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Ex-Bayern Munich star Sandro Wagner picked Toni Kroos as the most talented he ever played with, revealing his shock at seeing him as a youth player.

Wagner praised Kroos as the best player he played withAugsburg coach claimed ex-midfielder was '800,000 levels better'Both Germans played together at Bayern Munich youth teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After guiding Augsburg to a 3-1 win over Freiburg in their Bundesliga opener, coach Sandro Wagner has been in the spotlight. In an interview with , the former striker singled out Kroos as the most talented team-mate of his career. Wagner, who came through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich and later played for clubs across Germany, said the former Real Madrid midfielder stood head and shoulders above the rest.

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Kroos rose from Bayern’s youth system to become one of the best midfielders of his generation. After a loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen, he returned to Bayern Munich in 2010 and won his first Champions League with the club in 2013. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, Bayern’s then-CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge rejected Kroos’ demand for a lucrative contract extension, as he did not yet consider the German to be a world-class player.

The midfielder was then sold to Real Madrid, where he built a legendary career, winning 23 major trophies, including five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, four Supercopa de Espana, five Club World Cups, and four UEFA Super Cups. The 2014 World Cup winner retired last summer, and his absence is still felt in Madrid. 

Meanwhile, Wagner’s career took a different route. The striker played for several Bundesliga clubs, including Hoffenheim and Bayern, before moving to China. He hung up his boots in 2020 and then moved into TV punditry before switching to coaching, eventually being appointed Augsburg’s head coach in May this year.

WHAT SANDRO WAGNER SAID?

Speaking to , Wagner heaped high praise on Kroos and revealed that he knew immediately Kroos was on another level when he first saw him at Bayern. 

“When I first saw him at Bayern’s youth team, I thought to myself: that’s it for me, he’s about 800,000 levels better,” the former striker said.

The 37-year-old also reflected on his own career, admitting he often felt more comfortable as a TV expert than as a player. 

“As a pundit I could show myself better than as a player," he said. "When I saw myself on the pitch, I thought: 'What kind of brat is that? Has he lost it? What an arrogant kid!'”

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Augsburg now prepare for a tough test as they face Bayern this weekend. Wagner knows his side will need to be at their very best if they want to get anything from the game, but he will hope to keep the momentum going after a strong start to the season.

With the transfer window closed, the veteran goalkeeper remains a free agent with 2026 FIFA World Cup just 10 months away

Chasing a record sixth World CupMove to Burgos collapsed on deadline dayNo agreement with any Liga MX clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Guillermo Ochoa’s path to a potential sixth World Cup has hit a major roadblock. The Mexican goalkeeper, who parted ways with Portuguese side AVS this summer, remains without a club just 10 months before the 2026 tournament.

On Europe’s transfer deadline day, Ochoa was on the verge of joining Spanish second-division side Burgos CF. However, the deal fell apart in the final hours, leaving the 39-year-old without options in European football until at least December. Now, his chances of playing on the world’s biggest stage hinge on finding a team elsewhere, with leagues in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Australia still open for business.

Former Real Madrid striker and Mexican icon Hugo Sánchez expressed his frustration over the situation. He criticized Liga MX and the Mexican Federation for failing to support one of the country’s greatest players:

“It saddens me and makes me ashamed as a Mexican that we don’t help our own. Liga MX and the Federation should be finding a way to resolve this issue for Memo Ochoa,” Sánchez said on ESPN’s . “Is this really the support our league gives? We’re working against our own interests. We have the chance to make history with the only player to appear in six World Cups. Mexican football needs to step up, from Liga MX to Javier Aguirre and Rafa Márquez.”

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At 40 years old, his options are narrowing, and back home in Mexico, no team seems willing to hand the former América, Salernitana and Ajaccio goalkeeper the starting job. Could he sign somewhere as a backup? Highly unlikely.

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Before talks with Burgos surfaced, Mazatlán FC had also shown interest in the veteran goalkeeper.

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@MiSeleccionMXWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?The national team will face Japan on Saturday in Oakland, California, and South Korea on Sept. 9 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Andre Onana reportedly left Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim fuming when returning to pre-season training with a new contract demand.

Two error-strewn seasons endured at Old TraffordWanted fresh terms after wage cutNo sale sanctioned despite new keeper searchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Questions were already being asked of the Cameroon international’s future at that stage, with two error-strewn seasons being taken in between the posts at Old Trafford. United were mulling over moves for a new No.1.

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Onana did little to enhance his standing in the eyes of club bosses when stating a desire to discuss fresh terms. He was looking for a new deal after being stung with the standard 25 per cent wage cut that hit all players on the back of failure to secure Champions League qualification.

DID YOU KNOW?

claims that Onana’s request “did not go down well with Amorim”, with the 29-year-old goalkeeper going on to suffer an untimely hamstring injury that ruled him out of summer friendly preparations.

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It was suggested that Onana did not return in the right physical condition, leading to his fitness setback, but no efforts to find a buyer were made at that stage. That situation changed quickly, with United being heavily linked with a raid on Aston Villa for World Cup-winning Argentine Emi Martinez.

Monaco are said to have made a tentative enquiry regarding Onana’s availability, but were put off by United’s £30 million ($40m) asking price. The Cameroonian’s representatives were told that they did not need to find a suitor prepared to part with that fee.

Skipper Pat Cummins, David Warner and Ashton Agar also named but Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out due to his Achilles issue

Alex Malcolm22-Feb-2023Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and Jhye Richardson are set to make long-awaited returns to international cricket in the upcoming three-match ODI series against India after being named alongside skipper Pat Cummins, David Warner and Ashton Agar in Australia’s 16-man squad.But Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the ODIs after flying home from the Test series due to Achilles tendonitis as selectors opted for him to continue his recovery at home with an eye to the World Test Championship final and the Ashes, following his intended involvement in the IPL.”It would be great for Josh to be part of this series but we have taken a conservative view ahead of a very important winter in England of which he will be an integral part,” Australia chair of selectors George Bailey said.Australia’s ODI squad for the India series•ESPNcricinfo LtdMaxwell and Marsh have both been named following prolonged periods on the sidelines. Maxwell broke his leg in a freak accident in November and has only returned to playing in the last week.He made 61 for his club side Fitzroy-Doncaster in his first game back in Victorian premier cricket before playing in this week’s Sheffield Shield game against South Australia at the Junction Oval. He made scores of 5 and 0 and did not bowl in Victoria’s 177-run win.Marsh has not played since the three-match ODI series against England in November last year in the week after the T20 World Cup after undergoing ankle surgery. Marsh was battling an ankle injury that has been ongoing throughout his career. The issue had kept him out of an ODI series against New Zealand last year and a three-match T20I series against India prior to the World Cup.He opted to miss the BBL and have the ankle cleaned out to be fit for the India ODI series and the IPL. Marsh has not yet returned to competitive cricket but is expected to play in Western Australia’s 50-over Marsh Cup match against Tasmania on Sunday as well as the Marsh Cup final, with Western Australia set to host it on March 8.Mitchell Marsh hasn’t played since November•Getty ImagesRichardson has not played international cricket since the Sri Lanka limited-overs tour in the middle of last year. He has been plagued by soft tissue injuries this summer while playing for Western Australia and Perth Scorchers.He has managed just one 50-over match, two Shield appearances and seven BBL matches since then and he missed the Scorchers’ BBL title win after suffering a serious hamstring injury halfway through the tournament.”With the World Cup just over seven months away, these matches in India are an important step in our preparation,” Bailey said. “Glenn, Mitchell and Jhye are all important players in what we think the squad might look like come October.”Cummins, Warner and Agar have all been included despite leaving India this week during the Border-Gavaskar Test series to return home for various reasons. Cummins has made an emergency dash home for family reasons but he is booked to return and play the final two Tests and the ODI series.Related

Steven Smith to captain Australia in ODI series against India

Glenn Maxwell: 'Recovery hasn't happened as fast as I would have liked'

Mitchell Marsh 'confident' to play as a specialist batter during India ODIs

Agar returns home from India to play Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup

David Warner ruled out of final two Tests due to elbow fracture

There is no official vice-captain named in the ODI squad with Hazlewood standing in as captain for one ODI against England last November. Australia’s selectors want to be flexible with the ODI leadership and have a group of players including Test vice-captain Steven Smith, Alex Carey, Marsh and Hazlewood as back-up captaincy options if Cummins does not play.Warner flew home on Wednesday having been ruled out of the final two Tests after suffering a hairline fracture in his left elbow but he will be fit for the ODI series where he is set to open alongside Travis Head.Agar arrived home on Wednesday to play some domestic cricket in Australia after a discussion with tour selector Tony Dodemaide. He has slipped from the second spinner in Australia’s Test XI in Sydney to the fifth-choice spinner in the Test squad in a matter of weeks and it was decided he would be better served playing Shield and Marsh Cup cricket for WA before returning for the ODI series where he will likely be one of two specialist spinners picked alongside Adam Zampa.

Lionel Messi has reacted to the "bad results" that have left Inter Miami in need of becoming "more united" during a "complicated" run of form.

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Herons have suffered five defeats in sevenCaptain determined to deliver reversal in fortuneThree more games before Club World CupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Herons enjoyed an unbeaten start to their 2025 campaign, with positive progress being made in MLS and CONCACAF Champions Cup competition. They have, however, seen one route to major silverware closed off while suffering five defeats in their last seven games.

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Inter Miami’s latest setback came in a 3-0 derby loss to Florida neighbours Orlando City. Javier Mascherano’s side last claimed a victory on May 3, with positivity proving hard to come by despite having the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets at their disposal.

WHAT LIONEL MESSI SAID

Talismanic club captain Messi told on the back of another disappointing night at Chase Stadium against Orlando: “[We need to] keep going. It's a complicated time. But we'll all stay united.

“We're a team in difficult times, because when everyone wins, it's easy, but now that difficult times are coming, that's when we have to be more united than ever, be a true team, and move forward, because we have what it takes. Think about what's next and prepare for the next game.”

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Messi went on to say, with Inter Miami looking to rediscover their spark before gracing a major FIFA tournament this summer: “We're coming off a period of bad results. But we have to keep working and think about what's next. With three or four games left in May, we [have to] finish the best possible way to be able to face the Club World Cup.”

Iyer has been ruled out due to back spasms, while Dube will miss out because of a side strain

Vishal Dikshit20-Feb-2024Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of Mumbai’s upcoming Ranji Trophy quarter-final with back spasms, ESPNcricinfo has learnt. Mumbai will also be without the in-form Shivam Dube because of a side strain for the knockout game against Baroda starting February 23 at home.Iyer played one round of the Ranji Trophy this year to warm up for the Test series against England, as he was picked for the first two games. He was, however, left out of the remaining three Tests after scores of 27, 29, 35 and 13 in the Tests in Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. Iyer had experienced back spasms soon after the second Test, but had been cleared for selection for India.It was a back injury that had kept Iyer out of the entire IPL 2023 and beyond until he returned for the Asia Cup in September, just before the ODI World Cup at home. He batted just once in the Asia Cup before smashing 530 runs in the World Cup while averaging 66.25 and striking at 113.24, with two centuries and three half-centuries. He soon returned to the Test side too, for the South Africa tour, before being retained for the first two Tests against England at home.Related

BCCI warns players: Don't prioritise IPL over domestic cricket

Iyer left out for remaining three Tests against England; Kohli unavailable

Fitness permitting, Iyer will return to lead his IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders after missing the last season with a back injury, and he has just over a month to recover for that.Apart from injuries, the absence of India’s centrally-contracted players will be closely watched by the BCCI as the board secretary Jay Shah sent a letter to them last week, warning them to not prioritise IPL over domestic cricket.Mumbai will probably miss Dube more in the quarter-final because he had struck two attacking centuries and two half-centuries in his six Ranji innings this season. Dube picked up the injury in the last league game against Assam and had gone for scans on the second day, when Mumbai trounced the visitors by an innings and 80 runs. It was Mumbai’s third innings win of this Ranji season.Shivam Dube has averaged 67.83 this season•PTI Dube has averaged 67.83 in this Ranji campaign while striking at 82.38. His 117 off 130 had saved Mumbai from 86 for 6 in the second innings against Uttar Pradesh, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a two-wicket loss. Last week he hammered an 87-ball century with the help of five sixes against Assam to help script Mumbai’s fifth win of the season from seven league games and top the Group B table. He has also bowled 67 overs in seven innings this season for 12 wickets at just 12.08, while delivering 23 maidens.Mumbai’s 16-man squad announced on Tuesday included allrounder Musheer Khan, brother of India’s recent debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who missed most of the Ranji season because of the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa where India finished runners-up to Australia. Musheer struck two centuries there to end with a tally of 360 runs from seven innings, the second-highest on the charts behind his team-mate Uday Saharan.Mumbai will be led by Ajinkya Rahane with Prithvi Shaw, Shardul Thakur and Dhawal Kulkarni as the other international players in the side.Mumbai squad: Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Prithvi Shaw, Bhupen Lalwani, Amogh Bhatkal, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Prasad Pawar (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Shardul Thakur, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Aditya Dhumal, Tushar Deshpande, Mohit Awasthi, Dhawal Kulkarni, Roystan Dias

Austin delivered a world-class experience, but frustrations remain over Messi's absence and how the league handled it

AUSTIN, Texas – Major League Soccer’s 29th All-Star Game, in many ways, mirrored the city that hosted it. Austin is a hip, tech-forward city with a distinct sense of funk – just ask anyone who’s wandered down its famous Sixth Street. In a place where there are driverless taxis and robotic cowboys, MLS leaned into the same spirit of innovation.

Commissioner Don Garber used the midsummer showcase to unveil the league’s new initiative, dubbed MLS 3.0.

From Austin FC’s striking Q2 Stadium and pristine St. David’s Performance Center to the league’s increasing emphasis on artificial intelligence and tech-powered enhancements – spanning everything from gameday experiences to scouting – MLS made its priorities clear during its Future of the Game Showcase.

The ambition: stay ahead of the curve. And the fans showed up, too, taking over downtown and packing the stands at the various events – including Wednesday's All-Star Game, in which MLS downed Liga MX, 3-1 – regardless of which players actually featured.

“I’m going to start by thanking the fans that came to the stadium yesterday and today,” MLS All-Star coach Nico Estévez after the game. “When you do these types of events, it’s great to have fans around and supporting. We felt the passion they show every time we play at home. It’s good that everyone in this country can see that, too.”

Yet, it wasn't all great for MLS. Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, for whatever reason, was a no-show for All-Star week, despite being the leading vote-getter. So was teammate Jordi Alba, who technically skipped two All-Star events, as he was also scheduled to play in the Skills Challenge. The league's response to all of that left a lot to be desired.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from eventful MLS All-Star week.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWINNER: THE ACTUAL ALL-STAR GAME

All-Star games across all sports are losing relevance, as seen in declining TV ratings and engagement among younger audiences. Some of that is due to a perceived lack of competitiveness – particularly in the NBA's showcase and the NFL's Pro Bowl, which has literally been converted into a high-priced flag football game.

MLS had come under the same microscope after it's All-Star teams lost by a combined 9-1 scoreline to Arsenal and Liga MX over the previous two events.

On Wednesday, both MLS and the Liga MX All-Stars put on a show, and the two-goal win by the home side was slightly flattering, considering Liga MX trailed by just one goal until the final 10 minutes, when Vancouver's Brian White sealed it.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: LIONEL MESSI AND INTER MIAMI

Austin's leading local newspaper, the Austin Chronicle, had this to say about Messi's decision to skip the 2025 MLS All-Star Game.

"We can easily guess why Messi isn’t coming," wrote Eric Goodman. "Either A) he’s scared to death to be on the same pitch as old El Clásico rival Sergio Ramos once more, or B) because he just simply doesn’t feel like it. We’re gonna go with B, and that’s some weak sh*t."

Well said.

There is a human element to all of this, with some families spending exorbitantly just to get a glimpse of their icon. The Argentine also made unwanted history. In the last 30 years, no top vote-getter in North American professional sports has declined to play in their league's annual All-Star showcase.

Inter Miami also deserves their fair share of blame. Imagine a MLB All-Star Game not featuring a New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers star? Or an NBA All-Star game without Los Angeles Lakers players involved? Messi wasn't the only Miami player slated for the match, as Alba could have represented the team.

And if, as Garber says, Alba had a potential injury, it is incumbent on the organization to notify MLS and coordinate a replacement to represent the team.

Getty Images EntertainmentWINNER: THE CITY OF AUSTIN

Yes, University of Texas Football still reigns supreme, and is everywhere. But Austin acquitted itself well as a soccer city, especially for younger fans – which is MLS's target demographic. There were hipster cafes selling Austin FC-themed gear. There was signage all over town – highlighting both the All-Star Game and the city's local team.

There were Austin FC-focused bars, and the club listed more than 25 pub partners on its official website.

All-Star week was a celebration of the city's first professional franchise, which played its first game in 2021 and has sold out every home game since. Judging by its turnout and engagement, there's room for more professional sports in this fast-growing city.

"The events have been spectacular. It's probably one of our most successful in history," Garber said.

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Getty Images SportLOSER: DON GARBER AND MLS

The moment Garber praised Messi's social media following in his midseason address Wednesday, saying how much it has been as a boost to the league, it was clear that accountability isn't necessarily on the table for player or team – despite rules and precedent set by the league.

Being a Commissioner is difficult. The league's 30 owners are the boss, and Garber's job – among other aspects – is to sell MLS as an attractive destination for potential players from around the globe. But he sent the wrong message to fans and players in the league.

Garber declined to say whether Messi or Alba will be disciplined for their absences, but admitted the league should have been more proactive in confirming the players' status ahead of its marquee summer event. It's unclear whether either player will be suspended for Miami's next game, but the fact Garber wasn't decisive on the issue is concerning.

If they Miami duo are not suspended, that could set precedent for future All-Star participation. The Commissioner needed to be firm and resolute, and he wasn't.

Somerset chip away throughout day with Shoaib Bashir putting in another marathon stint

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Apr-2024The first sunny Saturday at the Kia Oval rarely disappoints. This place may turn into the biggest beer garden in London when the Blast and Hundred are in town, but it’s the County Championship that gets first use of this joint for a more relaxing ease into the summer. And as close to 2000 whittled the hours away in the stands, Surrey’s push for a three-peat truly began.They lead Somerset by 73 runs, thanks largely to Dom Sibley’s first hundred at home since returning in 2023, with valuable contributions from skipper Rory Burns, Jamie Smith, and Ben Foakes. Was it perfect? Certainly not. They could and perhaps should have been more than 358 to the good in their first innings, with more than the four wickets left to play with on Sunday.Somerset hustled throughout, Lewis Gregory shuffling his attack and tinkering with his field in a bid to squeeze as much juice as possible from the Kookaburra to make amends for their batting errors on day one. Bowlers will welcome the Dukes’ return next week like a long-lost friend. But while there were moments during an opening stand of 167 when the visiting attack would have been cursing the Australian ball in their possession, they gave their all.Sibley’s 20th first-class century was two-paced and immaculate throughout. The straight drives in the 29 scored the night before were on show here, though a slight misjudgement when attempting the stroke almost brought about his end on 49. Luckily, Migael Pretorious’ away swinger had a little too much shape, clearly missing the edge of his bat, despite the vociferous appeals.With the support of Burns, at ease after reaching a 94th fifty-plus score with an eighth boundary pulled gloriously in front of square, the opening pair were seemingly set to match Somerset’s 285 all by themselves. Even when Burns fell on 75, 118 away from parity, Surrey looked like they’d only be batting once.That feels less certain now, though remains a possibility. Despite their control, Surrey ended up losing four batters for the addition of 99 runs. Though not quite mimicking Somerset’s capitulation from 196 for 1 to 216 for 8, the calibre of the four lost carried a similar frivolity.England vice-captain Ollie Pope lazily hooked Kasey Aldridge to sub-fielder Alfie Ogborne at deep backward square leg. Sibley, like Tom Lammonby 24 hours early, was 100 and done, albeit in quirky fashion. An attempt to hit Lewis Goldsworthy’s left-arm spin to Vauxhall tube station resulted in an inside edge onto his boot, sending the ball spinning back on to the stumps.A brief interlude from the back-and-forth came in the form of Smith, who took the match on an altogether different path. He was hell-bent on making up the 71 deficit that greeted his arrival to the crease all on his own. His third ball was a picture-perfect on drive; the sixth pulled through midwicket. The first of his two sixes – both off Gregory, both sent deep into the Peter May Stand, both Surrey’s firsts of the season – took him to a run-a-ball 30 in which all but four had come in boundaries.At tea, Smith had 47, accompanied by Ben Foakes on 18, seemingly set for launch. Whatever international rivalry there may be for the Test wicketkeeping berth, collective defiance was the main priority. And when Smith momentarily drained the malice from his wrists to guide the second new ball down to third for four to go to 51 from 76, those watching in this corner of south London were primed for a spectacle.A delivery later, Smith was walking back to the home dressing room, undone by a bit of nip and a lot less bounce from Craig Overton’s good length that sent off stump for a walk. When Dan Lawrence’s maiden knock for his new club lasted just 20 deliveries – struck in front of middle and leg by Aldridge – Somerset, trailing by six, were optimistic of limiting the hosts to a nominal first-innings lead.That it might not come to pass does not diminish the way they grafted throughout the afternoon. Smith’s blitz against the old ball at the back end of the second session aside, Surrey’s scoring had been capped, evident in the breakdown of Sibley’s century. The first 50 came in 85 deliveries, the second needed 123.The main suffocater was Shoaib Bashir. England’s new marathon man spinner picked up where he left off in India with a metronomic, almost trance-like passage from the Vauxhall End, notably during an unbroken 16-over spell. Just 31 runs were conceded in this passage – including five of the nine maidens he has so far – along with the dismissal of Burns, who edged a cut to wicketkeeper James Rew, seemingly done by a surprise bit of skid off the pitch. It was overdue given Burns’ life on 56 – dropped at deep square leg in the 31st over that would have made it 121 for 1 and handed Pretorious his maiden Somerset wicket.Foakes’ resistance, alongside a more cavalier approach from Cameron Steel, put on 48 for the sixth wicket. Though a jumping swivel pull through midwicket took Foakes to a first half-century of the season, he was soon on his way when Gregory trapped him in front, attempting to shuffle across his stumps to work something into the leg side.It was left to Steel to pick up Surrey’s third and final batting point. Just as he had done with a back-foot punch through cover-point for the second, he threaded a boundary – this time through cover – to take Surrey to 352, before knuckling down to the close.

Martin Williamson on the decline and fall of the USA

Martin Williamson08-Jul-2005

Steve Massiah, one of the few to perform with credit, is bowled by Thomas Hansen during the USA’s defeat by Denmark © ICC/Cricket Europe
A year ago, USA cricket appeared to be riding on the crest of a wave. The national side had won the Six Nations tournament in Sharjah and had qualified for a place in the Champions Trophy; Project USA, the ICC’s initiative to promote the game in the country, was about to be launched; Florida was being considered as a venue to host World Cup matches in 2007; and ProCricket, a domestic Twenty20 tournament involving overseas stars, was on the verge of starting. All was rosy.A year later and US cricket has plunged into the twilight zone of world cricket and its board has become a virtual pariah. It is hard to see how the slide can be stopped.The first signs that all was not well came at the Champions Trophy last September. USA were soundly beaten, but that was expected. What was less palatable was the age of the side, and reports that all was not well within the camp.As the year drew to a close came the initial signs that Project USA, which would have brought international cricket and a fairly hefty investment to the States, was not going according to plan. In the first months of 2005, those issues became public knowledge, and the ICC were moved to write to Gladstone Dainty, the USA Cricket Association president, that it had “never seen a sporting organisation that combines such great potential and such poor administration as USACA,” adding that much of the blame laid “with the current office bearers of USACA including yourself.” Rather than try to meet the ICC’s demands, the USACA decided to take a stand. In March, Project USA was cancelled. With hindsight, it is not hard to see why the USA was also left off the list of venues for the 2007 World Cup.All this took place against the backdrop of increasingly bitter infighting between the Dainty board and a group of former executive members who had grown angry at the way the USACA was being run. Elections, which should have resolved the stand off, degenerated into near farce, and resulted in a rival board being established and subsequently sued. The cricketing world looked on with increasing bemusement as US cricket imploded The ICC, in the manner of an irritated parent, sent both sides up to their bedrooms and told them to come back downs only when they had resolved their differences. There they remain. To underline the level of exasperation, the USA were not allowed to attend the ICC’s annual meeting at Lord’s in June.The ICC Trophy in Ireland gave the USA a chance for redemption, although again the ICC had to intervene to make sure they got there at al,l as the two factions squabbled over team selection. With a prize of $500,000, a place in the 2007 World Cup, and ODI status on offer, this was the time for the USA to come good.But the squad, picked by the Dainty faction, was virtually the same as the one who had been humiliated in England ten months earlier, and rather than prepare in Ireland and the UK, as most of the other countries did, the USA acclimatised in Jamaica where the conditions were as un-Irish as you could hope to find. Inevitably, the outcome was just as embarrassing.Back-to-back defeats in the warm-up matches raised concerns, but the real humiliation came when the competition proper started as defeat followed defeat. By the time they were beaten by Bermuda, the USA had become a virtual laughing stock. One observer reported that they looked like a collection of aging individuals hoping against hope that one of them would come good rather than any kind of cohesive unit.Back home, the USACA was doing an admirable impression of Nero fiddling while Rome burned. Even though it received another ultimatum from the ICC over team selection for the Under-19 World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, reports suggest that it has not taken any steps to find a solution.And what of ProCricket? After a first year which reportedly lost Kal Patel, its founder, several million dollars, it has disappeared without trace. But Patel has resurfaced in a different guise, having acquired from the USACA the rights to stage one-day internationals in the USA. Even that deal was not straightforward. Gary Hopkins, the man who headed Project USA and a administrator with contacts and experience, had been expected to get those rights and had done quite a bit of the groundwork, had the rug pulled from under him when the contract was awarded to Patel. Another law suit is expected.It is rumoured that the Patel deal gave the USACA the cash it needed to operate and prepare for the ICC Trophy – the ICC had long since suspended all funding – but in taking that short-term solution, it might have landed itself in even more trouble. The only winners in US cricket at the moment are the lawyers.There are glimmers of hope. Major League Cricket, which has kept well clear of the political infighting, is up and running and the feedback is good. At grass-roots level, there are signs that things are progressing, and at least the sub-amateur management of the national game has been brought into a more public arena.If US cricket was a public business, the directors would have been hounded out of office a long time ago. Rarely has a board overseen a 12-month period which has been more destructive to its own interests. What US cricket desperately needs is new leadership – and while much of the blame must be aimed at the USACA, many of those heading the opposition to it also need to take a good, hard look in the mirror – and it needs it now.The next four or five years will be hard, but if it is to have any chance of breaking back into the ICC associates’ top six by the time of the 2009 ICC Trophy, then the rebuilding has to start immediately. Many of those involved in the running of the game appear to have put personal ambition and ego before the national good and they have to step down. Sadly, history tends to suggest that is the one thing they won’t do.

What went wrong for Sri Lanka on the first day at Lord’s

12-May-2006

A pace attack with Nuwan Kulasekera and Farveez Maharoof just wasn’t effective enough © Getty Images
It was a warm early summer’s day, perfect for Chardonnay and canapés on Lord’s velvet lawns. There was a feast on the main pitch too as Sri Lanka, prompted by early-tour concerns about their batting, picked a toothless bowling attack on a placid pitch. It did not help that the umpires kept their fingers firmly in their pockets.When Sri Lanka departed for England, the first-choice strategy would have been for six batsmen and five bowlers, a combination that would have ensured an attack with variation, allowing for the leg breaks of Malinga Bandara and the freakish slingshots of Lasith Malinga. But with runs proving elusive for the top order, the tour management switched tact to Plan B.The problem with Plan B (seven batters and four bowlers) is that it left Sri Lanka with little room for risk-taking and experimentation. If one bowler misfires in a five-man attack then you can survive, but a bad day in a four-man line-up can spell disaster. Sri Lanka went for the safe options: Nuwan Kulasekara over Malinga and Farveez Maharoof over Nuwan Zoysa.But within the first hour the mistake was obvious. Geoff Boycott had barely put his Test Match Special headphones on for the first time before he weighed in with his first punches of the summer: “My Mom would’ve scored runs against this attack.” Sri Lanka’s seamers, like their dibbly-dobblers of yesteryear, gave the speedometer a day off, their deliveries rarely touching 80mph.The rationale behind Kulasekera’s selection was understandable – his English-like ability to hit the seam preferable to the pound-it-in style of Malinga – but Sri Lanka desperately needed some extra spice. Chaminda Vaas, playing his first Test for six months, operated at military medium, Kulasekera was tidy but as gentle as his smile, and Maharoof, struggling with the Lord’s slope, stuttering his way to 12 no balls, conceding 5.22 runs per over.Maharoof’s lacklustre start to this tour may well have been the final nail in Malinga’s coffin. Unfortunately, though, in conditions where he was tipped to revel, he has not yet rediscovered his impressive form against Pakistan in April. Sri Lanka’s management backed him to come good but they were not willing to take the added gamble of Malinga, the one man, apart from Muttiah Muralitharan who provided a constant threat, who might have ruffled some feathers once England’s batters bedded down after the initial threat of the new ball. With hindsight, too, Zoysa’s extra bounce would have provided more menace.However, it would not have been so emphatically England’s day if three strong lbw shouts were not turned down. Marcus Trescothick was plumb lbw to Muralitharan’s doosra on 28 and Kevin Pietersen was fortunate to be given an early reprieve to a Vaas inswinger. A Pietersen let-off in the final few minutes, as Maharoof overstepped again, rubbed salt into the wounds, summing up Sri Lanka’s first-day frustrations.Sri Lanka must have better luck on day two or England will pile-up a mountainous first-innings score. With Andrew Flintoff still padded-up in the dressing room and the forecasters predicting cloudier, swing-friendly weather over the weekend, the outlook already looks ominous.