THE shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or was announced earlier this week and there was a surprise, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer nominated.

The presence of Neuer alongside regulars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist caused some pundits to question whether a goalkeeper should even be eligible to win.

Their argument is that because they occupy such a specialist position, requiring far different skills, goalkeepers should have its own award.

I see where they are coming from, but I don’t think the argument is strong enough to rule ’keepers out of winning the most prestigious individual award in football.

If a goalkeeper has been the best player in the world over the course of a season, in terms of spectacular saves and importance to his team, then I think they should be considered alongside outfield players.

Is it a fair comparison? Probably not, but can you accurately compare a striker or a winger with a centre-back to decide who is the better player? I’d say that’s almost as hard.

The fact is that most of the time, awards like this are won by attacking midfielders and forwards. Fans pay money to see excellence in terms of shots, dribbles and passes, not goal-line clearances, blocks and saves.

Fabio Cannavaro is the only defender to have won the Ballon d’Or, or its predecessor, the FIFA World Player of the Year award, since it came into being in 1990.

It’s good that a different type of player has made the shortlist, but I don’t think that Neuer should win. For me, you can’t look beyond Ronaldo when considering who has been the world’s best player this year.

However, do I think Neuer and all other goalkeepers should be excluded from winning the honour? Certainly not.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Another mixed day for Alastair Cook

POOR Alastair Cook. Even when things seem to be going well, he somehow manages to create an alternative, usually negative, angle to the story.

Cook has spent the last few months clinging desperately to his position as England captain, particularly in the 50-over format of the game.

Let’s face facts. If he wasn’t captain, Cook would struggle to get into the one-day side. When on form, he’s an outstanding batsman, but he’s not a player who excels when asked to score quickly.

The statistics back this up. In Tests, Cook averages an impressive 46, but when it comes to one-day matches, it drops down to a distinctly average 37.

Bearing all of this in mind, Wednesday should have been a good day for Cook.

Not only did England beat Sri Lanka in a one-day international, but Cook made 34 from 41 balls to get his side off to a decent start with the bat.

However, he will not get the opportunity to build on his performance when the next match comes around on Sunday after being handed a ban.

For the second time in the space of a year, England have been penalised for bowling their overs too slowly, the responsibility for which falls on the captain.

Two offences in 12 months means a one-match ban for Cook, so he will sit out Sunday’s game. Now watch as his replacement comes in and gets a massive score, piling the pressure back on the skipper, just when he thought he might escape the spotlight for a few days.