustained while batting against David Willey. “I know I can’t play at the level I want to,” Kieswetter explains. “I liked being a swashbuckling player. And I felt I had the talent to play for England. I don’t feel that way any more. I’m not the same player. I’m not as good as I want to be and I never can be.”I can still play. I can still be okay. But when I came back at the end of last season, there was a lot of bravado and adrenalin involved. In the end I just thought, there are too many mediocre players in county cricket – and good luck to them – but I don’t want to be another one.”Read the full interview here

Sri Lanka’s prospects of winning their first away series since 1999-00 (excluding those in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) improved significantly after Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera batted vast periods of time on the second day

The Report by George Binoy17-Jan-20140:00

Fernando: Mathews’ batting was incredibly restrained

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDilruwan Perera was picked for his bowling but made a telling contribution with the bat•AFPSri Lanka’s prospects of winning their first away series since 1999-00 (excluding those in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) improved significantly after their captain Angelo Mathews and debutant Dilruwan Perera, picked primarily for his offspin, batted vast periods of time on the second day in Sharjah. Both batsmen were dismissed in the 90s, and because of their slow run rate Sri Lanka scored only 428 despite batting nearly two days, but Pakistan’s inability to take ten wickets deprived them of precious time in a Test they need to win to level the series.Having resumed on 220 for 5, Sri Lanka continued at snail’s pace. They scored 82 runs in 35 overs for the loss of Prasanna Jayawardene during an extended first session, and 57 runs in 29 overs for the loss of two wickets in the second. They were quicker in the third – 69 in 18 overs – but Sri Lanka’s last two wickets added those runs. Pakistan had not bowled so many overs in an innings – 172 – since the Rawalpindi Test against India in 2004. They were able to keep their sense of humour, though, and several players shook Saeed Ajmal’s hand after he bowled his 50th over.The day’s centrepiece was the seventh-wicket stand between Mathews and Perera that spanned 53.2 overs and produced 112 runs. But their resistance would not have reached such proportions if Pakistan had better luck. They had been on the wrong end of four reviews on the first day – three umpire’s-call decisions went Sri Lanka’s way – and the trend continued.In Abdur Rehman’s first over, the day’s fifth, Mathews was struck low on the front pad while pushing forward to defend, but umpire Richard Kettleborough said not out. On review, replays indicated the ball would have hit a sizeable portion of leg stump, but the on-field umpire’s call remained. Pakistan’s count of unsuccessful reviews in this series was now 14 out of 15, and Mathews went on from 34 to score 91 off 256 balls.The partnership between Mathews and Perera was only 20 when Ajmal pitched a doosra in line with the stumps from round the wicket and hit Perera’s pad, but umpire S Ravi denied the appeal. Pakistan had exhausted their reviews and were frustrated as replays indicated Perera was plumb. He made 95 off 247 balls.The day had begun with the Pakistan players examining the rough on the pitch, but its appearance proved deceptive because the surface did not misbehave. There was no pace, seam and swing, and the turn was slow. The ball after Mathews survived the review, though, Prasanna hooked a bouncer from Mohammad Talha straight to long leg to end Sri Lanka’s sixth-wicket partnership on 73. It was perhaps the only delivery to hurry a batsman.Smart Stats

Dilruwan Perera became only the second Sri Lanka batsman to be dismissed in the nineties on debut after Chamara Dunusinghe, who was dismissed 91 against New Zealand in Napier in 1995. Click here for a list of batsmen to be dismissed in the nineties on Test debut.

Perera is only the second batsman to get out in the nineties on debut, batting at No. 8 or lower. The first such instance was Ashton Agar’s 98 at Trent Bridge last year.

Sri Lanka’s run rate of 2.48 in their innings was the second lowest by a team with a score of 300 or more in a Test innings in the UAE. Two of the top three instances in this list came in this Test, also involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, at the same venue in 2011.

Pakistan bowled 172 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings in this Test. This is the highest they have bowled in an innings since the 177.2 overs they bowled against India in Rawalpindi in 2004. The last instance of them bowling more overs in the first innings of a Test came in 2000, when they bowled 196 overs against England in Lahore.

This was only the second instance in Tests when two batsman batting at No. 6 or lower got out in the nineties in an innings. The first instance came when South Africa played Sri Lanka in Cape Town in 2001, and Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener both got out in the nineties.

This was only the second time that two Sri Lanka batsmen got out in the nineties in a Test innings. The other such instance came against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001, when the batsmen were Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillakaratne.

With runs coming relatively easily against the fast bowlers, Misbah-ul-Haq brought Rehman on and he dried one end up. And after Ajmal was introduced in the 12th over of the day, Sri Lanka slowed to a crawl. Perera had cut his first ball in Test cricket – off Talha – to the boundary and then proved he had both patience and solid defensive technique.It was soon after Ajmal’s first appeal against Perera was turned down that Sri Lanka’s pace picked up. Perera swept the offspinner for four and then charged Rehman to clear the long-on boundary. In between those shots, Junaid Khan had returned for his second spell and Mathews pulled him for four. He later reached his half-century off 157 balls.Mathews also brought up the 100-run stand by pulling Rehman for four, and then had a chat with Perera after Ajmal began to trouble the batsman. Perera was on 43 when Ajmal struck his pads and appealed for another lbw. It wasn’t as close as the previous ones but on another day, another umpire might have given it out and few would have complained. Umpire Ravi did not, and Ajmal’s rage was on full display. Perera inside edged the next ball from Ajmal past his stumps to the boundary.Like Sangakkara on the first day, Mathews’ wicket was sudden. Junaid bowled a wide one and Mathews slashed to hole out to deep point when a century was there for the taking. Rangana Herath lasted just one ball, with Junaid doing what the spinners had strived to all day – earn an lbw.There was no more relief for Pakistan, though. Perera began to open up, and brought up his 50-run stand with Shaminda Eranga off only 77 balls with a flurry of shots against Ajmal. He moved to 95 with an on-the-up drive off Talha, but hooked the next ball in the air and was caught at fine leg. Perera missed becoming the fourth Sri Lankan batsman to score a Test century on debut, but his innings ensured Sri Lanka were on their way to a series win.

A 197-run opening stand between Shahriar Nafees and Lou Vincent led Khulna Royal Bengals to their first victory this season, against Duronto Rajshahi in Khulna

The Report by Mohammad Isam24-Jan-2013
ScorecardShahriar Nafees is the first Bangladesh batsman to score a Twenty20 century•Bangladesh Cricket BoardKhulna Royal Bengals achieved their first victory of the BPL, against Duronto Rajshahi, by a convincing margin of 68 runs. The foundation was laid by the captain Shahriar Nafees’ record-breaking century and his unbeaten opening stand of 197 with Lou Vincent, a BPL record. The defeat kept Rajshahi level on points with Barisal Burners, Chittagong Kings and now Royal Bengals.It was also the first time a side batting first completed its innings without the loss of a wicket. Nafees scored 102 off 69 balls with 12 fours and two sixes, becoming the first Bangladesh batsman to score a Twenty20 century. He beat Tamim Iqbal’s 93 for Wayamba United. It is also the first of this BPL season and the fifth overall.Vincent, who has two Twenty20 centuries, supported Nafees through the 20 overs, providing him with enough strike and entertaining the crowd with some deft strokes. He made 89 off 51 balls with eight sixes, the most for any batsman in an innings this year. The pair’s opening stand is also a BPL record for any wicket, beating the previous best of 167 between Ahmed Shehzad and Chris Gayle in the inaugural match last year. It is the fourth highest in all Twenty20s.Rajshahi started the chase of 198 positively but lost their way once Tamim, Charles Coventry and Jahurul Islam had got out by the 11th over. Khulna looked hungrier to win than in their previous games in the tournament, and completed the crushing win in the penultimate over, bowling their opponents out for 129.

The IPL governing council has suspended all five players named by the India TV sting operation alleging corruption

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-2012The IPL governing council has suspended five players named by a sting operation alleging corruption until an inquiry into the accusations is conducted. TP Sudhindra (Deccan Chargers), Mohnish Mishra (Pune Warriors), Shalabh Srivastava (Kings XI Punjab), Amit Yadav (Kings XI Punjab) and Abhinav Bali were suspended, according to IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla.”The above players would not be entitled to participate in any cricket match played under the aegis of the BCCI while under suspension,” N Srinivasan, the BCCI president, said in a statement.Shukla said Ravi Sawani, the former head of the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU), will conduct the inquiry. “The conversation [in the sting] is about other matches also, which are not IPL, or in previous IPLs,” Shukla said after the meeting on Tuesday. “After due consideration, the BCCI president has decided to have an inquiry for which a commissioner has been appointed, Mr Ravi Sawani. He will be conducting the preliminary inquiry. His report will be sent to the disciplinary committee.”Indian politicians brought up the matter during a parliamentary session. Former India cricketer Kirti Azad, who is now a member of the country’s main opposition party, the BJP, reportedly said that corruption in sports was on the rise with politicians heading sports associations. “I have no objections with politicians heading sports bodies,” Azad was quoted as saying. “But ever since politicians have taken over, corruption has seeped in and grown from top to bottom.”However, Srinivasan said corruption was not as widespread in Indian cricket as it was being made out. “I don’t think this operation can reflect what is going across the board. I can’t deny what has happened because the evidence is there as what was shown yesterday. But at the same time it is a case of few individuals so I don’t want to generalise on this,” he told an Indian TV channel.”I believe it will be a case of few individual players maybe out of greed or whatever taking wrong steps. I am not prepared to take a brush and paint the whole thing or say that this is rampant or anything like that.”He also defended the franchise owners from any allegation of corruption. “All the franchisees are people of stature behind it. It will be wrong to presume they are doing something wrong and then make enquiries. If something comes to light it is different.”Meanwhile Srivastava, one of the players accused by the sting, said he was not guilty. “I fail to understand whatever is being said about spot-fixing. Also if they [a TV channel] are showing all the video clips, why aren’t they showing the clip where I allegedly am demanding Rs. 10 lakh?” he told NDTV. “The voice in that telephonic conversation is not mine. It is very easy to frame anyone with a doctored audio clip.”India TV, a television channel, showed footage of a player bowling a big no-ball in a limited-overs match and played a recording of a phone conversation that it said was of a current IPL player negotiating a fee for bowling a no-ball. It also had at least three players on camera allegedly seeking more lucrative deals – including extra money that would have violated their IPL contracts – with other league franchises through an undercover reporter posing as a sports agent.Srivastava has not played a match for Kings XI this IPL season, though he was a fairly regular starter in 2011 and has played 14 matches in all. Mohnish Mishra played the solitary match for Warriors in 2012, when he replaced Sourav Ganguly against Royal Challengers Bangalore and was dismissed for 4. Sudhindra played three games for Chargers, conceding 136 runs and taking only one wicket, while Yadav has not got a game for Kings XI. Bali, an allrounder from Delhi, is not part of the IPL but has played first-class and limited-overs cricket for Himachal Pradesh.06:32 GMT, May 16: This story has been updated to include the reaction of Srinivasan and Indian politicians

None of the senior players is retiring as of now, the India team has said

Sidharth Monga at Adelaide Oval28-Jan-2012None of the senior players is retiring as of now, the India team has said. There have been reports during the series that VVS Laxman (during Perth) and Rahul Dravid (during Adelaide) might have played their last Test match. After India’s 0-4 whitewash, though, the team spokesperson read out a statement saying the reports were rumour and incorrect.”The team takes note of the stories in the media suggesting the imminent retirement of a member of the Indian team,” the spokesperson said. “We would like to clarify the situation by stating categorically that these are not correct and are baseless.” The statement didn’t name any of the players. “No players from the Indian team will be retiring. It is a rumour. Baseless. Incorrect.”Virender Sehwag, the stand-in captain, said, “I clarify that there is no need for retirement from anybody in this team. And they will take their call when they need it and when they think that their time is up.”The speculation, though, remains rife, especially because India don’t play an away Test for the next two years, and it doesn’t make sense to carry any player further unless he will be fit and ready for those overseas tours. When asked if he felt the seniors should be phased out, Sehwag said it wasn’t his decision. “That’s the team management and selectors who will decide,” he said. “It is not me or anyone else who will decide. If they think we need something to change, they will do that. If they think we should carry on with the same, and just wait for other players to perform, and if you perform, they will take the call.”Sehwag also supported coach Duncan Fletcher, under whom India have lost eight away Tests in a row. Fletcher’s record as a coach in Australia now reads one Test win and 13 losses. “He is a good coach,” Sehwag said. “He is talking to a lot of the batsmen and giving his input and making a lot of strategy. When you can’t execute your strategy, nothing happens.”Why should I blame him [Fletcher]? It’s the players who let the team down, not the support staff. They are very good. They are giving everything the players ask for. They were throwing to a lot of the batsmen. Thanks to the support staff. They are working hard to make sure the players perform. Make sure they give a good atmosphere for the players to perform.”

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney hailed Paul Mullin's hat-trick in his side's 6-0 win over Morecambe as 'incredible'.

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Wrexham thrash Morecambe 6-0Mullin scores a hat-trickCo-owner McElhenney praises strikerWHAT HAPPENED?

Phil Parkinson's men went second in League Two after thrashing Morecambe at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday. Joel Senior's own goal got the Welsh side up and running in the fifth minute before Mullin opened his account for the afternoon two minutes later. Substitute Jacob Mendy added an emphatic third in the 35th minute before Mullin scored in the 67th and 77th minute to complete his hat-trick. James Jones rounded off the scoring at the death to cap off a remarkable afternoon – one that co-owner McElhenney felt compelled to comment on.

AdvertisementWHAT ROB MCELHENNEY SAID

When Wrexham got promoted out of the National League in April, McElhenney quipped Mullin was one of the greatest footballers in the world. After his hat-trick, he continued his praise for the 29-year-old.

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Wrexham are now in the automatic promotion spots after their win on Saturday. They are looking for back-to-back promotions and with Mullin back amongst the goals, the Welsh side could kick on even more this season – such is his goal threat.

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WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Wrexham have just a few days to recover from this clash as they take on Harrogate Town on Tuesday night in another League Two clash.

Had anyone suggested before the start of this season that Northamptonshire would qualify for Finals Day, you have been forgiven for suggesting they lie in a darkened room swathed in wet towels.

George Dobell at Wantage Road06-Aug-2013
ScorecardCameron White produced a brutal spell of hitting•Getty ImagesHad anyone suggested before the start of this season that Northamptonshire would have been among the teams lining up for Friends Life t20 Finals Day, you have been forgiven for suggesting they lie in a darkened room swathed in wet towels.Heading into this campaign, Northants had won just three of their last 27 T20s dating back to their quarter-final defeat in 2010. They had only reached Finals Day once before, in 2009, and they finished the 2012 season with fewer wins in all competitions than any county in the land. With no trophies since 1992 and no full England players since Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar left, it appeared they were sliding towards irrelevance.They’re not any more. Energised by a dynamic chief executive – former Warwickshire batsman and Leicestershire CEO David Smith – a calm and wise coach – David Ripley – and a change in captaincy – Alex Wakely is the white ball captain; Stephen Peters the red ball – Northants no longer appear an also-ran in a tired ground, but a vibrant, forward-thinking club with a bright future. Not only are they in the second promotion position in Division Two of the County Championship, 37 points ahead of the third placed side, but they have reached Finals Day for just the second time in the 11-year history of the competition.Just as importantly, they have started to contribute to England again. Ben Duckett was given dispensation to play in this game rather than captain England Under-19s against Pakistan, while Olly Stone, a seamer who was left out of this XI, captained the same Under-19 side last winter. 23-year-old David Willey, who thumped 46 and delivered four overs brimming with skill and commitment, is also a product of the club’s system and looks almost guaranteed to win an England Lions spot before the summer is out.They have recruited well, too. Azharullah, a 29-year-old Pakistani plucked from the Yorkshire leagues last winter, has proved an inspired addition and, having agreed a one-year deal last year, has recently been offered a two-year extension and is of interest to other counties, while Steven Crook, at last fulfilling his substantial potential in a sympathetic environment, might well be the signing of the summer.Success is not limited to the pitch. This game attracted Northants’ largest crowd – 5,200 – since the T20 quarter-final against Hampshire in 2009 and is expected to earn the club over £100,000 in unbudgeted revenue. They expect to have made £25,000 just on food and bar takings; not all of it from the Northampton Saints rugby players who were among the crowd. Over the last year, the club have bought the freehold to their ground, refurbished facilities and developed some of the best outdoor net facilities in the country. It is no surprise that international teams are starting to use the club as one of their bases while on tour in England.But here they were grateful for the contribution of Australian overseas player Cameron White who put this game beyond Durham with a blistering unbeaten innings of 58 from 32 balls. White, who has been surplus to demands in all formats for Australia since the World T20 last October, thrashed four fours and four sixes, including three in an over off the unfortunate Gareth Breese, to help his side to the 11th highest score in their T20 history.White’s impetus helped Northants plunder 133 from their final 12 overs and 79 from the final six, taking toll of some loose Durham bowling. But the platform for his assault was provided in an opening stand of 89 in 68 balls from Willey and Kyle Coetzer that saw off the tidy but not terribly threatening Graham Onions, who bowled his four overs in one spell at the start of the game.”It’s scary when the ball is hitting the bottom of the bat and still clearing the ropes,” Paul Collingwood, the Durham captain, said afterwards. “But we didn’t get the execution of our skills right.”Ben Stokes was perhaps the most disappointing of the Durham attack, straying in line and length and conceding 40 from his four-over spell. The decision to introduce Scott Borthwick’s legspin into the attack in the 18th over also proved costly as he was taken for 18 runs. The defeat means Durham have lost three successive T20 quarter-finals stretching back to 2009.They would have required the second highest total they have ever managed in a T20 away from home to win this game and rarely threatened to get close. Crook bowled with pace and variation, Willey with swing and control and Lee Daggett with superb control that saw him concede just 13 from his four overs.Only when Stokes was in full flow did Durham look to have a chance. Hitting the ball unusually hard, he allowed no margin for width or any error in length. One over from Azharullah cost 19, another from Willey 14, as Stokes provided a more than passable impression of Lance Klusener at his best.But in the end Stokes lacked support and Durham had asked too much of him. Coming to the crease with 111 required from 49 balls was always likely to prove too steep a task.”We were embarrassing last year,” a delighted Wakely admitted afterwards. “Our own fans were laughing at us and no-one was coming to watch us.”There’s no secret to what we’ve done. We went back to working on basic skills as batsmen and bowlers and all the hard work has paid off. Everyone is playing with a smile on their face and really enjoying their cricket.”After several years of drifting, Northants cricket is at last progressing once again.

Jaywant Lele, the former BCCI secretary, has died of a heart attack in Baroda on Thursday. Lele was the board secretary when the match-fixing scandal broke out in 2000

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2013Jaywant Lele, the former BCCI secretary, has died of a heart attack aged 75 in Baroda on Thursday. Lele took over the post in 1996 and it was during his tenure when the match-fixing scandal broke out in 2000.In that period, the board first set up the Justice Chandrachud Commission to probe the match-fixing charges and then asked the CBI to step in after the former South African captain Hansie Cronje admitted to fixing. The investigation led to life bans on the former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin and batsman Ajay Sharma.Lele lost his post as secretary to Niranjan Shah during the 2001 board elections. He was gearing up for a return to cricket administration in the forthcoming Baroda Cricket Association (BCA).A former engineer with Sarabhai Chemicals, Lele became the honorary secretary of the BCA in 1969. In 2003, he was expelled from the BCA, along with two other administrators, for alleged financial irregularities and administrative lapses.The outspoken Lele was never short of a colourful quote. Before India’s tour of Australia in 1999-2000, a journalist overheard a private conversation in which Lele had predicted that India would lose 3-0. India did lose 3-0. Two years ago, he penned a memoir titled .Lele was also a qualified umpire.While BCCI president N Srinivasan stated he was “shocked to hear the sad demise” of Lele, Sachin Tendulkar said he will miss Lele. “He always hadwonderful words of encouragement for me and genuinely wished well for me,” Tendulkar told . “He was a wonderful person and a well-wisher of mine. I can never forget the interactions we have had over the years. I will miss him.”Malcolm Speed, the former chief executive of Cricket Australia and the ICC, said that Lele was “energetic and reliable”. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with him when I was the chief executive of Cricket Australia. He would always make sure that the relationships between various cricket boards remained cordial,” Speed said. “There are so many special memories that I have of him. He was a lively and colourful character who would ensure that he will be fondly remembered as a cricket administrator and a person. I am deeply saddened by his untimely passing away.”

Justin Langer has been confirmed as Western Australia’s new coach, leaving his role as an assistant with the national team to try to improve the state side’s fortunes

Daniel Brettig14-Nov-2012Justin Langer has been confirmed as Western Australia’s new coach, leaving his role as an assistant with the national team to try to improve the state side’s fortunes after almost a decade without a domestic trophy and widely known cultural problems.The announcement, which also has Langer taking up the job as coach of the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, arrived the day after Australia drew the first Test with South Africa in Brisbane. Langer will be in place as coach of the Warriors in time for Saturday’s domestic limited overs match against South Australia in Perth.He has been contracted until the end of the 2015-16 season, offering Langer the chance to work with and improve the the team’s results over a lengthy term.Noted for his heavy emphasis on team-work and the mental side of the game, Langer has the job ahead of him to build a WA side in his own determined and dedicated image, following a dire start to the season that included widely publicised disciplinary problems at the T20 Champions League in South Africa and three outright losses to start the Sheffield Shield.”I am really thrilled to be taking up the position as Warriors and Scorchers Head Coach and feel that the energy for my work will be doubled now that I am back home around my family, my cricket friends and my personal friends,” Langer said.”I have two main objectives. The first is to bring cricket back to life in Western Australia, and the second is to help these boys become men on and off the cricket field.”I was very fortunate to serve an apprenticeship with the Australian team and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get started on this new challenge at what promises to be an exciting time in WA cricket.”Dennis Lillee, the WACA president, said Langer’s fortunes would be dictated as much by the ability of the players and support staff to work hard with him as it would be the coach’s responsibility alone.”Some issues relating to the underlying culture within the Warriors and Scorchers have been identified recently and Justin’s appointment is the first step we are taking to bring back a strong culture to the WACA,” Lillee said.”We must go forward and no one needs to be reminded of Justin’s outstanding credentials. He is a steely, dedicated man of cricket with a no-nonsense approach and is exactly what we need to turn this talented Western Australian side into a committed team using all of its natural talent.”However it can’t just be the coach that turns things around. We need players to put up their hands to be positive and tough leaders within this group going forward.”Having retired from a decorated international career at the conclusion of the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia, Langer returned to the national set-up as batting coach in November 2009. Since then he has applied for various coaching jobs, including WA’s, and was also a candidate for the senior Australian coaching job when Mickey Arthur replaced Tim Nielsen in 2011.In replacing Langer, Cricket Australia will employ the Centre of Excellence coach Stuart Law as a batting assistant this summer, and may then look further afield for a longer term replacement. Pat Howard, the team performance manager, described Law’s tenure as a “try before you buy” scenario for the national team.”Stuart was there all week, we obviously knew this a little bit prior [to the announcement], and so he’s had a full week of training with the Test team all last week,” Howard said.”Stuart’s a really solid individual and has made a real impact. The fact he’s got experience not only in Australia but on the subcontinent and England to help deal with players of the future, and he’s got an impact now to work over the next couple of weeks with the players of now.