All posts by h716a5.icu

Brad Haddin, the Australian opener, has rubbished reports that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit were looking into Australia’s slow start in their Group A match against Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2011Brad Haddin, the Australian opener, has rubbished reports that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) were looking into Australia’s slow start in their Group A match against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad.”It’s quite a laughable story. It’s a joke,” Haddin told reporters during a net session at the SSC in Colombo. “We just got off the mark a bit slowly.”Haddin and Shane Watson, the Australian openers, scored five runs in the first two overs and only 28 in the first ten. Australia eventually went on to score 262 for 6, after which their bowlers secured a 91-run victory.The story, which was reported by , was also criticised by Australian team manager Steve Bernard, who said that “it was the silliest thing I’ve heard this week – and I’ve heard a lot of silly things since I’ve been here”.”I’ve just heard the story a moment ago and I’m not sure how to respond, except to say it would make a cat laugh. It’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard in my life that a side can be 0-5 after two overs and that that’s suspicious.”The ICC said it did not comment on any ACSU matter, including whether or not a match had been investigated. In the last few years however, with the advent of spread betting, the ACSU has been on high alert to keep an eye on unusual scoring patterns. Since the spot-fixing scandal, they have been keeping tabs by monitoring a large number of matches.

Sussex batsman Murray Goodwin has been handed a one-match ban by an England and Wales Cricket Board disciplinary hearing despite already being reprimanded through his county’s internal disciplinary process

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2011Sussex batsman Murray Goodwin has been handed a one-match ban by an England and Wales Cricket Board disciplinary hearing despite already being reprimanded through his county’s internal disciplinary process. Goodwin’s charge was in relation to his conduct in three matches between April and July, where he was alleged to have shown dissent at umpiring decisions.Goodwin, 38, pleaded guilty to a breach of the ECB’s codes on conduct and behaviour and will now miss Sussex’s Friends Life t20 clash against Kent at Canterbury. In addition, he was ordered to pay £500 towards the costs of the hearing.He had initially been warned for his behaviour during the game against Essex at Hove last month and then reprimanded for hitting the ball to the boundary in frustration after being given out lbw in the Championship clash with Warwickshire at Arundel last week. Sussex warned Goodwin about his future conduct and also issued a fine, although this was suspended for two years as recognition of his service to the county and, until this season, his unblemished personal record.”I regret my actions on both occasions and accept that there can be no circumstances where such a reaction is acceptable,” Goodwin said, after being reproached by his club. “I have apologised to the umpires concerned, and the club, and accept the ruling handed down by the club. As players, we recognise our responsibility as role models for players at all levels and of all ages.”The matter was subsequently taken up by an ECB Cricket Discipline Commission Panel comprising Mike Smith, David Smith and Alan Moss, resulting in Goodwin’s ban. Sussex have made clear their unhappiness with this development, but admitted that it sent a strong message about the need to take on-field behaviour seriously.”As a club, we are disappointed by the outcome as we felt – in our own internal disciplinary process – that Murray’s previously good personal record, his apology to all umpires concerned, and his clear feeling of contrition merited a measure of leniency,” Sussex chief executive Dave Brooks said.”However, this ruling sends out a clear message to all the Counties and professional cricketers that such behaviour will be dealt with severely, and in a manner over and above the fixed penalty system. The consistent implementation of this policy should have the desired effect of arresting a slide in on field discipline, which Sussex CCC supports.”Sussex are still in the running for a place in the quarter-finals of the Friends Life t20 competition, and Goodwin’s enforced absence comes at a time when Rana Naved, Luke Wright, Wayne Parnell, Luke Wells and Kirk Wernars are also missing through injury.

Kongonis gave the local support something to celebrate with victory over Uganda’s Nile Knights in the final of the inaugural East Africa Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2012Kongonis 280 for 7 (Patel 92, Allen 65) beat Nile Knights 196 for 9 (Arinaitwe 68*, Rehman 4-32) by 84 runs
ScorecardKongonis players celebrate their victory over Nile Knights in the East Africa Cup final•ESPNcricinfo LtdKongonis gave the local support something to celebrate with victory over Uganda’s Nile Knights in the final of the inaugural East Africa Cup. Originally scheduled for November, heavy rain had twice caused the game’s postponement.The Ugandans sides had dominated the two East Africa competitions, and the Twenty20 final the previous day had been between the two of them. Nile Knights, who defeated Rwenzori Warriors in that game, came back to the Gymkhana ground looking for a weekend double, but Kongonis, who had won the league stage of the event and boasted several internationals in the starting XI, held firm.The Knights won the toss and chose to field, a tactic which worked well a day earlier, but their spinners, who had been stingy then proved far more expensive in the longer format. Duncan Allan, whose form in the past few months has been superb, led the Kongonis charge with an 84-ball 65, adding 100 for the third wicket with Rakep Patel who went on the make 92 off 79 balls. Even though wickets regularly fell once the pair had been separated, the run-rate did not and the Kongonis total of 280 for 7 always looked enough.Kononis opened with an offspinner, Abdul Rehman, and the tactic worked as he took 4 for 32 to leave the Knights almost beaten on 78 for 5. A captain’s innings of 68 not out from Davis Arinaitwe kept the match going the full distance but it came far too late to change the outcome.

Manchester United are eyeing up a summer move for Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio.

The Lowdown: Inacio profiled

The 20-year-old Portuguese starlet is primarily a centre-back but can also line out at left-back when required.

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Under contract until 2026, Inacio has been hailed as ‘underrated’ by journalist Zach Lowy and has made 69 senior appearances for Sporting Lisbon.

The Portugal under-21 international has been a regular for his club during the current campaign and has even weighed in with five goals in all competitions.

The Latest: Man United interest in Inacio

Sport Witness relayed a transfer update from Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha regarding Inacio and Manchester United.

They claimed that the Red Devils have tracked the defender for ‘some time’ and that their interest is now ‘real’ ahead of the summer transfer window.

Inacio’s price tag is ‘simple’ – a €45m (£38m) release clause, with Newcastle United also name-checked in the report in a potential two-way battle.

The Verdict: United need him

A major shake-up is needed under Erik ten Hag this summer, and following United’s humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday evening, defensive reinforcements certainly seem to be required.

Inacio could be a shrewd prospective addition in both the short and long-term due to his versatility, age and impressive displays this season.

The centre-back is clearly comfortable on the ball, with a passing completion rate of 91.1% in the current Portuguese top-flight campaign, while he also tops Sporting’s ranks when it comes to clearances made per 90. [WhoScored]

A £38m swoop would also be in United’s price range, and you’d like to think the club could fund a deal for Inacio by offloading a few players this summer.

In other news: Man Utd want to hijack Man City’s move for ‘explosive’ star who ‘has no weakness’

Usman Khawaja has capped off a summer in which he made his Test debut by being named the State Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal night in Melbourne

Brydon Coverdale07-Feb-2011Usman Khawaja has capped off a summer in which he made his Test debut by being named the State Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal night in Melbourne. And Khawaja’s New South Wales team-mate Trent Copeland joined him in having reason to celebrate after he was voted the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, barely 12 months since he made his state debut.Khawaja might not play too many matches for the Blues next season, if he establishes himself in the Test line-up, but he was a clear winner this season with 35 votes, ahead of the Victoria allrounder Andrew McDonald on 12. Victoria’s wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and the Queensland fast bowler Chris Swan tied for third with 11 votes each.It meant a runaway victory for Khawaja, 24, who won his first baggy green last month at the SCG, when he replaced the injured captain Ricky Ponting at No. 3 for the final Ashes Test. His domestic highlight during the voting period, which began on February 14 last year, was without doubt his career-best 214 against South Australia in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield in October.Khawaja’s win ended the successful run of the South Australia captain Michael Klinger, who had won the title back-to-back over the past two years. It also meant an award double for New South Wales, with the fast bowler Copeland having picked up 44 votes to beat the Queensland batsman Chris Lynn (27) and the Victoria batsman Aaron Finch (15) for the young player prize.Copeland, 24, barely scraped in to the age-group – to be eligible for the honour, players must be aged 23 or under at the start of the voting period, at which point they must also have played no more than 10 first-class games. Copeland has been a standout performer for the Blues since debuting last January, and he raced to 50 wickets in the first innings of his eighth first-class match.He has followed a long list of stars in winning the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year title, and all 11 men who have preceded him have now played for Australia. The first winner was Brett Lee in 2000, and Shane Watson, Nathan Hauritz, Shaun Tait and Ben Hilfenhaus have all had their names etched on to the trophy.The Women’s International Player of the Year was Shelley Nitschke, who collected the award for the third consecutive year. The allrounder Nitschke, 34, has had a tremendous 12 months, having been named as the ICC Women’s Player of the Year in 2010.She scored 760 runs in 26 matches during the voting period at an average of 30.40, and also picked up 34 wickets at 17.68. Nitschke finished on 76 votes, well clear of Lisa Sthalekar on 50 and the young allrounder Ellyse Perry, who received 40 votes.

ESPNcricinfo previews the third Test between South Africa and India, at Newlands in Cape Town

The Preview by Sriram Veera01-Jan-2011Match FactsZaheer Khan’s presence is a huge lift for the Indian bowling attack, but the youngsters have to learn to operate without his guidance•Associated PressJanuary 2-6, Cape Town
Start time 10:30 (08.30 GMT, 02.00 IST)
The Big PictureThe entire series changed in a Durban minute, transferring the momentum India’s way after their humiliation in Centurion. The moment that signaled India’s ascent was the fall of Jacques Kallis, South Africa’s best batsman, in the second innings. Sreesanth’s ball reared up from short of length, darted in towards the batsman’s throat and flew to gully. A familiar sight to Indians from a previous era, but with one huge twist: it was an Indian bowler who made a classy batsman hop, fend and get out.South Africa’s batsmen were looking good in Durban. Until Ishant Sharma got his fingers to a straight drive to accidentally run Kallis out in the first innings, the Indian attack looked lacklustre. It seemed that Zaheer Khan, much like Kapil Dev in those days, would end up with four or five wickets and the rest would simply leak runs. But the Indian bowlers seized the moment and South Africa collapsed. Twice.And so the teams head into the Newlands tied at 1-1 and the series at stake. The pitch is supposedly batsman-friendly with spin expected to play a part later. The home batsmen should put up a better fight, while it will be interesting to see how their bowlers fare. Lonwabo Tsotsobe picked up a few key wickets but it seemed like it was a result of Indian batsmen trying to attack him after they saw off the tougher challenges from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. If they don’t repeat the same mistakes, the burden of wicket-taking will fall upon Steyn. Will Morkel, whose forte is bounce, be as effective in the decider as he was on friendlier surfaces earlier in the series? Can Paul Harris do more than just a holding job?Zaheer’s presence makes a big difference to India. Sreesanth and Ishant grew under his wing, and India will hope they can learn to fly on their own without Zaheer’s presence at mid-off. Gautam Gambhir is expected to return and Virender Sehwag, who threatened to really take off in the second innings in Durban, is due for a big knock. If the surface plays out as the curator thinks it would, the bowlers could be the deciding factor.Form guide(most recent first)
South Africa: LWDDW
India: WLWDD
Watch out for…If he survives Zaheer, Graeme Smith’s tussle with Sreesanth should be fascinating to watch. In Durban, a riled Smith wagged his tongue and bat at Sreesanth but it backfired spectacularly. While Smith’s dismissal may have been coincidental, there is no doubt that Sreesanth found more pace and venom after that verbal battle. Sreesanth might be a boy who refuses to grow up but he has enough skill to outdo the best in the business.
Mark Boucher doesn’t play ODIs anymore and has failed with the bat in the first two Tests. He still looks very fit and his keeping hasn’t suffered much, but can he lift his batting?This surface presents Rahul Dravid with an opportunity to improve his poor record in South Africa; he has just one hundred in 20 innings in this country. He will hope to convert his starts into a big one at Newlands.Pitch and conditionsThe curator predicts a pitch with tennis-ball bounce, which will be good for batting – particularly on days two and three – and offer spin on days four and five. When the famed table-top mountain isn’t visible to the folks down on the streets, it usually means there will be swing on offer. Rain is predicted for New Year’s day, but the sun and the mountain peak should emerge during the match days.Team newsTheir batsmen might have flopped in the second Test but this South African unit has functioned well for some time now and they are unlikely to change the combination.
South Africa: (probable) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Ashwell Prince, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Paul Harris, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Lonwabo TsotsobeGautam Gambhir’s return for M Vijay is expected to be the only change in the Indian XI.India (probable): 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Cheteshwar Pujara, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 SreesanthStats and trivia In Centurion, Sachin Tendulkar became the fifth batsman to pile-up seven or more hundreds in a calendar year. Mohammad Yousuf (nine hundreds in 2006) leads the list, while Viv Richards (1976), Aravinda de Silva (1997), and Ricky Ponting (2006), all hit seven hundreds. Gambhir and Sehwag have ten hundred-plus opening partnerships in Tests. If they get one more here, they will surpass Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan for the Indian record. The world record is held by Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes (16). Jack Hobbs and Bert Sutcliffe are second with 14. Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis have enviable records in Cape Town. For the full lowdown on Newlands’ stats, click here.Quotes”Having Zaheer Khan lifts everybody else. He brings another dimension to the attack. He is skillful, and every one bowls around him … They have caught well, fantastically well. Those three magnificent catches in the first innings swung the game.”
“There’s a lot of talk about momentum, and it’s important, but it’s just there until the next game. We are approaching this game as starting fresh again, having the confidence of the previous win.”
“Sreesanth is developing into a fantastic Test bowler. The national selectors, team trainer, the bowling coach need to take special care about this boy and keep him match-fit because for the next one year India will be playing away from home.”

Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie wrote themselves into the record books witha partnership of 523 as Hampshire’s clash with fellow relegation candidatesYorkshire at the Rose Bowl ended in a draw

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2011
Scorecard
Michael Carberry made a triple-hundred nine months after recovering from a career-threatening injury•Getty ImagesMichael Carberry and Neil McKenzie wrote themselves into the record books with a partnership of 523 as Hampshire’s clash with fellow relegation candidates Yorkshire at the Rose Bowl ended in a draw. Carberry was playing his third match since returning from a serious illness that kept him out of the game for nine months.Carberry and McKenzie came together with Hampshire on 59 for two in response toYorkshire’s first innings total of 532. The pair then thwarted the visitors for the little matter of eight hours and 135 overs with Carberry going on to make an unbeaten 300 and McKenzie scoring an equally valuable 237.Hampshire, who remain winless and at the foot of the County Championship first division table, eventually declared at 599 for 3 when Carberry reached his triple-century.That left only time for Yorkshire to score 40 without loss before both sides agreed on the draw. But it was the giant partnership of Carberry and McKenzie that will be remembered in a high-scoring contest.Carberry’s monster innings came off 427 balls and included 43 fours and two sixes. South African McKenzie, who also made the best score of his career, faced 412 balls, hitting 25 fours and two sixes.Yorkshire’s nine-man attack had no answer to Carberry and McKenzie whose partnership was the highest for the third wicket in the history of the County Championship. It beat the previous best in 1997 by Worcestershire’s Graeme Hick and Tom Moody, ironically against Hampshire.The stand was the third highest in the history of the Championship and the ninth highest in all first-class cricket. At one stage, it looked as if they would threaten the all-time best partnership of 555 between Yorkshire’s Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe against Essex at Leyton.Carberry, who been sidelined by illness for long periods since making his only England Test appearance in Bangladesh last year, said: “This was only my third match back in the team and I cannot believe it has gone so well. The pitch was perfect to bat on and Neil and I kept each other going.”It has been well documented that I had blood clots on the lung and it has taken nine months out of my life. I am lucky just to be playing again so to get 300 exceeded all my expectations.”The partnership came to an end at 523 in the 151st over when McKenzie lifted a gentle catch to mid-on where Gary Ballance held on to give left-arm spinner David Wainwright a wicket his perseverance had warranted.Among the other records to go was Hampshire’s highest stand for any wicket, overtaking the 411 put together by Robert Poore and Teddy Wynyard against Somerset at Taunton way back in 1899.Carberry’s previous best was 205 against Warwickshire two years ago and the only chance offered during the mammoth partnership came from McKenzie soon after surpassing his previous best of 225, a return catch which Wainwright failed to hold.

A big update has emerged on Sunderland and their plans for the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Craig Hope has revealed in an article for the Daily Mail that the club are attempting to snap up the brother of Borussia Dortmund talent Jude Bellingham.

The reporter tweeted: “Exclusive: Sunderland invited Jobe Bellingham & his family to Stadium of Light to watch recent home game as they explore ambitious move to sign Birmingham City teenager, younger brother of England star Jude.”

In the corresponding article, it is claimed that Kristian Speakman has a close relationship with the brothers’ parents and is said to have played a key role in Jude’s development as Birmingham’s academy manager before joining the Black Cats.

Sunderland will be hoping that his prior experience with the family will give them a boost in their pursuit of the 16-year-old gem.

Alex Neil will be delighted

Black Cats head coach Alex Neil will surely be delighted with this update, as it shows that the club are prepared to invest in the future.

It proves that Speakman is keen to develop the academy, and the potential for players to break through into the first-team, by improving the standards within the youth sides.

Sunderland are in the League One play-off final later this month, and a win would surely strengthen their chances of signing the youngster. They would be competing in the same division as Birmingham, which means that they could both offer him Championship football.

Bellingham has played in two Championship matches for Birmingham this season, coming off the bench against Preston and Blackburn. This illustrates the immense potential that he holds, as he has shown enough in training to prove that he is ready to compete at first-team level despite being in his GSCE year.

His 18-year-old brother Jude is valued at £67.5m by Transfermarkt and has been capped 12 times by England. If Jobe can follow in his sibling’s footsteps, then Sunderland could be about to land a masterstroke in the market…

Neil would love to have another talented prospect to work with in the years to come. Bellingham may not make an immediate impact on the senior squad, but he could be a player who develops over time and then breaks into the Scot’s XI in two or three seasons.

Therefore, the head coach will be buzzing with Speakman’s attempts to snap up the midfielder from Birmingham and will be hoping that a deal can be agreed ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, irrespective of the league in which his team will be competing.

AND in other news, Forget Roberts: Sunderland “warrior” with the “heart of a lion” was the real play-off hero…

Leeds United are expecting to receive major offers for star man Kalvin Phillips this summer, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Return to training

The 26-year-old has missed the last six Premier League games with a hamstring injury but has now returned to training alongside Liam Cooper.

Leeds shared images of the pair all smiles at Thorp Arch in the week, with Phillips the subject of late interest in the January transfer window.

West Ham had a £50m bid turned down by Elland Road officials for Phillips late in the winter window, but Leeds are already bracing themselves for even bigger offers.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Saturday where pundit Alan Hutton was giving his thoughts on Phillips’ future.

The outlet added that they were informed by a Leeds source the club are expecting major bids for the midfielder in the summer which are likely to exceed West Ham’s rejected bid.

The Verdict: A worry

Phillips revealed before the January market opened that he wants a new deal at Elland Road, however, as we know, that is yet to materialise.

His current contract is thought to be worth around £25,000-a-week and he hasn’t been handed improved terms since the club’s promotion to the Premier League. That could be a worry for the Whites, especially with interest now mounting in England’s Player of the Year.

Leeds fans will be hoping that Phillips remains in Yorkshire, however, the longer it goes on without a new deal, along with the recent update regarding big summer bids, means there may well be growing concern at Elland Road going into the 2022/23 campaign.

In other news: Leeds beast who Harvey Elliott recently praised may now leave permanently in summer – journalist. 

Rangers were dealt a big blow earlier this month when the news dropped that striker Alfredo Morelos will miss the rest of the season through injury.

In the Colombian’s absence, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has had to rely on Kemar Roofe to fill in and lead the line for his side.

Even though the Gers have some important games left to play before the season draws to an end and the summer transfer window opens, it seems as though the club are in the mix to sign one player that could potentially bring an end to Roofe’s time at Ibrox.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from Football League World, Rangers are interested in signing Stoke City striker Jacob Brown.

Since joining the Championship club back in September 2020 from Barnsley, the Scotsman has gone on to make 95 appearances for the Potters across all competitions.

Bad news for Roofe

This season has seen the 24-year-old Brown really make a name for himself as a dangerous goalscorer.

In 42 league appearances, the striker has found the back of the net 12 times and provided four assists along the way.

Labelled as a “versatile” player by Michael O’Neill and as a “bright talent” by journalist Alan Biggs, Brown has racked up more shots at goal (80) than any other Stoke player.

Also, no other forward has been able to match the same number of tackles (24) or interceptions (16) that Brown has, showing how he can defend from the front.

This shows just how much of an all-around useful player he is on the pitch for his side, who would surely be gutted to see him leave.

Even though Roofe has only played half the number of SPFL games that the £2.7m-rated Stoke striker has this season in the Championship, it seems rather difficult to get him to do much defensive work.

With 21 league games played, the Jamaican has only made two tackles and four interceptions for the Gers.

Taking this into account and the age difference between Brown and the 29-year-old Rangers figure, Stoke’s sharp-shooter could be an ideal long-term upgrade on Roofe at Ibrox.

Moving forward, if the opportunity to sign the 24-year-old arises during the summer, Van Bronckhorst’s side should be doing everything they can to bring the centre-forward to his home country and give him the chance to win titles with the Gers.

In other news: GvB can unearth Rangers’ next Aribo in rarely-seen 18 y/o who’s “unlike anyone else”