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Ben Hollioake may have picked up the man-of-the-match award for his sparkling 73 in Surrey’s Benson and Hedges Cup final win over Gloucestershire but his coach is warning him that he’s not yet the finished article.It was a great day for Hollioake in a season which is developing well for the 23-year-old following his selection for the England one-day side for the NatWest Series.It is four years since the younger of the Hollioake brothers burst on to the scene as a teenager with his 63 against Australia in the Texaco Trophy and 98 off the Kent attack in the 1997 Benson and Hedges final.After that he suffered a downturn in form and even struggled to hold his place in the Surrey side but now coach Keith Medlycott senses that Hollioake is ready to fulfill his potential.Medlycott told PA Sport: “Ben is as talented a player as anyone in thedressing room.”There are different ways of measuring talent. Mike Atherton can bat for tenhours in a Test Match and Ben plays some of the sexiest shots in the world. Theyare both talented players.”Ben burst through early in his career and it is a reality of life that thereare very few players who do well from 15, 17, 18 onwards who are a completesuccess straight away.”But he is maturing and working harder, although I’m sure he would admit thathe still has a lot to do.”England are very excited about him but we want to smooth him out. We don’t want a rough diamond. We want to turn him into a pearl.”He’s got the potential but you have to get your hands dirty. He’s doing itbut we want to get there quicker.”On the big occasions when Ben has put his hand up and played well, everybodyin the Surrey dressing room has expected that. He is a major player in asuccessful side.”But in one-day competitions this year, he is starting to turn in moreconsistent performances.”He is also averaging 80 to 90 in four-day cricket and his performancesare also getting better and better.”He is that bit older, playing more games and we at Surrey are now pleasedwith the progress that is now coming and the work that is being put in.”Understanding of how to prepare at the top level is another thing you haveto learn and Ben is filling that criteria – and performances are coming becauseof it.”Hollioake admitted: “It’s hard to put a finger on why my game has come on butI’ve worked hard this year and it seems to be going well.”I’ve been more consistent and getting more mature. I’ve got quite a lot ofgames under my belt now even though I’m still quite young.”Getting picked by England was great for me – for them to show that theythink I’m a player of talent and for me to get a 50 and 30 proved to me I canstill do it in pressure situations – like yesterday.”That gives you confidence that I didn’t have last year. Saturday’s situationis one I’ve been in a few times this year and I’ve come in and played that sortof innings.”

Chelsea have pledged to ban any fans found guilty of racist comments or chants for life, as an internal investigation surrounding the Champions League tie against Genk in Belgium continues.

Reports have indicated that striker Daniel Sturridge was victim of a derogatory and abusive comment by one of the Stamford Bridge club’s VIP supporters, whilst chants aimed at QPR defender Anton Ferdinand were also sung during the 1-1 draw.

With Blues captain John Terry under investigation over alleged racist comments also, the London club have stated that any evidence of racism by the fans will be treated with the utmost severity.

“We are investigating several complaints as part of our ongoing investigation into offensive behaviour at the game in Genk,” an official statement reads.

“We take all complaints of this nature extremely seriously and are working with supporters and police to identify those that took part. It can sometimes prove difficult to identify offenders at European away games as there are varying degrees of CCTV and TV footage available to us.

“However, we will continue to vigorously pursue any evidence of individuals or groups taking part in discriminatory behaviour and take the strongest action against them.

“Chelsea FC believes such activity shames the club and the game of football and we are fully committed to eradicating such offensive behaviour from the sport,” the statement concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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	Andrew Flintoff is confident his fourth ankle operation has finally sorted out his long-standing problems © Getty Images

Andrew Flintoff is still targeting the first Test against New Zealand starting on May 15 as his return to the England team as he prepares to begin the domestic season with Lancashire following his fourth ankle operation. He is due to play two matches against Yorkshire next week before the opening Championship fixture at The Oval.Flintoff had the surgery in October and hasn’t appeared in a first-class match since August – his last Test was against Australia in Sydney 15 months ago – so the selectors will be wary of jumping the gun at a recall until his body has proved it can stand the rigours of constant bowling, especially with the first two Tests being back-to-back. Flintoff, though, is keen to push for his place in the first part of the season rather than wait until the one-dayers against New Zealand or the South Africa series.”There’s a Test match [against New Zealand] that I’d loved to be involved in,” he said. “I’ve missed a lot of international cricket through injury and I don’t want to miss any more, or as little as I have to, but I’m under no illusions that to get back into the side I’m going to have to be fit and playing well. That starts against Yorkshire and then the first Championship game. I’d love to put my name in the hat, but even if I am playing well they have just come off two wins so it’s not assured. I’d just like to be in the mix up.”Flintoff’s comeback has followed a measured regime laid out by the ECB and Lancashire. He has never been a player who gives less than 100%, whether his body is allowing him or not, and he has sometimes needed to be told when to stop. “He’ll say ‘I’m feeling good can I do 20 more minutes’,” Mike Watkinson, the Lancashire coach, said, “but we have to say no, that’s what you are doing today. Come back another time and do it again.”Flintoff’s workload is outlined up to the end of the second Championship match against Somerset. There won’t be any restrictions imposed on his overs although Watkinson did say they would be sensible. “I don’t see him bowling 25 overs a day but he’ll be out there and be a squad player like the rest of them. The limit in the games will be common sense and the match situation will dictate. You’ll probably see him bowling five-, six-over spells and no more than two or two-and-a-half spells a day.”Lancashire have had a close relationship with the ECB during Flintoff’s rehabilitation, something which has been appreciated by his club, who haven’t always seen eye-to-eye with how England players are handled, especially under the previous management. “It’s been teamwork really and it’s nice that we are trusted to look after Fred on a daily basis,” Watkinson said. “It hasn’t been an entirely free rein but we have done what we feel is right for Fred and we are mindful that his introduction into cricket, and bowling in particular, has to be gradual.”Since Christmas Flintoff has been through warm-weather training in South Africa, and spent time in India with the England Lions and Lancashire Academy. He returned to action during the pre-season trip to Dubai last month where he enjoyed “feeling emotions that I hadn’t had for a while. Being nervous when I went out to bat and the excitement of being out on the field.”He’d been expected to feature for MCC against Sussex next week, but after discussions between Lancashire and the ECB it was felt to follow that four-day game with the Championship outing against Surrey would be too much. He has been operating in five-over bursts in the nets – “he’s bowled with some good gas” according to Watkinson – and says he won’t be holding back when the serious action begins.”I’m aiming to start the season bowling a full pelt whenever the captain asks me,” Flintoff said. “At such a late stage it would be foolish to push it too much now, but Mike Watkinson and Dave Roberts [his physio] have got a programme and I ask Winker [Watkinson] on a daily basis what I’m doing and I just get on with it. I’ve probably been bowling five to eight overs a day. Everyone has been talking about working at 70-80% but I reckon I’m not far off bowling flat out.”

	I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small niggle at the back of my mind after four operations, but that’s inevitable, and I just hope that if you ask me in July with 150-200 overs under my belt that I’m still alrightAndrew Flintoff admits to a few nerves

His latest ankle surgery was carried out by Dutch surgeon Niek van Dijk after the World Twenty20 in September when bowling caused obvious pain. This time a chuck of bone was removed which Flintoff hopes will bring permanent relief and allow him to recapture the form that made him the No. 1 allrounder in the world.At times, especially during the pain he was suffering last year, Flintoff’s ankle occupied his mind whatever he was doing on the field. “I think the batting suffered more than the bowling. Batting with an ankle which was sore meant I wasn’t able get through my shots. And at times, too, all I was thinking about was my ankle and where I am going to go from here.”Although Flintoff has his eyes on the opening Test at Lord’s he is also learning from the past experiences of rushing the recovery process. “We’ve made a concerted effort this time not to rush things,” he said. “There’s been nothing like in the past when there has been an Ashes or a World Cup to get back for and this time we have taken our time and got it right.”However, even Flintoff concedes that he won’t be able to shed all doubt until the repaired joint has undergone some serious work. “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small niggle at the back of my mind after four operations, but that’s inevitable, and I just hope that if you ask me in July with 150-200 overs under my belt that I’m still alright. I’ve been OK coming back from the other operations for a few weeks, but this time hopefully I will be fine, not for weeks but years.” The next few months will prove whether time really has been a great healer.

Cricinfo can reveal that Zimbabwe’s cricketers have been banned by their board from having any player representation.Under the terms of the contract they all signed immediately before the World Cup, they are not allowed to appoint any single person to collectively negotiate on their behalf, and all dealings with board officials have to be on a one-on-one basis.One of the players said that this was a continuation of a divide-and-conquer policy towards them which has been operated by Zimbabwe Cricket since it refused to recognise Clive Field in negotiations at the end of 2005. At that time, Field was the official player representative, although after a series of acrimonious meetings, ZC stopped dealing with him.FICA, the international cricketers’ association, has written to ZC several times to stress the need for representation, but aside from an initial acknowledgment, there has been no communication from the Zimbabwe side.Although the players all signed the contract, they were presented with it and given a few minutes to read and sign, with the threat that were they not to, then they would be kicked off Zimbabwe’s World Cup squad. They were not allowed to consult with advisors. One player said that they were not happy to sign, but they took the view that they wanted to play in the tournament, so did so reluctantly.In a further twist, players have been also barred from meeting together as a group amid fears that there will be more who opt to quit the game now that the World Cup is out of the way. Cricinfo learned that one such meeting was recently cancelled amid fears that players could be reprimanded by the board. There is also concern that monies owed by the board from the World Cup, which have still to be paid, could be withheld were such a meeting to go ahead.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Rahul Dravid’s 71st ODI fifty boosted India to a target that proved too much © Getty Images

India levelled the series 1-1 through a solid batting performance backedup by a fine bowling effort by a team that understood the need of the hourand sent down a mixture of diligent pace and crafty spin, supported wellby the field, to notch up a 51-run win. It was Virender Sehwag’s timely73, and Rahul Dravid’s meaty 92 that took India to 269, a sizeable score,and then Irfan Pathan checked in with early breakthroughs and Ramesh Powarweighed in with a crafty spell to take the game away from Pakistan.When Dravid won the toss and quickly chose to bat it was obvious that theIndian team had learnt quickly from the first match. They decided early onthat there was no point in going for the big hits even with the powerplayson, and instead settled down to build partnerships and conserve wicketsfor a late charge. It was a throwback to the times when wickets were at apremium in ODIs and runscoring took care of itself.Mohammad Asif was at his usual accurate best, landing the ball on a lengthand allowing it to seam one way or the other if it did. But, with Dravidand Sehwag taking no chances, he had little joy, and was merelyeconomical. Sehwag, struggling for form to the extent that he had only twohalf-centuries in 21 ODI knocks leading up to this game, was lucky not tobe bowled off the inside edge early on, and settled down. Dravid, in hislatest avatar as limited-overs opener, kept things under control.Although both batsmen struggled to beat the infield early on, soon supplewrists and confident on-the-rise drives came into play. Dravid was severeon anything that was straight – drifting down leg or just plain straight -flicking both in front of and behind square for boundaries, while Sehwagshowed that even in bad form he is no blocker.Before Pakistan knew it, both Dravid and Sehwag had fifties, and theopening partnership had gone past the century-mark. Eventually, on 138,Pakistan struck, as a quick, skidding delivery from Shahid Afridi beat theoutside edge of Sehwag’s bat and hit the top of off stump. Sehwag, who hadrested for the last game and come into the side for this one in place ofRobin Uthappa, had scored 73, and put India well on the way to a bigscore.Mahendra Singh Dhoni ran out to the middle as is his wont at No. 3 andensured that Sehwag was not missed. Although not teeing off from thecrease like he is famous for, Dhoni kept the run rate up with a successionof cheeky strokes. A dab here, a push there, a whip through midwicket, afine sweep past the keeper with an almost-straight bat, and suddenly Indiawere clipping along.When Dravid fell, eight short of a century, his powers of concentrationnot being equal to keeping out an Asif yorker, India were still well placed.Soon after Dhoni played all over a Naved-ul-Hasan slower ball, and wasgone for 59. India were not quite in trouble, but there was a chance thatbatsmen fresh to the crease would not score as quickly as desired. Butno-one told Yuvraj Singh that the pitch was low and slow. He walked out tothump three consecutive boundaries and a nonchalantly flicked six, rackingup 24 from just 10 balls to push the Indian score to 269 for 5 from 50overs.Pakistan needed a good start and they did not get it. Irfan Pathan, withsome help from Rudi Koertzen, had his 100th ODI wicket, when Imran Farhatwas adjudged lbw as he fell over and missed a scrambled-seam straight one.Soon after Shahid Afridi, sent in at No. 3, played all over a classicindipper from Pathan and was cleaned up. When Younis Khan, one of the realdangermen, tickled Ajit Agarkar to the keeper, Pakistan were 45 for 3 andin deep trouble. Then Yuvraj plucked a stunner out of the air as Malikswept Powar on 45, and trouble became distress.Inzamam-ul-Haq, calm as ever, cool and calculating, batted safely yetconfidently, and kept one end up. Mohammad Yousuf was the first tounderestimate Powar, and was caught at midwicket trying to heave over theleg side. Abdul Razzaq forgot to reckon with Powar’s dip and only managedto find Kaif at long-on. Naved-ul-Hassan clattered the ball here andthere, taking the pressure of his captain, but his innings of 27, off only17 balls, was always fraught with danger, and it ended when Venugopala Raotook a well-judged catch on the roped at long-on.If Pakistani hopes were still afloat they were properly snuffed out whenInzamam was, yes, run out, as he jogged across for a non-existant singlewhen Iftikhar Anjum played the ball to midwicket and Dravid collected theball, ran to the stumps at the bowler’s end and took off the bails. Soonafter Pakistan folded for 218 and India had levelled the series 1-1.How they were out
India
Virender Sehwag b Afridi 73 (138 for 1)
Rahul Dravid b Asif 92 (228 for 2)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni b Naved-ul-Hasan 59 (234 for 3)
Yuvraj Singh c Asif b Naved-ul-Hasan 24 (255 for 4)
Suresh Raina run out (Akmal/Razzaq) 6 (269 for 5)
Pakistan
Imran Farhat lbw b Pathan 8 (22 for 1)
Shahid Afridi b Pathan 0 (23 for 2)
Younis Khan c Dhoni b Agarkar 5 (45 for 3)
Shoaib Malik c Yuvraj b Powar 45 (91 for 4)
Mohammad Yousuf c Raina b Powar 5 (108 for 5)
Kamran Akmal c Dravid b Harbhajan 18 (167 for 6)
Abdul Razzaq c Kaif b Powar 1 (148 for 7)
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan c Rao b Pathan 27 (198 for 8)
Inzamam-ul-Haq run out (Dravid) 79 (209 for 9)
Iftikhar Anjum b Sreesanth 11 (218 for 10)

Matthew Mott will help steer the Australia under-19s to the 2006 World Cup © Getty Images

Tim Coyle has beaten Trevor Barsby, the former Queensland opening batsman, for the position of Tasmania coach after the departure of Brian McFadyen. Coyle, a wicketkeeper who played seven first-class games and a domestic one-dayer, was unveiled today after an extensive selection process that included overseas applicants.Brent Palfreyman, the Tasmanian Cricket Association (TCA) chairman, said Coyle’s knowledge of the state system was a huge bonus. “We wanted to appoint the person most capable of capitalising on the work that has already produced the talented young players in the Tigers’ squad,” Palfreyman said. Tasmania won the ING Cup last summer and Palfreyman said developing the team into a consistently high-performing unit was a priority.Coyle, 44, is a level three coach and was appointed the TCA’s game development manager in 2000 after ten years as a regional coach in Launceston. Barsby, the Queensland Academy of Sport coach, reached the final stage of the interview process.McFadyen is now the head coach of the Australia under-19 side and received a new assistant today with the appointment of Matthew Mott. Mott, a former Queensland and Victoria batsman who played 66 first-class games, has been on the coaching staff at New South Wales but will prepare the youth squad for the 2006 World Cup.

Andy Bichel: out of favour with the selectors © Getty Images

Andy Bichel has hit out at the selectors after being dropped from Australia’s 13-man squad for the VB Series finals. Bichel, who has had a poor tournament, taking just three wickets at over 65, complained that he was a victim of double standards in the Australian selection policy.”Maybe there are double standards and that’s the disappointing factor, knowing that I have so many supporters out there who are right behind me,” Bichel told reporters in Brisbane. “But that’s the way it is and you have to take it on the chin.” Bichel has been replaced by Michael Kasprowicz for the best-of-three finals.In what appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to the media’s continuing obsession with Brett Lee, Bichel said: “I probably don’t play the media bandwagon too much, I just get on and play my cricket. I think you get that in every sporting team around the world, there’re different guys who get the limelight.” Lee went for 83 runs in his ten overs against India at Brisbane but was persisted with, and repaid the selectors’ faith with an awesome spell of 3 for 22 against the same opponents at Perth. Another player who has been persisted with despite struggling for form is Damien Martyn, who has managed just 122 runs at an average of 17.42 in the VB Series.Bichel is the second Australian fast bowler to express his disenchantment with the Australian selectors this season – Brad Williams had earlier vented his ire after being dropped for the Brisbane Test against India. Unlike Williams, who was censured for his comments, Bichel escaped disciplinary action after Cricket Australia decided that his remarks were inoffensive.

During the ICC Board of Directors’ teleconference this morning, David Morgan, the ECB Chairman, did not put forward a formal resolution to the ICC Board to move England’s match against Zimbabwe from Harare. He did, however, make strong remarks to the Board about the broader issue of safety and security at all matches:”I want to put the broader issue of the possibility of civil unrest and thethreat of terrorism into very stark perspective.”If there are demonstrations and rioting in Harare during the England versusZimbabwe match this is not just an issue for the two countries directlyconcerned it is an issue for all the countries taking part in the World Cup.”We should all be concerned about this matter, just as we should all beconcerned about any safety and security concerns in Kenya affecting New Zealand, Kenya and Sri Lanka.”The security risk at all matches will, of course, vary according to where the match is being played and which countries are taking part in the match. In that sense, the risk factor at each match must be individually assessed and evaluated.If there are significant security and safety problems, it will blight the whole 2003 World Cup with an indelible stain. It will reflect very badly on cricket and, indeed, everyone associated with the World Cup. No one will escape blame. We will all have to bear collective responsibility.”If, in the next few days/weeks, there is a discernible deterioration in safety and security surrounding particular matches then decisions must be urgently reviewed and, if necessary, matches moved. We must all reserve our right for this to happen.”The Kroll Report, which was discussed at length, was categorical in itsultimate assessment that it is safe and secure for all six matches in Zimbabwe to proceed as planned. It was clear from the mood of the teleconference that there was an implacable and overwhelming feeling that the recommendations of the Report should be accepted.David Morgan had, only last night, fully briefed Nasser Hussain about theposition ECB would be taking at today’s ICC Teleconference. David is fullyaware and understanding of the England Team’s concerns about the match inHarare on February 13th, and will continue vigorously to ensure ICC reviews all safety and security aspects relating to this, and other, matches.

Manchester United’s scouts have now been spotted keeping close tabs on a wing-back target who Ruben Amorim already knows well, according to reports.

Amorim "really disappointed" by Bournemouth draw

Saving the best Premier League game of the weekend until last, Man United and Bournemouth played out a frantic 4-4 draw on Monday night. It laid bare the Red Devils’ attacking improvement, but also exposed the problems that will feel all too familiar for those watching on at Old Trafford.

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After battling to take the lead before the break, United found themselves behind just seven minutes after half-time as the Cherries put them to the sword in shocking fashion. But it was then the visitors who collapsed courtesy of quickfire goals as Bruno Fernandes stunningly struck before Matheus Cunha broke his goal drought in timely fashion.

Alas, even at 4-3, the hosts were yet to learn their lesson and Eli Junior Kroupi emerged from the bench to level it up at 4-4 and have the final say. Amorim, stuck with a point, could only express his disappointment at full-time.

With their defensive issues exposed, it’s no shock that United are chasing key upgrades within Amorim’s back five and that has reportedly taken them back to Portugal and towards Maxi Araujo.

Man Utd now plotting Maxi Araujo move

As reported by TeamTalk, Man United are now plotting a move to sign Araujo after sending their scouts to watch the Sporting CP wing-back in action as his side defeated AVS 6-0 last weekend.

Scouts certainly picked a good game to watch, given that Araujo netted twice in that 6-0 thumping and once again showcased exactly why he’s a wanted man by the Red Devils.

He’s caught the eye over a number of years now, no less so than in 2024/25 when his displays in the Champions League saw him compared to Bayern Munich sensation Alphonso Davies by FBRef.

What also helps is the fact that Amorim already knows the 25-year-old well, having worked with him during his time at Sporting. Now, he could secure a reunion to finally welcome an upgrade on Diogo Dalot.

League stats 25/26

Araujo

Dalot

Minutes

744

957

Goals + Assists

3

3

Tackles Won

16

10

Blocks

9

3

Whilst Dalot has shown some promising signs of improvement, Amorim should welcome Araujo and the chance to either replace his current option or push him to new levels. Competition, as proved by United’s improved front line, may well be the key to turning Man United around once and for all.

As bad as Shaw: Man Utd star had his worst game for the club vs Bournemouth