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West Brom have seen numerous players coming to the club on a temporary basis to spend some time at The Hawthorns and offer something to the team in the short-term.

One player who made such a move to the club but didn’t have a particularly memorable or successful time in an Albion shirt is Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The Baggies signed the midfielder, who is currently picking up £48k-per-week according to Salary Sport, on loan from Arsenal in the January 2021 transfer window until the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

During his time at the club, the 24-year-old made 15 league appearances for the Baggies but failed to score or set up a goal, ultimately earning himself an underwhelming overall performance rating of 6.48/10 from WhoScored.

Since leaving The Hawthorns at the end of last season, the midfielder started just two Premier League games for Arsenal before joining AS Roma on loan in January, having taken to Instagram to try and force his way out of the north London club.

Similarly to his stint with the Baggies, the player failed to provide any goal contributions for Mikel Arteta’s side at the start of the season or deliver a performance which made him worthy of staying at the north London club, with WhoScored giving him an overall performance rating of 6.35/10 for his eight league appearances.

Despite eventually getting his desired move away from Arsenal, things haven’t gone to plan for the Englishman in Rome as of yet, having only made six Serie A appearances and once again failing to score or set up a goal for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Having once been described as a “Rolls-Royce” of a player by former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, it seems as though Maitland-Niles has definitely not lived up to that title over the past year or so.

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Taking into account what he did at The Hawthorns, and also what he has done off the pitch since then in terms of his social media activity in trying to get a move away from Arsenal, it’s safe to say that West Brom had a lucky escape over the 24-year-old dud and were right not to look into securing him on a permanent deal.

In other news – “A good chance”: Steve Madeley drops big West Brom claim which will have supporters seething

January 4
Harbhajan Singh is charged with a Level III offence under the ICC Code of Conduct following his on-field altercation with Andrew Symonds on day three of the second Test in Sydney. Harbhajan is summoned to a hearing with match referee Mike Procter for “using language or gestures that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person’s race, religion, gender, colour, descent, or national or ethic origin”.January 5
Harbhajan’s hearing is deferred from January 5 till the conclusion of the Sydney Test.January 6
Harbhajan Singh is found guilty of making a racist comment to Andrew Symonds on the third day of the Sydney Test and handed a three-Test ban.January 7
The Indian team rallies around Harbhajan and does not leave for Canberra – as earlier scheduled – until it receives further instructions from the Indian board. Meanwhile, an appeal is filed with the ICC against the ban.James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, brushes off rumours that the tour might be called off.Mike Procter defends his decision – which raises a huge outrage in India – and says that the previous day had been one of the most difficult days of his life.January 8
The Indian board says the tour would continue “for the present”.January 9
New Zealand judge John Hansen is appointed commissioner for Harbhajan Singh’s appeal.January 10
The Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan says Andrew Symonds broke a pact when he instigated a confrontation with Harbhajan Singh during the Sydney Test.Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, insists the body will not bow to India’s demands on the Harbhajan Singh issue.January 12
BCCI president Sharad Pawar says there is no possibility India will pull out of their tour of Australia.January 14
The ICC announces that Harbhajan Singh’s appeal over his three-Test ban will be heard in Adelaide on January 29 and 30, which leaves him free to play the last two Tests against Australia.Meanwhile, India drop their charge of abuse against Brad Hogg, Australia’s chinaman bowler.January 25
A leaked copy of his report reveals Procter relied on the evidence of three Australian players – Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden – in reaching his decision.January 28
Justice John Hansen, the judge scheduled to hear Harbhajan’s appeal, suggests that new evidence in the shape of recordings from the stump microphone could be used. However, the BCCI protest that introducing new evidence at this stage was not a normal court practice.January 29
The racism charge against Harbhajan Singh is dropped and the three-Test ban lifted after an appeal hearing in Adelaide.The charge against the offspinner is reduced from Level 3.3 to Level 2.8, under which he is fined 50% of his match fees.

Scotland have received a windfall of £336,300 from , the country’s national agency for sport, to help develop the domestic game and aid funding the national team.”In the three months leading up to the World Cup we have been required to make considerable financial outlays to cover salaries for our international players,” Roddy Smith, Cricket Scotland’s chief executive told . “But the news of sportscotland’s investment to specifically assist with these costs has been a huge boost.”Scotland, like many of the Associate nations, are not full-time professionals. Though many have regular jobs, their commitment to the sport compels Cricket Scotland to cover their salary and pay their employers.The hand-out comes just two weeks after receiving $250,000 for reaching the final of the World Cricket League in Kenya, thereby gaining entry into the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship to be held in South Africa this September.

Ricky Ponting with wife Rianna before winning the major prize © Getty Images

Ricky Ponting’s summer can’t stop getting better. After moving to No.1 in the Test rankings and scoring 1544 runs in 2005 he took out the Allan Border Medal in Melbourne with a three-point win over Michael Hussey. Hussey was rewarded with the one-day prize because of Andrew Symonds’s ineligbility while Shane Warne picked up the Test Player of the Year gong.Ponting, 31, polled 83 votes from players, media and umpires to beat Hussey and win his second Border Medal while the rejuvenated fast bowler Brett Lee finished third on 77 votes. Upon accepting his award, the most prestigious in Australian cricket, Ponting also had a message that he wanted the Ashes back.Ponting got an extra dose of motivation courtesy of a tongue-in-cheek television segment from the former England bowler Phil Tufnell. In the segment Tufnell had a shot at Ponting’s side “dropping the Ashes” like South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs did the World Cup in 1999.”Warney … just because you’re a mate of Kevin Pietersen’s, it didn’t mean at that last day at The Oval you had to drop him twice,” Tufnell teased. “Do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking you might have dropped the Ashes? I have got Herschelle Gibbs’s phone number here if you want some counselling.”Ponting was not impressed. “Quite a few guys at my table were pretty fired up at that,” Ponting said as soon as he got up to the podium. “I’m not sure whose idea that was, but it certainly made us a bit hungrier to take on the English who are coming here in 290 days time, so we’re looking forward to that.”Although 2005 was dominated by the Ashes loss, Ponting’s individual form could not be questioned. He hit 1,596 Test runs with seven centuries and also scored 1,137 runs in one-day internationals, with another two hundreds.Warne won the Test prize on the strength of a superb Ashes tour last year and an outstanding past 12 months, which reaped a world-record 93 wickets. Hussey won the limited-overs award on a countback after he, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist and Lee finished tied on 22 votes.”I feel a bit for Andrew Symonds,” Hussey said in the . “I honestly think I’m in a dream, actually, and I’m wondering when it will end. I’ve just got to try and keep a level head with it all because the game does have a way of bringing you back to earth pretty quickly.”The Allan Border Medal had its first ineligible winner when Symonds, who would have claimed the one-day award with six three-vote matches, was ruled ineligible because he was suspended for a drinking binge during last year’s Ashes tour. The former Australian captains Bob Simpson and the late Monty Noble were inducted into Australian cricket’s Hall of Fame.Phil Jaques, who made his Test and one-day debuts this summer, won the State Player of the Year award after taking 75 votes, easily beating Darren Lehmann (35) and Michael Bevan (11). Dan Cullen, the South Australia offspinner, collected the promising player prize, the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, while Karen Rolton, the new Australia captain, was named the Women’s International Player of the Year for the fourth time in five seasons.

Tatenda Taibu: ‘When we play the next Test, we will play much better’ © Getty Images

Despite losing the second Test against South Africa by an innings and 62 runs, Tatenda Taibu, the Zimbabwe captain, said that he was encouraged by his team’s performance. Speaking to the media after Zimbabwe’s fourth innings defeat in their last six Tests, he said: "Our performance here was better than during the first Test at Cape Town."The batsmen now have a deeper appreciation of the need to build partnerships. Of course we did not then go on to build those partnerships but I am happy that we have started the thought-process. The bowlers learnt that on these wickets there is little room for error. You just have to hit the spot correctly. I think that young Graeme Cremer has improved tremendously." Cremer, a right-arm legspinner, took six wickets in the two Tests, and while he was hammered for 86 from nine overs in the first match, he was far more economical in the second, conceding 106 runs from 26.5 overs.Taibu also indicated that the experiences from this tour would help his team in the future. "This tour has shown us where we stand. I am sure that when we play the next Test we will play much better, because the boys know what they have to work on now." Zimbabwe’s next Test series is in September, when they will host New Zealand.Commenting on the shoulder injury he sustained while stretching to gather a ball on the second day, he said: "My shoulder is still sore. I got injured during the ICC tournament in London in September, and I have just played with it since then. Sometimes it feels sore, sometimes it’s a bit better."

The South African Test cricketers, Nantie Hayward and Lance Klusener, have signed for Middlesex for the forthcoming season.Hayward, who is one of the fastest bowlers in the world, had been on Worcestershire’s books last season, but was released from a second year of his contract because he couldn’t confirm his availability. He will be joining for the entire season.Meanwhile Klusener, who recently made a successful comeback to South Africa’s one-day team after a year-long dispute with the South African board, will be available between May and July because of international commitments and the inaugural South African Twenty20 competition, at which he is sure to excel.”We have obtained two proven world-class performers," said Middlesex’s coach, John Emburey, "and they will both be significant additions to our already talented squad.” Middlesex’s secretary, Vinny Codrington, was equally pleased at the news. “We’re thrilled. They’re a fantastic addition,” he told BBC Sport. “We’re looking to both of them to lead our young guys forward.”Klusener played for Nottinghamshire in 2002, but it is Hayward’s decision to move on from Worcestershire that will raise eyebrows, after helping them to promotion last season. “Worcestershire were frustrated that Nantie hadn’t confirmed his availability so they decided to pursue other options,” said his agent David Ligertwood. “When they heard he was available, Middlesex were very excited and jumped at the opportunity.”Middlesex’s overseas players last season were the Australian seamer Ashley Noffke, and Anil Kumble. But Noffke was ruled out with a back problem, while Kumble failed to gain clearance from the Indian cricket board.

Hemang Badani struck a well-paced run-a-ball century to propel South Zone to a 10-run win over East Zone in their Deodhar Trophy tie at Visakhapatnam’s Indira Priyadarshini Stadium on Thursday.Winning the toss, South Zone skipper Venkatesh Prasad opted to bat first. Ambati Rayudu provided some firepower at the top of the order with a 34-ball 30 that included four fours and one six. Arjun Yadav at number three made 44 off 65 balls, and it his partnership with Badani that laid the foundation for a fighting total.When Yadav were dismissed, South were 167 for three after 32.1 overs, so the final score of 261 all out in 49.3 overs may have come as something of a let-down. But Rohan Gavaskar’s left-arm spin in an incisive spell of 6.3-0-35-5 broke the back of the lower middle-order, spurring the late collapse.East Zone looked to be cruising when Shiv Sunder Das and MS Dhoni were batting well, adding 62 runs for the third wicket. But Das fell (63, 71b, 6×4) and although Dhoni made 71 (87b, 7×4, 2×6), the later batsmen could not capitalise on the start. To make matters worse, as many as four run-outs littered the East Zone innings, which finally ended on 251 in 49.1 overs.

Matt Finnigan of Ladbrokes previews the Natwest Triangular One-Day International between England & Australia.England almost landed the gamble on Tuesday; they were backed into 5/6 from an opening quote of 6/5. Talking of huge gambles, Australia have been the subject of a number of large bets this week to retain the Ashes. This has resulted in the tourists’ price being shortened even further with Ladbrokes to 1/3 from 4/9 for the Test series.Tuesday’s defeat highlighted the standard that needs to be achieved to reach the top of the one-day game. England were in a similar situation to Australia on Sunday – however, they didn’t have the strength to see the innings through to a victory. This series has been enthralling so far for the one-day cricket enthusiast, but if you enjoy a flutter like myself these tight games take on a different perspective.England may find it hard to break their losing habit against Australia on Thursday; however, there is no value at 1/3 in backing the world champions.As highlighted in my series preview, Marcus Trescothick may take some stopping when he gets going, and that is proving to be the case. His magnificent century on Tuesday has been one highlights of the summer so far, and the Somerset batsman is worth siding with to be England top batsman again. Mark Waugh is also threatening a big score after two consistent innings in the first two matches.My advice is back Marcus Trescothick at 3/1 to be England top batsman & Mark Waugh at 4/1 to be Australian top batsmanNote: Odds are subject to change – please check site for latest updatesSpotlight on other major events this week: The US OpenThursday sees the start of the 101st US Open, and the question on everybody’s lips is: can anyone tame the Tiger?The even money with Ladbrokes represents the shortest price Tiger has ever been for a major. However, this is a Major and that attracts the world’s top players. You also have exceptional value on some of the games biggest stars, and may be worth opposing Woods this week.In recent years Tom Lehman has been one of the most consistent players in the US Open, although failing to convert when leading in the last round on a couple of occasions. Southern Hills was the scene of his biggest victory on the PGA tour, and at 40/1 may be worth an each way bet.My advice is to back Tom Lehman each way at 33/1 to win the 101st US Open.

Over the last couple of seasons, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has put the work in on the training ground to start phasing out the shortcomings in his game.

Since the start of last season, he has made just three mistakes which have led to goals in the Premier League, compared to four in each of the two campaigns prior. However, he has attracted criticism from Jose Mourinho, who said last summer that the error-prone 28-year-old needs to “relax and calm down”.

While those mistakes still shouldn’t be happening at all, his steady improvement has helped him remain the number one choice for England and be linked with a transfer to Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.

Many Toffees fans may remain nervous about letting their number one choice depart for a rival Premier League club. However, after Asmir Begovic’s sensational performance against Newcastle, and the club’s recent transfer interest in Barcelona’s Norberto Neto, the idea of losing Pickford might not be such a nightmare after all.

A report in Spanish media outlet Sport suggested the Merseyside club were planning on signing the experienced 32-year-old from the La Liga giants for €14m (£11.8m), and after representing some of Europe’s finest clubs in Fiorentina, Juventus, Valencia and Barca over the last decade, it seems unlikely that he is willing to spend the last of his prime years as a backup at Camp Nou.

With Everton also in financial trouble, signing a competent ‘keeper with plenty of top-flight European experience for almost a third of the £30m price tag set on Pickford could represent excellent business.

Clubs often look for ready-made goalkeepers to come in and help transition the team during a rebuild, and with Neto’s leadership and impressive CV, he fits the profile of the ideal type of netminder that Everton should target if they do sell the former Sunderland star.

Former Serie A ‘keeper Sebastien Frey once described the Brazilian as someone with “natural explosiveness”, and he has ranked in the top 5% of keepers in La Liga for save percentage per 90 (81%), with just Real Madrid superstar Thibaut Courtois managing more (81.1%).

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Should Everton land Neto for just under £12m, they could use the other £18m from the potential sale of Pickford on reinforcements elsewhere on the pitch to help Frank Lampard mould the squad in his image.

In other news – 13 duels lost: Shocking Everton lightweight let Lampard down badly vs Newcastle

Scorecard

	Gautam Gambhir played a captain’s knock to lead Delhi to the Ranji Trophy final. © Cricinfo Ltd

Gautam Gambhir hit a furious ton to help Delhi defeat Baroda and enter the final of the Ranji Trophy Super league. His 136-run opening stand with Shikar Dhawan allowed Delhi to overcome the 271-run target without breaking a sweat.The victory came with an unexpected ease. The target could have proved tricky, especially considering they had lost the services of their regular opener Aakash Chopra – on drips in the hospital after a sudden bout of nausea and giddiness – but Gambhir and Dhawan attacked from the start to put Delhi on a cruise mode.Baroda had earlier folded up after stretching their lead from the overnight 209 to 270. Yusuf Pathan fell after reaching his ton. But with his aggressive knock he had shown the pitch held no demons and probably inspired the Delhi openers to adopt a similar path.Gambhir, in particular, pounced at every opportunity to attack. He had missed out on the first innings, trapped by a length delivery from Sumit Singh that curved in. He took care not to repeat the mistake here. The front leg was not pressed too far across and he negotiated the new ball easily. He started off with a couple of trademark crisp off drives before easing into his cuts and pulls when the bowlers erred on length.Known for his penchant to take the attack to the spinners, he never let Rajesh Pawar settle into any kind of rhythm. It was textbook batting on how to attack spin. Go down the track to play a few shots, force the bowler to alter the length before unfurling cut shots. Lofted drives crashed into the straight boundary, cuts pinged the point boundary and he threw in a couple of inside-out drives over cover in the mix.Gambhir also attacked the offspinner Yusuf with gusto. He drove him repeatedly before upping the ante with improvised strokes. Twice in succession he backed away, made his own room and cut deliveries outside leg stump to point boundary. The third ball, of the same over, also disappeared to long-on before he fell to a sharp diving take from Connor Williams at midwicket.Williams gave him a non-verbal but animated send-off and Gambhir stalled briefly before walking off to a generous reception from his team-mates. Gambhir had been involved in some heated exchanges throughout the day with the fielders, in particular Azharuddin Bilakhia and Pawar and his celebration upon reaching his hundred – he reversed the bat, pointed the handle to the dressing room, as his wont, and gave a furious wind-up of the wrist – had shown how badly he wanted to make his presence felt.Aditya Jain, with an unbeaten 39, ensured that Delhi would just suffer one more casualty before wrapping up the victory. Chopra had returned from the hospital by the end to see his team cross the line.Delhi would now take on Uttar Pradesh in the final, starting from January 16 in Mumbai.