Ecclestone and a Sunday Morning Youtube fest

My first ever foray into F1 but then he's strayed into my field of politics. Apparently, he prefers dictatorship to democracy. Fair play to him at least he has the balls to say it.

However, he's caused trouble by ''praising'' Hitler for saying 'he got things done'. This reminded me of a story I saw a few weeks ago that 'Mein Kampf' is becoming a management bible in India.

I should note that I'm now writing for World Cricket Watch - a relatively new site that combines a number of blogs. Have a look around.

So, on to a YouTube fest: One of the best run-outs you'll ever see from one of the best fielders you'll ever see. Some absolutely astonishing fielding from Angelo Matthews and a similar one from the Ozzies. Some massive turn from Murali - as ever. Here we have The Dilscoop/Dilshan/Starfish wish has taken the world by storm. The classic catch that shows fatties all over the world that cricket is their natural home.

In the footballing world, here's a preview of the next big thing in Brazilian football Douglas Costa. For anyone who thinks that Ronaldinho invented the ''elastico'', the wonderful Rivelinho seems to do it here a few decades earlier. And to finish up, some vintage Bergkamp.

On to the rugger: Have a little bit of the greatest player in the world (when he can be arsed to turn up) Rupeni Caucau. Here we have two more Fijians in one video 'Serevi vs Ryder'. One of my favourite players as a teenager and, in my opinion, vastly under-rated, Christian Cullen. Josh Lewsey responding to a bit of handbags with a massive hit (that broke two ribs). Another All Black hero and one of the most original players to hold the oval ball, Carlos Spencer (and this chip kick).

Enjoy!

RCM

Michael Owen Part Deux

Well there we are. Liverpool legend, England's Michael Owen has signed for Manchester United. Whilst part of me is heartbroken that a hero at Anfield has signed for a rival, I'd rather he was plying his trade at a big club rather than scratching around at Hull. Before I go on here are a few opinions from the MSM (Martin Samuel, Phil McNulty, Kevin McCarra and Tony Cascarino).

I have to say that I think Fergie has pulled a bit of a blinder and, secretly, Liverpool and Arsenal will be kicking themselves. A few days ago I said United need a striker and quickly and, I think, this may well be the cleverest deal of the summer.

Owen's problems are pretty clear. He is, apparently, injury-prone. However, like that other English sporting legend Jonny Wilkinson, Owen seems to have had a series of different injuries. The way some commentators are talking it is as if they are the only people on the planet that know Owen's history almost as if, somehow, Sir Alex will have not noticed the injuries.... come on now, Fergie knows about it and is taking a punt.

Now Owen's collection of injuries may well hint at something but it isn't as if he is coming back from cruicate ligament surgery. Furthermore, two things need to be taken into consideration here a) It is well-known that Newcastle have a terrible record when it comes to injuries and in particular hamstring injuries (this has been put down to the hardness of the pitches at their training ground on more than one occasion) b) other than AC Milan, United are probably the best in the world at keeping players fit and playing well into their thirties.

Furthermore, like AC Milan, not only are United good at keeping players playing well into their thirties, Fergie is pretty shrewd when it comes to buying comparatively old fellas to do a job for a few seasons. The ones that spring to mind are Henrik Larsson and Teddy Sheringham but Barthez was 29 when he arrived, van der Sar 35 and Laurent Blanc 36.

Is it a gamble for Fergie? Of course, but an exceedingly shrewd one. If it is true that he is on a pay as you play deal the risk has been mitigated to a fairly large extent or, more correctly, the financial risk has been mitigated.

Will he play? Well, contrary to rumours United still have two world-class strikers in Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney. They've also got Wellbeck and Macheda coming through. Owen won't play every week but he is an exceptionally useful sub or occasional player. Even at Newcastle, he was averaging slightly over a goal every two games. What will he do with United's midfield behind him?

Other risks... well, the media are obsessed with Owen. If he doesn't play, it could become a disruptive story. Secondly, if there are injuries to either of the big name strikers, can he produce over the course of a couple of months? Thirdly, there are issues with winning over fans (although I presume United fans will love the fact Liverpool fans are spitting) and, finally, most importantly, it's proven that he doesn't fire with Rooney.

However, these are all fairly minimal risks. He is cheap, he knows most of the players already, has bags of big-game experience, he has scored goals wherever he has played and scored consistently, he'll be motivated by the performances bonuses and the fact that United is just about the best possible shop window for the World Cup, he has played at Anfield and the Bernabeu so knows all about atmosphere, he's great to have on the bench with ten minutes to go, it'll annoy Liverpool fans, he's (apparently) friendly with Fergie and, crucially, he is English. Big clubs need more Englishman because of the European regulations and (possibly) 6+5. The lad is the fourth highest scorer for England and a former European Player of the Year. He's a steal.

A great move. And, it means, he can now take a risk on a young player a la Ronaldo for 5-15m rather than spend £55m on Villa or Ribery. Markus Berg, perhaps, or someone similar? Alternatively, as he's secured a new winger and striker for the total of £16m, he might realise that other areas of the team need strengthening - a defensive midfielder, another winger or maybe another creative midfielder as Carrick is looking shaky.

Damn and blast.

RCM

Deconstructing Phil Hughes

I'm hopping back to cricket because I do not wish to countenance a boyhood hero being seduced to the dark side.

England have a battle on their hands this summer in the Ashes. Yes, the Ozzie attack isn't what it was. Losing Warne's wizardry and McGrath's metronomical economy would have been difficult for any team in history to cope with. However, the Ozzie batting is arguably in better shape than it was in 2005. Hughes, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, North and Haddin are a tight bunch full of runs.

Yes, Haddin is no Gilchrist but he is not a bad player and can score heavily. Pup Clarke has developed into a batsman with few clear weaknesses. Ponting is Ponting - a great scrapper, a heavy runs scorer and someone who combines grit with enormous talent. After 131 tests, he has scored 37 test tons and averages 56.20. Katich is a strong, left-handed opener who averages 43. Hussey isn't the player of a couple of years ago but is still a top-notch player. As Graeme Smith points out today in the Guardian, he has become susceptible to the short-ball and they bounced him throughout the series in South Africa.

However, the man everyone is talking about is Hughes. In three tests, he has scored 415 runs - not bad for a man who started his career with a duck. He broke George Headley's decades-old record to become the youngest man ever to score two hundreds in a test. For Middlesex, he managed to knock 574 runs in his three first-class matches, including three more tons, at an average of 143.50. His relatively short first-class career has seen him play 24 matches where he has notched 10 centuries, 14 half-tons and over 2,500 runs. The lad looks to be a batting machine.

The boy has a cool head. I watched him bring up his first test hundred (and , indeed, his second) No nineties nerves for Phillip. In one Paul Harris over he hit four, six, six to smash his way through the usually troubling last ten runs of a ton.

So what of this boy genius? He's a left-hander and will be forming an all-leftie opening partnership with Katich this summer. He has, shall we say, an unorthodox technique. He doesn't have the copybook technique of Len Hutton or Sachin Tendulkar or, on an English level, Ian Bell (I don't agree that Bell has a 'copybook' technique but I can understand why people say that he does). Hughes often backs away to help him force balls to the offside.

For an international sportsman, Hughes is tiny. 5ft 7. He is shorter than the next shortest opener in The Ashes by 4 inches. This has an effect on his technique. As he can get very low, it means he can cut almost any ball. This ability to cut at anything means he is naturally inclined to give himself room to play the cut stroke by pulling backwards towards the legside.

His unorthodox technique raises eyebrows but it also raises questions. If you give him any width, you play into his hands. If you bowl straight, he will try to manoeuvre space for himself by pulling backwards and legwards. Even if he doesn't do that, he drives very well. I'd guess that Graeme Smith is right regarding the best line to him. Very straight and full-length, even though he can drive so well. Width, as above, is what he makes hay with so give him it at your peril.

He seems to have a cool head (a duck in his first innings hasn't phased him at all), he hits well, scores fast and his strange technique means teams try to see a hole in his armoury. As South Africa have found there doesn't seem to be one. He seems to have a decent temperament and can score in big innings. Yes, he's knocked lots of tons but he scored a ton in the Sheffield Shield final essentially putting the ribbons on the shield for NSW. When playing at Newcastle, with skeptical selectors watching, he batted his main adversary for the opening bat spot in South Africa off the pitch. Poor old Phil Jacques watched him knock 151 and 82 to win over the Ozzie selectors who think his technique is too odd.

What's pleasing is that Hughes hasn't had the talents coached out of him. Like Lara, he has an unconventional technique (Lara's backlift was extraordinary). Greg Chappell talks a lot of sense whe he says “I’ve felt for a long time in cricket there has been too much of a focus on technique and a misunderstanding of what technique really is. One of the problems cricket coaching has been caught up with is that technique is something that should be perfect in somebody’s opinion. I’ve never agreed with that and probably even more so in recent times that technique is this mystical, magical position you get into to play a shot.''

Maybe part of the problem for bowlers is that they are used to playing against batsmen that have come througha academies and who all do similar things. When someone, like Hughes, comes along and is so far from the norm it is difficult to focus on anything else, they struggle? Their own academy taught techniques don't know how to get him out and they flounder. As Chappell also said, batting is about getting runs. Simple and obvious, yes, but it is true. If the lad gets lots of runs who cares (other than opposition fans and coaches!) how he gets them?

So how do we get the bugger out? Well, there seem to be two theories coming forward (and others discussed here).

Firstly, from Steve Harmison (who did get him out yesterday) thinks peppering Hughes with short balls is the way to go. To aim in the area from hip to armpit. It worked yesterday and, in South Africa, Hughes looked uncomfortable at points under a similar barrage. He looked uncomfortable yet he didn't get out very often. Harmison is making the old error that just because something worked once it will work again and again. I would imagine that this could play into Hughes' hands as he gets to scythe and cut as he likes. Secondly, there is the temptation to bowl at middle and leg but, as Gus Fraser put it, he's hardly likely to miss a half-volley there.

So how good is he? Spiro Zavos has compared him to Len Hutton. Gus Fraser said 'It is an unfair comparison to make at his stage of career but I feel he is a bit like Brian Lara.' Pretty high praise from two people who know the game inside out.

Gulp.

RCM

Benzema

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Ferguson household tonight.... If Villa won't move out of Spain, Benzema has gone to Real and Ribery looks over-priced, where do United turn?

Luis Fabiano caught the eye in the Confederations Cup, Eto'o looks like he will stay at Barcelona, Pato seems to be staying at Milan. Ibrahimovic is probably an ego too far and, potentially, too disruptive for Fergie. Aguero is an astonishing talent and maybe Fergie will turn his eyes to him. Alternatively, Real Madrid have plenty of talent who will be looking around the continent.... Saviola, Higuain, Robben and so on.

Valencia isn't a bad player but he isn't going to fill the gap in goals that Ronaldo and (to a much lesser extent) Tevez leave behind them. Rooney, for all his many talents, isn't a thirty goal a season man (or, some would say, a twenty goal a season man). United need a proven striker and fairly quickly.

RCM

Fatty Batter should be playing for England

I have long been a fan of Robert Key. Partly, admittedly, because it is always good to see a man of a portly demeanour succeed. Partly because I admire his fluid batting style and partly because I suspect that underneath that mop of brown hair is one of the best cricket brain in county cricket.

RWT Key has played in 15 tests for England and averages 31. That's considerably lower than his key competition (Bell - 40.59; Collingwood - 44.20 Bopara - 49.62, Pietersen - 50.49 but ahead of Shah - 26.90) but his 15 tests were a number of years ago.

However, he has led Kent well for a number of seasons, has captained them to the T20 cup, has captained England A and has improved massively his batting since he was last selected for England. In the past five years, only Ramprakash has scored more first class runs and Key averages over 40 at that level. The fact of that matter is most cricketers get a second chance (and in some cases, any number of 'second chances') but Key, for whatever reason, isn't lucky enough to be one of the conveyor belt candidates of English batting.

Furthermore, and this is often forgotten due to the pie and burger jokes, he bats with an elegance not often seen in the county game, an elegance that belies his sturdy frame. He has superb timing and placement and bats with a beautiful, flowing style. He also plays with no small smattering of intelligence. Whilst I, like others, bemoaned his nudging and nurdling against Holland in the T20, he rarely gives away his wicket, and usually bats with intelligence - no flashy fours or smashed sixes.

He has exceptional cricketing brain, commands respect across the game, is an outsider (having not been picked over the last few years) but also is close to many of those in the current England squad. He was selected, earlier this year, to captain the MCC against Durham (usually an honour bstowed on the most highly thought of captain in the county game) and has a fine captaincy record.

Yes - there are issues. His closeness to Flintoff and, in particular, Harmison might not be a good thing. Others point to his poor batting record last season (although others realise that where his batting has dipped, Kent have benefitted for his general captaincy) and the fact that his current form is not fantastic. He is also not the fittest man in the county game.

In the pressure of an Ashes series, cool heads are necessary. I am a huge fan of Shah but a man who got so tense batting against the Windies that he gave himself cramp from holding his bat too tightly is surely going to be blown away by the banter, sledging and ferocity of the Australians. Bopara could take the series by storm or he could collapse. Bell is The Shermanator. Key offers decent runs, clever batting, a cool head and a captain's brain. If we were 10/1 against the Ozzies and Key came in at three, I'd be much calmer than I would be if Shah or Bopara were in that situation. That said, Bopara is the man in form and it would be wrong to drop him when he is in such good nick. Key, however, would be a useful squad man.

My view is that England could do a lot worse than have Robert Key in the squad (I think his brain would help Strauss enormously) and they almost certainly will do worse.

RCM

A new cricket blog

A good chum of mine has started up an excellent cricket blog here and has bagged himself a grand name: Got Him! That's Out!

Please do go and have a peruse, it is pretty top-notch stuff with all the sorts of things you don't get here: in-depth knowledge, weighted opinion, reasoned analysis.

Like myself, he's had a look at Vaughan's career (and in much greater depth!).

I'll be dipping in and out of cricket this summer and, I hope, to live-blog at The Oval (I've got two days at The Ashes fifth test). I say I hope because previous form suggests that I'll be attracted to the massively over-priced fosters like a moth to a flame.

RCM

A great story

These stories are great when they do come along. What chances of West Auckland beating Juventus 6-1 in the rematch?

Not quite a Sheffield F.C. story but still a pretty good one. Well done Juve!

RCM