All posts by h716a5.icu

Mark Sorell has become the second state coach in a week to step down after being told his contract with South Australia would not be extended at the end of the season

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2010Mark Sorell has become the second state coach in a week to step down after being told his contract with South Australia would not be extended at the end of the season. The move comes as Darren Lehmann, the former Redbacks captain, has agreed to link with Queensland for the Big Bash after Trevor Barsby’s sudden exit last Wednesday.The flurry of in-season movement is extremely unusual in Australia and while Barsby was the victim of player power, Sorell’s time ran out to lift the perennially underperforming South Australia. The SACA board decided on Monday night that Sorell’s fourth season in charge would be his last.Jamie Cox, South Australia’s director of cricket, told Sorell, 45, the news on Tuesday morning. “He has consequently stepped down as coach of the Redbacks, effective immediately,” Cox said. Jeff Vaughan, the assistant, will take over for South Australia’s one-day and Sheffield Shield games against Victoria this week.”I would like to make it very clear that this outcome was initiated by management and the board and not by the playing group,” Cox said. “The players have, however, been consulted and understand the reasons for the decision.”In Queensland, Lehmann will start coaching the Twenty20 side next week to prepare for its opening match against Victoria on January 2. Lehmann, who looks after the Deccan Chargers in the IPL, steps in at a difficult time for the Bulls after Barsby’s departure.Graham Dixon, Queensland’s chief executive, said Lehmann would provide the side with an experienced Twenty20 hand. “Darren’s earned a reputation as an innovative coach in the IPL and with his extensive international playing and coaching experience, we are confident he will further assist the development of our promising young squad,” Dixon said. Justin Sternes will look after the Bulls in the Shield and one-day competitions for the rest of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur are likely to be without new winter signing Rodrigo Bentancur today…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, who revealed that a work permit for the Uruguay international isn’t likely to arrive in time for the 24-year-old to feature against Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round.

He needed to be in the country to be granted a work permit in time and he didn’t arrive back from international duty until late on Thursday, meaning he hasn’t been able to train with his new squad and is unlikely to be involved on Saturday night.

Fellow signing Dejan Kulusevski arrived in the country on Sunday and played a part in Thursday’s training session.

Bitter blow

This will be a gutting blow to Conte as he surely would’ve loved to unleash his new star this evening, even more so given the lack of options now available at his disposal.

Bentancur cost an initial £15.9m from Juventus on deadline day and is expected to challenge for a spot in the starting XI from the minute he’s available.

The north London outfit sanctioned the loan departures of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, as well as the permanent exit of Dele Alli on the very same day, leaving the Italian with less than a handful of engine room choices.

In the Uruguayan, Conte is getting a solid box-to-box option who is capable of contributing at either end of the pitch.

“Bentancur is a complete midfielder, box-to-box, and he’s a player who’s really reliable,” claimed sporting director Fabio Paratici to the club’s official website earlier this week.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Serie A expert James Horncastle has also waxed lyrical about the midfielder. He said:

“He’ll do a lot of the dirty work that will allow Spurs’ flair players to do their best work, and certainly having a lot of blue-collar players in the Conte team – he’s always valued players like that.”

Indeed, he has proven to be a durable and reliable option in Italy. No player at Juventus had managed more interceptions (73) and tackles (95) combined (168) than him since the start of the 2020/21 season.

Conte would surely have loved to unleash him today, so Kilpatrick’s news will leave him and many around the club gutted.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops intriguing claim about Spurs’ summer transfer plans…

Michael Clark has said his century in the second game in Visakhapatnam came as welcome relief following a disappointing performance in the Tests, where he managed just 35 runs in four innings

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2010Michael Clarke, the Australia captain for the three-ODI series in India, has said his century in the second game in Visakhapatnam came as welcome relief following a disappointing performance in the Tests, where he managed just 35 runs in four innings.”My performance in the Test series was not anywhere near what I would have liked,” Clarke said on the eve of the third and final ODI in Margao. “I am disappointed with my own personal performance. It was very satisfying to make a hundred the other night. Obviously I have been working pretty hard in the nets in batting but just could not find a way to make runs in the Tests.”Clarke made an unbeaten 111 in Australia’s five-wicket defeat in the second ODI, and added an unbeaten 129 with Cameron White, who helped smash 84 in the last five overs of his team’s innings. “I am happy to turn things around,” Clarke said. “(It’s) always wonderful to play cricket in India. To make another century here would be a great feeling. Hope I get one more century tomorrow if the game goes ahead.”The final ODI faces a rain threat and Clarke was hoping to get a game to level the series in what has, so far, been a winless tour. “It has been a tough tour. We have not got the results we would have liked, in the one one-day match as well as the Test series. We are looking forward to win the match tomorrow and draw the series. I think we have one more night in bed before our flight (home). Hope the sun comes out and we have a match tomorrow.”

Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler, is heading to Zimbabwe to take up a position as head coach of the Kwekwe-based MidWest Rhinos franchise

Cricinfo staff22-Jul-2010Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler, is heading to Zimbabwe to take up a position as head coach of the Kwekwe-based MidWest Rhinos franchise. Gillespie’s tenure will begin before the start of the domestic season in September, and he replaces Andy Waller – who has moved to Harare to take charge of the national age-group sides – in the role.”We are really excited to have Jason taking charge of the team,” said MidWest Rhinos chief executive Kenyon Ziehl. “It is a tremendous development in the franchise. He played for Australia at the highest levels with the greatest respect and was one of the best bowlers ever to open for Australia.”Gillespie played 71 Tests and 97 one-day internationals for Australia, forming one half of the country’s most statistically successful bowling partnerships with Glenn McGrath before retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season. He will be taking over a domestic side that has been firmly ensconced in the middle of the domestic tables, though they managed to reach the finals of the four-day Logan Cup and the Metbank Faithwear one-day competition.”We will rely on his experience and expertise to add more value to the whole franchise, especially our bowlers,” added Ziehl. “He will definitely help us finish the next season with some silverware. Gillespie will help us develop the whole squad so that we produce top class players and our franchise B squad will be a key area for development of the standard of professionalism we expect to reach.”He [Gillespie] is also keyed up to be in Zimbabwe. He told me that Zimbabwe is on the up and up, and it will be great to have some of the players he will be working with in the next Zimbabwe Test squad.”

Graham Onions, the England pace bowler, will undergo surgery next week on a career-threatening back injury which will rule him out of action for up to nine months

Cricinfo staff02-Sep-2010Graham Onions, the England pace bowler, will undergo surgery next week on a career-threatening back injury which will rule him out of action for up to nine months. He has been plagued by a stress fracture since returning from England’s tour of Bangladesh in March and hasn’t played for Durham this season, but until recently retained hope of making a late push for the Ashes squad.A couple of months ago he was targeting a return to county action for the final few weeks of the season but when he bowled at Lord’s recently, under the supervision of the ECB medical staff, he suffered a further reaction and now surgery has been ruled as his only option.”Obviously I’m shattered to have been ruled out of the Ashes with the prospect of a lengthy recovery period,” he said. “After experiencing the euphoria of being part of an Ashes-winning England team last year, I was determined to get myself fit for selection ahead of this winter’s tour of Australia.”Unfortunately that’s not to be and, even though we have tried every possible form of treatment, surgery is the only option left. While I’m devastated to be facing such a long lay-off from cricket, I’m determined to overcome this setback and make sure I get back bowling again next year and work my way back into England calculations.”It’s been a difficult period for me but I realise that I have to have this operation if I want to play cricket again. I want to thank the ECB medical team for all their ongoing hard work and support.”Onions had enjoyed an impressive start to his international career with a five-wicket haul on debut against West Indies, at Lord’s, in 2009 before playing in three of last year’s Ashes Tests. However, his finest hours came with the bat when he twice denied South Africa victory during the winter series, fending off final overs from Makhaya Ntini at Centurion Park and Morne Morkel at Cape Town.”Graham has been suffering from ongoing discomfort due to stress fractures on both sides of his back,” Nick Peirce, the ECB chief medical officer, said. “We have thoroughly exhausted all avenues of conservative treatment and rehabilitation with surgery very much seen as a last resort.”Unfortunately Graham has not responded to these forms of treatment and as a result we have no option left but to undertake a course of treatment involving surgery. The surgery Graham faces is a relatively significant operation and his rehabilitation will see him ruled out of all cricket for approximately up to nine months.”His rehabilitation will be overseen and carried out by the ECB medical team in conjunction with the medical staff at Durham.”

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Nantes attacking midfielder Ludovic Blas, with Eddie Howe’s side in desperate need of extra creativity in the final third.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Star, the Magpies are in talks with the Ligue 1 outfit over a potential deal for the 24-year-old, with Premier League rivals Watford also reportedly in discussions.

The Frenchman has been in stellar form this term, scoring seven goals and setting up another one in 19 Ligue 1 appearances, with his side currently ninth in the French top flight.

Valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt and earning £16k-p/w, the attacking midfielder -who is often deployed as an inverted right-winger – has two years left on his contract with Nantes and could be on his way to the Premier League this month.

Last season, Blas completed the most successful dribbles in Ligue 1 with 80, whilst recording the fifth-highest amount in the French top flight since the 2017/18 campaign.

There has been plenty of attention surrounding the 24-year-old, with team-mate and former Liverpool midfielder Pedro Chirivella comparing Blas to former Anfield teammates Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Speaking to French magazine So Foot, Chirivella said: “When it comes to pure talent, I rate Ludovic Blas above all the others. I played with [Philippe] Coutinho, Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, I know what they are capable of.

“And when I see what ‘Ludo’ is doing in training or in games, he has nothing to envy them when it comes to talent. He’s incredible, spectacular, and his future looks bright. We are often lined up together in the middle, we see football the same way, and it is a pleasure to grow alongside him.”

Blas would be a huge upgrade for Newcastle

With Eddie Howe’s side still 19th in the Premier League table and in real danger of being relegated, the 44-year-old will be desperate for as many new recruits as possible this window.

The Magpies have already signed right-back Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid and striker Chris Wood from Burnley this month.

However, their attack could do with the sort of creativity that Blas may be able to provide. The Tyneside outfit are currently averaging a goal per game in the Premier League, having scored just 20 goals in their 20 matches; only three teams have scored fewer goals in the division.

Callum Wilson has provided six of those goals, but the 29-year-old is set to miss eight weeks of action through injury.

Right now, Allan Saint-Maximin is the Magpies’ top creator with five goals and three assists. However, after the Frenchman, no midfielder or attacker has contributed more than one assist.

Granted, there is the argument that Blas would need the time to settle in a new league, whilst there also being serious expectations put on the 24-year-old’s shoulders with Newcastle deep in the relegation dogfight. Based on the Nantes player’s goal return and the garlands surrounding him, though, he could prove to be exactly what Howe desperately needs.

AND in other news, Newcastle eyeing a move for player dubbed the “new Vidic.”

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the five-ODI series against England starting later this month due to an elbow injury that prevents him from picking up a bat

Cricinfo staff05-Jun-2010Australia’s wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been ruled out of the five-ODI series against England starting later this month due to an elbow injury that prevents him from picking up a bat. Tim Paine, the Tasmania gloveman, will take Haddin’s place in the one-dayers and will be in line for a Test debut if Haddin fails to recover in time for the two Tests against Pakistan in July.Haddin said the problem flared up three months ago when he smashed a century against New Zealand in a one-dayer, but didn’t have enough time off the game to give his elbow sufficient rest.”It’s like having tennis elbow,” Haddin told the . ”It has gradually deteriorated to the point where I can’t hold a bat. The frustrating thing about it is I can still wicketkeep – everything else is fine – but I can’t pick up a cricket bat and to play cricket you have to be able to bat.”I had to wait a bit after the [Twenty20] World Cup to allow it calm down, it [the tendon] was pretty angry because we played constant cricket. I have to basically get the strength back into it [the tendon] and see how it responds.”Australia play England between June 22 and July 3 before taking on Pakistan for two Twenty20s and two Tests. Though Haddin was confident of recovering in time to take on Pakistan, he was keen not to rush back too soon and would be focusing largely on the Ashes at home in November-December.”I’m hopeful I can be ready for Pakistan, but if I’m not I’ll have eight weeks to get the strength back [in time for the Australian summer],” Haddin said. ”I have a series of exercises that are designed to do that.”Australia’s physio Alex Kountouris added: “Brad has been struggling with tendon elbow pain (tennis elbow) while batting during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup. As with most tendon injuries, time is required to allow the pain to settle and gradually increase the tendon load.”As such, Brad will not be taking part in the ODI matches against Ireland and England. His availability for the Twenty20 internationals and Tests matches against Pakistan in the UK will be dependent on his progress over the next few weeks.”Paine’s call-up to the one-day team has also allowed Matthew Wade, the Victoria wicketkeeper, to take his place in the Australia A squad to take on Sri Lanka A later this month. The promotion of Wade, 22, is a strong indication that Graham Manou has fallen down the pecking order despite making his Test debut in the Ashes last year.

Worcestershire’s openers put them in control at New Road for the first time in this season’s County Championship

Cricinfo staff17-May-2010
Scorecard
Phil Jaques shook off his poor form to reach 92 on the first day against Derbyshire•PA PhotosDaryl Mitchell completed a century and Phil Jaques emerged from one of the worst spells of his career as Worcestershire’s openers put them in control at New Road for the first time in this season’s County Championship. After 71 wickets in barely four-and-a-half days’ cricket in two Second Division fixtures on the ground, the batsmen cashed in today as Derbyshire conceded a first day total of 376 for 3.Jaques, dismissed for a duck in five of his six previous Championship innings, re-discovered his form with 92 from 135 balls and Mitchell ploughed on to 148, his first hundred since making a career-best 298 against Somerset at Taunton last September.Their partnership of 167 extended into the 10th over of the afternoon session before Jaques, having hit 15 fours, shaped to cut a ball from Tom Lungley but dragged it on to his stumps.For Derbyshire, it was a welcome change of luck after a frustrating morning in which the Australian left-hander mixed a number of streaky shots with a fine array of strokes in front of the wicket.It was Worcestershire’s best start in the Championship since Jaques, in anearlier spell with the county, and Stephen Moore, now with Lancashire, put on 234 against Surrey at New Road in 2007. This was also the second three-figure partnership for Jaques and Mitchell this summer – they started with 105 against Middlesex – but in between the first wicket had failed to get into double figure seven times out of eight.Badsey-born Mitchell, now in his sixth season with his native county, moved up the ranks this summer with his appointment as vice-captain. A natural accumulator, he served his side well in seeing off a strong opening spell by Steffan Jones and then milked the Derbyshire attack until reaching hissixth first-class century from the third ball after tea.There were some blemishes along the way but he maintained his focus, even after the confusion that cost Vikram Solanki his wicket. Sent back by his partner, he was run out for 42 by Tim Groenewald.In the next over from Robin Peterson, Alexei Kervezee survived a chance toGarry Park at silly point. It proved to be a costly mistake for Derbyshire during as the productive stand eventually yielded 114.While Mitchell was bowled, attempting to cut Peterson, after picking up 17fours from 260 balls, Kervezee stayed undefeated with 66, having followed his positive instinct to post a half century with an upper cut for six off Jones.

Fabrizio Romano has raised the possibility that Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi could be included in a deal to sign Lucas Digne. 

The lowdown

According to the Italian journalist via Twitter, the Villans have been ‘working for days’ to agree a deal for the Everton left-back, whose future appears to lie away from Goodison Park after he had a row with Rafael Benitez and the Toffees went into the market to sign a £17m left-back in Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Meanwhile, El Ghazi – who joined Aston Villa permanently from Lille in 2019 after an initial loan spell – is into the final 18 months of his £31k-a-week contract. Transfermarkt value the Dutch winger at £9m.

The latest

Taking to Twitter to reveal the latest on the future of the two players, Romano outlined: “Aston Villa have been working for days to sign Lucas Digne. They’ve always been frontrunners – Chelsea out of the race.

“Talks on, not 100% agreed yet between clubs. El Ghazi also been discussed – nothing agreed on this point as Everton want cash. Next week will be key.”

The verdict

Is it a surprise that Villa are considering parting with El Ghazi?

Based on last season, yes. He was the club’s second-top goalscorer with an impressive 13 strikes in all competitions, inferior only to Ollie Watkins (17). Such form led to ex-Villa defender Alan Hutton praising him as “unstoppable”.

Steven Gerrard doesn’t seem to be convinced, though. Since the 41-year-old took over from Dean Smith in November, El Ghazi has only played 33 minutes of Premier League football.

On another note, having signed two wide attacking players last summer in Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray, will Benitez really want another at Everton in January? According to The Daily Mail, he’s more focused on strengthening in central midfield and up front.

In truth, El Ghazi may not be an effective bargaining chip from Villa if they want to execute a deal to sign Digne.

In other news, many Villa fans reacted to this move from Gerrard over the weekend  

An amateurish fielding display from Kings XI Punjab and one over of carnage from Robin Uthappa tipped the match Royal Challenger Bangalore’s way after ten overs of sensible batting from Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli had kept the game evenly poised

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran02-Apr-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Kings XI Punjab grassed plenty of chances to pave the way for Bangalore’s victory•Indian Premier LeagueAn amateurish fielding display from Kings XI Punjab and one over of carnage from Robin Uthappa tipped the match Royal Challengers Bangalore’s way after eight overs of sensible batting from Kevin Pietersen and Virat Kohli had kept the game evenly poised. Yet again, only one department clicked for Punjab – it was their batting today – and Brett Lee’s meltdown in the 17th over helped Bangalore snap their two-game losing streak.Punjab were in with a chance till the final four overs, off which Bangalore needed 48 runs. Lee, though, disappeared for 25 runs in the next over: Uthappa sent the first ball, a full toss, over long-on for six; a length ball crashed into the sightscreen after one bounce; two deliveries later Uthappa swung a short delivery over midwicket for six; Lee then gifted five wides with a horror ball down the leg side. After the over Bangalore needed 23 off 18, and Punjab were out of the match.Uthappa’s fireworks came after Pietersen and Kohli stitched together 76 brisk runs without too many big hits. The left-arm spinning pair of Yuvraj Singh and Bipul Sharma kept things tight after the openers departed, but there was little panic from the Bangalore batsmen.They were helped by some of the worst fielding in the tournament: Sreesanth let go of an absolute dolly at long-on off Kohli in the 14th over, Ravi Bopara let one slip through for four two deliveries later, but perhaps the biggest let-off was when he reprieved Pietersen the ball after Kohli was dismissed with the match still in the balance. Punjab’s fielding effort was epitomised by their captain’s drop towards the end, Sangakkara not only grassed a chance at extra cover, he even managed to kick the ball over the ropes after the miss.Punjab were in control during the early part of the Bangalore innings. Jacques Kallis was uncomfortable in his short stay before nicking to the keeper. His opening partner, Manish Pandey, was in better touch, swiping a few trademark boundaries down the ground. However, he couldn’t convert his start to a big score once again, falling for his fifth score between 29 and 42 in the tournament. Then Bipul’s economic bowling in the middle overs sent the asking-rate spiraling, but Uthappa’s burst ensured that for the second time in the tournament Bangalore chased down a stiff score against Punjab.Punjab’s batting had worked well earlier in the day, with a clutch of cameos boosting them to a fighting total. The under-fire pair of Sangakkara and Yuvraj delivered, but both were dismissed just as they looked to explode. Bopara, pushed down to No. 4, chipped in with a well-paced knock to ensure the momentum wasn’t lost, and 76 runs were plundered in the final six overs.Bangalore’s bowlers were spot-on with the new ball after a couple of ragged performances. Sangakkara, though, invigorated the innings with square drives and a whip past square leg for four. Dale Steyn, the spearhead, was brought in but he too leaked boundaries, and a string of fours from opener Manvinder Bisla pushed Punjab to 26 for 1 after five overs. The pair kept averaging a boundary an over, and had added 63 runs without too much trouble when Bisla fell attempting a scoop off Anil Kumble, being done in by a straight one.Still, Sangakkara was looking the most fluent he has all tournament, and continued to find the gaps. A controlled, superbly-timed lofted off-drive of Pietersen’s first ball and a flat-batted bash down the ground kept the runs coming.Till then, Steyn had had a poor game, an expensive first over and a misfield on the boundary his only contributions. However, he made a crucial intervention, removing the ominous Sangakkara with his first ball when he returned for the 12th over.That brought in the man in the eye of the controversy that engulfed the build-up to this game – Yuvraj. Steyn rattled him with a bunch of short balls, including a 151kmh bouncer that struck Yuvraj on the back shoulder.Yuvraj, though, showed glimpses of his destructive best, swatting Jacques Kallis into the crowd behind midwicket and then picking a Kumble googly early and clubbing it beyond long-on for six. With Bopara offering solid support, and Bangalore presenting a bunch of full tosses, Yuvraj powered Punjab ahead but just when the fans were getting ready for a feast of hitting from Yuvraj, he miscued a leg-stump ball to midwicket in the 18th over.That didn’t prove too be too much of a hindrance, as Bopara picked off the loose deliveries, and Irfan slapped a four and a six in the final over to set Bangalore a challenging target. Had they not set such a sorry example in the field towards the final leg of the chase, the game could well have gone Punjab’s way.