Sensational Sarries

Saracens have produced a startling beginning to a season marred by pre-season controversies. They've won all of their games so far and look to play conservative and tactical rugby, which is the type of play which gets wins. You look at South Africa, and Saracens are looking to play a similar style, especially as there has been a huge influx of that nationality coming to the club. But what annoys me is their lack of press and acknowledgement. London Irish seem to be talked about the most, but have lost one whereas Sarries haven't! I'm writing this to give them a bit more fame and thought. They deserve praise and good luck to them on their quest to the top four.

We're behind you Rio

Many suggestions about what to do with United ace Rio Ferdinand have floated around the public and the papers. My answer to those people is, you don't need to do anything with Rio Ferdinand. Keep him in the team, and his form will come. I'm pleased that Lampard and Capello agree with me, because if England are thinking of winning the World Cup next year, they need two world-class centre-backs. Upson, Lescott and maybe Phil Jagielka are simply not world-class. None of them have the experience of international level football as Ferdinand, in addition to the class and ability. I'm sorry to fans of those three players, but he's quick, strong and reads the game tremendously well. What more do you want? Everybody goes through bad patches, and this happens to be Ferdinands first proper dip in form for England. That shows his true class, and I sincerly hope for England that he's in good form by the summer, because they need him. I think it's silly that people are criticising him, he's won so many collective honours for Manchester United and is so consistent for his country. I am willing to say here and now he's in the top five centre backs in the world. You need a centre-half to be able to deal with the strength of Drogba and skill of Ronaldo. He's one of the only defenders capable of doing that.

Shock for Hogg

Yorkshire bowler Matthew Hoggard has been released by Yorkshire for somewhat confusing reasons. What makes this so very frustrating for Hoggard is that it came completely out of the blue. Usually at the end of the season, players who are going to be transfered or released will be told, and given a goodbye by fans and fellow players. However, Hoggard has had no chance to say goodbye to anybody after his 15 years of service to his club. In addition, there are no definite reasons for this act of releasing. The player and the clubs' views are contrasting, and that makes this saga more controversial than it ever should be. If the club came out with a definite and true statement about this issue, then I would be inclined to call this saga over. The club should do this as soon as possible, and a press conference by the man who called this decision would tie up any queries about the act.
I feel very sorry for Hoggard, who was talking about captaincy a couple of weeks ago! To be suddenly sacked by the club you have served for 15 years must be heart-wrenching. The club said he had rejected a contract, which was too low a wage in Hoggard's view. The former Yorkshireman denies this. He states that all he got for 15 years' service is a cup of coffee in the chairman's office. Who knows, eh?

England team picked for South Africa

Earlier this week, the England selectors announced the Test and ODI squads for the tough winter tour to South Africa. Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and Steve Harmison all missed out on both squads, and many expect Harmison to retire from internationals after his omission from the team.
For those who are in the team, however, must feel they've got a chance against the number one team in the world. They famously beat them in the group stages of this year's ICC Champions Trophy, and were victors in the Ashes. I feel this England team is going somewhere and this group of players can go far, if they can be consistently good and take chances whenever they come. The first XI is easy to predict, which is a good sign of consistency from the selectors. The only area of the XI that will cause Geoff Miller to furrow his brow is the troublesome middle order. You've got many options as a selector, but that will just make things harder.
I personally think Ian Bell should have that number 3 spot, simply because he's got the experience, and the time out he had from international cricket helped ease the pressure and stress that was caused by indifferent form. He came into the last three Ashes tests and scored two half-centuries, a decent return. I would like him to try and build on those fifties and start converting them into 100s, which he doesn't do enough of. He has 8 centuries from 29 halves and an average of 39. Not bad. But as a top order player, you want a conversion rate of fifties to hundreds that's at least 50%. Bell's quite far away from that with a conversion rate of only 27%, and it would be good to see him play at his best against South Africa. He is so pleasing on the eye when he's in full flow.
At number four, I would obviously put in Kevin Pietersen. We need at least one top-drawer player, and with Freddie gone, we need KP. He has a brilliant Test average of 49, and has scored more centuries than halves. That fact tells you he's a top-class player. However, there are doubts about his fitness, so who would I put in for him? In the Ashes, it was Collingwood, who was moved up the order, with limited success. I would put in Jonathan Trott (who would be at number 5 in my team anyway) to go in at number four. He impressed in the two innings he played against Australia, and showed good temperament at the crease, with all the Aussies' efforts of trying to unsettle him. He got his hundred, and needs to build from there. A good debut is always a confidence boost, and he will try his upmost to get some more big scores.
At number five I would've had Trott, but if KP's injured then Collingwood will come in. He has great experience, but has been out of sorts in the Test arena. He needs to take his very good one day form into Tests, and that will be the challenge. I wouldn't have him in the team if KP is fit, because I think there are better batsmen than him, and we don't particularly need his off cutters.
At 6, I would put Prior, who has also looked a bit shaky, and Broad at seven. Stuart has great potential with the bat, and putting him at number 7 would help him to take his talent further. He would have greater chance of scoring runs, and would bat with better batsmen than he usually does. His bowling has greatly improved, and he found his match with length balls. The other four bowlers would be: Swann, Anderson, Onions and Sidebottom. I would include Sidebottom because he deserves an inclusion, and there aren't really any other bowlers up to standard. In addittion, talisman Gibbs is prone to left-arm seamers swinging the ball in at him. That would be my team, with Strauss and Cook opening the batting. The selectors may well choose differently, especially with the dilemma of including or not including Paul Collingwood.

England. Is that you?

Yesterday England shocked the whole world with an astonishing win against hosts South Africa. Three half centuries by batsmen 3, 4 and five got them to a huge score of 329, the second highest in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy! Shah and Collingwood led the way with 98 and 82 respectively, each with very good strike rates, and got England through the tough and usually boring middle stages. Eoin Morgan then produced a magical knock of 67 off only 34 balls, which incidentally is a massive strike rate of 197. That brought England to a monstrous score and South Africa were always under pressure from then on.
When they came out to bat, they looked pretty shaken when talisman Gibbs went early. If it wasn't for the brilliance of captain Graeme Smith, South Africa surely wouldn't have even reached 50 overs. The rest of their batting line-up failed to perform , the second highest score after Smith was a mere 36 by AB De Villiers.
I must also mention the England bowlers. Yesterday they looked as dangerous as lions amongst helpless sheep. Oh, ok maybe not that good. But a special performance from Jimmy Anderson must be worth a mention. He went for only 4.2 an over and took 3 valuable wickets, one opener, one of the middle order and one of the desperate tail. He was the go-to bowler and when Strauss needed him, he didn't dissapoint. His figures were 3-42, and add that to brilliant figures of 3-20 off 9.3 overs against Sri Lanka, he's been the stand-out bowler for England and probably of the tournament so far. But he and the other bowlers need to take these good performances with them into the semis and perform even better against one of Pakistan, India and Australia, who will most likely fancy their chances that South Africa and almost Sri Lanka are packing their bags! Sri Lanka relying on England to beat New Zealand to get through.

Arshavin ok times 20

The Russian playmaker competed a contreversial move to Arsenal past the deadline and it was widely expected to be confronted by some of the chairmen in the annual Premier League meeting today. But all of the chairmen said ok to the deal and no fuss was made. The most likely party to try and tamper with the deal was Aston Villa, who chasing fourth spot along with Arsenal. This move could improve Arsenal's chances of getting that all important fourth place finish.

But now the transfer has been approved by all, the North London club will be looking to the upcoming North London derby against old rivals Tottenham. Arshavin could feature, but looks a doubt after admitting he isn't fully fit. We are all looking forward to seeing the excellent player in action, and I no doubt, will be following his first games with some relish.

Federer driven to tears as Nadal blows past

On Sunday night in a mild Melbourne we saw an absolutely tremendous tennis final, with the two top players in the world trading scintilating shots in each absorbing point. I was blown away with the quality of these two, and I feel a bit scared for the rest of the guys who need to figure a way to beat them. They really raise their game when they play eachother, that's why every single contest between them is an epic which goes down in the history books.

This time Nadal came out on top after 4 hours and 20 minutes of brilliant tennis. Who said tennis was boring? Federer tried his very best to break through the Spaniard but he couldn't find the key to his defence. Surely Rafa would be feeling the effects of a 5 hour match against fellow countyman Verdasco, played just two days before! But it appeared not, and Federer simply ran out of juice in the fifth set while Nadal looked ready to play another five. Nadal simply outlasted him and, with Roger's increasing age, will the Swiss legend be able to beat him again? A question which will be answered in a few months when they battle it out for the historic Wimbledon title.

Federer was in tears at the end, and when he had to say something after the match to the crowd one phrase which he managed to get out was 'it's killing me you know'. And it really is. After many years at the top he has finally been beaten by a bull, and that bull is on the rampage. Good luck to all who try and stand in his way.

Nadal will make history. I'm sure of that.