Bleacher Report - Articles by Joe Williams

A Case of Heart over Mind for Alan Shearer

Joe Williams — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:21:46 -0400

It seemed like the Newcastle dream was dying. Poor results, despair, and, most alarmingly, apathy seemed to have finally put the flames out on the Toon Army spirit.

The cruelest blow of all was the departure of Kevin Keegan earlier this season, so soon after returning as hero. Surely not even Newcastle fans could hope again after that ordeal?

Yet, against all odds, the club has secured the appointment of Alan Shearer as manager until the end of the season.

The announcement will once again ignite the passion and belief that has been the distinguishing mark and greatest resource of Newcastle United for many years.

The most intriguing issue surrounding this shock appointment is Shearer's decision to accept.

He has made it very clear in the past that he wanted the job "one day," but that he was very unlikely to accept any position under the Mike Ashley regime.

Many thought he would seek an assistant manager post or gain lower league management experience before taking the reins of destiny at St. James' Park.

So why the change of mind by the big man?

The answer is that it is a change of heart rather than a change of mind.

Such is his Geordie blood that Shearer must have felt unable to turn down the call, given the relegation trouble Newcastle find themselves in.

Nothing has changed materially at the club. Mike Ashley and the even more loathed Denis Wise are still in the backroom and many of players seem half-hearted at best.

Neither were there any time constraints on Shearer to return to the arena. He's a young man at 38, and his punditry contract at the BBC meant he wasn't losing touch with the footballing world.

Once again, romance and belief have triumphed over mind on Tyneside, this time in the shape of Alan Shearer himself.

However, it is an entirely rational move on Mike Ashley's part. It is a chance to redeem his reputation within the fan base and provides immunity from accusations of not being proactive in attempting to salvage Newcastle's top flight status.

From his perspective, it is nothing short of a dream coup.

What will become of Newcastle United under Alan Shearer's leadership? That's anyone's guess, but we can be sure that the run-in will be an emotion filled, tense, and exciting struggle.

So business as usual at St. James' Park.

Gateshead Thunder-Whitehaven: Preview

Joe Williams — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:18:11 -0500

Followers of National League clubs always welcome the Challenge Cup as a break from the somewhat drudgerous group stages of the Northern Rail Cup.

This Sunday sees Gateshead Thunder host Whitehaven in a third round tie between two sides who experienced dramatic turnarounds last season.

After struggling for the first half of the campaign, Whitehaven came within eighty minutes of reaching the National League One Grand Final following a remarkable recovery under the reins Ged Stokes. With Salford and Celtic departed to Super League pastures, fans of the Cumbria club have high hopes of going one better and reaching the final this season.

Gateshead Thunder’s revival was a season-long affair, with a dismal 2007 forgotten in a remarkable 2008 that saw them storm to the National League Two title. Although the loss of Dave Woods as coach in dubious circumstances this winter was a blow, morale is still high at the club as they move forward with an ambitious development plan.

Both sides have had mixed starts to the season in the Northern Rail Cup. Whitehaven have recorded a convincing win against Batley and scrapped admirably in an epic against the mighty Leigh, but were inexplicably trounced by lower league York City Knights.

Gateshead too lost heavily to a lower-league side (Keighley) and less surprisingly also to Widnes. However, Thunder must be encouraged by the ease with which they dispatched Sheffield, their first higher-tier opponents.

Although it is likely the Cumbrians will field a more experienced starting XIII, both sides contain much youthful promise. The key man for Whitehaven is their baby-face scrum half Greg McNally while Thunder will look to new signing Andrew Henderson at hooker for inspiration.

It’s anyone’s game: while Whitehaven probably boast superior quality, with a home crowd behind them Gateshead have every chance if they maintain a solid defensive line and turn their chances into points.

With the added magic of the Challenge Cup and both sides having a penchant for attacking rugby this should prove an exhilarating tie.

Newcastle United: A Fight for Survival

Joe Williams — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:12:32 -0500

Despite their season-long flirt with the relegation zone, until recently no one seriously considered Newcastle United candidates for the drop.

Now, the pundits are tripping over themselves to predict such a fate.

The combination of factors conspiring against Newcastle is well recited: continued managerial and backroom uncertainty, a defence that is as robust as a poppadom, an inability to regularly score, and a team morale that lacks the requisite fight to reverse this decline.

What is interesting is that these problems—with the exception of the gloomy morale—have been ever-present since early on this season.

Indeed, the frail back line and the backroom volatility stretch back for many seasons.

Yet, despite consistently under-performing, everyone thought survival was inevitable—"It’s Newcastle, they can’t possibly go down?"

So, why did this widespread faithful optimism suddenly morph into prophecies of doom?

Two words: run in.

Newcastle’s remaining fixtures are a nightmare end to the season. They are facing home games against Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea, with tough away games at Tottenham, Stoke, and Aston Villa.

The other four games appear winnable—Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, and Fulham visit St. James Park while the Magpies travel to Humberside this Saturday for a six-pointer par excellence.

If Newcastle manages to win these games, it would take them to the magic 40 points.

But with the state of the team as it is, these four games are as eminently losable as they are winnable.

So here are four steps that the Magpies must take in their remaining fixtures if Premier League football is to remain in Tyneside next season:

1. Take the Game to the Opposition

Newcastle aren’t going to survive by combining stoic defending and blistering counter-attacks, as the defence is woefully unreliable.

Any team spending considerable time in United’s final third generally find the net.

The approach, therefore, must be to seek to play a high defensive line with sensible, yet pressing, attacking play.

Newcastle’s pedigree has always been in the middle and top ends of the park, which is where they need to make the opposition play if they are to get results.

2. Play and Protect Obafemi Martins

Out for much of the season with injury, the return of Oba and his goal-scoring talents may well prove crucial in determining United’s fate. He should play every minute of every game and be swaddled in bubble bath and cotton wool between matches.

3. Get the Ball out Wide

Newcastle have two excellent wingers in Jonas Gutierrez and Damien Duff.

The full backs and centre midfielders should seek to release these men out wide whenever possible and secure that all-important supply to the front men.

4. Keep the Faith

Temporarily absent from the mother city, I’ve not been along to St. James’ this season, but was shocked by this article by Patrick Johnston regarding the onset of apathy amongst the Toon Army.

Of course, the players must buck up their fatalistic and eyes-on-the-exit outlook, but, clichéd as it sounds, the fans have always been a 12th man for Newcastle.

Their die-hard adoration is needed now more than ever to rouse a lackadaisical team to heroism.

Toon Army, hear this loud and clear: Keep the faith or die! Survival or devastation for Newcastle United truly does rest on this ancient adage.

IPL Auction: Fair Prices For England Players?

Joe Williams — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:21:18 -0500

Amidst Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff's headline grabbing contracts in this year's Indian Premier League auction, three other English players also picked up one of the lucrative berths—Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, and Paul Collingwood.

Are the five Englishmen worth the big bucks? Bleacher Report has done some number crunching through the past four years of 20/20 internationals, and the following is a value-for-money assessment for each aforementioned player.

Kevin Pietersen

Value: $1.55 million; 20/20 International Games Played: 14; Batting Average: 27.92; Strike Rate: 148.757;

Of all regular English players, Pietersen is surprisingly pipped to best batting average by Owais Shah, although his faster strike rate and higher top score arguably establish him as England's most valuable 20/20 batsman.

Although Pietersen occasionally bowls in test matches, he is not considered a viable 20/20 option and doesn't achieve the revered status of an all-rounder. His personality and aggression certainly bring added value. Pietersen is a potential winner and Bangalore fans will love watching him.

VERDICT: Pietersen is perhaps overvalued, but has more than enough talent to prove his worth in the IPL.

Andrew Flintoff

Value: $1.55 million; 20/20 International Games Played: 7; Batting Average: 12.66; Strike Rate: 126.66; Bowling Average: 32.2; Economy: 6.44.

Flintoff has particularly impressive batting figures for a hailed all-rounder, but his real strength as a 20/20 cricketer is his excellent bowling economy, topping the English chart in that category. And of course we all know he can bat explosively. Like Pietersen, Flintoff is always a potential match winner and crowd pleaser.

VERDICT: Flintoff is slightly overvalued given his disappointing batting record, but again could easily prove his worth.

Ravi Bopara

Value: $450,000; 20/20 International Games Played: One—did not bat or bowl.

Bopara is one of the five English players not to have any 20/20 International experience, and whilst his first-class record for Essex is good, it is nothing particularly special.

No doubt his potential and all-rounder status made him an attractive package for Kings XI Punjab, but does he have what it takes to hack it in the big league? He will certainly relish playing for Punjab, a region of Bopara family ancestry.

VERDICT: Bopara is seemingly overpriced given his unproven record at the international level.

Owais Shah

Value: $375,000; 20/20 International Games Played: 10; Batting Average: 29.37; Strike Rate: 135.05;

Shah is the leading English batsman in terms of batting average. He also has the valuable ability in the midst of 20/20 volatility of being able to anchor innings. It is unfortunate for Shah to not be a test regular—an IPL contract is the least Shah deserves.

VERDICT: An excellent buy, Shah could be expected to fetch a lot more considering his proven pedigree at international level.

Paul Collingwood

Value: $275,000; 20/20 International Games Played: 14; Batting Average: 25.38; Strike Rate: 140.42; Bowling Average 18.23; Economy 9.48.

A one-time captain, Collingwood has been England's leading all-rounder in international 20/20 games, with an excellent batting average and strike rate. Although slightly pricey with the ball, he makes up for it by taking regular wickets.

The Englishman is not a glamorous player, though he has won many a game simply by going about his business. He is also an excellent fielder.

VERDICT: The almost insultingly low contract received by Collingwood is equally an excellent deal for Delhi.

Overall verdict?

Shah and Collingwood are both excellent buys, and suggest that Pietersen and Flintoff are indeed overpriced, as neither one of the latter is worth more than the combined total of the former two.

However, as it is the IPL where glam is a refreshingly all-important factor, I think the fans of Bangalore and Chennai will be delighted to have Pietersen and Flintoff in their respective folds. Bopara is also a big winner, getting a contract far above his station. He does, however, deserve his place ahead of the two Englishmen to miss out—Samit Patel and Luke Wright.

IPL Deal Good News for English Cricket

Joe Williams — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:18:01 -0500

It was announced earlier this evening that England's international stars are to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a three week window in April.

Initially the ECB were only willing to let their centrally contracted players participate for two weeks, with the IPL board insisting on four weeks. Both parties claim to be satisfied with three week compromise.

Additionally, English county players without central contracts won't have to return home until 8th May, effectively giving them a month of IPL action.

This is a good news for the English game for a number of reasons. Firstly, English players are required to give 10% of their IPL wages to their county side. Thus the lucrative IPL will go some way to alleviate the perenially cash-strapped English domestic outfits.

Secondly, with the 20/20 format becoming common currency at international levels, playing in the world's highest calibre 20/20 competition can only be good for the England side.

Thirdly, it reduces the risk of any rebellion from English players who might have been frustrated at being shut out of last year's "gold rush." Top international players would rightly expect their share of the cake, and this year they will be able to have it.

Fourthly, this is the seal on the warmly-endorsed deal between the ECB and BCCI for more regular and longer test-match and ODI series that had been previously agreed but not yet finalised.

The only slight disappointment is that the English stars will be missing from the denouement of the competition. Whilst this is unavoidable with international scheduling, it is far from ideal for the IPL teams to be severed from key players late on in proceedings.

The benefits for the IPL of having more international stars are fairly apparent, as are the financially incentives for the players, but the ECB also gain from this deal—less obviously but just as tangibly.

Test Cricket: Creating New Rivalries Essential

Joe Williams — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:21:01 -0500

Predictions and suggestions about the future of test match cricket have been in no short supply on Bleacher Report in recent days.

Ryan Getters proposed a number of reforms such as expanding the number of participating nations, playing under floodlights, introducing promotion between two leagues and shortening the game to four days. Conor Weaver argues that there is essentially nothing wrong with the product but that it needs better marketing. This article suggests that test match cricket must embrace some small reforms but doesn't require a radical overhaul.

Any reflection on test cricket these days tends to assume that the format is decline and is "under threat" by the rise of 20/20 cricket. However, there are many test match series which always generate intense public interest and have no problems in selling out stadiums—Australia vs South Africa, Australia vs New Zealand, England vs Australia, any series in India but particularly vs Pakistan or Australia.

Keen eyes will note that these series mainly involve the ‘elite’ test teams and especially Australia, pointing to the need to generate new rivalries between other test playing nations. If such an interest could be forged in all test match series then the format would be in very good shape indeed. This is one reason to be sceptical of splitting the ten test playing nations into two leagues as certain existing rivalries will be lost and the potential to form new ones will be restricted.

One country which has such potential is the West Indies. The decline of the West Indies since the mid-1990s has hurt test cricket. West Indies vs Australia was for many years the most prestigious test match clash, and tours of the West Indies to England used to generate huge interest in the Anglo-Caribbean community.

If the West Indian Cricket Board advance a determined marketing and development campaign to overcome the lure of soccer and promote talent, then there is no reason why such fierce contests should not be re-ignited.

All of this is to agree that nothing fundamental needs to change for test cricket to be a successful product. However, the issue of wider appeal is an important one for the long-term growth of the game, and to become a truly global sport test cricket must rapidly broaden participation.

Perhaps this is where some form of promotion/relegation system could work, with the bottom-ranked test team being replaced by the leading "second-tier" nation every two years or so. This would require a formal first-class structure for aspiring nations such as Kenya, the Netherlands and the UAE, which would be no bad thing.

As for other mooted reforms, playing test cricket under floodlights could help on weekdays during less prestigious series, where attendances normally suffer due to the necessities of employment. However, there seems little sense in reducing the game to four days as this will generate many more draws, unlikely to appeal to new audiences.

Except in India, the hunger for cricket is not strong enough to make neutral test matches viable, and there seems little value for Australia and Sri Lanka to play each other in England, for example, when greater interest and profits could be generated on home soil. Given the prevalent maxim that too much test cricket is being played, neutral test matches would seem only to compound the problem.

There is reason to be optimistic about the future of test cricket, particularly as series with Australia are competitive entities once again. The most important challenge facing test cricket is to increase the rivalry and competitiveness in series that don’t involve Australia.

Traditionalists should remain confident in the essential appeal of test cricket while not rejecting the small reforms—such as floodlighting—that are needed for the format to flourish in the twenty-first century.

Boris Johnson to Become England Cricket Coach?

Joe Williams — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:09:51 -0500

With speculation still rife as to the identity of the next England coach, there are a number of highly suitable candidates that the ECB seem to have overlooked. This article aims to draw Hugh Morris' attention to six men that urgently demand his consideration.

1. Boris Johnson. I may not be his biggest fan, but his emotive 'ping pong is coming home speech' at Beijing could hardly fail to bring a tear to the eye of this proud Englishman. Surely this is the grand, motivational stuff the boys need before taking on the big, bad Australians this summer.

He'd be useful during play, as his shocking white hair could be carefully positioned to blind opposition batsmen from the pavilion. An added bonus of this appointment might be that he forgot he was Mayor of London and so save that fine city from utter ruin. Definitely one to consider.

2. Dr House. If there is a man able to diagnose the many problems of English cricket and proscribe radical solutions, surely that man is Dr Gregory House. With the intellect the size of Jupiter, what nation could fathom the tactics of an England side with the mark of House upon them? Bowlers facing the new ball instead of openers...four silly points...Monty bowling from a 50-yard run up...

Yes, the unorthodox batting orders and strange field placements may shirk a few traditionalists, but when House brings home the Ashes who will care? However, his intellect is rivalled by his ego, which could disincline the ECB following the Moores/Pietersen fall out.

3. Gareth Keenan. The Office's most gormless nerd may initially seem like a strange suggestion, but he could in fact be the perfect candidate. He has the impression that he is important and makes a difference despite everyone else knowing otherwise, which seems a perfectly suited delusion for the role of cricket coach. Having an inexhaustible laughing stock may be exactly the thing the boys need to keep up morale whilst on tour.

Despite occasional outbursts he is loyal, offering the media enough tit-bits to feed upon without ever seriously threatening team unity. On the down side, he would spend so much time retrieving balls and bails from inside jellies that he might end up neglecting those few necessary duties the coach actually does have.

4. Sooty. Quiet, yet with a deadly weapon—his magic. Although the team may feel that they're always carrying the little bear, by keeping a close eye over proceedings he would make sure England never go off track with a few swifts taps of that wand. How demoralising for the opposition to be frustrated every time they inch ahead!

An uncannily wagging tail...dropped catches...perhaps even they disappearance of a strike bowler in extreme cases. Knowing England's lot though, he'll probably lose the magic wand halfway through the Ashes.

5. A Tree. The ECB are seriously considering the appointment of A Flower. Surely A Tree would be a more solid choice?

6. Me. Currently unemployed, I'm a little bemused as to why the ECB haven't snapped me up. Apologies for egoising, but let me just give you a run down of my eminent qualifications:

- Tactical knowledge: I have been watching England play for nearly two decades now, surely enough studying to make even the dimmest mind an astute, tactical, cricketing brain.

- Experience: I have been playing International Cricket Captain since I was twelve. Having recently won the 20/20 cup with Somerset, what more experience could the ECB want?

- Technical proficiency: Making my cricketing debut in an under-12 match, I took a hat-trick in my second over (we'll keep quiet about the following 12 years).

- Bravery: Just a month ago whilst in South Africa, I padded up to face a swarm of swaggering Afrikaans quickies. That's the thing real men are made of.

- Thick-skinned: Given the media hype around cricket politics these days, this is an essential characteristic for any coach. In the same net session detailed above, I took three balls to the thigh, as my guard wholly failed in its appointed task. If I can take the leather of Steyn-wannabees then surely I can take the venom of the press gaggle.

Mr. Morris, I'm just waiting for the call.

The Tragedy of the Pietersen Debacle

Joe Williams — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:54:30 -0500

UPDATE: Following the publication of this article it has emerged that Pietersen resigned his position rather than being sacked as initially thought. However both parties (the ECB and Pietersen) considered Pietersen's position untenable so the following analysis remains valid.

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As a keen follower of Newcastle United I’m more than used to the affairs of a team descending into soap opera. Yet in pondering the turmoil that my beloved England are currently in, I’m struck by the deep tragedy of the debacle.

For those unfamiliar with the events of the past few days, a rift between captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores became public knowledge. Following the leak Pietersen reportedly stated that the rift was irrevocable, and in the inevitable power struggle that followed the ECB decided that Pietersen had to go. The ECB claim he had given them an ultimatum to fire Moores, and were unwilling to cede such influence to the captaincy. It is also certain that Moores will leave his post.

Whatever the reasons for the rift (which surely have to run deeper than merely the exclusion of Michael Vaughan from the West Indian touring squad), this last week will go down as a very sorry one in the annals of English cricket. There are many things to lament.

Firstly, we will never know if Pietersen would have made the grade as an international captain. With his audacious talent and flairy temperament he is undoubtedly one of the most exciting figures within world cricket, and the prospect of Pietersen leading his side against the Australians next summer was one to relish.

Alas, it will never be. The two test-match and two one-day series in which he led England are inadequate to draw any legacy—positive or negative—of ‘the Pietersen captaincy’.

Secondly, someone saw fit to leak the initial rift into the public domain, so excluding any opportunity for Pietersen and Moores to come to a compromise behind closed doors and move forward with a renewed unity. Once in the public domain, there would either have to be a very convincing reconciliation or one party would have to go. Someone clearly had a personal vendetta against either the current setup or a particular individual within it, and sought to cause some fireworks. They succeeded auspiciously in this task. One can only hope they feel ashamed at the tarnishing they have inflicted upon English cricket.

Thirdly, Pietersen threw away the chance to live out the childhood dream of many because he couldn’t reign in his ego. There is no doubt that England would not be in this mess should Pietersen have even slightly tempered his barely concealed arrogance. Yet Pietersen sabotaged his captaincy by believing he was so untouchable that he would be allowed to run the entire national team structure as a dictatorship.

The ECB, rightly, thought otherwise. It is sickening to think of the impact of this affair on aspiring English youngsters, as they see a man so bent on achieving things his way that he was unwilling to compromise even a little for the sake of leading his country.

Fourthly, the ECB took a big risk in appointing Pietersen last August, following the resignation of Michael Vaughan. They knew that Pietersen had an unwieldy ego, little leadership experience and public prejudice against him for being a South African. Yet they knew his strong temperament could be advantageous as captain and decided he was worth the gamble.

In addition, the ECB desired to reunite the test and one-day captaincies, a role for which Pietersen was the only suitable candidate. They could have played safe yet chose a brave path. By his ego-led conduct Pietersen has not repaid their faith in him.

Finally, this entire affair ‘just isn’t cricket’. It is a million miles away from the values that make our game a treasure, such as gentlemanly conduct, team spirit, grace, respect and unity. Both the leaker of the rift and Kevin Pietersen have shamed not only their country but cricket itself.

The ECB must also take some blame for failing to intervene earlier in the deteriorating relationship between their captain and their coach, but by drawing a line under the affair with the firing of Pietersen they have largely vindicated themselves.

As a team, England must move on quickly from this place and focus again on winning cricket matches. Contesting a no-longer-invincible Australia in the Ashes this summer, they simply can’t afford to stew in a mess of politics and disappointing results any longer. A new captain with the full backing of the board and the coaching staff must be appointed, and a convincing win must be achieved against the West Indies in March.

As for Pietersen, he will have caused many wounds and lost many friends over the events of recent days, yet it must be hoped that the new setup does not drop him because of it, nor that he walks out in a sulk. I suspect he is respectively too good and too stubborn for either of these to happen.

So I hope that Pietersen will carry on scoring stacks of exciting runs as England’s number four, yet I also hope that one day he will come to repent of the pride that cost him the opportunity to lead his country, the greatest sporting privilege a man can be given.

English County Cricket Must Expand

Joe Williams — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:13:11 -0400

It’s a competitive affair being a sport in England these days.

Foreign superstars continue to pour into the Premier League, cementing its reputation as the world’s elite football competition.

Rugby Union has enjoyed the luxury of having the national side in two successive world cup finals and is experiencing growing media coverage at the domestic level (particularly benefiting from the rise of Setanta).

Although a Scot, Andrew Murray’s exceptional achievement of reaching the US Open final is likely to give another boost to tennis following the Henman years.

Golf is no longer a game for the idle rich, but a leisure pursued by many. Lewis Hamilton has reignited the nation’s passion for Formula One.

On top of this, Britain’s gold rush at the Olympics has given a boost to "minority" competitive sports such as cycling, rowing, and swimming.

With the shine of the 2005 Ashes Victory well and truly faded, what place then for our beloved game of cricket?

Cricket suffers a number of disadvantages over other sports. For a start, it requires an absence of rain that seems laughably optimistic in light of the "summer" months that have just passed. There is nothing more disheartening for a player or spectator than to make a voyage to some far away ground only to wait around in the rain for a few hours before being sent home without any play.

Additionally, the less than frenetic pace with which the battle unfolds is unsuited to the high-paced lifestyles most of us choose to live these days. This is aptly illustrated by the necessity of playing the longer forms of the game during daytime on weekdays.

To be fair to the ECB, they have done a decent job in recent years in promoting the national team with the introduction of central contracts and a willingness to move beyond traditional test venues to bring in new crowds.

However, the ECB must do a lot more to promote the domestic game if cricket is to consistently be a presence in the nation’s sporting consciousness, and in order to secure the financial future of the game.

The ECB must exploit the advantages of cricket in order to achieve this promotion of the domestic game. One crucial strength of cricket is that its appeal transcends geographical considerations, with teams and devotees located in all the nooks and corners of the sport’s motherland.

Whilst there is a particularly strong tradition in certain areas—the mill towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire, London and the South Coast counties—cricket doesn’t suffer Rugby League’s constant headache of having to break out beyond a "heartland."

Yet by limiting the number of counties in the domestic competitions to 18, the ECB is squandering large numbers of potential supporters in counties without first-class representation. In counties such as Hertfordshire, Berkshire, and Staffordshire there are large populations that enjoy cricket at the amateur level and enthusiastically follow the national team, yet they have no first-class side to support.

Two additional counties in this category that have performed particularly strongly in minor county competitions over the last decade are Devon and Cheshire, yet no-one is clamouring for their inclusion in the first-class leagues.

But the recent success of Durham, granted first-class status in 1991, shows the potential for minor counties to establish themselves as competitive at the higher level of the game given the chance.

Chester-le-Street today attracts very healthy and enthusiastic crowds to county games as well as being rewarded with a number of international games. There is no reason why other minor counties can’t go on to emulate such achievements.

Any proposals to significantly increase the number of first-class counties will raise an inevitable clutch of objections surrounding the practicalities of expansion.

Those surrounding the format of competitions aren’t especially problematic, as the ECB seems only too happy to change these on an annual basis anyway. Indeed the inclusion of additional counties could solve some of the current headaches of county cricket scheduling such as the dual 20/20 competitions that will run from 2010.

To briefly digress, the English Premier League, the more prestigious competition, is due to have the 18 existing counties plus two overseas teams taking part. This seems quite a cumbersome roster for an elite league.

The second competition in August is a rather ill-defined entity and has been widely criticized for risking 20/20 "overkill," endangering what is meant to be the new lifeline of the sport.

If the number of first-class counties was expanded, for example, to 28, then the August competition could act as a qualifier to the following season’s EPL. Due to the money at stake in the EPL, this would make the August competition highly competitive, and go a long way to avoid 20/20 overkill, particularly if the EPL was restructured to host only 12 domestic counties and four foreign sides.

A more problematic objection to a substantial expansion is the financial viability of such a scheme. Most existing first-class counties make an annual loss, largely absorbed by the ECB.

So what hope is there for minor counties who need to find the finances to fund a professional squad and in all likelihood improve their stadia?

Before the developments of the last two years it would indeed seem an insurmountable obstacle. However, the sudden influx of money into the game due to the 20/20 phenomenon means that financing a county cricket club is no longer a necessarily futile enterprise.

Indian businessmen and Bollywood stars were tripping over themselves to get a stake in the IPL teams. It isn’t unreasonable to believe that there are a number of wealthy folk in India, the Middle East, and the Far East who would relish the chance of transforming a minor county into a global sporting brand.

Hopefully some English investors would jump on the bandwagon, too. Whilst cricket isn’t football, it is a far more glamorous game than it was two years ago, and it is a glamour that the counties must look to benefit from.

The likelihood of whether anything of this sort comes about is entirely down to the creativity and courage of the ECB. As the sport heads into an unpredictable but promising future, one thing is clear: for commercial and sporting sustainability the ECB must seek to make cricket as popular as possible in England.

The 18-county structure is a straightjacket to achieving this end. It is time for a radical expansion of our domestic competitions.

Why the FIA is Killing Formula One

Joe Williams — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 11:11:32 -0400

There are already a number of excellent Bleacher articles detailing the outrageous action of the race stewards at Spa-Francorchamps, who retrospectively handed Lewis Hamilton a 25-second penalty that relegated him from first to third place on the podium. Such material is not reproduced here; rather the attention is focused on the forthcoming decision of the FIA Court of Appeal in regards to McClaren's protest of the penalty.

The sport of Formula One, and with it the FIA, will suffer immensely if McLaren's appeal is not upheld. To begin with, not only did the penalty contravene any concept of "sporting" justice, it also seems to have contravened the letter of the law as well (see Michael Griffin's article for more on this).

In light of the lack of action taken against Felipe Massa for the incident in Valencia earlier this season and the failure to disqualify Raikkonen in Australia last year for running an illegal car, it is hard not to conclude that the hierarchies of F1 have a huge pro-Ferrari bias.

For the governing body of any sport to lose its reputation as a neutral arbiter is a cancerous blight upon that sport and will repel many fans—die hard, casual, and new.

Having already deflated and devalued the sporting experience of the Belgian Grand Prix for spectators (both at the circuit and on TV), the FIA have a chance to salvage a grain of respectability in their handling of the race if they uphold the McLaren appeal. If they stand by their ludicrous decision, the FIA will have robbed supporters at Spa of hundreds of Euros, and those who watched on TV two hours of their lives by making the event utterly meaningless.

The inevitable anger of such fans again highlights the immeasurable damage the FIA will cause itself and the sport if it doesn't reverse the penalty.

There is deep and sickening suspicion amongst F1 fans that the FIA won't even consider upholding the McLaren appeal, for the last thing they are likely to do after committing an act of lunacy is to eat humble pie over it.

This in itself is a hugely damaging perception for the FIA to have against it, as it speaks of a deep arrogance of a body that doesn't care a jot about justice in the sport but only in getting its own way. Yet humble pie it must eat if wants to stop the fans that ultimately sustain the sport from walking away in disgust.

I've been watching Formula One for as long as I can remember. I remember the days of Prost and Senna, Piquet (Sr.) and Mansell, Berger and Alesi. They were exciting days filled with true characters and a spirit of racing sportsmanship. The ensuing domination of Schumacher led to a much more sterile atmosphere, and at some point I became a less-than consistent follower.

Yet the last two years have seen a renaissance for the sport with the rise of a number of supremely talented racers making Formula One a genuinely competitive spectacle again and scintillating viewing once more.

Yet if the FIA do not restore Lewis Hamilton as the victor of Spa-Francorchamps, I, and I'm sure many others, will give up on the sport for the rest of the season, at the very least.

FIA, you have been warned.

Five Reasons Why the Championship Is Better than the Premier League

Joe Williams — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:50:56 -0400

The English League Championship is the strongest second-tier league in world football, and for my money, it offers better entertainment and sporting value than the English Premier League.

Here are five reasons why.

1. What's at Stake

The glamour of the Premier League beckons for whichever three teams scramble to the top of the pile, a prize whose pursuit garners more passion than the race for fifth place in the EPL (the highest realistic target for all but "the Big Four"). As the old adage goes, getting there is better than being there.

2. Unpredictability

No one would have predicted that Stoke, Hull, and Bristol City would all finish in the top four places last season, highlighting the genuine openness of the league. All season long, the points margin between the top-half and bottom-half teams was small, and clubs ascended rapidly up the table with a couple of back-to-back wins. This season promises the same thrilling competitiveness.

3. A Melting Pot of Personnel

There is a delightful array of clubs and players in the Championship. Some such as Birmingham are yo-yo clubs, tossed back and forth between the EPL and the Championship. Others such as Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday are historic giants, passing the time whilst waiting for a return of former fortunes.

Still others, such as Doncaster and Swansea, aren't use to such giddy heights and hope to make a fresh mark for themselves. As for the players, there is a mix of youngsters hoping to "make" it, established players who avoid the worst of the arrogant excesses of the EPL fraternity, and former stars still playing out of a sheer love for the game.

4. Tactical Innovation

The Championship provides the greatest opportunity for managers to vary formations and styles of play. In League One and Two, the players lack the quality to cope with constant adjustments, hence the tendency for 4-4-2 long ball in those divisions.

Contrastingly, it is the extreme pace of play that mediates against tactical innovation in the EPL. With its reduced pace, but decent player quality, managers have the confidence to try new and different approaches, providing welcome innovation for spectators.

5. Real Fans, Lots of Them

In contrast to the swathes of stadia given over to corporate season-ticket holders and glory supporters in the EPL, the vast majority of fans at Championship games are passionate about their clubs.

The healthy attendances at most grounds, combined with this passion, provides an atmosphere superior to that at most EPL clashes. Where would you rather be a fan: The JJB or Carrow Road? Craven Cottage or Ashton Gate?

Gateshead Thunder Should Stay South of The Tyne

Joe Williams — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:15:31 -0400

It has been reported in the Rugby League press this week that National League Two side Gateshead Thunder are considering a move to Newcastle, and even a possible name change.

Thunder, who are set for promotion to National League One next season, are seeking to switch their home games from the Gateshead International Stadium to Kingston Park, home of Union side Newcastle Falcons.

The move is justified on the grounds of the potential extra revenue generated by the corporate facilities at Kingston Park, key to the club's ambitious expansion plans.

The potential name change, while genuinely mooted, has been less discussed. However, there are numerous reasons why Gateshead Thunder should remain Gateshead Thunder, and stay put on the South Bank of the Tyne.

Firstly, Thunder have undergone three re-inventions since their "merger" with Hull in 1999, after just one year as a Super League franchise. Fans have been central in each of these efforts, and there would be no Thunder today were it not for a hardcore of dedicated devotees.

With the future seemingly more secure, it would be a huge slap in the face to these fans (mainly Gateshead residents) to strip the club of its name and ship it to a neighbouring city already saturated with sporting delights.

Secondly, Thunder are noted for their community involvement in Gateshead, and have built a genuine enthusiasm for Rubgy League in a non-heartland area amongst local schoolchildren. This would be severly undermined with a move to Newcastle.

Whilst the board would argued that the community and schools work would continue in Gateshead, something has been lost if a local kid impacted by this work has to spend an hour and £3 making a round trip to Kingston Park to see their team.

In what is a poor community, this will simply not be an option for many such kids, and potentially for some older followers also.

Thirdly, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with Thunder's current home, the Gateshead International Stadium (or "The Thunderdome"). It has acres of capacity, facilities befitting an international athletics arena, and is fairly centrally located on Tyne and Wear's metro system.

It is true that the potentially lucrative corporate provision is non-existent, but that is surely something that could be put right with stadium owners Gateshead Council should it be shown to be economically viable.

Kingston Park does have the advantage of being purpose-built for rugby, but its essentially out-of-town location would result in a much increased net travel for most fans, including those from certain areas of Newcastle.

The chairman, Steve Garside, has done a remarkable job in turning around the fortunes of Thunder, who had a dismal 2007 campaign, and fans are encouraged by this year's success and the ambitious plans for the future.

But bearing in mind these negative impacts of a potential move, the key question that Garside and the board has to answer is this: Who are Thunder for, if not primarily the people of Gateshead?

Maybe they would admit that, "for the sake of the future", they want a new fan base and to make the club Newcastle-centric. If so, I think they will fail.

The largely wealthy residents of North Newcastle already have the Falcons, the Magpies, and Gosforth Race Park to spend their limited time and disposable income on—will they really dig deeper to support another outfit? Do they want a Rugby League team? I fear not.

However, I think it much more likely that Garside would reject ("categorically; "fervently") the suggestion that Thunder are seeking to abandon their Gateshead roots, and argue that the move is vital for the future success of the club that will ultimately bring happiness to the Gatehead-based fans.

But this very same success could occur without uprooting the club, and indeed the unlikelihood of a greatly increased support base at Kingston Park may mean that a move would actually harm the future of Thunder.

Currently, Gateshead Thunder are enjoying great success on the field, growing attendances, and a strong relationship between fans and board. Chairman Steve Garside needs to pursue Thunder's bright future by keeping things this way, a task he will be greatly assisted in by repenting of these ill thought out plans to shift the side to Newcastle.

End of an Era: The Legacy of Michael Vaughan

Joe Williams — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:54:22 -0400

The cricket world was rocked this morning by the resignation of Michael Vaughan from the England captaincy. Vaughan's five years in charge of England bought much success, with 2005's Ashes triumph the pinnacle. On a sad day for England followers, here is a look back at five highlights spanning Vaughan's innings as England skipper:

1. Vaughan's debut vs South Africa, Johannesberg, 1999. In a disastrous England first innings, Vaughan kept his head to make 33 from 119 balls in an innings total of 122. Vaughan, batting fourth, saw Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart depart before even facing a ball as England were reduced to a humiliating 2-4.

Even listening via radio the tension was tangible, and with Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock tearing in the already ecstatic Wanderers crowd were baying for the young blood of Vaughan and partner Chris Adams. But they stood firm and steered England to 34-4 before Adams succumbed.

The innings highest partnership then ensued as one Andrew Flintoff joined Vaughan's vigil. England were 90-6 when Vaughan fell, and despite the inevitable defeat, the steel of Vaughan was truly forged.

2. The 2002/2003 Ashes series. During a (sadly typical) routing of England in Australia, Vaughan racked up three scintillating centuries. It was here that he established himself as a world class batsman and was the only Pom the Antipodean bowlers truly feared.

The innings were beautifully flowing, full of Vaughan's favourite cover drives and legside flicks. His highest score of 183 was crucial in securing England's only triumph of the series in the new year test at Sydney, finally giving some cheer to the faithful of the Barmy Army.

3. Vaughan handed captaincy in 2003. Vaughan first took charge against South Africa at Lords in 2003, the second test of a five-match series. Not a boisterous presence on the field, there was a sense of the unknown as he donned the armband.

A vital 156 in the first test aside, Vaughan had a poor series with the bat, but in his first assignment as captain he guided underdogs England to a thrilling 2-2 series draw.

4. England win in South Africa 2004/2005. England's two previous tours to South Africa were fairly disastrous affairs, but four years ago Vaughan led his men to a tremendous 2-1 series victory that firmly established England as the world's number two test outfit.

The fourth game at the Wanderers (England's first visit there since Vaughan's debut in 1999) was the decisive contest and one of England's greatest triumphs in living memory.

A strong England first innings of 411 (Vaughan contributing 82) was surpassed as the Proteas posted 419. England racked up a quickfire second innings 322-9dec (Marcus Trescothick top scoring with 180) to set South Africa 325 to win.

The top order crumbled under Matthew Hoggard's swing, but an injured Graeme Smith came in at eight an looked to have saved the match, now late in its fifth day. But after Flintoff dismissed Pollock and Ntini, Hoggard came back in the dying overs and forced Dale Steyn to edge a catch to keeper Geraint Jones, provoking ecstatic celebrations from the England team and fans.

5. England win the Ashes 2005. There is an unwritten rule in cricket that whatever victories an England side may achieve, they won't be considered a 'great' team unless they can defeat Australia in cricket's premier contest, the Ashes.

In 2005 Vaughan led England to this prize for the first time in 18 years.

The story of the famous series is known to most, with a sequence of epic tests at Edgbaston, Old Trafford, and Trent Bridge producing many magic moments. England were 2-1 up going into the final test at The Oval, and held out for a draw to take the series.

It was the summer that test cricket recaptured the imagination of the British public, transformed from a minority interest into a mainstream obsession. The quality of the matches were notable, as was Vaughan's clever and cool-headed captaincy in high pressure situations.

Considering these above achievements, there is a touch of irony that South Africa have bought about Vaughan's resignation decision. It has undoubtedly been a frustrating series for England fans to watch, as lazy shots and a fairly blunt bowling attack have arguably cost victories at Lords and Edgbaston.

Major changes to the dynamic of the team do need to occur. Yet it was the suddenness of Vaughan's (tearful) announcement that has caused the shock. It is true that England did not press on to become a world dominating team after defeating Australia in 2005, suffering dismal losses in Australia (2006) and Sri Lanka (2007) and perplexing ones at home to India (2007) and South Africa (2008).

Somehow, though, one still thought Vaughan's experience and acknowledge tactical brilliance had something to offer England's future. But it is not to be.

Thoughts will inveitably turn to his replacement and there will be plenty of time and space to debate this issue. But I encourage cricket fans to first spend some moments reflecting on the achievements of Michael Vaughan and giving him the credit he deserves for a remarkable tenure as England captain.

County Championship Preview: Top-of-the-Table Tussle at Trent Bridge

Joe Williams — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:37:50 -0400

A new round of the LV County Championship Div One begins Wednesday, with key matches at Trent Bridge and Horsham.

The former venue sees surprise leaders Nottinghamshire take on a Durham side seeking their first ever title. The East Midlanders come into this game following a fine win against a much-fancied but underperforming Yorkshire outfit, with seamers Charlie Shreck and Mark Eahlam showing auspicious form.

With Yorkshire dismissed for 161 in the first innings, Durham's notoriously variable top order must remain resolute to provide their own dangerous pacemen a decent total to bowl at. In particular, Durham will be hoping that Will Smith can build on the brilliant double-century he posted at Guildford a fortnight ago.

Denied the chance of defending their Friend's Providence title and missing out on the (lucrative) 20/20 final, Durham's hope for this season rests on the county championship, and win would take them back to the top of the table.

Both Sussex and Somerset come into the clash at Horsham on the back of huge wins and with title hopes very much alive. Although a game-in-boot, the current title holders have historically been strong performers in the later months of the season and a win would put them right back in the mix.

With the summer sun starting to exert itself, Sussex probably regret no longer having the devastating leg spin of Mushtaq Ahmed to call upon, and their bowlers may struggle against a classy batting lineup that includes Justin Langer and Markus Trescothick.

Somerset, who could go top if they win and score two more points than Durham, are boosted by the return of Andy Caddick to their bowling attack, though they too lack a threatening spinner. By all accounts this should be a close and intriguing contest.

In the other two ties, relegation threatened Hampshire desperately need a win at Canterbury, and Kent could be vulnerable having been thrashed by Somerset.

Likewise, bottom side Surrey will be looking to score a win against a flaky Yorkshire side at Headingley, themselves increasingly embroiled in the relegation scrap. It seems as if the Tykes' morale hasn't recovered from their ejection from the 20/20 cup, but they remain one of the strongest teams on paper and shouldn't be written off just yet.