Category Uncategorized

A terrific bowling performance from Dwayne Bravo, followed by captain Daren Ganga’s calm half-century, led Trinidad and Tobago to a two-wicket victory against Barbados in the semi-final of the WICB President’s Cup in Providence

Cricinfo staff03-Nov-2009
ScorecardA six-wicket haul by Dwayne Bravo, followed by captain Daren Ganga’s calm half-century, led Trinidad and Tobago to a two-wicket victory against Barbados in the semi-final of the WICB President’s Cup in Providence.Barbados had made a sound start to the day-night fixture, with their openers Martin Nurse and Kirk Edwards adding 85 for the first wicket. Dwayne Bravo gave T&T their first breakthrough in the 21st over, dismissing Nurse lbw for 46. Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul, who went on to take 3 for 50, cut through the Barbados top order, reducing them to 184 for 4 before the middle and lower order imploded and were dismissed for 229. Dwayne Bravo was the star, picking up career-best List A figures of 6 for 46.T&T’s openers, Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons, added 42 before the innings wobbled. They lost Barath and Darren Bravo for the addition of one run in the space of an over and, from 43 for 2, they steadily lost wickets at regular intervals. Wickets weren’t falling at both ends, though, for Daren Ganga was playing a patient innings.He struck only three fours and consumed 105 deliveries for his 79 but it was what the T&T chase required. When his younger brother, Sherwin Ganga, was dismissed, T&T needed 28 from 36 balls. The game was balanced with nine required off the last two overs but Dave Mohammed eased the tension by hitting Sulieman Benn over long onfor six off the last ball of the 49th over.T&T will now play the winner of Tuesday’s second semi-final between Guyanaand Combined Campuses and Colleges in the final on November 5.

كشف يورجن كلوب المدير الفني لليفربول، مجددًا عن تطلعاته بشأن التعاقد مع لاعب وسط خلال ما تبقى من سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية لتدعيم الريدز.

ليفربول يعاني من إصابات في وسط الملعب، ويتبقى فقط أقل من 48 ساعة على نهاية سوق الانتقالات، مما يجعل الموقف صعبًا في الريدز.

كلوب علق في مؤتمر صحفي: “لقد اقتربنا من اللحظة الأخيرة من الميركاتو، لا يمكنني أن أعطيكم اسمًا نريد ضمه، إن الأمر صعب، وهناك أندية لا ترغب في البيع، هذا هو الحال الآن”.

طالع أيضَا.. كلوب يعلق على أداء محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وبورنموث

وأشار: “عندما ينتهي الأمر، سواء وقع أحدهم معنا أم لا، فأنا سعيد حقًا لأن الميركاتو انتهى، ويمكننا فقط التركيز على الفريق الذي لدينا، لكن الجماهير ينشطون على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي.. يجب أن يعلموا أننا لدينا فريق كرة قدم جيد”.

وأردف بالحديث عن خروج أليسون بشباك نظيفة لأول مرة منذ 8 مباريات: “لم يكن أليسون سيئًا، لقد تقدمنا على بورنموث في الشوط الأول 5/0، لكن أحيانًا كانوا يتسللون للوصول إلى مرمانا، وهنا كان الأولاد يدافعون بشكل جيد”.

وعلق يورجن كلوب على إقالة سكوت باركر مدرب بورنموث: “اليوم أدركت أهمية وجود المالكين المناسبين لنادي كرة قدم، بعض الأندية مملوكة لدول والبعض الآخر لديه هيكل مثلنا وربما آرسنال، ثم تم تصعيد 3 فرق، نوتنجهام ينفق الكثير على الصفقات، وفولهام كذلك، لكن بورنموث لم يفعل الكثير، وهو أمر صعب بالنسبة للمدرب”.

وعن مواجهة إيدي هاو مدرب نيوكاسل: “أعتقد أنه إذا حصل على وقت، فأنا لست متأكدًا من أنه يحتاج إلى فترة انتقالات أخرى، نيوكاسل نادٍ عظيم، لديهم تاريخ وكل ما يحتاجون ليتواجدوا ضمن الـ6 الكبار في الدوري الإنجليزي”.

Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey was ‘blowing’ after returning from injury last time out against Arsenal, manager Dean Smith says. 

Bailey was introduced at half-time at The Emirates, with Villa trailing 2-0.

It was his first appearance since a goalscoring cameo in the 3-0 win over Everton on 18 September.

A hamstring injury had sidelined him for three games.

Finally a full debut for Bailey?

Bailey could be in line to make his start for the club since his £30million summer move from Bayer Leverkusen in Sunday’s clash with West Ham United.

But that will only be if Smith believes he is fit enough after he undergoes an assessment on Saturday.

Selecting a winger in Bailey could see Smith change formation, moving away from 3-5-2 in favour of a front three.

Villa are looking to halt a run of three consecutive defeats against the Hammers, who travel to the Midlands buoyed by back-to-back wins.

Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece relayed Smith’s press conference comments, and here’s what Villa supporters made of them.

These Villa fans want to see Bailey start

“Bailey needs to play a few games before is contract runs out if possible, him and Sanson have hardly kicked a ball this season”

Credit: @FabledSage

“Only way to build up his fitness is game time. Start him and try and get an hour or so out of him”

Credit: @Avillafan

“Even if he’s blowing he still better than anything we saw in that wretched first half. If Deano persists with this flawed, unbalanced 352 he will alienate the fans and eventually the owners.”

Credit: @willsterdavies1

“The hope of Bailey starting and us going back to 4 at the back with wingers is the main thing keeping me attending Sunday with positivity”

Credit: @matty__jeff

“Can see exactly where this is going, more of that 3-5-2 to look forward to then”

Credit: @MarkRee37875029

“If he doesn’t start Bailey he’s going to get it in the neck from the fans. Time to be bold, or at least pander to the fans a bit!”

Credit: @PeterStevens82

“Pain”

Credit: @Joe_E_Young

In other news, what did fans think of Smith’s Morgan Sanson reveal?

It was Durham’s day at Riverside, as the reigning champions took advantage of the conditions to roll Hampshire over for 105, and then placed themselves in position to take a good lead on the second day when they finished with on 84 for 2

Cricinfo staff06-Jun-2009Only 31 overs were possible on the first day of Yorkshire’s clash with Sussex at Headingley, but that was long enough for Michael Vaughan’s hopes of an Ashes recall to take a further tumble. He was dismissed by Corey Collymore for a fourth-ball duck, moments after Jacques Rudolph had also been caught by Ollie Rayner off the same bowler, as Yorkshire struggled to 58 for 2 by the close. Collymore’s figures were an impressive 9-4-10-2, but Joe Sayers and Anthony McGrath had added 39 unbeaten runs for the third wicket.For a full report from the first day at Chester-le-Street, where Durham have taken control against Hampshire, click here for John Ward’s bulletin.Murali Karthik and Gareth Berg each scored half-centuries to rescue Middlesex from an awkward 139 for 7 against Essex at Chelmsford. The pair added 99 for the eighth wicket to transform their team’s fortunes after David Masters and Chris Wright had placed Essex in the ascendancy. They shared nine of the ten wickets to fall in Middlesex’s innings, with Masters the pick with 5 for 65, but thanks to the efforts of Berg and Karthik it was the visitors who finished the day in command. With a handy total of 274 behind them, Middlesex reduced Essex to 54 for 4 at the close, with Steven Finn claiming 3 for 21.Bad weather meant that no play was possible in any of the other matches in either division.

Michael Clarke’s stand-in leadership will be passed on to Brad Haddin for the final game of Australia’s limited-overs campaign against Pakistan

Cricinfo staff03-May-2009

Michael Clarke’s stand-in leadership will be passed on to Brad Haddin for the final game of Australia’s limited-overs campaign against Pakistan. Clarke took over from Ricky Ponting and guided the side to a series win, but he will head home a few days early to rest ahead of the engagements in England over the next four months.Andrew Hilditch, the national selection panel (NSP) chairman, said Clarke’s return would give the player extra time to prepare for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 and the Ashes. “The NSP has recommended Michael be released from the last Twenty20 game of Australia’s tour of the United Arab Emirates,” he said. “This will allow him a few additional days at home before the squads depart for the ICC World Twenty20 and the Ashes series.”Ponting, Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson missed the contest in the United Arab Emirates to recharge and the squad will reconvene at a camp on the Sunshine Coast on May 24. Clarke guided the team after their first-up loss in Dubai and capped his campaign with 66 and 100 in the victories in the third and fourth games.Haddin led Australia in the Twenty20 win against New Zealand in February when Clarke was injured and Ponting and Hussey were being rested. If anyone in the squad deserves a break it is Haddin, who has played every game for Australia in 2008-09.

Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts insists that Harry Kane wants to play for the club, having spoken to his father.

The striker was at the centre of a huge transfer saga in the summer as Manchester City attempted to take him to the Etihad Stadium.

However, reports claim that the highest bid City tabled was worth £75m plus £25m, a fee that fell well short of Spurs’ valuation.

As a result, he has remained in north London and has somewhat struggled through the first few Premier League games of the season.

Kane has played in all four league matches so far but has failed to score a goal, with his only strikes this season coming in the Europa Conference League, with a brace against Pacos de Ferreira, and against Wolves in the Carabao Cup earlier this week.

Roberts insists that the England captain is more than happy to keep playing for Tottenham, but says his current role simply isn’t working, as he is dropping far too deep on a regular basis.

He said: “I spoke to his dad on Sunday. No, Harry wants to play, he’s bubbling for every game, but I don’t know what’s being said because Harry Kane is playing midfield. Harry Kane is not going to score a goal from 50 yards up the pitch, it’s not going to happen, it’s impossible.

“He’s had three shots at goal in two games. Even Mourinho got him scoring goals last year. There’s something not clicking.”

Lots of Everton fans have been left buzzing as news emerged involving Salomon Rondon, with the Toffees finally announcing his squad number ahead of the clash with Burnley.

As shared by the official Twitter page of the Goodison Park faithful, it has now been confirmed that the Venezuela international will wear the number 33 shirt for the Merseyside club following his arrival in the summer transfer window.

It was vital that the Toffees brought in another striker to ease the scoring burden off of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Rondon may well fit the bill, as he has plenty of experience in the Premier League playing for both West Brom and Newcastle United (Transfermarkt).

He has also played in 61 games in total over all competitions under Rafa Benitez, scoring 26 goals and making a further 14 assists (Transfermarkt).

Thus, the 31-year-old certainly looks to be a smart addition, and the fact that he now has his official squad number means that he could play a part against Burnley on Monday night.

Everton fans on Rondon post

These Toffees supporters buzzed as the post was shared on Twitter:

“Happy days”

Credit: @CharliesSnowman

“Love it.”

Credit: @five15design

“Yesssssssss what a number”

Credit: @Conor_LaneSmith

“Anyone else get the feeling this guys gonna be a beast?”

Credit: @MattyGraham18

“Forget about all the hype of Ronaldo this is the only Ronny that matters”

Credit: @ste_coll5

“Proper striker”

Credit: @torneleesamuels

In other news, find out what transfer news has Blues happy here!

England are without a head coach for their tour of West Indies, but are certainly not short of people to offer advice in their own areas of expertise

Cricinfo staff23-Jan-2009
Mushtaq on Monty: ‘Monty has that potential to win games single-handedly’ © Getty Images
England are without a head coach for their tour of West Indies, but are certainly not short of people to offer advice in their own areas of expertise. Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner, is part of the squad during the early days of the trip, in his first official duties as spin-bowling coach, and has been charged with trying to turn around Monty Panesar’s dip in form.Mushtaq was due to be part of the India tour before Christmas, but problems with his work visa meant he never made the journey while Peter Moores was still in charge. Mushtaq and Moores go back a long way – the former England coach was the man who brought Mushtaq to Sussex and revived his career. Mushtaq went onto have a glorious time at Hove, helping Sussex to three Championship titles, and now the hope is that some of his magic can rub off on Panesar.Panesar’s form was on a downward curve for much of 2008 – he peaked with a match-turning 6 for 37 against New Zealand at Old Trafford – as he struggled to make an impact against South Africa and, more significantly, in favourable conditions against India. He managed just six wickets in two Tests and was considerably out-bowled by Graeme Swann, leaving him with a real fight for his place for the first time since he was surprisingly left out at the start of the 2006-07 Ashes series.”He is a match-winner,” Mushtaq told the on England’s first full day of training in St Kitts. “People like Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf hardly praise spinners because they’re too good against them.”But after Pakistan played against England in England [in 2006], they told me he was the most difficult bowler to face; the Indians said that same thing. Spinners sometimes can have bad days, so as a spinner if you play six games and win two games, that is a good ratio, I believe. Monty has that potential to win games single-handedly.”Mushtaq has a limited amount of time to help Panesar and then it will be down to the man himself. Andrew Strauss has said how he wants the England players to look after their own requirements much more on this tour, but Mushtaq said it is important for spinners to work together.”He is laughing and having fun, that is important, and you can tell he has less pressure on his shoulders now,” Mushtaq said. “You have to discuss the art of spin in the nets, but you also have to develop the person in the nets with passion.”This short spell in West Indies is also important for Mushtaq as he tries to establish the next phase of his career as a coach. He will share his time with Sussex next summer, but whatever role he takes in the game is still overshadowed by the results of Qayyum commission into match-fixing nine years ago.Mushtaq was found not guilty but the report said he should be carefully monitored and ‘not be given any office of responsibility in the team or on the board’. The ICC have also requested he undergoes an anti-corruption course while his mobile phone records will be open to scrutiny.”I hope it [the report] does go away. There wasn’t any evidence,” Mushtaq said. “I have nothing to say on these things. Wherever you go in the world, you need evidence, so when you don’t have evidence, you can’t assume things. I am a very satisfied man.”As a professional I just have to concentrate on my job,” he added. “Whatever rumours go around, it is up to the company, such as the ECB, to consider if I am good enough. I am glad that they think like that.”

Amid the news that Allen Stanford’s love affair with cricket is cooling, one aspect has been largely overlooked. Without Stanford’s money and publicity, West Indies cricket faces an increasingly bleak future.It was estimated that Stanford’s investment in the Caribbean was worth around US$130 million over five years. Large sums would go to each island participating in his domestic Stanford 20/20, with even bigger amounts heading to the West Indies Cricket Board. The added value of the legends group providing endless media opportunities was unquantifiable.The WICB’s financial woes are well known, but yesterday Donald Peters, the board’s chief executive, was looking to put a brave face on things.”We have an agreement with Stanford that includes the ECB for the Super Series and one for the regional Twenty20,” he said. “In both cases, we would have stood in a position to earn a huge sum of money. But while the WICB’s revenue streams and projects are budgeted for, we do not depend totally on Stanford, so while we may lose revenue, we will have to make the adjustment.”He [Stanford] has been a major sponsor and it would be good if we get the money down the line, but as an international sporting body our responsibility is to work with as many sponsors we can. So if Stanford can’t continue, we will have to find alternative sponsor from around the globe.”Peters’ bullish rhetoric cannot disguise a much bleaker situation for a board that lurches from one mess to another. Despite almost US$100 million from the World Cup, it is again strapped for cash, and this time in a world when multi-million dollar sponsorship deals are increasingly hard to broker. And this is the same WICB who this season failed to even find a sponsor for its domestic one-day competition, and whose relationship with it one remaining major backer – Digicel – is close to tatters.It is because of the sponsorship row between Digicel and Stanford that preceded the Stanford 20/20 for 20 that the whole edifice might come crashing down around the WICB. The conduct of the board in the affair wasroundly condemned, as it tried to pull the wool over the eyes of two major corporations.By trying to pass off the “Stanford Superstars” as an entity distinct from the Digicel-backed West Indies, they effectively sold the same product twice, and suffered a humiliating defeat at the High Court in London. At the time their legal costs of close to US$1 million seemed a big enough blow. It now appears that the real price is massive.Stanford might still remain involved – he has said he will make an announcement next month – but the great and the good within the WICB will have to do some desperate pleading if that’s to happen. And the legends, sacked by Stanford yesterday, will have to use their influence to persuade him to keep faith in the game, if not those running it.Not for the first time, the biggest losers resulting from the mismanagement of the WICB are the hundreds of thousands of those who play and follow it. If Stanford does take his ball and go home, the future for cricket in the Caribbean will be bleaker than it ever has been.

Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the first one-dayer against West Indies in Abu Dhabi due to a calf injury

Cricinfo staff12-Nov-2008
Yet another injury for Shoaib © AFP
Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the first one-dayer against West Indies in Abu Dhabi due to a calf injury.”He pulled his left calf muscle during yesterday’s training session and will be rested for today’s match,” Pakistan Cricket Board’s media manager Raza Rashid said.Yawar Saeed, the team’s manager, maintained that it wasn’t a serious blow and there was still hope that Shoaib could take part at some point in the series. “We are not treating it as an injury, it’s just a calf muscle pull and we will reassess his injury on Wednesday and then on Thursday before deciding when he can take the field,” Saeed told AFP.”Coach Intikhab Alam is clear that only a 100 percent Akhtar will play because we have an important series against India in two months time and we will not risk any further injury for Akhtar,” said Saeed.Shoaib last played an ODI a year ago in Gwalior on the tour of India. He was selected for the three-match ODI series in Abu Dhabi after impressing in the domestic Pentangular Cup, picking up nine wickets in two games for Federal Areas.On Tuesday, West Indies captain Chris Gayle had talked up Shoaib as Pakistan’s main threat. “He is always the key factor,” he said. “He is a wicket-taking bowler in a strong Pakistan pace attack.”Despite the absence of Shoaib, Pakistan will not be short of fast bowling options. The other quick bowlers in the squad are Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Iftikhar Anjum and Abdur Rauf.