All posts by h716a5.icu

A number of Manchester City fans have flocked to the transfer news that AC Milan are interested in defender Nathan Ake.

According to a report by MilanNews.it (as relayed by City Xtra), the potential transfer of Ake to Milan is proving to be ‘difficult to achieve’, and sources close to Man City have stated that the centre-back will not be leaving the club in the January window.

The Dutchman has struggled for Premier League playing time this season, having made just eight top flight appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.

However, lately Ake has been utilised in the various cup competitions that City are still in the running for, including the club’s recent 4-1 FA Cup victory against Swindon Town.

It would certainly be a surprise were he to leave, given he is just now beginning to stamp his mark after joining 18 months ago (BBC), particularly impressing against Brentford and Leeds in recent weeks.

These Man City fans flock to the Ake transfer news

Manchester City Twitter source City Xtra shared the news to fans, with many flocking to the comments to share their joy for Ake, who looks set to remain at the club. Supporters were reluctant to see the Netherlands international exit due to a number of fantastic recent performances.

Here’s what some of these fans said…

“Ake is getting better & better at City, top player, at CB or LB, hope he stays and sure he will”

Credit: @MCFCTone

“He’s absolute class and isn’t going anywhere. I was so wrong about him”

Credit: @ManCityKD

“You think Pep will let our defensive depth and stability go now that we finally have it again? In JANUARY? In such a crucial part of the season? Lmaooooooo”

Credit: @mvx_mcfc

“Def don’t give up Aké. That save against Arsenal should keep him a blue for quite a while.”

Credit: @NathanDean904

“AC Milan is one of my favorite clubs in Europe, but Ake needs to stay because he’s actually been very solid when starting.”

Credit: @SoraPalmer

“Tell those Italians to go shop somewhere else, Ake ain’t leaving, no chance”

Credit: @mxnxl_

Harbhajan Singh has said that India’s effort to save this Test from the depths of 5 for 15 showed why they were the No. 1 team

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2010Harbhajan Singh has said that India’s effort to save this Test from the depths of 5 for 15 in their second innings showed why they are the top-ranked Test side in the world. “This is what the No. 1 team can do; anyone can come and perform. We believe in each other. Everyone felt that if Ishant [Sharma] and VVS Laxman can win the game in Mohali, why can’t Harbhajan Singh go out and make 60-odd, and Laxman score 150 for team India and save the game?We have lots of self belief and that’s why we are the No. 1 side.”Harbhajan won the Man-of-the-Match award for his batting exploits, something he never dreamed he would do in a Test. “May be in the one-dayers I thought I can get a chance to go up the order, slog a few, get a quick 50-odd and be the Man of the Match.He also felt that Chris Martin was the real Man of the Match for his devastating spell on the fourth day. “Hats off to this guy (Martin) for he bowled his heart out on this flat wicket. For me he is the Man of the Match; to take five wickets on this pitch was something really special.”Harbhajan has talked in the past about his team-mates have always believed he could get a Test hundred, and they shared his joy after he finally reached the landmark. “Now I know how it feels to get a hundred. I was really thrilled and excited. It helped us save the Test. You must have seen how the players were enjoying each other’s success. When I got my hundred everyone was in the balcony to support me. That was a great sign.”He was effusive in his praise for Laxman. ” toh Laxman hi hai (Laxman is the man for a crisis). I was just supporting him. He was the reason I got my hundred; He kept saying I am batting really well and to concentrate this over, then the next over and then the next. If he was not on the other side, things could have been different. He batted superbly. He was little unlucky with his decision, else he would have got his hundred as well.”Both Laxman and Zaheer Khan fell to poor umpiring decisions today, and Harbhajan was asked his opinion on the Umpire Decision Review System. “As a bowler, I don’t mind if that system comes. We had it in Sri Lanka and I quite liked it as I got couple of wickets. But I am no one to decide on this. Big people decide; my job is to just bowl, bat, and field. That’s the best I can do.”Harbhajan said a lot of the credit for his innings should go to Laxman, who told him what shots to play and what shots not to play. “He told me to not to play on-the-rise shots; that was the only thing I looked to avoid on this pitch. I was just waiting for the right kind of ball in my area where I was comfortable to hit my shots.”The lifeless pitch was reason why India decided not to declare and push for the win. Daniel [Vettori] bowled 35-36 overs to take two wickets. And you saw the replays of them to see what sort of decisions they were. There was nothing in the pitch. We made the right decision of not declaring.”Harbhajan also reiterated his pre-match statements that New Zealand are a good side, saying one bad series doesn’t make them a bad side. “I think it [the performance in Bangladesh] was over-hyped in New Zealand. We also lost to Bangladesh in the World Cup. That doesn’t make us a bad team. When two teams play, one will win and one will lose.”

Kevin Pietersen is targeting an “amazing” one-day series comeback over the next ten days to give the tour of Australia a perfect finish

Andrew McGlashan in Brisbane29-Jan-2011Kevin Pietersen is targeting an “amazing” one-day series comeback over the next ten days to give the tour of Australia a perfect finish. England handed themselves a lifeline with a 21-run victory at Adelaide, but still need to win the three remain matches, starting with the game in Brisbane on Sunday, to steal the trophy.If they can pull it off, it would be a fightback similar to the one England achieved four years ago after appearing down and out during the CB Series before winning two matches to reach the final ahead of New Zealand, and then beating the hosts 2-0. Pietersen missed most of that tournament, having broken a rib in an early match, but has set his sights on a deciding encounter at Perth on February 6.”It’ll be amazing. We were 3-0 down and to be able to fight to the end and turn out in Perth on what could be a final would be incredible. It was nice to win in Adelaide, you always look for momentum but momentum hasn’t meant a lot on this trip so far. It’s a different ground with different conditions and whoever adjusts best will win tomorrow. We can’t afford to lose.”Pietersen has had a mixed series with the bat, beginning with a dominant 78 at the MCG before falling first ball at Hobart. He then missed the Sydney match with a groin strain but returned for Adelaide, where he was caught at long-on for 12.This series has been Pietersen’s comeback into the one-day set-up after he was dropped against Pakistan in September, so he needed a productive series to reaffirm his credentials. England played seven batsmen in the previous match but that’s unlikely to be a long-term solution heading into the World Cup, so no one can afford to lose their form at this juncture.”You are going to get frustrated. I’ve been playing really nicely and have been on this whole trip so far,” Pietersen said. “I was frustrated in Hobart then I’m not sure it was the wrong option the other night but it looked like the wrong option the way I going out, just trying to hit a boundary. But these things happen.”England have a quick turnaround between the end of this tour and the World Cup. The players will have three days at home before departing for the subcontinent to begin preparations, although Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann have been given extra time off for paternity leave.There are injury concerns over Swann and Tim Bresnan, who flew home from Australia with back and calf injuries respectively, although both remain confident of making the start of the tournament. Pietersen thinks that the enforced breaks can actually benefit England.”The boys will be fresh, the boys will be firing,” he said. “In a weird sort of way it’s quite nice that a few guys have had a few games off and been rested and some guys are back in England because they’ll come back fresh and rearing to go as soon as we jump on that plane.”Although Pietersen remains desperate to finish this tour on a successful he doesn’t think these one-dayers will have a huge bearing on what happens when the World Cup starts. “I’m not sure how vital it will be because conditions will be totally different. I think the first week in the subcontinent when we start getting used to conditions and the make-up of our side, having a full strength team out, that will be really crucial.”

West Bromwich Albion have been through numerous transfer windows over the years as the Midlands club have been in and out of the Premier League and Championship.

As a result, numerous players have made moves to the club either on loan or permanent deals.

One player, however, that the Baggies were reportedly keen on signing that didn’t end up at the Hawthorns is Luka Modric.

According to the Birmingham Mail, the Croatian was on Tony Mowbray’s radar in the summer of 2007 and would have made a move to bring him to the Hawthorns had they secured promotion to the Premier League, which they ultimately didn’t.

After scoring 22 goals and providing 21 assists in 73 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb, the midfielder did end up making a move to England.

In a deal worth a reported fee of £16.5m, Modric signed to Tottenham Hotspur in the 2008 summer transfer window.

Having played in 160 games for the north London club, scoring 17 times and delivering 26 assists, the player found himself on the move again in 2012, this time to his current club Real Madrid.

During his time in Spain, the 36-year-old has scored 31 goals and provided 70 assists in 429 appearances, winning four Champions League titles among many other trophies.

The former Spurs star has also picked up several individual awards such as the Ballon d’Or and UEFA’s Best Player in Europe, both in 2018, the same year he played in the World Cup final.

This season has seen the former Baggies target earn himself an overall performance rating of 7.24 from WhoScored for his efforts in the Champions League, making him Real’s fourth-highest rated player.

This highlights just how capable the veteran still is of playing on the big stage against top opposition.

Labelled an “extraordinary” player by Carlo Ancelotti, Modric has undeniably gone on to have an incredible career since leaving England.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that missing out on potentially signing the £275k-per-week midfield maestro has been an almighty howler from the Midlands club.

Had they been able to reach the Premier League and secure the Croatian’s signature when they were looking at him, there’s no telling what sort of superstar that he could have been for the Baggies.

In other news: 100% duels won: WBA’s “invaluable” gem with 5 tackles was Bruce’s shining light v NFFC

Mitchell Johnson did his best to keep Australia alive in the final Ashes Test with a vital half-century and two key wickets on an absorbing day, but England were handily placed on 3 for 167 in reply to 280

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan at the SCG04-Jan-2011
ScorecardAndrew Strauss gave England’s innings the perfect early momentum with a dashing 60•Getty ImagesMitchell Johnson did his best to keep Australia alive in the final Ashes Test with a vital half-century and two key wickets on an absorbing day, but England were handily placed on 3 for 167 in reply to 280. Andrew Strauss hit a sparkling 58-ball 60 to launch England’s reply following Johnson’s counterattacking 53, then Alastair Cook maintained his prolific form only to lose Kevin Pietersen shortly before the close.Strauss and Jonathan Trott fell in quick succession to leave England 2 for 99 and memories of Perth, where Johnson had sparked a dramatic England collapse, were not far away. Cook should have become Michael Beer’s first Test wicket on 46, but the delivery was called no-ball after Billy Bowden asked to check the front line when Cook lofted to mid-on. However, to Beer’s huge credit he remained focused on the game and was able to steady himself under Pietersen’s hook shot at fine leg in what could prove a pivotal wicket.Australia were struggling to make 200 before Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus combined to add 76 for the ninth wicket but their momentum was eroded as Strauss raced out of the blocks against some shoddy bowling. Hilfenhaus was especially disappointing, dropping short at a friendly pace to allow Strauss free pull shots one of which cleared deep square-leg for sixMichael Clarke made an early mark as captain when he handed Johnson the new ball for the first time since the Lord’s Test in 2009, but his opening spell lasted three overs, during which he was cut by both batsmen, and Strauss was motoring along at more than a run-a-ball in a perfect tone-setting display. The England captain also drove with authority, a sign his game is in top order, as Clarke began to realise the challenges of captaincy in the current Australian era.Strauss went to fifty shortly after tea when he scythed a cut over the slips but Hilfenhaus provided relief for Australia when he went round the wicket and took off stump with one that shaped away from the left hander. That breakthrough sparked a lift in Australia’s bowling and Trott fell for his first Test duck when he dragged Johnson into his stumps.Cook had trailed in Strauss’s wake during the opening partnership but oozed the confidence that over 600 runs in the series has brought him. His fifty came from 113 balls and when he’d made 59 reached 5000 for his career with the promise of plenty more to come.Beer’s first ball in Test cricket was dispatched by Pietersen, but despite the sickening disappointing of seeing a wicket denied he held himself together well. Pietersen had taken a blow on the arm early in his innings, yet was desperate to impose himself and couldn’t resist taking on Johnson despite the close being four overs away which left James Anderson to survive a late bombardment.Smart Stats

The 76 run stand for the ninth wicket between Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus is the seventh highest at the SCG and the third highest for Australia against England in Tests at the SCG.

James Anderson picked up four wickets to take his tally in the series to 21, the highest among both teams. He is followed by Chris Tremlett and Steve Finn, who have 14 wickets each.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook put on 98 runs for the opening wicket, their second fifty partnership in the series. They also have two century stands in the four Tests. They have aggregated 549 runs at an average of 78.42 while the Australian openers have scored 323 runs at 35.88.

Since January 2008, Australian batsmen average 31.47 in the team first innings at the SCG, the lowest among all home grounds.

Strauss scored 60 off 58 balls at a strike rate of 103.44, his highest strike rate for a fifty plus score in Tests.

Despite the two periods where runs flowed from Australia’s tail and England’s openers it wasn’t easy when bowlers maintained consistency which is what the visitors did superbly for the first two hours. Brad Haddin set a poor tone for the home side in the fourth over of the day when he played a flat-footed waft outside off against Anderson, which wasn’t the best way to start his stint at No.6. There was still life on offer in the pitch for the pacemen and both Mike Hussey and Steve Smith had to concentrate on defence.After his double failure in Melbourne, Hussey was again looking solid but at no point did he get away from England as he had in Brisbane and Perth. Even taking into account bowler-friendly conditions and a sluggish outfield which kept boundaries to a minimum it was tough going by Australia. Paul Collingwood then claimed one of the biggest wickets of his Test career when a tight over to Hussey was rewarded with an inside edge into the pads and onto the stumps.More galling for Hussey was that the strike came with the last delivery before the new ball and Collingwood was promptly removed from the attack. Smith had played against his natural instincts but couldn’t resist flashing a drive at Anderson which went straight to third slip and it took just four balls to work over Peter Siddle who edged low to Strauss.Johnson drove the ball as sweetly as anyone and Strauss was too quick to set his men back which conceded the advantage to a No. 8 in favourable bowling conditions. Hilfenhaus played his part, flicking Tim Bresnan over midwicket for six, and Johnson was happy to milk the deep-set field to give his partner the strike.Johnson cut loose early in the afternoon as he launched Graeme Swann over midwicket for four followed by six then brought up his fifty with a nudge into the leg side which was greeted by huge roars. Bresnan broke through when Johnson missed an expansive drive and Anderson removed Hilfenhaus for his fourth wicket and 21st scalp of the series. However, those late-order runs could yet prove a vital factor in the final outcome.

Stuart Broad, the England allrounder, has said he’ll keep his emotions under control on the tour of Australia in what is expected to be a heated atmosphere in front of big crowds during the Ashes

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2010Stuart Broad, the England allrounder, has said he will keep his emotions under control on the tour of Australia, in what is expected to be a heated atmosphere in front of big crowds during the Ashes. Broad has had his share of troubles on the field with regard to discipline. Most recently, in August against Pakistan, he was fined by the match referee for hurling the ball at the batsman Zulqarnain Haider out of frustration.”I know the lines that are there and not to cross them,” Broad told . “I did cross that once this summer and got punished for it, but I’ve learnt from my mistakes and hopefully this winter all will go to plan.”Broad, who will be on his first Test tour of Australia, sought inspiration from his father’s exploits – Chris Broad scored three centuries – in 1986-87 when England last won an Ashes series in Australia. He’s picked up 97 wickets in 32 Tests so far and said he’ll remain aggressive while ensuring he stays calm. “I’m a passionate player when I pull that England shirt on; it’s a very special and proud moment for you,” he said.”There’s a fine line to it. I don’t want to lose any of that passion for the game; as a bowler I need to have that real desire to get the batsman out and be in their face and be aggressive.”You have got to try to make the batsman feel a bit uncomfortable to get him out.”It’s just important to try to keep a cool head and stay logical rather than emotional. But then again you have to keep that balance between not becoming too logical because you need to have that passion in order to play to 100% in the game.”The key to England’s success in Australia, Broad said, was for the batsmen to score big with a strong bowling line-up to back them. “Runs on the board is the key,” he said. “We’ve got a bowling attack with a lovely balance to it – two tall bowlers [Broad and Steven Finn], a fantastic spinner [Graeme Swann] and James Anderson who can swing the ball.”We all know that scoreboard pressure creates wickets. So if we go and get 400 in the first innings – which is what we target every time – it puts huge pressure on the Australians. Big first-innings totals are something we need to produce.”A worry for England over the past few months has been the form of Kevin Pietersen, who averaged 27.75 in the four Tests against Pakistan. Pietersen has not scored a Test century since March 2009 and was dropped for the ODI series against Pakistan. He then went to South Africa to play some first-class cricket in preparation for the Ashes, but has, so far, failed to impress. “The Ashes is set up perfectly for him to fire back into form,” Broad said. “He’s a big-game player and I have no doubt that he’ll step up and perform for us in Australia.”

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Atalanta powerhouse Duvan Zapata…

What’s the talk?

Magpies reporter Keith Downie has rebuffed claims that the club will make a move for the centre-forward before the window slams shut.

Speaking live on Sky Sports News (21:20), he said: “I heard a slight whisper about an hour ago that they may try for Duvan Zapata. I’m told that is not the case.”

Gutted

This update will surely leave Eddie Howe gutted as Zapata could have been a huge signing for the club on deadline day, due to what he could have brought to the table.

The Colombian striker could have been a difference-maker for the Toon as he has proven his quality at the top level for Atalanta. He has scored 78 goals and provided 38 assists in 152 matches for the Italian club, including nine goals and five assists in 16 Serie A games this term.

Meanwhile, Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin are the only players in the Newcastle squad who have scored more than twice in the league this term for the club. Neither of them have managed more than six, three short of Zapata’s nine, which suggests that Howe is in dire need of attacking reinforcements.

The ex-Cherries boss does not have an abundance of goalscorers in his team and the signing of Zapata could have gone a long way to solving that issue. He is a proven finisher who has shown that he can regularly find the back of the net in a top European league, suggesting that he could have been a huge player for the Toon, as he could have scored the goals to seal vital points in the Premier League.

Therefore, Howe will be gutted that the club have not pursued a deal to sign him on deadline day. He could be frustrated with those behind the scenes making the decisions as he could now be left without adequate resources to work with in the final third heading into the final few months of the season.

AND in other news, Ornstein: NUFC make “dramatic late attempt” for deal that’ll get St James’ rocking…

South Africa’s bowlers will have to make strident improvements ahead of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, according to vice-captain AB de Villiers

Firdose Moonda in Adelaide18-Nov-2012South Africa’s bowlers will have to make strident improvements ahead of the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, according to vice-captain AB de Villiers. The visiting attack, talked about as the best in the world, managed just four wickets to Australia’s 14 on an unresponsive pitch in Brisbane and will be under close scrutiny in the second fixture.”The bowlers can get better and they know they can,” de Villiers said. “We had chances [at the Gabba] and we just didn’t take them. There were a lot of edges and 50-50 chances didn’t go our way.”He also admitted what the bowling coach Allan Donald had suggested during the match – that the usually clinical South African attack became complacent after they made early inroads. “When we had them 40 for 3 I thought there was an opportunity to run through them,” de Villiers said. “It is a bit of a worry, but you’re not always going to bowl out a team for 150 and 200. Sometimes you have to work hard for that.”While such a statement is hardly revolutionary, South Africa have become used to slicing through their opposition. Since playing Australia in November 2011, they have beaten Sri Lanka at home and New Zealand and England away. The current Australian batting line-up is arguably the best South Africa have faced over the last year.Against more stubborn batsmen though, a different approach is needed. In his column for ESPNcricinfo, Ian Chappell accused South Africa’s bowlers of lacking imagination and waiting for Australia to make mistakes. He argued it was a tactic that was unlikely to work against good sides, like the one led by Michael Clarke.Ed Cowan and Clarke put on a fourth-wicket stand of 259 runs before Michael Hussey and Clarke combined for 228 runs to give the attack their worst day at the office since Colombo 2006. Then, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were in the midst of compiling their 624-run record partnership.It did not get that bad in Brisbane but South Africa conceded more than four runs to the over and spent the entire fourth day without any of the bowlers taking a wicket. The only one to fall, Cowan, came through a run-out and de Villiers suggested a hard lesson had been learnt.”They sent a message that we have to work really hard to take wickets,” de Villiers said. “This attack of ours has performed on flat decks before. These are just two really world-class batting line-ups, and the bowlers are going to have to work really hard on what seem to be flat decks to take wickets.”The most recent example of that was at The Oval in July. South Africa took 20 wickets while England managed only two on a similarly batsmen-friendly surface. De Villiers believes that ability to repeat that remains and even peeped out at times in Brisbane.”We beat the bat a hell of a lot on the evening of the third day and the morning of the fourth,” he said. “It looks pretty but it’s not effective. For a really good attack to beat the bat that much and not take wickets is disappointing. But what can you do – we’re talking about millimetres.”Glaringly absent from the wickets column was Vernon Philander, whose run of 61 wickets in 11 Tests had to reach its end at some point. Philander is wicket-less in Australia so far. He did not claim any in the tour match at the SCG or in the first Test but de Villiers hoped he may just be waiting to pounce when it matters.”He’s not a concern,” de Villiers said. “His record speaks for itself. The games he was won for us in the past have been the big games, and we’re looking forward to the big game in Adelaide.”Philander is not solely to blame, though. The make-up of the attack also contributed to South Africa’s downfall. They went into the match with an all-pace battery of four seamers and were hopeful that JP Duminy’s part-time offspin would provide rest for the quicks.When Duminy was injured after the first day’s play, South Africa found themselves without a holding bowler. De Villiers, coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Russell Domingo all said they favoured the inclusion of a frontline spinner in a Test XI and de Villiers indicated the team will return to that strategy.”I wouldn’t say we made a mistake [in Brisbane] because I honestly don’t think the spinners played a big part,” he said. “I thought we made the right decision to play Rory [Kleinveldt]. It will be different here. We know it takes a bit of turn. It’s more like the traditional Test wicket where it’s a good wicket for a few days, then it starts turning a bit and then probably gets a bit up and down. I’m not going to pick the team now, but I’d say we will definitely go with a spinner.”That will mean changing the XI immediately, something South African sides of old were reluctant to do. They reached No.1 through consistent selection but may need to make adjustments to their XI as they look to stay there. De Villiers said they are willing to be critical of themselves, especially when they have underperformed.”We weren’t that happy with our performance which is always a good sign,” he said. “We are the No.1 team in the world, and for the No.1 team to say they can improve is a really good thing.”

Wolves are currently sitting in eighth place in the Premier League table, two points below Manchester United and West Ham United directly above them.

With 32 games played, the Old Gold have won 15, drawn four and lost 13, showing how unpredictable their results have been throughout the campaign.

One fairly noticeable statistic is the fact that Bruno Lage’s side have only managed to score 33 league goals throughout the season.

This leaves only Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Watford and Norwich City having found the back of the net on fewer occasions.

The Old Gold did have the chance to add some extra firepower to their squad during the previous January transfer window having been mentioned with a move for Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa – also known as Gabigol.

However, as many Wolves fans will be aware, this transfer didn’t end up happening, and the club may now be paying the price for it.

Moving forward, should the Molineux outfit end their latest season in the Premier League with a whimper in terms of their ability to find the back of the net, they should definitely reignite their interest in signing the Brazilian.

Labelled as a “quality” player by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Barbosa has racked up a combined total of 179 goals and assists throughout his career with clubs such as Flamengo, Benfica, Inter Milan and Santos.

With ten goals to his name in 15 appearances this season, the 25-year-old certainly knows how to score goals on a regular basis, which is something that Wolves desperately need in their side.

Having also been described as a figure that “has everything to be the greatest striker in Flamengo’s history,” according to Zico, the Old Gold must call an end to his time in Brazil and see if he can be as clinical for them as he has been for his current side.

Taking all of this into account, with the upcoming summer transfer window on the horizon, this is a deal that Jeff Shi must complete if he wants to make Lage’s side a deadlier attacking team.

If the club aren’t able to bring in a regular goalscorer or get their current attacking players to start finding the back of the net on a consistent basis, this could put an end to their hopes of playing in Europe.

In other news: Sky Sports: Wolves may now lose “sensational” £36m-rated “maestro”, Lage surely fuming

Josh Hazlewood is in a position to hope for an Ashes Test after being picked in Australia’s squad to face India next month

Cricinfo staff02-Sep-2010Josh Hazlewood, the 19-year-old fast bowler, is in a position to hope for an Ashes Test after being picked in Australia’s squad to face India next month. While Hazlewood and Peter George are the young, uncapped quicks in the unit, they are growing in status and will be ready to stand up if one of the main men breaks down over the next four months.”I hadn’t thought too far ahead but definitely [I’m thinking about the Ashes] now I’m in the Test squad,” Hazlewood said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “Obviously there’s quicks coming back but if I get a chance I’ll put my name forward.”Mitchell Johnson will lead the attack in the two Tests in India and the first-choice support will be Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus, who came back from a knee injury against Pakistan. Peter Siddle (back) and Ryan Harris (knee) are close to returning and could figure in the one-day series after the games in Mohali and Bangalore.”A lot of the other quicks are getting on, so definitely Georgie and I are the younger group coming through with a couple of the other guys,” Hazlewood said. “You do get the sense it could be not too far away.”Things have happened quickly for Hazlewood over the past two years and he is so fresh he has only played six first-class matches. It did not stop him from being picked on the limited-overs tour of the United Kingdom during the winter and he collected 1 for 41 on debut against England. He has never been to India but hopes he will be comfortable bowling on the unfriendly surfaces.”I don’t think you know until you’re in that position but taking the new ball in Sheffield Shield cricket is just one step below,” he said. ”I had not too bad a season last year, playing five games, so there’s a lot of experience there. Hopefully if given a chance, I feel ready.”