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كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن نادي برشلونة، يحدد الدولي الألماني إلكاي جوندوجان لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي، أولوية في الصيف المقبل.

جوندوجان ضمن أهداف برشلونة لتعزيز وسط ملعب الفريق الموسم المقبل، مع اقتراب نهاية عقده في 30 يونيو.

صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، أكدت أن إلكاي جوندوجان، هو الهدف الأول لـ برشلونة، على ليونيل ميسي، وتعمل الإدارة الرياضية بالنادي منذ عدة أسابيع على اتمام الصفقة، في ظل اقتراب نهاية عقده.

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وأشارت التقارير إلى أن المحادثات تسير بشكل جيد للغاية، ولكن لا تزال هناك قضيتان لابد من حلهما، الموازنة المالية وقانون اللعب المالي النظيف في الدوري الإسباني.

في الوقت الحالي لا يوجد عرض رسمي للاعب من برشلونة، لكن هناك اهتمام ومحادثات بين النادي ووكيل اللاعب، رغم أن صاحب الـ32 عامًا لم يتواصل بشكل رسمي حتى الآن مع البلوجرانا.

اللاعب الألماني، لديه العديد من العروض في الدوري الإنجليزي، ويدرك برشلونة ذلك، لكن استمراره في مانشستر سيتي ليس خيارًا مطروحًا، لأنه يريد تغيير الأجواء وخوض تجربة جديدة.

كشف ستيفن جيرارد، عن جلسته مع يورجن كلوب، التي جلسا خلالها يدخنان السجائر ويشربان الخمر، قبل نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا الموسم الماضي.

ليفربول خسر من ريال مدريد في نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا بملعب سان دوني بالعاصمة الفرنسية باريس، مايو الماضي بهدف فينيسيوس جونيور.

وقبل المباراة، التقى جيرارد بـ يورجن كلوب، قبل أن يكشف كواليس تلك المقابلة، وما دار بينهما في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية.

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وقال جيرارد: “كان كلوب يمشي مع الكلب، وكنت جالسًا بالخارج مع أحد أصدقائي، ثم صرخت تجاهه لأتمنى له حظًا سعيدًا في النهائي”.

وأضاف “جاء كلوب إليّ وأخبرني أن أذهب إلى الحانة وأحضر له نصف لتر من الخمر، وبالفعل أحضرته له، وانتهى به الأمر بتناول اثنين أو ثلاثة كؤوس، ودخنّا السجائر، وتحدثنا في كرة القدم لمدة لم تقل عن ساعة”.

وواصل جيرارد: “لقد أخبرني كلوب بخططه المستقبلية في تلك الجلسة، كان بملابس عادية ومعدات المشي مع كلبه، وجدته بالصدفة ولم نكن نحدد تلك المقابلة”.

واختتم: “أحتفظ بما قاله لي لنفسي، لكنني أرى بأنه أحد أكثر المدربين موهبة على الإطلاق وعلى المستوى الإنساني، فهو شخص مميز للغاية ومتواضع وحضوره استثنائي”.

MatériaMais Notícias

A vida do Paysandu anda complicada na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro. Sem obter uma vitória há quatro rodadas, a equipe briga para sair da zona de rebaixamento e garantir sua permanência na competição em 2019. Considerado um dos jogadores mais importantes da equipe nesta temporada, o volante Nando Carandina lamentou a derrota da última terça-feira, por 1 a 0 para o CSA, mas mantém a esperança para que o Papão obtenha bons resultados nas próximas rodadas.

– Não tem muito o que conversar neste momento. É focar e trabalhar para tirar o Paysandu desta situação. Temos chances disso e vamos lutar até o fim para que o clube permaneça na Série B para 2019. Precisamos continuar nos dedicando e acreditando até o último jogo na coquista deste objetivo – disse.

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Até aqui, o Paysandu passou por períodos de mais baixos do que altos e totaliza 13 derrotas, dez empates e apenas sete vitórias em 31 jogos disputados na competição. Apesar dos números baixos, a equipe está a apenas um ponto de distância do Juventude, que soma 32 e é o primeiro time fora da zona da degola. Tal fator, anima Nando Carandina, que garante encarar os nove jogos que restam até o encerramento da Série B, como verdadeiras finais de campeonato.

– Serão mais nove finais agora, nove decisões. Vamos jogar a vida nestas partidas para terminarmos o ano com o Paysandu na Série B. Lutaremos muito por isso. Não vai faltar entrega e dedicação de todos para que isso aconteça – completou o jogador.

Sem mais compromissos nesta semana, o Papão deve intensificar os treinamentos sob comando de João Brigatti de olho no confronto da próxima terça-feira, contra o CRB. A partida, válida pela 31ª rodada acontece às 21h15 no Curuzu.

علّق مدافع فريق نيوكاسل، دان بيرن، على فوزهم الثمين في مباراة اليوم أمام مانشستر يونايتد في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتلاقى الفريقان على ملعب “سانت جيمس بارك” في مباراة بالجولة التاسعة والعشرين، حيث فاز نيوكاسل بهدفين دون رد.

وقال دان بيرن في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “الأمر مميز حقًا، لطالما كنا نكره مانشستر يونايتد بصفتنا مشجعين لـ نيوكاسل، كان من الجيد تحقيق فوز اليوم، هم يدينون لنا بشيء هذا الموسم”.

ويقصد دان بيرن بذلك خسارة نيوكاسل في نهائي كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية أمام مانشستر يونايتد.

وأضاف: “كنا راغبين بقوة في الفوز عليهم، على مدار المواسم أردنا دائمًا الفوز على مانشستر يونايتد، كان أداءً رائعًا من اللاعبين، سعداء بالفوز والشباك النظيفة”.

وواصل: “مراقبة راشفورد وأنتوني؟ هما لاعبان قويان، من الطراز العالمي، أحيانًا ما يظهر المزيد من جانبنا في مبارياتنا في ملعبنا، ربما كثيرًا”.

وأردف: “كانت نتيجة مهمة حقًا بالنسبة لنا لأن لدينا نفس عدد النقاط مع مانشستر يونايتد في الجدول، ومع ذلك، أمامنا الكثير من المباريات خارج ملعبنا، نحن نبدأ أسبوعًا صعبًا الآن”.

واختتم: “آمل أن نتمكن من التأهل إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا، نتيجة كبيرة اليوم، مع دخولنا في آخر 11 مباراة لدينا فرصة جيدة حقًا”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras finalizou na manhã deste sábado os preparativos para enfrentar o Grêmio, domingo, às 16h, no Pacaembu. A atividade tática foi fechada para os jornalistas, e Luiz Felipe Scolari acertou os detalhes que restavam para o duelo válido pela 29ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Victor Luis e Felipe Melo, suspensos, Borja, com a seleção colombiana, além de Marcos Rocha e Artur, machucados, são desfalques certos. Mayke e Diogo Barbosa poderão atuar graças ao efeito suspensivo obtido pelo Verdão e devem ser titulares.

Gustavo Gómez estava com a seleção paraguaia, mas foi liberado para voltar ao Palmeiras na sexta. Uma possível escalação tem: Weverton; Mayke, Luan, Gustavo Gómez (Edu Dracena) e Diogo Barbosa; Bruno Henrique, Moisés e Lucas Lima; Hyoran (Willian), Dudu e Deyverson.

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Com 56 pontos, o Verdão lidera o Brasileiro e tem três de vantagem para o Inter, segundo colocado. O Grêmio está na quinta posição, a cinco pontos do adversário deste domingo. A última parcial é de 32 mil ingressos vendidos, mas o Pacaembu deve estar perto de sua lotação máxima na tarde de domingo.

MatériaMais Notícias

Um governo que contribua no desenvolvimento do esporte é o desejo de João Goulart Filho. O candidato à presidência pelo PPL tem entre seus planos a reforma de estruturas deixadas como legado dos Jogos Olímpicos, o aumento do valor ao incentivo aos atletas e também a negociação com os clubes para que haja maior presença de público nos estádios.

Na sétima entrevista da série do LANCE! com os presidenciáveis, o escritor e críticodefendeu o aumento do papel do governo do esporte, dando condições mais dignas para sua prática desde as escolas até o alto rendimento.

Foram feitas dez perguntas por e-mail – iguais para todos os 13 presidenciáveis – a respeito de planos de desenvolvimento e futuro do esporte no país. As entrevistas será divulgadas em ordem alfabética. Nesta segunda-feira, o entrevistado será o candidato José Maria Eymael (DC).

LANCE!: Quais são os seus planos para desenvolver o esporte no Brasil, tanto de base quanto de alto rendimento?
João Goulart Filho: Acreditamos que o esporte de base deva estar diretamente ligado à educação. Por isto, defendemos o ensino em tempo integral, com escolas equipadas e preparadas para iniciar os nossos jovens na prática esportiva e preparar desde cedo nossos futuros atletas. Também vamos garantir que os equipamentos construídos para as Olimpíadas e a Copa do Mundo façam parte desse esforço para formação de atletas e estejam à disposição da população.

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No que se relaciona ao esporte de alto rendimento, é papel do governo garantir o apoio, especialmente nos esportes que recebem menos da iniciativa privada. O objetivo é que nossos atletas tenham condições de treinar e competir aqui em nosso país, sem precisar buscar essa condição fora. Isso significa investir em centros de treinamento e garantir apoio financeiro para nossos atletas.

Hoje, os clubes cumprem um importante papel no apoio ao esporte de base e também no de alto rendimento e precisam ser reconhecidos por isso. Mas é hora de aumentar o papel do governo nessa frente. Isso vai se dar aumentando o apoio aos atletas e ajudando na formação dos jovens e com espaços e centros para o treinamento de nossos esportistas.

“Vamos conversar com os clubes e tentar condições para que preços do ingresso diminuam”

L!:A edição da Medida Provisória 846 assegurou aumento dos recursos das loterias para o esporte após uma grande mobilização do setor, insatisfeito com os cortes que a MP 841 causaria, devido ao plano do governo federal de priorizar a segurança pública. Se eleito, pretende mexer na distribuição dessas verbas destinadas ao esporte? Se sim, de que formas?
Hoje em dia, falta dinheiro tanto para o esporte quanto para outras áreas. Para nós, a função do governo não é decidir sobre qual área será priorizada enquanto para outra vai faltar dinheiro. O governo precisa garantir que os recursos sejam bem investidos e com um orçamento que melhore a vida dos brasileiros. Para garantir que não falte dinheiro para o esporte, nós devemos diminuir a taxa de juros para patamares internacionais. Só isso vai garantir mais R$ 100 bilhões para investimento público.

L!:Em tempos de recessão econômica, como é possível evitar que o país caia em um declínio esportivo? Pretende manter o padrão brasileiro atual de investimentos no esporte?
Com o aumento do investimento público, ampliação do mercado interno e distribuição de renda, nós vamos reverter a recessão econômica. Os governos do PT, PMDB e PSDB apostaram no corte de investimentos e, por isso, chegamos até essa crise. Para sair dela, nós vamos apostar no caminho contrário, melhorando a distribuição de renda e o investimento.

L!: A CBF esteve envolvida nos últimos anos em uma série de escândalos de gestão.Ex-dirigentes já foram banidos do futebol e até presos.Que avaliação faz da atual diretoria? O governo deve intervir na gestão do futebol e da entidade? Se sim, de que forma?
O governo deve dar à polícia e ao judiciário condições para investigar e punir os corruptos. Quando for comprovada a corrupção, os dirigentes envolvidos devem ser punidos pela lei. Porém, o papel principal do nosso governo vai ser de garantir a formação de base dos nossos atletas e a garantia de condições dignas para aqueles que praticam o esporte em nível profissional.

L!: O que acha da atuação do Ministério do Esporte? Pretende manter o investimento em planos de incentivo direto aos atletas, como o Bolsa Atleta?
O Bolsa Atleta hoje é a única renda para muitos esportistas. Por isso, em nosso governo será mantido. Mas é preciso melhorar o programa, e nós vamos fazer isso. Vamos ampliar o número de atletas atendidos por ele e, principalmente, aumentar o valor da bolsa. Hoje, o programa atinge menos de 6 mil atletas em todas suas categorias e paga muito pouco, especialmente para quem está começando sua carreira e ainda não atingiu nível olímpico. Vamos garantir que aqueles que defendem nossa bandeira na prática esportiva tenham condições de se manter e melhorar cada vez mais o seu desempenho.

L!: Em um eventual governo seu, o Ministério do Esporte ficará a cargo de uma pessoa com forte conhecimento sobre o assunto ou utilizada em barganha?
Não vamos praticar as mesmas atitudes de barganha e corrupção que nos levaram até aqui. Foram essas negociatas para garantir votos no Congresso e roubar dinheiro público que criaram casos como a Lava-Jato e outros escândalos. Vamos governar com as melhores pessoas, comprometidas com o Brasil e que tenham conhecimento sobre suas áreas.

L!: O governo federal é responsável pela gestão de boa parte das instalações utilizadas nos Jogos Rio-2016, por meio da Autoridade de Governança do Legado Olímpico (AGLO). Como pretende administrá-las e que medidas tomará para que a população e os atletas do país usufruam do legado do megaevento? A AGLO será mantida caso seja eleito?
Hoje, a maior parte das instalações utilizadas nos Jogos Olímpicos está abandonada, apenas dois anos depois do evento. Isso é um absurdo e mostra como nossos governantes abandonaram a população. Vamos olhar com muito carinho esse legado, reformar aquelas que ficaram abandonadas e abrir para o público.

“A maior parte das instalações olímpicas está abandonada. Vamos reformar este legado e reabri-lo”

Nessas instalações, vamos formar jovens no esporte e receber os atletas que precisam treinar e se especializar, garantindo os equipamentos e profissionais necessários para isso. Estes equipamentos também devem ser usados praa receber mais eventos de grande porte. Isto vai ajudar a manutenção e a sustentabilidade deles.

Para poder realizar estas ações, a AGLO será mantida. Porém, vamos reformular sua estrutura, para incluir maior participação dos atletas e da população em suas decisões.

L!: Quais são seus planos para evitar que o legado da Copa do Mundo de 2014 seja abandonado?
Os centros de treinamento precisam ser integrados às categorias de base e abertos para a formação dos futuros atletas. Precisamos ajudar nisso e juntar o esforço educacional com o esportivo.

Já os estádios precisam receber jogos e ter a casa cheia. Somente assim serão espaços com condições para se manter. Para isto, precisamos rever a política atual de altos preços dos ingressos.

Queremos discutir isso com os clubes para pensarmos uma alternativa. Por último, nós sabemos que existem hoje várias denúncias e provas sobre casos de corrupção e superfaturamento na construção dos estádios. Isto deve ser investigado e nos estádios construídos com verba pública a união deve ser ressarcida.

“Vamos aumentar o número de atendidos pelo Bolsa Atleta e aumentar o valor do incentivo”

L!:O governo brasileiro vem “socorrendo” clubes financeiramente em medidas como o Profut. O que acha do programa? O seu governo dará suporte aos clubes do pais? De que formas?
Não achamos correto que o governo use dinheiro público para socorrer os clubes, principalmente através do perdão de impostos. No entanto, achamos que é necessário pensar uma forma sustentável dos clubes se manterem.

Para nós, isso passa por aumentar o público dos estádios, o que só é possível com ingressos mais baixos e tendo um planejamento que consiga manter nossos craques aqui. Vamos chamar os clubes para conversar sobre isso e criar ações para dar ao nosso futebol essa condição.

L!:A partir de 2019, clubes que não tiverem um plantel de futebol feminino não poderão disputar a Libertadores. Acha que essa medida é um incentivo eficaz para o desenvolvimento da modalidade no país? Em um eventual governo seu, os esportes olímpicos e o futebol feminino terão alguma atenção?
Não tenha dúvida de que incentivos como esses são muito importantes para fortalecer o futebol feminino. Temos a melhor jogadora do mundo e muitas outras excelentes jogadoras. Nós vamos incentivar o futebol feminino desde as categorias de base e vamos buscar as condições para fortalecer um campeonato nacional de alto nível.

Isso deve ser feito em todas as categorias do esporte feminino, na última Olimpíadaquase metade da delegação brasileira era composta por mulheres. Estas atletas receberam durante toda sua vida menos investimento e apoio. Nós vamos mudar isso e garantir investimento e condições iguais para homens e mulheres na prática esportiva.

QUEM É

Nome completo: João Vicente Fontella Goulart
Nascimento:22/11/1956 – Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
​Vice: Léo da Silva Alves (PPL)
Partido: Partido Pátria Livre (PPL)
Ocupação declarada: Escritor e crítico
Bens declarados: R$ 8.591.035,79

NO ESPORTE

Time de coração: Internacional
Ídolo:João Goulart (o ex-presidente da República atuou como zagueiro no juvenil do Internacional)

قال تشافي هرنانديز، المدير الفني لنادي برشلونة، إن فريقه غير مضغوط ولا يفكر في فارق النقاط بينه وبين ريال مدريد، بل يجب أن يفكر الملكي بذلك وليس الكتالوني.

وأضاف تشافي في تصريحات بالمؤتمر الصحفي، قبل مواجهة ريال مدريد غدًا: “نحن محظوظون جدًا بوجود جول كوندي ورونالد أراوخو، كلاهما يمكن أن يتكيفا في مراكز مختلفة (قلب دفاع أو ظهير أيمن) ونفعل هذا اعتمادًا على لاعب الخصم”.

وتابع: “يمكننا أن نقدم مستوى أفضل حتى في ظل غياب عثمان ديمبيلي وبيدري، فعلنا ذلك من قبل مع غياب روبرت ليفاندوفسكي وجافي، الجماهير تتذكر مباراة الكأس في نصف النهائي، لكنها مجرد مباراة لم نقم خلالها بالسيطرة”.

وأكمل: “لن نغير أسلوبنا أبدًا، سنلعب دائما بطريقة الضغط العالي والاستحواذ، الفكرة لم تتغير، ولست مضطرًا لإقناع أي شخص بأي شيء، ما المشكلة مع الفوز 1-0؟ الاختيار الأفضل لي أن أفوز 5-4 أو 5-0، لكن من الصعب تسجيل الأهداف، الفوز 1-0 نتيجة رائعة”.

وعن لقاءه مع خوان لابورتا، رئيس النادي، قال تشافي: “لم نتحدث عن قضية الحكام أو قضية نيجريرا، نحن نركز على اللعب والمنافسة ونركز على أن نكون في أعلى مستوى”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تشافي يثير الشكوك حول مشاركة بيدري في الكلاسيكو.. ويعلق على مواجهة أراوخو وفينيسيوس

وواصل: “لا يزعجني أن النتائج والألقاب التي فزنا بها في برشلونة في ذلك الوقت أصبحت موضع تساؤل، لم أشعر أبدًا أننا فزنا بسبب الحكام، وإذا كان الأمر كذلك فسأعود إلى منزلي، ما فزنا به استحقناه على أرض الملعب ولم أفز بلقب واحد بسبب الحكام”.

وعن عدم استدعاء رافينها لقائمة المنتخب البرازيلي: “إنه بخير وهادئ، لم أتحدث معه عن عدم استدعائه للمنتخب، لا يمكنني أن أتدخل فيما يحدث في المنتخب البرازيلي لأنه لا يخصني”.

وعن انتقادات الإعلام للاعب بابلو جافي بسبب تدخلاته: “أعتقد أنه قد مضى وقت طويل منذ أن سمعت أن جافي جزار، أعرف من أين تأتي هذه التعليقات، علينا حمايته، إنه يتدرب جيدًا وليس لديه سوء نية لأذية أحد”.

واختتم: “الآن هناك الكثير من الاحترام لـ ريال مدريد، على الأقل بالنسبة لأنشيلوتي من جانبي، قبل 10 سنوات كان الوضع مختلفًا للغاية، كان هناك الكثير من التوتر”.

A transcript of Rahul Dravid’s speech, made at the function organised by the BCCI to felicitate him in Mumbai on Tuesday

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2012To the BCCI, former India players, members of the Indian cricket team, my various other colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.I’d made a pact with myself that I wouldn’t cry at any of the functions over the last two or three weeks. I think that has been tested to the limit today. It has been nearly three weeks since I announced my retirement from international cricket and first-class cricket. It has really given me a chance over the last three weeks to sort of sit back and, in some ways, take it all in, and look back on what, for me, is a dream come true.At one time, I was like any other kid in the street, any other kid in India, with a love for this game and a desire to play for India. I feel so blessed that I have been able to live that dream for over 16 years. Obviously, like some of the other guys have mentioned, for the next couple of months [when the IPL will be on] it does not feel like I have retired in some ways. It is still time to stay fit – it is getting harder and harder, I’m not enjoying going to gym, but I am still being forced to, at least for the next two months.It is only in June that I will probably get time to be unemployed, and have a lot of time on my hands. As Anil [Kumble] and Sourav [Ganguly] have warned me, it probably gets busier. I am not sure doing what, but we’ll just see…I have had a chance over the last three weeks to try and think about what playing for India meant to me. What was this dream? What has it given me? Playing for India gave me the opportunity to travel the world, to play on some of the greatest grounds in the world. In cities and countries that I had only heard of on the radio, listening to radio commentary with my father or waking up in the morning and picking up the newspaper to see what Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, GR Viswanath had done the next day. For me to have the opportunity to play on these great grounds, to play against some of these greatest of players – players that I had growing up looking up to, it was fantastic. Cricket has given me a lifetime of experiences.It has made me give joy to a lot of people by just playing a sport that I love. I have experienced some unbelievable victories and crushing defeats in my career as a first-class cricketer. What I have realised with it is everything does pass, and we can endure and we can survive. Playing for India humbled me. It made me appreciate how lucky I was to be able to do what I did for so long.When I look back on this long journey … you recognise that you have been very fortunate, very lucky. You have had the support of so many people who have made this dream possible. I truly feel that I have been in some ways at the right place, at the right time. For me to be able to be standing here in front of some of my heroes, people whom I admire, people whom I respect, and to be able to talk to you all … I think it has not been culmination of my efforts but the efforts of so many people who have gone into making this wonderful day possible.I’ll probably miss out on a few people when I speak and I hope that they forgive me. But I would like to put on record and recognise so many people who were behind the scenes: groundsmen, scorers, umpires, people who organise a game. Wherever you go in India there are so many people who selflessly do honorary jobs to make this game possible for us, to set the stage for us. Without their contributions these hundreds would not have been possible, these memories would not have been possible.When I look back on the various coaches that I have had, right from the time of the late Keki Tarapore, who first taught me the basics of the game, to the many coaches through my time at Karnataka, through all the international coaches that I have had, I feel each of them has added to my game. Each of them helped me become a better cricketer, and a better person. For that I am thankful.When I stand here and I look at some of the senior players who have been kind enough to come for this occasion, I feel really lucky. As a young boy I dreamed of just being able to get an autograph out of them, just to be able to meet them. This sport has given me a chance to interact with some of them. I would like to thank all my senior cricketers, all my heroes, all my role models for inspiring me, for leaving behind a legacy that I was very conscious of, a legacy of Indian cricket that I was very aware of. It meant something to me, and of the life I wanted to lead. And something that I hope they will feel I have tried to take forward.The various teams and cricketers that I have played with at Karanataka and in India have been the highlight of my career and will also be some of my fondest memories. Without my various team-mates … some of whom have spoken most eloquently and most touchingly of our time together. Thanks Anil, thanks Sourav, thanks Laxie [VVS Laxman] and thanks Mahi [MS Dhoni], your words have meant a lot to me. The memories we have shared as a team, and some of the victories and things we have achieved will be special and will remain special for me. I would like to believe that we took a great legacy of the Indian team forward. We have left a strong legacy for Mahi and his young team to take forward. I have no doubt that they will take it to even greater heights.Anil, I will miss your intensity. I will miss your desire. I have learned so much from watching you. I might not miss some of the vegetarian meals – without mushroom, without onions, without garlic. But there is a lot that I will miss.Sourav, ours was a great partnership. As you would expect with captains and vice-captains over a long period, it is a relationship like a husband and wife in some ways – it goes through its ups and downs. But I think we both agree that we came through with pretty much flying colours. There are some really good memories that we shared and there are some great moments that we can have a good laugh and a drink over, may be in the IPL.To Laxman, thanks for one the greatest days in my cricketing career. Without you Calcutta would never have been possible. I was privileged to be able to have watched one of the greatest innings played by an Indian cricketer ever from the other end. Thanks for your friendship. Thanks for your conversations, thanks for your company at second slip, where many a topic, including Ranji Trophy to why contractors and architects are not doing a good jobs, was discussed.Mahi, I think you can be really proud of what you have done with this Indian cricket team. To watch you lift the World Cup that day, it is almost a year to the day, was very special for me. Especially after what happened in 2007, to see a team and sea a group of boys go on to win the World Cup was indeed memorable. And to see something like watching Kapil Dev lift the World Cup as a ten-year-old that inspired me, to see a group of cricketers and a generation of cricketers that I had played with do it again in 2011 was special. I know that you have inspired a whole host of ten-year-olds by what you and your team did last year. There are challenges as you have noticed over the last bit of time, but I truly believe you have got the right temperament and right capability to take the legacy of Indian cricket forward.A lot of the names and lot of the people I mentioned are legends, and have great records in terms of statistics. Sometimes the people who achieve great things, of course they do through hardwork and sacrifice, but they are also very lucky. I have played with a lot of people who in the book of history of Indian cricket probably would not be considered great, at least statistically, but in my eyes everyone who played the game with me and played it with an intention to win, with a desire to win and gave it everything was a hero. And I learned so much from you. It was inspiring to watch people work so hard and struggle so much and sometimes not achieve what they want and come back and do it again and again. I would like to thank all my team-mates for your memories, your friendships. Nothing of this would have been possible without you. It is something which I would dearly miss. Being part of an Indian cricket dressing room is something I would definitely miss – just the camaraderie, just the banter, just that striving … may be not the rap music.I would also like to place on record my thanks to the KSCA, which was my local state association where I grew up, for their support, their guidance. Also the various officials at the BCCI for the various times when they gave me the right kind of encouragement and support. It has been a fascinating journey for me to see where Indian cricket has gone from the time I started in 1996. I still remember when we went for tours in 1996, sometimes Indian cricketers were treated, if I may use the word, as second-class citizens. We were the team that got the first tour of the summer in England, we were the team that got sent to some of the smaller grounds. The officials in the BCCI have ensured in 15 years times that we are the big boys of international cricket, that we dictate the terms. A lot of that has happened because of the performance of the players, but also because of the work that has been done by various officials, various office bearers with the BCCI during my time.Over the last few weeks, I have also been really touched by the reaction to my decision to retire. All that I have read and listened to has really humbled me. It has humbled me not because a lot has been written and said, which in this day and age with so much media and publicity is bound to happen, but what really touched me was the care, the attention and the thought that people have put into writing some of the really nice things they have said about me. People have not gone about it casually. In fact, there are various qualities and virtues [of mine] that I have only discovered in the last few weeks, listening to people. I am not going to complain about that. It has been really touching. Thank you.I may not be playing for India anymore but to the present Indian team what I would like to say is: guys, I will watch with great interest what I think is an extremely exciting and really talented group of young cricketers. I hope Indian cricket will always be a strong force, both on the field and off the field. And I have no doubt that I would take great pleasure, with a cup of tea and a biscuit in my hand, in watching you guys achieve great things.Thank you very much.

Mark Ramprakash has become the first player to crack under the pressure of playing on county pitches that are more treacherous than they have been for 25 years

David Hopps25-Apr-2012

Mark Ramprakash, the most prolific batsman in English first-class cricket, has become the first player to crack under the pressure of playing on county pitches that are more treacherous than they have been for 25 years.With April looking bound to become the wettest on record, and flood alerts anticipated in many regions over the next four days, the ECB’s gamble on the earliest start to the Championship season has already turned sour.Ramprakash, who at 42 is England’s most experienced current player, has been penalised under the ECB disciplinary code for abusive language to the umpires Nigel Llong and Jeff Evans during Surrey’s Championship match against Worcestershire at The Oval last week.All 22 players batted on the third day, with Ramprakash getting one of the unkindest deliveries of all – a shooter from Alan Richardson which extended one of his most unsuccessful sequences in a record-breaking career. Surrey’s first-innings total of 140 was their lowest at The Oval since 1999.Ramprakash, who is now only one transgression away from an automatic suspension, has condemned the start to the Championship season as “a lottery” and described batting conditions as the most difficult since his career began in 1987 – a debut that coincided with English cricket’s final move to an era of covered pitches.”There has been extravagant movement and it has made batting at times a lottery,” Ramprakash told The Daily Telegraph. “In our dressing room we are saying that conventional play is not effective and you feel like you need to chance your arm because the bowlers are so much in the ascendancy.”It is the hardest I have found it since 1987 when I started. I think it is really tough, especially for the younger players who have worked hard all winter. It is hard and the guys don’t know whether to stick or twist at the moment. You try to ‘guts it out’ but then you feel it is not getting any easier and you never really get in.”The pitches are doing plenty throughout the game. It has been very difficult and it is more about trying to bat in a very aggressive way whenever possible. I don’t feel that is proper batting. I feel proper batting is treating the ball on its merits.”Groundsmen, who have been allowed minimal square preparation time in a season that began on April 5, the earliest Championship start date ever, have pronounced it virtually impossible to produce good batting pitches in cold, wet weather that makes it difficult to remove enough moisture from the pitches.Players brought up on dry four-day pitches, and influenced by the more aggressive nature of the one-day game, have shown little appetite for the sort of dutiful, defensive innings that were a regular feature of the game in the era of uncovered pitches. England’s professional game switched to covered pitches in 1980; a further experiment in 1987, Ramprakash’s debut season, in which pitches were left uncovered during the hours of play, was abandoned after only one year.Ramprakash was reported by the umpires for a level one breach of the code: using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or making an obscene gesture. An ECB statement said: “As this incident follows a previous breach of the fixed penalty system within the last two years, Ramprakash has received three penalty points. This penalty will remain on his record for a period of two years and he now holds six penalty points. The accumulation of nine or more penalty points in any two-year period will result in an automatic suspension.”April is expected to be the wettest on record with some areas forecast to be hit by a month’s rain over a few days as the drought that has afflicted many parts of the country breaks in spectacular fashion. The Met Office has issued several severe weather alerts, with southern England and eastern Scotland likely to be worst affected. “Strong and gusty winds and significant and heavy falls of snow on higher ground” are also predicted over the coming days.Ramprakash, who has 114 first-class centuries, the most made by any current player, has managed only 62 runs in six innings at an average of 10.33 so far this season. He will attempt to put that right, weather permitting, against Durham at The Oval tomorrow, one of eight Championship matches scheduled. Rain is forecast in all of them with temperatures forecast to be as low as 7C.Edited by Alan Gardner

Ravi Rampaul, the West Indies fast bowler, has signalled his readiness to return for the Test series against Australia following his bout of dengue fever

Daniel Brettig27-Mar-2012

Ravi Rampaul, the West Indies fast bowler, has signalled his readiness to return for the Test series against Australia following his bout of dengue fever.At 27, Rampaul has developed into one of the region’s most reliable international bowlers but was unable to be considered for the West Indies pre-tour training squad or the ODI series due to illness – he also had to shrug off a shoulder problem.However Rampaul has returned to playing club cricket in Trinidad and is hopeful of representing the island in their regional first-class tournament semi-final against Barbados, the better to prove his fitness for the Tests that begin on April 7.”I am definitely anxious to get back,” Rampaul told the . “I have missed out on a lot and I just want to get back on the team and then cement my place for the Test series against Australia.””Basically I have been doing my physiotherapy and a lot of training. I have been doing a lot of bowling for the past two weeks on my own in the nets and it has been coming along. This is my first real test here, playing this match [for PowerGen against Preysal]. Hopefully I can do well here and be ready for the Test series against Australia.”Having made his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane in 2009, Rampaul has since lodged a series of sturdy displays with the new ball against Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, bustling through the crease at good pace and also showing the ability to move the ball in the air and off the seam. He is capable of providing a useful pace counterpoint to the unbridled aggression of Kemar Roach, a probable starter in the Tests given the problems he caused Ricky Ponting in the 2009 matches.”Australia is probably one of the hardest teams you can play against,” Rampaul said. “I always like a challenge and I always want to do well against the bigger teams. It has been a tough couple of months for me but I know what I want and I know what my goal is, and I have been training hard and doing my therapy. My shoulder is feeling much better. I am feeling fit and ready.”Though they will lose a handful of key performers to the concurrent IPL, the West Indies team has shown plenty of promise in the ODI series, forcing a 2-2 tie under the increasingly astute leadership of Darren Sammy. The hosts’ fielding has also caught the eye, and Rampaul’s return will add to their bowling options.”The team have been playing a lot of good cricket,” Rampaul said. “They look good. They look fully focussed right now and they gel together pretty well, and I am anxious to get back. [Being on the sidelines for so long], it was a bit hard but it gave me a lot of time to review my past performances and try to figure out batsmen, so when I do start back, I will be ready.”