All posts by h716a5.icu

Australia’s Nick Haydar fashioned his side’s thrilling one-run win over South Africa in a league match played at the Guru Nanak College Ground, Chennai on Sunday

Staff Reporter08-Dec-2002Australia’s Nick Haydar fashioned his side’s thrilling one-run win over South Africa in a league match played at the Guru Nanak College Ground, Chennai on Sunday.With the Proteas needing two runs for victory, Haydar managed to run out South African captain Rory Field for a duck, leaving South Africa stranded on 279 all out. Earlier, Haydar had made 91 off 84 balls with the aid of eight fours to guide Australia to 280/5 in 40 overs.Haydar’s effort along with a 72 from opener and wicketkeeper Chris Backstrom and a 95 from Mr Extras were the major factors in helping Australia raise a challenging total. For South Africa, Ragunathan Naidoo claimed 2-58 from eight overs.When South Africa replied, Riaan Liebenberg (35), Petrus Le Roux (49) and Peter Van de Berg (57) all made handy contributions to get their team to within one run of victory with two wickets in hand.But Haydar spoiled their party by dismissing De Berg and Field off consecutive balls to seal a nail-biting win.

Glasgow Rangers defender Nikola Katic has revealed that he is desperate to return to action at Ibrox after missing the entire 2020/21 campaign through injury.

The Lowdown: Katic struggles

The previous campaign was a magnificent one for the Gers as they won the Premiership for the first time in 10 years, but the Croatian did not play a single minute (Transfermarkt).

He picked up a serious injury during the pre-season training (BBC) and was therefore sidelined for the entire season.

The Latest: Katic desperate

Speaking to Rangers TV, Katic revealed his desire to return to the action. He said:

“I am happy that all that is behind me and now I am ready to go with the team again.

“I am desperate to get back on the pitch, I lost 12 months with my injury and now I am so desperate to play and so excited.

“I’m giving everything 24 hours per day to be as ready as possible to help the team and to prove to the manager and fans how ready I am.”

The Verdict: Like a new signing

As the Premiership was cut short during the 2019/20 campaign due to the global pandemic, Katic played in 19 of a possible 29 league matches and looked as though he would play a big role the following season. Then fate intervened, but it certainly didn’t seem to hurt the Gers too much as they conceded just 13 goals on their way to the league title (thefishy.co.uk).

However, there is no doubting that £1.44m-valued Katic (Transfermarkt) is a player Steven Gerrard trusts given his regularity of action in 2019/20, and his return to the side will almost feel like a new signing. His desire to play could be a huge boost and, if handled correctly by Gerrard, he could have a big say in the Gers’ potential achievements next term.

In other news, Gerrard has provided an update on this Rangers man.

Kepler Wessels and Trevor Penney look ahead to the second semi-final between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab

31-May-2008
Wessels: ‘I’ve shared a fantastic relationship with him (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) with me taking care of the off-field stuff and with him focusing on the on-field things’ © AFP
Kepler Wessels, coach, Chennai Super Kings
We probably are the underdogs going into the match because of the way Punjab finished the league phase, despite us beating them twice in the qualifying rounds. We are in the semi-finals now and those wins are history.The advantage we have is the presence of (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, someone who the opposition fear and the players, youngsters especially, in our team take a lot of confidence from. I’ve shared a fantastic relationship with him, with me taking care of the off-field stuff and with him focusing on the on-field things. It was a case of me giving him a team that’s prepared for action and then him leading the side on the field which he has done very well. So he will be a major threat in this key tussle.The winner will be the one who does the basics the best and holds up under pressure. We’ve got a good all-round side with our bowling and fielding improving with every game. The loss of Stephen Fleming is huge but this is not the first time a foreign player has left the team. Previously, we lost Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Jacob Oram, but we were prepared for such a development and had made contingency plans. Yes, a player of experience at this stage is always going to be big, but we just have to carry on and retain our focus.Punjab have a well-balanced unit for this form of cricket. Shaun Marsh is clearly the dangerman in the sort of form he’s in, as he has made the job easier for them having batted (almost) through the innings.Pressure will be the big factor and whichever team does the basics and stays calm on the day will end up winning it.Trevor Penney, assistant coach, Kings XI Punjab
Punjab have a fantastic team spirit. We have gelled well after a couple of losses and recouped to get ten victories subsequently. Going into the knockout phase, our spirits are high. We have the right blend of youth and experience which suits all conditions.
Penney: ‘He (Shaun Marsh) now faces a new challenge against Chennai’s well-rounded fast-bowling unit © Getty Images
One peculiarity about our batsmen is all of them play the normal cricketing shots which is our real strength and that also nullifies the chance of getting out. The other advantage we have is that the majority of our bowlers are Indians and they have excelled in home conditions.The key factor, according to me, is how we execute our plans and if we are successful then we will come out unscathed. I’m quietly confident about our chances. If the team is unable to do that, then there is the danger of the momentum shifting in favour of the opposition.On form, they (Chennai) are the underdogs but they beat us both times in the league phase and now being the semi-finals, it’s a clean sheet now. The deciding factor can be a brilliant catch or a spectacular run-out and I hope our fielders will create those turning points early on to add pressure on the opposition. Twenty20 is all about little things, little factors that influence the flow of play.Shaun Marsh, obviously, is the most dangerous batsman in the tournament, setting up a good platform for us but every other batsman is right up there, waiting in the wings to go all out. He now faces a new challenge against Chennai’s well-rounded fast-bowling unit in Makhaya Ntini, Albie Morkel, Manpreet Gony and L Balaji. We are also aware of the omnipresent danger that Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) poses and he might even be the key factor but we are not thinking about their strengths.It has been a tiring seven weeks but now we are where we wanted to be – in the knockout phase.

The Athletic’s Rangers correspondent Jordan Campbell has made a claim regarding the Ibrox side’s interest in Colombian winger Santiago Moreno, which may well disappoint Gers fans.

What’s the word?

Rangers were linked with a move for the America de Cali winger, along with Leeds United and Southampton, by The Telegraph earlier this year, but it would appear that a summer move to Ibrox is no longer on the cards for the 21-year-old, after Campbell shared his views in an article for The Athletic, saying:

“One player who has been linked is America de Cali winger Santiago Moreno, but I understand there aren’t legs in this one for now. The Colombian is a good prospect at age 21 and would cost less than £2m thanks to a buyout clause but, although the Colombian market is one Rangers have been exploring in the last 18 months, this is not one that is on the cards.”

Would Moreno have been a good signing?

Moreno has caught the eye with his performances in Colombia and has been likened to Liverpool winger Sadio Mane with his style of play, which certainly suggests that he could’ve been a solid addition to Gerrard’s side for both now and the long-term future.

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In 51 appearances for the Liga Dimayor side, the youngster has contributed 10 goals and seven assists, which is an impressive return for someone so young, whilst he also has experience in the Copa Libertadores, which is the highest level of competition in South American club football.

Although Gerrard is already well-stocked in the winger department, with the likes of Ryan Kent, Scott Wright, Ianis Hagi and Fashion Sakala all likely to be regulars there next season, there is no doubt that Moreno could have been a good, cheap addition for the future at Ibrox.

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Therefore, Rangers fans should be gutted that the 21-year-old won’t be moving to Ibrox this summer, as it would not be a surprise to see him become a success elsewhere given the interest that is being shown in him.

And, in other news… Gerrard dealt blow with £10m “class act”, Gers fans will be gutted

Allan Wise, the left-arm fast bowler, has left Victoria to join South Australia for 2008-09. The recruitment of Wise in the second round of contract offers completes a long list of changes to the Redbacks’ squad for next season

Cricinfo staff06-Jun-2008
Allan Wise will be part of South Australia’s attack next year © Getty Images
Allan Wise, the left-arm fast bowler, has left Victoria to join South Australia for 2008-09. The recruitment of Wise in the second round of contract offers completes a long list of changes to the Redbacks’ squad for next season.Wise joins his former Bushrangers team-mate Michael Klinger in moving to Adelaide, while the side last month also signed Tom Cooper and Aaron O’Brien from New South Wales. Their biggest coup was picking up Younis Khan, the Pakistan Test batsman.”We have great faith in our talented young players and we have an obligation to nurture and develop them so they have every chance of success,” Mark Sorell, the coach, said. “And we have an obligation to the cricket community to build a competitive state side.”It is no coincidence that the average age of players currently on the Cricket Australia contract list is 29 and that successful state sides such as Victoria dominate the domestic competition with squads with similar age profiles. With the retirement of [Greg] Blewett, [Darren] Lehmann, [Matthew] Elliott and [Jason] Gillespie last season the average age of the Redbacks squad lowered to 24. I have been looking for players in 27 to 30-plus age group.”Wise, 29, battled to get a full-time spot in Victoria’s strong attack in the past few seasons and in his 29 first-class appearances he has 89 wickets at 27.26. While South Australia found space for plenty of new recruits there was no room for Nathan Adcock, last year’s captain, in the second round of offers.Squad Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas, Daniel Christian, Mark Cleary, Tom Cooper, Mark Cosgrove, Dan Cullen, Callum Ferguson, Peter George, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger, Graham Manou, Aaron O’Brien, Tom Plant, Gary Putland, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait (Cricket Australia contract), Allan Wise, Younis Khan.Rookies Jake Brown, Andy Delmont, Jason Donnelly, Jake Haberfield, Chadd Sayers, James Smith.

Celtic may be closing in on a fresh campaign with a new manager at the helm but issues still plague the Hoops like a particularly nasty rash.

There was a sense of optimism when Ange Postecoglou was handed the keys to Parkhead but the same old issues still lie beneath the surface.

What’s the word?

Celtic play their opening Champions League qualifying match next week and they will do so with a lack of senior first-team players.

They may also face Midtjylland without the services of Kristoffer Ajer if he finally gets his wish of leaving.

Ajer was nothing but professional last season but he is reportedly finding life difficult at the moment after the Bhoys rejected bids from both Norwich and Bayer Leverkusen for his services.

It’s thought that Celtic are holding out for £20m but the centre-back hasn’t been left happy with the recent turn of events.

Taking to Twitter, the Cynic Wolf commented: “Understand from sources close to Kristoffer Ajer that he is absolutely furious with the way Celtic management has dealt with his situation the last two months.

“He feels there’s been broken promises, constantly moving goalposts and a lack of professionalism from club.”

Disaster on the cards

Peter Lawwell is no longer on the Celtic board but his mistakes of years gone by are still wreaking havoc with the club.

Clearly, he and his colleagues gave the Norwegian some assurances last term that with a year left on his current contract, he’d be given the freedom to leave this summer.

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Although they’re willing to let him go if their valuation is met, it’s a steep one for a Scottish based player with 12 months remaining on his deal.

This is the last thing that Postecoglou wanted to face when he was handed the job.

The Australian knew there’d be a rebuilding job to undertake but if anybody was going to kick up a fuss, it would be Odsonne Edouard.

After downing tools towards the end of 2020/21, the striker nearly joined Leicester until they turned their attentions elsewhere. Since then, the Frenchman’s camp has been rather quiet.

As for Ajer, there’s plenty of noise which is rather unhelpful as Celtic attempt to reclaim their dominance of Scottish football.

Supporters are never keen on seeing their best players leave the club but they should be particularly seething with this situation.

Once again, they’re staring at a situation at Paradise where the hierarchy have handled things incredibly poorly.

Those on the board have made countless mistakes in years gone by, with their hiring and backing of Neil Lennon a pivotal moment in their recent history.

Lennon was given the job despite Celtic claiming close to £10m in compensation fees for Brendan Rodgers. They then refused to sack the Northern Irishman despite poor form as the ex-Hoops manager decided to walk instead.

Just as the future looked a little brighter for the Glaswegian side, toxicity is surrounding the club once again.

Just one week out from their European qualification campaign, it does not bode well for a result.

AND in other news, Celtic submit bid for “fantastic” 5ft11 gem with “endless energy”, fans surely buzzing…

Beau Casson says he is ready to become Australia’s latest Test debutant if the opportunity arises when the third Test against West Indies begins in Barbados next week

Cricinfo staff06-Jun-2008
Beau Casson could make his Test debut next week but he might yet face competition from Stuart MacGill in the New South Wales side © Getty Images
Beau Casson says he is ready to become Australia’s latest Test debutant if the opportunity arises when the third Test against West Indies begins in Barbados next week. Casson is the only backup slow bowler in the touring squad and the unexpected retirement of Stuart MacGill has suddenly thrust him into contention for an international call-up.Timing has been on Casson’s side. After a couple of lean state seasons, including 2006-07 when he moved from Western Australia to New South Wales and carried a shoulder injury through the summer, Casson came good in 2007-08 when a Test spin position finally became available. He said preparing against Australia’s top order during the West Indies trip had given him extra confidence.”We’ve got some of the most exceptional players of all time, not just of a certain era, and if you think if you’re going okay against them, you think you’re going to be pretty comfortable playing Test cricket,” Casson told the . “The way they go about their work, I’m learning a hell of a lot every day.”I would be kidding myself if I said I pictured it exactly like this. But it has always been a goal to play at the highest level and develop. After hurting my shoulder, that really set me back a bit and it was a bit of a long path to get it stronger and be able to bowl the overs I need to.”While Casson is thinking about a possible Test debut, there is no guarantee he will be the No. 1 spinner for New South Wales next season if MacGill continues to play state cricket. MacGill believes he still has plenty to offer the Blues but his plans were not received well by Terry Jenner, the spin coach who has worked with some of Australia’s young slow bowlers.”I hear he is going to play for New South Wales and I say why? It’s over,” Jenner told AAP. “He would be better now to move on, do some more wine shows and things like that and pass a few bottles of red around to us. The ideal thing would be for him now to make way, he’s had his moment and it didn’t quite work I think probably because his wrist never really recovered.”If MacGill does not return to the New South Wales setup it might open a door for Nathan Hauritz, who fell off the radar after playing his sole Test in India in 2004-05, to force his way back into first-class cricket. Hauritz, 26, has become a one-day specialist in state cricket but Jenner wants Australia to ensure the younger generation, including Dan Cullen and Cullen Bailey, get plenty of experience at first-class level.”These guys have got to learn to be four-day bowlers,” Jenner said. “Dot-ball bowlers aren’t four-day bowlers. It is difficult when you lose Warne who was the best ever, MacGill who is the best understudy ever and of course Brad Hogg who is the best one day spinner that was going around in world cricket. A year or so down the track … we will have people I think knocking on the door.”But none of those younger spinners are guaranteed to take over MacGill’s Cricket Australia contract for 2008-09. The chief executive James Sutherland and the operations manager Michael Brown discussed the issue on Friday and decided there was no rush to replace MacGill in the 25-man squad and instead they may wait and see if any players put their hands up with strong performances later in the year.

Everton have reportedly entered the race to sign Burnley winger Dwight McNeil as the club’s transfer business starts to gather pace.

What’s the story?

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Toffees are keen on acquiring 21-year-old’s services this summer, with the youngster set to cost potential suitors in the region of £25m.

However, the report added that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are in pole position for McNeil, so Rafael Benitez may have to move quickly in order to secure his transfer target.

Rafael Benitez would love him

McNeil has been one of Burnley’s standout performers in recent years, and last season saw the youngster produce one of his best campaigns yet, scoring two goals and laying on five assists in 36 Premier League appearances.

His magnificent displays have earned several plaudits, including from Burnley teammate Ashley Westwood, who lauded the England under-21 international and admitted that teams will be interested in signing the forward if he continues to catch the eye for the Clarets.

“He’s really mature. I think the world of him; he’s a special talent. It’s been good to see him grow up because when he first came training with us, he was really quiet,” said Westwood.

“He’s already racked up more than 50 games in the Premier League now, which at his age is phenomenal. He’s producing as well, so if he keeps doing that and we all keep doing what we’re doing then there will be teams circulating.”

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Benitez is determined to bolster his attacking options out wide over the coming months, with Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend closing in on transfers to the Goodison Park club.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the most headed goals in the Premier League last season with seven, while Townsend had the best crossing accuracy and McNeil has had the second-highest crossing accuracy over the previous two campaigns.

Therefore, Benitez is evidently planning on creating a constant supply line for Calvert-Lewin to feed off of in the opposition penalty area, and McNeil would be the ideal addition for the Spaniard’s plan to succeed.

In other news…The Athletic drops Everton claim on “unbelievable” Euro 2020 star, fans surely buzzing

After India’s innings and 239-run loss to Sri Lanka, the main agenda on their captain Anil Kumble’s mind was how they would sort out Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, who shared 19 of the 20 wickets to fall

Jamie Alter in Colombo 26-Jul-2008
Gautam Gambhir is stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene to become one of Muttiah Muralitharan’s 11 victims © AFP
While Mahela Jayawardene described Sri Lanka’s massive win at the SSC a “perfect performance”, his counterpart Anil Kumble was left to rummage through the ashes of India’s third-heaviest defeat and concede that they played miserably. First and foremost on Kumble’s agenda was how India would sort out Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, who shared 19 of the 20 wickets to fall in Sri Lanka’s biggest win on home soil.”Obviously we need to look at our strategy in handling Murali and Mendis,” Kumble said. “We have to be a little more positive. They bowled exceptionally well and we did not bowl well. Avoiding the follow-on was always going to be tough. The wicket was not really helping spin but once you bat that way in the first innings it was going to be tough. It was an exceptional bowling performance from Mendis and Murali.”Murali finished the match with 11 wickets as India were shot out for 138 in their second innings, and he was brilliantly supported by debutant Mendis, who took eight wickets. As he had said before this match, Kumble reiterated that India’s focus had not been entirely on Mendis. “We are asked more about Mendis in media conferences. Probably the focus was on him but we always knew Murali and [Chaminda] Vaas were the ones. Murali is a champion bowler.”India were thoroughly outplayed, failing to take even one session, and Kumble admitted his side have plenty to do before the Galle Test. “We need to work all three departments of the game and just not one,” he said. “We dropped a few catches, Mahela was dropped and so was [Thilan] Samaraweera. Zaheer [Khan] got a wicket off a no-ball. We had to bowl well and also ensure we held the chances that came our way.”India’s shot selection has come under fire in this Test – in particular the option to play Murali horizontally. Kumble, however, believed India had no need to press the panic button. “There is no need to look at a change in technique. No other line-up is more technically equipped,” he said in regards to India’s Fab Four. “They are players who have played for more than 15 years and have more than 100 Tests. You can’t get a more experienced line-up than this. It is important for the bowlers to also put their hands up.”It is not the first time India started an overseas series with a loss, as Kumble was gently reminded in the post-match conference, but he did not blame a lack of preparation. “Statistics don’t lie but we don’t think that way, and we’re not thinking on those lines,” he said. “We did let them off the hook. We had our chances; it is not that we take time to settle.”Any amount of planning will hold good. It is question of going out there and performing. It does not mean we were under-prepared … we were definitely prepared. Just that we didn’t get it together. Preparation is also an individual thing.”The numbers sometimes do tell lies, but they paint a bleak truth for Kumble after a match that was his worst for quite some time. Before this Test, Kumble’s bowling record in Sri Lanka read 22 wickets from six matches at 42.68, with only one five-wicket haul. After 37 wicketless overs for 121 runs, that has swelled to 48.18. Putting it mildly, the first Test of this series was humbling for India’s captain.”I take it [my lack of form], but we all tried hard,” Kumble said. “Nobody goes there not to give 100%. It was not that I was hiding my best. Possibly the way we folded in the two innings was not right.”Harbhajan Singh’s lack of bite was also a major concern ahead of the second Test but Kumble said it was too early to pontificate on bowling changes for Galle. “On coming back after a loss, we have done it in the past and it is the same team that has brought some wonderful results. I am confident we will come back.”

West Ham United face losing out on one of their mooted summer transfer targets…

What’s the word?

Back in May, Football League World revealed that the Irons were among several Premier League clubs stepping up interest in Bournemouth star Arnaut Danjuma, but now it appears that they are lagging behind in the race to secure him.

According to The Sun, La Liga outfit Villarreal are the front-runners to sign the 24-year-old, despite interest from the English top flight.

It’s thought that Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarines had a £13m bid rejected earlier in the month, with the Cherries remaining firm over their £35m asking price, although they are open to a sale for the right amount.

Time to act

If the Hammers can get back in the battle to land Danjuma’s signature, then David Moyes could well unearth his next Jarrod Bowen.

The Dutchman excelled in the Championship as Bournemouth’s attempts to seal an instant return to the big time fell in the play-offs. As per Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old provided 17 goals and seven assists on their way to that promotion near miss.

He appears to be a player capable of the spectacular and is able to terrify defences with his rapid pace and ability to cut inside.

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This was something to which former Cherries boss Jonathan Woodgate alluded during that run-in as he told reporters, via the Bournemouth Echo: “He seems in a good place. He’s confident. He’s working really, really hard for the team now, which I think is important,.”

Woodgate later added: “Sometimes when games are 0-0 and it’s tough and it’s really tight in games, that’s when you rely on people like Arnie, Junior (Stanislas), Dominic Solanke to produce moments of magic. All three can do that.”

Indeed, Danjuma’s 1.8 dribbles per game in 2020/21 was only surpassed by the hardly-seen Arthur Masuaku (2.4) at West Ham, whilst he attempted more shots (2.1) per game than Bowen and Said Benrahma.

Moyes hit the jackpot with his bold gamble on the former Hull ace, with Bowen registering 19 goal contributions in 53 appearances for the Irons, and he could well repeat such exploits with a move for the £13.5m-rated dynamo, although it’s now on the Scotsman to urge GSB to act, with Villarreal leading the charge for the 24-year-old’s signaure.

AND in other news, Moyes must urge West Ham swoop for “full-blooded” 22-goal beast who stunned Euro 2020…