All posts by h716a5.icu

Australian cricket’s future could be transformed at a board meeting in Melbourne tomorrow, where Cricket Australia’s directors are expected to launch a review of the failed Ashes campaign while also making radical changes to the domestic scene

Brydon Coverdale07-Feb-2011Australian cricket’s future could be transformed at a board meeting in Melbourne tomorrow, where Cricket Australia’s directors are expected to launch a review of the failed Ashes campaign while also making radical changes to the domestic scene. The board is set to decide on the eight new teams that will take part in next summer’s expanded Big Bash League, a tournament that won’t include the traditional state sides.But the more weighty issue is the review, which will look at the wider picture of Australian cricket in the wake of the Ashes disaster, which included three innings losses to England. The review is likely to be headed by someone independent from Cricket Australia, with all aspects of the organisation and the Australian cricket scene set to be examined.”The view is that it shouldn’t just be looking at the players that played the Test series, it should be looking at everything that contributes to the performance,” Cricket Australia’s spokesman Peter Young told ESPNcricinfo. “So, that’s right across Australian cricket, right across all the states, from the point where emerging talent is identified through the nurturing of that talent, the eventual selection of that talent and the management of that talent while it is part of the elite process.”The feeling is that’s not something you can do in 24 hours or two weeks, it’s going to take time. The objective is to understand what we need to understand to ensure we’re in a winning position when we next play the Ashes and when we host the 2015 World Cup.”But while Australia’s long-term future in the traditional format is up for discussion, the more immediate decisions will surround the shortest version of the game. The so-called Big Bash League will kick off next season, with city-based teams in all the state capitals, while two new expansion sides will also be included in New South Wales and Victoria.Three Victorian venues have put up bids to host the two Victorian teams – Geelong’s Skilled Stadium, Etihad Stadium (Docklands) and the MCG – and there are four bids from New South Wales, at the SCG, ANZ Stadium, Kogarah Oval and the Sydney Showgrounds. It’s less than a year until the competition will begin, and the board is set to decide on which teams will contest the inaugural tournament.”The concept is that as this league grows it will be more like an AFL or NRL competition and less like a competition representing states,” Young said. “The recommendation tomorrow will be on the initial eight teams. There is a possibility that we will move to a greater number than eight in the near future, but the launching pad for the Big Bash League will be eight teams.”However, what won’t be decided this week is how the players will be allocated to the new sides. Cricket Australia is keen to see all the teams begin on an even footing, which means that players’ existing state affiliations will have to be ignored, and the merits of a national draft will be weighed up against the possibility of free agency, which is favoured by the Australian Cricketers’ Association.”There have been some observations about, say, a Perth player doesn’t want to end up playing for Brisbane because it’s a long way from home,” Young said. “There’s also been an observation that all the players will be travelling for that short period of the competition, and it doesn’t matter where they live. We don’t yet have a recommendation on that and the board won’t be making that decision tomorrow.”

Suzie Bates produced a superb all-round performance as New Zealand levelled the one-day series against England with a four-wicket victory at Taunton

Cricinfo staff12-Jul-2010
ScorecardSuzie Bates produced a superb all-round performance as New Zealand levelled the one-day series against England with a four-wicket victory at Taunton. Bates followed her three wickets with a calm, unbeaten 75 as she marshalled the chase and nursed her team across the line with 13 balls to spare.Bates added 54 with Sara McGlashan (28) and 50 with Sophie Devine (23) after England’s spinners threatened to haul them back into the match. Laura Marsh opened the bowling with her offspin and removed both openers, while Holly Colvin and Danielle Hazell also struck but couldn’t break the back of New Zealand’s batting.Bates struck seven boundaries in her 107-ball innings and the required rate was always under control for the visitors. McGlashan provided timely impetus with a sprightly innings before being stumped off Hazell, but Devine and Nicole Browne offered Bates more solid support.England struggled to build on a useful platform laid by Claire Taylor and Lydia Greenway as they took the score to 138 for 3 after 35 overs after the home side had wobbled early to 59 for 3 when Charlotte Edwards was lbw to Devine.Greenway was run out for 40 and Taylor, after hitting six boundaries in her 87-ball stay, went the same way. The lower-order found it difficult to locate the boundary as Bates, the seventh bowler used by captain Aimee Watkins, took three wickets in the closing overs.”We were 20 or 30 runs short with the bat, despite Claire Taylor and Lydia Greenway’s good performance,” Edwards said. “We bowled well, but missed too many run-outs, which cost us in the end. It’s one apiece, so we will look towards the next game at Derby now.”

Marcus Trescothick hit the fastest half-century in the history of English domestic Twenty20 cricket as Somerset beat Hampshire by six wickets at Taunton

Cricinfo staff09-Jul-2010
Scorecard
Marcus Trescothick hit the fastest half-century in the history of English domestic Twenty20 cricket as Somerset beat Hampshire by six wickets at Taunton. The former England opener reached his fifty from just 13 balls, with five sixes and five fours, on his way to making 78 off 27 deliveries as his side successfully chased down Hampshire’s total of 216 for 5 with two overs to spare. Peter Trego made an unbeaten 72.Hampshire took first use of the batsman-friendly wicket after winning the toss. Neil McKenzie (73) and Sean Ervine (53) capitalised on the conditions as a 7,000-plus crowd revelled in hot sunshine and a run feast.But Trescothick stole the show, finishing with seven sixes and seven fours. There was a collective groan from spectators when he was tamely caught and bowled by Danny Briggs in only the ninth over.From then on, Trego, promoted to open on his return from England Lions duty, saw Somerset to their target, despite Briggs removing Kieron Pollard for a duck in the same over as Trescothick fell. Abdul Razzaq went for 64 off his four overs as James Hildreth (29) and Jos Buttler (18 not out) joined in the big-hitting action. Trego faced 44 balls and hit eight fours and three sixes.Earlier, after the loss of Michael Carberry who was brilliantly run out by Trescothick’s direct hit from cover, Hampshire batted aggressively with James Vince scoring 22 off just nine balls. Jimmy Adams hit four boundaries in his 21 and when they fell in quick succession to make it 57 for three only five overs had been bowled.It was 62 for 3 at the end of the power-play overs and Ervine and McKenzie added 112 in 11 overs to build on the impressive start. Ervine reached his half-century with two sixes in an over from Trego, but was out next ball attempting another.McKenzie hit only one six, straight off Somerset’s best bowler Murali Kartik, but added 10 fours before being pinned lbw by a full length ball from Alfonso Thomas. Somerset’s win strengthened their position in the top four of the South Division and they look a solid bet to reach the quarter-finals.

Mark Cosgrove and Tom Maynard powered Glamorgan to a superb seven-wicket victory over Essex in their Friends Provident t20 match at Chelmsford

Cricinfo staff11-Jun-2010
Scorecard
Mark Cosgrove and Tom Maynard powered Glamorgan to a superb seven-wicket victory over Essex in their Friends Provident t20 match at Chelmsford. The duo combined in a thrilling partnership of 97 in only 50 balls to set up victory with 14 deliveries to spare after Essex had posted a total of 191 for 6.Cosgrove plundered 89 from 55 balls, with the help of 13 fours and two sixes, although he had one slice of good fortune when he was put down at short third man by David Masters when 44. Maynard finished with an unbeaten 66 from 30 balls, with four fours and six sixes, the last of which saw the Welsh county to their third win in the competition in as many matches.No-one escaped the carnage as the third-wicket pair cut loose. Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria conceded 43 from three overs while New Zealand allrounder Scott Styriss’ two overs cost 29. The Essex bowlers hardly helped their cause with some woeful bowling as they gifted their opponents a dozen wides.Essex made a stuttering start to their innings when captain Mark Pettini provided a simple return catch from Robert Croft’s first ball of the match. Ravi Bopara (29) and Ryan ten Doeschate (37) did manage to keep the scoreboard ticking over but the only real momentum was provided by James Foster.He thrashed an unbeaten 54 from 25 balls, the high point of which was three successive sixes in the 18th over sent down by Jamie Dalrymple. All of them came as he stood at least two foot outside his off stump and each ball was dispatched over midwicket.Foster also helped himself to five fours and he could be forgiven for thinking that he had done enough to give Essex a total that should have been defended. But Cosgrove and Maynard had other ideas as they both gathered their personal bests in this competition. Veteran offspinner Croft also shared the honours for Glamorgan as he sent down four teasing overs that brought him 3 for 22.

Michael Hussey will walk on to the MCG on Wednesday under immense pressure ahead of the Ashes, but his captain Ricky Ponting believes Hussey will come good before the first Test

Brydon Coverdale02-Nov-2010Michael Hussey will walk on to the MCG on Wednesday under immense pressure ahead of the Ashes, but his captain Ricky Ponting believes Hussey will come good before the first Test. Hussey has joined the ODI squad fresh from a disappointing Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia in Adelaide, where he followed a first-innings golden duck with 3 in the second innings.One domestic outing would not usually have any bearing on an established player’s place in the side, but Hussey’s Test form has been scratchy for some time. His career average hovers around 50 but in the past two years he has averaged only 34.18, and at 35 years of age the time to justify his position is rapidly running out.Adding to the selectors’ dilemma in the lead-up to the Gabba Test is the strong form of Usman Khawaja, who toured England with the Test squad this year and started the Sheffield Shield season with a double-century. While Hussey was struggling in Adelaide, his South Australian opponent Callum Ferguson posted 129, and the form of the much younger batsmen won’t make life any easier for Hussey.”He’s a bit disappointed with it,” Ponting said of Hussey’s Sheffield Shield performance. “I’ve had a good chat with him today. He’s very clear in his own mind about what he needs to do and he feels he’s on the right track and his preparation has been good for every game that he’s played. Class players like him generally find a way to get it done, and I’m sure that over the next few one-day games against Sri Lanka you’ll see him score some runs.”But the selectors must decide whether the ODI arena is the best place for Hussey in the build-up to the Ashes. Western Australia play a first-class game against the touring England side in Perth starting on Friday and it could be the perfect opportunity for Hussey to find some touch against the red ball and his Ashes opponents.Australia’s full-time selector, Greg Chappell, said there had been discussions about releasing Hussey to take part in that game, but the batsman wanted to stay with the one-day side. On Tuesday, Ponting had not looked closely at the state schedule but conceded the idea of getting more first-class cricket in to Hussey would have been spoken about.”There’s probably a debate around that,” Ponting said. “At the end of the day, all the players want to be playing as many games for Australia as they possibly can. It’s important then that you maximise your training time and the time you get in the middle to make sure your game is where it needs to be. I’m sure that’s what Mike’s thinking is this week.”All the Australian players will have at least one more opportunity to play Sheffield Shield cricket before the battle for the urn begins in Brisbane on November 25, but England will have three first-class warm-up games during the same period. The majority of Australia’s Test players are preparing to face Sri Lanka in a one-day series, but Ponting was not concerned about his men having a lack of first-class action ahead of the first Test.”The fact that Johnson and Hussey came home early from India to play that Shield game last week, we’re doing what we can to get as much first-class cricket in to our players before the first Test match come around,” he said. “The international programme is what we’ve got – there’s not much we can do about it. We’ve just got to make sure we’ve got all our guys in the best physical and technical shape that we can have them in come the start of the Ashes series.”

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Kalidou Koulibaly to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Il Mattino (via Sport Witness), who claim that Fabio Paratici has already made contact with Aurelio De Laurentiis concerning a deal for the Napoli centre-back ahead of the opening of the summer market.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-martinez-dybala-spence-conte-2” title= “Read the latest Spurs news!”]

However, the report goes on to state that, at present, the Serie A side are not considering any offers due to still being in with an outside chance of winning the Scudetto – with the southern Italian side believed to be waiting to make a decision on the future of the 30-year-old until they know what lies ahead of them in 2022/23.

Better than Bremer

Considering just how impressive Koulibaly has been for Napoli ever since his £6.98m move to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium back in 2014, it is easy to see why Conte would be keen on a deal for the Senegal international this summer.

Indeed, while Koulibaly has averaged seasonal SofaScore match ratings of 7.00 or above in each of the six complete seasons the website has been recording data for the Italian leagues, the current campaign has arguably been the centre-back’s most impressive for Gli Azzurri.

Over his 23 Serie A appearances this term, the £40.5m-rated defender has been imperious in the heart of Luciano Spalletti’s backline, helping his side keep eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 1.5 tackles, three clearances and winning 4.3 duels – at a success rate of 58% – per game.

The £177k-per-week player who Conor Clancy dubbed a “phenomenal” talent also impressed going forwards, scoring two goals, registering two assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 53.3 passes, 3.3 long balls, 0.4 key passes and completing 0.7 dribbles per fixture.

These returns have seen the 30-year-old average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.19, not only ranking him as Napoli’s third-best player in the Italian top flight but also as the third-best defender in the division as a whole – as well as bettering the average rating of another of Spurs’ reported summer transfer targets, Gleison Bremer, by a score of 0.01.

And, with it being reported that Napoli would demand a figure in the region of €40m (£33m) in order to part with Koulibaly this summer – around €10m (£8.5m) less than Bremer’s asking price – these are two strong arguments that could be made for the Senegal sensation being the better signing for Spurs.

AND in other news: “100%” – Fabrizio Romano drops Spurs transfer claim that will leave supporters buzzing

Lancashire’s best efforts to defeat Kent were beaten by the persistent showersat Old Trafford as the County Championship Division One match ended in adraw

30-Apr-2010
ScorecardThe rain proved prevented any chance of a Lancashire win•Getty ImagesLancashire’s best efforts to defeat Kent were beaten by the persistent showersat Old Trafford as the County Championship Division One match ended in adraw.Needing an improbable 285 to win, Rob Key’s team had reached 45 for 2 whenthe rain finally closed in and the game was eventually abandoned at 3.45pm.Although only 11.5 overs were possible on the final day, Lancashire’s SajidMahmood still managed to rough up four Kent batsmen and claimed two wickets in ahostile spell either side of lunch.The England fast bowler produced a quick, accurate delivery which burst throughJoe Denly’s loose defence and then found the edge of Geraint Jones’ bat, PaulHorton completing the dismissal with an excellent catch at first slip.In between those successes, Glen Chapple had offered home supporters hope offurther breakthroughs when he extracted plenty of life from the Old Traffordpitch and beat Key on a number of occasions.Indeed, Kent appeared so concerned about the state of the wicket and thedangers posed by Chapple and Mahmood with the new ball that they promoted MattColes up the order as a “lunch-watchman”. The 19-year-old had batted as well as anyone except Darren Stevens in the firstinnings and he enhanced his reputation again by making a composed 10 not out.Earlier, rain had prevented play for 90 minutes in the morning session andChapple immediately declared on Lancashire’s overnight total of 177 for 3once the weather relented.That left Ashwell Prince undefeated on 71, giving the South African anaggregate of 186 for a match in which he had offered further proof of his highclass and excellent temperament. Lancashire took nine points from the game but Kent will only take six after losing one of their seven points due to a slow over rate.

Wolves youngster Dion Sanderson is set to be recalled from his loan spell at Championship side Birmingham City, according to journalist John Percy.

The Lowdown: Sanderson shines on loan

The 22-year-old moved to the Blues on a temporary basis last summer in order to earn regular playing time outside of the Premier League.

Sanderson has impressed during his time at St Andrew’s, making 14 Championship starts and winning 2.4 aerial duels per game – only Romain Saiss with 2.6 has bettered that figure at Molineux this term.

While the young defender was expected to be on loan at Birmingham for the entirety of the 2021/22 season, it now looks as though that won’t be the case.

The Latest: Youngster set for Wolves return

According to The Telegraph’s Percy, who shared a link to his article via Twitter, Sanderson will be recalled imminently in order to bolster the depth in Bruno Lage’s squad between now and the end of the campaign.

The defender has just one first-team appearance to his name for Wolves, which came against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup back in 2019/20.

The Verdict: Sensible move

With Saiss now on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Morocco, it makes perfect sense for Lage to bring Sanderson back into the fold, with the youngster hailed as ‘an absolute Rolls-Royce’ by Sunderland manager Lee Johnson during an impressive loan spell at the Stadium of Light last season.

Whether or not he is thrown straight into the team remains to be seen – it would perhaps be a surprise if he is, given his total lack of Premier League experience – but it is vital to have defensive cover.

It could even be the case that Lage goes to a back four for a few weeks rather than his favoured three, which would see Max Kilman and Conor Coady partnering one another in defence. It would be a big change in formation, though, making it a risk at a key point in the season.

In other news, Luke Hatfield has made a key Wolves transfer claim. Read more here.

Speaking live on his Twitch stream, as shared by The Daily Express, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared another update on Tottenham Hotspur target Adama Traore.

The Lowdown: Spurs in talks…

As reported by multiple reliable sources, Spurs and transfer chief Fabio Paratici have been in talks to sign the Wolves winger, whom Antonio Conte intends to use as a right-wing back.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-updates-5/” title=”Spurs latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Italian wants to strengthen out wide and sees Traore as a player who could seriously bolster his three-at-the-back formation, coming amid claims that he wants an upgrade on summer signing Emerson Royal (The Athletic).

As the final week of the transfer window looms, an agreement still hasn’t been announced with negotiations taking time.

Journalist Matt Law of The Telegraph claimed recently that Spurs are eyeing a loan with an obligation to buy for the player as Romano now shares Traore’s stance on a switch to north London.

The Latest: Traore wants to join Spurs…

According to the Italian on his Twitch, as relayed by The Express, the 25-year-old is apparently eager to join Conte at Spurs and sees the opportunity as one he can’t refuse.

Talks are expected to continue between the Molineux outfit and Tottenham as the Lilywhites head coach sets sights on his first signing at N17.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Lauded as ‘undefendable’ and ‘unplayable’ in past seasons by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, a huge admirer, pundits across the Premier League believe Traore could indeed be a good fit for Spurs.

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, for instance, called the Spain international a ‘perfect fit’ for Tottenham and if they can agree a loan it would be some stellar business.

Still fairly young in his mid-20s, Traore’s price tag has dropped massively in recent seasons, which could partly be due to his contract situation at Wolves.

Romano, writing for Calciomercato in October 2020, claimed that the Midlands outfit once valued their man at a sky high €100 million (£83.1m).

Spurs would be foolish not to strike and seal a deal before January 31.

In other news: Conte green-lights move for £220k-p/w ‘jewel’ as he lays out transfer demand for Spurs chiefs, find out more here.

Sunderland have been handed a huge boost ahead of the League One run-in, with an injury update emerging from the Academy of Light.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Cambridge United clash (via The Northern Echo), Alex Neil revealed that Aidan McGeady – who has been sidelined since November of last year due to a knee ligament injury – has now returned to full training with the first-team squad.

Regarding the recovery of the 36-year-old, the Black Cats manager said: “He trained with us yesterday so that is a big step forward.

“He hasn’t been with the group for quite a while now but yesterday was his first training session so, obviously, it’s only the beginning. He was on the grass yesterday with us and he looked fine.”

Neil will be buzzing

With Sunderland still very much being in with a shout of securing a play-off place this season, there is no doubt that McGeady’s return to full training will have left Neil buzzing.

Indeed, while it would appear unlikely that the 36-year-old will make a return to action over the club’s final three League One fixtures, having him on the training pitch will certainly add an element of experience to the sessions – something that will subsequently have a positive influence on the Black Cats’ push for a top-six spot.

McGeady is out of contract this summer, however, while the winger has made it clear he wants to continue to play football in a recent interview, there has been no progress or confirmation of his current deal at the Stadium of Light being extended as of yet.

The winger told the Scottish Daily Mail (via Daily Record): “I know I am 36 and have not got that many years left but I still think with the way that I play, I can do so for a few years.”

Sunderland are currently in seventh following a draw with Plymouth Argyle on Monday night, but the Mackems do have a game in hand on their fifth and sixth place competitors – something which means the clash with Cambridge United tomorrow will have huge consequences in the play-off race.

AND in other news: Neil must now boldly axe “fatigued” £2.7k-p/w Sunderland star, he needs a break