Former South Africa captain is set for his first professional coaching stint; also, Stephen Fleming will oversee Stellenbosch Monarchs
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2017T20 Global League franchise Benoni Zalmi has appointed former South Africa captain Graeme Smith as its head coach. Zalmi team owner Javed Afridi made the announcement on Monday.Smith, 36, last played a competitive game in May 2014, a T20 for Somerset two months after his final Test against Australia. It will be Smith’s first stint as a coach in recognised cricket. Highveld Lions’ Geoffrey Toyana, who was recently among the frontrunners to replace Russell Domingo as South Africa’s coach, will be his assistant. Their first assignment together comes this weekend, when they will have to pick from a pool of over 400 players in the player draft.Elsewhere, Durban Qalandars has put Paddy Upton in charge, with Aaqib Javed to oversee the bowlers. Also, Stellenbosch Monarchs has appointed Stephen Fleming head coach, with Eric Simons named his assistant.Stellenbosch had suffered a setback last week when Brimstone Investment Corporation Limited, the investment company which had been unveiled as its owner by Cricket South Africa, said it will not proceed with the acquisition.ESPNcricinfo understands Brimstone pulled out because it did not want to hold a majority stake. An insider said that Brimstone always wanted a minority stake and that has been their investment model, where the company supports an expert majority partner. The failure to pull together a consortium meant that Brimstone opted to move out and CSA did not stand in its way. Incidentally Brimstone was one of only two South African owners named for the eight teams in June. Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s Test and T20 captain, was named the Stellenbosch franchise’s marquee player by the South Africa board.
Leeds United have new owners in the form of 49ers Enterprises and they are looking to improve matters not just on the field but away from the cameras at Elland Road, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest news involving 49ers Enterprises and Leeds United?
Leeds United will kick off life in the Sky Bet Championship once again this Sunday where they will take on Cardiff City at Elland Road on Sunday 6th August, which will be Daniel Farke's first competitive match in charge of the Whites, as per Sky Sports.
The German coach has taken a steady approach in the transfer market as the dust finally begins to settle after a period of turbulence at Leeds United and has brought in Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow to strengthen his squad, as per Transfermarkt.
Of course, Leeds United are now under the control of 49ers Enterprises, who will be tasked with steering the club forward and new chairman, Paraag Marathe, spoke of his ambitions for the club in an interview with their official website, stating: "This is an important moment for Leeds United and we are already hard at work.
He then added: "This transition is a necessary reset to chart a new course for the Club. We have already appointed a highly-respected First Team Manager with a track record of success, and we are confident Leeds will field a competitive squad to contend for promotion next season. It’s a privilege to carry this torch as I know we have a responsibility to ensure this Club makes our staff, players, supporters, and the Leeds and Yorkshire communities proud."
According to The Daily Mail, 49ers Enterprises have a plan in place to maximise matchday revenue at Elland Road, which currently stands at around £1 million per matchday.
Ideas are being drawn up that would see Leeds United increase the capacity of their home ground to 55,000 spectators, while redevelopment would also bring 'a raft of new corporate hospitality offerings in revamped east and north stands' at a cost of around £200 million.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jacobs has detailed that 49ers Enterprises are 'fully invested' in the task at hand of trying to win promotion and also to ensure the club generates maximum income moving forward.
Jacobs stated: “I think that's true. Leeds have ultimately gone down, and that will set the club back.
“But 49ers Enterprises have always been fully invested in the project. And we know, historically, that Elland Road is a big priority. That will help Leeds to move on, modernise and ultimately make more money from the football club.
“49ers Enterprises are not just thinking about this project in terms of the football side. They are also looking at this in terms of how they can bring the club on par with the top teams and the top brands. To do that, as Manchester United are finding, you must consider where you will invest your capital.”
What now for Leeds United?
Leeds United will continue to press on with their recruitment hunt as time continues to tick down in the window as it enters it's final month of business.
According to Football Insider, Leeds United are keen on Joel Piroe this summer; however, Swansea City will hold out for between £15-20 million for the Dutch striker before agreeing to let him depart the Swansea.com Stadium.
Journalist Alan Nixon has confirmed on Patreon that Leeds United have joined West Ham United and Fulham in the hunt for Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who could cost £15 million to bring to Elland Road.
Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara is expected to leave his current employers and has been earmarked as a target for Leeds United. The Finland international is believed to have a release clause of £5 million, which could well be the fee required to secure his services, as per The Yorkshire Evening Post.
Ben Coad’s joyous season came up Roses as he demolished Lancashire at Headingley with career-best figures
Paul Edwards at Headingley02-Jun-2017 ScorecardThe first day of the Roses match began late, ended early and saw 216 runs scored, most of which had to be chiselled like flakes of granite from the rock face of the Yorkshire attack. A few followers of county cricket may view such a rate of progress in 69.2 overs as suggestive of slightly turgid cricket; yet to those schooled in the tempo and ethos of these encounters, such stately progress is familiar and almost reassuring. And for Ben Coad the afternoon’s play could scarcely have been more exciting, for it saw him pick up a career-best 6 for 25, thus setting a seal on an early season which has been overflowing with delights.Bowling from the Football Stand End, Coad removed the heart of Lancashire’s batting in a seven-over spell during which he took 4 for 16, at one stage taking three wickets in seven balls. When he had Stephen Parry, Lancashire’s joint top-scorer with 30, caught by Adam Lyth to end the innings, he joined Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott as the leading wicket-taker in Division One with 29 victims. No one has taken more than his 32 wickets in all first-class cricket this season.Coad is a remarkable young talent; he effervesces with slightly abashed enthusiasm and there are Test cricketers in this Yorkshire side who should yield their places to him should Andrew Gale and Gary Ballance ever have a full-strength squad from which to select.Coad is 6ft 3ins and still willowy; he has achieved his success by bowling a yard quicker than he managed last season and so straight that he rather deserved the leg side strangle to Andy Hodd that caused the dismissal of Dane Vilas. Much more typical of his virtues was the ball that nipped away yet caught the edge of Haseeb Hameed’s bat when the opener had laboured to good purpose for an hour over nine runs. Equally incisive was the lifting delivery on off stump which took the edge of Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s bat and gave a comfortable catch to Peter Handscomb at fourth slip.He nipped one back off the pitch to have Steven Croft leg before on 16 and later returned from the Kirkstall Lane End to lull Tom Bailey into chipping a catch to midwicket before that final dismissal of Parry was the prelude to as warm a standing ovation for a young cricketer as Headingley has seen in its recent summers of glory.”We couldn’t have asked for anything more today and I think that’s the best I’ve bowled this season,” said Coad. “Obviously the pitch has benefited me massively and the overhead conditions helped me out but I’m very happy with that. It’s a great feeling to be bowling as I am at the moment and I do know there are times when it’s going to be tough, so I’m just loving cricket at the minute.”Ben Coad rocked Lancashire with four wickets in 18 balls•Getty Images
And Yorkshire supporters in their turn are warm in their appreciation of Coad, no one more so than the county’s former president, Dickie Bird, who said yesterday that he would select him for next month’s first Test against South Africa. That Bird should express such a view is hardly astonishing; he would also have Ballance in Joe Root’s eleven, yet those who might mock his partisanship should not overlook his passion, his loyalty, his service. And after all, who was selecting Haseeb Hameed for the tour of India at this time last year?For Lancashire’s cricketers this was a desperately disappointing day. Parry and Ryan McLaren offered as much stern resistance as they could manage but McLaren eventually became Ryan Sidebottom’s third victim, the left-arm seamer having confirmed his return to full efficacy by removing Alex Davies and Luke Procter with successive deliveries in the seventh over of the day.Yet as Lancashire’s innings disintegrated before them, travelling supporters may have been wondering why their captain had chosen to bat when Yorkshire officials had been insisting all week that there would be “a bit in the pitch”. Perhaps coach Glen Chapple and captain Steven Croft were relying on the 12th axiom of Harry Makepeace to the effect that when a Yorkshireman says one thing about a Roses wicket, it’s a good idea to believe the opposite. If so, they were grievously in error and should have trusted the evidence of their eyes, not least the cloud cover and the moisture left in the atmosphere after the rain which had wiped out the morning’s cricket.Yorkshire’s pursuit of Lancashire’s poor total lasted 25.4 overs before rain returned. In that time Alex Lees batted very skittishly to make five and Handscomb played some lovely strokes before an ugly cut edged a catch to Davies off Procter. Lancashire had to be happy with such scraps of consolation, just as Hameed had to be content with the calmness and composure he showed in batting an hour against the Yorkshire’s pack of slavering seamers.Immense comfort settles on an opening batsman when he lets the ball go and ponders the energy expended by the panting bowler. Hameed reconnected with his strengths on the first day of this game, albeit in an innings of only nine runs. All the same, his innings in the Rajkot and Mohali Tests must seem distant memories for him just as this season is still fresh as paint for the immensely likeable Coad.The day’s cricket ended with Adam Lyth, another opener, making 40 not out, his best first-class score of the season, and some Lancashire supporters doubting whether the game would last beyond Sunday. They were not prophesying an away victory
تحدث أمير مرتضى منصور المشرف العام على الكرة بنادي الزمالك السابق، على مسيرته داخل القلعة البيضاء، معلقًا على مقولة “الزمالك عزبة مرتضى وأولاده”.
وقال أمير مرتضى منصور في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “النهار”: “مجلس الإدارة في أي ناد يكون عملًا تطوعيًا، أنا كان منصبي المشرف العام على الكرة وهذا المنصب يكون الأعلى في النادي وقد يصل راتبه لملايين في الشهر مثل المدير الفني”.
وأضاف: “عندما رحلت عن الزمالك بعد نهائي القرن أمام الأهلي تلقيت عروضًا من أكثر من نادي سواء داخل مصر أو خارجها في الإمارات والسعودية”.
وتابع: “لم أحصل على راتب شهري خلال عملي في الزمالك، وصرفت ملايين على الزمالك من أموالي الخاصة”.
طالع | الزمالك يعلن سبب تأخر وصول ترافيس موتيابا للقاهرة
وأكمل: “كل السفريات والمعسكرات على مدار 5 سنوات في الفترة التي توليت بها من 23 يوليو 2018، معي فواتير هذه السفريات من إقامة وطيران والأكل من أموالي الشخصية والنادي كان لا يتحمل أي شيء”.
وأوضح: “عام 2018 غيرت لائحة الفريق الأول، منصب مدير الكرة أو المشرف على الكرة يحصل على 200% أو 300% من المكافأة، لو اللاعب مكافأة المباراة 10 آلاف جنيه، المشرف على الكرة يحصل على 30 ألف جنيه، عدلت ذلك في اللائحة وقمت بإلغاء بند حصول المشرف على الكرة على أموال سواء لي أو الذي سيأتي بعدي”.
وبسؤاله كان يقال إن نادي الزمالك عزبة مرتضى وأولاده، رد: “فكرة أن تكون هناك عائلة مكونة من 3 أشخاص يعملون في مكان واحد كعمل عام ومسيطرين على النادي هذا شيء لا يعيب، كنا مسيطرين على النادي، المكان الذي نديره نبسط عليه السيطرة 100% أو لا نكون متواجدين لأننا سنحاسب على ذلك”.
واستطرد: “هذا تكرر في أندية كثيرة، الإسماعيلي كان في فترة آل عثمان، هذا كان يحدث في الأهلي، صالح سليم كان رئيس الأهلي وطارق سليم كان مدير الكرة، وهما أسطورتين بالنسبة لي”.
وزاد: “صرفت على الزمالك الكثير من الملايين، كنت أريد النجاح في سن صغير، كنت أحلم باللعب في الزمالك ولكن أصبحت أدير كرة القدم في النادي بالكامل”.
وأشار: “في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا التي خسرناها أمام الأهلي، كنت أخصص مكاقأة من (جيبي الخاص) للاعبين، من أول مباراة حتى الأخيرة”.
وزاد: “فعلت ذلك مع الكثير من اللاعبين مثل مصطفى محمد وكهربا ويوسف أوباما، كنت أقول لهم لو فزنا في هذه المباراة سأعطي لك شيك مقابل 100 ألف تصرفه بعد اللقاء”.
وأضاف: “الأهلاوي والزملكاوي هم الجماهير المتواجدين في المدرجات، أما اللاعبين بالنسبة لهم كرة القدم (أكل عيش وعقد)، وقصة أن اللاعب يحب الزمالك أو الأهلي، هذا أمر بداخله لن نعرفه”.
وأكمل: “حسام حسن من أساطير الأهلي وعندما رحل عن القلعة الحمراء بشكل هو يراه غير جيد، لعب في الزمالك واجتهد وكان زملكاوي في فترة تواجده”.
وبسؤاله هل إمام عاشور حاليًا أهلاوي؟، أردف: “هو يتظاهر أنه أهلاوي، ممكن انتمائه يتغير ويحب الأهلي لأن هذا أكل عيشه، عندما يتوج الفريق ببطولة سيحصل على أموال بالنسبة له مصلحته أين؟ وهذا شيء متواجد في العالم كله”.
وأتم: “لويس فيجو كان قائد برشلونة وذهب لريال مدريد، الجمهور هو الذي (يتحرق دمه ويشجع نادي واحد)”.
Arsenal could potentially have "two more" signings to come this summer after deals for Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber are all tied up, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.
Arsenal transfer news – who else are the club targeting?
Arsenal have already made a huge splash in the transfer window this summer, with their £105m bid for Declan Rice reportedly accepted by West Ham United, pending discussions over the deal's structure.
declan-rice-west-ham
The North Londoners have also just announced their first signing of the summer, German international Havertz, from cross-city rivals Chelsea.
The deal cost a reported £65m, which puts the dynamic midfielder second – soon to be third – on Arsenal's list of most expensive transfers ever.
However, Mikel Arteta hasn't neglected the defence as a €45m/48 (£39m/41) deal to bring Ajax's exciting Jurrien Timber to the Emirates looks to be coming to a successful conclusion, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.
In past windows, this would represent a stunning level of spending for a club synonymous with penny-pinching during the Emirates era, yet Edu and Co. might only be getting started.
What has Dean Jones said about Arsenal's transfer plans?
Jones was clear that despite the club already spending big this summer, he has heard information suggesting that they have plans to spend more.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: "I expect Arsenal to put their foot on the ball after they get these next two signings through the door. It's been an intense period trying to tie up Havertz, Timber and Rice, but they are in a very good place now, and my information is that more signings will be coming — but not just yet.
"They will start getting the players in for pre-season and then assess how, when and where they attack the market further. It wouldn't surprise me if there are two more to come — but not yet."
Before this summer, who were Arsenal's five most expensive signings ever?
The Gunners look like they are about to blow their previous spending records out of the water this summer, but who were the priciest players to don the famous red and white beforehand?
In fifth place is Gabriel Jesus, who joined the club from now title rivals Manchester City in the summer of 2022 for just £45m.
The Brazilian enjoyed a great first season in North London, and had it not been for his knee injury at the World Cup, he would have likely ended the season on more than the 11 goals he did.
At number four, Alexandre Lacazette who arrived in 2017 from French outfit Lyon for a hefty £46.5m.
Despite ending his time at the club with a rather slender goal tally of just 54 goals in 158 Premier League appearances, the Frenchman was a player fans respected for his tireless hold-up play, and since his return to Lyon, he has found his scoring form again.
Ben White holds the third spot, the £50m man that had his fair share of detractors upon his move to the club in 2021, detractors that have likely changed their tune by now.
ben-white-arsenal
The former Brighton & Hove Albion man played his first season for the club in his natural position at centre-half but was moved out to right-back upon the introduction of William Saliba, a position he has since flourished in.
Claiming the silver medal is former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who cost the club £56m after joining in the January transfer window of 2018.
While things may have ended poorly for the former Dortmund star at the Emirates when he was in form, he was nigh unstoppable.
In just 163 games for the club, the Gabon international racked up 98 goals and 21 assists, forming a particularly potent duo with Lacazette.
Unfortunately, first place in this list goes to a player that has to be described as somewhat of a flop, Nicolas Pepe.
The Ivorian winger joined the Gunners from Lille in the summer of 2019 for a club record fee of £72m, and despite showing occasional glimpses of brilliance, he never reached the potential so many had hoped he would under Arteta.
An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their efforts to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…
What's the latest on Charlie Cresswell to Rangers?
According to Football League World, the Light Blues have had an offer turned down by English Championship side Leeds United for centre-back Charlie Cresswell.
The report claims that the Gers made a bid for the Millwall loanee's services, although the fee remains undisclosed at this time, and it was not enough to tempt the Whites into cashing in on the young talent.
It states that Michael Beale is interested in signing the 20-year-old enforcer, whose contract at Elland Road runs until 2025, and it now remains to be seen whether or not the Scottish giants will return with a second proposal.
Rangers have been busy in the transfer market this summer as they have already confirmed four new arrivals ahead of next season; including Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, and Sam Lammers.
Three of those players, with Lammers being the exception, are coming up from England, and Cresswell is the latest gem from Beale's home country to be targeted.
Who is Charlie Cresswell?
The central defender, who was once hailed as "unbelievable" by Leeds presenter Joe Wainman, is a talented young player who is coming off the back of an impressive campaign in the Championship on loan at Millwall.
Millwall loanee Charlie Cresswell.
Despite his young age, Cresswell, whose heading ability was lauded as "powerful" by journalist Josh Bunting, proved himself to be capable of delivering consistently excellent performances in the second tier of English football.
He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 across 28 league appearances for the Lions and used his strength to win 60% of his individual duels, which shows that the towering 6 foot 3 colossus was able to dominate opposition forwards on a regular basis and that his youthful inexperience did not make him a liability from a physical perspective.
Connor Goldson, meanwhile, (7.29) was the only Rangers centre-back to average a higher average Sofascore rating than the English machine in the Scottish Premiership last term. This indicates that the Whites prospect is already performing at a level that could be an upgrade on Beale's other defensive options outside of Goldson.
The 20-year-old titan, who made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game, also has Premier League experience. Cresswell won 65% of his contests across five top-flight outings for Leeds in 21/22 as a teenager, which highlights how highly rated he is within the walls at Elland Road.
Therefore, this bid being rejected by the Championship side is a blow for Beale as the young battler has the potential to be an excellent signing for the Light Blues.
New MLS and Inter Miami signing Lionel Messi has claimed that he doesn't care about winning the Ballon d’Or anymore.
How many times has Messi won the Ballon d’Or?
The Argentine has won the personal accolade on seven different occasions between 2009 and 2021, with old adversary Cristiano Ronaldo second on the all-time list with five awards to his name.
This combined with the fact that he has now essentially completed football – having won the 2022 World Cup last winter – means many feel as though Messi is the greatest footballer of all time.
And at 35 years of age, it appears as though we are sadly coming towards the very end of his career as the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain man has decided to leave the European game and head to America.
Paris St Germain'sLionelMessi
Even so, he departs having still delivered the goods over the past season, most notably with Argentina in Qatar, and so could possibly win the Ballon d’Or for pulling off such a remarkable achievement.
However, it seems as though Messi is not particularly interested in the prize anymore as he made clear in a recent interview (via @AlbicelesteTalk on Twitter).
|ndeed, he told the press: "Does Ballon d’Or matter to me? No, at this stage in my life, it is no longer important to me.
"I’ve always said, the individual prizes are not what matters to me, but the collective ones are the most important to me. The most important prize at the moment is the World Cup. This is the greatest prize for me."
Who will win the 2023 Ballon d’Or?
Unsurprisingly, Messi clearly cherishes his World Cup win above anything else he's achieved on a personal level over the course of his career.
Even so, his numerous Ballon d’Or wins will help future generations understand just how special he was as a player. With that in mind, the award does still hold real value and it will be interesting to see who it will go to win it in 2023, if not Messi.
As per Goal, they still rank the Argentine as the favourite at this moment in time. After that, Erling Haaland of Manchester City – with 53 goals, nine assists, a Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup under his belt – is in second.
While Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Kevin De Bruyne make up the rest of the top five.
Facing a side resting three first-choice bowlers in a dead rubber, Steven Smith’s Australia were shot out for 167 as South Africa romped to a six-wicket win and a 4-0 lead in the series
The Report by Daniel Brettig09-Oct-2016 Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:56
By the Numbers – SA bowlers equal lbw record
Australian hand-wringing about taking an under-strength bowling attack to South Africa was placed in sharp perspective on a breezy morning in Port Elizabeth. Facing a South African side resting three first-choice bowlers in a dead rubber, Steven Smith’s side were shot out for a mere 167 to set-up a six-wicket win.Kyle Abbott and Tabraiz Shamsi were the chief tormentors of the tourists, the former finding exactly the right length to best use the early movement on offer, the latter re-opening the sorts of wounds inflicted by Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers on Australia’s previous tour with a clever spell of left arm wrist-spin. Neither had been needed in the live matches.Save for a 50 by Mitchell Marsh and a punchy contribution from Matthew Wade, the most notable moment for Australia was Wade’s running battle with Shamsi. This culminated in something very near to a physical clash as Wade hung his elbow out while running past Shamsi, causing the umpires to intervene.There were further exchanges as the Australians sought to defend their meagre total. Clearly the visitors had intended to fight this one out, but despite an improved bowling effort they never really had a chance to bowl South Africa out. A pair of missed chances did not help either, most notably a sitter dropped by Adam Zampa off Faf du Plessis, who went on to top-score with 69.Overall this was another performance South Africa could be proud of, demonstrating that their ODI squad presently has plenty of depth to it. South Africa had withdrawn the injured David Miller plus Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir. In their places were Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Aaron Phangiso and Shamsi.The visitors made only one change to the team that lost from such a strong position in Durban, recalling Scott Boland for Daniel Worrall. Australia’s batsmen had regained some of their former strut at Kingsmead, and after Smith won the toss the expectation would have been to capitalise on a seemingly weakened home attack.However, Abbott took full advantage of both his first start in the series and a modicum of early seam movement with the new ball. First he bowled Aaron Finch through the gate with a lovely delivery that shaped to swing away before cutting back, then followed up with an appreciably quicker ball that surprised Warner with pace and movement back between bat and pad.Kyle Abbott picked up 4 for 40 in his first game of the series•Associated PressAt the other end, Dwaine Pretorius provided a neat contrast with his greater height and high action, angling one back to George Bailey for an lbw verdict from the umpire Nigel Llong. All of a sudden Australia were 12 for 3, the innings in grim shape and the allrounder Marsh already at the crease.He and Smith tried to steady things for a time, but the introduction of Shamsi’s left-arm wristspin brought another period of South African jubilation. Smith propped forward to a ball straightening down the line of the stumps, and a review found he was struck in line for the lbw. In the same over, Travis Head played inside a delivery that straightened past his groping blade, and a scoreline of 50 for 5 was the deflating result.Not for the first time in his career, Wade came out spoiling for a fight, and a series of verbal confrontations with Shamsi escalated to the point that he hung out an elbow while running more or less straight at the bowler. That moment caused Llong to speak to both players and call for calm.Marsh played sensibly meanwhile, forging to 50 and offering Australia the faintest hope of a reasonable tally. However he had not made another run when Abbott returned to coax an outside edge, and re-commence the procession of wickets. Wade and Chris Tremain were able to add a pesky 46, but even that still left Australia with comfortably their lowest ODI total at St George’s Park.Tremain delivered a decent opening spell at the start of South Africa’s pursuit, which began before the scheduled innings break because Australia’s innings had ended so quickly. Hashim Amla was lbw to a break-back before Quinton de Kock picked out deep square leg with a sweetly-struck pull shot.However du Plessis and JP Duminy were able to carry the hosts past halfway to the target, notably getting on top of the experienced John Hastings once again: his high economy has been one of many problems for Smith’s team. Zampa’s drop of du Plessis did not help either, causing plenty of befuddled looks on the team balcony.When du Plessis did finally fall, the tourists upped their intensity in the middle, “chirping” frequently at the new batsman Farhaan Behardien. But it was sound and fury signifying nothing, as the total was reeled in with 87 balls to spare. A whitewash looms in Cape Town.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsPakistan’s Old Trafford drubbing is already feeling a long time ago. On the second day at Edgbaston, Azhar Ali’s tenth Test century, and a second-wicket stand of 181 with Sami Aslam, carried Pakistan to a strong position as they closed on 257 for 3, just 40 short of England’s total, only for the gloss to be taken off slightly when Azhar fell to the final ball.Yet it was still an outstanding innings. Azhar had made just 39 runs in four innings during the first two Tests but here showed the determination and fight that Pakistan needed from one of their senior batsmen. He reached his century when he gloved his tenth boundary down to fine leg during the final session, celebrating extravagantly and following the lead of his captain at Lord’s with a set of press-ups.England paid the price for dropping him twice. On 38 Joe Root moved late for an edge at second slip and the on 69 Moeen Ali could not hold a stinging return catch. Those moments were part of a day of increasing frustration for England. James Anderson was warned twice in an over by Bruce Oxenford for running on the danger area on a day when his grumpy side was on full display. It would not be surprising if some of his actions gained the interest of the match referee, although after play he said he had apologised to both umpires, Oxenford and Joel Wilson.In many ways, however, the story of the day belonged to 20-year-old Aslam who made a wonderfully composed 82 having been recalled to replace Shan Masood. He was closing in on becoming the youngest opener to make a century in England when, having run superbly between the wickets with Azhar during their 62-over stand, he was sold short by his team-mate when he chanced a single to point. James Vince provided the spark England desperately needed when he swooped and hit direct with a fierce shy.But the breakthrough did not bring immediate further success. Younis Khan was unconvincing, repeatedly being beaten as he continued to move around the crease, but survived to reach the close with 21 off 68 balls and Azhar was one delivery away from walking off unbeaten with him only to jab at Chris Woakes’ final ball and send the edge to Alastair Cook at first slip.England’s day had started promisingly when Mohammad Hafeez, playing in his 50th Test, cut the fourth ball of the innings low to point: it ended up being their high point as the bowlers did not take a wicket for the next 89.1 overs with the Pakistan line-up, led by their second-wicket pair, putting England’s 297 into context.After the first day’s play, Gary Ballance, the top-scorer, suggested they were content with the total in what he said were tough conditions. Twenty-four hours later, though, not only did Misbah-ul-Haq’s decision to bowl look even more well-informed, but Aslam and Azhar had given an exemplary display of what a bit of graft – not a word often associated with this England batting order, except for Cook – can bring. England will consider that they did not make the most of the first new ball, bowling a fraction short and wide, and will have to follow-up Woakes’ late strike with further inroads on the third morning to even the contest.Both Aslam and Azhar were content to bide their time: 72 runs came in the first session and 82 in the second. They left well, backing themselves to soak up the pressure when maidens were strung together, pushing England’s bowlers deep into the day. Even with a five-man attack, if wickets are hard to come by the strain will be felt.To add to the quality of Aslam’s innings was the fact that he had not had a first-class knock since last December. His smart leaving meant the bowlers were drawn into being straighter, when he would either knock them into the off-side gaps or work them off his pads, and neither was he unsettled when he ducked into a short ball from Woakes that struck the back of his helmet. He rarely looked hurried into his shots and only attacked when it was a low-risk option.He also showed that trait of all Pakistan batsmen: the desire to target Moeen. Either side of tea he pressed his accelerator against the spinner, reaching his fifty with a paddle sweep then providing a repeat before twice biffing Moeen over mid-on, the second of them clearing the boundary. His strike rate against Moeen was 108, the best against the seamers was 50 against Steven FinnHis departure was unfortunate, but what Pakistan could ill-afford was for it to knock Azhar off his stride and give England an opening to claw their way back. He did not linger long in the 90s, reaching his second century against England, and then kicked on ahead of the second new-ball being due. He then began setting himself again, adding just another 10 runs off 40 balls, before his concentration let him down at the last moment. However, he has given his team a platform from which to dominate. The full context of this innings will emerge over the next few days, but it has the potential to achieve something very significant for Pakistan.
رد المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، كارلو أنشيلوتي، على اتهامات مدرب برشلونة، تشافي، بأن قناة الملكي ترهب الحكام في الدوري الإسباني.
وهناك حملة من قبل نادي برشلونة من خلال تصريحات تشافي وكذلك رئيسه، خوان لابورتا، ضد ريال مدريد بأن قناة الأخير تعرض أخطاء الحكام وبالتالي هناك إرهاب لهم.
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وقال أنشيلوتي في مؤتمره الصحفي قبل قليل استعدادًا لمباراة الديربي أمام أتلتيكو مدريد غدًا: “أنا مدرب محترف، لن أنحدر إلى هذا المستوى، احترامًا للكرة الإسبانية”.
وعن حالة روديجر: “لقد تحسن أنطونيو كثيرًا، سنقيم حالته غدًا ونتخذ قرارًا بشأنه، لم تكن إصابة قوية في العضلة، لكن يجب علينا ألا نتعجل”.
وأضاف: “هناك خيار قد نرى كامافينجا في خط الدفاع بجانب كارفاخال وفيرلاند ميندي، مركز جديد لم يشارك به من قبل، لكن لديه كل الإمكانات لذلك، لأنه سريع وقوي، والتواجد في مركز قلب الدفاع سهل لأن عليك أن تستخدم رأسك أكثر من قدمك”.
وعن مشكلة الإصابات في الدفاع: “لدينا بعض اللاعبين القادرين على تعويض الغائبين مثل تشواميني في مكان ديفيد ألابا، إذا لم يلعب روديجر سيشارك كامافينجا مكانه، مع العلم أن هذا الوضع لن يستمر للأبد”.
وإمكانية عودة ميليتاو: “برنامجه يسير بشكل جيد للغاية، قد يكون مع الفريق بحلول نهاية شهر مارس أو أبريل”.