Tag Futebol

Hampshire CCC plan to break with tradition once again – by wearing football-style shirts in the County Championship this summer.Chairman Rod Bransgrove unveiled the plans at yesterday’s historic Annual General Meeting – the first AGM since the club was transformed from a members’ club into a limited company.Then he told the 300-strong attendance of plans to ensure that Robin Smith’s men wear names and numbers on their backs in Hampshire’s first season back in Division One of the CricInfo County Championship.Last summer, Lancashire CCC took the unprecedented step of sticking names and squad numbers on their championship shirts as well as their one day tops.And Bransgrove believes that that is the way forward as Hampshire prepare for their second season at the Rose Bowl, which will have a capacity of 10,000 as well as a new pavilion this summer.He said: “The feedback suggests it’s difficult to see who’s fielding the ball or who’s taking catches without the aid of names or numbers, so I think it will be to the benefit of the game as a whole and certainly to the benefit of the spectators.”It will be our intention to have names and numbers on the shirts as long as we can do it in a costeffective manner.”The ECB are more than happy for other first class counties to adopt the shirts in the four day game.And Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes has confirmed that the venture was a success at Old Trafford last year.”We received a very positive reaction when we pioneered the idea with fleece style shirts,” he said. “Apparently we had numbers pinned to players’ shirts for one season in the 1950s which was very popular with fans. It’s strange that it’s taken more than 40 years to come back.”Vic Isaacs, Hampshire’s scorer for 28 years, added: “It would certainly make my job easier.”Recognising players has always been a problem since helmets came in and numbered shirts improved the game from the spectators’ point of view in the Sunday League.”

Matthew Elliott – Set off as if he would all the runs himself Photo © CricInfo

Matthew Elliott (127) brought Glamorgan to the brink of victory after thevisitors had been asked to score 307 runs to beat Middlesex in theirchampionship match at Southgate and the Welsh county achieved the goal withtwo wickets in hand.The Australian started the day on 38 n.o. and hit three sixes in a century which it seemed that he might get the runs single-handed. That was just as well for his partners were far from comfortable and when Elliott was out it seemed that the balance would tilt back in favour of the Londoners.Indeed from the start the fall of wickets was steady. Elliott’s partnership with Adrian Dale reached 231 when the former was stumped by David Nash off Paul Weekes. Dale was dismissed some twenty runs later and then Angus Fraser dismissed Keith Newell and Alex Wharf with Glamorgan still 21 runs short of victory.Adrian Shaw and Darren Thomas pottered around to bring the scores even when Shaw was caught spectacularly by Mark Ramprakash but Dean Cosker saw out the over. Thomas pushed a ball from Weekes for the single to bring victory in a match which for much of its course could have gone either way.

Celtic have made contact with Antoine Semenyo’s agent regarding a potential move to Parkhead in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

In recent comments made to Football Scotland, the Bristol City centre-forward’s agent, Tony Finnigan, revealed that the Celtic scout, Craig Strachan, called him to find out more information about the 22-year-old, before Strachan visited Ashton Gate to watch the striker in action.

Speaking about Celtic’s interest in his client, Finnigan said: “I had a conversation with Strachan who rang up to ask little bits of info on the player and a bit about how I found him and what he’s like as a lad.

“That was it. If it’s something they’re going to do in the summer window I’m not sure but it’s nice to know that his talents are going as far as Scotland to one of the great institutions in world football. There’s not really much more to say than that.”

Ange can axe Ajeti with Semenyo

Considering just how impressive Semenyo has been for Bristol City this season, it is not difficult to understand why Celtic appear to be taking an interest in the centre-forward.

Indeed, over his 21 Championship appearances in the current campaign, the £1.08m-rated forward has been in devastating form for the Robins, scoring six goals, providing eight assists and creating five big chances for his teammates.

These returns have seen the £3.5k-per-week hitman – who is also capable of operating from the wings as well as through the middle – average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as his club’s third-best performer in the English second tier.

As such, it is clear for all to see that the player who Nigel Pearson claimed has both “pace & power” would make an excellent addition to the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada and Jota in Ange Postecoglou’s attacking arsenal, while he would also appear to be a massive upgrade on Albian Ajeti.

Indeed, the £18k-per-week striker was heavily linked with a move away from Parkhead in the January transfer window, something that is not surprising considering the fact he has cost the club roughly £6.5m in transfer fees and wages since his arrival back in the summer of 2020, as well as finding the back of the net just nine times over his 48 appearances for the Hoops.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

So, it would indeed appear an extremely wise move for Postecoglou to finally cut his losses on the Switzerland international this summer, before reinvesting the money received from his sale, as well as his hefty weekly wage, into a move for the much more impressive Semenyo.

In other news: “I believe…”: Kieran Devlin drops worrying Celtic update, Ange will be sweating

Pietersen is in Sri Lanka preparing for England’s three-Test series © Getty Images

The England batsman, Kevin Pietersen, has revealed he turned down the lucrative opportunity to participate in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).The tournament has yet to be sanctioned by any of the world’s cricket boards, prompting India to form another tournament: the Indian Premier League which features the best domestic Twenty20 sides from around the world. Pietersen, though, has rejected them both for the time being.”I was approached with an offer to play in India and it was a very lucrative one – but I kicked it straight into touch,” Pietersen told the . “It would be ridiculous for me to put my England career in jeopardy after all the work I have put in.”There may come a time when tournaments like this sit in with our schedule and if the authorities were happy for us to play we would have another look at it. But at the moment it’s a no-go area.”Pietersen revealed that he has been keeping a close eye on events in Australia, and has even “turned into an Australian fan”.”The Aussies are playing Sri Lanka in a Test series at present and could do us a real favour by knocking the Sri Lankans’ confidence before we play them,” he said. “It would be great if their batsmen came into our three-Test series struggling for form.”After Australia, Sri Lanka is the hardest place in the world to win a Test series and anything Ricky Ponting and co could do to help us out will be appreciated – until we play them again!”

The master plans Click here for a larger version © Getty Images

It was hardly a whodunit of Murder On The Orient Express proportions, but Cricket Australia think that it has discovered the secret of how England’s bowling plans came to be leaked to the media.It was initially thought that the plans had been stolen from England’s dressing-room, but security staff at the MCG have said that they have spoken to the individual who sent the sheet of paper to ABC radio and they are convinced he did not steal them.”I found it on the ground in the members’ area,” Nick Ruthry, the person who sent the plans, told The Age. “I’d heard the ABC commentators saying they were wondering what the England plans were, so I thought I’d help them out – I only wanted to make sure Warney didn’t cop one in the throat.”It is not clear how the paper came to be on the floor, but one theory is that the sheet was dropped after being photocopied. “The Melbourne Cricket Club believe that there was no breach of security involved in the printing of these documents,” said a spokesman. “As far as the MCC is concerned, the matter is closed and there will be no further comment.”

Imran Khan believes the timing and the weather will suit the Pakistani fast bowlers © Getty Images

Imran Khan, the legendary allrounder, has termed Pakistan as favourites to win the upcoming three-Test series against arch-rivals India.Hailing Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar as a “matchwinning pair,” Imran said the timing and weather would also help the Pakistani fast bowlers. “The last time when India visited it was summer [April] and now it is winter [January], which will benefit our bowlers,” Imran was quoted as saying by the Pakistani daily .On the issue of Karachi hosting a Test between the arch-rivals, he said India must play in the port city since the successful conduct of a one-dayer against England recently had proved that conditions there were “quite satisfactory”. Imran, however, lashed out at the functioning of the Pakistan Cricket Board, saying it was time to put in place a democratically-elected board as in Australia and India.”There is one-man show in PCB. One man is taking all the decisions. By the way, what are the qualifications of present board officials who are working on ad hoc basis.” He said since the PCB did not have a constitution, it made it easier to avoid accountability. “The constitution ensures accountability for irregularities and transparency in affairs.”

Dolphins 325 (Brown 107*, Watson 61, Dawson 5-46) lead WesternProvince Boland 233 and 2 for 0 by 90 runs
ScorecardAt Cape Town the Dolphins added just one run to their overnight 99 beforeCon de Lange trapped Imraan Khan leg-before for 49. Alan Dawson then struck twice, to get rid of Doug Watson for 61 and Hashim Amla, released from his national duties, without scoring. Ashraf Mall contributed 17 before falling to Paul Adams to leave the Dolphins on 140 for 4. An 80-run partnership between Jon Kent and Duncan Brown came to an end when Kent was caught behind for 48, giving Dawson his third wicket of the innings. Dawson picked up a further two wickets to finish with 5 for 46 as the Dolphins were bowled out for 325, a lead of 92. Brown was left stranded on 107, his hundred coming off 210 balls and including 14 fours. Western Province Boland reduced the deficit by two before the close.Warriors 422 for 9 dec (Pope 156*, Kreusch 76, Bruyns 55, Bradfield 51, Malao 4-80) lead Eagles 110 for 3 (Jacobs 51, Kops 3-43) by 312 runs
ScorecardAfter the loss of 38 overs on the first day the Warriors increased the rate at East London, with Steven Pope notching up his highest first-class score of 156 as they reached 422 before declaring at the fall of the ninth wicket. Pope put on 175 with Justin Kreusch, who made 76, and 57 with Tyron Henderson (31). Jacob Malao was the most successful Eagles bowler, with 4 for 80 in 20 overs. In reply the Eagles made a quick start, with Davey Jacobs reaching 50 off just 37 balls. He put on 74 for the first wicket before James Henderson fell to Brent Kops for 23. Jacobs also fell to Kops, just after reaching his half-century, while Ryan Bailey gave Kops his third wicket when he had made 13. By the close the Eagles had moved to 110 for 3, still 312 behind with seven wickets in hand.Lions 346 for 8 (Ontong 98, Ackerman 129, Nel 4-86) v Titans
ScorecardHeavy overnight and early-morning rain at Benoni left the outfield waterlogged, resulting in no play being possible on the second day.Keith Lane works for Cricinfo in South Africa.