SYDNEY: England’s leading bowler James Anderson says Australia played the pressure moments better than the battle-weary tourists and deserved their crushing 4-0 Ashes series triumph.
Steve Smith’s Australians swept to an innings victory in Monday’s final Sydney Test, condemning England to four comprehensive defeats in the five-match series.
The Ashes were relinquished by the third Test in Perth and England gave the impression by the final day of the series that they just wanted it all to end.
Vice-captain Anderson, deputising for stricken skipper Joe Root, said the writing had been on the wall for some time.
“We’ve known for a few weeks they’re going to lift the (Ashes) urn, but I guess, seeing them do it in person is tough to watch,” Anderson told reporters.
“There’s not a lot we can do about it. We’ve not played well enough and they’ve deserved to win.
“Just got to give them credit and they’re well within their rights to be over the moon with that win.”
Anderson, 35, who is England’s all-time leading wicket-taker with 523 in 134 Tests, said the tourists were unable to make their moments count during the series.
“I do think it’s been closer than 4-0. We’ve been on top in some games, if not all the games at some stage,” he said.
“We’ve just not capitalized on the key moments where if we kick on with the bat and get a big score in the first innings then we’ve put them under more pressure. Similarly, if we get them a few wickets down early, then a couple more would get us in the game and get us on top.
“They’ve played those pressurised moments and those situations better than us. When they’ve done that and put the pressure back on us, we have not coped with that very well and that’s why they’ve won.”
Anderson, who toiled away for 223.3 overs for 17 wickets during the series, said the tour outcome was galling for the team.
“After Perth we were all bitterly disappointed as we had come over here thinking we could challenge Australia and to be three down after three Tests was not where we wanted to be,” he said.
“All the guys in the dressing room are hurting. I’m sure they’re hurting as much as I am. That feeling that you get should make you determined to win the Ashes back in 2019.”
Looking ahead to the Ashes series in England next year, Anderson said he was “hungry” to play.
“I’m going to do everything I possibly can be to be ready for that series in 2019. I’m still hungry to play,” he said.
“I’m delighted Ive got through these five Test matches and bowled pretty well.
“I’m going to go away now and have a few weeks off and get ready for New Zealand in March.
“I’d never really liked looking too far ahead, but I’d still like to be around in 2019.”
Meanwhile, Steve Smith praised Australia’s awesome attack.
Mitchell Starc, John Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon all finished with 20 or more wickets in the series to take 87 in total to dominate the England batsmen.
“I think all the bowlers did an exceptional job,” the Australia skipper said.
“Each of our bowlers have over 20 wickets which showed that the guys have bowled together as a group, bowled in partnerships, bowled for one another and helped us take the 80-odd wickets that we’ve needed to take four Test matches.”
Cummins, who captured four for 39 to finish man-of-the-match in Sydney, finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 23 at 24.65 and played in all five Tests.
Starc claimed 22 wickets at 23.54, Hazlewood 21 at 25.90 and Lyon 21 at 29.23.
Lyon, the leading all-time Australian off-spinner, has now taken 290 wickets at 31.64 in 74 Tests.
“Nathan has been exceptional with the way he’s bowled and the consistency he’s had has been outstanding,” Smith said.
“For me the moment that changed the whole series was Nathan Lyon and his run out (James Vince on 83) at the Gabba, that was such a huge moment in the series.
“Those sorts of plays can change a series and I think that was a series-changing moment.”
Having got his hands on the Ashes urn on his own turf Smith then turned his attention to the next meeting between the old enemies, and insisted he is keen to beat Joe Root and Co. in their own backyard.
“The 2019 series in England is a long way away but that’s a bucket list item for me: winning an Ashes series as captain in England,” Smith said.
“It’s a tough tour and a great place to play. England play incredibly well at home.
“This team has been magnificent this series. The more we play together, the more we’re going to get better as a group.”
Australia played the pressure moments better in this Ashes: James Anderson
Australia played the pressure moments better in this Ashes: James Anderson
Newcastle shoot down Arsenal to be back in League Cup final in bid to end 70-year wait for domestic trophy
- Newcastle will play either Tottenham or Liverpool in the March 16 final at Wembley Stadium
- Newcastle reached the 2023 League Cup final, but lost 2-0 to Manchester United
LONDON: Newcastle are back in the English League Cup final for another chance to end their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.
The Saudi-backed northeast club beat Arsenal 2-0 in the second leg of the semifinals Wednesday to advance 4-0 on aggregate. Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon scored the goals at a boisterous St. James’ Park.
Newcastle will play either Tottenham or Liverpool in the March 16 final at Wembley Stadium. Tottenham lead 1-0 after the first leg, with the return match at Anfield on Thursday.
For Newcastle, it marks another opportunity to capture a first piece of silverware since being bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021. Newcastle’s last trophy was the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 and the most recent domestic title was the FA Cup in 1955.
Newcastle reached the 2023 League Cup final, but lost 2-0 to Manchester United.
“Play like that and we can dream big,” Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said after the Arsenal match. “It would be amazing in my first season as the captain to lift a trophy, it is my dream.”
Arsenal arrived buoyed by a 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday and looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Newcastle at Emirates Stadium last month.
Mikel Arteta’s team failed to handle the lively atmosphere inside St. James’, with its usually solid defense looking fragile and almost conceding after just four minutes when Alexander Isak was played through on goal and finished into the top corner. It was disallowed for offside following a video review and the decision was announced to fans inside the stadium by the referee via a wireless microphone — a practice being trialed in the English League Cup ahead of use in the Premier League.
After Martin Odegaard hit the post for Arsenal, Newcastle took the lead in the 19th when Isak struck a shot against the post and Murphy converted the rebound.
Arsenal’s remote chances of a comeback were further hit when Gabriel Martinelli went off with a muscle injury before halftime, and Gordon virtually secured Newcastle’s place in the title match by scoring the second after Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was dispossessed outside his area by a sliding Fabian Schar.
The ball flew straight to Gordon, who swiveled and shot into the bottom corner past stranded goalkeeper David Raya.
Arsenal, two-time League Cup winners, were looking to reach the final for the first time since 2018, when it lost 3-0 to Man City.
Newcastle fans taunted Arsenal’s manager in the last few minutes, singing: “Mikel Arteta, it must be the ball.” It was a reference to Arteta saying after the first leg that the ball used in the League Cup was “very different to a Premier League ball” after his team missed several chances.
And Gordon appeared to deliver a post-match dig at Arsenal, whose players and fans had delighted in goading Man City striker Erling Haaland on Sunday for his “stay humble” comment in the previous match between the teams.
“It is important for us to stay humble now,” Gordon said ahead of the final. “It will be a big occasion but it’s so far away.”
Real Madrid beat Leganes 3-2 to reach Copa semifinals on Garcia’s goal in stoppage time
- The 20-year-old Garcia sealed the victory with a header three minutes into stoppage time after a cross by Brahim Diaz
- In the other two quarterfinals on Thursday, it will be Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia
MADRID: Gonzalo Garcia scored in stoppage time as Real Madrid avoided an upset by defeating Leganes 3-2 to reach the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
Madrid had taken a two-goal lead at halftime with Luka Modric and Endrick before the hosts rallied to even the match in the second half.
The 20-year-old Garcia, a striker who usually plays with Madrid’s “B” team, sealed the victory with a header three minutes into stoppage time after a cross by Brahim Diaz.
“I’m thrilled, filled with emotions. It has been a dream since I was a child and since I joined the youth teams. I’m happy to have scored the goal that gave us a place in the semifinals,” Garcia said. “It was a perfect cross by Brahim and the ball went in by itself.”
Another setback would have been troublesome for Madrid after they lost 1-0 at Espanyol in the Spanish league on Saturday for their second defeat in 15 matches across all competitions. Madrid had needed extra time to eliminate Celta Vigo at home in the round of 16 of the Copa last month.
“We suffered but we are in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “We have to be satisfied with the outcome.”
Modric opened the scoring with a strike from close range in the 18th and Endrick doubled the lead after picking up a loose ball inside the area in the 25th.
The hosts rallied with Juan Cruz converting a penalty kick in the 39th and finding the net with a shot that deflected on a defender in the 59th.
Madrid nearly moved ahead again when Díaz’s flick over the goalkeeper struck the crossbar in the 75th.
Atletico Madrid had become the first team to reach the semifinals when thy routed Getafe 5-0 at home on Tuesday with a pair of goals by Giuliano Simeone, the 22-year-old son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
In the other two quarterfinals on Thursday, it will be Real Sociedad hosting Osasuna and Barcelona playing at Valencia.
Madrid was depleted in defense because of recent injuries to Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba. Eder Militão and Dani Carvajal had already been out with long-term ailments.
Ancelotti used youngsters Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio as the central defenders, and improvised midfielder Federico Valverde in the right back position. Valverde picked up his 200th win in 295 matches with Madrid.
Ancelotti praised the youth-squad players who came through for the main team.
“The youngsters have been doing a very good job,” Ancelotti said. “They lack experience but have been doing very well. We know that we can count on them.”
Ancelotti rested some regular starters ahead of the Spanish league derby against Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday. Madrid leads Atletico by one point at the top of the standings.
Madrid last won the Copa in 2022-23. They were eliminated by Atletico in the round of 16 last season.
Leganes only made it to the Copa semifinals in 2017-18, when it was eliminated by Sevilla. It is winless in three matches in all competitions and sits in 16th place in the Spanish league.
Mathys Tel ‘100 percent’ committed to Spurs, says Postecoglou
- Postecoglou told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision
- “He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here”
LONDON: Ange Postecoglou said Mathys Tel is “100 percent” committed to Tottenham after the French forward signed on loan despite reportedly rejecting a move to the club earlier in the January transfer window.
Tottenham were busy in the final hours of Monday’s deadline day as they bolstered Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged squad, bringing in Tel and defender Kevin Danso.
Bayern Munich’s Tel, 19, was also linked with Manchester United and Arsenal before opting for Tottenham, who have an option to make the move permanent in the summer transfer window.
Postecoglou, whose team take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s League Cup semifinal second-leg at Liverpool, told his pre-match press conference that Tel had been right to take his time over such a major decision.
“It’s not so much that he rejected us or rejected anyone else,” said the Spurs manager. “Rightly so he was getting as much information as possible.”
The Australian added: “I had a conversation with him and I guess mine was purely around the football and I think he’ll find a really great place here in terms of where he is in his career.
“He obviously wants to play. We’ve already shown that irrespective of age, he’ll get an opportunity here, and the way we play will suit him.
“Certainly with what we have in the next few months and then more importantly what we’re building beyond, I thought he would be a perfect fit.”
When asked if he felt the France under-21 international was fully committed to Spurs, Postecoglou said: “Yes, 100 percent. I am more than 100 percent sure because he took so much time, was so diligent about finding out everything when he made a decision that it’s us.
“He obviously had options and that sort of gave me even more confidence that we are getting the right kind of mentality, the right kind of player.
“He is very ambitious. He’s got a great deal of self-belief and self-confidence. He feels he can reach the top of the game and he has chosen us, which is a great vindication of what we are doing.”
Tel and Danso will both be available for Thursday’s match at Anfield, but Micky van de Ven and fellow center-back Cristian Romero are set to miss out, with Postecoglou taking a “conservative” approach after the duo’s injury absences.
Tottenham are one match away from a League Cup final at Wembley as they seek to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2008.
Former Celtic boss Postecoglou, in his second season at Tottenham, put himself under pressure earlier in the campaign when he said he “always wins things in my second year.”
But he said Premier League leaders and League Cup holders Liverpool would also be feeling the pressure.
“I don’t think Liverpool will be any less anxious than us about the fixture,” he said. “You’re in a semifinal, particularly a second leg and it’s still very tight.
“It’s a big game for both clubs so you recognize that, you embrace that but ultimately if you want to be successful these are the games you want to be involved in.”
Chelsea star Kerr ‘feared for my life’ during taxi ride
- Kerr told a jury at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday that she had put her head out of the window when she began to feel sick
- She added the dangerous driving continued for 15 to 20 minutes
LONDON: Chelsea striker Sam Kerr said she “feared for my life” while she and her partner were in the back of a taxi moments before one of them smashed the vehicle’s rear window.
The Australia international is on trial charged with causing racially aggravated harassment to police officer Stephen Lovell during an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30, 2023.
It is alleged Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver who complained the pair had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick, and that one of them smashed the vehicle’s rear window.
Kerr told a jury at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday that she had put her head out of the window when she began to feel sick before the driver “rolled it up” and began to “drive dangerously.”
She added the dangerous driving continued for 15 to 20 minutes, saying: “I was terrified for my life. Everything was going through my mind about being in a car with a stranger I deemed to be dangerous. There was no reasoning with him. It was his way or nothing.
“Kristie asked him to stop the car but there was no change to his driving. We had no idea where we were.
“Kristie was very distressed. She was crying and scared. I’ve never seen her like that before and it made me more scared.
“I started to realize how serious the situation was. It put me in protective mode... he had the power over us... I deemed him to be dangerous because of the driving, but also because he could have taken us anywhere.”
Kerr said the pair tried to open the doors and windows several times, but they remained locked.
Mewis eventually “kicked out (the window) with her boot” which led Kerr to feel “relieved,” but she added: “We didn’t get out straight away as the car was still moving.”
On Tuesday, the court was told Lovell first saw Kerr as she crawled through the smashed taxi window outside the station.
A “heated” discussion about the incident ensued between Kerr and the police, during which she allegedly became “abusive and insulting” toward Lovell, calling him “stupid and white.”
Kerr made her debut for current Women’s Super League champions Chelsea in 2020. She is currently out of action with a knee injury.
277 athletes compete in Saudi Open Kickboxing Championship in Riyadh
- 3-day event brings together elite competitors across different weight classes, age groups
- Championship will expand sport’s reach across the Kingdom, Saudi Kickboxing Federation says
RIYADH: A total of 277 athletes, including 67 women, on Wednesday began competing in 289 categories of the Saudi Open Kickboxing Championship, which is being organized by the Saudi Kickboxing Federation in Riyadh.
The three-day championship is being held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Al-Malaz. The event kicked off on Wednesday with weigh-ins and medical check-ups followed by competitions.
Federation Chairman Ahmed Al-Towayan said that the championship brings together elite athletes across different weight classes and age groups. He highlighted the SKF’s commitment to these athletes, describing them as the foundation of the sport’s development in Saudi Arabia.
“This championship marks the launch of the second phase of our strategic implementation,” said Al-Towayan.
“We enter 2025 with a great spirit, fueled by the unlimited support in the sports sector from our leadership and the special attention given to kickboxing by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sports and president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee,” he added.
To enhance the experience for spectators, the federation has planned various entertainment activities, and set up food and beverage areas offering complimentary refreshments.
The federation will also offer gifts to the audience and host special segments on the sidelines of the championship.
Al-Towayan added: “The championship is not just about fostering a competitive sports environment, but also aims to expand the reach of kickboxing across the Kingdom, while providing diverse entertainment experiences for families and children as part of SKF’s community engagement efforts.”
