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Darren Gough appointed Lahore Qalandars head coach ahead of Global Super League

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Darren Gough has been appointed head coach of Lahore Qalandars. His first assignment with the franchise will be the Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana, which starts on November 26.The appointment is understood to be a prelude to a more permanent role in Qalandars’ stock competition: the PSL. Aaqib Javed, who served as head coach and director of cricket operations for Qalandars for eight years, quit last month to focus on a new role at the PCB with Pakistan cricket: he is now a member of the selection committee for the Pakistan men’s national team.Qalandars won back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023 before stumbling this year, finishing bottom. Aaqib’s departure left a vacancy at the franchise, one they wish to ensure is filled well before the PSL begins in April next year. Gough, who retired in 2006 as England’s leading ODI wicket-taker (and is still No. 2 on the list behind James Anderson) is understood to be keen on the role, with the GSL seen as a useful opportunity to allow him to get his feet under the table before a permanent decision is made.”It’s an absolute honour to have been asked by the Lahore Qalandars to be the head coach for the upcoming Global Super League in Guyana,” Gough said in a statement. “I’m really excited about this opportunity because I’ve been fortunate to work with the Qalandars in Lahore on several occasions, assisting with their PDP [player development programme].”We know that Lahore Qalandars are all about giving young players opportunities they’ve never had before -developing their skills and shaping them into players who can go on to represent the Qalandars, and hopefully make Pakistan cricket proud.”Gough most recently served as managing director at his old club, Yorkshire, after being appointed in December 2021 following the racism allegations that rocked the club. He parted ways with Yorkshire in March this year. Before that, he had a stint as England’s bowling consultant in 2020. Not long after Gough joined Yorkshire in 2021, the club launched a partnership with Qalandars aiming to “nurture talent [by] reducing barriers to entry” following the racism crisis.Sameen Rana, co-owner of Qalandars, said Gough’s vision aligned “seamlessly with our commitment to player development”, referring to the appointment as an embarkation on “a new journey”.The GSL will be contested by five teams. Qalandars are joined by Hampshire Hawks from the T20 Blast, Rangpur Riders from the BPL, Victoria from Australia, as well as the hosts, Guyana Amazon Warriors. The final will take place on December 7.

Dinesh Chandimal rises to the occasion, with a 'bit of luck' on his side

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

His superb batting effort afforded him the mental stoicism to put aside a plethora of half-chances to get to his 16th Test ton

Madushka Balasuriya26-Sep-2024″The senior players need to take responsibility because they have played a lot of cricket in Galle,” Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby had said ahead of the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.Three hundred and six runs later – 240 off the bats of Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews – Kandamby might be justified in feeling his words were taken to heart. Especially considering that that’s just 22 runs shy of what the three of them managed across the first Test.Of the trio, Chandimal was the one rightfully taking home most of the end-of-day plaudits for his 116 off 208. Coming into bat on a hot and humid day in Galle – despite the mid-morning rain intermission – he was in as early as the second over following the fall of Pathum Nissanka. From there he took the attack to the opposition, striking at a shade under a run-a-ball, as Sri Lanka maintained a run rate of four an over for the first 15 overs.Related

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“I had to go in the third [second] over itself after Pathum got out, but even then my goal was to bat positively,” Chandimal said after the day’s play. “It helped that the pitch was better than the one in the first Test. That one was a bit sluggish, but this one was better in that sense.”After that period, though, as the spinners took a foothold, New Zealand managed to dry up the runs. Chandimal though recognised the change in pace of the game and adapted. Having got to 41 off just 42 deliveries, the next nine runs to his half-century took a further 37 deliveries.”In Galle, it’s a bit easier when the seamers bowl and the field is not so spread out,” he said. “So we tried to maximise that period. But once the spinners came on, they made sure that they kept bowling good lines and lengths, and that was why we had to drop down a second gear.”This rounded approach to his batting also afforded him the mental stoicism to put aside a plethora of half-chances, littered across his innings. On no fewer than three occasions he had edges evade the slip cordon, while he also had a leading edge fall narrowly short of short cover. Chandimal however relished these incidents, framing them as necessary aspects of Test batting.

“I have been batting at number five for most of my career, but I was asked to think about the team as Kamindu [Mendis] is an up-and-coming player in Test cricket, and move up to number three.”Dinesh Chandimal

“Things like that need to be there for you to score a hundred. You need to have a bit of luck go your way – you know for an edge to go into a gap or into the ground.”We try our best to play our shots, but sometimes the ball doesn’t go where we intend. At the same time, we have to give the bowlers credit too. They are good bowlers, so it is natural for things like this to happen in an innings.”This was Chandimal’s 16th Test ton – his second this year, and fifth since 2022 – but his first ever batting at No. 3. It’s not a role he had been keen on adopting in the past having played just 11 innings there, but now it’s a challenge he has accepted for both the betterment of the team – with Kamindu Mendis moving up to No. 5 and the gloves being handed to Kusal Mendis – and as something befitting his senior role in the side.”I have been batting at number five for most of my career, but I was asked to think about the team as Kamindu is an up-and-coming player in Test cricket, and move up to number three.”With my age, it’s also difficult for me to keep wickets as well – I’m 34 now – so I said yes. I took that opportunity with both hands because have to groom young players to take Sri Lanka cricket forward.”It wasn’t all good tidings for Chandimal, however, with him involved in Dimuth Karunaratne’s run-out before tea. It was Karunaratne’s call, as the ball was struck to midwicket for a quick single, but Chandimal was visibly caught on his heels and turned down the run. An irate Karunaratne was well short of his crease having been forced to turn back. And now Chandimal has revealed that he has accepted full blame for the incident.”I apologised to Dimuth as soon as I came off for tea. Prior to that [the run-out] he was down with cramps, so he told me to let’s take only the possible singles and avoid the risky ones. So that single [which led to the run-out] was a quick single and I wasn’t ready for it. But that said, it was my fault and I accept it.”

Usama Mir owns this glorious night in Manchester

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

It was a performance of ups and downs that further endears you to a cricketer

Vithushan Ehantharajah07-Aug-2023The sun shone throughout the evening in Manchester, and it’s important to put that on the record given the last few weeks here.An entire men’s Ashes was ruined by two days of rain at the end of the fourth Test, followed by a Manchester Originals home opener against London Spirit scuppered in both competitions. The blokes managed to get on for 80 balls, of which Jos Buttler thrilled for 32 of them. Ultimately, it was for nothing.Proximity to such an engaging seven weeks of England and Australia duels means the Hundred needs to thrive more than ever. Even before the parallel men’s and women’s Ashes, there was an understanding at HQ this third season had to harness the power of what was always likely to be a public-enrapturing block of international cricket. And while pockets of the country remain untouched by the harsh, bright hues of the Hundred’s colour palette, the cities exposed to this flash jamboree needed to make it count.Part of that requires attachment. And for the longest time, before the Hundred even got off the ground, you wondered how those in the stands could truly vibe with nebulous concepts. Yet as Emirates Old Trafford welcomed an eventual 11,692 for the men’s portion of this doubleheader, the parochialism from the stands hit you like grapes on Ricky Ponting.The cheers for Buttler’s boundaries were loud. The palpable disdain when replays of the direct hit run out from Moeen Ali showed Buttler might have grounded his bat over the line even louder. They chuntered when Phoenix opener Ben Duckett inadvertently got in the way of a shy at the stumps after popping one into the leg side during the third set of the chase. Moeen, cheered to the rafters here three weeks ago when gliding to a half-century in whites for his country, was jeered off after being trapped by a vicious yorker from local boy Richard Gleeson. They even booed Kane Richardson simply for being Australian.Related

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Usama Mir overshadows England stars with bat and ball to lead Originals win

But it was Usama Mir, one of Originals own as of, well, a few weeks ago, that was the most evocative presence this Monday night. Most of it good, some of it bad, all of it endearing. A performance of ups and downs that further endears you to a cricketer, if it is even possible to have greater admiration for one who fizzes leg spin and smokes boundaries.Uncapped in T20s for Pakistan, and with just six appearances in ODIs, Mir essentially undertook an overseas Vitality Blast gig with Worcestershire with a view to breaking into the Hundred. A route in looked tricky given only domestic players can be Wildcard picks, but 19 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 7.29 impressed Buttler enough to ratify his inclusion after Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga pulled out for the second year in succession.”We had Hasaranga down to come, and Usama Mir was playing for Worcester and doing brilliantly, so bring him in,” said Buttler at stumps, after a 49-run win had been banked thanks to the 27-year-old’s 32 off 14 and 2 for 27.It felt like Originals – and the competition more broadly – fell on their feet when Usama came out at 105 for 6 with 24 balls to go. A tournament that relies on highlight reels has another walking one, it seems.Usama Mir interacts with fans after the game•ECB/Getty ImagesThe wily Benny Howell dipped into his box of tricks and pulled out a slower, length ball he had to go fetch after it was carted over cover. Richardson was then swung over mid off before being short-arm flayed over midwicket for six two deliveries later. Even Adam Milne, who can usually get by on fear of his pace when bowling to the lower half of a batting order, was reverse-ramped twice. At times it looked like Mir had extra joints in his arms, such were the angles created and areas accessed.That feel for the game did not quite carry onto the field, at least not straight away. Will Smeed was shelled on six, after skying a pull around the corner off Josh Little, leading to Mir running back and failing to take over his shoulder. The fall to the ground, as he attempted to clasp it a second time, was comical.The second drop – Jamie Smith on 15 – was even worse, looping to him off a regulation edge after a smart cutter from Paul Walter. An error compounded by the fact Smith had carted Usama’s second and third deliveries for six. But Walter got his man with the very next delivery – caught long on. And when Mir trapped Dan Mousley lbw followed by Shadab Khan, his rival for Pakistan’s leggie allrounder spot, we knew whose day it was. Particularly given Mousley did not review his decision despite impact outside the line after the umpires had made an error in chalking off Phoenix’s review when Moeen’s unsuccessful one came back with an umpire’s call.That review was only reinstated with 25 balls to go, by which point this game was long gone with 75 runs still to get. The deficit would eventually be whittled down to 49 runs, with subdued glee from the Originals “faithful” as Phoenix were dismissed for 111. In a season primarily of rain and tight finishes, we have our second blowout.Ironically, it was one of Lancashire’s own, Liam Livingstone, who was likeliest to make this tighter than it was. It was at this corresponding fixture in the 2021 season – the first Hundred match at Emirates Old Trafford – that Livingstone was booed. This time around, the man who carried the inaugural season on his back managed just 27 off 25, before county team-mate Tom Hartley dismissed him caught-and-bowled. Those cheers carried a genuine sense of a dangerman snared, rather than a pantomime villain vanquished.Through surprise packages and familiar faces, something is brewing among the Originals. It might be that local fans are feeling this new competition. It might be that Manchester just likes its cricket. It might be that it wasn’t raining.The next fixture here is in 13 days (the derby with Northern Supercharges), immediately followed by another three days after versus Southern Brave – the last two fixtures of the group stage. By then, we will know whether Originals are in it to win. And maybe also if this local support is something real.

Seddon Park crowd bids Ross Taylor an emotional farewell

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The departing hero provided a throwback to his heyday when he hoicked Logan van Beek for six

Himanshu Agrawal04-Apr-2022Standing a step back to get deep in the crease? Yup. A slight shuffle across off stump? Done. Front leg out of the way? Correct. Back leg nearly or fully bent? Right. Bat swing like a broom? Sure. A swipe across the line for six over wide long-on? Why not? Ross Taylor did all of this in a flash when he deposited Logan van Beek over the ropes in his farewell international innings.Turning the clock back, the 38-year-old expertly swung at the ball like he did in his prime, the neat execution an outcome of free bat-swing and a fearless mindset to accumulate quick runs for his side. The shot was a throwback to the days when he swept and swiped spin and pace alike, in the arc between deep midwicket and long-on, at will.The moment the ball landed beyond the fence, there was hope something bigger was to come. The noise that the crowd produced in that spilt second – the screeching, the whistling, and the cheering – was never heard in two-and-a-half hours of play until then. In all, the New Zealand batters hit 23 fours and ten sixes on Monday, but none of them invited a remotely close reaction.Related

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Report: Young, Guptill, Henry give Taylor perfect farewell

Earlier in the day, it seemed as if Taylor would never walk out to bat. His team-mates Martin Guptill and Will Young had put on 203 for the second wicket, and they looked good to pile on more runs and misery on Netherlands. However, in the 39th over, the stand ended when Guptill gloved a catch behind and ceded the stage to Taylor. Perhaps, no New Zealand supporter had ever wanted a wicket to fall so desperately.And when Taylor finally walked out to bat, it was as if the whole of Hamilton stood still; or at least Seddon Park did. The entire crowd stood on its feet and welcomed their departing hero. Taylor’s team-mates in the dressing room gave him a standing ovation, and Guptill, the man dismissed, chose to stand across the rope just in front of the fence while banging his helmet with his glove to allow Taylor his moment, much like Henry Nicholls had done when Taylor was dismissed in his final Test against Bangladesh in January.That afternoon, Nicholls, who was the next man in, opted to wait in the dressing room to let Taylor walk back and absorb the applause of the Christchurch crowd.And as every deserving legend, Taylor was welcomed by the opposition for his final international match by a guard of honour.

The first runs Taylor scored was a slashed single past point, enough for the crowd to resume their appreciation. And once he sent van Beek over the boundary, they wanted more. Taylor obliged, only for a slower ball from van Beek tricking him into lobbing it into the keeper’s gloves.Once again, Seddon Park had come to a standstill. The Netherlands players patted him on the back one after the other as he trudged back. That tongue of his, famous for wagging when he reached triple-figures, was stuck halfway out; his mother, perched in the stands to see her boy make her and New Zealand proud for one last time, stood with tears in her eyes. No more watching Taylor bat in international cricket; no more having to see him dismissed.And just like that attempted heave over the leg side was pleasing to see one last time. It was just as fitting that Taylor took the winning catch. The stars aligned for him once again. Two months after ending his Test career with a wicket, he finished his ODI career in style. Except that, it were his fingers that twirled in his last Test; and in his final ODI, his tongue.But just before he would get to soak in the winning moment in his final ODI, there was a little teaser that had played out as the match approached its end. With Netherlands nine down and needing an improbable 117 to get from the remaining eight overs, Kyle Jamieson took Taylor’s cap off as if to give the impression that he was about to bowl. However, Tom Latham wasn’t convinced despite Seddon Park going gung-ho for the third time on the day for their man; and perhaps the last time ever.”One of my favourite cricketing highlights of my whole life was seeing you there in the middle with Kane [Williamson] in the World Test Championship final against India, and hitting the winning runs,” Martin Snedden, the NZC chairman, said before presenting Taylor with a traditional Samoan necklace and a collection of his statistics.”I never thought I’d play Netherlands,” Taylor said in his short farewell speech, not forgetting to wishing them best for the growth of cricket in their country, even when it was all about him on Monday. The camera flashed onto his emotional mother, yet again, as he spoke. Just like us, she would miss watching Taylor and his famous hoick across the line to deep midwicket.

Man City stunned! Premier League ask former champions to work with comedian who mocked 115 charges and Pep Guardiola in awkward mix-up

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Manchester City officials were reportedly left incredulous after the Premier League approached them with an unexpected request: to collaborate on content with Conor Moore, a comedian known for his satirical sketches that often target the Cityzens and their manager Pep Guardiola. The timing and subject of the proposal left many at the Etihad Stadium shocked, especially as the club remains embroiled in an unresolved legal dispute with the league over 115 alleged financial breaches.

  • City waiting for ruling on 115 charges
  • Moore is known for hilarious jabs at Guardiola
  • Premier League's offer has been turned down
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Conor Moore, an Irish impressionist, has built a following for his humorous takes on football personalities such as Roy Keane, Jurgen Klopp, and Pep Guardiola. However, his portrayals of City, particularly during the ongoing legal saga, have struck a nerve with the Manchester club.

    In one sketch, Moore dresses up to impersonate Guardiola at a fictional press conference. When asked about transfer activity, 'Pep' quips, "We have signed four barristers, eight lawyers and a judge," a clear dig at the club’s mounting legal defence costs amid the charges related to breaches of financial regulations. Another video, titled 'Pep Guardiola Goes to Court!!! Man City Charged!', casts Moore as Guardiola again, this time appearing in a courtroom scene.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Despite the nature of Moore’s previous content, the Premier League suggested that City allow Moore to do live impressions, possibly including Guardiola, in front of their players as part of a light-hearted promotional video. The plan was for the footage to be co-published by both the club and the league as shared content. Unsurprisingly, the club declined the offer, as revealed by the

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    City are no strangers to working with comedians or online personalities. They have previously partnered with Troy Hawke – a character created by comedian Milo McCabe – who appeared in a 1930s detective persona to greet players during their U.S. pre-season tour.

  • AFP

    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

    City’s ongoing legal entanglement with the Premier League stems from a comprehensive four-year investigation into their finances, which concluded with charges in February 2023. The case was passed to an independent commission for review, but no public verdict has yet been announced. The club has consistently denied all allegations and insists it has provided irrefutable evidence to prove its compliance. However, with the hearing phase complete and a ruling still pending, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Premier League giants.

Clear-minded Patidar leads MP to SMAT final with his sixes

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Having been retained by RCB for IPL 2025, the MP captain hopes to carry his confidence into his batting and leadership

Himanshu Agrawal14-Dec-2024

Rajat Patidar scored a match-winning 66* off 29 balls in the semi-final against Delhi•PTI

Madhya Pradesh (MP) have made it to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) final since 2010-11, and their captain Rajat Patidar has been key to their success this season. Ahead of the final against Mumbai on December 15, he has scored 347 runs, including four half-centuries, and batted at an impactful strike rate of 182.63.Patidar has continued from where he had left off in the IPL this year, where he was Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) third-highest run-getter with 395 runs at a strike rate of 177.13. It is his six-hitting ability which has helped him gallop at that pace. While at the IPL he smacked 33 sixes in 13 innings, Patidar has 21 sixes in the SMAT across eight innings.”I’m just trying to back my strength in the areas where I’m going to hit,” Patidar said after taking MP to victory against Delhi in the semi-final on Friday, when he cracked 66 not out off just 29 balls. “I was hitting long from last year, [and] last-to-last year. So I’m just trying to find the same pattern that I was playing [with] in IPL, and how I have to go about it.”Related

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Patidar arrived to bat at a troublesome 46 for 3 in MP’s chase of 147 against Delhi, and he got going in no time despite the situation. Facing pace bowler Himanshu Chauhan, he slashed his fifth ball for four past point, before dispatching Chauhan for six over deep square leg to take 14 runs from the over.The sixes kept flowing off Patidar’s bat – he thumped six of them in total – with heaves over midwicket and long-on, and the pull over square leg earning him the big hits.”I try to put my impact on the opposition for my team,” he said on his consistency. “I’ve never paid attention to getting the big scores. My mantra is to play one ball at a time. So I try to do that. I’ve never thought that I’ll get a big score. I focus on what I can do.”Even against Saurashtra in the quarter-final, Patidar had walked out in a tricky situation in a bigger chase, but he had his say in the game. MP’s required run rate touched 10.14 an over with seven overs to go in their pursuit of 174, and he smashed 28 off 18 balls to help wrap up the chase with four deliveries remaining.RCB’s decision to retain Patidar for INR 11 crore for IPL 2025 has been vindicated by his performances in the SMAT. He feels RCB’s decision has given him “a lot of confidence”, and he “will be happy” if the opportunity to lead his IPL team arose in the future.”I’ve learned much. I’ve enjoyed learning more tactically because I love seeing the players, and anticipate what they can do,” he said of his captaincy stint with MP. “It’s a great time [which] I spend with my coach Chandrakant Pandit about captaincy. So, yeah, I am learning a lot.”MP face Mumbai in the final at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, a team they had beaten by six wickets in the Ranji Trophy 2021-22 final at the same ground. Patidar had scored 122 in that win, and he believes that the victory from two years ago will boost his side.

The merits of South Africa playing an extra fast bowler

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

If a third fast bowler joins Philander and Rabada and provides a bit of control, South Africa can hope to challenge India a little more

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Pune09-Oct-20191:54

Agarkar: SA should trust their best bowlers

Fifty-six spinners have conceded 200 or more runs in a Test match in India. None of them have done so while bowling as few overs as Dane Piedt did in Visakhapatnam.36-4-209-1.Piedt ended the Test with a positive contribution, top-scoring with 56 in the fourth innings. But for all his ability with the bat – he has a hundred and 12 fifties in first-class cricket – he knows more than anyone else that he is a bowler first, and he will ultimately be judged on his deeds as an offspinner.

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In Visakhapatnam, even when he wasn’t necessarily bowling long-hops or half-volleys, Piedt didn’t offer either a wicket threat or any means of keeping India’s batsmen in check. There were times, particularly when Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal were toying with him in the first innings, when you wondered how South Africa may have done had they played, in Piedt’s place, someone bowling the same number of overs and conceding three-and-a-half runs an over, with or without the bonus of wickets.That hypothetical bowler would have conceded 126 runs in 36 overs. That’s 83 fewer runs across two innings. This might have meant India needing to bat for longer before declaring in either or both of their innings, or declaring with fewer runs on the board, either way giving South Africa a little more chance of ending the game with a result other than defeat.And that’s without taking into consideration the extra overs South Africa could have entrusted that hypothetical bowler with, and the subsequent reductions in the workloads of Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, their three main bowlers, and the debutant batting allrounder Senuran Muthusamy.Lee Warren/Getty ImagesBefore the second Test in Pune, the Piedt question was posed to South Africa captain Faf du Plessis at a press conference; what he made of the offspinner’s performance, and whether he was thinking of any change in the composition of his bowling attack. His reply suggested he was thinking of wickets rather than the control that the hypothetical three-and-a-half-runs-per-over bowler could bring.”We are thinking what’s going to be our most aggressive options to get 20 wickets,” du Plessis said. “We didn’t get 20 wickets the first Test and that’s something I don’t want to do again. We are planning for a pitch that will be a bit drier and that will spin.”It’s true that the Visakhapatnam pitch didn’t offer raging turn to spinners from either side, and the Pune track may well be more helpful. But on the eve of the Test there was also a fair amount of grass on the surface, and there could be some early dampness too, with the ground having soaked up plenty of rain over the last week or so.India captain Virat Kohli said the dampness, if present, would help both the seamers and the spinners, and didn’t think it would affect the composition of his attack. But South Africa could, and perhaps should, be thinking about which bowlers they pick.Perhaps they should do so regardless of how much grass remains on the surface, or how much early moisture there is, or even how much turn it looks like offering as the game wears on. South Africa’s squad contains no other spinner apart from the three they played in Visakhapatnam, but it does have two genuinely quick bowlers in Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje. Nortje is uncapped, but Ngidi has excellent numbers from his first four Tests, and would be an automatic pick outside Asia.Despite the conventional wisdom of needing two spinners in India, should South Africa play to their strengths, and simply play their best bowlers, even if that means playing only one frontline spinner?Since South Africa’s last tour of India in 2015-16, visiting fast bowlers have actually done better than visiting spinners in India. While it’s been hard toil for both kinds of bowlers, the quicks have had a better average and economy rate than the spinners overall.

Spinners have taken five five-wicket hauls in India in this period. Two of them came from Nathan Lyon, who on Australia’s 2016-17 tour enjoyed the best tour by a visiting spinner in India since the series-winning exploits of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar in 2011-12. The other three – Steve O’Keefe’s twin six-fors in Pune in 2017 and Imran Tahir’s 5 for 38 in Nagpur in 2015 – came on extreme dustbowls.Fast bowlers have taken four five-wicket hauls in India in that time, one each by Kyle Abbott (Delhi, 2015), Ben Stokes (Mohali, 2016), Josh Hazlewood (Bengaluru, 2017) and Jason Holder (Hyderabad, 2018). None of those Tests was played on a greentop.When Mohammed Shami ran through South Africa in the fourth innings in Visakhapatnam, he provided a reminder that good fast bowlers have always been able to get something out of Indian pitches. Conditions in Pune may or may not offer outright help to the quicks, but if a third fast bowler joins Philander and Rabada and provides a bit of control, South Africa can hope to challenge India’s batsmen a little more than they have done so far in this series.

Man City now lining up surprise move to sign £35,000-p/w Chelsea goalkeeper

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

da apostebet： Manchester City are now interested in a surprise move to sign a £35,000-a-week player from Chelsea, according to a new report.

Man City closing in on three new signings

da fazobetai： As they did in January, City are expected to be very busy this summer, as Pep Guardiola eyes several incomings as well as outgoings. City have already announced the signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The deal is thought to be worth around £31 million with £5 million in add-ons, after Guardiola identified him as the player to solve their left-back problems.

After Reijnders: Man City to submit bid for Mahrez 2.0 "in the next hours"

Man City’s squad overhaul looks set to continue this summer, amid Tijjani Reijnders’ expected arrival.

ByRobbie Walls Jun 4, 2025

And the Blues have also agreed a deal worth £46.3 million with AC Milan to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The Dutch international underwent his medical on Sunday, and he is now expected to sign a five-year deal before the Club World Cup.

Olympique Lyonnais' RayanCherkicelebrates scoring their first goal

The final player City are trying to get in before Tuesday’s deadline is Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki. It was claimed last week that discussions have been held over a deal, and they are now close to agreeing a deal for around £35 million. His potential arrival at the Etihad could see him become the man to replace Kevin de Bruyne, who has now departed the Blues.

Man City lining up surprise move to sign £35k-p/w Chelsea ace

While City work on deals to get players in before the start of the Club World Cup, they also have their eyes on players they would like to sign further into the summer transfer window. Now, according to The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, City are lining up a move to sign goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea.

The Blues want to bolster their goalkeeper options for next season, given that Scott Carson is now leaving the club following the end of his contract. Bettinelli has been identified as a replacement, as City feel his character makes him ideal to be their third-choice keeper.

Leading up to the summer transfer window, there has been a lot of talk about the future of current number one Ederson, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. That has yet to progress, but it seems it could be all change in the goalkeeper department at the Etihad Campus.

Marcus Bettinelli’s Premier League record

Apps

7

Goals conceded

20

Clean sheets

0

The 33-year-old, who earns £35,000 a week at Chelsea, has been at Stamford Bridge since July 2021. He joined the club on a free transfer from Fulham, and in those four years, he has played just one game for the Blues, and that came in the FA Cup in the 2021/22 campaign. The goalkeeper is under contract until 2026.

Tim Southee knocks Rockets out as Phoenix stay in race

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Birmingham Phoenix put themselves back into the knockout positions in the Hundred with an important win at Edgbaston, knocking Trent Rockets out of this year’s competition in the process.Tim Southee claimed a five-wicket haul, to restrict the Rockets to 118, before Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell helped the Phoenix to overtake Northern Superchargers in third with a measured chase.”It was a pretty good performance,” Southee said. “I think the bowlers assessed the conditions well and then the way the batters went about it towards the end, Bethell and Livingstone knocked it around and chose great options. So, I think it was a pretty good all-round performance.”I think we have had really good consistency over the last few games and have got to know each other a bit better. Obviously, Adam Milne and I have played a lot of cricket together, but for everyone else it’s great to have that experience of playing a few games together.”We adapted to conditions as quickly as possible, which helped us tonight and the surface offered us a little bit which we tried to get as much out of as we could.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The Phoenix won the toss and chose to bowl, which proved a great decision from Moeen Ali, as his pace attack put on an exhibition of swing and seam bowling at the start of the first innings. The dangerous quartet of Tom Banton, Alex Hales, Joe Root and Rovman Powell were dismissed in the first 30 deliveries, as the Rockets fell to 22 for 4.Tom Alsop – making his debut in The Hundred – and Pakistan international Imad Wasim rebuilt for the visitors with a fifty partnership, before Imad was retired out on a run-a-ball 29, to be replaced by Chris Green. The Australian allrounder returned for the Rockets, replacing the injured Rashid Khan, but he was to last just five balls before being removed by Adam Milne, who took a well-deserved wicket.Alsop reached his half-century, and was then dismissed by the excellent Southee, who finished with 5 for 12 and momentarily thought he’d taken a hat-trick before being denied by an overturned LBW decision.Trent Rockets set Phoenix 119 to win, and Ben Duckett got the chase off to a flying start with 30 from 16 before Rockets came firing back at them. Luke Wood dismissed Duckett and Jamie Smith in consecutive balls to put the breaks on Birmingham’s fast start.Moeen Ali and Livingstone steadied the ship for a while before the impressive John Turner (2 for 17) removed captain Moeen and Dan Mousley.Livingstone and Bethell celebrate after taking the Phoenix home•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The away team sensed it was their chance to build the pressure with the ball in the chase and they began to restrict Phoenix’s scoring opportunities, before Luke Wood released the pressure with a no-ball free-hit that Bethell deposited into the stands to give the home side some breathing room.Bethell (38* off 29) and Livingstone (30* off 32) then took Phoenix home with a half-century partnership, as they chased it with seven balls to spare.With one game left each, the result leaves three teams with a chance of joining Oval Invincibles in the knockout rounds – Phoenix, Southern Brave and Northern Superchargers. Defeat for Trent Rockets means that, like London Spirit, Manchester Originals and Welsh Fire, their tournament is over.

Buttler: 'Bairstow has the experience and game to play at No. 4'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

“It’s something he’s done quite a bit in the T20 side previously as well”

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2024Jos Buttler has backed Jonny Bairstow to come good at No. 4 during T20 World Cup 2024, citing his experience batting in the powerplay and ability to attack spin in the middle overs.”I think for every player in the team, it’s about trying to read the situation of the game and play accordingly,” Buttler said at a press conference on Saturday. “I think Jonny’s got the experience and the game to play that role for us at No. 4.”It’s something he’s done quite a bit in the T20 side previously as well, and he’s got great variety in his game. So he is used to batting in the powerplay should that situation arrive at No. 4, but he has also got experience and power, and is a good player of spin throughout the middle phase as well.”Related

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Bairstow, who was expected to open for England in the 2022 T20 World Cup but missed the tournament due to a freak injury sustained while playing golf, called the move to No. 4 “a compliment”.Bairstow has spent the majority of the last year playing in India. It started with the 2023 ODI World Cup, followed by the five-match Test series and then the IPL. But Buttler said Bairstow was anything but jaded.”I think he’s excited. I think he’s in a good space,” Buttler said. “He’s been away for a long time, but he is a very proud guy and he has been playing a lot of cricket for England over that period of time, which is where he wants to be.”So he seems in a good space. His family is going to be with him on this trip as well, which is nice. And I think getting that injury just before the last T20 World Cup, I’m sure he’s really excited for this one.”Jofra Archer returned in England colours in the T20I series against Pakistan•Getty ImagesButtler: ‘Not trying to put too much pressure on Archer’Jofra Archer made a return to international cricket during the T20I series against Pakistan last month, after a year out with injury, but Buttler says the team management doesn’t want to put him under undue pressure.”Playing cricket again and being back in an England shirt, I know how hard he has worked to get back and it’s been a long time for him,” Buttler said. “As I’ve said before, we’re not trying to put too much expectation on him.”We know what a superstar he can be but it’s been a long time since he’s played international cricket so it’s very easy to get very excited about it and expect big things from him. But I think just give him a bit of time. He’s happy and smiling and loving being back in the changing room as much as he is on the field. So he’s in a really good space.”When asked if England were looking at playing both Archer and Mark Wood in the same XI, Buttler said: “Certainly, an option, yes.”England, who are the defending champions, will begin their campaign against Scotland on Tuesday.

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