Andy Flower criticises 'unsatisfactory' lack of DRS

Page last updated at 10:09 GMT, Wednesday, 27 July 2011 11:09 UK

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Flower believes DRS allows more correct decisions to be made

England coach Andy Flower says he is worried that not using the Decision Review System (DRS) could cause trouble in the Test series against India.

Flower said it was an "unsatisfactory" situation, particularly after two controversial lbw decisions in the first Test.

He believes umpires would be happier if they had the system available.

"We all know that it is not 100% accurate but we also know you get more right decisions using it," he said.

Flower spoke after umpire Billy Bowden turned down lbw appeals against Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina in the first Test at Lord's.

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It would have been wrong if the outcome of the game had been seriously affected by a couple of those decisions

England coach Andy Flower

Replays indicated the decisions were incorrect and Flower said the incidents drew attention to the lack of DRS.

Both sides have to agree to its use and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which has been a vocal critic of the technology, objected to it.

Despite the controversy over the lbw appeals, neither decision affected the result with Flower's side securing a 196-run victory.

But Flower predicts the issue could cause controversy in the remaining three matches of the series, with the second Test at Trent Bridge starting on Friday.

Asked if he was worried there could be trouble ahead, he added: "Yes, I am actually. We almost saw it happen in this Test match.

"It would have been wrong if the outcome of the game had been seriously affected by a couple of those decisions and it was quite right that, luckily, we did continue to create chances.

"It's unsatisfactory the way it is. There is no doubt about that."

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has pledged to commission independent research into ball-tracking in a bid to persuade any doubters.

Teams can make two unsuccessful review requests per innings

But Flower believes the ICC should have acted more decisively on the issue ahead of this high-profile contest.

"I don't think there's anything we can do but I think the ICC should be stronger in taking a lead on these issues," said Flower.

"They are the world governing body and they should lead. I don't think it's unfair to say they haven't led on this topic.

"Let's not quibble about millimetres here when we know you get more right than wrong. That's why most Test-playing nations want to use it.

"[Umpiring] is a very difficult job. We all know that and I think they would be happier with it too."

Manchester City set to complete Sergio Aguero transfer

Aguero scored 20 goals in La Liga for Atletico last season

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has arrived in Manchester to complete his move to Manchester City after they agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid.

The 23-year-old frontman is reported to have agreed terms on a five-year deal, with the fee thought to be about £38m.

Aguero Tweeted: "Just arrived in Manchester to finalise details of deal with City. Everything is going well."

City decided to press on with the move despite the recent collapse of Carlos Tevez's proposed switch to Corinthians.

SERGIO AGUERO AT-A-GLANCE

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• Born June 1988 in Quilmes
• Won two Fifa Under-20 World Cup titles with Argentina
• Moved from Independiente to Atletico Madrid in 2006
• Had a son with Diego Maradona's daughter Giannina in 2009
• Played in Europa League final win over Fulham in 2010
• He has scored 74 goals in 175 games for Atletico

Aguero, nicknamed 'Kun', also interested Real Madrid and Juventus but will become the most expensive signing in City's history, eclipsing the £32.5m paid for Robinho in 2008, after both clubs failed to meet Atletico's valuation of the striker.

Atletico Madrid boss Gregorio Manzano Manzano told Spanish radio station Cope on Tuesday: "It does look like this long-running issue will be resolved in the coming hours. It is at an end.

"The truth is that I hoped to reflect on [Aguero's] decision to leave favourably. I had hoped that he could have chosen a better, more professional way to leave and shown more love to the club."

Corinthians, meanwhile, pulled out of their bid to take Tevez back to Brazil last week after initially agreeing a £38.6m transfer.

That translated as 40m euros plus 4m euros in add-ons and City were happy to accept payment in instalments as part of the deal, but Corinthians were unable or unwilling to provide the customary bank guarantees associated with a deal of such magnitude.

Tevez's desire to leave City remains as strong as ever, but he may face an added complication as City are unlikely to accept a similar fee to that offered by Corinthians from any of the top European clubs considering an approach for the 27-year-old Argentine.

Beckham backs 'great' Mario Balotelli after back-heel row

David Beckham has defended Mario Balotelli over the controversial back-heel which saw him hauled off in Manchester City's match at LA Galaxy.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini questioned the 20-year-old's professionalism after he languidly put a clear chance wide.

"I've watched it back and, from his mannerisms, I believe he thought he was offside," said Beckham, advising the Italian to still score in the future.

"Mario's been a great player for quite a few years and is still very young."

The former England captain, who used to play for City's rivals Manchester United, added: "He'll continue to get better I am sure.

"But it doesn't matter whether you think it was offside or not. There are a lot of young kids watching these teams and great players who come out here. You have to be professional and score the goal."

Mancini, who argued with Balotelli as the forward left the pitch after 31 minutes, insisted that the striker he used to manage at Inter Milan knew he was not offside.

MORE BALOTELLI INCIDENTS

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• Heavily criticised for wearing an AC Milan shirt on an Italian TV show while an Inter player
• Clashed with Jose Mourinho, who accused him of a lack of effort
• Sent off twice in 28 games in first season with Manchester City
• Threw dart at a City youth team player during a prank in March
• Inflamed some Manchester United players after taunting crowd after FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley

"In football you always need to be professional, always serious and in this moment he wasn't professional," he said.

"Mario needs to understand his behaviour has to be good in every game - not just in a final or a semi-final but every game.

"He knows he made a mistake. Football should always be serious and if you have a chance to score, you should score.

"Mario is young, I want to help him. That's the end of it. To take him off after 30 minutes of the [friendly] game is enough punishment. It will not have been easy for him - but it has to be a lesson."

 

Rangers and Blackpool given £2m David Goodwillie target

Peter Houston has told Rangers, Blackpool and the other eight clubs interested in David Goodwillie they must meet Dundee United's valuation.

Rangers, who had a bid of just over £1m rejected a few weeks, had a fresh approach turned down this week after a rape charge against him was dropped.

Blackpool have also made an approach for the Scotland international.

"First and foremost, he'll not be going anywhere unless someone puts money on the table," Houston told BBC Scotland.

The United manager compared Goodwillie favourably to Scotland left-back Lee Wallace, who this month moved from Hearts to Rangers for around £1.5m as he entered the final year of his contract.

"We've got here a lad who scored 20 goals or something like that last year in the SPL," said Houston.

"That's brilliant for a provincial club like Dundee United.

"Rangers normally supply more chances than Dundee United - and I don't mean any disrespect to our boys - so how many goals is he potentially good enough to score for Rangers if he did go to them, for instance?"

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He is a striker good enough to play in the Scotland squad in the future and it gives Craig good selection problems that he is available now

Peter HoustonDundee United manager

Houston recalled Goodwillie suggesting that he would prefer a move to English football to escape the media spotlight that followed his court case.

"I don't know what David's thoughts are," admitted the manager.

"David spoke earlier that he wanted to go down south to get this nonsense out of the road. I don't know if that's changed yet.

"All I'll say to him is, think carefully where he is going to go.

"The chairman has made it well known what his valuation of the player is.

"If somebody wants to pay that and the chairman wants to accept it, David will be away."

Goodwillie and his agent were meeting United chairman Stephen Thompson on Tuesday after the latest expressions of interest.

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston is understood to have spoken to Thompson and a cash bid meeting United's valuation of £2m could be imminent.

Arsenal were represented at United's Europa league match against Slask Wroclaw at Tannadice on Thursday, while Cardiff City previously expressed an interest.

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Craig Levein told BBC Scotland he will consider bringing Goodwillie back in the national team set-up.following the court ruling.

Houston, who is Levein's assistant, said: "David might well have been in the squad for the games in May there, but because of the situation, David couldn't be called into the squad.

"He is a striker good enough to play in the Scotland squad in the future and it gives Craig good selection problems that he is available now."

Houston thought the closure of the rape case should give an added impetus to Goodwillie's career.

"We've said all along about David getting his career back on track fully focussed on football and now he can do that," the manager added.

"David Goodwillie on the park has been sensational over the last season even since this has hung over him."

BCCI denies Indian team skipped High Commission reception

Mumbai, July 27 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Wednesday denied a media report that the Indian High Commission had reported the touring Indian team to the external affairs ministry (MEA) in New Delhi for skipping its reception July 18.

In a press release, the BCCI stated that though the team did get an invite from the Indian High Commission in London for the reception, they had communicated their inability to attend as they had already committed to another function on the same day six months ago.

'The BCCI would like to make it clear that this story is baseless,' BCCI secretary Narayanaswamy Srinivasan said in a statement.

'The Indian High Commission had extended an invitation to the Indian team to attend a reception on July 18. However, the Indian cricket team had already committed itself to another function on the same day, six months in advance. The BCCI had accordingly communicated the same to the Indian High Commission, and suggested that the reception be organised on July 25 instead,' it said.

The board said the reception will now be arranged in August when the Indian team returns to London.

'The Indian High Commission authorities said that there were other engagements scheduled on July 25th. They also informed the BCCI that they would get in touch with the Indian team management after its arrival in the UK, and fix up a date for the reception. The BCCI agreed to this,' Srinivan said.

'Mr. Anirudh Chaudhry, the manager of the touring side, is in touch with the Indian High Commission officials and it is learnt that the reception may be organised in August, when the Indian team returns to London.'

Zaheer still doubtful for second Test, Tendulkar, Gambhir declared fit

Trent Bridge (Nottingham,UK), July 27 (ANI): Indian left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan is still a doubtful starter for the second Test against England to be played here from Friday, while Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir have been declared fit for the game.

The Indian cricket team practiced here for about four hours today and there were extended batting sessions for Tendulkar and Gambhir

The visitors began their practice session with a game of football and followed it up with a session of fielding before getting into the nets.

Zaheer was present on the ground in his tracks for about 30 to 45 minutes, but did not participate in any of the drills.

There is a possibility of either Munaf Patel or S. Sreesanth coming into the squad in place of Zaheer.

England have named an unchanged squad for the second Test after winning the Lord's Test by 196 runs. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)