All posts by h716a5.icu

England legend Wayne Rooney has claimed it looks as though Harry Kane is "being held as a prisoner" at Tottenham Hotspur amid persistent exit rumours.

What did Rooney say about Kane?

It wouldn't really be a transfer window without there being a whole load of speculation about the future of the Spurs striker. And it wouldn't really be a transfer window without a load of pundits, managers, and fans weighing in on the debate of where Kane should go next.

Well, Rooney is the latest man to offer his opinions on the matter, suggesting Kane would be "ideal" for his former side Manchester United to sign this summer.

Indeed, when speaking in a recent interview with The Athletic's David Ornstein, the current D.C. United manager made his feelings about his former England international teammate clear.

Rooney said: "Harry Kane would be the ideal player, for me, to go and join Manchester United.

"It looks like he's being held as a prisoner at Tottenham. It's very difficult for him to get out of there.

"But yea I think if Manchester United had Harry Kane there, then I think that gives their chances of going to win and compete… makes that a lot easier and better.

"But whether that happens remains to be seen."

As things stand, it seems more likely that Kane will end up in Germany with Bayern Munich instead of heading to Old Trafford. The Bundesliga giants have already had two bids rejected by Spurs this summer, the latest understood to be worth about £70m plus add-ons.

What did Rooney say about Maguire?

In the same interview with The Athletic, Rooney also weighed in on Harry Maguire with the centre-back having recently been stripped of the captain's armband.

On the matter, the club legend explained how this proves Maguire's not in manager Erik ten Hag's plans and so the defender should probably leave this summer.

He said: “To have the armband taken off you, how does he move forward with the club?

“That shows the manager really doesn’t believe in him. It leaves Harry in a position where he has to think on what he does moving forward.

"The manager has shown he is not part of the plans. I’m sure Harry will want to go and play — for himself, for his England career — to put himself in the best position to be as successful as he can. The best thing now is probably for him to move.”

At the moment, West Ham seem likely the most likely destination for Maguire. Indeed, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that "it is true" there is "interest" from the Hammers.

However, the Italian journalist did note that there are "also other clubs keen" on the England defender and so his future remains up for grabs for the time being.

Maybe the player will prefer to stay and fight for his spot in Ten Hag's team but it does feel as though the writing is on the wall for Maguire and with Rooney urging him to move on too, perhaps it's best to heed that advice.

England look set to name an unchanged team for the second Test, but the sight of Chris Woakes and Jake Ball back in training suggested selection could become highly competitive before the end of the summer

George Dobell at Trent Bridge12-Jul-20171:02

Wood keen to avoid second Test slip-up

England look set to name an unchanged team for the second Test, but the sight of Chris Woakes and Jake Ball back in training suggested selection could become highly competitive before the end of the summer.Woakes and Ball, who have so far missed out on selection in the series against South Africa due to injury, both enjoyed a gentle bowl at Trent Bridge as England prepared for the second Test that begins on Friday.While neither are ready to return just yet, Mark Wood – who returned to the side for the first Test at Lord’s – admitted he might not have made the side had they been fit, and accepted that the battle for places could become intense when all are available.Wood’s hope is that he can, for the first time in his career, play three Tests in succession in the same series. While he has played four successive Tests, he has only managed to do when there has been a gap of several weeks between series. And he admits that, so concerned was he by the injuries he has suffered in the past, that he thought his Test career might be over.”It’s no secret that I thought Test cricket was probably gone at one stage,” Wood said. “One wicket at Lord’s might not sound good but I was pleased with how I bowled and it was a proud moment to come back in the Test arena.”We have bowlers waiting in the wings. Probably if they were fit, I wouldn’t have played. Chris Woakes had a great year and it will be interesting to see what happens when he’s back playing.”The challenge becomes to prove to you guys, to my team-mates and the coaches that I can play three in a row. I have to keep these guys out of the team and that’s the challenge.”I feel good, which is rare for me. It’s surreal to back games up and not worry but I’m delighted.”Wood, at least, has happy memories of Trent Bridge. Not only did he claim the Ashes-clinching wicket of Nathan Lyon here in 2015 – Lyon tried to leave one but dragged it on to his stumps – but he has claimed 15 wickets in three first-class matches there for Durham, including one of his six five-wicket hauls (5 for 78 in 2012) and one of his two half-centuries (58 not out in 2013). Oddly, his three games there were his first three Championship matches.”Yes, it’s nice to be back here,” he said. “When you’re struggling, you visualise times when you’ve done well. This is a ground where I’ve always done well here, even for Durham. The night before, if I’m selected, I’ll be thinking about that and visualising running in.”Wood was delighted to contribute with the bat at Lord’s, too. He added 45 for the ninth wicket with Jonny Bairstow in a low-scoring second innings and said he was once described as “the best No. 10 since Pele”.”I slogged it at Lord’s, but that was the way to go on that wicket,” he said. “When I first got into the Durham team I batted at No. 10 and Jon Lewis, the coach at the time, said I was the best No10 since Pele. I’ll take that.”There is a slightly unusual look to the pitch to be used in the second Test. While it is a fresh surface – the same surface that was used for the 2015 Ashes Test in which Australia were bowled out for 60 on the first morning – it has an oddly mottled look, as if it has been used recently. Local knowledge suggests there will be movement and decent carry for the seamers.Woakes and Ball were not the only familiar faces on view on Wednesday. Paul Franks and Ant Botha, Nottinghamshire’s assistant coaches, were also involved – the England camp like to provide opportunities for county coaches to learn from their methods and provide some fresh views as appropriate – while Nottinghamshire’s young batch of seamers (notably the distinctly brisk Jack Blatherwick and Matt Milnes) impressed in the nets.Chris Read spent a while working with fellow keeper Jonny Bairstow and Matt Carter, the 21-year-old offspinner who claimed 7 for 56 on first-class debut in 2015, also bowled in the nets. Kevin Sharp was also part of the coaching team.Jimmy Anderson did not bowl but the England camp insist he is fine and had simply elected to rest. With 53 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 19.24 at the ground, he will have liked the look of this surface.

Newcastle United are plying some astute work on the transfer front this summer after emphatically returning to Champions League football following a two-decade absence with a fourth-placed Premier League finish.

While the return to European competition has been met with universal praise – and adulation from the Magpies support – manager Eddie Howe and technical director Dan Ashworth have not rested on their laurels and are seemingly making the requisite moves to preserve success.

Sandro Tonali was the first to arrive on Tyneside, completing a £55m transfer from AC Milan earlier this month while sharp-shooting winger Harvey Barnes recently finalised a £38m move from relegated Leicester City.

The club are also in pursuit of Tino Livramento, having seen a £30m offer rejected for the precocious Saints full-back, and with rumours of interest in Juventus' Federico Chiesa also persisting, the Magpies could unveil an imperiously refreshed squad in a matter of weeks.

Are Newcastle signing Federico Chiesa?

According to Italian journalist Marco Guida – speaking to Calciomercato (via Sport Witness) – Newcastle are 'seen as an option' for Chiesa this summer, though he would prefer a transfer to Liverpool or Bayern Munich.

Guida said: “The player would be more inclined to sign for a classic top club, such as Liverpool or Bayern Munich.”

He did state, however, that should such parties fail to act, the player could wind up at St. James' Park, with Juventus expected to demand around €50m (£43m) for the flanker.

Is Federico a left or right-wing player?

Chiesa has been lauded as "world-class" by former Italy international Alessandro Pierini for his past performances, having scored 22 goals and served 20 assists from 94 outings for the Old Lady and having played an instrumental role in his nation's Euro 2020 triumph, but saw progress derailed by a detrimental ACL injury last year.

The 25-year-old has missed 62 matches due to injury over the past two seasons but did look to reclaim some of his former verve towards the business end of the recently-concluded Serie A campaign, registering two goals and assists apiece across the final five fixtures.

The "diamond" – as he has been dubbed by talent scout Antonio Mango – is as dynamic as they come and has found success across both attacking wings, also competent in a more central striking role, which could entice Howe into pushing ahead with a transfer, given the increase in football that inevitably comes with European qualification.

With Allan Saint-Maximin nearing a departure from Newcastle and Barnes seen as a more focussed replacement – having scored 13 Premier League goals last term despite the Foxes' relegation – Chiesa could provide another dimension to the attack.

Indeed, the £154k-per-week Italian ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, whereas Barnes stands out with his goalscoring threat – among the top 6% for goals per 90.

Howe's task lies in crafting a state of equilibrium across the alternating sides of the Magpies' frontline, and this could be emphatically achieved with Chiesa's signing.

Given that he can play across both flanks, Chiesa could also provide the club with a different approach when Barnes' method has been negated by the opposing defence.

In essence, the 42-cap Italy "wizard" – as lauded by writer Roger Bennett – would take the ascension to the next level; Newcastle's progress has been remarkable, and the Toon torrent looks set only to gain momentum and the transfer activity suggests the approach is calculated and composed – there is a belief that the cogs will combine to create a lasting machine.

If Chiesa could cast aside the injury woes that have hampered his progress over the past several years, he might just cement a regular starting berth in a Newcastle side destined for a continuing rise to the very top of the game.

A quickfire unbeaten 140 from Shreyas Iyer and a 72 from Vijay Shankar steered India A to a seven-wicket win against South Africa A to seal the tri-series final in Pretoria

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2017File photo: Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten century handed India a the series title•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesA quickfire unbeaten century from Shreyas Iyer and a half-century from Vijay Shankar steered India A to a seven-wicket win against South Africa A to seal the tri-series final in Pretoria. Iyer and Shankar put on 141 for the third wicket to eclipse Farhaan Behardien’s century earlier in the day, when five wickets between Shardul Thakur and Siddarth Kaul had restricted the hosts to 267 for 7 in 50 overs.India A were jolted early when Junior Dala removed openers Sanju Samson and Karun Nair in the first six overs, leaving them in trouble at 20 for 2. But Iyer, who had not scored a fifty earlier in the series, and Shankar, who had scored a duck in his previous match, joined forces to deny South Africa another wicket for more than 28 overs, while lifting India’s run rate towards five an over. Shankar fell for 72 off 86 after striking nine fours, before Manish Pandey joined Iyer, who went on to register his highest List A score of 140 off 131 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes. The fourth-wicket pair put on an unbroken 109 in only 12.3 overs to seal the win with 19 balls to spare. Pandey, with scores of 55, 41*, 86*, 93* and 32*, was named Man of the Series.India A had capitalised on their decision to bowl when Kaul and Thakur cut through the top order and left South Africa A 32 for 3 in the ninth over. Khaya Zondo and Behardien steered them past 100 before No. 7 Dwaine Pretorius scored a quick 58 off 61 balls, which featured five fours and two sixes, to help them past 200. Behardien remained unbeaten on 101, having helped set India A a challenging target, but it wouldn’t prove enough against their middle order. Thakur ended with 3 for 52 and Kaul with 2 for 55.

West Ham United have maintained their "interest" in Conor Gallagher, and while Chelsea are happy to keep him, they do not consider him "untouchable", claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Conor Gallagher joining Chelsea this summer?

Life in a post-Declan Rice world has been frustrating for West Ham so far as, despite pocketing a cool £105m – a new record for a British footballer – the only player they have acquired on the market thus far has been Sean Moore from Northern Irish side Cliftonville.

It hasn't been through lack of trying, however, as the club have been linked to a swath of players this summer, the likes of Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse, and Harvey Barnes, before he was sold to Newcastle United.

The problem is the prices they are being quoted for these players, with the Cottagers asking for anything from £60m to £90m for Palhinha this summer.

It seems like their influx of cash from the Rice sale has given selling clubs the confidence to ask for more money when the Irons come knocking.

It looks like this situation has played out yet again, only this time with Chelsea's Conor Gallagher.

According to Sky Sports, the Hammers made an offer worth £40m to sign the 23-year-old, an offer which was rejected, despite the dynamic midfielder having just two years left on his £50,000-a-week contract.

Despite this setback, the East Londoners have maintained their interest in the England international and could try again this summer, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"They received an official bid from West Ham for Conor Gallagher. It's around £40million, it also includes some add-ons. It's something around £39m plus add-ons from West Ham, and from Chelsea, it was a no.

"So, after thinking about that in the recent hours with Mauricio Pochettino involved in the conversation, Chelsea decided to say no to that bid. They want more to let Conor Gallagher go.

"For Chelsea, Gallagher is not untouchable, they can sell him, but they want a good proposal. He's not out of the project, but they would only sell for a good proposal.

"And now the feeling is that they want something around £50m. Lets see what West Ham will do, but the opening bid has been rejected but the interest is still there."

How good is Conor Gallagher?

In what was one of Chelsea's worst seasons in a very long time last year, Gallagher had a decent enough season in which he was given a relatively significant amount of game time, 1657 minutes, to be exact.

Across his 1616 minutes in the Premier League, he scored three goals and provided one assist, giving him a goal involvement every 404 minutes or one every four and a half games.

While that certainly isn't all that impressive, his underlying numbers are, and suggest that maybe he should have found himself on the scoresheet more often than he did last year.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the Epsom-born dynamo sits in the top 3% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, the top 4% for progressive passes received and blocks, the top 9% for non-penalty expected goals, the top 12% for total shots, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 21% for successful take-ons, and the top 22% for expected assists, all per 90.

While he hasn't entirely lived up to the hype he generated during his loan spell with Crystal Palace – a spell that led Spanish publication Marca (via the Daily Mail) to call him a "jewel" – Gallagher certainly looks to have the raw ingredients to be a fantastic Premier League player, and David Moyes should be going back in for him.

The departure of Declan Rice will affect West Ham United in several ways.

The club has not only lost their imperious and ever-present talisman but also their captain – a pillar of leadership, composure, and tenacity.

It has left the Hammers scrambling as they assess how to adequately reinvest the mammoth £105m fee acquired from the record sale.

A new midfielder is the most pressing concern for West Ham, but David Moyes is reportedly also targeting a new right-sided centre-back.

One of those linked is Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

What’s the latest on Taylor Harwood-Bellis to West Ham?

According to the Guardian, the Irons are working on a deal for the Manchester City prodigy.

Alongside Harwood-Bellis, West Ham are also looking at Trevoh Chalobah and Harry Maguire. However, due to Wesley Fofana’s injury and the former Manchester United skipper’s high wages, the youngster could emerge as the most logical and attainable option.

The Evening Standard, meanwhile, claims the Premier League champions value their young talent at around £15m.

Would Taylor Harwood-Bellis be a good signing for West Ham?

Despite still being just a 21-year-old, Harwood-Bellis has amassed a commendable range of experience, including various Championship loans and a short stint with Anderlecht.

This means he’s accumulated 97 appearances away from the Etihad Stadium and is now well-placed to regularly feature for a Premier League side.

The 6 foot 2 gem has also sporadically made inroads into Pep Guardiola’s lineups, making his professional debut for his boyhood club in September 2019 in the EFL Cup.

At the beginning of 2020, he scored his first goal for City in an FA Cup victory over Port Vale and was rewarded with a new contract until 2024.

However, a pathway into the City first-team looks extremely complicated and murky.

The reigning European Champions already boast the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Aymeric Laporte, and seem on the verge of signing Josko Gvardiol.

Nevertheless, Harwood-Bellis deserves consistent top-flight football, thanks to a hugely impressive period at Burnley.

Last season, whilst on loan at Turf Moor, he made 31 second-tier starts, averaging the most interceptions (1.1) and blocks (0.7) per game in the squad as the Clarets cantered to promotion and conceded the least goals (35) in the division.

Internationally, the Englishman has also underlined his quality, as he captained the U21 Three Lions to European Championship. During this run, he started five of the six games, managed a 90% pass accuracy, and won 86% of his ground duels.

The Stockport-born titan is brimming with quality, and his former Burnley boss – and City legend – Vincent Kompany has predicted a huge future, saying:

“I think his biggest quality, that is perhaps more difficult to see on the eye, is his leadership and his incredible drive and high standards.”

These attributes perfectly encapsulate what Rice provided the London Stadium on a weekly basis.

Following the retirement of Mark Noble in May 2022, the former Chelsea academy product was named as West Ham’s captain.

This honour was a testament to his calibre, mentality, and reliability.

Since the 2017/18 campaign, Rice has featured in 203 of the last 228 Premier League games, and while Harwood-Bellis occupies a different position, he has experience leading a side to success.

Securing his signature would be a fantastic way to soften Rice’s exit and kickstart their underwhelming transfer window.

New Zealand’s first home day-night Test, against England next March, remains an uncertain prospect

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2017New Zealand’s first home day-night Test, against England next March, remains an uncertain prospect with NZC still awaiting approval to stage the match under lights at Eden Park while one Test has been dropped from West Indies’ visit with an eye on the future structure of the international game.Whether floodlit or not, England will play New Zealand in Auckland from March 22-26 followed by the second Test in Christchurch from March 30. Those matches will conclude New Zealand’s home summer which also includes a limited-overs tour by Pakistan during January in an overall schedule which has 13 ODIs and 10 T20s – four as part of the tri-series with Australia and England – alongside just four Tests.When the venues for New Zealand’s 2017-18 season were originally announced last year, West Indies had been pencilled in for a three-Test series but they will now play just the two – at the Basin Reserve (starting December) and Hamilton (starting December) – with NZC expecting a new Test Championship to be approved later this year which will shape the make-up of many future international tours.New Zealand’s 2017-18 home season

West Indies 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20s
Pakistan 5 ODIs, 3 T20s
T20 tri-series 2 matches v England, 1 match v Australia plus final at Eden Park
England 5 ODIs, 2 Tests

“If we look forward to the way Test cricket will probably go in the future, we are very hopeful that in October the ICC will sign off on a new Test Championship commencing in 2019/20,” David White, the NZC chief executive, said. “A typical tour will be two Test matches, three ODIs and three T20s so we are trying to get aligned with what we’ll have in the future.”We’ve got four Test matches which will be the norm going forward, with two tours, with 13 ODIs which is a lot but it is the start of our preparations for the 2019 World Cup.”The hopes of the first floodlit Test in the country hinge on gaining approval from Auckland council to use the Eden Park floodlights on a Sunday. New Zealand faced Australia in the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide in 2015 while, if it goes ahead, the match will be England’s third in eight months – they play their first day-night Test against West Indies, at Edgbaston, later this month followed by the Ashes encounter in Adelaide during December.”We’ve completed a resource consent hearing with Eden Park and we’re hopeful within the next week or two we’ll have a result from the independent commissioners on whether it will proceed,” White said.It has also been confirmed that Napier has lost its ODI against Pakistan – which has been given to the Basin Reserve in Wellington – with concerns it would not be ready for the January match following last year’s outfield issues when the ODI against Australia was abandoned due to problems with drainage. However, the ground will host an ODI against England in March.There is a Boxing Day ODI against West Indies in Christchurch and a New Year Day T20 against the same opposition in Mount Maunganui. The T20 tri-series, the first of its kind, had already been confirmed with the final being held at Eden Park on February 21.

The event is set to clash with various T20 leagues and as such the Full Members are not keen on sending men’s teams, which runs foul of the Commonwealth Games Federation

George Dobell03-Sep-20174:44

‘No women’s cricket at CWG 2022 a blow’

Plans to include cricket in the Commonwealth Games of 2022 have been abandoned.While women’s cricket was originally set to be included when the Games were awarded to Durban, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is determined to achieve ‘gender parity’ and is reluctant to include disciplines which will not be contested by men and women.Now, with Durban having surrendered its right to host the Games and the ICC still deliberating whether they want men’s cricket to be included, it appears the sport has run out of time.The 2022 version of the Commonwealth Games is scheduled for July and August, meaning it would clash with the CPL, the new-team domestic T20 competition in England and an international tour of England by India. As a result, several Full Member nations within the ICC were far from convinced of the virtues of involvement in the Commonwealth Games.Combined with that, it seems any bid to include cricket might have been seen as ‘non-compliant’ as it would have taken the number of athletes involved in the Games above the threshold allowed by the CGF.”Cricket is no longer scheduled to be part of the Games,” Warwickshire chief executive, Neil Snowball, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. “We’ve just run out of time, really.”The Commonwealth Games Federation want gender equality and discussion within the ICC about whether members want to send men’s teams is unresolved.”Combined with issues over the number of athletes, I don’t see any way cricket can be included in 2022.”The news suggests cricket’s involvement in the Olympics is still some way distant; involvement in the Commonwealth Games had been seen as a step in that direction.Cricket is not currently one of the mandatory events incorporated into the Commonwealth Games. But it is on the list of optional sports that host cities can add to their staging of the event, along with the support of the relevant sport’s governing body.England did not send a team on the only previous time cricket was included in the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in 1998. On that occasion South Africa defeated Australia in the final.A decision on where the 2022 Games will be staged is expected to be announced shortly. Birmingham, who had previously suggested they were keen to include cricket among the sports contested, and Liverpool are among the cities keen to host, but there are also bids from Malaysia and Australia.Snowball remains a non-executive director of the Birmingham bid but Edgbaston, which was scheduled to host many of the matches (with others to be held at Worcestershire’s New Road home) will now only host a business expo if the city is chosen to host.”Even without cricket, I genuinely believe the Birmingham bid is high value, low risk and very strong option,” Snowball continued. “It is a shame we couldn’t get cricket in there, but the people of Birmingham will still welcome the Games with open arms.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui could look to 'cash in' on Matheus Nunes, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence if suitable offers arrive for their services at Molineux, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Which clubs are keen on Nunes, Neto and Podence?

Earlier this year, Telegraph Sport revealed that Liverpool were keen on bringing Wolves midfielder Nunes to Anfield, though they now look to have gone in a different direction after confirming the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

L'Equipe via Sports Mole claim that Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain are now sniffing around Nunes' signature as they prepare for the potential departure of Italy international Marco Verratti to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal.

In the case of Neto, Sporting Clube de Portugal have shown an interest in taking the diminutive winger on loan this summer and he is believed to be 'very well regarded' by the Portuguese giants, as per A Bola.

FootballTransfers reported back in April that Neto was also under consideration at Premier League outfit Arsenal to add some depth on the flank and competition for Bukayo Saka.

Wolves are also 'expected' to sell Podence between now and the close of play in the market after he stayed at their Compton Park training ground during the Old Gold's warm weather training retreat in Portugal, as per The Daily Mail.

Podence made 37 appearances in all competitions for Wolves last campaign in total, registering six goals and one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones believes that Wolves would consider selling the £191k-a-week trio if suitable offers were to arise for their services this window.

Jones stated: “If Wolves also cash in on more players, then people will be wondering what the result of all this will be, but the truth is it could happen.

“They need to raise more funds, and while Nunes and Neto aren’t the names they are looking to offload, you wonder what would happen now if an offer landed.

“The information around the club is that someone like Podence is one of those most likely to be next on the chopping block, so that could happen.”

What now for Wolverhampton Wanderers?

Wolves have been severely hamstrung by Financial Fair Play issues this window, which has led them to make just two signings in the form of Matt Doherty and Tom King, who have both arrived at Molineux on free transfers, as per Transfermarkt.

According to The Mirror, Old Gold boss Lopetegui is believed to be considering his future at the club amid frustration over now being able to replace high-profile departed players such as Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez and Nathan Collins.

Bournemouth are also set to beat Wolves to the signing of Bristol City playmaker Alex Scott in a deal worth around £25 million. Lopetegui harbours fear that his side isn't strong enough to compete in the Premier League at present.

Football Insider report that Wolves are targeting veteran West Ham United target Michail Antonio as a potential solution to their slim options in the final third; however, Everton and Nottingham Forest are also keen on the Jamaica international.

Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell had been in talks over a move to Wolves, though they broke down after neither party could agree on a fee for the former England international, as per The Daily Mail.

The former Australia captain thinks if you’re in the public eye, you’re in a no-win situation when you deal with an incident the way Stokes did

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2017Cricket Australia director Mark Taylor has suggested that picking Ben Stokes for the Ashes will be “very difficult” for the ECB after video footage of his alleged brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol emerged. The video, obtained by the , shows a man closely resembling Stokes throwing multiple punches at two men.”I think it’s going to be very difficult for the ECB to send Stokes to Australia,” Taylor told Channel Nine. “Having said that I’m not going to be too judgmental on Stokes because I don’t know the events of the night.”I have no doubt that there was probably a lot of hassling going on at the time. But I think the video evidence that we’ve all seen is going to make it very difficult for the English side to pick him.”A day after his arrest, Stokes was included in England’s Ashes squad, but was subsequently replaced by fast bowler Steven Finn, although he was not ruled out of the tour completely. The ECB, in its statement, said Stokes will not be considered for national selection until an ongoing police investigation is concluded.”I’ve always thought it takes two to tango but when you’re any person you can’t deal with it that way,” Taylor said. “Particularly when you’re in the public eye, you’re in a no-win situation there.”All you can really do in that situation is get out of there. Remove yourself from the situation. I think that’s what he has to do in the future and that’s what I would be telling him if I were his captain, coach, father, whoever.”Taylor’s comments on Stokes were firmer than those made by Australia captain Steven Smith last week, when he said he could not condone Stokes’ actions, but was careful not to get drawn into a debate over his availability.Taylor also said Stokes’ absence will have a significant impact on England’s team combination for the Ashes. “He does bring something to England that Australia don’t have at the moment, that genuine allrounder at No. 6,” Taylor said.”I remember him making a hundred in Perth four years ago. I think he showed us then what he can do in this country and in recent times we’ve seen him take some very useful wickets. He’s one of those guys that can change a Test match with the bat or the ball and they are rare characters.”