English cricketers cannot use Twitter and Facebook while on national duty

According to the Daily Mail report on Sunday, England cricket players cannot post message on their social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook during their matches. They have been put this ban by the team management. England captain, Andrew Strauss, has shown his strong agreement with team management to write a clause in the new central contracts for 2010-11 banning players from tweeting while on England duty.

Four England players- Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen and Steven Finn are very popular on their Twitter sites as have nearly almost 150,000 followers between them. Players said that their social network activities are a "harmless diversion". It seems that team management has taken this decision so that cricketers can concentrate more on practice and performances while they are on international duty.

However, team management is worried thinking about that dressing room secrets will be exposed to the rest of the world through social networking sites. Former England U-19 captain, Azeem Rafiq, put himself under immense criticism because of his insulting message that he sent on his site against the coach, John Abrahams, following his drop from the Sri Lanka tour. He was fined 500 pounds and banned from cricket for one month.

The Professional Cricketers' Association has talked in favor of Twitter arguing that existing regulations are enough.

Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are becoming the most popular way for branding for international cricketers. With the use of social networking site, they can attract sponsors. However, it can be used to express something that is needed to keep secret.

Preliminary Squad of England for World Cup Football 2010

England manager Fabio Capello has named the provisional 30-man England squad for the FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa on 11 May. There are some surprise inclusions as well as exclusions. All the players were named from the English premier league.

Because Premier League, FA Cup and even Carling Cup matches are broadcast live in South Asia, English football clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have huge fan followings in all the countries of South Asia.

There are 3 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 12 midfielders and 5 forwards in the 30-man squad. So, it is likely that defense and midfield will produce most of the exclusions on 1 June when Capello will announce the final squad.

Among the surprise inclusions are retired Liverpool centre back Jamie Carragher, Stephen Warnock, Michael Dawson, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Adam Johnson, while the high-profile omissions are Gary Neville, Joleon Lescott (who has injury problem) and Stewart Downing. Most of the surprises appeared in the defense and midfield.

For the central roles in defense, Ferdinand and Terry are expectedly most favorites, while Carragher, King, Upson and uncapped Dawson are also eyeing for the same role in South Africa.

There are 3 candidates for the left back positions: Ashely Cole, Warnock and Baines, while the competition for the right back position is very less with Glen Johnson being the only contender. Capello may consider Carragher as a makeshift back up for the role.

Creative midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are certain to make the cut for the final 23-man squad, but Capello may find it difficult to sort out the central midfield. With Gareth Barry doubtful over his fitness, Carrick, Parker and Huddlestone would compete for the central role in England midfield.

James Milner seems to have an edge to go to South Africa for his versatility. Lenon and Cole will vie for the left wing position, while Walcott, who can also play as a striker, Wright-Phillips and Johnson are competing for the right wing position.

Ferdinand has been appointed captain of the side, while Gerrard has been given the role of his deputy.

Here are the names of the players of Preliminary England squad for World Cup Football 2010:

Goalkeepers

David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders

Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (ManU), John Terry (Chelsea), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa), Leighton Baines (Everton), Michael Dawson (Tottenham)

Midfielders

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (ManU), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), James Milner (Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Adam Johnson (Manchester City)

Strikers

Wayne Rooney (ManU), Emile Heskey (Villa), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Darren Bent (Sunderland)

England Squad for Twenty20 World Cup 2010

This year England cricket team has the best possibility to win the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2010. Ahead of the shortest version of cricket game, England selectors named a strong 15-man squad where Andy Flower will stay as a coach. Here are the players:

England squad for T20 World Cup 2010: Paul Collingwood (captain), Kevin Pietersen, Michael Lumb, Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Yardy, Ajmal Shahzad, Tim Bresnan, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell.

This team has been put in Group D with West Indies and Ireland. England will start their campaign against Ireland on May 1, 2010 in group stage.

Since the birth of shorter and shortest version of cricket format, England cricket team has not won any cricket world cup. It is shocking because they invented cricket. They will try their best to get one world cup trophy and it can be possible in the third edition of the twenty20 world cup. England cricket team looks very strong compare to other cricket teams. England players’ performances in all forms of cricket game are good enough in recent times. They defeated mighty South Africa and then weak team Bangladesh. England also regained their Ashes trophy at home. Despite their good performance, they failed to hold any good position in any form of cricket ranking.

England hosted the second edition of Twenty20 world cup. Despite being the host team, England could not do well. They went up to the super eight round. It was their best performance in previous two t20 tournaments. It will be interesting to see if they can move further in the upcoming tournament.

Paul Collingwood was named captain of England cricket team. He is a good all rounder. He is an effective right handed middle order batsman and right arm medium pace bowler. It is expected that he will play an important role for his team. Now, millions of fans will eagerly wait to see if he can lead his team to get a world cup trophy for the first time in the history of England cricket.

Michael Lumb is the new inclusion of England squad. This 30-year-old right handed batsman is likely to make his debut in the shortest format of cricket game. He has averaged 34.08 in first class cricket and 32.32 in List A cricket. However, he is also an important player in one of the IPL franchises, Rajasthan Royals.

England has a strong batting line up. Kevin Pietersen is one of the most important batsmen in the squad. He has the experience to play for England in all forms of cricket game. No doubt, he is a big asset for his team. Now, fans will be watching if he can lead the national cricket team successfully.

Ravi Bopara and Michael Yardy have been re-called in the final squad. Their good performance in the county cricket forced the selectors to select them. It is a big challenge for these two players if they can secure their places in the national squad. Ravi Bopara last played against Australia in 2009. On the other hand, Michael Yardy last played against West Indies in 2007. Ravi Bopara is known as a hard hitter batsman. It is important for the shortest version of cricket game.

Craig Kieswetter is another player who has been included in the squad. However, he has already played 3 ODI matches. Now, he is perhaps going to make his T20 debut with this tournament. He has been included as the wicketkeeper ahead of the Matt Prior. The exclusion of Matt Prior shocked me. He is considered as an experienced and important wicketkeeper-batsman in modern times. There is no confusion that Craig Kieswetter will have to struggle a lot to show that his inclusion was not wrong decision. If Craig Kieswetter is injured, then Eoin Morgan will be keeping wicket.

I cannot see any good bowler in England cricket team. It seems that selectors did not give much importance about selecting quality bowlers. However, Graeme Swann is a good bowler in this squad. He is a leading wicket taker. This Offspinner will keep an important role in his team’s victory. Both Stuart Broad and James Anderson are good bowlers. They are the permanent members of England squad.

Let’s see if England cricket team can win this T20 World Cup. I don’t see any possibility for them to win this tournament.

England Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2009

ICC Champions Trophy 2009 starts from 22 September in South Africa. The eight-team tournament spans only 14 days. Top eight test playing teams in terms of their ODI performance have been qualified for the tournament. The participating teams are: defending champion Australia, India, Pakistan, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand. All the teams have announced their squad for the upcoming tournament which is the second most prestigious tournament after ICC World Cup.

England is definitely one of the favorites, but the English side will miss the service of two key players: Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff- who are currently injured out. Flintoff was initially included in the squad, but the player later on pulled off his name from the squad as he is going to undergo a surgery on his knee.

There are some experienced players in the squad including Captain Andrew Strauss, Collingwood, James Anderson, Ryan Sideb besides some of the young talented cricketers like Joe Denly, Bopara, Broad, Morgan, Adil Rashid, Wright and Swann. Overall, I think, the squad is pretty much balanced in the presence some quality batsmen and bowlers.

England Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2009 :- Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Joe Denly, Andrew Flintoff, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.

ECB will announce the replacement of Andrew Flintoff later on.