Stuart Broad has admitted that part of England’s problem at the World Cup is that they are ‘too nice’.
England are in danger of missing out on the play-offs after humiliating defeats to Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
‘When things are not going well you tend to go within yourself and I think we were a bit like that in the field. We don’t have natural ‘out there’ guys at all. Everyone’s lovely. Everyone’s really nice,’ said Broad.
‘If you put them all in a room together for five days and have a beer, there wouldn’t be a bad word said. Sometimes you need a bit of ‘that’ in the field. Did you notice the other day in the field when it looked a bit dead out there? Jimmy and I came in from the boundary to the middle just to try to create a bit of uncomfortableness for the batsmen.’ – The Telegraph
KOHLI ‘APOLOGISES’ AFTER MIX-UP
India’s World Cup squad was left embarrassed on Wednesday after star batsman Virat Kohli verbally abused a journalist he mistakenly thought was the writer for another newspaper.
The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Murdoch Oval in Perth where India were training ahead of their Pool B match against the West Indies at th WACA ground on Friday.
As soon as he wrapped up his net session, Kohli stormed to the sidelines and let off a volley of expletives at a horrified Indian reporter, eyewitnesses said.
The visibly shaken journalist wondered why Kohli had pounced on him without any possible provocation – until it was found to be a case of mistaken identity.
Kohli had actually planned to target a reporter from another Indian newspaper apparently for writing about his personal life.
Realising his mistake, Kohli offered his apologies through an intermediary, also a reporter.
In response, the abused reporter told the intermediary to inform Kohli that such behaviour was not expected from an international sportsman even if it was not directed at him. – AFP
McCULLUM READY TO FACE AFGHANISTAN
Brendon McCullum batted and bowled without discomfort today and has been pronounced fit to play in New Zealand’s Cricket World Cup game against Afghanistan in Napier on Sunday.
The Black Caps captain was hit on his left forearm by a Mitchell Johnson delivery in last Saturday’s one-wicket win over Australia.
The swelling was immediate, and McCullum looked to be favouring the arm during the remainder of his innings.
‘Yep, there’s no reason for him not to play [against Afghanistan],’ New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said.
‘The swelling’s going down. It looks a bit ordinary at the moment, but he’s batted today without any issues. He’s fine.’ – stuff.co.nz
