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Ireland ought to play more often against the bigger teams because they’ve won their respect given how they’ve performed in this World Cup, coach Phil Simmons has said

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Mar-2011Ireland ought to play more often against the bigger teams because they’ve won their respect given how they’ve performed in this World Cup, coach Phil Simmons has said. Ireland failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, but beat England and challenged Bangladesh, India and West Indies in the run-up to their final game of the tournament, against Netherlands on Friday in Kolkata.”We need to play more games against big guys because they all have respect for us now,” Simmons said. “We can play against big guys. We now no longer play to compete only, but to win. I think the biggest improvement is that we come looking to win the game (against bigger sides) and planning how to win the game.”The disappointing feature of Ireland’s performance, Simmons said, was the fact that they didn’t finish off matches despite pushing some of the top teams close. Though they overcame England in a thrilling finish, they lost narrowly to Bangladesh in Mirpur and faltered in what was shaping up to be a fighting chase against West Indies. More experience of playing against the bigger teams was the key to improvement, according to Simmons.”It’s disappointing that we put ourselves in a position to win, but could not follow up. I think it shows that we need more games at this level to get us ready against big guys.”Simmons admitted his team still had a long way to go to achieve Test status, but deserved to compete more often in the limited-overs formats. “We have been asking the ICC that we need more games. We are nowhere near Tests, but we sure can play one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches.”Ireland captain William Porterfield said the team’s batsmen need to step up. “In some of the games we put ourselves into winning positions. It would have been wonderful if we had a couple of wins under our belts,” he said. “We need to improve on a couple of areas in our batting. We have lost wickets in clusters in some of the matches, something we can’t afford to do against big teams.”Porterfield’s Netherlands counterpart, Peter Borren, said the game was significant as his team is yet to register a win in the competition. “Motivation is not difficult for us because we obviously have not had a win and hope to end on a high note,” he said. “Ireland has done well in the tournament and has been competitive, but if we go out there and win tomorrow, we will be making a statement.”

Younis Khan was pleased with his half-century on day three at the Basin Reserve as Pakistan went to stumps 11 runs ahead of New Zealand, having made 376

Andrew Fernando17-Jan-2011Younis Khan was pleased with his half-century on day three at the Basin Reserve as Pakistan went to stumps 11 runs ahead of New Zealand, having made 376. Younis’ 142-run stand with Misbah-ul-Haq formed the bedrock of Pakistan’s total as the pair ground New Zealand down for the best part of two sessions, scoring at less than three-an-over and batting out sixteen maidens between them.”I had a hundred against South Africa and now I have a good innings here as well,” said Younis. “Before the World Cup you need a couple of good innings like today’s one, so I’m happy about that.”He was also relieved to end his run of poor form on the tour, having made only 40 runs in five outings, which included three Twenty20s, a tour match and the first Test in Hamilton. “I needed an innings because I couldn’t make any runs in the Twenty20s and in the first Test I only scored 20 plus,” said Younis. “Today at the crease I just wanted to stay in, face more balls and play some shots.”Younis and Misbah batted patiently as the hosts toiled in the field, the pair happy to wait for the bad balls to put away rather than attempting to break the shackles, even with Daniel Vettori at his miserly best during the middle session. The partnership was cut short by a bad umpiring decision when Younis was given out, caught at short leg, after he had failed to get a touch on a Vettori arm ball. “We were a little unlucky because we were almost at 150 runs with the partnership. It’s in the nature of the game and the umpires are also human so I think you can’t blame anyone for that decision. In future I think we need referrals in Test games, in One Dayers and in Twenty20s as well.”The ferocious winds that buffeted the Basin Reserve on the first two days had eased on day three, and Younis was grateful at not having to battle the weather as well as a disciplined New Zealand attack. “It was my first time playing in these windy conditions. But as an international cricketer you’re supposed to do well in these conditions. I’ve already played eight or nine years in international cricket, so I should be used to it. The wind today wasn’t as bad today as it was in the last couple of days, so I was lucky.”Younis claimed that Pakistan’s performance tomorrow will crucial to the outcome of the match after the teams had little to choose between them at stumps on day three. “The match is quite even at the moment and whoever plays well tomorrow will have a good chance. The pitch is slow and it’s turning as well. It’s not a pacy one, so if you play proper shots at the crease you have a good chance to score good runs at the end.”

West Ham are looking to make a move for Lyon winger Tete as David Moyes seeks to improve his squad ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

That’s according to talkSPORT, who have reported that the Hammers have joined the race for the 22-year-old.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

The Irons would be able to sign him for free as his short-term deal at the Ligue 1 club expires in the summer, after FIFA granted special permission for players to flee Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

The east Londoners may face a battle for his signature, though, as the likes of Brentford and Southampton were all linked with him before his move to Lyon.

Imagine Tete and Benrahma

Moyes and West Ham have had a stunning season so far, falling just shy of a historic Europa League final spot and hoping to hang onto seventh place in the Premier League or possibly finish higher.

With the Hammers often relying on goals from their wingers this season, with Jarrod Bowen grabbing 16 and Said Benrahma scoring nine, adding Tete to the squad would be a shrewd acquisition.

The Brazilian has scored 11 times this season for Shakhtar Donetsk and Lyon, and he could well thrive in the English top flight.

Imagine him and Benrahma pulling the strings on both flanks next season! Moyes could duly take West Ham to the next level, and the prospective signing of Tete may well be the catalyst for the level of success which has so far eluded them.

The move could also work out well from a financial point of view for the Irons, with Tete’s market value sitting at £18m. Therefore, if the move didn’t work out for whatever reason, a financial windfall could be gained, particularly if the Hammers don’t pay a transfer fee to acquire his services.

There has been plenty of praise directed his way, and his “hurricane” nickname due to his attacking style of play could please the West Ham faithful, given the club’s long-standing tradition for exciting football.

AND in other news, Forget Cresswell: £69k-p/w West Ham dud who lost 100% of his duels let Moyes down badly on Thursday night

A century from Riki Wessels and a solid opening stand between Alex Hales and Neil Edwards put Nottinghamshire in a strong position after two days

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge07-Apr-2012
ScorecardJust when it seemed Worcestershire were in position to pull off an improbable victory at Trent Bridge, a late burst of destructive bowling tipped the balance back in favour of Nottinghamshire. Worcestershire had been favourites to win before the second new ball became available but they enter the final day suddenly facing a tall order to avoid defeat. They are 134 behind, with only four wickets in hand and the new ball has had only five overs of wear.Yet, even if the final day has defeat in store for them, they can console themselves with the knowledge that the competitive spirit that enabled them to defy their status as relegation favourites last season remains intact. Chasing what seemed likely to be no more than a nominal target of 392 to win, they managed to reduced it to 157 while losing only Michael Klinger and Vikram Solanki. At that stage, with the pitch behaving as well as it had throughout the match, you would not have bet against them pulling it off.But a partnership of 174 between their captain, Daryl Mitchell, and the allrounder Moeen Ali, ended when Ali, six short of a century, was caught behind off a slightly weary drive against Andre Adams. Then what had been such a promising position unravelled rather dramatically.Nottinghamshire, by then a little ragged in the field and getting scant help from the pitch, were toiling. Once Moeen had departed, with the new ball imminent, responsibility rested on the shoulders of Mitchell to hold things together. Mitchell’s task became more onerous when Ben Phillips, the right-arm seamer who has bowled well throughout this match, needed only six deliveries with the new ball to deal Worcestershire another blow, bowling Alexei Kervezee off his padsMitchell had played superbly, anchoring the innings for more than five hours. He had been granted an unusual reprieve during the morning, allowed to continue on 9 despite being apparently given out leg before by umpire George Sharp, who then reversed the decision when Adams, the bowler, declined to appeal.He completed a fine century off 237 balls with his 12th boundary but faced only one more before Luke Fletcher bowled him. The ball was swinging for the broadly-built seamer and he struck again with his next delivery, badly misjudged by new batsman Ben Scott, who did not offer a shot.  Now the Worcestershire target suddenly looked a considerable one.In the morning, Nottinghamshire had added 48 runs to their overnight total, 25 of them coming in a typically violent assault by Adams. Riki Wessels stretched the century he had completed on Friday evening to 113 before he was leg before playing across one from Alan Richardson, whose five-wicket haul was just reward for carrying the heaviest workload among the Worcestershire bowlers, at 36, and as unselfishly as ever.Substantial though it is, Worcestershire’s target does not require them to break any records. In June 1996, at Bath, they chased down 446 to beat Somerset by one wicket with three balls to spare. Steve Rhodes, then wicketkeeper, now director of cricket, scored 92 not out. Solanki, aged 20 and in only his eighth first-class match, made 71.He looked as if he might do something similar, if not better, for a while yesterday, but having been dropped at first slip on 20 he aimed a loose drive at Adams to be caught at backward point. He was annoyed with himself, with just cause.  Another 50 or so from him and Worcestershire might still be favourites.Instead, Nottinghamshire can anticipate a winning start to the season, having already had one piece of good news in the shape of an England Performance Squad that includes neither Alex Hales, who has appeared in four Twenty20 internationals, nor James Taylor, the England Lions captain who joined them from Leicestershire during the winter.Having seen Samit Patel make his Test debut in Sri Lanka, Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, had been worried his side’s prospects might be seriously compromised should England see fit to fast-forward Hales and Taylor in their international development. To his relief, Jonathan Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes appear to be ahead in the pecking order.Edited by David Hopps

After securing the signing of Luke Plange in January, Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira is reportedly keen on another Derby County transfer swoop, this time for Rams winger Malcolm Ebiowei.

Vieira sees Ebiowei as a long-term prospect and according to reports from The Sun, has reportedly made a decisive move to land the 18-year-old who will be a free agent in the summer.

The next Zaha

Former Arsenal and Rangers academy product Malcolm Ebiowei has enjoyed a breakout year in Wayne Rooney’s Derby side, with the financial issues at the club paving the way for regular minutes.

His performances in the U18 Premier League saw him score seven goals in seven appearances and clearly attracted the attention of the English coach. Ebiowei has continued in that vein, having seized his opportunity under Rooney this season.

The 18-year-old winger has started in 53% of Derby’s Championship games this season. And whilst he has just one assist to show for his 14 appearances in England’s second division, his underlying numbers are promising.

So promising in fact, that considering his position and versatility in attack, he is reminiscent of Palace’s talisman Wilfried Zaha.

Comparing their numbers, Malcolm Ebiowei completes an average of three dribbles per game and makes around one key pass per game. Zaha, on the other hand, has completed an average of two dribbles per game and around one key pass per game during the Premier League season.

Ebiowei’s average of one shot per game is not too far off Zaha’s average of two, whilst the teenager edges Zaha’s offensive participation as he is dispossessed on an average of just once per game, whilst the Ivorian international is dispossessed around four times per 90.

In fairness to Zaha, his 11 goals and one assist in England’s top-flight demonstrate the current difference in end product, though with Ebiowei’s similar numbers for offensive participation, Vieira would be right to take a chance on a player that Rooney claimed has “enormous ability.”

In other news: Forget Gallagher: £53k-p/w Palace ace who lost 71% duels let Vieira down vs Leeds…