Elmo from England :

England's World Cup football selections in focus as cricket takes back seat

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Here in England it is all football, with the completion of the Premier League won by Manchester City and the England squad to play in the World Cup in Brazil being named. The FA Cup was to be played yesterday.

Cricket which game England gave to the world, is still taking a back seat, with not much of prominence in the newspapers here although the Twenty20 and one-day squads have been named by the England selectors to play Sri Lanka.

The topic of discussion here is the naming of the England squad for the World Cup in Brazil next month. England boss Roy Hodgson has come in for a bit of stick on the selections.

That is nothing unusual because in every part of the sporting world, selectors come in for criticism however good a job they do. But after selecting the squad, Hodgson admitted that he may have "cocked up" in not selecting the consistent Ashley Cole. Cole who has been playing in England colours for long, was so disappointed that he immediately announced his retirement from international football. But the England boss revealed the door could be open for Cole- to make a dramatic return if the player who replaced him gets injured. Cole is on the standby list of seven.

England have been drawn into a group that includes Italy, Uruguay and Cost Rica. Hodgson, like all coaches is confident England could win the World Cup. He believes that the England squad has the right mix of youth and experience, despite only six of his squad having ever been to a World Cup finals before.

England's only success was in 1966 when they won the World Cup in the tournament they conducted. Since then they have not got anywhere near to even sniffing the World Cup.

Many changes in World Cricket

Many changes taking place in cricket - There are many changes taking place in world cricket. England started it all when they got stuffed by Australia 5-nil in the Ashes series 'down under' recently.

England changed their coaches Andy Flower, Ashley Giles and batting coach Graham Gooch and have now dumped their bowling coach former Pakistani leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Pakistan removed their coach Mohin Khan and replaced him with former fast bowling ace Waqar Younis who takes over the slot for another innings. The moment England spun out Mushtaq, Pakistan was quick to grab him and he will be the bowling consultant with the blessings of coach Younis.

Mushtaq was a wonderful leg spinner and during his stint with Pakistan grabbed a bag of wickets with his tantalizing and clever leg spin and googly bowling. He played county cricket before becoming England's bowling coach.

Another who vied for the Pakistani bowling coach job Saqlain Mushtaq failed. Incidentally it was Mushtaq who gave the 'doosra' to the cricket world and taught Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan how to bowl it and it was with this delivery that Muralitharan got most of his 800 Test wickets.

Change in Australian Selection Committee

From Pakistan we move on to Australia who are now number one in Test and one-day cricket and who have now changed their Selection Committee. In comes former wicket keeper batsman Rod Marsh as chairman and out goes John Inverarity.

Former opening batsman Mark Waugh brother of former Australian Captain Stephen, has also been included in the selection committee for the first time. Waugh has replaced former medium pacer Andy Bichel.

Former Chairman of Selectors Trevor Horns has also made a comeback, with Australian coach Darren Lehmann retaining his post. Since Lehmann took over as coach Australian cricket has reached dizzy heights.

'Rod Marsh is the right man to take on this important role having been a key member of the panel since 2011. His track record speaks for itself. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, having been a leading player, coach and most recently a selector. He has a great eye for talent and has strong relationship throughout international cricket', said Cricket Australia's Chief Executive James Suntherland in a statement. Former Australian opener John Inverarity who headed the Australian Selection Committee said he would retire at the end of his tenure, but would like to continue for an additional 12 months. But he did not succeed.

Dennis 'the menace' Lillee the great quits

Also news from Australia is that former fast bowling great Dennis Keith Lillee has parted ways with Cricket Australia after being refused a pay rise. The great Lillee was drafted to provide guidance and coaching advice to the Australian side on a part time basis and he was instrumental in rejuvenating the career of Mitchell Johnson who tormented the English batsmen with his blinding pace and life threatening deliveries in the recent Ashes series.

To Lillee also goes the credit of fixing Johnson's technical problems and boosting his confidence. It was Lillee who first saw and picked Johnson and predicted a bright future in the game for him. Lillee also worked with Pat Cummins and James Faulkner.

According to Cricket Australia, Lillee and CA had failed to agree terms 'after protracted negotiations. The great fast bowler refused to accept Cricket Australia's offer to renew his contract.

Recently Lillee accused Cricket Australia of 'quibbling over an increase' to his pay and made it clear he would 'take a stance' if they did not meet the terms. His decision to quit came after CA extended the contract of Test fast bowling coach Craig McDermott. In the 1970s Lillee and Thompson formed a lethal fast bowling combination and destroyed many an opposing batting side with fast bowling of terrific speed. The twosome were unplayable under the Captaincy of Ian Chappell, one of the great captains produced by kangaroo country.

Former IPL big man appointed Chief

Remember Lalith Modi_ the former Indian Premier League boss and one who founded it? Modi who is living in London after his passport was revoked by the Indian government over corruption allegations was declared winner at elections to head the Rajasthan Cricket Association.

But the Board of Control for Cricket in India which had been trying to stall the announcement, refused to accept the results and suspended the Rajasthan Cricket Association and suspended the RCA from the membership of the BCCI pending disciplinary proceedings against it on charges of misconduct.

The BCCI last year imposed a life ban on Modi holding any cricket post after finding him guilty of 'serious' acts of indiscipline and misconduct over allegations that he had siphoned off funds.

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