Under pressure Australia opener Matthew Hayden insists he has never thought about retirement.
The left-hander has scored just 56 runs in his last six innings, including knocks of eight and 23 in the Boxing Day Test defeat to South Africa.
Such a bad slump means the 102-Test veteran could well be playing for his international future in the final match of the series against the Proteas.
However, Hayden insists he is strong enough to bounce back having been written off before during his distinguished career.
Agitated
"I'm not sure going after you lose a series, in the middle of the series, would be the right time to go," he said. "There's absolutely no doubt about that.
"So I didn't think about it for a minute.
"I've never been first picked in the side and that's held me in good stead because I think 'wow I've got to play well'.
"That's been a great needle in my side that's agitated me to make sure I'm working harder than anyone else.
"I've been written off many times before and really loved and thrived on the fact I've come back and enjoyed playing Test match cricket for Australia."
The 37-year-old acknowledges that his performances since he returned to the team from a heel injury during the tour of India have been average by his usual lofty standards.
Despite his recent struggles Hayden still averages over 50 in Test cricket, though he knows he really cannot afford to fail again in Sydney if he wants to keep his place in the line-up.
Strategy
"Performances have been average for me and I guess I live and die by the standards that I've set over a 15-20 year career," he said.
"I understand I need to get runs. I've always kept it very simple in Test match cricket. I have a certain strategy (and) sometimes it doesn't work and the result is evident.
"But I prepare the same way every time. I've loved playing for Australia, I'm very proud to represent my state and my country and I'm going to work and train over the next few days as hard as I ever have before.
"I'm going to go in with a certain strategy and a clear mind and enjoy whatever result may or my not come my way."
source:sky sports
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Lorenzo-Vera two clear
A second-round seven-under-par 65 from Michael Lorenzo-Vera saw the Frenchman take a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the South African Open.
Teeing off on the 10th hole at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates, Lorenzo-Vera compiled a blemish-free round which peaked through the midway stages thanks to six birdies in seven holes.
He leads the way on a 12-under total from Lee Westwood (68), Ernie Els (67), Charl Schwartzel (65) and Damien McGrane - the Irishman's eight under 64 giving him the joint best round of the day.
He shared the honour with early clubhouse leader Thomas Aiken, whose 64 allowed him to move on to nine-under overall, alongside Gareth Maybin and Dave Horsey.
Two-time champion Retief Goosen, who shot a 66, leads a group of seven players at eight-under-par, while another well-known South African, Rory Sabbatini (71), is back at seven under alongside five others, including Chris Wood.
Fitness test
Lorenzo-Vera later admitted that his main aim coming into the competition was simply to test his right wrist, which he injured two months ago after falling over some stairs.
"It feels pretty good, pretty cool to be leading because I had two months of rest because of my wrist," said the 23-year-old, who was playing in his first tournament since suffering the injury.
"So I was just coming here to find some new feelings.
"Today was just like yesterday, the putting was very good. The first nine, the putts were not very good, I think mainly because they were long putts. But the second nine I hit the irons much closer. But everything was good."
The Biarritz-based player added that his expectations for the weekend had now increased somewhat.
"I hope this time I'm going to catch it," he said. "There were few occasions last year that I let it go, so I'm just going to try and make it a good weekend.
"I'll be aiming to hit a lot of greens in regulation like I did today."
Four-time winner Els said he was optimistic of his own chances going into the weekend.
He said: "It's only the second round, halfway through the tournament and still so much to happen. I'm at 10 under and pretty pleased with that. I had a nice day and even if a guy is at 15 under I don't care.
"We've got two rounds left. If I'm two shots behind with two to play I still have a chance to win, so there's still plenty of golf left."
McGrane, who won the 2008 Volvo China Open, attributed his own success on Friday to the inspiration provided by the round of playing partner Schwartzel.
"It was strange the way it (his round) happened," he said. "We had a good three-ball and Charl had four birdies to start his game straight away today and I had one par and four birdies to follow him.
"I think I was brought along by his momentum. He was playing well and he's a world-class player, as you know, I just got into the game and went along with his birdies.
"So both of us fed off each other a little bit and it's nice to see both of us at the top of the leaderboard."
Improved
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke both had improved rounds on Friday, with the former six shots off the lead after carding a 68 to go with his 70 from Thursday.
Clarke fared even better following his opening day 74, with four birdies and an eagle seeing him shoot a 67.
World number eight Henrik Stenson, the highest ranked player at the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event, shot a 71 for a three-under total.
But England's Justin Rose could only just make the cut after his two-over-par round left him one-under for the tournament.
The only major name to miss the cut was defending champion James Kingston, who backed up his 72 from Thursday with a two-over 74.
source:sky sports
Teeing off on the 10th hole at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates, Lorenzo-Vera compiled a blemish-free round which peaked through the midway stages thanks to six birdies in seven holes.
He leads the way on a 12-under total from Lee Westwood (68), Ernie Els (67), Charl Schwartzel (65) and Damien McGrane - the Irishman's eight under 64 giving him the joint best round of the day.
He shared the honour with early clubhouse leader Thomas Aiken, whose 64 allowed him to move on to nine-under overall, alongside Gareth Maybin and Dave Horsey.
Two-time champion Retief Goosen, who shot a 66, leads a group of seven players at eight-under-par, while another well-known South African, Rory Sabbatini (71), is back at seven under alongside five others, including Chris Wood.
Fitness test
Lorenzo-Vera later admitted that his main aim coming into the competition was simply to test his right wrist, which he injured two months ago after falling over some stairs.
"It feels pretty good, pretty cool to be leading because I had two months of rest because of my wrist," said the 23-year-old, who was playing in his first tournament since suffering the injury.
"So I was just coming here to find some new feelings.
"Today was just like yesterday, the putting was very good. The first nine, the putts were not very good, I think mainly because they were long putts. But the second nine I hit the irons much closer. But everything was good."
The Biarritz-based player added that his expectations for the weekend had now increased somewhat.
"I hope this time I'm going to catch it," he said. "There were few occasions last year that I let it go, so I'm just going to try and make it a good weekend.
"I'll be aiming to hit a lot of greens in regulation like I did today."
Four-time winner Els said he was optimistic of his own chances going into the weekend.
He said: "It's only the second round, halfway through the tournament and still so much to happen. I'm at 10 under and pretty pleased with that. I had a nice day and even if a guy is at 15 under I don't care.
"We've got two rounds left. If I'm two shots behind with two to play I still have a chance to win, so there's still plenty of golf left."
McGrane, who won the 2008 Volvo China Open, attributed his own success on Friday to the inspiration provided by the round of playing partner Schwartzel.
"It was strange the way it (his round) happened," he said. "We had a good three-ball and Charl had four birdies to start his game straight away today and I had one par and four birdies to follow him.
"I think I was brought along by his momentum. He was playing well and he's a world-class player, as you know, I just got into the game and went along with his birdies.
"So both of us fed off each other a little bit and it's nice to see both of us at the top of the leaderboard."
Improved
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke both had improved rounds on Friday, with the former six shots off the lead after carding a 68 to go with his 70 from Thursday.
Clarke fared even better following his opening day 74, with four birdies and an eagle seeing him shoot a 67.
World number eight Henrik Stenson, the highest ranked player at the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event, shot a 71 for a three-under total.
But England's Justin Rose could only just make the cut after his two-over-par round left him one-under for the tournament.
The only major name to miss the cut was defending champion James Kingston, who backed up his 72 from Thursday with a two-over 74.
source:sky sports
Redknapp hopeful over Defoe
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has not given up hope of agreeing a fee for Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe.
Former Pompey boss Redknapp signed Defoe from Tottenham last January and he is now eager to bring the England international back to White Hart Lane.
Redknapp, who took over in North London in October, has previously voiced fears that he will be priced out of the market should Pompey decide to sell Defoe.
But the Spurs boss remains interested in the forward, despite recognising that Portsmouth - who recently agreed to sell Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid - cannot be pressured into allowing players to leave.
"If we could agree a fee with Portsmouth, then fine, he is a good player," Redknapp told Sky Sports News when asked about interest in Defoe.
Fantastic
"But if Portsmouth do not want to sell him, then that is up to them.
"They haven't got to sell him if they don't want to. If they say, 'no' then that is the end of the story.
"It is like Diarra. They didn't want to sell Diarra, but they got a fantastic offer."
Redknapp - who is also rumoured to be tracking Pompey's Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson, and Atletico Madrid's former Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia - has also reiterated his interest in West Ham attacker Craig Bellamy.
"We made an offer and they turned it down," added Redknapp. "He belongs to West Ham and if they don't want to sell that is their prerogative.
"We can't force them to sell him but, yes, he is a player I like."
source:sky sports
Former Pompey boss Redknapp signed Defoe from Tottenham last January and he is now eager to bring the England international back to White Hart Lane.
Redknapp, who took over in North London in October, has previously voiced fears that he will be priced out of the market should Pompey decide to sell Defoe.
But the Spurs boss remains interested in the forward, despite recognising that Portsmouth - who recently agreed to sell Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid - cannot be pressured into allowing players to leave.
"If we could agree a fee with Portsmouth, then fine, he is a good player," Redknapp told Sky Sports News when asked about interest in Defoe.
Fantastic
"But if Portsmouth do not want to sell him, then that is up to them.
"They haven't got to sell him if they don't want to. If they say, 'no' then that is the end of the story.
"It is like Diarra. They didn't want to sell Diarra, but they got a fantastic offer."
Redknapp - who is also rumoured to be tracking Pompey's Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson, and Atletico Madrid's former Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia - has also reiterated his interest in West Ham attacker Craig Bellamy.
"We made an offer and they turned it down," added Redknapp. "He belongs to West Ham and if they don't want to sell that is their prerogative.
"We can't force them to sell him but, yes, he is a player I like."
source:sky sports
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