Category Uncategorized

Southampton have not been busy in the summer transfer window in terms of bringing players into the club as they have only made three first-team signings to date.

Who have Southampton signed this summer?

Russell Martin has been able to bring in left-back Ryan Manning on a free transfer from his former team Swansea and versatile defender Shea Charles on a permanent deal from Manchester City, whilst goalkeeper Joe Lumley has also arrived on a free.

Meanwhile, Tino Livramento, James Ward-Prowse, Mohammed Salisu, Mislav Orsic, Ibrahima Diallo, Mohamed Elyounoussi, and Theo Walcott have all departed on a permanent basis.

These sales could provide the Scottish head coach with the funds to dip into the market to bolster his squad further before next month's deadline.

One player who could arrive on the south coast over the coming weeks is Newcastle United outcast Isaac Hayden. The defensive midfielder has been linked with a move to St. Mary's this summer and is reportedly free to depart Tyneside if the right offer comes in for his services.

How good is Isaac Hayden?

Martin could land Oriol Romeu 2.0 for the Saints by signing the English enforcer as he is an excellent ball-winning battler who can screen in front of the back four to make Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens' lives easier.

Hayden spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Norwich in the Championship and showcased his defensive instincts with 2.7 tackles and interceptions per match, which came after he managed three tackles and interceptions per outing for the Magpies during the 2021/22 Premier League season.

The £22k-per-week ace also ranked within the top 3% or higher of his positional peers across the last second-tier term for blocks (2.21) and aerial duels won (3.31) per 90.

These statistics suggest that Hayden could be an outstanding defensive option for the Saints as no midfielder managed more than 0.4 blocks or two aerial battles won per clash for the club last season.

Romeu made 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game during his final Premier League campaign with Southampton in 2021/22. He also averaged 1.22 blocks and 2.09 headers won per 90 at the base of Ralph Hasenhuttl's midfield.

His duel success rate of 55% showed that the Spaniard was strong in his physical contests and the reported Saints target came out on top in 58% of his Championship battles for the Canaries.

The now-Barcelona enforcer excelled at putting out fires across the pitch to win possession back for his side as a holding midfielder and the Magpies outcast is a player who has similar qualities, as ex-boss Dean Smith hailed him as an "excellent" and "technical" ball-winner.

There is, however, a concern over his injury record as Hayden has missed 45 competitive games since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

However, he had only been absent for 19 matches over the previous three years and his recent issues could just be a flash in the pan.

Southampton could gamble on him being a reliable option as his statistics when he is available suggest that the 28-year-old battler could be Romeu 2.0 for the club as a screening midfielder in front of the back four.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified a leading candidate to replace Bayern Munich target Harry Kane this summer, with reports in Italy indicating that Ange Postecoglou and co are interested in Lille striker, Jonathan David.

How much would Jonathan David cost?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport – via Sport Witness – the Canadian international is said to be being 'followed' by those at N17, with the 23-year-old seemingly at the 'top of their list' with regard to potential centre-forward replacements for Kane.

The report suggests, however, that while the former Gent hitman is valued at around €50m (£43m) at present, the impending switch of Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United for a fee of around £72m could inflate the striker market.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

The piece does though add that David's price tag could drop to as low as €40m (£34m) this month, with the Ligue 1 outfit potentially inclined to cash on the Brooklyn-born menace with just two years left on his current deal.

Who is Jonathan David similar to?

There have perhaps been doubts regarding the 5 foot 9 marksman's ability to make an impact in the Premier League, with journalist Dean Jones previously suggesting that David had failed to impress watching Man United scouts last season.

That being said, however, it is perhaps hard to argue with the striker's impressive goal return in Ligue 1 in recent times, with the £28k-per-week asset having notably scored 24 league goals during the 2022/23 campaign – a record only bettered by Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe in the division.

Lauded as a "phenom" and "one of the best strikers in the world" by podcaster Tony Marinaro, the emerging gem now boasts a haul of 58 goals in 136 games in all competitions for his current side, after previously bagging 37 goals in 83 games during his time in Belgium.

While the jury is out on whether he could be the man to fill Kane's shoes in north London – with the Englishman netting 30 league goals last season alone – it is interesting to note that David is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Arsenal youngster, Folarin Balogun, according to Opta's Player Radars.

That comparison between the latter man – who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals last season while on loan at Reims – and his Lille counterpart can be seen by just how clinical they are in the final third, with David ranking in the top 6% among his European peers for goals, while Balogun ranks in the top 10% in that regard.

The pair are also alike with regard to their poaching prowess and desire to impact the game where it matters most, with the reported Spurs target ranking in the top 9% for touches in the opposition box, while Balogun ranks in the top 10% in that regard.

The Gunners gem is a worthy player to be compared to have been touted for a £50m move away from the Emirates of late, with the 22-year-old having proven himself to be an "unbelievable" talent during his latest stint in France, according to Reims boss Will Still.

With their north London rivals having an exciting striking talent on the books in the form of Balogun, perhaps Spurs could find Postecoglou's answer to the United States international with the signing of David.

Arsenal are attempting to aggressively enter negotiations for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow, according to reports out of Italy.

Who will Arsenal sign?

Mikel Arteta, after sealing a trio of marquee deals already, could surprisingly make even more signings before deadline day as we enter the final phase of this summer transfer window.

Kai Havertz's £65 million deal, combined with a £38 million move for Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice's club-record £105 million transfer from West Ham, take Arsenal's spending north of £200 million.

Reliable media sources also claim that the Gunners are chasing a move for Brentford's David Raya as sporting director Edu looks to provide competition for current number one Aaron Ramsdale.

It's been a memorable last month for Gooners as their club show true ambition in the market, with Arteta seeming particularly thrilled by his side's capture of Rice.

“We’re really happy that Declan is joining us," said Arteta.

"He is a player with tremendous ability, who has been performing at a high level in the Premier League and for England for a number of seasons now. Declan is bringing undoubted quality to the club and he is an exceptional talent who has the potential to be very successful here.

“Declan has great experience in the Premier League at only 24 years old. He has captained a very good West Ham team and as we all saw, he recently lifted a European trophy. The responsibility and role he has taken on has been very impressive and we are really excited that he is joining us.”

Arsenal have also been linked with an ambitious move for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and according to Calciomercato.it, as translated by Sport Witness, they could look to hijack Lazio's move for Sow from Frankfurt.

The Switzerland international, who featured regularly during their 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, is apparently a target for Edu and Arsenal.

It is believed they could "aggressively enter the negotiation" for Sow despite Lazio's advanced talks to sign him.

The 26-year-old was apparently on the verge of joining Maurizio Sarri's side, with a deal even being agreed of around €15 million (£12.8m) plus bonuses, but Arsenal could look to disrupt the transfer with a move of their own.

Sevilla are another side interested in Sow, meaning a possible auction is on the cards, but Lazio aren't giving up and are expected to hold a meeting on how best to proceed.

How good is Djibril Sow?

The midfielder was a near-undroppable for Eintracht last campaign, playing the fifth-highest number of league minutes out of anyone in their squad over 2022/2023 (WhoScored).

Sow started 30 league matches for them, making a further two appearances from the bench, with members of the English media heaping praise on him for some performances.

Sports reporter Sam Smith of The Daily Express, for instance, praised drew attention to Sow's "combative" and "progressive" style of play in late 2022.

"First time properly watching Djibril Sow in this first half & been impressed," wrote Smith.

"Progressive on the ball and combative."

A price in and around the £12.8m mooted is also more-than afforable from Arsenal's perspective, so this could be one to watch out for.

He might be the oldest specialist batsman picked by England this century, but Mark Stoneman has never given up on his life-long dream of playing Test cricket.

George Dobell10-Aug-2017He might be the oldest specialist batsman picked by England this century, but Mark Stoneman has never given up on his life-long dream of playing Test cricket.It has been his ambition for as long as he can remember; since those earliest memories running around the boundary edge with a plastic bat and ball while his dad played league cricket in the North East.It remained his ambition throughout the early days of his career at Durham when, on desperately tough surfaces for top-order batsmen, he averaged just 24.84 over his first four seasons in the first-class game.And it remained his ambition even after he was continuously over-looked for Lions recognition – a situation described as “astounding” by his coach and long-time mentor, Michael Di Venuto – and as he was compiling more than 1,000 first-class runs in each of the last five seasons.As it transpired, he had to wait until June – just a few days short of his 30th birthday – before he gained a first Lions cap (he made half-centuries in both innings). And, after he was told he was next in line, having missed out on the first Test squad of the summer – the England management informed Surrey that he would have been included had the first Test squad contained 13 rather than 12 names – he had the strength of character to score a century in the Lord’s final the next day. Then, when it transpired he was not next in line after all – Tom Westley was next to win a top-order call-up – he was able to shrug it off and maintain his consistent form for Surrey.”The dream was always alive,” Stoneman said as he reflected on his call-up. “It’s what gets you up on a winter’s morning when you have to get to the gym to put the work in.”It’s been a long road and there have been a lot of ups and downs. There have been times when I’ve had to think long and hard.”But I stuck with it and I never gave up. There’s inspiration all around the world with guys who have blossomed late on with good experience behind them: the likes of Chris Rogers and Mike Hussey in the Australian team. They were behind some fantastic players. Hopefully I can be like them.”You can’t give up and this is testament to that. If you keep trying and the chance comes along, you have to take it with both hands.”It may be relevant that, on the day he was selected, he was top-scorer for them against Somerset. While some other players – notably Scott Borthwick last year – lost form after their name was connected with an England call-up (proof, some suggested, that he may not be able to withstand the intensity of international cricket), Stoneman has remained as apparently calm and consistent as ever. His last three Championship innings are 57, 47, 67 and, knowing he was close to a call-up, he continued to net against the red ball throughout the window for domestic T20 cricket.Mark Stoneman made a century in the Royal London Cup final to keep his name in the reckoning•Getty Images

“I tried to keep things simple and ensure my name was in the right area of the batting charts at the right time,” he said. “And just not get ahead of myself.”I realised there were a lot of good players out there and I had to keep putting performances in.”This phlegmatic attitude may, in part, have been instilled by his early experiences in the game. Starting his career on capricious surfaces in Durham – “they were character-building,” he laughs now – he learned to shrug off the odd jaffa that life must send his way and, whether he nicked it or missed it, forget about it and focus on the next ball. Those early experiences (“I had a new opening partner each half of the season,” Di Venuto recalls, “as they were shot after a few games”) also explain his relatively modest career average of 34.76. Over the last five seasons, he is averaging just over 40. This season, at Surrey, that has risen to 59.14″It was about three-thirty by the time my phone went,” he says. “I knew they were picking the side today and I was beginning to think it wasn’t to be. But then I saw Mr Whitaker’s name on my phone and thought this was a call I really had to take. He has called once or twice to say I was close, but this time he said straight away he had brilliant news for me.”The first thing Stoneman did when he received the call from James Whitaker – “Mr Whitaker,” as he refers to him – was call his parents, his sister and his wife. It was the conversation with his dad, Ian, that was the most emotional.”He’s a typical northern bloke,” Stoneman says. “So he kept his emotions in check during the call. But I bet he shed a tear or two but it was once he put the phone down. He’ll be there next week.”Dad was the one rushing home from a full day’s work to take me to training. You don’t realise when you’re younger: you just think ‘I’ve got training, I need to go there’ and you expect it to be done. But he went out of his way so often for me. I can’t thank my parents enough for what they’ve done for me.”One of my first memories is of having a little plastic bat and ball in my hands. I used to follow my dad around various leagues in the North East. Given that, my left foot apart, I’m not much of a footballer, cricket was always going to be my sport.”Stoneman will become, barring injury in training, Cook’s 12th opening partner in Test cricket since the retirement of Andrew Strauss at the end of the 2012 English season. He has little experience of pink-ball cricket – though he did score a century in the 2014 Champions v MCC match in the UAE – and will be older than any of the previous 11 when they started their international careers.But that need not be a disadvantage. As an experienced batsman who has learned his game inside-out, who has developed the temperament and technique to cope with triumph and disaster and who has, as Di Venuto puts it, “the back-foot game” and “solid character” that provide excellent raw ingredients, he has a better chance than most to adapt to the higher standard – and the pace and pitches of Australia.If he does make it, he will reflect with gratitude on Di Venuto’s influence. He admits he used to copy his opening partner’s habits – “subconsciously, I think”, he says – including the way he wore his boots and donning a head band at times. But it was more meaningful interventions that may prove key.”When Di Venuto came to Durham, he told me that, if you’re going out of your way to meet the ball, you’re increasing your chances of the nicks,” Stoneman said. “But if you play the ball later and put a few cuts away, it puts the bowlers under pressure and they come searching for your wicket.”When that sunk in, I started to have success.”I don’t think moving to Surrey got me picked. But it did allow me to continue my work of the last four years. It allowed me to keep chasing my dream. If I had stayed… we all know what has happened at Durham. I think it would have been very difficult. It would have been a massive distraction.”I’ve had 10 years as a professional now. I think I’ve worked a few things out. I’ve played on different surfaces and against some good players. This is a step into the unknown and I’m going to treasure every moment of it.”

Having picked up their first ODI win over a Full Member nation, Scotland will now target a maiden ODI series win over a Full Member, while Zimbabwe fight to avoid a series sweep

The Preview by Peter Della Penna in Edinburgh16-Jun-2017Match factsJune 17, 2017
Start time 10:45 local (09:45 GMT)Con de Lange and Malcolm Waller, who played huge roles for their respective teams in the first ODI, once again figure to be crucial to their teams’ success•Peter Della PennaBig PictureThe far north of the UK is a place where chilly, damp weather is a common occurrence round the year. Regardless of what Zimbabwe may have read about Edinburgh beforehand, not much would have prepared them for the cold shower they experienced on Thursday in the form of a loss to Scotland in the maiden ODI between the two countries.Losing a pair of home series to Afghanistan is one thing, with the consensus being that Afghanistan’s on-field quality has outstripped their administrative status as an Associate – a view further cemented by Afghanistan drawing the ODI series on their first visit to the West Indies earlier this month. As much as Scotland have improved their on-field product in recent years under coach Grant Bradburn, the bare fact was that they’d never beaten a Full Member in 23 attempts prior to Thursday. But, by the end of the day, Zimbabwe found themselves on the wrong side of history.Less than two days after that wake-up call, Zimbabwe have a chance to save face and level the series. Scotland are currently third in the WCL Championship, three points behind Netherlands, and if Zimbabwe are swept 2-0 in Edinburgh, the prospect of three one-dayers next week in Amsterdam becomes even more daunting.Scotland, on the other hand, have a chance to create a double-dose of history. “Securing a maiden ODI win over a Full Member” has been checked off the to-do list. They have the pen in hand waiting to mark off the next item on their summer agenda: “securing a maiden ODI win over a Full Member.”Form guideScotland: WLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)Zimbabwe: LLWWLIn the spotlightSouth Africa-born Con de Lange first came to Scotland in 2003 as an overseas pro for Ferguslie CC in Paisley. After marrying a local girl and putting down roots in his adopted homeland, he made his Scotland debut in 2015 and has since become one of their most reliable talents. Named vice-captain in January, he turned in his maiden ODI five-for in the win on Thursday and will look to restrict Zimbabwe once again.Malcolm Waller’s last four scores, playing for Rhinos in Zimbabwe’s domestic competition Pro50 Championship, prior to the Scotland tour were 52, 49, 57 and 113. His 92 off 62 balls in the first ODI was his fifth ODI half-century, and he came within inches of making it a match-winning maiden ton before being snuffed out by a controversial catch. Scotland had few answers for containing him in the first match, and he may be a handful once again in the middle order.Team newsSomerset’s Josh Davey has been released from the county for the second ODI, and he won’t be making the trip up north just to sit on the bench. Though Chris Sole is the youngest and least experienced of Scotland’s medium-pace unit, his opening five-over spell of 1 for 10 was exceptional. But Sole looked rattled by Waller, conceding 0 for 30 in three overs later in the innings. Safyaan Sharif was also expensive, finishing with 1 for 69, making them the most likely candidates to make way for Davey, with Alasdair Evans staying to take the new ball.Scotland (probable): 1 Kyle Coetzer (capt), 2 Matthew Cross (wk), 3 Calum MacLeod, 4 Richie Berrington, 5 Preston Mommsen, 6 Craig Wallace, 7 Michael Leask, 8 Josh Davey, 9 Con de Lange, 10 Chris Sole/Safyaan Sharif, 11 Alasdair EvansChris Mpofu, who was Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker in the five-match series against Afghanistan, was a surprising omission in the first ODI. Richard Ngarava struggled badly, both with the new ball and at the death, to finish with 1 for 96 – the joint second-worst figures for a Zimbabwe bowler in ODIs. A direct swap for the two is most likely on the bowling front, while Chamu Chibhabha might also get a look in after another ODI failure for Ryan Burl.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Solomon Mire, 3 Chamu Chibhabha, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Malcolm Waller, 8 PJ Moor (wk), 9 Graeme Cremer (capt), 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Chris MpofuPitch and conditionsUnlike the on-and-off rain on Thursday that resulted in Zimbabwe’s chase being reduced to 43 overs, Saturday is forecast to be one of the clearest and hottest days of the late spring and early summer in Edinburgh with a high of 24 degrees centigrade and no rain in the area. Expect another flat, bat-first pitch with a 300-plus target in mind.Stats and trivia Con de Lange’s 5 for 60 was just the sixth five-wicket haul in Scotland’s ODI history and the first since Josh Davey’s 6 for 28 against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi just before the 2015 World Cup. Scotland’s 317 for 6 in the first ODI was the fifth time they scored 300 or more in an ODI innings, and their second-highest total against a Full Member, one short of the 318 for 8 they made in a World Cup loss to Bangladesh. Zimbabwe’s overall record against Associates in ODIs is 49-20-1 after the loss to Scotland. But since that lone tie, against Ireland in the 2007 World Cup, it has been much less dominant at 25-17. That includes 11 losses to Afghanistan, three to Ireland and two to Kenya.Quotes”This is what we’ve been waiting to do for a little while. We’ve taken a little bit longer than other teams have, but we’ve now got a strong squad of players and we hope that we could still keep on challenging and maybe play some of the other Test-ranked teams.”
“They do play good shots and we knew we were going to be up against it, especially in their home conditions, our first game. But we’ve got to jump around. We’ve got to be ready for the next game and make sure that we finish on top.”

Afghanistan’s first bilateral series against West Indies will include three T20Is and three ODIs, beginning in the first week of June. The series will be played concurrently with the Champions Trophy, which begins on June 1 in England. West Indies, who haven’t won a bilateral ODI series since 2014, beating Bangladesh at home, failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy.

WI v Afghanistan schedule

June 2 – First T20I
June 3 – Second T20I
June 5 – Third T20I
June 9 – First ODI
June 11 – Second ODI
June 14 – Third ODI

All three T20s will be played at Warner Park in St Kitts, beginning from June 2. The ODIs, all of which will be played at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia, will begin a week later, on June 9.The tour’s original schedule included five ODIs and three T20Is. This series will also be Afghanistan’s first full series against a Full Member other than Zimbabwe.”It will also be an important series for our side,” Roland Holder, WICB Manager of Cricket Operations, said, “as they look to move up in the ICC World Rankings in the two formats, and continue their quest to qualify for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and Wales.”West Indies are currently placed ninth in the ODI rankings, followed by Afghanistan. West Indies will be hoping to climb up the rankings as only the top eight teams as of September end this year will gain automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup. They lost their last ODI series 3-0 to England earlier this month and have three more coming up against Pakistan in April.West Indies and Afghanistan have never played an ODI against each other and the last time they squared up in a T20I, Afghanistan won by six runs, in a league match in the World T20 last year.The upcoming three T20Is will start at 7pm and the day-night ODIs will start at 2.30 pm.

Liverpool will prioritise the signing of a "physical" midfielder this summer as Jurgen Klopp's side look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

What kind of midfielder do Liverpool want?

Having already brought in Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister earlier this summer for an initial fee of approximately £35m, Liverpool are expected to bolster their midfield ranks further in the transfer window.

Having an endured a difficult campaign in which the midfield was held largely culpable for poor form, Klopp has prioritised fixing his engine room. The signing of Mac Allister helps, as well as the wages freed up by the departing Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner, but more is required if the Reds are to return to the top of the pyramid.

Having already been linked with a host of new names this window, Fabrizio Romano believes Liverpool will focus on a more robust, "physical" midfielder next to follow on from the signing of a more creative playmaker in Mac Allister.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano stated: "So, I think from what I'm told, Liverpool will give priority to a physical midfielder after signing a creative midfielder in Alexis Mac Allister. So, the idea is to go for a physical midfielder now."

"Manu Kone remains on the list, Khephren Thuram remains on the list, these two names for sure."

He added: "Liverpool will explore also other options, for example, they appreciate Barella but they know very well that the player is very happy at Inter and is going to be very difficult to sign Nicolo Barella. There is no release clause into his contract, so it is a very complicated situation."

A more physical midfielder makes sense given Klopp's desire to play high-intensity, counter-pressing football which requires a more combative and disciplined central midfield.

What do we know about the transfer links so far?

Of those mentioned by Romano, Nice's Thuram appears to be the priority target for the Reds. Journalist David Lynch even claimed that an agreement is expected to be struck between the two clubs for the 22-year-old, with Le Parisien suggesting a fee of just over £50m would be required to get a deal done.

Manu Kone, who is currently a teammate of Thuram for France at the U21 European Championship, has been linked with the Reds, but Florian Plettenberg has suggested that a move for the Borussia Monchengladbach man is "very unlikely".

Meanwhile, Nicolo Barella's high price tag appears to have put him out of Liverpool's reach, but certain Italian sources have suggested a bid could be coming Inter's way. It is thought that the 26-year-old would cost just under £70m, which would make him Liverpool's most expensive midfield signing of all time.

A final midfield name that has been linked is Celta Vigo sensation Gabri Veiga, who has enjoyed a hugely impressive season in La Liga. A £34m release clause in the youngster's contract makes him an even more tantalising prospect, but he is more of a technical player than others on Liverpool's shortlist.

تعرف على موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة النصر والعين الإماراتي اليوم في دوري أبطال آسيا

يبحث نادي النصر بقيادة المدرب البرتغالي لويس كاسترو، عن وضع حد لنتائجه السلبية في الفترة الماضية، عندما يستضيف العين الإماراتي في إياب دور الثمانية من دوري أبطال آسيا.

وكان أصفر الرياض بتواجد نجمه الأبرز كريستيانو رونالدو خسر بهدف دون رد في لقاء الذهاب الأسبوع الماضي في ملعب هزاع بن زايد وهو الهدف الذي سجله المغربي سفيان رحيمي.

الإعلان عن مواعيد مباريات كأس السوبر السعودي 2024 والبلد المستضيف

وقرر مدرب النصر الاعتماد على الخماسي، كريستيانو رونالدو وساديو ماني ومارسيلو بروزوفيتش وأوتافيو وأليكس تيليس على مستوى الأجانب.

وفي حراسة المرمى سيعول كاسترو على راغد النجار بعد عودته من الإصابة ليحل محل الحارس المخضرم ديفيد أوسبينا، بينما يغيب قلب الدفاع الإسباني إيميرت لابورتي للإيقاف والوافد الجديد الأسترالي عزيز بيهيتش، والبرازيلي أنديرسون تاليسكا بسبب الإصابة. موعد مباراة النصر والعين في دوري أبطال آسيا

تقام المباراة اليوم الإثنين، 11 مارس 2024، في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساء بتوقيت مصر، العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت مكة المكرمة، الحادية عشرة بتوقيت الإمارات. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة النصر والعين الإماراتي اليوم

تنقل مباراة النصر والعين في إياب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال آسيا عبر قناة SSC السعودية بجانب قناة بي إن سبورت آسيا.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Ravi Jadeja struck with the final ball of the fourth day – trapping Alastair Cook lbw for a 188-ball 54 -to leave England 87 for 2 as they attempted to save the second Test

The Report by Andrew Miller20-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:15

Compton: Umpire’s call leaves too much to debate

In an era of faster, harder, shorter – when the virtue of a young batsman is increasingly judged by strike-rate rather than overs endured – Haseeb Hameed produced a throwback innings to match that produced by his captain and opening partner, Alastair Cook, as England launched what already counts as a heroic rearguard, irrespective of what may come to pass on the fifth and final day at Visakhapatnam.While Cook and Hameed were in harness, calmly withstanding India’s best efforts throughout a magnificent opening stand of 75 that spanned 50.2 overs (which is longer, incidentally than four of Australia’s last eight completed innings), survival had seemed very much within England’s grasp – much as it had done for South Africa in similar circumstances 12 months ago, when AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla came together for another mighty blockathon in Delhi.But, in a devastating denouement in the final half hour before stumps, England lost both of their incumbents to a pair of memorable lbws – Hameed for 25 from 144 deliveries, pinned on the shin as R Ashwin grubbed an unplayable offbreak along the deck in a manner utterly reminiscent of Nasser Hussain’s shooter against Carl Hooper in 1997-98.Then, in the final over of the day, Cook, the rock of England’s resistance, played once too often across the line to Ravi Jadeja, and Kumar Dharmasena raised his finger. The umpire’s judgment was spot on on this occasion, for the ball was heading straight for middle and leg, but with India already out of reviews and Dharmasena’s relationship with DRS at an all-time low, he deserved credit for trusting his judgment at such a critical juncture.That late strike allowed India to leave the field with the spring back in their step, and Virat Kohli took the chance to gather his men into a huddle before they returned to the dressing room. India remain strong favourites on a surface that will compromise the more stroke-based techniques in England’s middle order – not least that of Ben Duckett, who is next man in to join Joe Root when play resumes tomorrow – but if any further proof were needed that this five-Test series will be a fight to the finish, this was it.Not for the first time in this match, England’s determination with the bat had been replicated with the ball. With Stuart Broad in another of his rhythmic moods, and with Adil Rashid mixing it impressively to claim four wickets in the morning session, including the prize scalp of Kohli for 81, it required a spiky tenth-wicket stand of 42 between Jayant Yadav and Mohammad Shami to revive India’s second innings, as they slipped from their overnight 98 for 3 to 204 all out on the stroke of a delayed lunch break.Of course, England’s success with the ball wasn’t entirely encouraging, given what it implied about the challenge of batting last, but they were happy to settle for pyrrhic victories wherever they could find them.Broad was particularly eager to strike some psychological blows. He may not feature in next week’s third match in Mohali but, buoyed by the confirmation that his foot injury was not as severe as he might have feared, he produced one of his most skilful spells of a stellar year, manipulating the old ball with cut and cross-seamers alike, and a variety of angles on the crease. He deserved more than just the scalps of Ajinkya Rahane and Ashwin for his morning efforts, as he finished with figures of 4 for 33 in 14 hard-pounding overs.Broad’s success was a reminder that seam, as well as spin, can play a part when surfaces start to crumble, and Hameed received a similarly timely reminder from the very first ball he received in England’s rearguard – a skiddy bouncer from Shami that rapped him on the glove as he took his eyes off the ball. But, when tea was taken 28 overs later, he was looking settled and solid, 12 not out from 84 balls, and oblivious to the attentions of up to four close catchers round the bat.It was a staggering display of technique, resolve and stamina way beyond his tender years, and further enhanced the impression that he is The One, as far as England’s long-term opening ambitions are concerned.However, Hameed could have asked for no better role model in his defiance than Cook, England’s past master in the art of batting time, whose long strides have been so adept for so long at smothering the attentions of Asian spinners.Kohli shuffled his pack largely in vain for the first 33 overs of England’s innings, resuming after tea with his seamers reunited but still no way through England’s defiance. But, then, suddenly, he hit upon the right formula, bringing Jadeja on at the Subba Rao End to target the footholes outside Cook’s off stump, with Ashwin handed the duties from the Vizzy End where Broad’s cutters had found their purchase.The heightened threat to both batsmen’s outside edges prompted a more proactive response, with Cook lining up a series of cuts and a well-placed drive through the covers for four to combat Jadeja, before Hameed responded to an Ashwin drifter that beat the bat by walloping his next ball hard and flat through mid-off for his first boundary in 80 deliveries from the spinners.On 45, Cook survived a reviewed lbw against Jadeja that was adjudged to be turning down the leg-side, although had umpire Rod Tucker raised his finger, it would have stayed up. One over later, he was living dangerously again, when Ashwin implored Kohli to take a second look at another lbw that he was convinced had squeezed pad before bat. Ashwin was right, but the impact was adjudged to be umpire’s call. India, somewhat disbelievingly, had burned through both of their reviews in the space of five balls.But then, with England’s thoughts just beginning to drift towards stumps, came the brace of body blows that undermined so much of their good work. All is not yet lost, with Root in a mood to atone for his wasteful first-innings dismissal, and Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow already attuned to the challenge of batting long on this surface. But as Hameed’s demise showed, accidents can and will happen in the fourth innings. India will believe victory is only a matter of time.

Coming back from a rest, the 24-year-old fast bowler provided some of Pakistan’s brightest spots in a tightly-fought Sharjah Test against West Indies

Umar Farooq in Sharjah31-Oct-2016Pakistan’s decision to rest Mohammad Amir in Abu Dhabi had been met with mixed reactions. The critics said a break might hamper the 24-year-old fast bowler’s rhythm. But there was also the argument that he was playing international cricket for the first time in five years and had already stacked up 202.3 overs on a long tour of England and 45 more during Pakistan’s first day-night Test in Dubai.Perhaps considering UAE Tests are decided by the batsmen and spinners’ contributions, and with two important series coming up – against New Zealand in November and Australia in December – the Pakistan selectors decided to give Amir some time off. The move seems to have worked.In Sharjah, on the second day of the third Test against West Indies, Amir looked like a man refreshed, picking up two wickets on a slow pitch and also pulling off a spectacular catch to dismiss Darren Bravo. Until that moment, when he ran back from cover, dived after the ball and got hold of it while horizontal with the ground, Amir had not had a single Test catch to his name.Kraigg Brathwaite on…

What West Indies must do on day three: “We are in a good position. It is key for me and Jason [Holder] to start fresh and build a big partnership, then look to build a really big lead. The aim for me is to really build a big lead. If Jason and I can spend time at the wicket, rotate the strike, hopefully we can get as big a lead as possible.”
On the pitch: “It isn’t spinning sharply at the moment. [But] the pitch is cracking up a bit, and later tomorrow it will probably crack some more and get some spin. If we can go on and get the lead, then build on that, that will be very good for us.”
On his 83-run fifth-wicket stand with Roston Chase, after West Indies were 68 for 4: “Me and Chase went to school together, so we have a good relationship. I said to him to play as straight as possible. Obviously the pitch is low, so it is key we hit straight down the ground, then rotate the strike, and after that we had a good partnership.”

“It was a combined decision between me and the team management to take a rest and that’s fine,” Amir said. “A bowler can be rested from time to time; even Wahab [Riaz] was rested [in Abu Dhabi] and those who replaced us, Rahat Ali and Sohail Khan, did well. We are just developing our combination. I have been playing for a year now and I think fast bowlers should rest whenever there is a chance.”Because you never know, I or Wahab can be injured at any time. It can happen in cricket and you can’t do anything about that. So when you have a strong bench you can rotate the bowlers you have and give the others some chances as well. Our next tours, New Zealand and Australia, are lengthy so all of us need to be match-ready in case you need someone as cover for an unexpected injury.”Since Amir regained the eligibility to play for Pakistan after his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal in 2010, he has claimed 17 Test wickets at an average of 39.41. Those statistics, however, may have to be taken with a pinch of salt considering he had several catches dropped off his bowling in England. While he has not lost any pace, constantly hitting the low- to mid-140s, the swing he was known for is not quite there.”Playing Test cricket after five years is not very easy and I started with a tough England tour. It takes time to regain your rhythm,” Amir said. “But I feel I am getting there and getting my rhythm back gradually. I did face some problems with fitness earlier, which was expected. After five years of being idle, it’s very tough for a fast bowler to immediately be back at his best. It can’t be done overnight, you need to keep on performing. I still have a long career ahead of me and I am working hard to get where I was before skills-wise.”The swing was missing in England but now I have started developing the shape. And I have mostly been playing T20 cricket since coming back, where I bowl with a different arm-action. I was also going wide of the crease earlier but now I have minimised it and worked on my arm-action and its working my way.”Amir was looking forward to doing well in the two Tests in New Zealand – he is part of a 16-man squad that was announced on Monday – and then three more in Australia, including a day-night Test in Brisbane; Pakistan have yet to name a squad for that series.”Going to New Zealand and Australia and performing there, in those conditions, it gives you immense confidence. I have been to both countries earlier and the pitches there help fast bowlers. With the exposure of playing on tracks like these in UAE, you definitely get a lot of confidence to do well there.”Amir was happiest talking about his catch, though, which helped Pakistan get on top of West Indies. “We actually train to develop these kinds of skills with our fielding coach; it is quite a regular thing. That wicket of Bravo was very important as he was the batsman we wanted to get as soon as possible. We created the opportunity and I made the effort to get him out. So it worked well.”Then, with the wickets of Jermaine Blackwood for 23 and Roston Chase for 50, Amir also helped contain West Indies’ fightback as Pakistan ended the second day with a 37-run lead. They still have four more first-innings wickets to take though.