Category Uncategorized

Michael Clarke warmed up for the first Ashes Test with a century but the Sheffield Shield’s form batsman, Andrew McDonald, compiled his second hundred of the match to drive Victoria into a strong position with a day to play

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2010
Scorecard
Michael Clarke was the standout for New South Wales with 113•Getty ImagesMichael Clarke warmed up for the first Ashes Test with a century but the Sheffield Shield’s form batsman, Andrew McDonald, compiled his second hundred of the match to drive Victoria into a strong position with a day to play. Clarke’s 113 was the only bright spot in the New South Wales innings, but it wasn’t all good news for him either, as he didn’t field in the afternoon due to back stiffness.Clarke said he was “not too concerned” by the problem that flared after the first day. “I pulled up a little bit stiff [again] today, so we thought obviously with what’s coming up I’m better off just doing the right things and I had some treatment,” he said after play. “I’ve got to see how it pulls up tomorrow morning, but hopefully I’ll be right to get back out there.”The hosts’ problems continued when the fast bowler Mitchell Starc was sidelined by a side-strain injury. Starc is expected to be out for at least four weeks, ending any slim hope he had of becoming an Ashes bolter following his strong ODI showing against Sri Lanka. He will now be unavailable for the Australia A match against England next week and his absence left the Blues a bowler down.Without Starc, Stuart Clark made the unusual decision to hand Nathan Hauritz the new ball, which was a brave move given Hauritz’s struggles in the first innings. It proved an inspired choice, and the Australian selectors might thank Clark for his creativity after Hauritz bowled himself back into some sort of form by picking up two early wickets.Hauritz had Michael Hill lbw for 8 and then took a ripping return catch when David Hussey (9) smashed the ball straight back towards the bowler. However, the Victorians recovered through Rob Quiney and McDonald, before Quiney was snapped up at slip by the substitute Peter Forrest off the bowling of Shane Watson for 49.McDonald continued to pile up the runs and had support from Matthew Wade, who made 40 before he was one of three victims for Mark Cameron. McDonald stuck around until stumps and brought up century from the second-last ball with a single off Hauritz, to leave Victoria at 7 for 242, with an advantage of 357.But New South Wales are not without a chance of chasing almost any target, given the quality of their batting line-up. Usman Khawaja is the only player in the top eight who has not played Test cricket, although he has toured with the Test squad during their series against Pakistan in England this year.The strong batting group made it all the more surprising that they conceded a 115-run first-innings lead to Victoria. Clarke was the only man who made more than 30, and after some lower-order support from Steven Smith, who made 18, and Hauritz (27), the rest of the tail offered little resistance.Clarke was the last man out, caught behind off Peter Siddle, who collected 2 for 55. The left-arm spinner Jon Holland, whose selection is a strong indication that the veteran Bryce McGain could be running of chances at state level, picked up 3 for 70.

A responsible yet attacking 93 from Kuthethurshri Vasudevadas, and a surprise four-wicket haul from Hemang Badani gave India Cements a 25-run victory against Air India in the first semi-final of the Corporate Trophy

Cricinfo staff06-Sep-2010
ScorecardAn unbeaten century from Uttar Pradesh batsman Ravikant Shukla, a stunning lower-order assault from Amit Dani, and an all-round bowling effort helped Indian Oil Corporation overcome Income Tax to enter the final against India Cements. Ameya Shrikhande scored a run-a-ball 114 to keep Income Tax in the hunt, but his team-mates could not provide adequate support as they were bowled out 67 runs short.IOC’s decision to bat was vindicated by their openers who added 61 in 11.3 overs and set the stage for a big score. Wasim Jaffer was in an aggressive mood, striking seven fours and a six in his 38 off 35 balls, while Paresh Patel was watchful at the other end. Though both were guilty of not making their starts count, Shukla who came in at one-drop was determined to cash in. The young middle-order duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Harpreet Singh did the needful, turning the strike over as Shukla settled into a big innings.Harpreet departed at 211 for 4 in the 42nd over, but by then Shukla had worked himself into top gear. Dani who came in at No. 6 hit the ground running and Income Tax came in for some punishment. Shukla, who came into this game with a solitary first-class 100 and none at the List A level, smashed eight fours and three sixes as he finished with 123. Dani clouted four sixes and three fours, and finished one short of a fifty as the stand realized 93 in eight overs.Income Tax’s reply got off to a horror start when opener Hiken Shah fell for a duck in the first over. They tried to counter-attack, going after IOC’s opening bowlers, but the pressure of chasing a 300-plus score began to show on the running between the wickets. Amor Ubarhande and Jay Desai succumbed to run outs before Bhavik Thaker settled down with Shrikhande to rebuild the innings. During this phase, seamers Dani and Murtuza Hussain combined with left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar to keep Income Tax quiet.Thaker could not reach the boundary during his 45 off 62 balls and when he fell in the 37th over, Income Tax needed 120 off 13.3 overs. Shrikhande kept fighting, but the lower order did not have the nous to stay with him. His innings was ended by Pawar who castled him from over-the-wickets for a run-a-ball 114. Thereafter it was only a matter of time, and Income Tax eventually folded for 241 in the 46th over.

MatériaMais Notícias

Everton have been linked with a number of potential candidates in the search for their sixth manager in six years including Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.

This week they have already been interviewing for the role, with Vitor Pereira flying in yesterday to meet with Farhad Moshiri, however, the meeting has not been met with a warm reception.

What’s the word?

According to The Mirror, Moshiri’s interest in Pereira has been met with strong resistance from the Everton board and club executives, due to his recent poor record at Fenerbahce and his relegation with 1860 Munich.

It has been reported that the Toffees owner has been persuaded behind the scenes to pull away from appointing the manager, and encouraged to take his time to look over the other candidates before he makes a decision, due to the situation Everton find themselves in, three points away from the relegation zone.

Pereira was sacked from his managerial position at Fenerbahce for the second time last month after the Turkish side failed to pick up results in the league, and the Portuguese native is currently available for a new role.

Moshiri could cause chaos

The potential appointment has not just been met with concern by the Everton board, but also by the fans who already have a fractured relationship with the owner after years of reckless spending and bad decisions that have ultimately found the club in one of their worst positions in decades.

That potentially put them in a relegation battle that could see Everton lose their Premier League status for the first time in the league’s 30 year existence.

Fans have been taking to social media to share their concern over the chances of 53-year-old Pereira becoming the next manager of the club, with one fan tweeting:

“Yesterday I said we’re not in a relegation battle if we appoint Vitor Pereira we will get relegated.”

Moshiri is in no position to be making any more mistakes, so ensuring that he looks at all of his options carefully and finds the right manager to suit the needs of Everton’s situation to keep them safe inside the Premier League next season is absolutely imperative.

There is no room for error in the final few months of this season and winning points to climb the table should be the top priority.

After all, the last thing Everton want is another manager to cause the fans to turn on him and Pereira already has a history of that, having to tell supporters in Turkey to “shut up” according to reporter Zach Lowy.

In other news: Insider reveals update on Duncan Ferguson’s position

An exceptional hundred from Adam Lyth helped Yorkshire dominate day one of their County Championship Division One match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl as they reached stumps on 300 for 3

24-May-2010
ScorecardAn exceptional hundred from Adam Lyth helped Yorkshire dominate day one of their County Championship Division One match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl as they reached stumps on 300 for 3.Lyth (133) dominated an opening stand of 195 with Joe Sayers (49), before three quick wickets fell either side of tea. Anthony McGrath then hit an unbeaten 55 to help guide Yorkshire to the close with no further damage.Hampshire skipper Nic Pothas won the toss but unexpectedly put Yorkshire in on what appeared to be a perfect track in cloudless conditions. He was immediately made to pay for his decision as Lyth roared out of the blocks.Greedily hogging the strike from Sayers, left-hander Lyth sent a series of stylish and powerful strokes fizzing to the boundary, helping Yorkshire reach 41 without loss from just four overs. Just 10 overs later, he had reached his half century from 59 balls while Sayers had managed to accumulate just three.Lyth even seemed on course smash a pre-lunch ton when he pulled David Balcombe for a huge six, but some more disciplined bowling slowed Yorkshire’s progress, leaving them at 115 without loss at lunch.Emerging on 79, he took no time at all to club his way to his second century of the campaign from just 157 balls. Sayers’ progress, on the other hand, had slowed to a near dawdle, and it was Lyth who eventually departed first, holing to long-on off James Tomlinson after a near-flawless innings.Even so, with the score at 201 for 1 at tea, Yorkshire, who boast four of the country’s leading run-getters this season in Lyth, McGrath, Jacques Rudolph and Andrew Gale, seemed set fair for a big total. But as is so often the case after a huge partnership, a brace of wickets fell quickly, first Sayers nicking Dominic Cork to Neil McKenzie at second slip for 49, his painfully slow innings taking 177 balls.Next man in Rudolph did not stick around nearly as long, snicking through to Pothas for just three to give Cork his second. At 215 for 3, it seemed a fantastic start would be wasted, but captain Gale and former skipper McGrath combined to guide Yorkshire towards a position of dominance once more.As Hampshire’s bowlers tired and the new ball was taken, Yorkshire once more began finding the boundary rope, as McGrath ended play on a fine unbeaten 55, while Gale was undefeated on 38 to leave Yorkshire on top and Pothas in hot water with his tired bowlers.

Fabio Paratici is reportedly now ‘insisting’ on signing Dejan Kulusevski for Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: On the shortlist

Speaking live on Sky Sports (via Football Daily), Italian football journalist and transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio recently revealed that Kulusevski is ‘one of the names’ on Spurs’ list for potential signings this month, and that both Paratici and Antonio Conte ‘like’ him.

It is not surprising, given that they know all about him from his time at Juventus, as Paratici used to work with the Old Lady, and Conte was managing in the Serie A with Inter Milan before moving to North London.

Nonetheless, Kulusevski is certainly one player to keep an eye on as the window progresses.

The Latest: Paratici ‘insisting’

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Paratici is now ‘insisting’ on signing Kulusevski for the Lilywhites, and is ‘keen’ on offering him to Conte.

They could also offer a player as part of a deal, with Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Japhet Tanganga the names who have been mentioned.

The Verdict: Sign

At 21 years of age and already playing at the highest level with Juve, Kulusevski is a player whose stock is only going to increase.

Described as ‘lethal’ for Sweden by Swedish and Italian football writer Maxi Angelo, he has played for his country at every level, including at Euro 2020, where his two assists in a 3-2 win over Poland ensured that they reached the knockout stages of the tournament. He also grabbed an assist against Spain in a FIFA World Cup qualifying win (Transfermarkt).

At Juventus, he has managed great talent’.

Nonetheless, the prospect of Conte working with him is quite frankly mouth-watering given the versatility and creativity he could inject into the attack, and so THFC should do everything that they can to sign him up.

In other news, find out who Conte is now eyeing a move for here!

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a potentially huge injury blow regarding Ianis Hagi.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by Football Scotland, Giovanni van Bronckhorst dropped an update on the injury picked up by the 23-year-old in the 13th minute of Rangers’ 4-0 Scottish Cup win over Stirling Albion on Friday night, with the forward appearing to take a knock to his knee in a collision with Jordan McGregor.

Speaking about the condition of the Romania international, the 46-year-old said: “He’s okay, he had a problem so we have to wait to see what he actually has but so far I can’t say anything about the injury.”

Fans will be fuming

With one of Rangers’ biggest games of the season coming up on February 2, namely the Old Firm derby, the Ibrox faitful will be fuming if Hagi is ruled out of that game as a result of an injury picked up against Scottish League Two side Stirling.

Indeed, the £6.3m-rated winger has been one of the Gers’ best performers over his 15 Premiership appearances so far this season, having already scored two goals and created two big chances for his side, as well as taking 2.4 shots and making 1.5 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £21k-per-week Romanian average a SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Van Bronckhorst’s seventh-best performer in the Scottish top flight.

As such, it is clear for all to see that Rangers are a much weaker side without Hagi, with the absence of the 23-year-old from the Gers’ upcoming trip to Parkhead potentially reducing their chances of taking all three points back across the city. Such an outcome could well have disastrous consequences in the Light Blues’ bid to retain their Premiership title this season, so the fan base won’t be pleased to hear of him being injured in a one-sided cup clash so close to the derby.

In other news: Van Bronckhorst must avoid a Rangers repeat of Pena disaster with South American dud, fans would be fuming

Mohsin Khan began his stint as Pakistan’s new chief selector by calling for Pakistan’s Twenty20 set-up and thinking to be divorced from the Test and ODI line-ups

Osman Samiuddin03-Mar-2010Mohsin Khan began his stint as Pakistan’s new chief selector by calling for Pakistan’s Twenty20 set-up and thinking to be divorced from the Test and ODI line-ups, arguing that cricket’s newest format had played havoc with Pakistan’s skills in the longer formats.Mohsin was appointed yesterday, taking over from Iqbal Qasim, who handed in his resignation after Pakistan’s winless tour of Australia. He becomes the third full-time chief selector in less than a year and though his first assignment will be to pick a squad of 15 for the World Twenty20 defense in the Caribbean in April, his real work, he said, will begin after that.”My personal opinion is that Test cricket and ODI cricket should have no relation to Twenty20 cricket,” Mohsin said at the National Stadium in Karachi, echoing the belief of Mohammad Yousuf who said during the Australia tour that the format would “destroy” cricket in Pakistan.”Twenty20 cricket should be totally separate apart from some outstanding players like Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Fawad Alam, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul who fit into every format. But apart from these players, I would request the chairman to have a totally different set-up for the format. Twenty20 cricket has messed up our Test cricket skills and in ODIs we cannot bat even 50 overs.”The terms of reference for his role and its parameters appear broad and flexible currently; no time limit is set on the job and the former Test opener even insisted that he would be more than willing to help out in a coaching capacity, an option he was initially keen on in his negotiations with the chairman.”For two to three months I had been in direct talks with the chairman,” Mohsin said. “I said that if I do come back to the board then in two fields am I capable of giving something back to cricket, coaching or selection. The chairman called me yesterday and said he wants me to start with the selection committee right now.”Coaching is still my first choice and I have told the chairman, I still feel physically fit enough to do it. I have said whenever you need my services in coaching department it is always there. In our top order batting we do have a problem, so I have said whenever you need my services I am ready.”Pakistan’s chief selectors in recent years have had to deal constantly with problems over the ambit and nature of their role. The post has become, essentially a full-time, professional one, barring Qasim’s recent stint, which was in an honorary capacity.But both Abdul Qadir and Salahuddin Mulla in recent years have faced issues over the apparent undermining of their authority and say in selection by the captain and coach. “The chairman has given me total authority,” Mohsin said. “In selecting a team, there are three pillars and all have to take blame or credit: the selection committee, captain and coach. All three have to take responsibility. I want the captain and coach in the process, because they have to fight on the field.”These issues will be discussed in a meeting with Ijaz Butt later in the week but Mohsin said he is more than happy to have no set time limit on his role. “I have not asked for a specific time period. I will start and do the work and keep doing it until the board is satisfied with me and I am satisfied with them. People have had tenures before which they didn’t finish so I said to the chairman let’s not set a fixed time. Until I am doing well, until the board thinks I am doing well, fine. I don’t want to be a burden anywhere. You clap with two hands, not one. We will work together, how long for I don’t know.”

Lots of Everton fans have been left gushing over some transfer news that has emerged on Bruno Guimaraes.

As per Football.London journalist Chris Wheatley, the Goodison Park faithful, as well as both Newcastle United and Arsenal, are now ‘monitoring’ the Brazil international ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window, although a summer exit from Lyon is ‘more likely’.

Guimaraes has been a mainstay in the Lyon team for the past two seasons, and has recently been adding assists to his game (call-ups to the Brazil squad.

Comparing his stats to both Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan in their respective domestic leagues this term, Guimaraes is currently averaging more dribbles and key passes at a higher success rate (WhoScored), suggesting that he would be an upgrade for the Merseyside club in the middle of the park, at least in attacking sense.

Everton fans on Guimaraes transfer news

These Toffees supporters gushed as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one Blue saying they are ‘really excited’ by the news, while another said that he would be a ‘top signing’:

“Would be a top signing if we cant sort it”

Credit: @evertonfanatic

“Much needed”

Credit: @Rixzuh

“Now this would get me really excited very talented player indeed”

Credit: @toffee18781

“Ahhh about time we want one of Kia’s good clients. He’d be an excellent buy and would work perfectly alongside Allan and Doucoure in a 3.”

Credit: @siewakes20

“What a signing that’ll be”

Credit: @maxhornby14

“Now this player is superb.”

Credit: @BT_1878

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians buzzing here!

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has revealed that Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is looking to lure Leon King away from former club Rangers.

What’s the story?

Writing initially on Twitter, he said: “Some transfer news into @birmingham_live prior to kick-off as Gerrard looks to take full advantage of Leon King’s contract situation at Rangers. The 17-year-old was promoted to first-team sessions under SG. Cut-price deal for #avfc via @RichardCusackBM”

Then, in a follow-up article for The Birmingham Mail, Preece added: “Aston Villa are considering a move for Rangers youngster Leon King – who they could get for just over £200k. The Ibrox side are in talks with their talented 17-year-old over a new contract. The young defender has still to agree an extension with the Scottish champions and as it stands he runs out of contract in the summer and could move in a cut-price cross-border switch.

“King is seen as one of the top, young talents north of the border and he is already being tracked by a host of top English clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle United and Leicester City.”

Gerrard’s influence

While Dean Smith oversaw the signings of the likes of Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia in particular over the course of the summer transfer window, there’s no questioning that having Gerrard as your club’s manager brings with it a far bigger pull and attraction.

The former Liverpool skipper is an icon and someone who players around the world will be familiar with, and whether it’s a young starlet like King, or a more established first-team star, the lure of playing for Gerrard could prove to be a difference-maker for Villa.

With Preece claiming that the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle and Leicester are all keeping a track of King, Villa face a real battle on their hands to sign the 17-year-old.

Gerrard’s own connection with Rangers as the club’s former boss could be decisive, however, while the prospect of working under a young manager who clearly rates him already could further persuade the teenager.

Villa fans will no doubt be delighted at Preece’s latest transfer update. After all, this feels like the ideal match for Gerrard and the player.

Meanwhile, this Villa man was an “absolute revelation” vs Man City…