LONDON: England’s Ashes chances are being bowled a bouncer by the uncertainty surrounding Ben Stokes’ availability — that’s the view of former captain Andrew Strauss.
The England all-rounder did not travel to Australia with the rest of the team having been arrested after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub. Stokes has not been charged but remains under police investigation, and Strauss, who led England to Ashes victory Down Under in 2010/11, admitted the saga was hurting the side.
“Ben has been and is developing into a world-class cricketer. The fact he’s not out there at the moment is a blow to the England team,” Strauss, the current director of England cricket, told the BBC.
“The situation, in a word, is complicated.
“There’s two different potential disciplinary procedures he has to go through, one is the ECB’s internal one and the other is any potential police action.
“Until we know more from the police, it’s very hard for us to put a timeline on anything.
”What we all want is clarity on what that situation is and how much cricket he will be missing for England,” the 40-year-old said. ”We’re keen to get into that and move this forward but we’re in the hands of the police.”
Until the incident Stoke was considered one of England’s most potent weapons and one of the reasons why some fancied the side to retain the urn they won 3-2 in 2015. He has developed into the world’s best all-rounder — able to score a century in little over a session and grab a flurry of wickets at crucial times. Not only that but Stokes’ presence balances the side, being able to bat at No. 6 and be a genuine frontline bowler.
While England are the current Ashes holders they have traveled to Australia with the memory of their last visit still very much fresh in the memory.
A Mitchell Johnson-inspired Australia shocked Alastair Cook’s team 5-0, a defeat that led to some deep soul-searching within the side as well as the end of some England careers, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann the most prominent departures.
Strauss, however, said that defeat would motivate Joe Root’s men ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on Nov. 23.
“I was involved in a 5-0 drubbing in 2006 and I used that as a very strong base for retribution,” Strauss added.
“I’m sure the guys who were there last time and suffered the chastening defeat at the hands of Mitchell Johnson will want to put that right.”
While England were fretting over the Stokes saga, Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc sent an ominous warning to to the tourists, claiming a hat-trick for New South Wales against Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match.
Starc, who will lead the Baggy Greens’ attack, wrapped up the Western Australia first innings with three yorkers, bowling Jason Behrendorff and Simon Mackln and trapping David Moody leg before wicket to finish with figures of four for 56.
The left-armer has taken 14 wickets at an average of 12.5 in three first-class innings this season.
Strauss admits Stokes saga is affecting England Ashes hopes
Strauss admits Stokes saga is affecting England Ashes hopes
Juve’s top-four dream hits the snooze button in Parma loss
The second half unfolded in the same lifeless fashion as the first
MILAN: Juventus stumbled to a 1–0 defeat at Parma on Wednesday, failing to impress with a sleepy performance as they slipped out of the top four with the season now edging toward its conclusion.
Juve sit fifth on 59 points, one behind Bologna who occupy the final Champions League spot, with five rounds remaining. Parma, meanwhile, took a significant step away from the relegation zone and have 31 points — six clear of 18th-placed Venezia.
The first half was a dull affair, with both sides appearing to have already clocked off for an early end-of-season break, drifting through the motions and barely creating any real chances until the final minutes.
Mateo Pellegrino lit up the home crowd right before the break, soaring through the air in first-half stoppage time to meet a looping cross and head the ball with pinpoint precision into the net for the only goal of the match.
The second half unfolded in the same lifeless fashion as the first, with Juve applying some late pressure but failing to find an equalizer.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem nominates Malcolm Wilson for deputy role
- Federation members will vote in June on whether to endorse the former British Rally champion and founder of M-Sport
- Malcolm Wilson: There has never been a more exciting time to be in motor sport, and I know first-hand the benefits the sport brings to families and communities across the world
DUBAI: Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, has nominated Malcolm Wilson, a leading figure in British motor sport, for the position of deputy president for sport.
The FIA, the global governing body for motor sport and advocacy group for motoring organizations, said on Wednesday that members will vote on the nomination during the federation’s Extraordinary General Assemblies and Conference in Macau in June.
Wilson is the managing director of M-Sport, which has operated Ford’s World Rally program since 1997. Previously he was a highly successful rally driver, who won the British Rally in 1994. He is an honorary member of the British Racing Drivers Club, and in 2009 he was awarded an OBE for services to motor sport in the Queen’s Birthday Honors list.
Under his leadership, M-Sport won the FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers in 2006 and 2007 and 2017, and back-to-back driver and co-driver championships in 2017 and 2018. It also served as a technical partner with Bentley Motors, leading the design and development of the Continental GT3 race car, and in electric motor sport with Jaguar in the Ipace eTrophy event.
The deputy president for sport, one of the most senior elected roles within the FIA, serves on the World Motor Sport Council and has a wide range of responsibilities, including development of global motor sport policies in collaboration with FIA commissions and national sporting authorities, and the promotion of safety, sustainability and innovation in the sport.
Ben Sulayem said: “I am delighted to nominate Malcolm Wilson OBE for the role of FIA deputy president for sport. Malcolm has had a distinguished career in global motor sport.
“For over 40 years he has competed at the highest level, both as a driver and technical partner to teams. This experience will be invaluable to the FIA and our member clubs as we continue to grow grassroots and professional motor sport, driving innovation in the sport to benefit fans, drivers and teams.”
Wilson said: “Having started my career in motor sport in the 1970s as a driver and then technical partner to teams, it is a great honor to be nominated for the role of FIA deputy president for sport.
“The FIA has played a central role in my career and I very much look forward to supporting the president and all the FIA family in its important mission. There has never been a more exciting time to be in motor sport, and I know first-hand the benefits the sport brings to families and communities across the world.
“I look forward to working with the president for the duration of his current term of office, bringing our sport to new audiences and ensuring we deliver the very best championships for all our competitors.”
Jeddah gears up for the AFC Champions League Elite finals
- The finals feature seven matches taking place in a new format
- Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each
JEDDAH: Football fans throughout Asia are turning their eyes to Jeddah, as the coastal city known as the Bride of the Red Sea gears up to host the AFC Champions League Elite finals from April 25 to May 3,2025.
The finals feature seven highly anticipated matches taking place in a new format with all matches played in King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City.
Saudi clubs secured their places in the final rounds after impressive performances in the group stage. Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli topped their groups with 22 points each, undefeated, while Al-Nassr finished third with 17 points after just one loss.
Four-time Asian champions Al-Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia will face Gwangju FC from South Korea.
Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan will face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, with both sides aiming to win the title for the first time.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, will be at home to take on Thailand’s Buriram United while Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale will meet 2011 champions Al-Sadd SC of Qatar.
The winners of the Al Hilal-Gwangju tie will meet the winners of the Al Ahli-Buriram clash while the victors of Marinos-Al-Nassr will square off against the Frontale-Al Sadd winner in the semi-finals.
The first quarterfinal is scheduled for April 25, with the second and third last-eight ties on April 26, and the final one to be played on April 27.
The semifinals will be contested on April 29 and 30 with the final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on May 3, with ultimate glory on the line and a record prize worth $12 million.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, is one of the tournament’s most prominent players and is out to add the AFC Champions League title to his impressive record.
Despite being 40 years old, Ronaldo as scored seven goals to date, proving his value to his team in its bid for the title.
As the matches draw closer, Jeddah is preparing to welcome thousands of fans from across the Kingdom and beyond.
Quarterfinals
Al-Hilal vs. Gwangju FC
Al-Ahli vs. Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos vs. Al-Nassr
Kawasaki Frontale vs. Al-Sadd
Semifinals
Al-Hilal or Gwangju FC vs. Al-Ahli or Buriram United
Yokohama F. Marinos or Al-Nassr vs. Kawasaki Frontale or Al-Sadd
Champions League spot would be ‘Premier League trophy’ for Man City: Nunes
- The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday
- Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish
LONDON: Matheus Nunes says Champions League qualification would be Manchester City’s “Premier League trophy” after a poor campaign by their stellar standards.
The Portugal international scored a last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Tuesday to lift Pep Guardiola’s men to third in the table, four points ahead of seventh-placed Villa.
With Liverpool on the brink of the Premier League title and Arsenal sitting comfortably in second place, five clubs are battling for the three remaining places in Europe’s top club competition next season.
Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Chelsea are the other sides in the mix for a top-five finish.
City, who were hunting a fifth straight league title at the start of the season, suffered a costly collapse in form from late October.
But they can still end their season on a high, with Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal against Forest at Wembley coming hot on the heels of their vital win against Unai Emery’s Villa.
“This is our Premier League trophy now, to qualify for the Champions League,” Nunes said after scoring his first league goal for City in his second season at the club.
“I think it’s massively important for us, in terms of everything, the club, in terms of the players, the mentality.”
The 26-year-old admitted though that Champions League qualification for the 15th season running and FA Cup glory would not equal a good campaign.
“The club’s standards are much higher than this,” he said. “We know that there is not the standards we want this club to be at.
“But this is our reality now and we have to accept it. And we just have to go for it like it’s the Champions League, the Premier League trophy.”
Al-Qadsiah confident ahead of SPL showdown with Al-Khaleej in Dammam
- Al-Qadsiah arrive in Dammam off the back of a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr
- Teams have met five times before in the Pro League, with Qadsiah winning twice, Al-Khaleej once, and two matches drawn
RIYADH: Al-Qadsiah travel with confidence for their Saudi Pro League showdown with Al-Khaleej, today, 9pm, at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
Al-Qadsiah arrive in Dammam, for matchday 29 of the SPL, off the back of a 2-1 win over Al-Nassr, returning to winning ways after two draws against Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq, and two losses to Al-Fayha and Damac.
Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej continue to drop points, suffering three defeats, against Al-Hilal, Al-Fateh, and Al-Wehda, in their last four matches, while accounting for Al-Raed.
The two teams have met five times before in the Pro League, with Qadsiah winning twice, Al-Khaleej once, and two matches ending in draws. Their most recent game, in matchday 12 of this season, ended in a 1-0 win for Qadsiah.
Qadsiah currently sit in fifth place with 55 points, tied with fourth-place Al-Ahli, and trail league leaders Al-Ittihad by 13 points. Al-Khaleej lie tenth with 33 points.
