The ICC will pay seven full-member boards $10 million over the next eight years, as part of the Test Cricket Fund announced during last year’s Big Three takeover of cricket’s governing body. Other than the BCCI, ECB and CA, the remaining full-member boards will each receive $1.25 million annually, beginning January 2016.The latest figures indicate that each member receiving the Test Match Fund stands to gain $10 million over eight years. This is less than the figure of $12.5 million over eight years announced by ECB president and ICC executive committee member Giles Clarke in February 2014 as each nation’s Test Cricket Fund package.The ICC plans to make its first Test Cricket Fund payment of $600,000 in early January, before disbursing another $650,000 to the ‘small seven’ member boards in July. Payments are expected to follow this biannual pattern until 2023.The ICC had originally announced that the Test Cricket Fund aimed to “encourage and support Test match cricket” outside the Big Three nations. As Boards have already entered bilateral touring agreements until 2023, there appears to be limited scope to enhance their Test schedules using the Test Cricket Fund payments.It appears more likely that the money will be used to underwrite loss-making tours. For example, Sri Lanka Cricket loses money on Test tours featuring all nations except the Big Three and Pakistan. The Test Cricket Fund would help it recover losses from home tours such as the recent visit by West Indies, which is estimated to have cost SLC about $648,000.The Test Cricket Fund had been among the chief incentives offered to the smaller boards, as the BCCI, ECB and CA sought support for their takeover of the ICC in January and February last year. During that time, Clarke, then ECB’s chairman, had said in an interview with : “The ICC has agreed to establish a Test Match Fund of $12.5 million per country over eight years – available to all except England, India and Australia – which will allow those countries which find Test cricket difficult to sustain economically the opportunity to continue to stage Test matches.”The ICC has not yet announced the funds’ terms of usage, or how it will hold boards accountable to the objective of encouraging Test cricket.

Yuvraj Singh has expressed delight at the prospect of wearing the India jersey again during the three Twenty20 Internationals in Australia, but felt there was a personal sense of disappointment for not making the cut for the ODIs.”A fresh start or a new beginning is the way I’d put it. I wouldn’t say my India career is going to start all over again. It began 15 years ago,” Yuvraj told . “To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed that I am back only in the T20I squad, not for the ODIs. However, there’s happiness that I’m back after quite a while. The disappointment is personal and I hope I’m not misunderstood and that nothing at all is taken out of context.”Yuvraj, who last played for India in the final of the 2014 World T20, said the time spent away from the team was extremely difficult, but the itch to regain his berth in the national team kept driving him. However, he admitted comebacks were never easy, especially due to the “compressed nature of T20s.””Yes, conditions in Australia are challenging and the T20 format is even more demanding. It’s such a compressed affair that there’s little time to adjust,” he said. “The 20-over game isn’t easy. That said, I’m positive, for that’s the way I am. I have the confidence to try and do my best in the opportunities I get. The dressing room needs to have belief in me. I’m sure I’ll get the support I need.”With scores of 93, 36, 36, 78 not out and 98 in his five outings, Yuvraj is Punjab’s highest run-getter in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, where his team have won five out of their six matches to secure a quarter-final berth. Yuvraj underlined his domestic form as the key factor in his comeback.”I’ve been out of cricket for more than one-and-half years and it’s difficult to motivate yourself to play domestic cricket but that was the only way forward. I’ve been playing first-class cricket from 1996-97 and first played for India in 2000.”But, yes, I knew I needed a good tournament. I needed to give off my best. I’ve always valued domestic cricket. Certainly now, I hope I can continue in this form (for Punjab) in the knockout stage. Besides getting the runs, I also feel good from within.”India play three T20Is in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney before returning home for a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. That will be followed by the Asia Cup T20 in the build up to the World T20 in March-April.

Fast bowler Adam Milne has joined the influx of New Zealand players to English county cricket after agreeing a deal with Essex for a stint in the NatWest T20 Blast.Subject to his visa being approved, Milne will be at Essex for seven matches in the second half of the T20 campaign. He will join fellow countrymen Jesse Ryder and Matt Quinn, the latter who has a British passport, to make it a trio of New Zealanders at the club.

New Zealand internationals in county cricket

Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner (Worcestershire)
Brendon McCullum and Mitchell McClenaghan (Middlesex)
Hamish Rutherford (Derbyshire)
Jesse Ryder, Adam Milne (Essex)
Ross Taylor (Sussex)
Neil Wagner (Lancashire)
Kane Williamson (Yorkshire)

Chris Silverwood, the Essex head coach, said. “Adam is a young bowler with plenty of international experience already. He is exactly what we were looking for from an overseas player, with his real pace offering something different to our attack.”Milne said: “I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to join Essex and help contribute to a successful NatWest T20 Blast. Essex is a club with such a fantastic history and I look forward to wearing the Eagles logo with pride and making an impact to help bring the T20 Blast silverware to Chelmsford”Milne, who is capable of pushing the speedgun over 90mph but has had an injury-hit career so far, has played 14 T20s for New Zealand, talking 18 wickets at 20.83 with an economy rate of 7.35. He was also part of the New Zealand squad at last year’s World Cup, playing until the quarter-final stage when he picked up a heel injury.New Zealand are now not far off providing a full playing XI in county cricket following a rush of recent signings, including the marquee signature of Brendon McCullum with Middlesex.

Jayasuria &copy AFP

LAHORE – In a repeat of the Asian Test Championship final two years ago at Dhaka, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are to commence the fight for continental supremacy here at the Gaddafi Stadium. In this second version of the ATC, the Lankans, tamed in 1999 by a whopping innings and 175 runs, are keen to make amends this time round and inscribe their name on the trophy. But the Pakistanis are equally resolute in not letting the Asian title out of their grasp.Despite watertight security, which both Waqar Younis and Sanath Jayasuriya said they weren’t really concerned about, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are arguably the two form teams of the sub-continent. And that reflects in the demeanour of Waqar and Jayasuriya. They sounded coolly confident of having resources to outgun the other. Both had reasons to be upbeat, their confidence stemming from the string of victories each of the sides had notched.After an unsteady spell, the Lankans are going through a purple patch, They have won eight back to back Tests, and by heavy margins to boot. At home, they’ve not just beaten their opponents, they’ve indeed humiliated them, none able to negotiate with Muttiah Muralitharan with any measure of confidence. And when rarely Murali didn’t get amongst the wickets in a big way, it was Chaminda Vaas or Dilhara Fernando who did the opposition in.It’s not just Murali’s bowling that has alone spelt doom on the opponents. It is the Lankan stroke makers who have made 500 or more in the first innings of almost every encounter in this remarkable winning sequence. And the Lankan stroke makers haven’t just been piling up runs, they made them at a brisk rate too and then to let loose their bowlers on the opposition with plenty of time at their disposal.

Waqar Younis &copy CricInfo

However, venturing out, this is going to be a real Test for the Lankans. And the Pakistanis aren’t making things easier for them. To ‘defang’ Muralitharan, the chief architect of many a Lankan win (and also as part of an effort to make wickets at home which afford seam, pace and bounce), the wicket here is green and is certain to assist Pakistan’s pace attack, which despite Akram’s absence remains potent enough.Pakistan is thus likely to go into the match with a pace battery of four, in skipper Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Abdul Razzaq, the all-rounder who is in equally fine fettle with the bat these days. In the circumstances, off-spinning ace Saqlain Mushtaq may be left out, with his understudy Shoaib Malik edging his way in. Somehow the Pakistani think tank is enthused with the idea that Malik can bolster the upper order, where there is a vacancy with Anwar still nursing his injured right wrist.So in all probability, Malik would accompany Taufeeq Umar to open the innings with Shahid Afridi batting down the order.Despite Saqlain not playing, Pakistan’s bowling attack is really good enough to probe the Lankans with pace and venom, with Malik and Afridi providing variety in spin.Actually it is not the Pakistan bowling which remains a cause for concern to the team management. It is the batting, which has a tendency to be brittle. Yet, while the bowlers deserve all credit for the revival in their fortunes, the batting too has tried to pull its weight by contributing well over 400 runs in each of the first innings of the last six Tests, all of which were won by Pakistan, five of them quite convincingly.Pakistan would be looking up to their mainstay in batting, vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to rediscover his touch. Not having fired for a couple of series, he indeed is overdue for runs.Even otherwise, Pakistan’s batting doesn’t lack much in terms of talent and class; it is the application that has been a gray area.All said and done, with both sides fiercely determined to maintain their respective winning sprees, and both having enough resources at their disposal to follow their dream, this Asian final is likely to be a highly absorbing contest.Teams (from):
Pakistan TeamSri Lanka Team

West Ham United have joined a whole host of Premier League teams in the race to sign FC Koln centre-back Timo Hubers in the summer.

The Lowdown: Huber’s situation

The 25-year-old has made 15 appearances in the Bundesliga this season after forcing his way into the starting XI, following a period on the bench.

Ever since his inclusion he has been an absolute colossus for Steffen Baumgart’s defence, with WhoScored ranking him as Koln’s best player this season, averaging a 7.13 rating.

However, at the end of the season, Hubers will enter the final 12 months of his current contract. Consequently, a number of Premier League sides have been eyeing a cheap deal for the defender.

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The Latest: West Ham now interested

According to a fresh report by the Daily Mail, West Ham are among a bunch of Premier League sides who are interested in signing Hubers in the summer.

It is said that Newcastle, Leeds and Crystal Palace are all understood to be tracking the 6 foot 2 centre-back, while West Ham, Southampton and Championship promotion favourites Fulham are also monitoring his situation.

The Daily Mail have reported that it will take a £6 million transfer fee to coax Hubers away from the German top-flight.

The Verdict: Good back-up option

David Moyes’ side have struggled at times this season with a lack of options in the central defender position.

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This issue was exacerbated by the serious injury sustained in November by Angelo Ogbonna, who is now hoping to make his return before the end of the season.

Therefore, a player like Hubers, with experience in a competitive top-flight division, could provide West Ham’s Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson with much-needed cover.

In other news: West Ham United: Antonio, Soucek and Dawson struggle against Everton

It is ironic to think that Brazil, known for their overt attacking intuition, would have been the first to shift to four defenders from the traditional W-M formation used so widely up until the late 1950s. A natural progression of having four defenders resulted in at least one of the full backs being responsible for complimenting attacking play. As England have lined up with Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson in these World Cup warm-ups we can see a marked evolution from the days, a decade ago, where the defensively minded Neville brothers were deployed in the same positions. What has caused the need for full backs to become attacking threats? Though Arrigo Sacchi would be sad to know – as with most natural progressions on the tactical front – it was a reactionary process that is still difficult to pin down.

One thing that is clear is Brazil’s 1950 World Cup final loss to Uruguay facilitated the national team change to 4-2-4 from the, then widely used, W-M. Both of Uruguay’s goals stemmed from an over exposure of the full back, Bigode, and the trauma of the defeat led to the introduction of an extra man in defence. As football punditry and managers alike often seem to misrepresent formations as ‘defensive’ it is only the application of formations that make them so i.e. the introduction of an extra defender is not a defensive move when considering the end product for the Brazilians.

In the 40s some Brazilian domestic teams used one of the three defenders in the W-M as a player responsible for moving forward when the team was in possession. This move would be compensated by a covering midfielder dropping back and such an instance of tactical malleability is indicative of Brazil’s latter successes – their 4-2-4 would really be a 4-3-3 when on the defensive and a 3-3-4 when in attack. The advent of one attacking full back and another more disciplined one, tucking in when the former is out of position to provide balance is precisely how Brazil operated in 1970 (Carlos Alberto moving forward and Everaldo tucking in). This remains operational today as Chelsea have a central defender at right back (though Ivanovic has done very well to overlap when required) and Manchester United have the marauding Evra on one flank and the less adventurous Neville on the right – albeit this is as much due to a lack in personnel as it is a tactical imperative. Interestingly I think Evra has been United’s best player after Rooney this year and the change of system in Ronaldo’s departure has seen his responsibility in attack increase.

Continue reading on page 2…

The 1950 loss to Uruguay highlighted an interesting tactical point that we have seen occur in the 2000s in the Premier League and another reason why attacking full backs have gained importance. Brazil’s W-M successfully and comfortably beat all other teams using the W-M, but when facing the narrow Uruguay – using a sweeper – their attacks became less threatening. In the early part of this decade we can see (and I commented on this in a previous article) Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal were clinically adept at overwhelming the flat 4-4-2 that oppositions would invariably put out against them. Wenger took an attacker from the youth team (Ashley Cole) and put him at left back and a passing midfielder (Lauren) and made him into a right back. The reason was to utilise the space that all full backs have when a 4-4-2 faces another 4-4-2, thus adding another dimension to attacking play. The difference between the full backs Wenger inherited (Dixon and Winterburn) and the ones he established (Cole and Lauren) encapsulates the evolution perfectly.

With tactical variation more prevalent the role of the full back has not diminished. Chelsea’s 4-3-3 under Mourinho devastated the flat 4-4-2 in a different way to Arsenal because by flooding the midfield, if wide men tried compensating for the numerical disadvantage in the centre of the pitch, the full backs had space in behind to threaten. A natural progression in tactical development has occurred due to the attacking full back; they have caused the deployment of defensive forwards. Park Ji Sung and Dirk Kuyt are prime examples of players whose importance have risen when considered against a threatening full back.

When teams face Barcelona, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Chelsea or Manchester United a pressing concern for managers is to curb the influence of Alves, Maicon, Lahm, Cole and Evra respectively. That these players are considered some of the best in the world is indicative of the importance of the attacking full back at present.

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Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has confirmed that he is a target for both Manchester United and Manchester City.

The 29-year-old has spent the whole of his career to date at the Santiago Bernabeu and is in no rush to leave, unless Real decide to cash in.

Casillas, told the Daily Star Sunday:"I am aware of the interest of both Manchester United and City. I'm always flattered whenever another club shows interest in my qualities as a goalkeeper.

"I have been at Real Madrid all my career and I still enjoy going to training every day. I enjoy meeting the fans too, but we all know how uncertain things are in football.

"I'm not going to say never. Right now Madrid would have to kick me out of the club before I consider a move.

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"Who knows what will happen, though, if a big-money offer comes in."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Pre-season 2010 is in full flow but how many of us have noticed? Even the most seasoned football fan would struggle to reel off a detailed list of this summer’s most notable friendly results. With the increasing trend of clubs travelling to compete in pseudo cups in far away places, many have questioned whether it’s worth the effort. For some managers including Tottenham Hotspur boss, Harry Redknapp the preference would be to stay closer to home whilst working on fitness and taking part in a few friendly matches. In an era dominated by Premier League clubs seeking world domination by promoting their team as a global brand would it not be infinitely more sensible to trust the judgement of managers when it comes to pre-season preparation?

Pre-season results cannot be considered a reliable barometer of what is to come following the start of the season. Newcastle’s humbling 6-1 defeat to Leyton Orient last summer hardly paved the way for their rampant form in the Championship where they dominated, amassing over 100 points. Earlier this week, Manchester United could not avoid defeat to the Kansas City Wizards despite having a man advantage for the majority of the match.

The main purpose of a pre-season campaign is to ensure a squad regains its fitness and competitive edge ahead of the new season. Every year though commentators will routinely highlight players who appear weeks away from fitness. Any fan who has attended a pre-season game will usually confirm that it had the atmosphere of a pleasant Sunday kickabout down the park. Nonetheless pre-season offers managers the chance to reassess their squad and tactics while assimilating their new signings. Steve Bruce has stated this summer that the pre-season form of Anton Ferdinand and Phil Bardsley has forced him to rethink their futures at Sunderland. Pre-season also carries particular importance for many new managers who will be meeting and organising their new teams for the first time.

The problem for managers and players comes with the pre-season tour of faraway countries where the schedule can be intense. This summer has seen Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in America, Birmingham City in China and Blackburn and Everton in Australia. In between countless matches against previously unheard of opposition there is the task of promoting the club and enticing legions of new supporters through press engagements, city tours and signing sessions. Clubs can also pay a heavy price for attending such pre-season tours. During West Ham’s friendly match against Spurs in last year’s Asia Cup, Luis Boa Morte suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in his right knee ruling him out for the best part of a year. Gianfranco Zola was forced to rethink his tactics ahead of impending season due to a lack of experienced wingers. This injury outweighed any potential benefits the tour brought to West Ham’s marketing department.

Such scepticism has been voiced by Harry Redknapp who told The Sun, “I would be a liar if I said it was the perfect way to prepare for the new season because it is not.” Would it not be wiser for clubs to entrust their management teams when it comes to organising pre-season fixtures? Arsenal’s traditional pre-season curtain raiser against Barnet shows the benefits of a localised stance. These encounters provide a chance to boost fitness, build confidence, please fans and construct ties with local clubs. The Emirates Cup later this month will place Arsenal against more glamorous, competitive opposition but at least they won’t have to travel half way across the world for it.

Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer

Chelsea head coach Carlo Ancelotti refused to be too concerned despite seeing his side beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley.

The loss was the Blues' fourth consecutive setback during pre-season, with Ancelotti's men having also been beaten by Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburg.

The Italian told reporters:"I am not worried. We have improved, we may have to improve more and we have to have more time in possession.

"We played too slowly at the start and we didn't have the possibility of finding our play in the first half, so for this reason we have to work.

"They played better than us and they deserved to win, we knew Manchester could play a good game. They did that and they deserved it.

"But importantly now our players are very close to being fit.

"This was Michael Essien's first game of 90 minutes for eight months and Frank Lampard and John Terry played 90 minutes each.

"They need more time, which is why it is good for them to play a national team game this week.

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"They could play 70 minutes without a problem. Naturally they have to improve still, but within one or two weeks they will be fully fit.

"It was not a good pre-season. We knew it was a difficult pre-season, but we are disappointed – we don't want to lose these games."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

One name which has been strangely absent from this summer’s transfer gossip columns is that of Ilan Araujo Dall’Igna. The Brazilian striker is currently a free agent having been released by West Ham United in June. The former Saint-Etienne player made a telling impact during his time in east London, scoring crucial goals in their relegation run-in. He told Sky Sports, “I did well in the Premier League and I was hoping to continue where I left off next season, but West Ham had other ideas, that’s football.” Hammers fans feared their loss would be a rival’s gain as Bolton Wanderers reportedly registered an interest in the striker. Ilan remains unattached as the Premier League season begins this Saturday. Many clubs could do worse business in this period of relative austerity than sign up this intelligent forward.

West Ham fans were justifiably concerned that Gianfranco Zola allegedly signed the forward in January without having seem him play. The player who has made three appearances for Brazil was available as a free transfer after Saint-Etienne terminated his contract. Having made his name with Atletico Paranaense in Brazil he moved to France in 2004 and amassed an impressive goal tally at Sochaux. He moved to AS Saint-Etienne in 2006 and initially adapted well, scoring goals including a beauty which earned him the Ligue 1 Goal of the Year award a year later. The player diminished in the club’s attacking plans and was allowed to leave prematurely in January. He did not have long to wait as he was offered a short term contract by West Ham and handed the number 9 shirt.

During his last full season at the French club the player starred in their successful fight against relegation and was accordingly well-accustomed to West Ham’s predicament. Ilan scored on his debut for the club in their away loss to Burnley. When a ball into the box was missed by Brian Jensen, the Brazilian slid in at the far post to direct it goal wards. It was a simple finish but one delivered by a player of cool temperament. A frustrating period followed for the striker who was customarily left on the bench or used in unfamiliar positions. His fantastic diving header at Goodison Park halted Everton’s seven match-winning streak and West Ham’s seven match-losing streak. Connecting with Julien Faubert’s enticing cross Ilan directed an unstoppably powerful header past Tim Howard to earn a 2-2 draw. It was a header deserving of comparisons with Yordan Letchkov’s winner against Germany at the 1994 World Cup.

This morale boosting contribution was followed by netting the only goal of a scrappy, attritional home game against Sunderland. It was a striker’s finish as he instinctively flicked Carlton Cole’s nod down into the net. Ilan scored once more for West Ham in their decisive home tie against Wigan. Bereft of delivery, Ilan dropped deep to receive the ball and spread the play before making surging, astute runs into the box. This approach paid dividends as Ilan managed to level the scores in the first half. Despite showing an impressive knack of finding space in the box and finishing clinically Ilan remains a free agent.

Why are Premier League sides searching for value in the transfer market ignoring this natural finisher? His absence from transfer proceedings may be due to comments he gave to a Brazilian newspaper while at West Ham. He claimed Zola had, “lost control of the team” and especially, “to players who speak Italian.” Few clubs would welcome the emergence of such unwanted headlines but Ilan steadfastly argued that his comments made months earlier were incorrectly translated. The player was contrite and the fans forgave their latest South American star to guide them to safety. Premier League clubs wishing to strengthen and diversify their attacking options may wish to consider Ilan before the transfer window closes.

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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

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