All posts by h716a5.icu

Alastair Cook is confident of taking part in England’s Test series against Pakistan after recovering from the back injury that kept him out of most of the England Lions fixtures in their recent tri-series

Cricinfo staff09-Jul-2010Alastair Cook is confident of taking part in England’s Test series against Pakistan after recovering from the back injury that kept him out of most of the England Lions fixtures in their recent tri-series against A sides from India and West Indies. But the left-handed opening batsman conceded that the problem may require further treatment and surgery in the future.”There is a possibility that I may need surgery in the future, but it’s not high at the moment and I was fully fit to play in the final,” said Cook, who returned for the final of the series against India A after missing three games. “If it [the back] stays like this, I’ll be fully fit and I won’t need surgery in the future.”I’ll also definitely be fit for the series with Pakistan unless something drastic happens and I’ll now go and play Twenty20 and four-day cricket for Essex.”Cook previously suffered back problems on England’s tour of South Africa last year when he was pulled out of the one-day squad mid-way through the series. It was diagnosed as a bulging disc and at the time Cook said it was something he would need to manage, but recovered to take part in the Test matches.”My back is obviously a little bit frustrating but hopefully I’ve just turned the corner on that. Hopefully, with the treatment I’ve just had, it works.”It is something I’m having to manage at the moment. I don’t think it will be ongoing forever. Whilst we know what it is, we are just trying to sort it out and try and make sure I can carry on playing as well.”The first Test between England and Pakistan, which takes place at Trent Bridge, starts on July 29. Essex have five Friends Provident t20 fixtures in the interim, as well as a home County Championship game against Yorkshire and a Clydesdale Bank 40 engagement against Northamptonshire.

A day after being named in Australia’s Test squad to face Pakistan, Brad Haddin has been ruled out and replaced by Tim Paine

Peter English23-Jun-2010A day after being named in Australia’s Test squad to face Pakistan, Brad Haddin has been ruled out and replaced by Tim Paine for the two-match series in England next month. Haddin was initially given another week to prove his fitness from an elbow tendon problem, but the decision to keep him home was made by Dr Trefor James after reviewing the injury.While the complaint doesn’t hamper Haddin when he is behind the stumps, it has troubled the 32-year-old’s batting since the end of last year. He faced an over in the nets on Tuesday but could still feel the pain.”It is extremely disappointing to miss any match for your country and especially frustrating in this situation where I can do everything but pick up a cricket bat,” he said. “I have been extremely aggressive in the treatment process of this tendon injury, doing everything I possibly could to play against Pakistan. After seeing the specialist in Sydney today he has advised me that the best course of action is to take a slow and steady approach to getting it right.”Haddin, the first-choice gloveman since Adam Gilchrist retired, has played 27 Tests and is aiming to return to the national side for the tour of India in October. “Now that I have time on my hands, the specialist and I are very confident I can let the injury repair itself in normal time and be ready to go,” he said.The decision gives Paine, the Tasmanian, two matches at Lord’s and Leeds to challenge Haddin for the position in the long term. Haddin’s superior batting – he averages 38.62 with two hundreds – means he will come back as soon as he is fit, but Paine has a rare opportunity.Not since Ian Healy’s debut in 1988-89 has an understudy gained more than one Test cap, with Phil Emery and Graham Manou limited to a single appearance each. Emery filled in for Healy in Pakistan in 1994 while Manou replaced Haddin when he broke a finger on last year’s Ashes trip.Paine is currently on the limited-overs tour of the British Isles and scored 26 as an opener in the loss to England on Tuesday. He has appeared in 19 ODIs and 37 first-class games, collecting 102 four-day dismissals and averaging 30.96 while playing the majority of his games on a tricky Bellerive Oval pitch.Andrew Hilditch’s selection panel has been impressed by Paine’s work with Tasmania and in Australia’s one-day team. “We feel he has the skills and temperament to do extremely well in Test cricket for Australia,” Hilditch said. “It is a well deserved opportunity which we are sure Tim will make the most of during the series against Pakistan.”

Ricky Ponting has had some tough experiences as Test captain, but it’s hard to recall an Australian team under his leadership enduring a worse day than this

Brydon Coverdale at Headingley21-Jul-2010As the dark, gloomy weather descended on Headingley late in the afternoon, the Australians drifted from the ground thankful to see the end of one of their grimmest days. Ricky Ponting has had some tough experiences as Test captain, but it’s hard to recall an Australian team under his leadership enduring a worse day than this.In terms of significance, decisive Ashes occasions like the second day at The Oval last year or the first at Edgbaston in 2005 are at the top of the list. But for a single, self-contained day of Test cricket, this was terrible. Australia were all out for 88, their lowest Test total in 26 years, and Pakistan passed the score with one wicket down.Yes, the Australians can say they have a chance. At the SCG in January they were in a remarkably similar position and somehow Pakistan handed the match back. To expect the same result again is to anticipate predictability from Pakistan, and that’s never a wise move.The Australians will be left to wonder if they made the wrong decision to bat first. Ever since Ponting infamously sent England in at Edgbaston five years ago with a McGrath-less attack, batting first has been almost a Pavlovian response when the coin falls his way.Even when logic dictates – as it did on a Sydney greentop in January or February 2009 on a Johannesburg pitch described by Michael Hussey as having branches growing off it – that bowling first is the logical move. Even when it means playing into the hands of the opposition.The Australians never like to cede control of a Test and they feel that by bowling first, they are doing just that. They often speak of focusing on their own plans and not concerning themselves with their opponents. It’s an approach that looks pigheaded when it fails.Against a Pakistan team whose strength clearly is swing bowling, batting first under overcast skies after overnight rain defied common sense, especially given the inexperience of the Pakistan batting line-up. As Ponting himself said two days before the Test, “in Pakistan you don’t generally see the ball seam around and swing around like it did last week”.So why not subject their batsmen to those hardships? Umar Gul said he was surprised at Ponting’s decision, and that the Pakistanis were ready to bowl first had they won the toss. Australia’s coach Tim Nielsen said the idea of sending Pakistan in was discussed, but they felt the pitch would deteriorate later in the week. The match might not get that far.Perhaps the coin-flip didn’t matter. Truth be told, Australia were outplayed in every department. When their bowlers were given a chance in the afternoon they did not display the guile and skill shown by their Pakistan counterparts. Whereas Mohammad Asif had deceived batsmen with a sequence of outswingers followed by an inswinger, the Australians possessed no such patience.They tried to take a wicket every ball, without building to a plan. Ben Hilfenhaus bowled too straight and often saw the ball whipped through leg, while Mitchell Johnson was erratic. The bowlers say the right things about working in England – they know they must pitch it up and allow the ball to swing – but too many deliveries were banged in short of a length.Nor did the batsmen handle the conditions with complete composure. They reached forward against the swinging ball, hoping to negate the movement but at times that exacerbated the issue, as they allowed themselves no time to adjust when the ball swerved late.The innings was over in less than three hours, and not since 1984-85 had Australia scored so few. That was against a vintage West Indian attack at the WACA, on a day when Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall were so fearsome that Courtney Walsh didn’t even have to bowl. You can bet on that occasion they weren’t pitching it up and searching for swing.Australia’s SCG memories will sustain them into the second day at Headingley. They know the sun will rise again – they just hope there’ll be plenty of clouds as well.

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left slamming the display of John Lundstram in the first half of their game at home to Aberdeen.

The former Sheffield United midfield player was guilty of losing the ball cheaply while the Light Blues were trying to play out from the back at Ibrox, leading to Christian Ramirez opening the scoring for the visitors.

Lundstram also appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball as former Celtic captain Scott Brown headed home to put Aberdeen 2-0 up just after the 15-minute mark.

Alfredo Morelos spared his blushes a little by pulling one goal back for Steven Gerrard’s men shortly after, but it was a nightmare start for the Englishman, who will now be hoping to put in a much better personal performance in the second half.

Rangers fans on Lundstram display

These Bears supporters slammed his first 45 minutes on Twitter, with one Ger even going as far as to claim that he is ‘amateur’:

“If anybody thinks Lundstram is Rangers class please book an appointment with your doctor first thing tomorrow”

Credit: @mullanmcm

“Goldson and Lundstrom provide Aberdeen with a goal. Amateur stuff! 8 times this season @RangersFC have conceded the first goal.”

Credit: @NaeBull

“Can the Lundstram slander make a return now?”

Credit: @72Rab_

“Lundstram doesn’t do himself any favours making mistakes like that all too often. Hard to defend him when he makes mistakes that cost goals.”

Credit: @GordzCC

“John Lundstram again. Unbelievable.”

Credit: @christtocs

“Lundstram AGAIN.”

Credit: @rfc986532784512

In other news, find out what news before Aberdeen had Gers fuming here!

Chaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as Northamptonshire finally broke their duck in this year’s Friends Provident t20 with a 21-run win over Worcestershire

11-Jun-2010
ScorecardChaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as Northamptonshire finally broke their duck in this year’s Friends Provident t20 with a 21-run win over Worcestershire. He hit a fluent 54, including three huge sixes, as a makeshift opener as the hosts posted a total of 143 for 8 from their 22 overs.Vaas went on to grab two wickets with the ball as Northamptonshire ended a run of three straight defeats by restricting the visitors to 122 for 8. Worcestershire bowler Jack Shantry had been the pick of their attack, taking two for 24, but his batsmen badly let him down with Vaas and James Middlebrook doing the damage for Northants.Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat in glorious conditions and former New Zealand international Lou Vincent made a breezy 18 before hitting James Cameron to Shantry at mid on. Cameron then dropped Vaas twice, first at deep extra cover then deep midwicket, both off Australia spinner Steve Smith, as Vaas and Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien added 71 runs between them.Vaas went past 50 off 39 balls by smashing Gareth Andrew for six over mid-wicket but perished by blasting the same bowler to Smith at long off. O’Brien departed soon after when his off-stump was taken out by Moeen Ali before Northamptonshire captain Andrew Hall smashed stand-in Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell to Alexei Kervezee at deep midwicket.Shantry claimed two wickets in the 19th over by bowling Rob White for 13 before Nicky Boje tamely struck his first ball to Mitchell at extra cover. In the final over, David Willey was run out by Cameron at backward point before Smith caught Alex Wakely at long off against Andrew.Chasing 144, Worcestershire got off to a bad start when Jack Manuel, who was making his senior debut, made just three before launching Vaas to Boje at deep square-leg. Ex-skipper Boje then bowled Phil Jaques for 10 and an awful running mix-up in the ninth over involving Ali and Kervezee led to Boje running out the former for 19.Smith made nine before he hit James Middlebrook to Jack Brooks at deep cover and Vaas removed Kervezee’s middle stump to leave the visitors on 72 for 5. Worcestershire’s sorry procession continued when Cameron made just a single before he was bowled by Middlebrook as the spinner ended his impressive spell.Two more wickets fell in the last two overs with Mitchell hammering Hall to Brooks at deep midwicket and Andrew then struck his first ball to Vincent at extra cover.

A crushing transfer blow has emerged on Newcastle United target Ousmane Dembele, regarding his current contract situation.

What’s the talk?

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Magpies target looks set for a new contract at the Nou Camp, with Barcelona confident of striking a deal with the forward.

He tweeted: “Newcastle approached Ousmane Dembélé and his agents weeks ago to make a proposal – but the feeling is still optimistic for his contract extension with Barcelona. #FCB #NUFC Barça are confident to reach the final agreement in the next days, and Xavi is pushing to keep Ousmane.”

Gutted

Newcastle fans will surely be gutted by this crushing update as it suggests that their chances of seeing Dembele in a black and white shirt any time soon are slim. The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season as it stands and the Magpies could, in theory, sign him on a pre-contract in January.

However, this latest claim from Romano suggests that he will extend his current terms with the Spanish giants and that would rule out any possibility of him joining Newcastle for nothing. Dembele being willing to sign a new deal would also indicate that he is happy at Barcelona and that could make it increasingly difficult for PIF to snap him up ahead of next season.

Fans will be gutted by this as Dembele could have been an excellent signing for the club. He is an exciting young winger who has shown quality in Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and La Liga, whilst also picking up 27 caps for France – winning the World Cup with his country.

The forward has 30 goals and 23 assists in 126 games for Barcelona, having racked up 10 goals and 22 assists in 50 games for Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He started his career in France with Rennes, scoring 12 and assisting five in 29 matches. This shows that he has the ability to both score and create goals from wide positions and has proven that he can do so in three different countries at the top level, which suggests that he would have a strong chance of doing the same in England.

Therefore, supporters will be disappointed that the attacker is set to sign a new deal in Spain instead of signing for Newcastle in January or next summer. Eddie Howe may need to find alternative targets to bolster his squad now that a move for Dembele appears to be off the cards.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Wilson: PIF can stun NUFC fans by signing “unpredictable” £268k-p/w ace…

Netherlands cricket has secured an important new sponsor after signing an agreement with United Dutch Breweries

Cricinfo staff04-May-2010Netherlands cricket has secured an important new sponsor after signing an agreement with United Dutch Breweries. Under the terms of the deal, the company will sponsor the national side’s participation in the English domestic Clydesdale Bank 40 League and the A team’s involvement in the European Championships for an initial two-year period. The logo of UDB brand 3 Horses Malt Beverage – a non-alcoholic beer – will feature on the playing and training kit of the sides in these competitions.”We are delighted to welcome 3 Horses Malt Beverage as our principal sponsor for the ECB and ICC Europe competitions,” said Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond chief executive Richard Cox. “We will now seek further complementary brand partners and sponsors to accompany 3 Horses for our other teams and development programmes, as we systematically raise the profile of cricket in the Netherlands and elsewhere.”It’s particularly pleasing that our new sponsor is a purely Dutch company, and we are looking forward to working closely with them over the next two years,” he added.”In many of the 95 countries worldwide in which we do business, we see how popular cricket is,” explained UDB managing director Stijn Deelen. “3 Horses Malt Beverage is already a well-known name in many Middle Eastern and Asian markets, and we hope to link the brand to the popularity of the sport. Our association with the Dutch cricket team underlines the association of our products with its Dutch heritage.”The national side’s first engagement in the Clydesdale Bank 40 is on May 15 against Yorkshire at Headingley. They will also have two home fixtures in the competition, against Essex and Middlesex on May 21 and 23 respectively, to be played at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen.

Ligue 1 giants Marseille have officially parted ways with Gennaro Gattuso and drafted in Jean-Louis Gasset as their new manager.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Marseille sack GattusoAppoint Jean-Louis Gasset as replacementMarseille 10th in Ligue 1WHAT HAPPENED?

The French club decided to sack the Italian coach just two days after they went down 1-0 against Brest in Ligue 1. It was their ninth defeat of the 2023-24 season and leaves Marseille down in 10th in the league. In the aftermath of the Brest defeat, a furious Gattuso claimed that the team had hit "rock-bottom". He added in his post-match press conference: "When you hit rock bottom, you have to take responsibility. It's my responsibility. There is nothing else to say. The table? The truth is that we're going to have to start looking behind us. We can no longer speak about Europe. We just need to take the necessary points to be calm in the standings."

The club have also announced the former Italy international's replacement, with former Ivory Coast boss Jean-Louis Gasset taking charge.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

The official statement from the club regarding Gattuso's sacking read: "Olympique de Marseille announces the end of its collaboration with Gennaro Gattuso. Olympique de Marseille would like to particularly thank Gennaro and all of his staff for the flawless investment and great professionalism they have shown on a daily basis and wish them good luck for the future."

After being appointed as the new head coach, Gasset told the club's official website: "It is a huge honour for me to join this legendary club that is Olympique de Marseille. I can't wait to start working with this group to prepare for the next deadlines and give the best of ourselves."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 70-year-old French coach grabbed the headlines in the recently concluded AFCON as he was sacked midway into the competition by the host nation. The Ivory Coast, who eventually lifted the trophy, failed to make the top two in their group after a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Equatorial Guinea on matchday three, which led to Gasset's departure, but they still qualified for the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

Marseille will now shift their focus to European football as they are set to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of their Europa League knockout play-offs tie.

Leeds United look set to launch a January move for Reading star John Swift according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Swift links

Leeds were first linked with the former Chelsea man back in 2019 while they were still in the Championship. As we know, the 26-year-old remained with The Royals and is currently enjoying a brilliant season in the second tier.

He’s scored eight times and has registered nine assists in 21 games, with Leeds once again linked with a move earlier in the season.

Phil Hay has revealed in recent months that Marcelo Bielsa is a big fan of Swift and recently stated that a January move could be a realistic one for the Whites, and it seems as if Victor Orta is now set to make his move.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story early on Thursday morning regarding Leeds and Swift. They relayed claims suggesting that Orta wants a number six and a number eight in the New Year, with Swift fitting in the latter of the two categories.

A Leeds source informed the site the Whites are lining up a winter window swoop for Swift, with his £7m asking price set to drop as he enters the final six months of his contract.

The Verdict: Sign

Leeds have been tracking Swift for a number of years now, so they’d know just how he’d fit into Bielsa’s squad.

He could inject the creativity in a central role that the Whites are lacking, with Leeds’ four senior midfielders scoring just one Premier League goal combined this season.

Swift has already contributed to 17 Championship goals and has even played on the left and in a second striker role in 2021/22. His versatility may well appeal to Bielsa, and at a fee under £7m, it appears to be a no brainer.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now closing in on midfielder once dubbed ‘different class’ as first Jan signing. 

Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 internationals after being found guilty of ball-tampering during Pakistan’s two-wicket loss to Australia at the WACA in Perth

Cricinfo staff31-Jan-2010Shahid Afridi has been banned for two Twenty20 internationals after being found guilty of ball-tampering during Pakistan’s two-wicket loss to Australia in the ODI at the WACA. Afridi, Pakistan’s captain in Twenty20 cricket, was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to “changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket”.Afridi, leading Pakistan in the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, was caught by TV cameras apparently biting the ball on a couple of occasions. This was reported to the on-field umpires by the TV umpire and, after a chat with Afridi, the umpires changed the ball.Afridi was called into a hearing with the match referee Ranjan Madugalle immediately after the match. Madugalle said Afridi pleaded guilty to the charge, apologised and regretted his action.In later public comments, Afridi admitted to tampering the ball but added the practice was common among all teams. “I shouldn’t have done it. It just happened. I was trying to help my bowlers and win a match, one match,” he told , a Pakistan-based news channel. “There is no team in the world that doesn’t tamper with the ball. My methods were wrong. I am embarrassed, I shouldn’t have done it. I just wanted to win us a game but this was the wrong way to do it.”Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, said: “It’s unacceptable. It shouldn’t have happened but it happened and I feel sorry for him. Being a captain you should be above everything but unfortunately it’s happened.”The punishment poses a quandary for Pakistan, who end their tour of Australia with a Twenty20 in Melbourne on Friday. Yousuf, who captained Pakistan in Tests and ODIs, is not part of the Twenty20 squad and Younis Khan, who was captain before the tour of New Zealand which preceded this one, has retired from the format. Shoaib Malik, who was captain in all three formats this time last year, might be one of those in the running to take charge. Afridi will also now miss the first Twenty20 against England in Abu Dhabi in February.Another candidate is Kamran Akmal, the Pakistan wicketkeeper and vice-captain. However, his own form with the gloves has been poor. He was dropped for the third Test in Hobart, following a debacle in the previous Test in Sydney, where he dropped Michael Hussey thrice to give Australia a chance to sneak back into the match and eventually beat Pakistan by 36 runs.Afridi’s conduct was part of a bizarre finale to the game, which sealed a 5-0 win for Australia. Opener Khalid Latif was tackled by a fan who broke through the security cordon and ran on to the field. Police have spoken to Latif, who is not thought to be seriously injured. But action is likely to be taken against the spectator and Pakistan’s management will also look at the incident in further detail.”I thought it was disgraceful,” Australian seamer Clint McKay said. “Something you don’t want to see ever. For someone to go out there and to touch one of their players is not on. Hopefully it all gets put to bed and he gets a right whack. It’s probably the worst thing that can happen on a cricket field, so hopefully it gets stamped out and we don’t see it again.”