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Colin Gibson is leaving the ECB to replace Brian Murgatroyd at the ICC as head of media and communications

Cricinfo staff14-Dec-2009Colin Gibson is leaving his position as head of corporate communications at the ECB to replace Brian Murgatroyd at the ICC as head of media and communications, after Murgatroyd resigned from the post in September.Gibson was previously sports editor of the and in London and director of communications with the Football Association (FA) in England, after which he joined the ECB in 2005, ahead of the Ashes.”I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the ECB and I am grateful to the senior management, the England team and my communications colleagues for the support they have generously offered in the past five years,” Gibson said. “I am now looking forward to working with some extremely talented people at the ICC as we take on the exciting challenges that lie ahead.”Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said: “The ICC is fortunate to attract an experienced Colin Gibson. I welcome him to the headquarters and look forward to his contributions for the benefit of world cricket.”

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Everton are attempting to sign Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea and have learned that they will have to pay £35m for the forward, according to The Guardian.

What’s the story?

Everton’s problems in the final third this season have been well documented.

It is true that Richarlison has been a revelation following his summer move from Watford, but the likes of Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have struggled.

The Toffees are said to be keen to sign a new striker on deadline day and according to The Guardian, are attempting to bring Batshuayi to the club.

The Belgium international is back with Chelsea having spent the first half of this season on loan in Spain with Valencia.

It would be fair to say that the 25-year-old struggled at the Mestalla, managing just one league goal during a disappointing loan spell.

Batshuayi’s Chelsea record is 19 goals in 53 appearances, which is not exactly terrific, but he did score goals on loan at Borussia Dortmund last term.

Should Everton move for the striker?

Batshuayi is certainly capable of being a success at Everton, but £35m is a lot of money for a player who has not been in good form this season.

A move for the Belgian on transfer deadline day does make sense for Everton, but the Toffees must attempt to negotiate a lower price.

According to The Guardian, West Ham United had wanted to take Batshuayi on loan, but Chelsea are keen on a permanent sale, with Everton seemingly the only serious contenders at this stage of the transfer window.

The Londoners are in a strong negotiating position though, considering that Batshuayi still has more than two years left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge.

If the asking price stays the same then Everton should dodge a move, but anything around the £27m mark should be seriously considered by the Toffees.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has revealed that Aston Villa could revisit a move for a Southampton midfielder in the January transfer window…

What’s the story?

Reports over the course of the summer had suggested that the Midlands club were keen on signing James Ward-Prowse from St Mary’s, but it appears Gerrard is now also interested in landing Romeu.

During a Q&A for The Athletic, Evans said: “As for the budget… rather than setting an exact figure, Villa will remain flexible to act if either a bargain deal becomes available, or there is a need to top up a certain position, such as in midfield. Sporting director Johan Lange will present midfield options to manager Steven Gerrard, and Southampton’s Oriol Romeu may be looked at after he was tracked over the summer.”

Replacing Idrissa Gueye

Ever since Idrissa Gueye left the club for fellow Premier League side Everton, Villa have searched far and wide for someone to replace the gaping hole that the Senegal international left in the middle of the park.

Marvelous Nakamba has been the closest to doing so, but in Romeu, Gerrard could genuinely find a real monstrous defensive presence.

The 6 foot machine would represent a real upgrade on Nakamba in that holding midfield role – in fact, as per Whoscored, the Saints man’s impressive average of 3.3 tackles per game in the Premier League last season ranked him joint-third in the entire division.

Romeu also averaged 1.4 interceptions per game, numbers which are far better than any of Gerrard’s current options at Villa Park – Nakamba being the closest Villa player to the Spaniard, managing just 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match.

And, when asked about Romeu’s performance against West Brom in a 2-0 victory last season, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “When you see him as a professional, how he reacts when he is not first-choice, he’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever seen.

“Sometimes he is under the radar because he makes the work nobody wants to do – closing the gaps, closing the space, winning duels, being everywhere and when he is in the moment when he can score, it is unbelievable for him.”

The £6m-rated star is exactly what Villa need in that engine room, and could finally be the man to replace Gueye.

Meanwhile, Villa could transform their defence with this star…

Lancashire have suffered a major injury blow even before their Championship season begins after Gary Keedy, the left-arm spinner, fractured his right collarbone during a friendly against Durham at Old Trafford

Cricinfo staff09-Apr-2010Lancashire have suffered a major injury blow even before their Championship season begins after Gary Keedy, the left-arm spinner, fractured his right collarbone during a friendly against Durham at Old Trafford.Keedy will undergo surgery in the next 48 hours and the club will then have a better idea of his likely absence from the side, but it would appear unlikely he will be around for the early stages of the campaign. Lancashire begin their Championship season next week against Warwickshire.Keedy picked up his injury towards the end of the opening day of the two-day fixture when he fell awkwardly on the boundary. He was helped off the pitch and taken to hospital for assessment.Lancashire’s four-day hopes are built around Keedy’s ability to bowl a large number of overs, both in attacking and defensive modes. In his absence it could mean a chance for fellow left-armer Stephen Parry to earn a first-team opportunity.

Kylian Mbappe looked totally unfazed as he talked on his phone after being taken off at half-time in Paris Saint-Germain's game against Monaco.

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Mbappe taken off at half-time against MonacoTook selfies and signed autographs for fansJoined his mother in the stands for second halfGetty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

PSG coach Luis Enrique opted to take the forward off after a disappointing 45 minutes into the Ligue 1 clash at Monaco. There were fears that the attacker had picked up an injury, but his casual stroll through the tunnel and along the side of the pitch suggested that he was substituted for a different reason.

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Mbappe opted against joining his fellow PSG stars on the bench. Instead, he greeted supporters and took a picture them before walking up the stairs and joining his mother in the stand, where he sat smiling and talking.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

After being substituted for the second time in a row, tension may be rising between Mbappe, his team-mates and coach Luis Enrique. The France star has already informed the club that he will leave at the end of the season in a free transfer and looks set to join Real Madrid in the summer. Before then, though, the 25-year-old will hope to be back in the team when they take on Real Sociedad in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ernest Hilaire, the chief executive of the WICB whose tenure has been marked by standoffs with a number of senior players, most notably Chris Gayle, has decided not to seek a renewal of his contract when it expires in October

Tariq Engineer05-Jul-2012Ernest Hilaire, the chief executive of the WICB whose tenure has been marked by standoffs with a number of senior players, most notably Chris Gayle, has decided not to seek a renewal of his contract when it expires in October, ESPNcricinfo has learned.Hilaire has already informed the WICB board of directors of his intention not to continue in the role and they have appointed a recruitment agency to find a replacement. He has been appointed St Lucia’s new ambassador in London by the newly elected St Lucia Labour party government.He took over as chief executive in November 2009, when he was given a three-year contract, and presided over a somewhat tumultuous time in West Indies cricket as the team struggled to win matches. However, the side has shown improved competitiveness under the captaincy of Darren Sammy recently, especially in the limited-overs formats, and espouses a commitment to playing as a team.Hilaire had also been involved in high profile disputes with Dinanath Ramnarine, the former head of the West Indies Players’ Association, and a number of senior players, including Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Gayle’s troubles with the board began when he chose to play in the 2011 IPL and miss the home series against Pakistan. It was only in June 2012 that Gayle’s exile ended after he signed a CARICOM-brokered agreement with the WICB. Sarwan has not played for West Indies since June 2011, having lost his central contract in 2010 on fitness grounds.In May 2012, Hilaire, said the selectors should focus on picking a strong collective unit rather than one just comprising 11 star players. “For a decade or so the selectors were guided by a process which had them arriving at the eleven best players to take the field,” Hilaire had said. “With the eleven best players on the park our results went from bad to worse and yet worse still.

A summary of the first batch of Standard Bank Pro20 games

Firdose Moonda06-Feb-2010The Cobras began the opening round of this season’s Pro20 competition as they ended last season’s campaign – at the top of the log. They beat the Highveld Lions by 42 runs in Cape Town. Herschelle Gibbs, the long time favourite son of Newlands, raised his half-century off just 26 balls before he was dismissed for 53. Richard Levi was the other major contributor for the home side with an undefeated 43 of 20 balls as the Cobras put on an imposing 179 in 20 overs.There were some encouraging signs in the bowling department for the Lions. Robert Frylink showed impressive form with 4 for 31 and Aaron Phangiso’s left-arm spin earned him 3 for 23. Phangiso also took an amazing catch at mid-on to dismiss Gibbs.The Lions’ batting also showed promise. Vaughn van Jaarsveld came to the party with 39 off 22 balls, as did Dane Vilas with 32 off 18 balls. There must have been bitterness though, as two former Lions players undid the Highveld team. Justin Ontong (3 for 27) and Charl Langeveldt (3 for 18) had the Lions looking like kittens once again. Their last six batsmen scored 17 runs collectively as the Lions collapsed for 137 after 19 overs.Down the road in East London, matters were more tense, with the Warriors beating the Eagles by a slender three runs. The Warriors may have felt that they were a few runs short after posting 149 for 7. Colin Ingram, who ended the MTN40 as the top scorer, scored 61 off 49 balls. Nicky Boje chipped in with 32 off 20 balls, batting at No. 6.Makhaya Ntini removed Morne van Wyk in the third over of the Eagles’ reply but that was the only success for the Mdingi Express as Ryan Bailey’s 73 off 47 balls seemed to set the Eagles up for victory. None of the other batsmen had any major contributions but the Eagles looked well placed with Bailey at the crease. The Free Staters needed seven runs off the last four balls but Juan Theron denied them with a succession of well-directed yorkers.The match between the Dolphins and the Titans in Durban was abandoned due to bad weather. That means the teams shared the points and lie in third and fourth place respectively. The Cobras are on top of the log with their comprehensive win, followed by the Warriors, while the Eagles lie in fifth and the Lions are, once again, languishing at the bottom.Round two sees the Dolphins aim to get their first match action against the Warriors and the Titans take on the Cobras on Sunday.

Thiago Almada has explained how fellow World Cup winner Lionel Messi “improved” MLS following his stunning move to Inter Miami.

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Argentine icon chasing the American dreamMade an immediate impact in the United StatesFellow countryman looking for move to Europe

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentina international, who now has eight Ballon d’Or triumphs to his name, bid farewell to European football when heading to the United States as a free agent in the summer of 2023. Messi made an immediate impact in America, as he inspired Inter Miami to a historic Leagues Cup crown, and has helped to raise both the profile and standard of MLS – with more household names expected to follow in his illustrious footsteps.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT ALMADA SAID ABOUT MESSI

Atlanta United star Almada, who won the 2022 World Cup alongside Messi, has told of how his iconic countryman is raising the game in MLS: “It changed a lot with Messi. The football improved a lot. You can see that a lot more. It’s back and forth, there are a lot of goals. Sometimes it happened to us that we started winning and didn’t build on that, and we ended up losing. When Leo came, he knew more about MLS than I did. I spoke when we faced each other. He arrived and they started winning all the games.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Almada was named MLS Young Player of the Year for 2023 – registering 11 goals and 19 assists during the regular season – and now has his sights set on securing a transfer elsewhere. He added on his own future, as he prepares to tread a path that Messi once did at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain: “I want to go to Europe now. I would like to play in the Spanish La Liga. There was interest from Ajax before, which could not happen. Let's see now.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ALMADA?

Almada is a product of the academy system at Velez Sarsfield, but left his homeland in February 2022 when making his way to Atlanta. The talented 22-year-old now has four senior international caps to his name and will be hoping to earn a place in Argentina’s squad for the 2024 Copa America – which will be staged in the United States.

GOAL runs through Lionel Messi's most memorable masterclasses…

Lionel Messi is in perhaps his final World Cup, and so far, so good for the Argentina icon.

His latest performance – a goalscoring effort in the semi-final against Croatia – was one of his most important, though there are certainly many standout efforts over the years to choose from.

There may be more to come, too, with Messi set to make his second World Cup final appearance when Argentina take on holders France in the 2022 showpiece.

GOAL takes a look at some of his best-ever international performances…

Check out even more magic Messi moments!

Lionel Messi's greatest goals of all timeRanked – Messi's best Clasico momentsGettyArgentina 4-0 United States, June 21, 2016

One of Messi's greatest virtues as a player is that he is not just one of the best in scoring goals, he can also set up his team-mates with ease.

The Copa America Centenario semi-final against hosts United States showed off to perfection those two facets of his game.

Not only did he find the net with an outrageous free-kick effort, he also set up another two goals in a 4-0 rout to send the Albiceleste through to the final.

AdvertisementGettyArgentina 3-0 Ecuador, July 3, 2021

More than five years had passed since Messi's last knockout goal for Argentina when Lionel Scaloni's men lined up against Ecuador in the quarter-finals of the Copa America. But while he left it late, the strike truly proved worth the wait.

The Barcelona ace had pulled all the strings for his side throughout the game, playing in both Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez for their goals to put Argentina 2-0 ahead. Then, in injury time, it looked as though he would have the chance to add his own when Piero Hincapie appeared to commit a penalty on Angel Di Maria.

A VAR check eventually changed the decision, giving Messi a free-kick on the edge of the box. But it did not change the captain's task much, as he dispatched a glorious effort to notch Argentina's third and round off a brilliant all-round display.

GettyArgentina 3-0 Mexico, July 11, 2007

How different might Messi's international career have turned out if he could have kept Juan Roman Riquelme by his side a little longer?

The two iconic No.10s formed a glittering partnership for the few short years between Leo's emergence and Roman's controversial retirement in 2009 amid rumours of a falling-out with coach Diego Maradona. But they were at least together long enough to give us several unforgettable games.

One of the best was Argentina's Copa America semi-final demolition of Mexico in 2007, as Messi and Riquelme both got on the scoresheet in a dominant 3-0 win.

The then-Barcelona kid netted his side's second of the evening, an outrageous chip that ranks among his very best international goals.

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GettyArgentina 2-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina, June 15, 2014

While Messi was by no means a disappointment at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, his failure to find the net even once as Argentina reached the quarters was a curious anomaly – one he was desperate to correct once the next finals came around.

In Brazil, therefore, he wasted no time in finding the net during a virtuoso display against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Argentina's very first game. "I’d had to wait eight years for my second World Cup goal. We wanted to have a great tournament and started off with a win against Bosnia, and I scored our second goal," he recalled to .

"It all happened very quickly. I picked the ball up near the halfway line and tried to burst towards their penalty area. I played a one-two with Gonzalo Higuain and then shot from the edge of the box. Luckily, it all came off."

Goal readers voted for their favourite players of African origin in the Premier League this week.

Ahead of the 2018 Best of Africa Awards, an evening to honour and celebrate the philanthropic endeavours and achievements of African football players, Goal fans voted through our Instagram account for their own Best of Africa XI – a team made up entirely of Premier League players of African origin.

Due to the lack of African goalkeepers in the Premier League, fans were tasked with choosing between the best African keepers set to appear at this year’s FIFA World Cup to fill the spot between the posts.

It has been a great year for Africans in the Premier League, with Mohamed Salah scoring 31 Premier League goals and putting Liverpool on the cusp of a Champions League final. 

Team-mate Sadio Mane has built on last season's successes, while Wilfried Zaha has become Crystal Palace's key man in their surge towards Premier League survival as almost 300,000 votes were received.

GettyGK | Essam El-Hadary | Al-TaawounAdvertisementGettyRB | Victor Moses | ChelseaGetty ImagesCB | Vincent Kompany | Manchester CityENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyCB | Eric Bailly | Manchester United