ack-to-back and thats a huge ask for any bowler.The first Test a

FLORENCE, Italy -- Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura will talk to forward Mario Balotelli about the possibility of joining the team before the Azzurris next set of matches in March.Balotelli has revived his career in France, scoring eight goals in as many matches for Nice, but has not played for Italy since the 2014 World Cup.I will talk with Balotelli before the next call-ups, Ventura said. His technical qualities are not up for discussion, but as my predecessors have also said there are other things concerning him that need to be evaluated.Italy was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup, where Balotelli was considered a distraction by several teammates. He was also involved in high-profile incidents when playing in England.After scoring only one league goal in each of the past two seasons with Liverpool and AC Milan, Balotelli never played for Italy under coach Antonio Conte.But Balotelli joined Nice in the offseason as a free signing from Liverpool, and is relaunching a chaotic career where he has often stood out for controversial incidents on and off the field.No one doubts that Mario is a talented player and I have nothing against him, Ventura said. But for every player, not just Balotelli, what counts is the ability to be part of a group, to make sacrifices and share an understanding.There are those who are used to doing so and others who arent. After the conversation I will have with him, he will have to ask questions of himself, and above all give himself answers.Italy hosts Albania in a World Cup qualifier on March 24 before playing the Netherlands in a friendly international four days later.The Azzurri are level with Spain at the top of Group G, with only the top team guaranteed an automatic spot in Russia.Ventura replaced Conte after this years European Championship, where Italy lost its quarterfinal match to Germany on penalties.As a mark so far I would give a good passing grade for the results but for everything else theres still a lot of work to do, Ventura said. My wish for 2017 is a team which qualifies for the World Cup and goes there to win it, there are all the foundations to do something important. Vincent Kompany Belgium Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. 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James Anderson is expected to miss Englands Test series in Bangladesh next month, amid concerns that he has not yet fully recovered from the shoulder injury that hindered his performances in the English summer.According to a report in The Guardian, scans this week have shown that Anderson requires an extended break to recover from a stress fracture to his right shoulder blade that caused him to miss the Lords Test against Pakistan in July.Jake Ball, the Nottinghamshire seamer, has been lined up to replace Anderson in the Test squad, after being asked to stay on as cover after the ODI series, but Andersons absence may yet have a knock-on effect on the five-Test series against India that begins in November, directly after the Bangladesh leg of the winter.Anderson has not played any cricket since the end of the Pakistan series in August, and at the age of 34, he himself admitted recently that he may need careful handling if he is to survive a gruelling itinerary that will feature seven Tests in the space of two months.Its a tough one because as a player, if youre fit, you want to play, simple as that. No matter what the format, youre desperate to play, Anderson said last week.But there may well come a time when it will get managed. At 34, I probably have to manage myself, or be managed, qquite well.dddddddddddd You want, if possible, to play every Test but India is going to be five back-to-back and thats a huge ask for any bowler.The first Test against Bangladesh starts at Chittagong on October 20, in just over three weeks time, and the two-Test series represents the only match practice that England have lined up ahead of the first of their five Tests against India at Rajkot on November 9.If Anderson does not tour Bangladesh, and if England cannot provide him a opportunity to prove his match fitness before the India tour, he faces coming back to Test cricket in India without having bowled a ball in a competitive situation for nearly three months.Anderson was an integral member of the side that beat India on home soil during Englands last Test tour of the country in 2012-13, claiming 12 wickets at 30.25 in their 2-1 series win, including match figures of 6 for 127 in their decisive victory in the third Test at Kolkata.The ECB is set to name its list of centrally contracted players for the next 12 months on Thursday morning, having delayed the announcement by 24 hours. A new set of deals for one-day players is expected to be unveiled as well. ' ' '