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Durham shrugged off another injury to captain Paul Collingwood to boost their chances of reaching a second quarter-final when they beat Yorkshire by 15 runs at the Riverside

ECB Reporters Network31-Jul-2016
ScorecardMark Wood was the pick of the Durham bowlers•Getty ImagesDurham shrugged off another injury to captain Paul Collingwood to boost their chances of reaching a second quarter-final when they beat Yorkshire by 15 runs at the Riverside.After both teams progressed in the NatWest T20 Blast on Friday, both can also reach the last eight in the Royal London Cup by winning their final group matches on Monday. Durham go to Old Trafford and Yorkshire entertain Warwickshire but will hope to bat better than in attempting to chase down Durham’s 281 for 7.At 200 for 5 after 40 overs they were 16 ahead of Durham at the equivalent stage but, despite Tim Bresnan continuing his fine batting form with 92, the boundaries dried up against tight bowling.Only 38 runs came off the next seven overs and there had not been a boundary for 12 overs until Bresnan twice planted Chris Rushworth into the stand over midwicket in the 48th. He than holed out off the last ball of the over, leaving 28 needed off two with two wickets standing. Mark Wood conceded only one run in the 49th and Yorkshire finished on 266 for 8.Collingwood, who took over the one-day captaincy from the departing Mark Stoneman last week, was limping while batting and in his absence from the field Keaton Jennings took over. He skilfully marshalled an excellent bowling display, led by Wood after he was belatedly made available as he continues his comeback from two ankle operations. Wood took the crucial wickets of Alex Lees and Jack Leaning while conceding only 43 runs in ten overs.Scott Borthwick was Durham’s star, top-scoring with 84 and taking 1 for 48 in ten overs of generally tight legspin, spoilt only when Bresnan drove a full toss for six then pulled a long hop for four. That came towards the end of a fifth-wicket stand of 76 with Jack Leaning, but when Wood was recalled Leaning steered a catch straight to backward point and the momentum was never recovered.Borthwick accelerated nicely from a 74-ball half-century to reach 84 before breaking his bat, only to fall without addition when the new blade sent a miscued hook to long leg in the 41st over.Durham did well to take 97 off their last ten overs as, despite hitting only two boundaries, Michael Richardson kept the score moving with 53 off 58 balls. He was helped in the last ten overs by cameos from Ryan Pringle, with 27 off 20 balls, and Stuart Poynter, who included a straight six off Bresnan in his unbeaten 27.

West Ham United are ending the season in a much better way than they started it. A recent victory over Manchester United has virtually secured Premier League survival, while their 2-1 first-leg win over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League has put them in the driving seat ahead of the return fixture.

David Moyes will be desperate to claim European glory and ensure he remains in the hotseat next season, and it seems he is keen on improving his squad over the summer.

The Hammers have scouted Lens midfielder Seko Fofana recently according to 90min, and with Declan Rice’s exit appearing inevitable this summer, it could be an ideal opportunity to secure an excellent replacement for the Englishman.

His price tag before Christmas was believed to be around €40m (£35m), and if the club could secure his signature for this type of fee, it may well turn into a fantastic bargain.

Could Seko Fofana join West Ham United this summer?

Moyes will certainly be targeting a midfielder or two and Fofana fits the bill perfectly, especially as he is considered statistically similar to Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, according to FBref.

The analysis site notes Fofana as the second-most comparable player to the Germany international, and with his impact at City, where he has won 11 major honours (so far), it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, this season, Fofana and Gundogan have registered similar statistics with regard to goals and assists (nine apiece), pass success rate (87.5% to 86.8%), shot-creating actions (88 to 87) and interceptions (19 to 18), suggesting that not only do they offer a reliable attacking threat from the midfield, but their passing ability is also excellent.

In making a move for Fofana, Moyes could sign one of the finest midfielders on the continent, as FBref ranks him in the top 5% over the past year for progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches in the attacking penalty area and total shots per 90 across Europe’s big five leagues, and it could be a major coup in landing him this summer.

Journalist Said Amdaa lavished praise on Fofana in 2022, saying: “Unplayable in midfield with monster activity. Recoverer/scorer. Very reliable, the captain did not miss any match with Lens.” And he has led Lens to a remarkable title challenge this term, as they currently sit six points off Paris Saint-Germain with four games left.

Moyes may send more scouts to watch him before the end of the season, though he will need to make a move sooner rather than later or he could get snapped up by a bigger side.

David Warner’s recovery time could be anywhere between two and six weeks if he does not require surgery, but he may be out for longer should a procedure be required

Daniel Brettig12-Jun-2016David Warner has been effectively ruled out out of the triangular series and may require surgery for a broken left index finger suffered while fielding during Australia’s victory over South Africa in St Kitts on Saturday.In a grievous blow to Steven Smith’s side, Warner will be lost to the top order for the remainder of the tournament and is now in a race to be fully fit in time for the start of the Test tour to Sri Lanka in July. He had made an unbeaten half-century and a century in three innings of the triangular series so far, following a successful IPL.Australia’s team doctor Geoffrey Verrall said Warner’s recovery time could be anywhere between two and six weeks if he does not require surgery, but he may be out for longer should a procedure be required.”The x-ray showed an intra-articular fracture of the distal phalanx of the index finger of the left hand – the top part of that finger,” Verrall said. “We will assess the situation over the coming days to see if the injury requires a surgical option but should that not be the case then David is likely to be available to return to play in somewhere between two and six weeks.”The selector on duty Trevor Hohns and interim coach Justin Langer are yet to decide whether Warner will be replaced by another player flown in from Australia or elsewhere. Warner said the injury would provide him with an opportunity for downtime ahead of a demanding international schedule over the next 12 months.”It’s obviously disappointing to be sidelined given the form I’ve been in and given the important stage the tri-series is at, but it’s always important to look at the positives,” he said. “This downtime, however long or short it is, will give me the chance to freshen up and spend quality time with my family after an intense period of action.”Langer said he was particularly disappointed to lose Warner’s services after watching the example he had set around the squad. “It’s doubly disappointing to have David Warner sidelined because of his outstanding form plus his attitude and professionalism around the group which has been a joy to work with,” he said. “But we’ve spoken from day one of this tour about every single person in the squad contributing to our success.”I’ve encouraged the players not in the starting eleven to be ready at all times because you never know when opportunities might come. One of the boys will now get that opportunity in David’s absence.”Australia’s captain, Steven Smith, said that while it would be a blow for Australia to miss Warner during the tri-series, the main goal would be to ensure Warner was available for the first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins in Pallekele on July 26.”The most important thing from my aspect is that he’s right for the Test series,” Smith said. “That’s still about six weeks away before the first Test. I think the medical staff and Davey are confident that he’ll be fine for that first Test match.”It’s always tough missing players like Davey, particularly at the moment. He’s in the form of his life and batting beautifully. It’s going to be a big loss for us. I’m sure whoever steps into that position is going to do a terrific job.”Warner’s injury may mean a recall for Glenn Maxwell, following the allrounder’s poor displays in the opening two matches of the tournament. Usman Khawaja is likely to move up the order to partner Aaron Finch for Monday’s match against the West Indies.

Newcastle United can move six points clear of fifth in the Premier League as they host Mikel Arteta's Arsenal at St. James' Park this evening.

The Magpies have won eight of their last nine matches in the division and are heading towards Champions League qualification, as they currently sit third in the table.

Eddie Howe's men come into this clash against the Gunners off the back of a 3-1 win at home to Southampton in their last match – with two goals from hero Callum Wilson and an own goal from Theo Walcott securing the three points.

How will Newcastle line up against Arsenal?

Despite the victory against the Saints, How could make three alternations from the XI that started last time out.

Nick Pope, who has recorded 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, could keep his place between the sticks and the defence, of Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn, could remain the same to maintain consistency at the back.

However, one change could occur in the middle of the park as Sean Longstaff could make his return from injury.

Howe said it was a case of 'wait and see' over his availability for this game, so the homegrown Toon gem, who has started 27 times ths season, will come in for Joe Willock to keep the midfield ticking over alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

The Newcastle boss could also ruthlessly ditch Anthony Gordon from the starting XI.

The £45m winger was hooked at half time against Southampton after losing five of his eight individual duels, missing one 'big chance', and failing to create a single opportunity for his teammates – as per Sofascore.

This would allow £46k-per-week talisman Callum Wilson, who Trippier once hailed as "non-stop", to come in as the starting number nine, which would then leave Alexander Isak playing off the left – where he recorded an assist for one of the England international's strikes last weekend.

Finally, Miguel Almiron could get the nod over Jacob Murphy on the right. Howe has rotated them in the last two fixtures, with the latter starting against the Saints, and the busy schedule could open the door for the Paraguay international to come back in as part of the front three.

Predicted Newcastle United XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Isak.

Michael Kasprowicz, the former Australia fast bowler, has been named as Queensland Cricket’s interim chief executive, stepping down from his post on the Cricket Australia Board to do so

Daniel Brettig18-May-2016Michael Kasprowicz, the former Australia fast bowler, has been named as Queensland Cricket’s interim chief executive, stepping down from his post on the Cricket Australia Board to do so.QC management were surprised last month when Geoff Cockerill stepped down from the job with six months still to run on his three-year contract.However Kasprowicz has elected to take on the role, and will go with the blessing of the CA chairman – and fellow Queenslander – David Peever. Kasprowicz had been a CA director since August 2011 when he took the place vacated by his former state and national team-mate Matthew Hayden.”Michael is an experienced sporting and business leader with a deep affection and knowledge for the game,” Peever said. “On behalf of the Cricket Australia board, I would like to thank Michael for his tenure and contributions. Michael has always represented Queensland interests in helping us achieve our vision of becoming Australia’s favourite sport and a sport for all Australians.”We are extremely pleased that Michael has chosen to take on the role of interim CEO at Queensland Cricket. I would like to wish him every success and look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.”Kasprowicz had recently been granted an additional term on the CA Board and had been due to remain there until October 2018. “I’m pleased to be able to assist Queensland Cricket at this point in time and grateful to the Chairman David Peever and my fellow Directors on the Cricket Australia Board to enable me to take this on,” Kasprowicz said.”Queensland Cricket is in a good place at the moment with strong growth in participation and enormous potential emerging through the Youth Pathway and elite teams like the Bulls, Queensland Fire, and Brisbane Heat BBL and WBBL teams.”Queensland is also well positioned financially, with recent strategic funding initiatives targeting the grassroots of the game and complementing the outstanding work of our many volunteers. Queensland Cricket continues to engage closely with Government at all levels to deliver some exciting outcomes for the game in the State.”The QC chairman Jim Holding said Kasprowicz’s tenure would run alongside the search for longer-term candidates.”Michael brings deep insights into the business of Australian Cricket as well as being closely attuned to Queensland Cricket and its operations,” Holding said. “We are grateful to him for agreeing to take on this role in addition to his existing commitments.
 
”Since Geoff’s resignation, the Board has conducted a thorough review of our strategic and operational requirements and will undertake a rigorous process to identify and secure the right person for our short and long-term needs as CEO.”

Arsenal have been handed a chance to sign Barcelona winger Raphinha, as the Spanish club are now willing to sell him to fund a move for Lionel Messi this summer, according to a report from Football Insider.

Will Arsenal sign a new winger this summer?

Mikel Arteta may be forced to sign a new winger in the summer, as it has recently been reported Paris Saint-Germain are preparing an offer of more than €120m (£106m) for Bukayo Saka, which the club's hierarchy may be inclined to accept.

Even if the 21-year-old ends up staying, however, the Gunners may consider bringing in competition on the right-wing, having been linked with a move for Villarreal's Samuel Chukwueze, who they are said to be absolutely crazy about signing.

Michael Olise was also of interest to Arsenal, however he is reportedly not considering leaving Crystal Palace this summer, meaning they may have to look at other options, such as FC Porto star Pepe.

According to a report from Football Insider, the door is now open to make a move for Raphinha, a player that Arsenal, and by extension Arteta, are said to be long-term admirers of.

Barcelona are willing to sell the Brazilian in order to fund a move for Messi in the summer, and the Gunners have been put on alert by his sudden availability, with the club now considering whether to submit a bid.

The La Liga side are set to demand a fee in the region of £50m – £60m for the 26-year-old, and he would be open to a Premier League return, should he be forced out of the Camp Nou this summer.

Would Raphinha be a good signing for Arsenal?

The former Leeds United man has already proven himself in England, having weighed in with 11 Premier League goals for the Yorkshire club last season, the highest amount of any player.

Not only is the Brazil international a threat on the front foot, journalist Muhammad Butt has also praised him for his work-rate, describing him as a "defensive monster" earlier this season.

Given that the right-winger has reached double figures for goals and assists for Barca this season, it would appear as though they are only willing to sell him to funda move for one of football's all-time greats in Messi.

Raphinha has demonstrated he has what it takes to perform at a top club, and Arsenal should undoubtedly make a move for him this summer.

West Ham United have sent a scout to watch PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Sangare to West Ham?

The Ivory Coast international joined Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side back in September 2020 and has another four years remaining on his contract. During his 129 appearances so far this season, he has become the top-performing defensive player for the Eredivisie giants.

Speaking to Voetbal International, however, PSV’s manager has “challenged” the 25-year-old to “go to the top” in England, with reports claiming that they would be willing to sanction a sale to allow him to do just that in a huge boost for David Moyes.

The Philips Stadion talisman is ready to test himself in the top-flight with the Irons having been touted as a potential destination, and whilst there are several others in the race for his signature, the hierarchy appear serious about completing a deal in the summer.

According to 90min, West Ham, Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brentford, Brighton, Wolves and Leeds United all “sent representatives” to watch PSV’s 3-0 victory over Ajax, in particular Sangare for the chiefs at the London Stadium. The Irons have been “alerted” to the midfielder’s expected availability by his agents, with his contract having a release clause included worth €37m (£32m), which is likely to be the fee needed to be paid to prise him away.

Where would Sangare fit in at West Ham?

Sangare is naturally a defensive midfielder but also has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central and attacking midfield, and having been dubbed a “threat” from midfield by journalist Josh Bunting, he could be the ideal successor to Declan Rice at West Ham with his ability to impact the game at both ends.

The Europa League participant is strong in the defensive aspect of his game having made 65 tackles so far this season, which is far higher than any of his fellow teammates, with 32 of those being won, which is also the second-best success rate at PSV, as per FBRef. Overall, his tackling ability ranks him in the 90th percentile across midfielders in European leagues, while Rice sits in the 66th, albeit against superior opposition.

The 6 foot 3 colossus, who would add a different dimension to the centre with his height, is also able to contribute to his team’s efforts in the final third having scored seven goals and provided three assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this campaign.

Finally, Sangare and Van Nistelrooy making it public knowledge that he’s ready to take the next step in his career means he would seriously consider the move, so the board should capitalise on this and splash the cash on a player who could be a long-term signing in E20.

Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann has 'major support' at Tottenham Hotspur amid their search for a new manager, according to reports.

What's the latest on Nagelsmann to Spurs?

The 35-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs since the north Londoners mutually agreed to part ways with former boss Antonio Conte.

This comes after Nagelsmann was surprisingly sacked by Bayern, despite the Bundesliga giants fighting on all fronts at the time, and he is now readily-available with plenty of pedigree.

Having won a Bundesliga title and with many years of tpp level coaching under his belt, all at such a young age, Nagelsmann arguably stands out as one of Europe's most exciting managers.

That fact isn't lost on chairman Daniel Levy and Spurs, who reportedly hold a serious interest in the former RB Leipzig boss after his shock Bayern dismissal.

They may have just been boosted by reliable reports that Nagelsmann to Chelsea is no longer possible, with both the coach and Tottenham's rivals apparently withdrawing from talks.

This could potentially open the door for Spurs with a report by The Daily Mail sharing that Hoffenheim's former coach has plenty of backing inside Tottenham.

Indeed, it is believed that the tactician has 'major support' at N17 over potentially becoming Spurs' next manager, with Luis Enrique, Arne Slot and Vincent Kompany also of interest to the Lilywhites.

Brendan Rodgers, after his departure from Leicester City this month, is also available with Levy having considered him in the past.

Could Spurs hire Nagelsmann?

You could make an argument that Nagelsmann will need real reassurances that Spurs will give him the necessary financial backing to make a success of the club.

Serial winners like Jose Mourinho and Conte, despite the latter clinching a top four finish last season, ultimately failed in their mission to transform Spurs into elite trophy-contenders.

Nagelsmann will likely be taking this into consideration, but if Tottenham can persuade him to make the move or open formal talks, he would be quite the hire.

Called a 'phenomenal' tactical innovator by BBC Sport Writer Raj Chohan, his brand of intense, high-pressing football could be a joy to watch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

After the years of seeing a more dogmatic approach from the likes of Conte and Mourinho, Nagelsmann helping Spurs to press more on the front foot could be far more reminiscent of the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could be set to receive a timely injury boost on striker Eddie Nketiah ahead of a crucial few weeks in the Premier League title race.

What’s the latest injury news regarding Eddie Nketiah?

The striker has been absent since suffering an ankle injury at the start of March, missing the last seven matches, leaving Arteta short of options to lead the line.

Thankfully, Gabriel Jesus has made a comeback from his own injury woes to alleviate this blow during the last couple of weeks, but having two strikers to choose from ahead of a vital final few weeks of the campaign would be a big boost.

Sky Sports presenter James Green tweeted yesterday regarding the Englishman: “William Saliba NOT in Arsenal open training this morning, but Eddie Nketiah is back.”

This will be a huge source of relief for Arteta, and he could play some part against West Ham United tomorrow.

How important is Eddie Nketiah for Arsenal?

The 23-year-old only played a bit-part role during the early stages of the campaign, not starting a Premier League match until Boxing Day. He did score twice in the Europa League group stage, but that was as profitable as it got until the turn of the year.

The injury to Jesus at the 2022 World changed things for Nketiah as he was then looked upon as Arsenal’s main striker in the Brazilian's absence – and he certainly impressed.

Across 13 matches deputising for Jesus, the striker netted six goals and grabbed an assist as he looked to spearhead the Gunners title challenge and his ankle injury came as a big blow to the club.

The £100k-per-week gem was described as “extraordinary” by his manager back in 2020 and his improvements since then have given the North Londoners a major boost in their pursuit of glory.

Indeed, among his positional peers, Nketiah ranks in the top 10% across Europe’s big five leagues over the past year for total shots per game (3.56), progressive carries (2.77) and touches in the attacking penalty box (6.74), suggesting that he more than makes up for his lack of goals by thriving in other areas.

Leandro Trossard has been a more than able deputy for both Nketiah and Jesus when called upon, registering a goal and seven assists since joining in January.

Having Nketiah back as an attacking option will give Arteta renewed confidence that they can resume their title charge following their agonising draw against Liverpool last weekend.

Liverpool's dramatic 2-2 draw with rivals Arsenal on Sunday saw Reds midfielder Thiago Alcantara make his return off the bench, with the experienced Spaniard having been absent with a hip injury in recent months.

The former Bayern Munich man – who arrived at Anfield on a £20m deal back in 2020 – had been out of action since featuring against Wolverhampton Wanderers in early February, with the hope being that the 31-year-old's return can offer a real boost to Jurgen Klopp's side in the short-term.

In the long-term, however, it remains to be seen for just how long the midfield maestro will be a key first-team asset, with the ageing playmaker having just over a year remaining on his existing deal on Merseyside.

Despite the one-time Barcelona man's undoubted class – having been hailed as "sensational" last season by his manager – there may be concern as to his longevity in the side, amid the fitness woes which have plagued the 46-cap international's time at the club so far.

With that in mind, Klopp may be plotting to potentially freshen up his midfield ranks with a fresh injection of youth in order to eventually replace the likes of Thiago, with 19-year-old, Dominic Corness, seemingly a dream heir to the Italy-born dynamo.

Who is Liverpool's Dominic Corness?

The teenage maestro – who turns 20 next month – has enjoyed a standout campaign thus far at academy level, having showcased his creative prowess after registering five assists in 31 games in all competitions thus far, including four assists in just 21 Premier League outings.

While a chance at senior level has thus far proven elusive, the England U20 international is clearly a highly-rated talent among those on Merseyside, having been nicknamed 'The Wand' due to his silky ability with his left foot.

The £3.4k-per-week sensation has also received notable praise from youth coach Barry Lewtas, who stated last year: "Dom controls the game for us and helps us play the way we want to play. We want a midfielder who can break the game up in that position but who can also control it, and that's Dominic's standout quality, his ability to dictate the pace of the game.

"It's all down to his ability to pass. He has every pass in the locker, really. He showed that against Rangers. He can pass straight through the lines, he can switch the play. I have been really pleased with his performances so far."

That passing prowess is undoubtedly a trait that is shared by that man Thiago – who has been lauded as "like a quarterback" by ex-Reds man Michael Owen – with it unsurprising that young Corness has previously revealed his admiration for the classy midfielder:

"I love to watch Thiago really. I just try to base myself off some of the things he does. Obviously he plays for the first team and that's just the level you want to try to get to. I just try to get on the ball as much as I can. I've always liked the way Thiago played."

That likeness between the pair is also showcased by their ball-winning quality, with Thiago having averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season, while Corness averaged 2.3 and 1.3 for the same two metrics, respectively, during his three EFL Trophy outings earlier in the campaign.

All the signs then seem to suggest that the 'cultured' youngster – as hailed by the club's official website – can be the ideal successor to the Spaniard in the near future, with Klopp seemingly having a real diamond on his hands who is just waiting for a chance to impress.