Jordan Henderson divides opinion but Gareth Southgate again named him as England captain for the 1-0 victory over Holland on Friday night.
There are some who think that Henderson is a limited player, nothing more than an energetic runner who lacks the guile and passing range to make an impression at the highest level.
Southgate’s England are committed to short passing, taking their time on the ball and playing their way out of trouble. That might not sound like Henderson’s natural game but he appeared to cope well with those demands in Amsterdam.
He was constantly involved, having the most touches of any England player and was able to dominate proceedings alongside club team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle of the park.
95 per cent passing accuracy from 91 passes is hugely impressive and they are numbers worthy of comparison with any central midfielder that played across Europe this weekend.
Of course, Henderson lacks the class and consistency that some of those may offer but it is a good sign for Southgate nonetheless.
One shot and three interceptions shows that the Liverpool skipper was involved at both ends of the pitch; the demands placed on him in terms of controlling things in the centre didn’t impact too much on his ability to cover round and get involved.
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Only 16 long passes shows the commitment of Henderson – valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt – to playing the ball short and along the floor and while Henderson should face stiffer challenges this summer, the early signs are promising for Southgate.
Has Henderson done enough to be named captain on a full-time basis? Let us know your thoughts…
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding imminent bids from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur for Southampton’s star man Morgan Schneiderlin in January.
The Frenchman has been in impressive form so far this season and could be exactly what the north London duo need should they make a move for him in the winter window. Schneiderlin does the simple things extremely well for Southampton, he has recorded the team’s second-highest pass total so far this season with 858 (Jose Fonte leads the way with 961) which is an impressive stat considering his recent injury struggles. He is also Southampton’s second highest Premier League goalscorer with three goals, trailing Pelle’s tally of eight. The Frenchman has also made 37 tackles so far this season, with Victor Wanyama the only Southampton midfielder producing more (43).
If Schneiderlin does opt to move away from St Marys, he will almost certainly be deployed in a defensive midfield role, a position Tottenham and Arsenal desperately need to strengthen. Firstly, Arsenal’s defensive midfield options have been quite weak this campaign. Mathieu Flamini has managed 28 tackles this season and has completed 715 passes so far. The other defensive option of Mikel Arteta is not good reading for Arsenal fans either, as he has only made nine tackles and produced 400 passes in the Premier League this term. Schneiderlin is stronger in the air compared to Flamini as well, with the Southampton midfielder winning 22 headers compared to Flamini’s 19. In fact, Morgan Schneiderlin completely dominates the stats when put head to head against the likes of Flamini and Arteta. The defensive midfield area has been highlighted as a problem position for Arsenal for a long time now and Schneiderlin will offer much improvement in that particular area.
A similar story lies with Tottenham. Both Etienne Capoue (23 tackles) and Ryan Mason (33 tackles) cannot match Schneiderlin’s figures. Capoue also registers the second-highest passing statistics at Tottenham with 676 successful passes, which is still way off the Frenchman’s total. The combined total of headers won by both Mason and Capoue only amounts to 17 so again, Schneiderlin is the better option in the defensive midfield role. Tottenham fans will argue that Ryan Mason isn’t exactly a defensive midfielder and that he has been in impressive form this season. This is completely true but it also reveals Tottenham’s desperate need to strengthen in this particular area of the pitch. Although Capoue is a competent performer, he is not a better option than Southampton’s midfield man.
Although stats are not always the best way to determine the ability of a player, a complete dominance from Morgan Schneiderlin suggests that the midfielder will improve the midfield of both Tottenham and Arsenal. This will worry Southampton as the player himself wanted to leave the club in the summer. However, their recent run of form may persuade the Frenchman to stay until the end of the season at least.
Also, Ronald Koeman will be determined to keep hold of his best players after a turbulent summer transfer window; the Dutchman will want to avoid the panic of replacing star names once again in January. Southampton will be doing all they can to keep hold of the 25-year-old, whether they can do it or not remains to be seen but Schneiderlin is a very attractive proposition for the two North London clubs.
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Everyone has seen their club sign a good player but then watch confused as they are not given the chance of regular first team football.
This season, the most high-profile player to have been the victim of this is QPR’s Robert Green. After deciding to leave West Ham for a ‘new challenge’ after they were promoted back to the Premier League in May, Green signed for QPR on the understanding that he would be the club’s first choice keeper.
But a month later Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar arrived at Loftus Road with Green instead warming the bench, left sulking in the shadow of Champions League winning star. This got me thinking wether players are sometimes tricked in to signing for a club without actually knowing what’s in store for them.
Last week Green spoke out about his disappointment at the way he was treated at QPR by former manager Mark Hughes. He words were quite shocking, especially when you consider how much he was liked at West Ham and how he probably wishes he stayed there instead.
Green said: “I asked Mark Hughes. He told me Julio was going to play, that I’d done nothing wrong and that he wanted two top keepers competing for the position. I replied ‘Well, if he’s going straight into the first team he’s not really competing, is he? Where does that leave me?'”
The keeper then goes on to explain how Hughes told him that he was free to leave whenever he wanted, which he describes as “not quite what I wanted to hear.”
The problem here is that Hughes pretty much tricked Green in to signing for a club that had no real intention of making him a permanent first choice fixture in the team. That all seems to have changed since Harry Redknapp took over, but that’s not the point.
But how can it be prevented? If a manager wants a player, regardless of what plans they have for him, they will do and say anything to ensure they get his signature. QPR might well have been the only club that offered Green first team football, so to then freeze him out just months later is not fair on a keeper who can still cut it at the highest level.
And at what point does it become a breach of contract, or is that where players are missing a trick? I’m no expert at what’s exactly outlined in a contract between club and player, but surely a detailed job description would be in there some where?
In Robert Green’s case, the contract may have said: “Position: First team goalkeeper. Job role: To concede as little goals as possible on a weekly basis.” If I’m right then QPR have breached his contract. He hasn’t been able to concede as little goals as possible on a weekly basis because he wasn’t playing, which isn’t his fault.
Green obviously isn’t the only player to have been tricked in to signing a contract, though. Robinho famously signed for Manchester City (ironically by Mark Hughes) thinking he was actually signing for rivals United, although the move may have been more down to his overall confusion about where he was going to end up after he initially thought Chelsea was going to be his final destination.
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And what about Scott Sinclair’s move to Manchester City? Aside from the obvious attraction of money, was he promised more football than what he’s actually getting or did he know he would have no chance at making a positive impact on a team packed with some of the world’s best players?
With all that in mind, maybe it is time for players to insist that their squad status is outlined specifically in their contracts from now on, that way they we won’t see the likes of Robert Green being treated the way he did any longer.
Do you think players are sometimes tricked in to signing for a club without knowing what’s in store for them? Leave your comments below.
The home side built a lead of 190 on a surface where run-scoring has been hard work
Andrew McGlashan19-Feb-2025Sam Konstas put away the scoops, ramps and sweeps on the second day at the SCG but could only make 17 before falling to Scott Boland for the second time in the match.The day after Konstas’ first-innings dismissal – missing a sweep against Boland from the 13th ball of the game – had ignited debate about his batting approach he was much more measured during New South Wales’ second innings in a clear response to what happened on Tuesday.Related
Australia emerge from Test season with flying colours and new options
Konstas under the microscope as Boland, Davies shine
Overall batting was tricky and NSW closed in a healthy position with a lead of 190 and six wickets in hand as both teams pushed for a victory that will be vital to their hopes of a place in the Sheffield Shield final.NSW head coach Greg Shipperd and batting coach Nick Larkin watched intently from the boundary edge for the duration of Konstas’ stay which ended shortly before tea when he square drove a short delivery from Boland to point.Until then, Konstas had shaped up solidly against some demanding new-ball bowling from Boland and Fergus O’Neill. He had taken until his 13th delivery to get off the mark, showing a clear intent to leave deliveries outside off, and defended largely with a straight bat although was troubled by Boland.Will Sutherland trapped Kurtis Patterson lbw•Getty Images
It wasn’t until the 11th over that he found the boundary, collecting back-to-back fours off Will Sutherland, before carving another just over point against Boland. It was an attempted repeat of that stroke which brought his downfall.”I’m all for entertainment and good batting, but that wasn’t good batting on day one. It was good fun for five minutes,” Phil Jaques, the former NSW coach, said on commentary. “It was better application from Konstas today, he was really patient and gave himself a chance to get in. It was a better innings, but unfortunately not much to show for it.”Nic Maddinson, who hit 20 off the second of the game yesterday, had fallen early to a pearler from O’Neill while Kurtis Patterson was pinned lbw by Sutherland having worked hard for 28.Matthew Gilkes and Josh Philippe, the latter who was struck a nasty blow on the helmet, added 55 to turn the game more firmly NSW’s way until Philippe fell late in the day to Boland. His innings had included a bizarre moment shortly before his dismissal when it appeared umpire Simon Lightbody was giving him lbw to Mitch Perry only to stop raising his finger part way through leaving Victoria perplexed.Victoria had resumed on 92 for 4 and were quickly in deep trouble when Jackson Bird had Marcus Harris caught at point second ball of the day then trapped Sam Harper lbw before the opening over was done. It left Bird on 399 Sheffield Shield wickets, one short of becoming the fifth bowler to reach 400.When Sutherland fell to Hanno Jacobs, Victoria were still more than 100 adrift but nightwatchman Perry, who was given a life at cover by Gilkes, and No. 9 O’Neill eked out 34 in 16 overs until O’Neill was well held at long leg by Jacobs when he top-edged what became the last ball before lunch.NSW were frustrated for nine overs by the last-wicket pair with Boland making a handy contribution before Perry was last out, driving to mid-off, have faced 122 balls for 29.
Harris, Bancroft and Renshaw are in the mix but the possibility remains of someone else being moved up the order
Alex Malcolm30-Dec-20235:10
‘A classic at the MCG’
Everything will be considered as far as David Warner’s replacement to open the batting for the West Indies series in January with Cameron Green still a serious contender to be recalled as part of a batting order reshuffle.Speaking the day after Australia’s 79-run win against Pakistan in Melbourne to claim the series 2-0 with a game to play in Sydney, coach and selector Andrew McDonald said that all options for Warner’s replacement remained open for discussion, and confirmed that included specialist openers Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw, as well as allrounder Green returning to the middle order.Australia’s side has remained settled throughout the Test summer with no injury issues or form concerns to speak of and looks likely to be unchanged for the third match in a row at the SCG which will mark Warner’s retirement from the format. Australia’s selectors are meeting on Saturday to confirm the squad but it is unlikely they will make a decision on Warner’s replacement until after the third Test against Pakistan.Related
'I'm pretty keen' – Steven Smith wants to open the batting in Tests
Bancroft: Opening the batting is a specialist position
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Warner picks Warner's replacement: 'Harris has always been next in line'
Harris makes most of his opportunity to push case as Warner's replacement
“All options will be considered,” McDonald said. “And I said we’re not going to make the decision until the deadline which will be the West Indies game.”There’s a few options. Everyone is well aware of the options. I’m a person that once you know when you’re going to make the decision, you make it at that point in time. Until then the discussions will be open. We’ll put a deadline on that. That’ll be the West Indies selection meeting.”The debate between picking a specialist or experienced opener in either Harris, Bancroft or Renshaw or picking the best six batters available and simply reshaping the batting order to accommodate them remains a real discussion point among the selectors, with the prospect of having two allrounders in Marsh and Green remaining very enticing.”Cameron Green, as a discussion around who are the best six batters, has definitely been in the conversation,” McDonald confirmed.Warner himself endorsed Harris as a possible successor during the Boxing Day Test, but McDonald noted with a wry smile that it was not a hint at the selectors’ thinking and that the retiring opener had endorsed a different name earlier in the year.Cameron Green has not featured in the Test side yet this season•Getty Images
“Davey’s not a selector,” McDonald said. “And I remember back to when I think Davey endorsed Matt Renshaw so I think the next one will probably be Cam Bancroft and then Cameron Green and he’ll have all bases covered, but…it’s great when a fellow player endorses someone else internally. It means that they’ve probably excluded other players as well, but he was asked his opinion and we’re happy with him to express that.”It is unlikely that the preferred candidate would be added to the Sydney squad to be reintroduced to the playing group given Bancroft and Renshaw have BBL commitments, although Harris does not have a BBL contract.Green also doesn’t have a BBL contract and has not played any cricket since the Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan in early December. There is a Cricket Australia XI tour match against West Indies at Karen Rolton Oval from December 10-12, prior to the first Test starting on January 17 at Adelaide Oval, but it is understood that he is unlikely to play in that game in order to get some match practice.Meanwhile, McDonald confirmed that Warner would apply for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to miss three ODIs and three T20Is against West Indies in early February in order to play for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 tournament that will be held in the UAE at the same time.McDonald said NOC’s would be handled by Cricket Australia’s head of national teams Ben Oliver and chairman of selectors George Bailey with each decision being made on a case-by-case basis.”He’ll apply for an NOC,” McDonald said. “It’s something that we work through anytime it’s in season. Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis went to the UAE last year as well. So every application is different in terms of the circumstances with what cricket they’ve got coming up, so I’m sure he’ll apply. It’ll be considered. George Bailey and Ben Oliver will work through that and there will be an outcome.”I think Matthew Wade was given an NOC to miss a Tasmania game for the IPL as well. I think every case should be considered individually.”
Consultation document distributed to counties with view to voting in changes next month
Matt Roller26-Aug-2022A revamped 50-over competition and a smaller top division of the County Championship are among the key recommendations made by Andrew Strauss’ high-performance review into English men’s cricket.The review, launched in response to England’s 4-0 defeat in the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia, has reached its “consultation stage” which will see the panel’s findings discussed by the PCA, county chief executives, chairs and directors of cricket over the next week, before final proposals are issued to counties on September 9.County chairs will then meet at Lord’s on September 20 to vote on proposals, with a two-thirds majority required to implement any changes.Related
Cricket is changing, but not for the worse
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The Royal London Cup, the men’s domestic 50-over competition, has been played in tandem with the Hundred for the last two seasons and has been shorn of the country’s leading white-ball players as a result. The situation saw two players – Jake Lintott and Will Smeed – make their List A debuts while playing for England Lions last month.The Championship has featured a ten-team top division this season, with each county playing 14 games each. As a result, there is an uneven fixture list in which teams play some teams once and others twice, reducing the competition’s integrity. Increasing the number of teams in Division One, a change voted for in 2018 but only introduced this summer due to the impact of Covid, has diluted quality.In a post on the ECB’s blog, Strauss, the chair of the ECB performance cricket committee, said that the first-class county chairs representative board has proposed that the number of Championship fixtures for each county should remain at 14 in 2023, allowing “more time for the debate about the best long-term structure from 2024 onwards to take place”.”Our aim is simple – to have a high-performance system for English men’s cricket which enables our men’s teams to have sustained success across all formats, while having a thriving, future-proofed domestic game,” Strauss wrote. “The findings, draft ideas and proposals have been informed by a thorough process including analysis of a range of important research as we consider how best we can achieve these goals.”Amongst other findings, the research – which covers cricket across the world since 2014 – looks at the areas we can target to reduce the gap between the domestic game and international cricket.”The analysis tells us that English players struggle more than players from other countries to transition from domestic to international cricket, how domestic spinners get less opportunities than in other countries and how overseas first-class experience is beneficial to Test cricketers.”A 37-page consultation document, prepared by the sports intelligence agency Twenty First Group, was sent to counties on Thursday evening and is intended to be used as the basis for upcoming discussions. It is available to view in full on the ECB’s website.”Our research shows that the first-class counties play a higher volume of cricket compared to the rest of the world, while feedback from players is that a reduction in the amount of men’s domestic cricket played is essential,” Strauss wrote.”Initial options for the game to discuss include a revamped 50-over competition and a smaller LV= Insurance County Championship top division to ensure higher standards and more intense best v best red-ball cricket.”The review also recommends playing first-class North vs South fixtures in the UAE, “elevating” the England Lions programme through a more consistent schedule and a strong red-ball focus, and offering multi-year central contracts to leading multi-format players.”We will now debate the panel’s proposals with many people in the professional game,” Strauss wrote. “Between now and then I am looking forward to a healthy and constructive debate over the coming weeks before the men’s high-performance review produces a final report, which will provide the game with a clear and well-researched pathway to sustained England Men’s success and a healthy, vibrant, domestic game.”
George Garton scores career-best 97 as five Sussex batsmen pass fifty
ECB Reporters Network16-Apr-2021A hundred from Stiaan van Zyl and a career-best 97 from George Garton led the way for Sussex who recovered from a middle-order collapse to lead Glamorgan by 196 runs at the end of day two of their LV=Insurance County Championship match in Cardiff.Sussex continued their excellent start to their first innings with Aaron Thomason and Tom Haines setting a platform for Sussex who were 211 for 1 at lunch.Three wickets for seven runs meant that Glamorgan had given themselves an opening to get back into the match but first van Zyl and then Garton took Sussex up to their opponents’ total and beyond.Sussex made serene progress in the opening session, the only moment of success for Glamorgan was a stunning caught-and-bowled from Michael Hogan to dismiss Thomason for 67. As has so often been the case, Hogan was the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers and he was the one man to cause real trouble for Sussex.It was Hogan who brought Haines’ innings to an end when he trapped him lbw just after lunch. He could have had a second wicket in the same over if Nick Selman could have held on to a sharp chance at second slip to dismiss Tom Clark.Clark made 19 before he drove a ball into the off side to give James Weighell a catch off Dan Douthwaite. Sussex captain Ben Brown went on the very next ball when he had a big swish at a wide ball and was caught behind.When Delray Rawlins played around a straight ball from Callum Taylor for two Sussex had stumbled from 254 for 2 to 261 for 5.While all of this was happening, van Zyl was imperious, recording the 28th hundred of his career. He was brutal on anything over-pitched but played the drive one too many times and was well caught by Chris Cooke off the bowling of Timm van der Gugten for 113.With van Zyl gone, Glamorgan had a chance to wrap up the Sussex innings but Garton and Ollie Robinson took the game away from them as they built a huge lead.Garton was denied his maiden hundred when he was trapped lbw by Hogan but he played his part in a fine Sussex effort that saw them reach 481 for 9 at the close with Robinson undefeated on 67.
Deandra Dottin is also back in Stafanie Taylor-led squad set to travel to Australia
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2020A fit-again Deandra Dottin has returned to West Indies’ 15-member squad, led by Stafanie Taylor, for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.Dottin had been out of cricket for eight months, recovering from a right shoulder injury that required corrective surgery and months of rehabilitation.Lee-Ann Kirby, meanwhile, returned to the West Indies squad after more than 12 years. The 32-year old allrounder from Trinidad and Tobago played the last of her two T20Is in July 2008.Kirby and batter Aaliyah Alleyne are the most inexperienced members of the squad. Alleyne made her debut during the home series against India last November, featuring in all three matches that West Indies lost.The semi-finalists from 2018 are looking to reclaim the title they won in 2016, when they beat Australia in a thrilling final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.The star of that game Hayley Matthews is one of three frontline allrounders – the other two being Taylor and Dottin. Anisa Mohammed, the experienced offspinner, will spearhead the spin attack.The pace department will be led by Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell, both of whom are returning from injuries, along with newcomer Cherry-Ann Fraser.”Lee Ann Kirby returns to the team after an extended absence but she has shown herself to be a prolific scorer,” chief selector Ann Browne-John said in a release.”In addition the introduction of the young fast bowler Cherry Ann Fraser is ideal for the Australian pitches which are generally fast with some bounce. The team has the experience and talent to excel at the World Cup.”West Indies, who last played international cricket in November, will play Pakistan in three warm-up matches in Brisbane ahead of the T20 World Cup.They begin their campaign on February 22 against first-timers Thailand in Perth, ahead of matches against Pakistan (Canberra) and England (Sydney) on February 26 and March 1 respectively. Their final group fixture will be on March 3 against South Africa in Sydney.Squad: Stafanie Taylor, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Lee-Ann Kirby, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Shakera Selman
Allrounder hints at pulling out of BBL stint with Hobart, in the wake of the ECB rule-change that raises World Cup hopes
Barny Read01-Dec-20182:03
‘It’ll be hard to squeeze into this England team!’ – Archer
Jofra Archer has hinted that he may consider pulling out of this winter’s stint with Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, in the wake of the ECB rule-change that has raised the possibility of him making England’s squad for next year’s 2019 World Cup.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo in the UAE, where he has been taking part in the T10 League, Archer insisted he was taking nothing for granted about his potential fast-tracking into the England set-up, but added that he needs to take time to assess his new priorities.”I’m a bit excited, however that doesn’t guarantee I’ll be selected this year or for anything upcoming as yet,” said Archer. “If it happens, it happens, but I don’t want to think too far down the line. I’ve still got lots of cricket to play even before then so it makes no sense dwelling on that.”Archer, who was born in Barbados and began his England qualification in 2015, had not expected to be available for international selection until 2022 at the earliest. All that has now changed, with the ECB reducing their residency period from seven years to three, even though the requirement to spend 210 days a year in the UK still has the potential to undermine his World Cup prospects.The ECB’s new rules kick in from January 1, 2019, in time for England’s tour of the Caribbean in the new year. However, Archer’s retention by Hobart Hurricanes – the team with which he burst onto the world stage in last year’s BBL – means that he is unlikely to have completed his 210-day quota until mid-March. With his stint with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL also coming up in the spring, he could be short of opportunities to bed into the England set-up before the provisional World Cup squad is submitted on April 23.”It is [exciting to be available for World Cup selection] but on the other side, because I’ve done so well in the Big Bash and the IPL which are coming up, if I’m doing well at them it’s something to argue about coming into the World Cup. As long as I look after my performances they should look after me with selection.”Nevertheless, in a Twitter post soon after the ECB announcement, Archer admitted that he “would love to debut in front of my family,” a reference to the England tour of the West Indies that gets underway in Barbados in January. The only way for him to feature in that squad would be to pull out of his Hobart deal, and spend the winter at home in the UK to complete his 210 days.”I’m not too sure [about skipping the Big Bash],” he said. “I haven’t been to Australia as of yet. I don’t know how the CEO would react. I haven’t asked yet. Obviously everything just happened only two days ago, so there’s still some time to do some thinking and to really see what takes priority.”England’s one-day captain Eoin Morgan – who had previously played down Archer’s hopes of featuring in the World Cup – is also taking part in the T10 League, but despite staying in the same hotel, Archer said that the two have not yet spoken about his situation.”I think [Morgan]’s the captain, I don’t think he’s the one who picks the team,” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense chasing it, as it’s only been two days. There’s still lots of time before the air changes. I’m still not fully qualified as yet, I still have to do my days. If it happens, it happens but I probably won’t try to overthink it too much.”[England] are the No.1 team in the world and even if I am in the squad and not the team I think it would be a great experience to be around all those players.”I just try not to think about it too much. England are doing really well in the Tests and ODIs, they’re doing well in everything and I think it will be hard to squeeze my way into the team.”Nevertheless, in Archer, England may have found the final cog in an already well-balanced bowling attack that is currently only lacking an out-and-out pace option.He is also a more-than-capable batsman and has already has an idea of where he’d like to bat in England’s allrounder-laden line-ups.”In the Tests I’d probably just like to bat just after Sam [Curran]. Either before or after Sam. Both of us are attacking and I think we could really do some damage if we do get together,” he said.”In the ODIs maybe seven or eight as well. I’m not too sure how it will go but I think whenever I do get the chance to bat I can just show what I can do and hopefully with a lot of performances I could squeeze my way up the order a bit.”England’s gain is West Indies’ loss when it comes to Archer, who moved to Sussex after becoming disillusioned with West Indies cricket when he was overlooked for the U19 Cricket World Cup in 2014.And though the ECB’s announcement drew ire from Cricket West Indies chief executive Johnny Grave, who accused England of “poaching” one of the country’s players, Archer suggested that those comments have been made three years too late.”I saw the [Grave] article yesterday. I don’t really have too much to say on it to be honest. I left three years ago so what he’s saying now he should have said probably three years ago,” Archer said.”There weren’t any opportunities [with West Indies] which is why I left. I want to say ‘no hard feelings’ but my dream is to play international cricket and with the possibility of it happening soon I think I made the right decision within myself.”And even if Archer falls short of breaking into the England fold, there is another big personal positive for him, it means he can spend more time with his family in Barbados.”Being qualified means I can spend a bit more time at home. This is three to four years now that I’ve only spent two or three weeks at home the whole year. Sometimes it’s not enough not seeing your family for so long so there’s at least some good things out of qualifying this year,” he said.Jofra Archer interview was courtesy of Cricingif, exclusive digital partners of Sindhis in the T10 League
The two fast bowlers, who suffered injuries during the Women’s World Cup in England, are back in the squad that will face Sri Lanka in three ODIs on October 11, 13 and 15 in Trinidad
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2017Fast bowlers Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell have returned to the West Indies women squad for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka that begins on October 11 in Trinidad. Both suffered injuries during the Women’s World Cup in England in July.Selman was struck on the helmet while fielding at short leg during the team’s opening match against Australia, while Connell injured her hip during the match against India. Kycia Knight and Subrina Munroe replaced the pair for the rest of the tournament.Kycia keeps her place in the squad for the Sri Lanka series, alongside sister Kyshona Knight, while Munroe misses out. Shanel Daley, Qiana Joseph and Felicia Walters have also been left out of the 13-member squad.The three ODIs will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, on October 11, 13 and 15. The results of all three will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship, which is being contested by the top eight ODI teams in the world. The top three finishers in the Women’s Championship will qualify automatically for the 2021 World Cup.West Indies women squad: Stafanie Taylor (capt), Merissa Aguilleira, Reniece Boyce, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Akeira Peters, Shakera Selman.