All posts by h716a5.icu

Only Darren Lehmann would appear to stand between Somerset and a crushing Cricinfo Championship victory over Yorkshire at Headingley on the fourth and final day tomorrow

David Warner11-May-2001Only Darren Lehmann would appear to stand between Somerset and a crushing Cricinfo Championship victory over Yorkshire at Headingley on the fourth and final day tomorrow.Set to make a challenging 354 to win, Yorkshire were at one stage reduced to 30 for three as Somerset paceman Andy Caddick again showed his England class.But Lehmann refused to let Yorkshire’s precarious situation inhibit him in any way and by the close he had smashed 53 out of 96 for three in 20 overs.Captain David Byas also batted positively in the unbroken fourth wicket stand of 66 but it was Lehmann who commanded centre stage with his blistering strokeplay, three times in one over crashing Steffan Jones for boundaries on his way to a half-century off just 38 balls with nine fours.Yorkshire could hardly have made a worse start as Jones pinned Simon Widdup lbw in his first over before Caddick had Michael Vaughan caught behind and Anthony McGrath snapped up in the slips from a ball that lifted off a length and found the edge of McGrath’s defensive bat.So fierce was Lehmann’s onslaught that the 50 was raised in only the eighth over but Yorkshire will need to make their highest-ever winning score if they are to deny Somerset.Resuming on 101 for one in the morning, Somerset met few problems in advancing to 327 for eight before declaring.Opener Piran Holloway top-scored with 85 and was unfortunate to be run out when captain Jamie Cox hit back a return drive to Vaughan and the ball brushed the off-spinner’s fingers before going into the stumps with Holloway stranded out of his ground.Cox contributed a responsible 80 before he was caught by Widdup at slip in Darren Gough’s best spell of the match and there was also a half-century for Michael Burns who was then caught and bowled by Vaughan on his way to career-best Championship figures of four for 47.Cox was generous in praise of compatriot Lehmann. “He is a class player. He has such a talent,” the Somerset captain said. “I am among many others just wondering why we have to play him all the time and why he is not playing at a higher level.”But Cox remained confident his side could complete a notable victory. “We are probably two or three wickets away from winning, but it would only need them to get a big partnership going to put the game back in the balance,” he reasoned.”They have to make the highest score of the match to win it and if they aregood enough to do that we have either played very badly or they have played verywell.”We have kept ourselves in control of the match. We have performed prettywell since ball one. We have bowled very well, and both our batting innings have been very consistent. We just about have our noses in front.”

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes his old side have done a number on Southampton after signing Matt Targett.

Villa brought in the £15.3m-rated 25-year-old from St. Mary’s last summer and he has not disappointed.

In fact, his form has been so good, Villa recently decided to hand him a contract extension despite him only joining the club last season.

As for Southampton, Ryan Bertrand has nailed down that left-back spot under Ralph Hasenhuttl. However, with the England international 31 years of age and heading towards the exit door as his contract runs down, Hendrie thinks the south coast club might have missed a trick with Targett.

On the two English defenders, the former Villa player told TT in an exclusive interview:

“I do feel like they [Villa] have got one over on them [Southampton]. Ryan Bertrand, you know, he’s been a fabulous player and losing him when you haven’t got that strength in depth…

“So, yeah, I feel that Villa have got one over on Southampton by bringing Matt Targett to the football club and he’s relished, he’s blossomed into a good left-back.”

Going forward, Targett will be aiming to break into Gareth Southgate’s England squad, though that could be difficult due to the presence of Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell and Manchester United’s Luke Shaw.

For almost a year, since they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in an away Test series, it’s been nothing but an unending series of defeats that have come Pakistan’s way

Agha Akbar21-May-2001For almost a year, since they beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in an away Test series, it’s been nothing but an unending series of defeats that have come Pakistan’s way. The latest in this series was their second successive setback by an innings margin, after the recent debacle at Hamilton in New Zealand.And as a result Pakistan, at the top of the Test ratings in 1997, has been relegated to almost the bottom of the table, only ahead of the flyweights Zimbabwe and babes Bangladesh.True, the Pakistan cricket team is notorious for its unpredictability – winning against all odds and slumping to defeat when it was considered a favourite to walk away with honours. No longer so. Now it is quite predictable – it would lose, regardless of venue or opposition. Against England at home, it would post 400-plus in the first innings at Karachi and then contrive to somehow lose the Test. It would beat New Zealand in the first Test – with all its main batsmen scoring centuries and in the one that follows, only to stumble for a little over 100 runs in both outings, to lose by an innings and 200 runs. They’d overcome Sri Lanka, not once but twice in the league at Sharjah, and when it matters most, in the final, quite inexplicably capitulate.It seems that the Pakistani cricketers, universally hailed as a most talented lot, have totally forgotten how to win!And at Lord’s, the tour selection committee for its part had dealt Pakistan a mortal blow by excluding Saqlain Mushtaq from the playing XI. And they cannot even offer the excuse of reading the wicket wrong, for Saqlain is a match-winner on any surface. On a wicket, which was totally shorn of grass, leaving him out was nothing short of criminal.Then having won the toss and putting England in, the Pakistani bowlers consistently bowled an atrocious short length. All of them but Azhar Mahmood, and he was the most successful with 4 for 50 in the only England innings. That length did not allow any deviation of the ball, and the England batsmen capitalised on it. It seemed as if Wasim and Waqar had forgotten the fundamentals of pace and swing bowling, and looked total novices. It was uninspiring stuff from these two champion bowlers who between them have an unprecedented 1,500 international wickets.The fielding was its own sorry tale, but the worst was yet to come: The Batting. The Pakistani batsmen, it seemed, had assumed the duty of providing catching practice to the England fielders behind the stumps. It can be argued that Pakistan may not have been condemned to an innings defeat had they not been victim of two rather questionable umpiring decisions by Peter Willey, which accounted for Inzamam-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, the former genuinely trying to come to grips with the situation and the latter in sparkling form. Not that these would have changed the final outcome much, the way the batsmen were playing.The fact is that the three most experienced of our batsmen, Saeed, Inzamam and Yousuf, were all guilty of gifting their wickets away. Of these three, Anwar and Youhana were the worst culprits. Youhana by now is senior enough to remove serious chinks in his technique – shuffling across and falling on the off side while essaying shots to the on side. And, by the way, does anybody remember when was the last time Anwar played a significant innings in a big match? At Lord’s, this was his third dismissal in identical fashion, if you include the `99 World Cup final – hanging his bat outside the off-stump and leaving the rest to fate. And fate is never kind to people who refuse to learn from their mistakes!Reviewing the home scene, other than a spending binge on improvement of facilities, launching of various academies (the latest buzz word across the cricketing world, following the success of the Aussies and a keenness to ape their ways) coupled with almost total `militarisation’ of Cricket Board, the Chairman Gen Tauqir Zia has precious little to show in terms of success on the field.In the last nine years, in what can be called as the post-Imran Khan era, Pakistan cricket has seen many a controversy and quite a few reverses. But none matches the current and persisting inability to win. Previously too it used to lose, but it used to bounce back quickly to redeem its prestige. At the expense of sounding repetitive, one has to mention that this no longer is the case. And when failure persists in the manner that it has in Pakistan cricket, and then it cannot be passed off with such clichés as reverses being part of the game. Because, it certainly reflects a far deeper malaise.Perhaps there is something wrong in the way the Board is being run, and nothing reflects it more than the statement of the PCB Chairman, that he was “helpless against the seniors” in the Pakistan squad. Talking to journalists in Peshawar the other day, he said: “I can write a book about the wrongdoings of each and every player… No doubt that senior players like Wasim Akram are violating the discipline and do not follow the prescribed rules but at the moment the Board has no other option”.Kowtowing to prima donnas has yielded Pakistan cricket nothing but debacles and opprobrium. And the Generals candid admission that he can do nothing about it should be taken as enough proof of his inability to lead Pakistan cricket out of this mess. No wonder, Pakistan’s success rate under him is as low as it is.Chronology of defeats under the present Board:
1999-2000: World Series Cup in Australia – Pakistan ends up second behind the hosts 1999-2000: At home against Sri Lanka – Pakistan was blanked out in one-day series 3-0 1999-2000: Pakistan loses the Test rubber 2-1 to Sri Lanka 1999-2000: In the West Indies, Pakistan loses the three-Test series 1-0 2000-01: Ends up third in a three-nation event in Sri Lanka, involving hosts and South Africa 2000: Loses a three-way one-day tournament at Singapore 2000: Loses in the semi-final against New Zealand of the ICC knock-out tournament at Nairobi 2000-01: Loses a Test series at home, its first in about four decades, against England 1-0 2000-01:Loses the one-day series in New Zealand 3-2 2000-01: The three-match Test series against the Black Caps is drawn 1-1 after Pakistan is beaten by an innings in the third Test 2000-01: Defeat in the final of the three-nation ARY Gold Cup against Sri Lanka 2001: First Test of the two-match rubber is lost at Lord’s by an innings and 9 runs – the first loss by an innings margin against England since 1978 and the second successive one by Pakistan….and successes:
1999-2000: Pakistan wins the three-nation one-day tournament in Sharjah in April 1999-2000: Pakistan wins the three-nation one-day tournament in the West Indies – their first victory in one-dayers in the Caribbean 1999-2000: Pakistan triumphs in the Asia Cup – its first continental trophy in seven attempts 2000-01: Pakistan wins the away Test series in Sri Lanka 2-0 2000-01: Pakistan beats England 2-1 in the one-day series at home

West Ham United could revisit one of their January targets in a bid to bolster David Moyes’ frontline this summer…

What’s the word?

According to ActuSport (via Arena Napoli), the Irons are willing to bring the Reims striker to the Premier League but they face competition from Serie A duo Napoli and Fiorentina.

At the turn of the year, Sky Sports reported that Dia was being targeted as a possible replacement for Sebastian Haller, who left for Ajax and is a player to whom the Hammers are yet to find a viable successor.

The 24-year-old forward is allowed to leave the Ligue 1 outfit this summer, as revealed by club president Jean-Pierre Caillot to Canal Plus. It is thought that €15m (£13m) would be enough to secure his signature.

Antonio 2.0?

A new signing in the striker department must be paramount to West Ham’s plans this summer and given that their target man experiment with Haller failed so dismally, they could do no harm in finding a like-for-like forward to play second fiddle to Michail Antonio.

In Dia, they could well be getting an exact prototype. The Senegal international is powerful, has explosive pace and can be a real nuisance for the opposition’s defence – very much like the 31-year-old is for Moyes in the Premier League.

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He has enjoyed an impressive campaign for Reims this term, scoring 16 times in 36 domestic appearances, via Transfermarkt, which is seven more than any player at the London Stadium right now.

Former Irons forward Marlon Harewood backed the club to sign him in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast back in January, claiming that he could be “another Antonio.”

He added: “That’s the sort of player that West Ham need upfront, to help him out by playing both of them or when Antonio’s not playing, he’s the same type of player that West Ham need running the frontline.”

Indeed, the 5 foot 11 dynamo is no towering presence up top and is the same height as Antonio. He has averaged 1.4 dribbles and 1.7 shots per game in Ligue 1 this campaign, via WhoScored, which isn’t too far away from the West Ham star’s 1.6 dribbles and 2.4 shots per match, especially considering he’s the one playing in the better team.

Ligue 1’s official website adds further weight to the argument, claiming that Dia is very direct and likes to play off the shoulder of the defender. Again, that’s just like Antonio.

For just £13m, Sullivan and co could land Moyes an absolute bargain and an ideal solution to their striking problems.

AND in other news, Sullivan must seal West Ham swoop for “silky” 10-goal “genius” who’s shades of Payet…

Saeed Anwar set the tone in the opening over, pulling Gough imperiously through mid-wicket for a boundary

George Dobell07-Jun-2001Saeed Anwar set the tone in the opening over, pulling Gough imperiously through mid-wicket for a boundary. Gough, frustrated, pitched short and saw Afridi’s top edge fly over the `keeper’s head for another four.Mullally started well, however, and beat the bat several times. It could also have been a run-out in the first over as Afridi just beat a direct hit on the stumps. In Mullally’s next over Afridi, clearly in no mood to be dictated to, thrashed him through the covers off the back foot and followed it with a drive on the up, both for four.But Mullally answered with a maiden and it was no surprise when the impatience brought his downfall. An enormous heave off a full-length Mullally delivery skied the ball high in the air but no further than Mark Ealham at mid on who took a comfortable catch and ended the all-rounder’s 24-ball stay.Abdur Razzaq was the new man and he never really settled. Mullaly beat him with a beauty, jagging away off the seam, in the 10th over but he responded with a pull for four off Gough who was removed from the attack after six overs for 25 runs. Ealham, whose slower pace has proved difficult to get away, replaced himAnwar, content to find the gaps with ones and twos and running well between the wickets, was cast in the role of anchorman. It was his pushed drive through mid off that brought up the 50 in the 14th over, a landmark he celebrated with a flicked four off is legs. It took a fine piece of fielding to bring about the second wicket. A delicate cut from Anwar, just backward of point, was cut off by a swooping Ben Hollioake who threw down the stumps to leave Razzaq inches short; 55-2 and the arrival of Inzamam-ul-Haq.Dominic Cork replaced Mullally (7-1-26-1) at the Pavilion End and began with a huge appeal for lbw against Inzamam. Cork has been content to trade blows with the batsmen, passing the outside edge of both Inzamam and Saeed in between being driven through the covers and pulled to square leg, and has conceded successive legside wides in stark contrast to the miserly Ealham.A flicked six into the Eric Hollies Stand from Saeed followed by a controlled edge for four through fine third man signalled a change of gear, however, and Ealham was removed from the attack after six overs for 23 runs.In the 24th over, Cork, following through and attempting to kick the ball on to the stumps, gave Inzamam a little push out of the way. This infuriated Inzamam and Stewart had to stand between the two and apply admirable levels of diplomacy. It clearly worked as batsman and bowler shook hands after the next delivery.The off spin of Vaughan came into the attack in the 25th over. He was immediately smashed for successive fours by Inzamam, the first to bring up the 100, the second a fearful long hop. The score at 25 overs is 108-2.

Kieran Maguire has reacted to the news that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley claimed between £100,001 and £250,000 in February as part of the United Kingdom government’s furlough scheme.

The Lowdown: Ashley makes use of scheme

The global pandemic has wreaked havoc across Britian over the past year or so, with many being unable to work as result. As such, the UK government introduced a furlough scheme which allowed business owners to pay their staff via their funds.

However, Ashley decided to use the scheme even though he has the money to pay his employees himself. It has now been revealed he claimed between £100,001 and £250,000 during the month of February (www.gov.uk).

The Athletic reported that Newcastle have continued to receive state funding despite no public acknowledgement of their use of the furlough scheme.

The Latest: Maguire says it is “awkward”

Speaking to Football Insider, football finance expert Maguire has said that the news is “uncomfortable” for Ashley. He said:

“There is a case for saying that if football clubs are legally permitted to use furlough, what’s all the fuss about?

“The furlough scheme’s proper title is the ‘job retention scheme’. If in the long term this helps to retain jobs in Newcastle, you can see the benefit.

“From Mike Ashley’s point of view, he’s desperate to sell Newcastle. If this is a way of getting some more money into the club, why would he not do it?

“If he’s coped with all the criticism that’s come his way historically, this will be water off a duck’s back.

“It’s an awkward one, however. It looks uncomfortable.

“The sums involved are actually quite small. If it’s £100,000-a-month for a year, it works out as around 1.5 per cent of the total wage bill.

“For the clubs that have turned it down, they have probably benefitted in terms of their relationship with the fans.

“Ashley has no relationship with the Newcastle fans that can ever be resurrected. So he’s just said: ‘Sod you lot, I’ll do what’s best for my wallet’.”

The Verdict: Are we surprised?

It is hard to be too surprised by this latest news – it has long been known that Ashley puts profit above all else (The Mag). That is one of the many reasons why so many Newcastle fans are desperate for him to sell the club and leave St James’ Park (The Guardian), and who can blame them?

It must also be made clear that Ashley was not the only owner to take advantage of the scheme – both Daniel Levy at Tottenham (ITV) and John Henry at Liverpool (france24.com) went down the same path. The difference in both of those cases, though, is that they eventually changed their minds, whereas Ashley seemingly has no intention of doing that.

In other news, Newcastle are interested in signing this Premier League forward.

PIA staged a remarkable comeback to score a narrow nine-run victory over National Bank in the second semifinal of the National One-day Cricket Championship at Gaddafi Stadium here Tuesday night

03-Apr-2002PIA staged a remarkable comeback to score a narrow nine-run victory over National Bank in the second semifinal of the National One-day Cricket Championship at Gaddafi Stadium here Tuesday night.PIA, the former champions, were heading for certain defeat when National Bank were coasting along nicely at 170 for three in the 34rd over after being set a target of 224.Imran Nazir celebrated his recall to Pakistan squad for Sharjah Cup with a cavalier knock of 95. But his dismissal started the slide from which National Bank never recovered as they lost seven wickets for 44 runs.The bankers badly felt the absence of Pakistan vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who made himself unavailable for family reasons.Man-of-the-Match Imran, who was given a life by Ghulam Ali off Fazle Akbar in the slips when he was on eight, caught by Asif Mujtaba off off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq after striking 11 boundaries during his knock of 109 deliveries.Wickets then fell at regular intervals with everyone chipping in. Wasim Akram, ace left-arm fast bowler, clean bowled Qaiser Abbas for nine and then had Shabbir Ahmed caught at the wicket by PIA skipper Moin Khan for two.Azhar Mahmood, another player making a comeback to national squad, had the distinction of claiming the final wicket when he pierced through Mohammad Sami’s defence for nine.The only worthwhile partnership in National Bank’s innings was provided by Imran Nazir and Naumanullah, who put on 73 for the third wicket.Wasim Akram captured three for 42 in nine overs as the wickets were shared evenly by pacers and spinners. Saqlain claimed two for 46, Asif Mujtaba two for 43 and Shoaib Malik one for four. All-rounders Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq took one wicket.Earlier, PIA mustered 223 for nine after Moin won the toss and decided to bat first in the day-night fixture.Although eight batsmen got into double figures but none made more than Azhar Mahmood’s 34 off 42 balls (one four). Ghulam Ali hit four fours while making 32 off 60 balls, Moin lashed 31 off 34 balls with four hits to the fence.Pinch-hitter Shoaib Malik contributed 30 off 50 deliveries with the aid of two boundaries. Saqlain struck an invaluable 24 off just 19 balls with one boundary during the unfinished last wicket stand of 16 with Fazle Akbar.Yousuf Youhana was out to a reckless stroke when he rushed out of the crease but was easily stumped by Kamran Akmal off ex-Test leg-spinner and National Bank captain Mushtaq Ahmed for 16.Mushtaq turned out be the most successful bowler in the match with excellent figures of four for 36 in 10 overs.Pakistan captain Waqar Younis conceded 41 runs in 10 overs. His only success of the match came in his third over when he had Faisal Iqbal caught for seven.National Bank, winners of the one-day departmental crown last season, had to be contend with the losing semifinalists’ purse of Rs 25,000.

With another season done for Celtic and the transfer window rapidly approaching, they could really do with a new manager.

They still have no permanent boss in the Parkhead dugout while the Bhoys are also missing a director of football.

Proceedings are never handled easily at Paradise, are they?

What’s the word?

Celtic have been searching for a new manager since the end of February but because of a number of complications, John Kennedy is still in interim charge.

A deal to bring Eddie Howe to Glasgow is edging closer to completion and those thoughts are echoed by The Sun’s Alan Nixon.

Amid interest being revealed in former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, it still looks as though Howe is the number one choice for Celtic.

Nixon took to Twitter after being asked whether the ex-Bournemouth boss would be given the reins.

He responded emphatically with two words; “Strong chance.”

Exciting news

All Celtic supporters want is something to take their mind off this arduous and troubling campaign.

At the moment, the thought of losing their grasp on the title to their biggest rivals, Rangers, is still stinging significantly.

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They weren’t just beaten to the Premiership crown but they were absolutely slaughtered, finishing 25 points behind Steven Gerrard’s men.

After being so far ahead of the pack for years, Celtic have suddenly found themselves a couple of campaign’s behind the Gers.

Their squad is ageing and could now do with a massive facelift. However, if players like Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer head for the exit door it’ll set them back even further.

That said, the arrival of a new manager, particularly one of Howe’s stature would go a long way to curing the pain. It would also demonstrate that Celtic are on the right track to be revived.

The 43-year-old’s CV is impressive for what he did at Bournemouth, but he was initially in charge during an even tougher set of circumstances than Celtic find themselves in.

He first took over the Cherries in 2008 when they were on the brink of relegation from League Two. They’d been deducted 17 points right at the start of that campaign after going into administration.

Howe not only saved them from dropping into non-league but in 2009/10, they achieved promotion to League One despite being in the middle of a transfer embargo.

It was a miraculous achievement and if he can revive a team from the doldrums like that, he can certainly rescue Celtic.

To hear that the Englishman is so close to completing his move will be music to the ears of the Green Brigade. He can’t arrive soon enough.

AND in other news, Big update emerges in Celtic’s Eddie Howe chase, Dominic McKay will be elated…

David Wagner is an ideal candidate to replace Sam Allardyce at the Hawthorns, says former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer.

The Midlands club are looking for a new manager following Allardyce’s decision to depart and have been linked with Wagner.

According to Sky Sports, the ex-Huddersfield Town boss joins the likes of Frank Lampard and Chris Wilder on West Brom’s shortlist of managers.

Wagner endured a torrid time in his last job at Schalke, receiving the sack after going on an 18-game winless run which included an 8-0 battering at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Nevertheless, given what he has managed to accomplish in England, Palmer believes the German should be in contention for the West Brom gig.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about the Baggies’ reported interest in Wagner, Palmer said:

“I like the way he managed at Huddersfield, I liked his enthusiasm, I liked his desire for the game. I think the game misses characters like David to be fair to you.

“So he will be high on the list. I mean all three names [Wagner, Lampard and Wilder] would be ideal candidates for West Brom.”

Palmer is not the only one to have been left impressed by Wagner’s work at Huddersfield.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also praised the 49-year-old for winning promotion with the Terriers and the overall job he did at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Taking East Zone to a position of some strength, Deep Dasgupta crafted a patient unbeaten century on the first day of the Duleep Trophy match against Central Zone at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Tuesday.

Staff Reporter19-Mar-2002Taking East Zone to a position of some strength, Deep Dasgupta crafted a patient unbeaten century on the first day of the Duleep Trophy match against Central Zone at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Tuesday.Winning the toss, East Zone captain Sanjay Raul opted to bat first. The first session, albeit wicketless, produced agonisingly slow play, with only 78 runs coming from 29 overs. Shiv Sunder Das and Dasgupta put on 115 runs for the first wicket in 37.3 overs before the former fell, having made 60 off 116 balls; 11 fours studded his knock.Dasgupta lost Rashmi Ranjan Parida after he had made only 5, but skipper Raul then gave him good support, and the pair added 104 runs for the third wicket. Raul made 40 off 108 balls, hitting four fours and ensuring that his side had a good foundation in this match.Raul fell with the score on 224, and East Zone received a further setback when Pravanjan Mullick retired hurt after making just 16 in as many balls. Subhomoy Das was then trapped in front by Kulamani Parida for a duck, and East Zone looked in a spot of bother.But Dasgupta continued to anchor the innings sedately, getting to his century off 219 balls and reaching 109 off 278 balls at the close of play. Dasgupta hit 13 fours in his innings, and he was accompanied at stumps by Laxmi Rattan Shukla, who was unbeaten on nine.East Zone will start the second day on 261 for four and will be looking to Dasgupta to ensure a sound first-innings total before they take the field against Central Zone.