Will Michael Schumacher come back in 2010? Once again Formula One is speculating about its most successful driver and the possibility that he might be tempted into a return to the cockpit with Mercedes Grand Prix, formerly Brawn GP.
Jenson Button’s puzzling decision to leave that team and head for McLaren has led to rumours that Schumacher might be a target for Mercedes, as the team scouts around for a big name driver to join its new signing Nico Rosberg.
Such a strategy would seem to fit both Schumacher and Mercedes. It would mean a chance for the greatest German driver to team up with a German manufacturer that has always wanted his services; it would give Schumacher an opportunity to rekindle his stunningly successful relationship with Ross Brawn, the team principal with whom he worked at Benetton and Ferrari, and it could offer the seven-times world champion a competitive car to restart his career.
So far Mercedes have refused to comment on speculation that they have already approached the German legend who is in Las Vegas at present preparing for a karting event. But when asked about it this week Nick Fry, the Mercedes chief executive, would only say that there were still plenty of top-class drivers available and the team was not leaving any stone unturned in its search for a replacement for Button.
However Schumacher’s spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, was sceptical on Friday that he might consider a full-time comeback. She said she was sure no negotiations were in progress. She pointed out that Schumacher’s decision to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari for the final races of this year after the Brazilian was injured, was a special case. Although that comeback was thwarted by a neck injury, it would have involved only a few races and not a full championship campaign.
“The whole story with Mercedes is a beautiful one with so many things fitting together with Michael and Ross, but it is a full season next year and there are no negotiations going on,” Kehm said. Although Schumacher’s injury, which was caused when he crashed a motorbike this year, is thought to be on the mend, he will be 41 at the start of next season and he said recently he did not fancy coming back to Formula One and being seen as the old man of the sport.
While a gamble on Schumacher may or may not be on Ross Brawn’s wish list, he is also known to be in talks with Kimi Raikkonen, the ex-Ferrari driver and Nick Heidfeld, the German driver formerly at BMW Sauber. Brawn is likely to be keeping an eye on Robert Kubica, Heidfeld’s former team-mate, who has signed for Renault. If the French car manufacturer pulls out of Formula One, Kubica could be a great choice to partner Rosberg.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
France rejects Ireland plea to replay World Cup qualifying match
The French football federation (FFF) has rejected Ireland’s request to make a joint appeal to Fifa for a replay of their contentious World Cup play-off match.
Despite high-profile support for a restaged tie, with Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry advocating a return match yesterday, the FFF said that while it “understands the disappointment and bitterness of the Irish players”, the decision of the world governing body is final.
“Fifa is the ruler of the game and we have to abide by what they say,” a spokesman said. “What they decide, we have to do. They have ruled it will not be replayed. We should move on.”
Wenger believes that the FFF should have helped to cleanse Henry’s tainted image by sanctioning a replay after the former Arsenal striker’s handball had led to the decisive goal in Paris on Wednesday night.
“The federation should do that,” the Arsenal manager, who helped to turn Henry into a global superstar, said. “Thierry has done so much for French football that the federation has to help him. I think the credibility of France going to the World Cup is dependent on that.”
Henry had earlier defended himself, calling the handball an “instinctive reaction”. He admitted embarrassment and said that a replay would be the “fairest solution”, but fell short of fully apologising for what many fans have viewed as blatant cheating.
In a carefully worded statement, Henry expressed sorrow for the Ireland players and supporters at the manner of France’s qualification. However, he denied that he had deliberately deceived Martin Hansson, the referee, and his fellow Swedish officials.
“Naturally, I feel embarrassed at the way that we [went through] and feel extremely sorry for the Irish, who definitely deserve to be in South Africa,” Henry said. “There is little more I can do apart from admit that the ball had contact with my hand leading up to our equalising goal and I feel very sorry for the Irish.
“I said at the time and I will say again, yes, I handled the ball. I am not a cheat and never have been. It was an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.
“As a footballer, you do not have the luxury of the television to slow the pace of the ball down 100 times to be able to make a conscious decision. If people look at it in full speed, you will see that it was an instinctive reaction.
“I have never denied that the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game.”
Wenger said that his former captain, now with Barcelona, should offer a full apology. “Yes, he should,” the Arsenal manager said. “He should say, ‘Yes, I made a mistake, that’s it.’
“He is not a guy who wants to be petty, he wants to be classy. He can come out and say, ‘Yes, that’s not me, that is not how I want to play.’ ”
Like his federation, Raymond Domenech, the France coach, was in no mood for compromise. “On the pitch, I didn’t see the handball. I have since looked at the footage and it is indeed a refereeing mistake,” he said yesterday. “For me, it’s a game incident and not cheating. Therefore, I don’t see why we are asked to apologise.”
Domenech’s view is perhaps not entirely unconnected with the fact that he will receive a reported €862,000 (about £770,000) bonus for leading his team to South Africa.
Hansson broke his silence yesterday. “I cannot comment on the game itself, but life must go on,” the referee said. “I think I will survive this storm.” He still hopes to make the elite group of officials who will go to the final.
Cantona in attack on France coach
Eric Cantona waded into the Thierry Henry controversy yesterday by launching a stinging attack on the striker and Raymond Domenech, the France coach.
“What shocked me most wasn’t the handball,” the former Manchester United and France forward said. It “was that at the end of the match, in front of the TV cameras, this player [Henry] went and sat down next to an Irish player to console him, even though he’d screwed them three minutes earlier. If I’d been Irish, he wouldn’t have lasted three seconds.”
Cantona described Domenech as “the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI”. He said: “If it was up to me, I’d put Laurent Blanc [the Bordeaux coach] in charge.”
Despite high-profile support for a restaged tie, with Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry advocating a return match yesterday, the FFF said that while it “understands the disappointment and bitterness of the Irish players”, the decision of the world governing body is final.
“Fifa is the ruler of the game and we have to abide by what they say,” a spokesman said. “What they decide, we have to do. They have ruled it will not be replayed. We should move on.”
Wenger believes that the FFF should have helped to cleanse Henry’s tainted image by sanctioning a replay after the former Arsenal striker’s handball had led to the decisive goal in Paris on Wednesday night.
“The federation should do that,” the Arsenal manager, who helped to turn Henry into a global superstar, said. “Thierry has done so much for French football that the federation has to help him. I think the credibility of France going to the World Cup is dependent on that.”
Henry had earlier defended himself, calling the handball an “instinctive reaction”. He admitted embarrassment and said that a replay would be the “fairest solution”, but fell short of fully apologising for what many fans have viewed as blatant cheating.
In a carefully worded statement, Henry expressed sorrow for the Ireland players and supporters at the manner of France’s qualification. However, he denied that he had deliberately deceived Martin Hansson, the referee, and his fellow Swedish officials.
“Naturally, I feel embarrassed at the way that we [went through] and feel extremely sorry for the Irish, who definitely deserve to be in South Africa,” Henry said. “There is little more I can do apart from admit that the ball had contact with my hand leading up to our equalising goal and I feel very sorry for the Irish.
“I said at the time and I will say again, yes, I handled the ball. I am not a cheat and never have been. It was an instinctive reaction to a ball that was coming extremely fast in a crowded penalty area.
“As a footballer, you do not have the luxury of the television to slow the pace of the ball down 100 times to be able to make a conscious decision. If people look at it in full speed, you will see that it was an instinctive reaction.
“I have never denied that the ball was controlled with my hand. I told the Irish players, the referee and the media this after the game.”
Wenger said that his former captain, now with Barcelona, should offer a full apology. “Yes, he should,” the Arsenal manager said. “He should say, ‘Yes, I made a mistake, that’s it.’
“He is not a guy who wants to be petty, he wants to be classy. He can come out and say, ‘Yes, that’s not me, that is not how I want to play.’ ”
Like his federation, Raymond Domenech, the France coach, was in no mood for compromise. “On the pitch, I didn’t see the handball. I have since looked at the footage and it is indeed a refereeing mistake,” he said yesterday. “For me, it’s a game incident and not cheating. Therefore, I don’t see why we are asked to apologise.”
Domenech’s view is perhaps not entirely unconnected with the fact that he will receive a reported €862,000 (about £770,000) bonus for leading his team to South Africa.
Hansson broke his silence yesterday. “I cannot comment on the game itself, but life must go on,” the referee said. “I think I will survive this storm.” He still hopes to make the elite group of officials who will go to the final.
Cantona in attack on France coach
Eric Cantona waded into the Thierry Henry controversy yesterday by launching a stinging attack on the striker and Raymond Domenech, the France coach.
“What shocked me most wasn’t the handball,” the former Manchester United and France forward said. It “was that at the end of the match, in front of the TV cameras, this player [Henry] went and sat down next to an Irish player to console him, even though he’d screwed them three minutes earlier. If I’d been Irish, he wouldn’t have lasted three seconds.”
Cantona described Domenech as “the worst coach in French football since Louis XVI”. He said: “If it was up to me, I’d put Laurent Blanc [the Bordeaux coach] in charge.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Rafael Benitez: sell Fernando Torres and I will quit Liverpool
Rafael Benítez reassured Liverpool supporters last night that he would never sanction the sale of Fernando Torres to pay part of the club’s debt.
Asked whether an offer of £100 million or more would tempt Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to sell their superstar striker, the Liverpool manager smiled and said: "It won’t happen. I’d quit."
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times — his first with a British national newspaper — Benítez strenuously defended his record in the transfer market, but admitted that he had taken gambles and made mistakes.
He explained why Alberto Aquilani is a bargain buy, spoke with pride about the transformation he has overseen at Liverpool and talked of his desire to leave a winning legacy at the club.
The former Valencia manager believes that he has overseen huge changes since arriving at Anfield in 2004. "There is a massive difference between five years ago and now," Benítez said. "The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s. It’s a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better."
More worrying for Liverpool is that while Benítez underlines his commitment at every opportunity — "I want to leave a winning legacy," he said — Real Madrid may come calling.
The second galáctico era is stalling and Manuel Pellegrini, the Real coach, may be on his way out. Real made a huge offer to Benítez at the beginning of the year — their third — and sources in Madrid say they are preparing another. For the moment, though, Benítez is concentrating on one team.
The Spaniard, 49, signed a new five-year contract in February but has been under pressure this season after a poor start. Liverpool have suffered five defeats in 12 Barclays Premier League matches and are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League. To make matters worse, Torres and Steven Gerrard have suffered groin problems and Aquilani, their big summer signing, has been sidelined through injury, only making his league debut eight days ago.
"People are worried," Benítez said. "But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past."
Signing Aquilani for £17 million from Roma to replace Xabi Alonso was great business, he insisted. "We can only buy one or two big, £20 million players a year," Benítez said. "If we want to have money available, then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible.
"Aquilani fit would be £20-30 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks. We needed to take the risk."
What will not happen, though, Benítez insisted, is the departure of Torres.
Even with the club’s debts at £245 million, he laughed off the prospect of having to sell him. "I’m confident it will never happen," he said. "If it did, I’d resign."
The relative lack of cash at the club has made risk-taking essential for Liverpool and Benítez admits to making mistakes in the market.
"When we have spent big, normally it’s been very good business," he said. "Torres, Mascherano, Reina, Alonso. Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. Ryan [Babel] was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.
"With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-pound players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us. It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about."
When Aquilani arrived, Alonso, a crowd favourite, left. In a bitter parting, there were suggestions that the relationship between Benítez and Alonso — who was sold for £20 million profit — had broken down. The manager dismissed the theory.
"He put in a transfer request," Benítez said. "We had a professional and good relationship. Some people say the manager must put his arm around the player’s shoulder. I don’t know too many managers who do this. Some managers here in England don’t even see the training sessions. How can you put your arm around the shoulders of the players if you are not there?"
Benítez’s relationships with the co-owners and Rick Parry, the former chief executive, have sometimes been frosty, but the manager is quick to praise Christian Purslow, Parry’s successor. "Since Christian’s first day I know I’ve had his support, inside and outside the club," he said.
Manager and chief executive may face a difficult transfer window, with the priority being to lower the wage bill. Three or four players may head out of the Anfield exit door, with none of the cash heading back to Benítez, but there will be no civil war behind the scenes. "We are progressing," he said. "I’m happy and want to do the best for this club."
Source:The times
Asked whether an offer of £100 million or more would tempt Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to sell their superstar striker, the Liverpool manager smiled and said: "It won’t happen. I’d quit."
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times — his first with a British national newspaper — Benítez strenuously defended his record in the transfer market, but admitted that he had taken gambles and made mistakes.
He explained why Alberto Aquilani is a bargain buy, spoke with pride about the transformation he has overseen at Liverpool and talked of his desire to leave a winning legacy at the club.
The former Valencia manager believes that he has overseen huge changes since arriving at Anfield in 2004. "There is a massive difference between five years ago and now," Benítez said. "The name of the club round the world is at the same level as it was in the 1980s. It’s a fantastic achievement. Everybody talks about Liverpool in a good way. And we will get better."
More worrying for Liverpool is that while Benítez underlines his commitment at every opportunity — "I want to leave a winning legacy," he said — Real Madrid may come calling.
The second galáctico era is stalling and Manuel Pellegrini, the Real coach, may be on his way out. Real made a huge offer to Benítez at the beginning of the year — their third — and sources in Madrid say they are preparing another. For the moment, though, Benítez is concentrating on one team.
The Spaniard, 49, signed a new five-year contract in February but has been under pressure this season after a poor start. Liverpool have suffered five defeats in 12 Barclays Premier League matches and are on the verge of elimination from the Champions League. To make matters worse, Torres and Steven Gerrard have suffered groin problems and Aquilani, their big summer signing, has been sidelined through injury, only making his league debut eight days ago.
"People are worried," Benítez said. "But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past."
Signing Aquilani for £17 million from Roma to replace Xabi Alonso was great business, he insisted. "We can only buy one or two big, £20 million players a year," Benítez said. "If we want to have money available, then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible.
"Aquilani fit would be £20-30 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks. We needed to take the risk."
What will not happen, though, Benítez insisted, is the departure of Torres.
Even with the club’s debts at £245 million, he laughed off the prospect of having to sell him. "I’m confident it will never happen," he said. "If it did, I’d resign."
The relative lack of cash at the club has made risk-taking essential for Liverpool and Benítez admits to making mistakes in the market.
"When we have spent big, normally it’s been very good business," he said. "Torres, Mascherano, Reina, Alonso. Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. Ryan [Babel] was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.
"With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-pound players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us. It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about."
When Aquilani arrived, Alonso, a crowd favourite, left. In a bitter parting, there were suggestions that the relationship between Benítez and Alonso — who was sold for £20 million profit — had broken down. The manager dismissed the theory.
"He put in a transfer request," Benítez said. "We had a professional and good relationship. Some people say the manager must put his arm around the player’s shoulder. I don’t know too many managers who do this. Some managers here in England don’t even see the training sessions. How can you put your arm around the shoulders of the players if you are not there?"
Benítez’s relationships with the co-owners and Rick Parry, the former chief executive, have sometimes been frosty, but the manager is quick to praise Christian Purslow, Parry’s successor. "Since Christian’s first day I know I’ve had his support, inside and outside the club," he said.
Manager and chief executive may face a difficult transfer window, with the priority being to lower the wage bill. Three or four players may head out of the Anfield exit door, with none of the cash heading back to Benítez, but there will be no civil war behind the scenes. "We are progressing," he said. "I’m happy and want to do the best for this club."
Source:The times
Sunday, November 15, 2009
South Africa v England
South Africa 219-5 (18 overs) So that's presumably the end of Mahmood's spell - one wicket, 61 runs.
Wicket! South Africa 214-5 (Kallis 7 b Mahmood) Good ball from Mahmood as Kallis swings and misses.
South Africa 211-4 (17 overs) Two new batsmen at the crease now, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis.
Wicket! South Africa 204-4 (Bosman 94 c Anderson b Wright)What a shame, a brilliant innings brought to an end by another great England catch, as Anderson covers a lot of ground to run in and take it from another full toss.
Wicket! South Africa 203-3 (Duminy 2 c Wright b Anderson)Anderson returns, and Bosman gobbles up the bowling with glee; as the bowler tries to slow it down, the batsman's power piles the pace on. Duminy falls in an attempt to keep up with his partner, playing high into the air and straight down into Luke Wright's hands.
South Africa 195-2 (15 overs) The commentators are speculating that England may not get through their overs in time, resulting in a fine for Alastair Cook. That would just top off his day nicely, wouldn't it?
Wicket! South Africa 192-2 (Morkel 14 c Bresnan b Pietersen)Too many full tosses in this over, but it's a low one that loops into the hands of Bresnan, who takes a great catch.
South Africa 179-1 (14 overs) A wicket and two dot balls in the over - not a bad return from Denly's first.
Wicket! South Africa 170-1 (Smith 88 c Mahmood b Denly)Smith toe-ends it and Saj Mahmood takes the catch. Cook's plan to take the pace off the ball by bowling the part-timers has worked. Probably a little too late.
South Africa 170-0 (13 overs): Kevin Pietersen, in his international return, gets the chance to turn his arm over, conceding a six and a four to Bosman, but that's relatively good on this afternoon's evidence so far.
South Africa 157-0 (12 overs): "Catch it!" comes to the cry to Pietersen at deep midwicket, but Bosman is fortunate that he found the gap in the field. By the way, this is now a record stand for any country in Twenty20 internationals, which probably isn't a great surprise to you. This is tremendous batting.
South Africa 138-0 (11 overs): Some more bat-changing shenanigans, this time for Bosman, as Wright quenches that inferno of a run-rate. Slightly.
South Africa 138-0 (11 overs): Some more bat-changing shenanigans, this time for Bosman, as Wright quenches that inferno of a run-rate. Slightly.
South Africa 131-0 (10 overs): Two more sixes for Smith as Bresnan attempts to rescue his figures for today. Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss are sitting on the sidelines looking vaguely amused and appalled.
South Africa 116-0 (9 overs): So both batsmen now race on to 50 - Bosman off just 25 balls.
South Africa 107-0 (8 overs): After two successive sixes from Smith, one low, one high, Adil Rashid thinks he's made the breakthrough, with Prior stumping Smith as he struggles to keep his balance at the crease. Repeat viewing proves that Smith's back foot was grounded, and the third umpire confirms that decision. A single gets him off strike and Bosman rounds off the over with two sixes of his own.
South Africa 82-0 (7 overs):Graeme Smith has to change his bat. It's taken a pounding so far. It's Bosman who hits Mahmood for a one-bounce four then a scoreboard-bound six, though.
South Africa 69-0 (6 overs): Luke Wright gets his turn in the firing line (presumably Jimmy Anderson is being saved until the death) and he doesn't manage to staunch the flow of runs. However, he attempts a reflex catch as Smith spits the ball back at him from close range, and finishes the over with a yorker.
South Africa 51-0 (5 overs): Bresnan's not having a lot more luck; he's erring on the full side and Smith is taking advantage. Luke Wright makes a despairing dive but he can't prevent a six from Bosman, and that's the fifty up already.
South Africa 35-0 (4 overs): Time for a bit of Saj Mahmood, who gives away successive fours to Smith, and then offers up another off a front-foot no-ball. And then he proceeds to york Smith off the free-hit, which obviously doesn't count. Cook is moving round the field and everybody is throwing a collective hissy fit. Then another no-ball, and a six off the free hit. That makes it 21 off the over. Nick Knight calls this over "a microcosm of Saj Mahmood's career so far - lots of runs and then a wicket." This is not the most settled England side I've ever seen. But really, calm down, the lot of you, there's a long way to go yet.
South Africa 14-0 (3 overs): Bosman pounces right on to Anderson with a belted one-bounce four, and the slips promptly move out. That's more successful - just a single each after that.
South Africa 8-0 (2 overs): A less good start from Tim Bresnan, who begins short and gets the just punishment from Smith, pulling him square for four. He tries a stifled appeal for lbw against Bosman but it was too high and everyone knew it.
South Africa 2-0 (1 over): Good start there from Anderson, just one run and one wide.
12.30pm: The teams are out, KP is resplendent in sunglasses, the batsmen are stretching, and the umpire delays for a bit as Graeme Smith gets his sight sorted out before calling play and allowing Jimmy Anderson to open the bowling.
12.25pm: Concerned about the weather at Centurion? So am I. David Lloyd reports that there are already storms a few miles down the road in Johannesburg and they are expected to hit Supersport Park later.
12.20pm: Good afternoon, everybody, and without further ado let's look at the team news -
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Loots Bosman, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn (wkt), Roelof van der Merwe, Dale Steyn, Yusuf Abdulla.
England: Joe Denly, Alastair Cook (capt), Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid, Sajid Mahmood, James Anderson.
Graeme Smith has won the toss against new captain Alastair Cook, and South Africa will bat first.
11.30am: Kevin Pietersen will play in England's second Twenty20 international with South Africa at Centurion today, the ECB have announced.
Alastair Cook will captain the side after Paul Collingwood was ruled out due to a stiff back.
The Durham all-rounder woke up with the problem yesterday after leading his side to victory in the first 20-over encounter between the two sides on Friday.
He faced a late fitness test this morning which he failed, while no early decision was made on James Anderson (knee) and Graeme Swann (side).
Source:The times
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Eoin Morgan stars before rain aids England
A brilliant innings by Eoin Morgan that deserved to win any match gained its due reward last night, but only after more Duckworth/Lewis frustration for South Africa thanks to shrewd captaincy by Paul Collingwood and dead-eye bowling from James Anderson.
The most exciting newcomer to the England team since Kevin Pietersen, Morgan inspired Collingwood’s side to their biggest total in a Twenty20 international and hit their highest individual score, an unbeaten 85 from 45 balls.
Two of his five sixes soared out of the ground. But even such impressive figures only hint at the boldness and skill of his batting, which combined power with timing and placement.
Famously, South Africa went out of the 2003 World Cup when they misread a D/L sheet and blocked what proved to be the last ball of the game against Sri Lanka in Durban when a single would have taken them through. In March, West Indies accepted an offer of bad light during a one-day international against England in Guyana, little realising that they were behind on calculations.
There was no misreading this time. With rain becoming heavier and forked lightning almost directly overhead, the thirteenth over of the reply felt sure to be the last. The scoreboard showed that South Africa needed eight to win. Collingwood recalled Anderson, his best bowler, who restricted A. B. de Villiers and Albie Morkel to five singles and a wide.
The difference between victory and defeat came down to an inch of De Villiers’s bat. Attempting to swing the sixth ball through mid-wicket, he met it with the toe of the willow and saw it trickle into the leg side.
“It became a game within a game,” Collingwood said. “But we put in a good performance all round.” His team will go to Centurion tomorrow for the final game of the two-match Twenty20 series in good heart.
A total of 202 for six passed England’s previous best of 200 for six, made against India in Durban during the first World Twenty20 in 2007, a game remembered best for Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over from Stuart Broad. England lost that contest and even a score of such magnitude last night stood within compass on a pitch with bounce and carry.
To get there, South Africa needed a strong start. They were given exactly that by Loots Bosman and Graeme Smith as they raised the fifty from only 31 balls, six fewer than England.
Bowlers from both sides generally dropped too short and found yorkers difficult to produce. Bosman set a rapid tempo and his opening partner soon caught up with his run-rate.
Spin proved just as enticing, Graeme Swann’s first and third balls disappearing over the ropes. There was a clear sense of relief when Smith mistimed a cut against Luke Wright and Bosman chanced his arm once too often in the next over. But the opening partnership of 97 had come at almost 12 runs per over and a tight finish was on the cards.
Having subsided to 89 all out in their only warm-up Twenty20, against South Africa A, England made an awful start when Joe Denly was adjudged leg-before to the first ball of the match. It was impossible to know whether spectators booed Jonathan Trott on his arrival because Tragedy, by the Bee Gees, was blaring so loudly around the ground.
Trott answered formidably, striking four fours in succession off Dale Steyn before attempting an impossible run to De Villiers at backward point. Yet England continued undeterred, with Collingwood’s muscular jabs reminding of his assault against Lasith Malinga during the Champions Trophy here two months earlier.
The inhibited have no place in the 20-over game. Morgan, here striking the ball in orthodox fashion through the covers, there crouching on one knee to flip a six over very fine leg, found an ally in Collingwood, whose 57 came from 32 balls and included four sixes. They added 98 for the fourth wicket. At least Smith, the South Africa captain, could anticipate where Collingwood might put the ball. Morgan’s confidence and ability to reverse-hit made that close to impossible.
One of his sixes, against Steyn, hit the fourth storey of a block of flats outside the ground; fortunately the ball struck brickwork rather than glass. “Absolutely exceptional,” was Collingwood’s verdict.
England
J L Denly lbw b Langeveldt 0
A N Cook lbw b McLaren 11
I J L Trott run out 33
*P D Collingwood c Botha b McLaren 57
E J G Morgan not out 85
L J Wright c De Villiers b Steyn 2
†M J Prior c Morkel b McLaren 0
T T Bresnan not out 3
Extras (lb 5, w 6) 11 Total (6 wkts, 20 overs) 202 G P Swann, S I Mahmood and J M Anderson did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-25, 3-61, 4-159, 5-167, 6-169.
Bowling: Langeveldt 4-0-39-1; McLaren 4-0-33-3; Steyn 4-0-40-1; Morkel 2-0-32-0; Van der Merwe 2-0-17-0; Botha 4-0-36-0.
South Africa
*G C Smith c Morgan b Wright 41
L L Bosman c Collingwood b Swann 58
J P Duminy lbw b Mahmood 6
A B de Villiers not out 10
J A Morkel not out 9
Extras (w 3) 3 Total (3 wkts, 13 overs) 127 †M V Boucher, R McLaren, R E van der Merwe, J Botha, D W Steyn and C K Langeveldt did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-101, 3-112.
Bowling: Anderson 3-0-24-0; Bresnan 2-0-25-0; Mahmood 3-0-31-1; Wright 2-0-17-1; Swann 3-0-30-1.
Umpires: M Erasmus and B G Jerling.
Tomorrow’s fixture: Second Twenty20 international (at Centurion).
Source:The times
Late Matt Banahan try rescues dull England against Argentina
Matt Banahan's try 10 minutes from time ensured England managed to beat Argentina 16-9 in a poor quality encounter at Twickenham on Saturday.
But the Bath wing's score could not disguise the fact that for much of the match England lacked invention and rarely threatened Argentina's line.
Victory did give manager Martin Johnson his sixth win from 13 games in charge and eased some of the pressure on the 2003 World Cup-winning captain. However, England will have to up their game if they are to beat New Zealand when the All Blacks arrive at Twickenham a week on Saturday.
"There were lots of errors which put us in a bad place. It was going to be tough in the second half, there were a lot of nerves," said Johnson. "They put us under pressure, it was wet and it became a real dogfight. We could have lost at the end. It was tough to watch. The guys are happy to have won but disappointed with what they did.
We took two steps forward and one back."
It seemed that for the second match in a row, following last week's 18-9 loss to Australia, that England - showing four changes from the side beaten by the Wallabies - would be rendered try-less until they at last worked an overlap which saw Banahan go in under the posts.
But it was Argentina who, despite debutant centre Martin Rodriguez missing three penalties, appeared the more inspired and then laid siege to England's line as they chased the converted try which would have tied the scores.
After a low grade first-half, which ended in boos from the crowd, England were fortunate to be all square at 9-9.
The Pumas, without injured playmakers Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi, had kicked better out of hand and, despite the blustery conditions, ran the ball with purpose against an England team who seemed almost scared to give their backs a chance to show their skills.
England were drawn into a punting battle with the Pumas and found themselves coming off second best.
Fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson provided all of England's points in the first half, with a drop-goal and two penalties - and his boot looked the only way the hosts, playing in unfamiliar purple shirts, would score.
Rodriguez, one of a trio of Argentina debutants, kicked three penalties from five attempts.
World Cup-winning flanker Lewis Moody starred again, as he'd done against the Wallabies but, with full-back Ugo Monye struggling under the high ball, England's backs rarely looked like breaking through the Pumas' defence.
The closest they came in the first half was when Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, under pressure from Moody, knocked on and England wing Mark Cueto regathered.
The Sale flyer sprinted clear but was well tackled by Argentina full-back Horacio Agulla.
Early in the second-half, against an Argentina showing seven changes from the team that beat England 24-22 in Salta in June, Wilkinson had a chance to nudge the hosts in front but, for the first time in the match, was off target.
Cueto gave the crowd something to cheer at last with a bold counter-attack that took England deep into Argentina territory.
England won the ensuing lineout but, as the ball was worked across field, Cueto was well-tackled by Argentina right wing Luis Borges to snuff out the prospect of a try.
Just after the hour mark, Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma was penalised for a deliberate knock-on by Welsh referee Nigel Owens but Wilkinson missed.
And when Banahan became the latest England player to knock on, Johnson put his head in his hands.
Argentina's next international this tour sees them up against Wales in Cardiff on November 21.
Source:The times
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