On a pitch which saw Pakistan score 599 in their second innings and one on which India were bundled out in less than 60 overs in both innings, Younis Khan said the varied nature of the Pakistan attack made a crucial difference in Pakistan’s comprehensive 341-run win inside four days.”The Indian and Pakistan teams are similar in look. We had the edge in this Test because India had three left arm seam bowlers while we had more variety and mix. Shoaib Akhar’s presence in any team is a big boost and the others all bowled really well,” said Younis, who was standing in for the injured Inzamam-ul-Haq as Pakistan captain.A phenomenal first hour apart, India’s attack lacked bite, particularly in the second innings. Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq shared 14 wickets between them and the former in particular, exploited every last bit of help from the pitch and the new ball. Backed up by several short, speedy bursts from Shoaib Akhtar, they managed to overcome the absence of another seamer, rarely allowing the Indian batsmen to settle.But Younis also highlighted two other factors; a little bit of good fortune as well as the grit that has come to mark this Pakistan side. “A lot went in our favour in this game which could have gone either way. It was probably a good toss to lose in the end but anything could have happened after 39-6. We could have been bowled out for 100 and that would have changed the game.”But Akmal and the others rose to the occasion. Maybe the early wickets we got in India’s second innings also helped us win the Test. We may have got them out in four hours in the end, but it was not as easy as it seemed. We had the better luck.”The timing of Pakistan’s declaration – they eventually did so an hour into the morning session -was the subject of considerable speculation overnight. Although it became a moot point as India were bowled out 25 minutes before the scheduled close of play, Younis said much thought had been given to the question. “I discussed it with Inzamam overnight. There was some talk about giving them a full 180 overs to bat. But then we thought with their batting and people like Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and the rest, we should set a target of over 600 runs. Until yesterday the wicket looked a bit casual so we thought about the time needed. But today our bowlers bowled better.”Younis also highlighted the contribution of Abdul Razzaq, whose inclusion in Faisalabad had been criticised for being a defensive selection. Razzaq scored a calming 45 in the first innings, where his 115-run partnership with Akmal formed the backbone of Pakistan’s fightback. As well as scoring a 90 second time round, Razzaq ended with seven wickets, some of them – like Sachin Tendulkar’s in the first – crucial.”Razzaq gave an outstanding performance and has answered his critics who were questioning his presence in the team. He scored runs for us, crucial ones in the first innings and took wickets at regular intervals.”
Nicky Boje could lead the South African one-day side against Zimbabwe, in a bid to provide much-needed rest to Graeme Smith before the start of the Test series. According to the Haroon Lorgat, acting convener of the national selectors, Smith along with Jacques Kallis will benefit from the rest period.Lorgat said to news24 website that Smith was still experiencing foot problems which he suffered in India on their last tour, when a taxi driver drove over it. Smith would be receiving treatment before the start of the two Tests.South Africa play Zimbabwe in three one-day internationals beginning on February 25 at Johannesburg. South Africa are set to leave for the West Indies on March 23 for a tour of nearly two months.Boje, 31, said that it would be an honour to captain the national side and he had discussed matters regularly with Smith and would also seek advice from Shaun Pollock, the former captain. If given a chance, Boje would become the 31st captain to lead the side.Apart from this, South Africa has named a full-strength squad to take on the Zimbabweans.
When Australia’s bowlers came out, you could tell that the plan wasto bowl a good length, just outside off stump, and allow the ball to do therest. In comparison India stuck to a line just outside off but banged the ball in short a lot more. Nothing wrong with that, except that India didn’thave the pace for it, and were guilty of overdoing things. What’smore, they did not mix up their deliveries.The Australians slipped in short balls every now and then, keeping the batsmen on the back foot. This pattern was usually followed by a delivery that invited the batsmen to drive on the front foot. It worked like a charm – Andy Bichel dismissed the openers, and Sachin Tendulkar, as a result of unsure footwork.
Aus bowlers
Indbowlers
Goodlength
159
461
Shortof a good length
84
169
Short
33
60
Half-volley
28
166
Yorker
2
7
That shifty manAndy Bichel, holding on to his place in the side by a thread, wasknocked around early in India’s innings. Then, he discovered the seam.Getting the ball to shift off the wicket, outside the off stump, he made thebatsmen play, miss, prod, and then get out. Akash Chopra mishit aseaming delivery straight back to Bichel, while legcutters took care ofSehwag and Tendulkar.
Overs
12
Runs
55
Wickets
3
Pitchedjust outside off stump
67
Ona good length
41
Shortballs
8
Offcutter
7
Legcutter
6
Seven years for a five-forAnil Kumble had cause to celebrate. This was his first overseas fivewicket haul after as many as seven years. The last one came long, longago, in 1996-97, when Tendulkar was captain. After toiling away on the first day, Kumble mixed up his deliveries frequently on the second morning, making it difficult for the batsmen to score off him.
2ndday
1stday
Overs
15
28
Runs
39
115
Wickets
4
1
Legbreak
72
146
Topspinner
2
6
Googly
9
12
Flipper
8
4
The rusty run machineSachin Tendulkar’s dismissal for 1 brought to light a prolonged lossof Test form. In his last 10 innings, he has reached double figures onlythree times, of which two were half-centuries. The substandard pitchesin New Zealand notwithstanding, it is still a poor showing for a manwho averages a century every six innings.
Two members of New Zealand’s World Cup-winning women’s team have been dropped for the second leg of the home and away series with Australia.Helen Watson has been replaced by 18-year-old fast bowler Louise Milliken and Anna O’Leary has missed out with the squad being reduced from 13 to 12 for home matches.The home leg of the series begins at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln on Saturday.Milliken will be making her international debut and great interest will be taken in her play as she is a bowler only a little slower than great Australian fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who has had bowling measured at 125kph.Identified early by New Zealand Cricket, Milliken was a member of the CLEAR White Ferns winter training squad in 2001 and in the New Zealand A team that played the Australian Youth side in Australia earlier this month.Though only 18 and in only her first year out of Waikato’s Morrinsville High School, she already has three seasons of State League cricket behind her, representing State Northern Spirit. She is about to enter the New Zealand Cricket Academy at Lincoln as one of four women selected for the 2002 residential intake.The convener of the women’s selection panel, Lesley Murdoch: “It was a difficult decision for the selectors to dispense with the experience of Watson and O’Leary, but with New Zealand 3-0 down after the Australian leg of the Rosebowl we really had no option but to put our most competitive, in-form side on the park for the crucial matches this weekend.”Murdoch added: “Louise is an exciting prospect for the future and she will undoubtedly gain from this exposure to top flight competition. From a selectors’ point of view, it’s also encouraging to know that currently we have more options to choose from than we have sometimes had in the past.”The full team is: Emily Drumm (captain), Kathryn Ramel (vice-captain), Nicola Browne, Anna Corbin, Paula Flannery, Frances King, Aimee Mason, Louise Milliken, Nicola Payne, Rachel Pullar, Rebecca Rolls, Haidee Tiffen.
The Nashua Titans coach, Dave Nosworthy, is energised after a well deserved break and is planning an early start to the forthcoming season selecting the following off-season training squad to commence practice on Monday, 28th May 2001 at 14h00 at SuperSport Park.Players currently in South AfricaGerald Dros, Finley Brooker, Allahudien Palaker, Steve Elworthy, Rudi Steyn, Victor Faul, Nigel Brouwers, Aldin Smith, Tetaan Henning, Johann Botha, Pieter van Rooyen, Gary Hampson, Craig Parker, Nick van Woerkom, Dale Nation, M.P. Ferreira, Charl Victor, Raymond Magardie, Maurice Arenstam, Mulligan George, Shafiek Abrahams, Rudi Bryson, Ian Kuiler, Neil McKenzie & Robert van Wyk.Players OverseasDavid Townsend, Martin van Jaarsveld, Pierre Joubert, Jacques Rudolph, Greg Smith, Quentin Still & Dirkie de Vos.Players attending the National AcademyJohann Myburgh, Kruger van Wyk & Dewald Senekal.Players attending the Northerns AcademyRuper Bailey, Friddel de Wet & Alviro Peterson.IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE The final Nashua Titans Squad, ‘B’ XI Squad and Colts Squad will be selected and finalised before the end of August 2001. The above squads can at any time be adjusted and altered as they are very flexible squads.
Aston Villa are now looking at signing a Tottenham star in January after reaching a pre-agreed deal for another player, according to one report today.
Aston Villa plan for January amid Premier League title race
The Midlands outfit find themselves in unprecedented territory this festive period — four points off Man City at the summit, nine consecutive wins across all competitions and a Premier League title charge nobody saw coming.
Unai Emery refuses to entertain talk of silverware publicly, but the numbers tell their own story.
Villa’s current form represents their finest run since 1919, and while they haven’t won a league title since 1981, or claimed any major silverware for three decades, here they sit, third in the table, four points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea.
The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable.
After five winless games to start the campaign and a barren run in front of goal, Villa languished in the relegation zone, but fast-forward to December, and they’ve beaten both Arsenal and Man City at home, becoming the first team to rack up 2.1 expected goals against the Gunners all season.
Behind the scenes at Villa Park, January planning is also in full swing.
Fabrizio Romano shares exciting January transfer update out of Aston Villa
The Villans need squad depth to maintain their charge.
ByEmilio Galantini
Emery’s recruitment team are working overtime to strengthen a squad suddenly competing at English football’s pinnacle, according to Fabrizio Romano, as they look to balance the demands of a title race with Europa League commitments that continue deep into spring.
Villa have already secured Brazilian teenager Alysson from Gremio in a deal worth £8.7m initially, rising to £10.5m with performance-related add-ons.
The 19-year-old winger represents exactly the profile Emery covets – young, hungry, adaptable. Gremio retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause, with formalities expected to be completed early in the transfer window.
That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who has also shared Villa’s interest in a deal for Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson.
Aston Villa looking at signing Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson
As per Bailey, writing for TEAMtalk, Villa have entered the race for Johnson ahead of January.
The Wales forward has fallen out of favour under Thomas Frank in north London, with Mohammed Kudus’ arrival in the summer relegating him to a bit-part role.
Johnson scored their Europa League-winning goal in May and bagged 18 goals in all competitions last season, finishing 2024/2025 as their top scorer.
James Maddison also called his teammate a ‘relentless’ player in the final third.
Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insight Discover richer context: subscribe to the newsletter for deeper transfer insight, clear analysis of Aston Villa’s recruitment strategy and how potential moves could shape their title challenge. Get expert breakdowns and informed perspectives. Subscribe to our newsletter for transfer insight Discover richer context: subscribe to the newsletter for deeper transfer insight, clear analysis of Aston Villa’s recruitment strategy and how potential moves could shape their title challenge. Get expert breakdowns and informed perspectives.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
However, he’s managed just six Premier League starts this term, accumulating barely 900 minutes of action. The 24-year-old finds himself on the fringes of Frank’s plans, so a January exit is very possible.
Villa are looking at signing Johnson next month after their pre-agreed deal for Alysson, but Crystal Palace remain favourites for his signature, with sources suggesting Johnson is “receptive” to a move across London seeking regular football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
That being said, Villa represents an altogether different proposition — European football, a genuine title challenge and the opportunity to work under one of Spain’s most tactically astute managers.
Taking this into account, we surely can’t discount Emery’s side in the race just yet.
Aston Villa seriously considering Jan move for "incredible" 10-goal striker
The Villans are looking to sign a new centre-forward this winter, having identified a number of targets.
Matthew Hayden conquered the MCG with his sixth Test hundred in the stadium before calling it the toughest surface he had batted on for two years. It was hard to know how serious he was after Australia had scored 337 in a day and his 124 had come from 183 balls. However, as his analysis of the pitch grew and talk of his 28th century was pushed to the background, he became more convincing.”Quite difficult” was cut to “difficult” and he was certain things would “deteriorate” much more than they did for the drop-in wickets that have held together and forced attritional play during Pura Cup games. Despite the predictions, Hayden felt batting would not get any more challenging than it was in the first 30 overs of the opening day, when they reached 0 for 122. He might have been trying to scare the Indians, but if it does wear like Hayden expects it will become more like a home game for the tourists.The predictions led Ricky Ponting to bat and Hayden and Jaques survived the early difficulties in a stand of 135 that would produce the innings’ highest scores. Instead of things getting easier, they quickly became harder as Australia lost nine batsmen and their ability to follow the tradition of dominating the opening exchanges.”We lost a few too many wickets, but it was difficult enough and those conditions will be revealed over the next four days,” Hayden said. “The fact is we are facing a difficult wicket. The score is definitely a par effort.”Hayden started by going hard at the ball as it seamed in the morning, benefiting from gaps in the slips during a couple of thick edges, and then turned his attention to the spin of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Jaques beat him to fifty and even though Hayden was keeping pace his run-scoring speed was surprising. By the time he reached his century, which was celebrated with a hug from Michael Clarke, he had struck only nine fours, but it came from 126 deliveries.”It was one of my best Test hundreds because of the conditions we had at hand,” he said. “I was pretty pumped, it was great.”The MCG stirs Hayden, who played his first home Test here in 1996-97, and he had extra reasons to perform this time. “I’ve built this match up more so than any other,” he said. “It announces the start of the summer for us.”The series began with an eventful and intriguing first day, but Hayden does not expect things to happen quickly over the rest of the match. “It’s definitely going to be a wicket that’s going to be hard to score on,” he said. “There are slow conditions and I can see us really putting the pressure on through good in-out fields. We’ll try to constrict India and I definitely think the wicket’s going to deteriorate.”Two years ago Hayden played on an MCG pitch that he said was worse than this one. It was wet on the first day, when he scored 65, but he managed to overcome the difficulties in the second innings with 137. Over the next couple of days his forecasting will be tested.
Alyssa Healy, the niece of the former wicketkeeper Ian Healy, has been chosen in the 13-woman Australia Under-23 squad to tour New Zealand next month. Healy impressed the three selectors with her performances at the national under-17 and under-19 championships and is in line to face New Zealand A in three matches.Healy, a right-hand batter and keeper, was the leading run-scorer at the under-19 tournament with 345 at 57.50 and she shared the under 17 player of the championship prize with Delissa Kimmince, who also made the touring squad. Kimmince, a right-arm medium bowler, played all eight Women’s National Cricket League games in her debut season for Queensland Fire and captured nine wickets at 18.Healy is one of only three players in the Shooting Stars squad who does not have experience in the WNCL. However, Elysse Perry, an allrounder, was also outstanding at the under-19 tournament, with 175 runs and seven wickets, while Kate Owen, 21, made a mark by being the leading scorer at Cricket Australia’s Women’s Cup.The squad, which is captained by Sarah Aley, will play three matches against New Zealand A from February 13 to 16 at Lincoln University.Shooting Stars squad Sarah Aley (capt), Nicole Bolton, Renee Chappell, Rene Farrell, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Emma Inglis, Delissa Kimmince, Kate Owen, Elysse Perry, Rikki-Lee Rimmington, Emma Sampson, Lauren Shave, Brian McFadyen (coach).
Scorecard New Zealand beat USA by 170 runs to book a place in the final of the Plate Championship. Led by an excellent unbeaten 100 by Andrew de Boorder, New Zealand posted an imposing 295 for 8 after being sent into bat before dismissing USA for 120 in 29.3 overs, with seamer Hamish Bennett collecting 4 for 16. de Boorder’s innings spanned just 115 balls, included eight fours and continued his rich vein of form as he made 87 against Ireland. With useful contributions from opener Todd Astle (59) and Martin Guptill (42) to back up de Boorder’s innings, New Zealand made the USA bowlers suffer in conditions that were once more hot and humid. Abhimanyu Rajp took 5 for 61.USA lost wickets at regular intervals and, after a promising beginning when they reached 35 for 0 in the seventh over, they collapsed. Only one player – Sumon Bari, with 23 – reached 20 and they never came close to threatening the target.Despite two wins in as many days, New Zealand coach Dipak Patel said his side still had more to offer. “We still have not played to our full potential,” he said.”Our preparation before the tournament was minimal and that was shown in our early results and we are still struggling with the new ball, although our spinners and medium-pacers are doing a good job now.
Scorecard Bulletin
Ireland beat Namibia by six wickets Scorecard Ireland secured a long-awaited first win with a convincing six-wicket success against Namibia. Ireland side bowled out the Namibians for 115 in 36.3 overs and then knocked off the required runs for the loss of four wickets in just 29.2 overs. Ireland’s win was founded on excellent spin bowling with their trio of spinners – Gary Kidd, James Hall and Greg Thompson sharing eight wickets between them. Hall took 4 for 29, Kidd captured 3 for 26 and Greg Thompson 1 for 11 and in the face of that trial by spin Namibia endured a torrid time. Only three of their batsmen reached double figures and there were four ducks in the innings, three of them in the Namibia top-order. A target of 116 was never going to be enough for Namibia to defend and with all four of the Ireland top four reaching 20 they eased to victory with more than 20 overs in hand.Morgan was understandably delighted with the win and said afterwards: “This is long overdue for us. It was very difficult for us to go out after yesterday’s loss [by three wickets to New Zealand after scoring 304] as that was hugely disappointing as we felt we should have won. But today we just set out to maintain our disciplines with ball, bat and in the field and that is what we did.”
Bangladesh found themselves in a familiar position, struggling to put a total on the board after Douglas Hondo ripped through the batting to claim 6 for 45. Where other medium-fast bowlers struggled, he found swing. This, as well as the slightly low bounce, surprised the batsmen. But Bangladesh, through Mohammad Rafique, fought back and ended the day at 169 for 8, still 129 behind Zimbabwe’s total.This was an unexpected turn of events, because Bangladesh had dominated Zimbabwe comprehensively in the first Test, and this morning’s events suggested continuity in the proceedings. Enamul Haque jr foxed three batsmen to end with 7 for 95 to improve his own mark for the best bowling by a Bangladeshi in Tests. He also became the youngest, at 18 years and 41 days, to take a seven-for in a Test innings, to go with his own record for youngest player with a six-for, which he achieved at Chittagong. There was some Zimbabwean resistance – mainly from Tatenda Taibu, who advanced to 85 before running out of partners – but Bangladesh kept up the pressure to dismiss them for 298.Bangladesh’s openers then started brightly, putting on 58 in quickly. Javed Omar (34), who was severe on the frequent loose offerings, contributed most of the 58, while Nafis Iqbal was cautious initially after surviving two extremely close leg-before shouts. Gradually Iqbal grew in confidence and matched Omar’s strokeplay.But the Hondo threat was never far away. He dismissed both openers in quick succession. Omar nicked one that kept low as he shaped to cut, and Iqbal flicked off his hips to the wicketkeeper. Mohammad Ashraful’s stay was short, as he was trapped in front by a Hondo delivery that swung in marginally (84 for 3). It was yet another disappointing innings from Ashraful. His spectacular 158 against India had showcased his capabilities, but the efforts that have followed have highlighted his inconsistency.
Hondo continued to wreck the innings, knocking over Habibul Bashar’s stumps, and then removing Aftab Ahmed – via an exemplary catch by Stuart Matsikenyeri, who flung himself full-stretch at midwicket and plucked the ball out of the air – and Khalid Mashud with an in-swinging yorker (107 for 6).But Mohammad Rafique played with rebellious abandon and swung his bat at just about anything that came his way. Most of the time the ball was struck cleanly and went where it was intended. He raced to 56 with seven fours and a six, and his effort was all the more special as he was troubled by a foot injury for much of his innings. Rafique was dismissed towards the end of the day, which meant that only the tail remained. But if they need inspiration, they only need to look at the Zimbabwean tail. Men of lesser ability stood by Taibu as he steadily, fortuitously, and sometimes cheekily gathered runs.Taibu’s first run of the morning, which brought up his half-century, came off an inside edge that missed the stumps narrowly. But slowly he found his feet and played the reassuring role that Zimbabwe needed. He pounced on anything loose, twice cover-driving picture-perfectly for four, and kept his bat well away when the ball moved.Enamul landed the ball on a length and spun it away from the right-handed batsmen. This way, he turned Graeme Cremer and Hondo inside out and bowled them. He then ended the innings by finding the edge of Christopher Mpofu’s bat. This was his second five-wicket haul on the trot, and added to his reputation as a man to watch out for.Bangladesh have fought harder against tougher teams, while this new-look Zimbabwe have caused a flutter or two among their opponents by taking quick wickets. The result is that two countries whose cricketing existence is questioned most often might well provide a hard-fought Test, something that does not happen all that often even with more accomplished teams.