Swann Finds A Bunny In Smith

In his seven Tests to date, Graeme Swann has pulled a rabbit out of the hat for his country on more than one occasion. In this back-to-back series with the West Indies, the world's leading wicket taker in Tests this year has certainly found himself a bunny in Devon Smith.

Swann has dismissed the left-handed opener five times in three Tests, and in every way imaginable. Smith's nightmares must centre round the grinning face of England's new spinner.

Taking a batsman's wicket creates a mental post-it note which clings to the consciousness of batsman and bowler. Over the course of following innings and matches it's nagging presence can either have little consequence or, in rare cases, escalate out of all control - becoming a full-blow horror novel. This is what Smith has experienced, with Swann seemingly being able to get him out at will - an unwelcome hangover from the Tests the Caribbean series.

The great thing about having a bunny, from the bowler's point of view, is that it entirely warps perspective. A batsman usually adept at countering spin can be sent into a flutter by a slow bowler who has his number. An experienced old pro can suffer fatal lapses of concentration every time the rookie bowler gets chucked the ball by his captain. And a man in imperious form can contract the jitters as soon as his nemesis begins a spell. 

Conventional wisdom does not come into it. The fact is that any other right-arm offbreak bowler in an England shirt would not cause Smith so much strife. Bring Swann's head into the picture and alarm bells begin to ring. It's not the bowling Smith can't play, it's the bowler.

If Smith can draw any comfort from the situation, it is that he finds himself in good company. So too does Swann. 

It could be argued that Glenn McGrath got the better of every batsman he came up against, but a couple in particular stand out. 

Former England captain Mike Atherton is often cited as McGrath's bunny, and with good reason - the deadly Australian dismissed him 19 times. It is often overlooked that he also claimed the prize wicket of Brian Lara 15 times, although his average of 41.40 runs per dismissal is vastly superior to Atherton's 9.89.

Of course, McGrath was an outstanding bowler, but Atherton came up against a plethora of those, and his reasonable Test average in the high thirties is testament to the fact that no other troubled him to the same extent.

McGrath's colleague, Shane Warne, was a similarly terrifying prospect for the batting fraternity, with no one suffering at his fingertips more than Daryll Cullinan. 

Warne dismissed the South African 12 times - not his record in international cricket - but the nature of Cullinan's travails make him the poster boy for all Warne's victims. The spin king's hold over Cullinan was such that he is now chiefly remembered as Shane Warne's bunny, despite being a mainstay of the South African team of the nineties, and the fact that he did, unlike many bunnies, eventually manage to improve on his hapless record - as he put it, by then "the story had been told".

Having a bunny affords the bowler an certain arrogance. Warne summed up his dominance by saying, "I was asked who I would like to bowl to for a living. I said I would be a very rich man if I was to bowl to [Cullinan]." Clearly he knew the truth in his words, the problem was that so too did Cullinan.

It is a phenomenon of the game and one of the many elements that make the bowler-batsman battle so intriguingly complex. Graeme Swann may be no Shane Warne, but right now Devon Smith would prefer to be facing the latter. 

    

Swann and Bopara Offer Hope

Temperament is a key element of elite sport. So often the difference between a good player and a great player or a team's success or failure, a good temperament in the heat of battle is a vital thing. In recent decades it has enabled Australia to produce both winning players and winning teams. Many an Ashes contest has been decided before it even began, the fragile and vulnerable mental state of the English failing to prove a match for the superior confidence and mind-set of the old enemy.

Ravi Bopara and Graeme Swann possess un-English temperaments, which bodes well at the start of an Ashes summer. How refreshing it is to see the marriage of ability with supreme confidence and an ultra-relaxed demeanor. We've never struggled to produce the ability in this country, but the latter has proved more illusive. Take the cases of Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash. They should have shared 40 Test centuries between them, and perhaps with Bopara's carefree approach to batting they would have. We can only hope Ian Bell takes a leaf out of the Essex man's book before he joins that unenviable list. 

Stories keep emerging about Bopara. Whether he's offering Pietersen earnest advice about how to fend off the type of delivery that accounted for him in his first innings golden duck, or having no clue what his interviewer meant by the term 'FEC', they reveal a refreshing and uncomplicated character. And it's a character which may just enable him to reveal his talent as often as befits an Ashes number 3 batsman; the nature of the opposition, one feels, won't overly bother Bopara.

The same can be assumed of Graeme Swann. Early in his career, Swann was viewed as an arrogant character - presumably because he had the audacity not to be consumed by self-doubt. He's had to wait longer than he deserved for a decent run in the side, and, as his no-nonsense hitting and beautifully flighted deliveries showed, he won't be wasting any time from here on.

Swann, the highest wicket taker in Test cricket this year, will play a crucial role in the Ashes. The Australians have had a handy knack of making the best bowlers look ordinary, but Swann will ensure they know they're in a battle from the off, and unlike others before him, he'll make sure it's settled on the pitch, and not before entering it. 

Bopara and Swann possess enviable temperaments, which in both cases will more than make up for a relative lack of international caps when they take to the pitch in Cardiff. They will be fearless and look to take the opposition on. If their teammates follow suit then England can regain the Ashes.

Barcelona Unsettled by Hiddink

The Spanish backlash which greeted Chelsea's Champions League semi-final first leg stalemate at Barcelona, was quite predictable and quite misguided. Different variants of the 'Chelsea's tactics are killing football' theme were banded about; it's fair to say that Catalonia was not overly enamored with the way in which they set about achieving 0-0 parity. 

Brilliant as Guardiola's team are to watch, they have adopted a rather arrogant view that aesthetically pleasing attacking football is more worthy than good quality defensive play. Few would argue that Barca's brand of total football is more easy on the eye, but the points system in football doesn't work like that of an Olympic diving contest. It's all about the result, and Chelsea deserve praise for securing a decent one. Far from do anything wrong, they did a lot right.

Believe it or not, defending is as much an art-form as attacking. John Terry is as impressive an exponent of his role as Thierry Henry is of his. The comments emanating from the Catalan camp seem almost to be accusing Chelsea of some form of cheating. "It's difficult to play against a team which doesn't want to play football," lamented Guardiola after the first leg. No Pep, they just didn't want to play your brand of football.

And what a good decision that turned out to be. Were Chelsea really meant to adopt a high defensive line and cavalier attitude towards protecting Petr Cech's goal, just like Real Madrid did on Saturday? Then they too would have found themselves four goals down by the end of the night. Important as it is to show the locals respect in a foreign country, that would be taking it a couple of notches too far. 

Barca's 6-2 mauling at the Bernabeu further underlined just how good a result 0-0 at the Nou Camp is. It also highlighted a tactical deficiency in the Spanish side's make-up; the lack of a Plan B. Admittedly, Plan A is very effective and has brushed aside all-comers in La Liga this season. However, upon encountering the Chelsea brick wall, Barca's only answer was to try and neatly pass their way through it. Unable to get their own way, they reverted to spoilt child mode and harmless jibes.

If Barcelona only know one way to play, then Chelsea, and in particular Guus Hiddink, know a number more. The plans the Dutchman has masterminded for his different teams over the years extend from Plan A right down the alphabet, and doubtless tonight's game will see Chelsea try something a bit different.  

It's fair to assume Barcelona wont, which should make for a fascinating tie. At this stage in the competition, there is much to be said for having tactical nous on your side.

KP Echoes AB

Kevin Pietersen's striking honesty in last week's infamous newspaper interview is neither an entirely novel concept, nor necessarily a damaging one.

England are in the midst of a turbulent tour of the Carribean. Clearly Strauss's men should not be suggesting otherwise in dealings with the press, but nor, arguably, should they be trotting out the usual media-training favourites; we've got a long way to go, one step at a time, and the captain's personal favourite, we'll take the positives. Such phrases turn a press conference or interview into a banal and largely pointless affair.

Andrew Strauss always says the 'right' thing, and in truth any other approach would cause far too many problems given his position as captain. As such, nothing Strauss says through the media is likely to stir up anything other than a passive response from his team-mates. Conversely, Pietersen's exchanges with reporters are likely to be absorbed with as much interest by his colleagues as they are by the general public.

The harsh reality is that in just 3 months time England face a ressurgant and dangerous Australia side, and despite playing some good cricket in the Carribean, the performance level will need to undergo considerable improvement in order to recreate the euphoria of 2005. The fact is that Pietersen is "at the end of his tether" following three "soul destroying" months of defeats, and rightly, he wasn't going to hide it.

That Pietersen appears to treat every interview like a trip to his shrink is admittedly inadvisable, but perhaps he's not far off the mark with the odd montage of verbal punches. He's not the first in the history of cricket to aim them in the direction of the opposition, nor is he the first to angle a number at his own camp. Last week's interview echoed an even stronger outpouring of emotion from another iron-willed southern hemisphere batsman affectionately referred to by his initials.

In fact, Australia captain Allan Border went way further in a verbal tirade delivered during the Test Series of the 1986 New Zealand tour, when he told a wide-eyed press gathering that he was "leaving it up to them [his team] now."

Other choice phrases included, "I've given up speaking to them", "I've said everything that possibly can be said to this bunch" and, "They are going to show me if they really want to play for Australia and whether they really want to play under me."

It was remarkable, front page stuff, and makes Pietersen's comments look more suited to a village newsletter. AB outgunned KP. But what was even more remarkable, was the reaction of his teammates. Whilst the locker-room would have been a fascinating place to be as a tape of the interview was relayed to the stunned squad, on the pitch, they responded favourably in both the short and long term; squaring the subsequent ODI series, and going on to become a force in world cricket - and one which has grown from strength to strength.

Border's piercing honesty galvanised his team. He was justified by both the truth of his comments and his own standing as the team's best player. He felt, rightly, that not only were his colleagues failing to hit the heights he consistently achieved, but also that they were not allowing themselves to; not training hard enough, not paying the baggy green due respect. They were serious accusations, but founded on truths.

So too are Pietersen's comments. Strauss's England find themselves in a better position than Border's Australia, but they too face crunch time. Only total commitment, immaculate preparation and and an unrelenting will to win will ensure summer success. As Border did before him, Pietersen encapsulates such qualities and he's called upon his teammates to follow suit. Border's actions didn't do Australia any harm.

Moyes Exceeds Expectations

The FA Premier League Manager of the Year award is unlikely to end up on Merseyside this season. If it does, it will be found buried under a myriad of congratulatory letters and a league winners medal on Rafa Benitez's desk, a footnote to the prize most coveted by the red half of Liverpool. 

The award seems to follow the premiership title around gamely. It can usually be found in Manchester, whilst sometimes popping out of the office for a brief spell in London. Only once, when awarded to George Burley in 2001, has it ever been awarded to a manager who has not won the league. But, maybe this year it should end up on Merseyside regardless.

That David Moyes goes into the international break with his team sitting comfortably in 6th position - honing in on those above them and safe from the threat of those below them - represents a superb achievement. Given the obstacles which he and his Everton team have overcome this year, his is the outstanding managerial performance of 2008-09.

Whilst moaning about injuries is to an extent justified, a not inconsiderable part of a manager's job is learning to cope with them. Injuries are a certainty for every manager, each season, and Moyes deserves credit for how he has dealt with more than his fair share.

Yakubu, Everton's main threat, hasn't kicked a ball since November. The same is true of youngster James Vaughan, while Victor Anichebe joined them on the injury list in February and will not return this season. Louis Saha is Louis Saha and consequently Moyes has entered into a number of games without any fit strikers. This is not been evident in their impressively consistent results.

For a start, Moyes has negated the need to score an excess of goals by constructing an organised and efficient defence and midfield platform. His is a first team littered with reliable bargains, players who with the benefit of hindsight we can deduce he paid well under the odds for.

The likes of Lescott, Jagielka, Pienaar, Arteta and Howard were not unknowns before donning the Everton blue, but all have risen to heights higher than fans dared dream and their transfer fees suggested at time of purchase. The ability to acquire players for half their monetary value has enabled Moyes to infuse his squad with quality youngsters, such as Dan Gosling and the particularly outstanding Jack Rodwell, and the odd player of considerable expense, like Marouane Fellaini.

Everton's transfer policy and spirit is best summed up by Tim Cahill. Everton's man for any occasion has proved equally at home ghosting late into danger areas to score crucial goals in big games as he has filling in up front in the absence of strikers. Moyes has hinted he's a player of the season candidate, but in truth his chances probably mirror his manager's.

Understandably, when choosing the award's recipient in the past, the FA have favoured a direct correlation between a manager's achievements and silverware. Therefore, winning the FA cup is likely to be the only factor to give Moyes a realistic chance. But, with the odds against him, he's moulded a team that is very hard to beat, irrespective of goings on at Wembley.

Tellingly, Moyes has twice received the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award, in 2003 and 2005, the year he guided Everton to the fourth Champions League spot, at the expense of Liverpool. Such acclaim is unlikely to be matched by the FA in May, though his case, in a year in which all the big guns have struggled to assert themselves, is strong.

In all probability another Scot, Sir Alex Ferguson will be renewing his award ownership. As thoroughly deserved as it was last year, it is hard to argue that his team have progressed this year. He essentially bought himself a 30 million pound conundrum in Dimitar Berbatov, which he has spent the season trying to solve. This has yet to be done, and in truth, an until-now unpenetrable defence and an impressive increase in percentage of possesion have kept them ahead of a faltering pack. They are likely to taste league success, maybe even European too, but they have failed to convince like last season in the attacking third. 

This probably says more about the Premier League's chasing pack than about United. Rafael Benitez may have enjoyed two weeks which he'll do well to better for the rest of his career, but Liverpool's recent run cannot mask a largely inconsistent and often uninspired campaign, and an unhealthy reliance on two specific players. They too may prove successful in Europe, maybe even domestically, but they have produced considerably more average displays than you would associate with a team in their position.   

Similarly, Aston Villa's recent implosion should not colour an otherwise impressive season. Fans of such clubs strive for improvement, and the Villa Park faithful have certainly been treated to that, to the extent that they've forgotten the pre-Champions League contention days, as the recent booing of Gabriel Agbonlahor suggested. O'Neill deserves praise, but so too does Randy Lerner, who has supplied his manager with generous funds and a free reign to construct his masterplan.

Honourable mentions too have been merited by the managerial displays of Gianfranco Zola and Steve Bruce. Both joined their clubs in unsure times, but have replaced looming question marks of a worrying nature with ones concerning European qualification. 

These are the managers of the season; ones who've exceeded all expectation. And leading that pack is David Moyes.   

Ferguson Should Go With Tevez

The Carling Cup in the bag, a sizeable lead in the premiership, the preferential draw in the FA Cup semi-finals - an unblemished season beckons. However, the largest immediate obstacle to Manchester United's immortality, is a considerable one. 

Ferguson must guide his team past Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan on Wednesday night to keep alive his dream of retaining the Champions League title.

To do this he will have to find a solution to his striker "crisis". Which two of Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Tevez to pair upfront. If Manchester United did crises, they'd probably be the best crises in the world.

In reality Ronaldo is likely to slot into midfield. And then there were three. Rooney and Tevez in the bullish genius camp, and Berbatov, who represents the sublime or the non-existent, depending on his mood.

Rooney is a likely starter having returned to full fitness and goal-scoring form against Fulham on Saturday. And Tevez should join him.

For a start he too is in goal-scoring form, bagging a brace at the weekend. More significant than that on Saturday were the sparks flying between Rooney and Tevez. Finally Manchester United were able to produce the ruthless demolition they've been searching for all season, and Ferguson must seize the moment and bottle it.

Ironically, Berbatov has proved a more uncomfortable fit at United than Tevez. Seen by many as the final piece in the Old Trafford jigsaw, the unpredictable Bulgarian has complicated Ferguson's front-line options in a way that few predicted, and to the extent that the Scot is still undecided on his first choice pairing. Such problems were predicted upon Tevez's arrival with popular opinion assuming the Argentine dynamo would struggle to link with Rooney due to their almost identical approaches to the art of attacking. 

They are remarkably similar, but this consensus overlooked two key facts; such similarity fails to pose a problem when the forwards in question are complete strikers - muscular, capable in the air, strong on the ground - and when both possess world class ability.

Despite being the better team in the first leg, an inability to score an away goal places United in a precarious position this week. Concede and they must score two. The situation will require defending from the front. Pairing Rooney with Tevez will ensure this. Berbatov is capable of many things on a football pitch, whether or not defending is one of them remains to be seen, he has yet to trouble himself with trying.

Of course Tevez is no less capable of having an ineffectual night than Berbatov, but at least he'll die trying. If Inter's defenders leave the pitch on Wednesday having faced 90 minutes of Rooney and Tevez, they'll know all about it. If in doing so they are victorious they'll fully deserve their Quarter Final berth. After all, one of the few things more terrifying than facing Wayne Rooney, is facing him in tandem with a clone.

The "Lottery" of Penalties

Possibly the biggest mistake Spurs made regarding their narrow defeat in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, occurred in the days and weeks leading up to the final. "We thought there is no point in practising penalties" revealed striker Darren Bent. I wonder if their viewpoint was beginning to change after extra time as the exhausted players linked arms on the halfway line, a grim air of inevitability engulfing the men in white.

Admittedly the finer details of the previous 120 minutes of football merited the vast majority of Redknapp's preparation time, but the fact that his team had stuck to his solid gameplan so admirably, merely makes the assumption that penalties were not worthy of even an afterthought, all the more baffling.

Redknapp's description of penalties being a "lottery" is not entirely accurate. "Lottery" implies luck, that the Spurs players had no control over their own actions around the Wembley penalty spot, that every ounce of Jamie O'Hara's football talent and experience was extracted from his body as he began the fateful walk from the halfway line.

Sure, luck plays a part, but so does skill and mental strength. To claim that a penalty competition will be decided solely by luck is to do a disservice to those whose ability to thrive from the spot affords them 'expert' status. Alan Shearer did not have such an impressive record from the penalty spot because he was a very lucky man, more that he could place a ball and hold his nerve like few others. His unerring penalty accuracy is matched only by his uncanny ability to pick a shirt straight from the Matalan bargain bin for his appearances on the Match of the Day sofa.

Manchester United practised them, Spurs didn't. Of course this is not the reason Spurs failed to retain the trophy for the first time since Nottingham Forrest in 1990, but it has to be considered a factor.

It is impossible to simulate the pressure of a shootout in any training ground situation, but that stage is sufficient for honing the skills of psyching out the 'keeper, choosing a spot and ensuring the ball ends up there. If nothing else, Spurs should have entertained the possibility of a shootout occurring by identifying a number of possible takers; and those takers should have decided where their penalties would go - at least by the night before the match - eradicating any of the doubts that can flood the mind in the tsunami of nerves which plague such situations.

Ben Foster's use of the ipod represents the other end of the preparation spectrum. Verging on the obsessive, this attention to detail will understandably not appeal to all, but at the very least it shows that United had rehearsed for the situation as best they could. Pressure will always allow for lines to be fluffed, but as the dust of fate was sprinkled over proceedings, the Reds' superior planning told.