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Ian Bell has been added to England’s squad for the remaining two one-day internationals in the NatWest Series against Pakistan

Cricinfo staff19-Sep-2010Batsman Ian Bell, who scored a century in Saturday’s CB40 final, has been added to England’s squad for the remaining two one-day internationals in the NatWest Series against Pakistan.Bell has not been part of the England set-up since breaking a bone in his foot while fielding during the second one-day international against Bangladesh at Bristol earlier this summer. He has since recovered from the metatarsal injury, scoring 107 off 95 balls in Warwickshire’s victory over Somerset at Lord’s.”It’s fantastic to have him back in the squad,” Andrew Strauss, the England captain, said. “He wasn’t in originally because we weren’t sure about where he was in his recovery and he needed some cricket for Warwickshire. He’s played very well and strengthens are squad to give us more options batting wise.”Bell made a successful return to the one-day squad in the first match against Bangladesh, where he struck an unbeaten 84 to seal victory at Trent Bridge but was soon back on the sidelines after his injury at Bristol. With England’s impressive one-day form it’s a battle to find a place in the line-up, especially with Kevin Pietersen to return, but Bell feels he is now coming into his prime.”I’ll just keep working as hard as I can to get in the side in one-day cricket as well as Test cricket,” he said. “I feel I’m improving all the time. I’m desperate to keep improving because at 28 the best years are still to come.”It’s been great to be back on field. When I did the injury the England guys and the specialists erred on the side of safety,” Bell added. “The surgeon suggested eight weeks off, I probably could have played after seven but was it worth risking it ahead of aus? Probably not.”So hats off to the ECB – Kirk Russell [the physio] and Nick Pierce the doctor got it right in terms of giving myself enough time but also getting some cricket under my belt.”Paul Collingwood, who missed the third one-dayer at The Oval with a virus, trained with the squad on Sunday at Lord’s and is likely to be available. Strauss confirmed that Bell wasn’t in as cover and will stand an equal chance of being selected.

There may be some awkward silences over breakfast and dinner at Boyd Rankin’s house over the next few days

George Dobell at Edgbaston 20-Jul-2010
ScorecardStuart Broad removed Jonathan Trott but came in for some punishment from Neil Carter•PA PhotosThere may be some awkward silences over breakfast and dinner at Boyd Rankin’s house over the next few days. It’s not that the tall Irishman is a poor conversationalist – far from it – but the fact that he denied his house guest a well-deserved century that could make the atmosphere a little tense.For Neil Carter is staying with Rankin this week. And, after Rankin dozily ran himself out to leave Carter stranded on 99, both men were left crouching at either end of the pitch with their heads in their hands.Carter (123 balls, ten fours and five sixes) richly deserved a century. By thwarting an attack containing four international bowlers, he earned Warwickshire a lifeline in a match they can’t afford to lose if they are to have any chance of avoiding relegation. They have already lost seven games out of ten and know that a team has never survived the drop with so many defeats.Very well he played, too. Where once he was littlemore than a happy slogger, he has now developed into a consistent cricketer who knows when to attack and defend. This was his fourth half-century of the championship season and leaves him top of Warwickshire’s batting averages. In a squad that includes Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell, that’s a fine effort.It took a moment of madness to deny Carter. Backing-up in an over enthusiastic manner, Rankin was left well short of his ground after turning like an oil-tanker and failing to beat Graeme Swann’s direct hit. It’s not hard to understand Carter’s disappointment. He has scored only one first-class century and that was back in 2002. These opportunities don’t come along very often.Still, he could take consolation in a job well done. His efforts had helped Warwickshire to their highest first innings score since April and the relative riches of three batting bonus points. They had managed only three in their previous six matches. He had also helped Warwickshire’s last two wickets add 113 crucial runs. On a pitch that is likely to remain helpful to bowlers, the hosts’ final total is probably not far short of par.It was not just Carter’s stroke play that impressed. It was the way he farmed the strike. Time and again, he nudged the ball into gaps off the final ball of the over to ensure that Rankin faced only 12 deliveries in their tenth-wicket stand of 46. Indeed, Carter rubbed salt into Nottinghamshire’s wounds by stealing a single off the final ball of an over off which he had already plundered three sixes.Entertaining though Carter’s innings was, there was something unsettling about it from an England supporters’ perspective. This Nottinghamshire attack contains three centrally contracted England bowlers, all of whom featured in the World Twenty20 success in the Caribbean just two months ago. To see them thrashed to all parts of Edgbaston by a tail-end batsman was not encouraging for any English supporter with an eye to the Ashes.Stuart Broad sustained the fiercest mauling. At one stage Carter punished him for three sixes in an over (a pull, a wonderful cover drive and an upper cut), hitting the England fast bowler out of the attack. Whatever advice any of his teammates offered, it is highly unlikely it included the phrase ”Perhaps you could try the short ball a bit more, Stuart?’Carter also hit Ryan Sidebottom for two sixes (a back foot straight drive and a sliced drive over point) while Swann, playing his first Championship match in over a year, suffered the indignity of being slog-swept for two sixes by Imran Tahir, a man with few pretensions as a batsman. In all the trio, playing a championship game together for the first time since May 2008, conceded 248 in 65 overs.They were also out-bowled by a 35-year-old who New Zealand deemed worthy of just one Test cap. Andre Adams was easily the pick of the bowlers, maintaining a tight line and gaining enough movement to trouble batsmen all day. Indeed, by the time that Adams bowled Chris Woakes off the inside edge to leave Warwickshire on 157 for 7, it appeared the visitors had taken a firm grip upon the game.Until that point, Nottinghamshire had bowled pretty well. Sidebottom, who swung the ball all day, dismissed Botha with a beauty that moved away, before Trott was unable to capitalise on a let off in the slips on 13 and edged another fine delivery that bounced and left him. Ian Westwood drove loosely and edged to slip while Jim Troughton was drawn into a prod at one that spun away and took the edge – a classic off-spinner’s dismissal of a left-hander. Darren Maddy undid his promising to start when he pulled a short ball directly down the throat of long-leg. It was the third time this season he had fallen to such a sucker punch. Clarke edged a good one that left him and Tim Ambrose edged a footless drive.So, had Carter been taken early, Warwickshire may have failed to gain even a single batting point. As it was Nottinghamshire put him down to successive deliveries. If Chris Read did well to lay a hand on the first chance, a gloved pull that flew down the leg side, Alex Hales should have done much better with the next: a regulation outside edge to third slip. Sidebottom was the unfortunate bowler on both occasions. Warwickshire would have been 179 for eight had the first chance been taken. Carter was on just 16.Carter is out of contract at Edgbaston at the end of this season but, in his words, it would be a “massive surprise” if he were to leave. He’s been a key member of Warwickshire’s limited-overs team for years but this season is well on the way to record championship hauls with bat and ball. Aged 35, he is playing the best cricket of his career and it’s no surprise that he is beginning to attract the attention of some IPL teams.”That’s probably the best innings of my career,” Carter admitted afterwards. “It’s the most balls I’ve faced in an innings and while I’ve scored a century before, I’ve usually just gone out and blazed some shots. This time I felt I batted properly. I even played out a maiden at one point. And to do it against an attack of that class is very pleasing.”Boyd just said ‘sorry.’ What else could he do? If anything he was trying too hard. I’d still settle for 99 ten times out of ten when I go out to bat and I can only be satisfied with an innings that has put us back in the game.”

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s January transfer plans for Nathaniel Phillips…

What’s the talk?

According to The Telegraph, the Liverpool defender is a player the Magpies are aware of and considering as they look to strengthen their squad in the coming weeks.

The report claims that Tottenham’s Joe Rodon and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos are also targets, with the latter said to be keen on a move to St James’ Park.

Clark upgrade

Eddie Howe could land a big upgrade on Ciaran Clark by securing a deal to sign Phillips this month, and it is one that has been a long time coming for the Toon.

Newcastle 4-3 Norwich September 2016, Newcastle 1-1 Norwich November 2021 – what do these two fixtures have in common aside from the opposition? The answer… both games started with Clark playing in the heart of the defence, with the defender being shown a red card in the most recent match.

It is also worth mentioning that Karl Darlow, Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, Dwight Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey all started the aforementioned game in 2016 and remain at St James’ Park to this day, whilst Isaac Hayden was also on the bench. Meanwhile, Norwich’s third-choice goalkeeper Michael McGovern is the only survivor from their line-up.

Football moves quickly, and Clark is simply not good enough for where Newcastle want to be. He has started 12 games this season out of 20 and averaged a horrific SofaScore rating of 6.27, highlighting how poorly he has performed and why Howe needs an upgrade in that position.

On the other hand, Phillips was sublime for Liverpool in the Premier League last season, with Jurgen Klopp hailing him as “incredible” and a “monster” for his impressive displays. He averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.19 across 17 appearances, winning 61% of his duels and making 4.8 clearances per match.

This shows that the 24-year-old has the quality to deliver consistently brilliant performances in the top flight, proving his worth in one of the best teams in the country. Therefore, he could be a big upgrade on Clark, who has struggled badly and looks out of his depth at this level.

The £7.2m-rated Liverpool beast could come in and hit the ground running on Tyneside, as he knows how to perform at Premier League level. This means that he could be an instant success and improve Newcastle’s chances of avoiding the drop at the end of the season.

AND in other news, Decision made: Hammond now facing his first Newcastle transfer blunder, fans will be gutted…

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.

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.

As per The Athletic reporter Jack Pitt-Brooke, an interesting behind-the-scenes Tottenham Hotspur claim has emerged involving manager Antonio Conte and midfielder Harry Winks.

The Lowdown: Conte makes evaluations…

The Italian, speaking candidly to the English press recently, admitted that he has been making ‘evaluations’ on his squad ahead of the January transfer window as he decides who goes and who stays next month.

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According to The Mirror, up to eight players could be safe from the chopping block already in Sergio Reguilon, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Lucas Moura, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Japhet Tanganga and Oliver Skipp as they impress Conte.

Ryan Sessegnon is also expected to be given more runs in the first team, but every other player in Spurs’ squad are apparently fighting for their futures.

The Latest: Winks impresses Conte…

According to Pitt-Brooke, another Spurs player rejuvenated under Conte in Winks has also been seriously impressing the 52-year-old behind the scenes.

It is believed that the former Chelsea manager ‘rates the energy and positivity’ of Tottenham’s midfield man and he has been wowing in training.

The journalist also expects that, barring any twists, Winks could stay for the rest of the season at least.

The Verdict: Interesting…

Winks, alongside the likes of Dele Alli, had been one of the players linked with a move away in January but his recent resurgence has flipped that on its head.

Having a great game against Liverpool at the weekend, winning Man of the Match as he battled in midfield, the 25-year-old has been called a ‘Conte type of player’ by former keeper Paul Robinson (Football Insider).

Barely getting a sniff under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo, it appears Winks’ career at Tottenham may yet have some life left.

In other news: £135,000-per-week star now eyeing move to Spurs after Conte contacted him! Find out more here.

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.

The former India captain played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs across a 16-year career, and is best remembered for leading India to victory in the 1983 World Cup.

Cricinfo staff09-Mar-2010Former India captain Kapil Dev has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. The 51-year-old played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs across a 16-year career, and is best remembered for leading India to victory in the 1983 World Cup.Kapil made his international debut in a one-dayer against Pakistan in Quetta in October 1978. His Test debut followed two weeks later in Faisalabad against the same opponents.One of the greatest fast bowlers that India has produced and its finest bowling allrounder, he ended with a remarkable 434 Test wickets and 253 ODI wickets.In 1994, he became the leading wicket-taker in Tests when he overtook Richard Hadlee, a record that was eventually broken by West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh. Also, in 1988 he leapfrogged another West Indies fast bowler, Joel Garner, to become the most successful bowler in ODIs, a record he held until 1994 when his tally of 253 wickets was passed by Wasim Akram.Kapil’s best bowling figures in a Test were 11 for 146 against Pakistan in Chennai in 1980, while in ODIs his best figures came in the group stages of the 1983 World Cup when he took 5 for 43 against Australia in Nottingham.With the bat, he scored 5248 Test runs, including eight centuries and 27 fifties, at an average of 31.05. He also made 3783 ODI runs, including a highest of 175 not out against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells during the 1983 World Cup.At a ceremony at the ICC headquarters in Dubai on Monday, ICC president David Morgan, alongside former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd presented Kapil with a commemorative cap.Speaking on the occassion, Kapil said, “I am proud and happy to have been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and it’s amazing to think that I have been picked as one of the greats of Indian cricket.”I am delighted to have been named alongside so many great players of the game but for me, when I was growing up, the man I always looked up to was Sunil Gavaskar from the moment I started playing cricket. Now to be named also alongside greats of the game such as Clive Lloyd, Richard Hadlee and Wasim Akram it truly fantastic,” he said.Morgan said Kapil was an all-time great player. “He did everything. He batted, bowled and he was a fine fielder. I remember the great catch he took to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final – he was on the run and the ball came over his shoulder, possibly the most difficult of catches.”Lloyd, who was Kapil’s opposing number in the 1983 World Cup final, said he was a thoroughly deserving induction into the Hall of Fame. “He was a fantastic cricketer and he was a great asset for Indian cricket during his time at the helm,” Lloyd said. “He set the pace for them early on and he came to the fore and did wonderfully well – he played like a true champion and was a brilliant leader.”

New Zealand have gone back to a familiar but inconsistent batsman in Mathew Sinclair as they attempt to challenge Australia

Peter English14-Mar-2010New Zealand have gone back to a familiar but inconsistent batsman in Mathew Sinclair as they attempt to challenge Australia in Friday’s opening Test in Wellington. Sinclair, 34, is a chance for his sixth return to the XI after coming into the 13-man squad for Neil Broom on the back of a strong domestic season for Central Districts.Sinclair has been elevated to cover for the top order and is a strange choice given the assignment is against the world’s No. 3-ranked side. Sinclair scored two double-hundreds at the start of his career, but he played the last of his 32 Tests in March 2008. In eight matches against Australia he has managed only one half-century and an average of 14.13.”We felt we needed a cover top-order batter, rather than cover for our middle order, so Neil is a little unlucky in that respect,” the coach Mark Greatbatch said. “[Neil’s] form is not quite as good as it was in February.”Sinclair’s best chance is if the selectors lose faith in his Central Districts team-mate Peter Ingram, the No.3, who was dropped during the one-day series after limited-overs returns of 2, 0, 40, 14 and 5. Sinclair, who has 638 Plunket Shield runs at 58.00 this season, appears more likely to come into serious consideration for the second game if there are problems at the top at the Basin Reserve.The doubts over New Zealand’s limited batting options mean Daniel Vettori will enter at six after doing the job in the past two Tests. Vettori, who is usually a No.8, posted 134, his fifth century, against Pakistan in Napier and added 10 and 13 against Bangladesh.”It gives a very good balance to our side,” Greatbatch said of Vettori’s promotion. “It enables us to play the five bowlers we are looking for, whether that is four seamers and one spinner, or three seamers and two spinners. We have the ability to be flexible.”New Zealand have a developing side and Greatbatch’s initial aim for both Tests is to take them into a fifth day. “It’s a great challenge for some of them to go up against the best side in the world,” he said. “We need to compete every day and fight hard, and smart. If we can take Australia to five days we are a chance.”Both Greatbatch and Vettori are hoping the side can build on its dead-rubber one-day win on Saturday during the Test series. “Anytime you beat Australia it’s a great feeling,” Vettori said. “It gives us a bit of confidence going into the Tests and proceeding towards a World Cup.”New Zealand squad Tim McIntosh, B.J. Watling, Peter Ingram, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Daniel Vettori (capt), Mathew Sinclair, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daryl Tuffey, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Chris Martin, Brent Arnel.

Saeed Anwar has turned down an offer to become Pakistan’s chairman of selectors but is willing to help as a batting consultant

Cricinfo staff26-Feb-2010Saeed Anwar, the former Pakistan opener, has turned down an offer to become the chairman of selectors of the national team.The Pakistan Cricket Board offered Anwar the role after Iqbal Qasim’s resignation earlier this month, in the aftermath of the team’s recent tour of Australia where they were whitewashed in all formats of the game. “I was offered the post of chairman of selectors, but I told the PCB chairman that I could not take up the job as I don’t think I would be able to do justice to the position,” Anwar said.Anwar, however, was keen on taking up the role of batting consultant. “But I have told him that I do want to help the Pakistan team and I can do this as a batting consultant. I am due to meet the PCB chairman [Ijaz Butt] next month and he will tell me in what way I can play a positive role with the Pakistan team.”This is not the first time Anwar’s name has been linked with a coaching role for Pakistan. In December, he had reportedly spoken of discussions with Butt, over conducting a coaching camp for the team’s batsmen. However, the report was denied by Butt in January.Anwar also expressed his support for Waqar Younis to coach the team. “I think it would be a great move because Waqar is well respected and has impressive cricketing background and knowledge of modern day requirements,” he said.Waqar has emerged as the front-runner to take over the coaching responsibilities, but the PCB is yet to make a final decision.