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There was an air of futility at Edgbaston as Warwickshire and Lancashire fought for bonus points amid the showers

George Dobell at Edgbaston17-Jul-2009
ScorecardRikki Clarke drives during his useful half century as Warwickshire hunted batting points•Getty Images

There was an air of futility at Edgbaston as Warwickshire and Lancashire fought for bonus points amid the showers.But it is not just the weather rendering this game meaningless. It is also changes mooted by the ECB that could make this whole season something of a farce.For there may well be no promotion or relegation this year. If changes currently being discussed are agreed – and it’s simply too close to call at present – it will make little difference if these teams finish sixth or ninth.Indeed it appears everything is under consideration: a return to three-day cricket; the introduction of three conferences rather than two divisions; a 12, 14 or 16 match championship season; and city (rather than county) cricket. And, crazy though it sounds, it’s all to be announced in August and implemented next season.The driving force of the changes is the increase in Twenty20 cricket. Most pertinently, the scheduling of the Champions League, next September, has convinced the ECB that they need to shorten the season.At quite a cost, however. The ECB have suggested a raft of different proposals aimed at ‘easing scheduling.’ Even they admit, however, that the ‘integrity’ of the championship may be compromised.Against this backdrop, Lancashire and Warwickshire traded blows at a soggy Edgbaston. Though only 35 overs were possible, the hosts garnered another two batting bonus points, while the visitors claimed one more bowling point.The most impressive performances came from two former England men with contrasting claims for a recall. For while Sajid Mahmood is considered to be very much on the England radar, Rikki Clarke has fallen out of contention after a couple of poor seasons.Mahmood has certainly performed well here. He has bowled with pace and control and fully deserved the wicket of Jonathan Trott with an excellent slower-ball yorker.Clarke also impressed, however. Playing admirably straight, he timed the ball well and provided a gentle reminder that he could be the natural successor to Andrew Flintoff in the England Test side if only consistency can be added to the talent. The manner of his dismissal, cutting directly to point, suggested he had some way to go.Chris Woakes also batted well. One pulled six bore the hallmark of real class, while he also did well to deny the admirable Oliver Newby. The others struggled. Tim Ambrose clipped to mid-wicket, before Ant Botha’s indecision over his pull shot resulted in a skied catch to thekeeper. Warwickshire require another 30 runs to take full batting bonus points for the sixth time in seven games.Meanwhile the club stated that they hoped their new overseas player, Indian fast bowler Sreesanth, would be with them in between 10 days to two weeks.

Lahiru Thirimanne’s half-century helped Sri Lanka A extend their lead past 300 on the third day in Dambulla after the bowlers restricted Pakistan A to 315 in their first innings

Cricinfo staff09-Aug-2009
Scorecard
Lahiru Thirimanne’s half-century helped Sri Lanka A extend their lead past 300 on the third day in Dambulla after the bowlers restricted Pakistan A to 315 in their first innings.Pakistan A began the day 156 runs behind Sri Lanka A with top scorer Umar Amin at 128. However he lost his partner Wahab Riaz ten overs into the day when Suraj Randiv took his fourth wicket of the innings by trapping Riaz leg before for 4. Amin fell for 153 and Pakistan bowled out for 315. Their last four wickets fell for 56 runs.With a cushioning lead of 102, Sri Lanka A openers began confidently and added 85 together befor Azhar Ali trapped Malinda Warnapura leg before for 48. But the lead was past 200 when Mohammad Talha struck in quick succession to remove Jehan Mubarak and Chamara Silva. Thirimanne’s was the last wicket to fall in the day when he edged a catch to the keeper off Fahad Masood for 62.Sri Lanka A will look to declare early on the final day and give their bowlers a chance to bowl out Pakistan A and take a lead in the two-match series.

رد لاعب فريق أتلتيكو مدريد ألفارو موراتا على التقارير الصحفية التي ربطته بإمكانية انتقاله إلى صفوف فريق مانشستر يونايتد في صفقة تبادلية.

ويسعى مانشستر يونايتد إلى التعاقد مع مهاجم جديد في فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية، في ظل التكهنات المنتشرة حول مستقبل كريستيانو رونالدو.

وظهرت تقارير تفيد رغبة الشياطين الحمر في إبرام صفقة تبادلية مع أتلتيكو مدريد، تشهد انضمام رونالدو إلى الفريق الإسباني، مقابل انتقال موراتا إلى الأولد ترافورد.

ولكن موراتا نفى الأمر، حيث قال في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ذا صن” الإنجليزية: “أريد حقًا اللعب هنا والعمل واللعب في العديد من المسابقات، أنا متحمس لوجودي هنا، كما هو الحال دائمًا، لا يمكنني سوى العمل والقتال من أجل الفريق في كل مباراة”.

وأضاف: “التكهنات حول مستقبلي؟ هذا ما يُكتب في الصحافة، أردت فقط العمل والعمل فقط”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيلد توضح حقيقة رغبة بوروسيا دورتموند في ضم رونالدو

وواصل: “أتلتيكو أحد أفضل الأندية في العالم، إذا كان هناك سوق لا يمكنني فعل أي شيء، فقط أعمل، أنا سعيد هنا وأريد مواصلة العمل”.

أمضى موراتا عامين على سبيل الإعارة في يوفنتوس، لكنه عاد الآن إلى أتلتيكو، حيث سجل 22 هدفًا في 61 مباراة خلال فترته الأولى.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has big ambitions for his team at the ICC World Twenty20 and will be disappointed if the side don’t make it through to the Super Eight stage of the tournament

Cricinfo staff25-May-2009Ireland coach Phil Simmons has big ambitions for his team at the ICC World Twenty20 and will be disappointed if his side doesn’t make it through to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.Simmons wants the squad to repeat their success from the 2007 World Cup in West Indies when they reached the last eight after beating Pakistan in the qualifying section. Ireland also beat Bangladesh later in the tournament.The Ireland squad are preparing to leave for a training camp and their warm-up games ahead of their first match at the ICC World Twenty20 against Bangladesh, at Trent Bridge, on June 8. The players will travel in good spirits after demolishing Worcestershire for 58 in the Friends Provident Trophy last week.”The win against Worcestershire was exactly what we needed in our last competitive game before the Twenty20,” Simmons said. “It was also achieved without our top county players which says a lot for the depth of the squad. We will, of course, have everyone available and I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t make our mark.”Obviously our best chance lies in the game against Bangladesh but the beauty of Twenty20 cricket is its unpredictability. We will be going into the warm up games and the tournament in a confident mood.”Kyle McCallan, the vice-captain and one of the most experienced players, was also confident that Ireland will be there to more than just make up the numbers. “We’re relishing the opportunity to showcase Irish cricket on the world stage again,” he said. “The 2007 World Cup in the West Indies was a fabulous experience for all concerned, and I’m sure it’ll be the same again in England.”It’ll be a wonderful experience playing in front of sell out crowds, and I’m sure there will be plenty of Irish supporters adding to what I’m sure will be an incredible atmosphere.”I know just how much all the guys are looking forward to it, and if we play to our capabilities, we have a genuine chance of progression. We’re well prepared and have already played a lot of cricket this year. The conditions in England will be more familiar to our players than our opposition, so that’s obviously a big advantage to us.”Ireland will take on New Zealand in a Twenty20 game at Derby on May 27 before moving on to a training camp at Wormsley , where they will face a PCA Masters XI and West Indies in practice games. They will then face Netherlands and West Indies again in warm-up games at Lord’s and The Oval.Ireland will be at full strength apart from the loss of Eoin Morgan who has been selected in England’s World Twenty20 squad.

Former Sri Lanka legspinner Somachandra de Silva has emerged as a strong contender for the chairman’s post on the interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC)

Sa'adi Thawfeeq11-Mar-2009The SLC interim committeeSomachandra De Silva (chairman), Nishantha Ranatunga (secretary), Sujeewa Rajapakse (treasurer), Lalith Wickremasinghe (member), Pramodya Wickramasinghe (member), Ranil Abeynayake (member) A Gunaratne Weerasinghe (member).Former Sri Lanka legspinner Somachandra De Silva was appointed chairman of the new seven-member interim committee to run Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by sports minister Gamini Lokuge on Thursday. De Silva, 66, who held the post of schools cricket development officer at SLC was also the cricket advisor to the country’s president, Mahindra Rajapakse.De Silva, who played 12 Tests and 41 ODIs and coached the junior national team, succeeds former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga at the position, after Ranatunga was sacked by Lokuge in December last year. The interim committee was also dissolved, marking the end of a controversial 11-month tenure for Ranatunga in the hot seat.Ranatunga was replaced by Lokuge’s private secretary, S Liyanagama, who was appointed as the competent authority to administer Sri Lanka Cricket until a suitable person was found.However, Nishantha Ranatunga, Arjuna’s brother, has been appointed as the secretary of the committee. Former fast bowler and present chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricketer’s Association Pramodya Wickramasinghe, cricketer-turned-commentator Ranil Abeynayake, along with Lalith Wickremasinghe and A Gunaratne Weerasinghe will be the panel members.Treasurer Sujeewa Rajapakse is the only person to retain his post from the committee which was previously dissolved.

Andy Bichel, a bowler with the toughness of a farmer’s tractor, has finally given into his 38-year-old body and retired

Peter English09-Feb-2009
Andy Bichel left nothing on the field with his committed performances for Queensland and Australia © Getty Images
Andy Bichel, a bowler with the toughness of a farmer’s tractor, has finally given into his 38-year-old body and retired from Queensland 17 seasons after turning up from the country town of Laidley. Bichel had shoulder surgery last summer and had hoped to return, but he was unable to regain fitness and stepped down as the state’s second-most prolific Sheffield Shield bowler.His 430 wickets in 89 games left him 11 behind his great friend Michael Kasprowicz. Despite his consistent excellence at domestic level, Bichel’s international opportunities were limited and he earned 58 victims in 19 Tests – his best of 5 for 20 came against West Indies in Melbourne – and 78 in 67 ODIs. The departure continues the changing of the guard in Queensland after Kasprowicz and Jimmy Maher exited last year, and Matthew Hayden retired in Janaury.”I don’t want to let anyone down,” he said in front of the Bulls squad at Allan Border Field. “It [the shoulder] is good enough for grade cricket, but I didn’t want to get out there [for Queensland] and not do what I used to do.”A great team player, Bichel also spent long stints as 12th man – he carried the drinks a record 19 times – but never let the frustration show. He was cheerful, friendly and strong enough to bowl through the day without dropping his pace. Used mostly as a support act with Australia, he was good enough to dismiss Brian Lara five times in Tests and on three occasions in one-dayers.Bichel’s most amazing day came in a World Cup match against England in 2003, when he took 7 for 20 before scoring 34 not out to seal the victory. He was a crucial part of that trophy-winning success but was soon overlooked by the national selectors.After being cut in 2004, he followed up by claiming the Pura Cup Player of the Year award in 2005-06, with 452 runs and 50 wickets, and continued to be a huge threat until the shoulder operation. His final game for Queensland came at the Gabba in November 2007 when he could deliver only six overs before succumbing to the injury.On that ground 12 years earlier he had helped bowl the Bulls to their first Sheffield Shield victory and the boyish smile that he wore for those five days was never far away over the remainder of his career. Batsmen were not that happy when facing his sharp, skidding and swinging deliveries, especially when he was working in tandem with Kasprowicz.Bichel, who won six Sheffield Shields, scored nine first-class centuries and developed enough to end his career as a genuine allrounder. He was also a committed performer in England, playing for Worcestershire, Hampshire and Essex, and being picked for the 1997 Ashes tour. Bichel will wave goodbye at the Gabba during a lap of honour at the dinner break in Australia’s one-day match against New Zealand on Friday.

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de orientações e um período no banco, Cuca considera que Borja está em “franca evolução” no Palmeiras. Titular neste sábado, o atacante jogou os 90 minutos da vitória sobre o Grêmio e foi um dos melhores em campo, embora não tenha feito gols. O camisa 9 admite que tem tido dificuldades para adaptar-se ao Brasil, mas espera brilhar quarta-feira, contra o Barcelona (EQU), pelas oitavas de final da Libertadores.

-Agradecido com ele (Cuca), que está me dando confiança e aos poucos estou retomando. O nível do Brasil é totalmente diferente da Colômbia. Não tem sido fácil, joguei em dois times que atuavam muito por dentro, com camisas 10 e aqui jogamos mais pelos lados – explicou o centroavante, autor de sete gols em 23 partidas pelo Verdão.

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Cobrado para ter uma participação maior sem a bola, Borja quando estava em baixa foi visto por Guerra assistindo a vídeos de ídolos brasileiros, como Ronaldo e Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Aconselhado pelo venezuelano a assistir aos seus próprios vídeos no Atlético Nacional (COL) para tomar de inspiração, o centroavante diz que sabe bem do que é capaz.

-É uma brincadeira que tenho com Guerra. Todo mundo vê vídeos de Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), Ronaldo, grandes jogadores. Eu estava vendo porque gosto deste tipo de vídeos. Sei que tenho grande qualidade e que tenho que responder em campo. Espero que com a ajuda de Deus o gol importante venha agora na Libertadores – completou.

Para Cuca, o momento é de fazer Borja adaptar-se ainda mais ao Palmeiras. O técnico considera que o jogador tem sido sempre criticado por conta do valor de sua contratação – quase R$ 35 milhões, a maior da história do clube.

-Tudo em torno do Borja são os R$ 35 milhões. Se pagasse R$ 5 milhões, ninguém falava nada, mas ele apanha, coitado, todo dia. Até quando não joga. A gente tem que ter paciência. Eu deixo de lado o que ele custou. Se custou, foi porque mereceu. Ele é um jogador que vale isso, pelo que fez na Libertadores passada e nos campeonatos passados. Temos de dar uma sequência, se não direto com ele entrando (nos jogos) – finalizou.

West Ham United return to Premier League action this afternoon and they’ll be looking to keep up their 100% record with a win over Crystal Palace at the London Stadium.

David Moyes’ side currently sit top of the standings after the opening two matches, having defeated Newcastle United and Leicester City by scoring four goals apiece in both games.

They now face a team that is winless under new manager Patrick Vieira, so it will be interesting to see if the 58-year-old Scot sticks with his starting XI for a third successive time.

The Irons know they have a Europa League campaign on the horizon, so rotation could be crucial in the coming weeks. There’s also the small matter of the transfer window still going on, with deadline day fast approaching on Tuesday night.

It’s thought that the east Londoners are on the verge of signing Kurt Zouma from Chelsea, whilst according to ExWHUemployee, the club have fielded offers for fellow centre-back Issa Diop.

The £18m-rated colossus is yet to feature this season but it could be beneficial to start him against the Eagles today.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-the-latest-gossip-and-much-much-more-2” title= “Read the latest West Ham team and injury news, transfer rumours, gossip and much, much more!”]

Craig Dawson’s presence in the backline has come under some scrutiny as both of the Hammers’ wins have come at the expense of three goals conceded – he was particularly poor against the Magpies, where fans lambasted him on Twitter after the game. One supporter dubbed him an “absolute donkey,” for example.

Last season, the 24-year-old was better on the ball (82.2%) than the English veteran (79.7%) and put in more tackles (1.1) per game, too (0.5), as per WhoScored.

Diop, who was once described as a “monster” by Jose Mourinho, is in desperate need of game time and there’s a good chance he will be required to play – even with the addition of Zouma – as the season rumbles on. West Ham could be faced with a 50-plus game campaign and he’s the youngest senior centre-back in Moyes’ ranks right now.

There may even be a benefit to putting him in the shop window right before deadline day. If they do want to move him on, then a good performance this weekend could put a few of those unnamed interested teams on alert.

It could be a game-changing call from Moyes to unleash the Frenchman today – it’s surely a win-win, whatever the Irons’ stance is.

AND in other news, Moyes could find West Ham’s new Payet in swoop for “creative” £22.5m-rated speed demon…

Aston Villa will consider loaning out exciting 18-year-old Aaron Ramsey in January, according to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans. 

The lowdown

Two developments this week underlined Ramsey’s potential. First, he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August, having netted two goals in their first three matches (via avfc.co.uk).

He has now been directly involved in 18 goals (scoring 12 and setting up six) in just 24 appearances for Mark Delaney’s youth side (via Transfermarkt).

He then earned a call-up to the England under-21 squad, jumping up from the under-19s following injuries to Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott and Tottenham Hotspur’s Ryan Sessegnon.

The latest

According to Evans for The Athletic, Villa thought about loaning Ramsey out during the summer window, but with some ‘key senior players’ either injured or ill, they decided against such a move. However, the possibility is expected to be revisited during the next transfer window.

Villa are ‘carefully mapping out a pathway’ to the first team for the attacking midfielder, who has been ‘highly thought of for years’.

The verdict

Ramsey is a serious talent, and his record at under-23 level suggests that he’s more than ready to make the step-up to the men’s game.

You’d imagine that he’ll be sent to the Championship, but it’s about finding the right team, the right manager and the right style of play to ensure that it’s a productive loan spell.

Look at Elliott, whose injury led to Ramsey’s England promotion. He has now made his breakthrough at Liverpool after a move to Blackburn Rovers last season proved to be a perfect fit, making 18 goal contributions in 42 appearances at Ewood Park. His is an obvious case study for the Villa starlet to try and emulate if he is loaned out in the winter.

In other news, many Villa fans were left fuming by this news.

Writing on Twitter, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has shed a degree of light on West Ham United’s incoming new head of recruitment Rob Newman and how his arrival will affect transfer activity.

The Lowdown: West Ham set for board appointment…

Newman, who is currently still on gardening leave from Manchester City, will apparently begin his new role as West Ham’s new head of recruitment in late September – if reliable sources are to be believed (The Athletic).

The 57-year-old worked as an international scouting and recruitment manager for the Sky Blues after joining them in 2008.

He was even involved in some major first team signings for Pep Guardiola’s side, apparently playing a role in bringing Spain international Aymeric Laporte to the Etihad Stadium.

The Latest: ExWHUemployee sheds light on Newman appointment…

Taking to Twitter, reliable club insider ExWHUemployee has shed light on just how much control Newman will have over transfer activity alongside Irons boss David Moyes.

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan apparently oversaw the club’s striker search during the last window and Ex, while hinting Newman could have a similar task in January, says the incoming new board member will have the ‘majority of control’ over incomings alongside Moyes.

“Because of the head of recruitment role that Rob Newman is taking over,” explained the insider.

“He is apparently going to have the majority of control alongside Moyes.”

The Verdict: Good news for West Ham?

Bringing in an experienced figurehead to potentially assist West Ham in their hunt for future signings, which may include a forward, can only come as good news.

Overall, the Irons enjoyed a rather productive summer transfer window but left it very late to conclude the majority of their business.

Kurt Zouma, Alex Kral and Nikola Vlasic all arrived at the last gap while West Ham only completed the signing of Alphonse Areola in efficient time.

Newman could potentially provide the Hammers with more transfer market expertise with the club seemingly having one eye fixed on January already and a striker surely first up on the agenda.

In other news: ‘Really stupid’, ‘Terrible from us’…West Ham fans rage at ‘ridiculous’ club decision, find out more here.