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An unbeaten 97 in difficult circumstances by DA Chougule and somegood bowling performances by both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka whichresulted in as many as 17 wickets falling was the feature of the first dayof the Cooch Behar Trophy South Zone league match at the IIT- Chemplastground in Chennai on Thursday. Tamil Nadu struggled to 82 for seven atstumps after bowling out Karnataka for 159 in their first innings.Tamil Nadu made a sedate start in their first innings with openers RSainath (13) and K Vasudeva Das (18) putting on 33 runs in 11.4 overs.Vasudeva Das was the first to go when he offered a return catch toDharmichand. Off the very next ball, R Prasanna departed, giving a catch toChougule. Then Aditya Srikkanth (20) and Sainath took thescore to 46, before the latter was out, giving a catch back to thebowler Dharmichand.Srikkanth was joined by E Suresh (8) for a brief period. Thetwo took the score to 63, when Suresh gave a catch to BMV Uthappa offSV Lasarus. Three balls later, Srikkanth became the fourth victim ofDharmichand when he was picked up by AK Bafna. Tamil Nadu then were in aspot of bother when Lazarus dismissed T Dushyanth (3) and Dharmichand sentback skipper Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan (8) with 74on the board. Tamil Nadu ended an eventful day at 82 with L Balaji(2) and KKD Karthik (6) at the crease. Dharmichand was the wrecker-inchief for Karnataka with figures of five for 30 in his 14 overs.In the morning, disaster struck early for Karnataka when they elected tobat. Opener HTS Rao (0) was bowled off the fourth ball of the day by TBalaji. The other opener DV Krishna did not last longand departed in the sixth over when he was dismissed in much thesimilar way as his partner. Then BMV Uthappa (23) and DA Chougule joinedtogether to bring up the fifty for Karnataka.Then with the score at 59, Vidyuth struck the vital blow by havingUthappa caught behind by Kartik. The very next ball saw skipper C Raghureturning to the pavilion after being out in a similar manner. Ten runslater Stuart Binny was lured out of the crease by Vidyuth to be stumped byKartik. The next over from Vidyuth saw AK Bafna returning to the pavilionafter being stumped by Kartik.The next over by Balaji saw the departure of Dharmichand (0). ThenVidyuth came back to pick up the wicket of Lazarus. At the other endChougule was waging a lone battle. He reached his half century afterbatting for about 2-1/2 hours. He kept up the scoring rate with neat hitsto the fence interspersed with some solid batsmanship even as he lost hispartners at regular intervals. But Chougule found unlikely partners in theKarnataka tail and a 38-run ninth wicket partnership ensued between him andG Sendhil Kumar (7) which made sure of Karnataka going past the 100 runmark. Then NT Pinto (3) gave him company to help Karnataka end the firstinnings at 159. Chougule batted 208 minutes, faced 163 balls and hit 10fours and a six. Vidyuth was the most successful bowler. The left armspinner ended the innings with figures of 5 for 36 in his 20 overs.

Everton’s youth academy has produced a number of top talents in the Premier League era, including the likes of Wayne Rooney, Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman who all had lengthy Premier League careers.

More recently, Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Anthony Gordon have all become first team regulars after graduating from the academy, while the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Dobbin and Isaac Price are both tipped to become first-team players for the club in the future.

One player that could have come through the U18s and U23s though is Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson, who was linked with a £1m move to play for Ronald Koeman at Goodison Park back in 2017 when he was 15.

Now aged 20, Forest are believed to want £20m for the creative midfielder, who has already made 94 senior appearances, scoring an impressive 24 goals, creating nine more.

The drastic change in valuation, a 1900% increase to be exact, is not only evidence of Johnson’s huge potential, but also of his exciting development already in his career.

This season, the Wales international has made 35 appearances in the Championship, scoring ten times and assisting six, averaging a 7.02 as his club target promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Taking 1.8 shots per game on average as well as making 1.2 key passes, he has established himself as one of the most dangerous threats in the second tier, while he has also impressed greatly in the FA Cup, including in the fourth round when he scored against rivals Leicester City to help his team to a 4-1 victory at home.

Described as a “livewire” by Wales Online, Johnson has earned praise all season for his performances, including from England and Manchester United legend David Beckham, who posted after the FA Cup Third Round victory against Arsenal:  “Great performance. What a moment [Brennan Johnson]. Well done mate.”

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With Everton lacking creativity from deep and a regular goalscorer and assister in their relegation battle, Johnson would have been a welcome addition to the squad – and the board will surely be reeling from the failed transfer back in 2017 which would have proved to have been a bargain, especially now with their Premier League status on the line.

In other news: Everton can finally axe “sloppy” dud who’s “regressed awfully” by signing £15m brute

	Adam Gilchrist: “Today was where it really hit me, that it is all finishing” © Getty Images

The outpouring of emotion at the WACA on Friday made Adam Gilchrist realise the end of his record-breaking career was near. Gilchrist, who will retire at the conclusion of CB Series, waved goodbye to his home crowd in Perth with a fine 118 in the 63-run win over Sri Lanka and listened to chants of “Gilly, Gilly” throughout the match.”Today was where it really hit me, that it is all finishing,” he told AFP on Friday night. “Today was always going to be a big day, so I was more nervous than any day, leading into here. I am glad it is done … there was a lot of emotion in there.”Gilchrist did not have much time to enjoy the moment as the Australians flew from Perth to Adelaide on Saturday for Sunday’s match against India. Brett Lee will miss the contest to rest after a busy campaign.”It’s a difficult schedule this one, not playing for four days and then playing back-to-back,” Gilchrist said. “There is a lot of downtime between the Sunday and Friday games and maybe all of us have struggled on the back of an intense Test series.”The victory eased the pressure on Australia, who top the tri-series table, but Gilchrist said there was no room for complacency. “If we drop one,” he said, “we’ll be back in the same position.”

Glenn McGrath is convinced he will play in his fourth successive World Cup final © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath believes no side will threaten Australia in their push for a third successive World Cup, provided the defending champions keep up their current form. McGrath, who is poised to become the leading wicket-taker in World Cup history, said Australia had the ability to win every match in the tournament, as they did in 2003.”If we go and play the way we have I can’t really see any team getting close to us,” he told . “In any Australian sport it seems that attitude is carried right across the board.” McGrath said his confidence was genuine, like when he correctly tipped a 5-0 win in the Ashes a few months ago.”I don’t say anything I don’t believe,” he said. “We’ve been so successful over such a long time, we know how to win, what we’ve to do.”He said the experience within the squad was a major factor in their belief. McGrath and Ricky Ponting have each played in the last three World Cup finals, Adam Gilchrist in the last two, while Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg and Matthew Hayden also tasted success in the 2003 decider.”When you walk on the field you just have to look around you, the guys that are walking with you,” McGrath said. “There are some amazing players, some of the greats of all time. It does give you a lot of confidence.”McGrath has 54 World Cup wickets from his four campaigns and is one short of Wasim Akram’s tournament record. However, McGrath said winning a third successive title with his team-mates was his main aim.”Guys like Akram are sort of heroes of mine,” McGrath said. “He is known as one of the best bowlers of all time. To finally go past him, if I get a couple of more wickets, that would be something special. It’s nice to get little milestones along the way but they are not the be-all and end-all.”McGrath, who is farewelling international cricket after the World Cup, said he had no regrets about retiring and spending more time with his wife Jane, who has had cancer and a brain tumour. “If it was just about playing, I think I could continue all the time,” he said.”It’s everything else that goes with it. The travel, the training, you name it, the time away from Jane and the kids. So I’ve been lucky enough to have 14 years at the top level so it’s my turn to move on.”McGrath has the chance to break Akram’s record when Australia take on Bangladesh in Antigua on Saturday. Should Australia win it will be their 17th consecutive victory in World Cup matches.

Division 1

Michael Yardy struck an unbeaten 159 to steady Sussex, and set a new third-wicket record of 385* with Murray Goodwin © Getty Images

Durham needed a mere six overs and four balls to wrap up their first Championship victory of the season – a steamrollering of Kent at Canterbury. Min Patel delayed the inevitable with a bolshy 61, at nearly a run-a-ball, but he was cleverly deceived by Ottis Gibson’s slower ball to hand Durham only their second win against Kent. Gibson, 37, finished with the impressive figures of 3 for 58 as Durham won by the convincing margin of an innings and 56 runs.Warwickshire toiled hard without any success on the final day of their match against Sussex at Hove, and were scuppered by two brilliant hundreds from Murray Goodwin (214*) and Michael Yardy (159*). The pair broke the county’s record for the third wicket with an undefeated stand of 385, which had previously been held by Ranjitsinhji and Ernest Killick against Lancashire at Hove in 1901. There was still a danger of the hosts capitulating on the final morning – they trailed by 41 at the start of play – but Yardy and Goodwin defied the bowlers manfully. Yardy hit 17 fours in his 274-ball marathon, while Goodwin was a touch more aggressive in his strokeplay, lofting two big sixes and 23 fours as the game petered out into a draw.Chris Read continued his excellent early-season form with an unbeaten, and sprightly, hundred for Nottinghamshire against Yorkshire in what became a meaningless encounter at Nottingham. Rain ruined the first and third day’s play, leaving the fourth day a leather-chasing affair. Darren Bicknell struck a patient 95 and Russell Warren made 93 before Read took the attack to Yorkshire. After a relatively sedate 85-ball fifty, he opened his shoulders – taking four fours off one John Blain over – moving to his hundred in style with a lofted six. The run-spree gave Nottinghamshire – last year’s champions and considered by many to be favourites this year – maximum bonus points, and Read his second hundred in as many games.

Division 2

A brutal 157 from David Sales set Essex an unlikely 381 to win against Northamptonshire. After losing three wickets with 96 on the board, Alastair Cook – who made 88 in the first innings – caressed an excellent unbeaten 103 to steady the ship, and enhance his claims for an England place against Sri Lanka in May. After Cook blunted the game, the two captains agreed to the draw and took seven points each.Rikki Clarke’s brilliant 130 helped save Surrey’s blushes on the final day against Derbyshire at the Oval, avoiding Surrey’s first opening-round defeat since 1990. At one point, it seemed Derbyshire – who suffered a dreadful season last year – might record their first victory at the Oval in 40 years when Surrey slipped to 246 for 5, holding a lead of just 62. Clarke, though, combined well with Azhar Mahmood (46), with whom he put on 125 in 31 overs. His eighth first-class hundred came from 152 balls, and shortly before half-past-five the players shook hands leaving Surrey on 476 for 8.

ScorecardJason Arnberger led Victoria’s unlikely chase for an essential outright victory with his third half-century in eight days against Queensland at the MCG. In an aggressive 139-ball display Arnberger, who added 60 and 71 against Tasmania, hit 14 fours and one six in making 95 on a batting wicket so good it should prevent an outright result.Matthew Elliott and Arnberger made a brisk start as they attempted to overhaul Queensland’s 416 after Jimmy Maher closed the innings during the second session. But Mitchell Johnson ended the 69-run stand with the first ball after tea when Elliott was lbw for 35, and Brad Hodge followed for 5 when he was caught at square leg off Joe Dawes. Graeme Rummans was the other not out batsman at stumps on 26.Queensland have almost destroyed Victoria’s chances of reaching the final as the Bushrangers need to win the game outright to stay in contention to defend their title. Time started to run out when Shane Watson scored 94 and the Bulls added 102 before lunch. Watson tried to reach his century with a six but mishit Cameron White and was caught by Elliott at short cover.

Maia Lewis has regained the captaincy reins of the New Zealand women’s team for the forthcoming tour of India and for the home and away series against Australia. She takes over from Emily Drumm who was unavailable to tour.Lewis was previously captain in 1997-98 but had to give up the position when having knee reconstruction surgery after the World Cup in 1997. Lewis was out of the game for several seasons but returned to the White Ferns last summer, and captained Wellington, her provincial side.Lewis was excited by the challenge ahead of her. “It’s an honour to have the opportunity to lead my country again and exciting to be confronting two of the greatest challenges in women’s cricket. I have toured India before so I have an understanding of the unique obstacles you have to overcome to be successful there. We then have the Rosebowl Series against Australia, who have had the wood on us in recent years, and who are setting the benchmark in women’s cricket at the moment.”Lewis said as well as making tactical on-field decisions, she felt itwould be her responsibility to help ensure there was a positive teamenvironment. “It will be my job to help create an environment where everyone is contributing to the best of their ability.”Mike Shrimpton, the team coach and selection convener, said: “Maia has already shown earlier in her career that she has thecapabilities to captain the team. Maia has captained the White Ferns in 17 internationals and the last time she captained them was in the 1997-98 season. She prefaced her return to full international cricket by captaining the New Zealand A team last summer.”She led her team [Wellington] very well, leading by example in the field and showing good tactical sense. Her batting was also outstanding and she finished the season with an average of 63. At the New Zealand Cricket Awards she deservedly received the Ruth Martin Cup for the best batsman in women’s cricket,” said Shrimpton.The New Zealand team for the tour of India will be named on October 14.

When the office at Somerset County Cricket Club reopens after the Christmas break a familiar face will be missing.Dick Watts,who has been cashier at the club for over twenty years is retiring, “So that I can give more time to playing billiards,” he told me as he sat at his desk in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion on his last working before the break.Dick is well known on the local sporting scene, but not because of cricket, but because he is a billiards champion, and has played the sport that is dearest to his heart for his county and for his country.Dick, who will become an octogenarian in October joined Somerset County Cricket Club after retiring from his job in Taunton with local finance company Chartered Life.His wife Bet, who he met whilst he was in the R.A.F. also worked for the same company and the couple have been married for over fifty four years.”Bet travels with me everywhere I go to play billiards, she’s my number one fan,” he told me.Dick plays his billiards in Taunton at the Railway Club where he has been a member for more than fifty years.”Since I’ve been with the Somerset my billiards have dropped off. Now that I will have more time I hope that I can concentrate on my game and win some more trophies,” Dick told me.”When I first became cashier at the club Ian Botham and Viv Richards were in their prime, so I was very pleased to see the team win a trophy in 2001, and hope that they will win some more next season,” he said.But Dick isn’t leaving the club alltogether. “I’ll still be coming down to sell scorecards at home matches next season, and I hope that I can get to watch a bit more of the cricket than I could last year,” he concluded.

The visiting Kenyan team scored a comfortable seven wicket victoryover Baroda Cricket Association XI in a one day game at the Alembicground in Baroda on Monday.Put in to bat, Baroda were all out for 176 in 45.5 overs. Opener DThorat (52) and Jacob Martin (38) added 57 runs for the third wicketoff 13.2 overs after two wickets had fallen for 50 runs. But afterthat wickets at regular intervals. Thorat faced 75 balls and hit fivefours and a six while M Martin faced 65 balls and hit three of them tothe ropes. The wrecker-in-chief was B Patel who finished with fivewickets for 40 runs off 10 overs.Kenya lost Ravindu Shah (25) at 37 but wicketkeeper K Otieno (58) andHitesh Modi (28) put them firmly on the road to victory with a secondwicket stand of 80 runs off 21 overs. Both batsmen fell in successiveovers but B Patel (31) and skipper Maurice Odumbe (24) closed out thematch with an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 58 runs off 16.2 overs.Otieno faced 94 balls and hit three fours and four sixes.

Leeds United are interested in signing Wolves’ on-loan youngster Morgan Gibbs-White this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Gibbs-Whites excelling on loan

The 22-year-old joined Sheffield United on a temporary basis last year, in order to earn more regular playing time away from Molineux.

Gibbs-White has impressed greatly for the Blades this season, scoring a stunning goal against Middlesbrough in midweek and netting eight times in the league overall, not to mention registering seven assists.

It could be that the young Englishman feels a permanent move from Wolves makes sense given his form away this term, and a key update has emerged regarding his future.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Leeds in the race

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of the clubs expressing an interest in signing Gibbs-White in the summer, as Jesse Marsch eyes up reinforcements.

The Whites aren’t alone in monitoring the midfielder, however, with Crystal Palace, Southampton and Fulham all mentioned in the report, too.

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The Verdict: Brilliant long-term prospect

Gibbs-White is a player of huge promise – his teammate David McGoldrick has claimed he has the ‘world at his feet’ – so Leeds potentially snapping him up is an exciting prospect.

He would add the guile and end product in midfield that is lacking at Elland Road, with none of the Whites’ current central midfielders scoring more than once in the Premier League this season.

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At 22, Gibbs-White is also someone who could represent a long-term signing, with Marsch nurturing him and ensuring he slowly becomes a key player over time.

Whether or not Wolves are willing to sell a prized asset remains to be seen but it is a transfer Leeds should continue eyeing up in the coming months, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2024.

In other news, an injury expert has provided an update on a stricken Leeds player. Read more here.