Harbhajan Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who missed the mandatory fitness tests prior to their inclusion for the first two Tests against South Africa, will undergo the procedure at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on March 21.Both Harbhajan and Dhoni were included by the selectors in the 14-member squad, and were asked to report to the NCA for fitness tests on March 21. Harbhajan was a doubtful starter for the series since he had been suffering from a hamstring injury, while Dhoni had sprained his finger during the second final against Australia in the CB Series.If Dhoni doesn’t clear the test, Dinesh Karthik will take up the wicketkeeping duties, while Harbhajan’s absence may pave the way for Piyush Chawla to take over the second spinner’s role behind captain Anil Kumble. Fast bowler Ishant Sharma has already been ruled out of the first Test, and his selection for the second is subject to fitness.Sachin Tendulkar is another member of the 14-man squad who has not taken the test. According to new BCCI norms, players who have been out of action for a month need to prove their fitness at the NCA ahead of any series. Although Tendulkar had taken part in the CB Series earlier this month, he had been advised two weeks’ rest by John Gloster, the outgoing team physio. However, Tendulkar later said he was fit to take part in the series.
Daryl Tuffey should be ready to bowl before the end of the month, as his recovery from a shoulder injury progresses. Tuffey, who was sent home from the World Cup when he sustained the problem in March, said he was focusing on a potential international return at the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September.”The arm is pretty good,” Tuffey told the . “If I needed to bowl I could be bowling but they [New Zealand Cricket] don’t want me to take any chances.” He said he should be “in the mix” for the Twenty20 squad, and if selected it would be a good way to ease back in with short matches.Tuffey also voiced his support for his Northern Districts team-mate, Daniel Vettori, who is a strong chance to be made New Zealand’s new one-day captain after the resignation of Stephen Fleming. Tuffey said the two had different perspectives on the field.”I’ve been under both of them and I found they are kind of different,” he said. “Flem is a batsman so comes from that mentality and Dan is a bowler. I think Dan’s a fine captain. He will make a fine one-day captain from what I witnessed with him at ND.”
The Welsh women’s team received television coverage last night when their first tour abroad to Barbados was featured in a documentary.The documentary – in the Wynebau Newydd (New Faces) series – followed two players: Rachel Nicholas and Rhian Davies, both aged 24 and both bowlers for the team.”We’ve taken enough stick from boys over the years that women can’t play cricket,” Nicholas said, “but now they’ve seen that we’re good enough to take them on.”Davies added that Wales are planning a tour to South Africa in the autumn. “Things are looking up for the team now, but it’s been a long journey. After the tour, we got a new coach, Keith Newell, but we also became more close-knit as a squad,” she said. “We have learnt to talk to each other and to play for each other and not as individuals. It was character-building for us and the tour was a turning point.”
While it is generally assumed that the best cricket archives are found in the main cricket-playing countries, one of the best such archives is right here in the USA, at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. The C. Christopher Morris Cricket Library and collection is the largest collection of cricket literature and memorabilia in the Western Hemisphere.It includes over a thousand volumes, and a very large collection of related printed and photographic materials and items of cricket history. The initial suggestion for a cricket repository at Haverford College was made by John Lester, who proposed that cricket, “with a history and literature second to none,” should be given a permanent home in the United States. Haverford College would be an especially appropriate headquarters, he pointed out, because the library already held a considerable nucleus of material including a complete run of the original American Cricketer, a long run of Wisden’s Almanack and much other cricket literature no longer obtainable.The Library’s primary efforts focus on preserving the history of the game of cricket, especially in America, in all forms. The library’s mission is to be a repository where cricket records and memorabilia are exhibited, catalogued, researched and preserved for posterity. It is a place where the traditions of this unique game remain as an available part of the American heritage and where new generations may learn.Recently, the Library has added extensive computer capability at allow internet access to its collection. It has also started a collection of cricket videos, both historical and current in content, that are available in the library for viewing. The C. Christopher Morris Cricket Library is an experience into the rich history of the sport in America with the collection and exhibits bringing to life over 150 years of active cricket the US.
Flashpoint: Rikki Clarke lets fly to Mushfiqur Rahman
Rikki Clarke has been fined half of his match fee after his heated exchange with Mushfiqur Rahman during England’s opening Test against Bangladesh at DhakaClarke, who was making his Test debut, was hauled before Wasim Raja, the match referee, after England’s win, for verbally abusing Rahman on the fourth day. He was charged with a level-two offence under the Code of Conduct, and could potentially have had the embarrassment of becoming the first England player to be banned by the ICC.However, after a short hearing, 22-year-old Clarke escaped a ban. Instead he was fined 50% of his match fee, and will now available for selection in next week’s second Test at Chittagong.The flare-up happened when Clarke became frustrated after Rahman edged him through the vacant third-man area for four, and let the batsman know exactly how he felt with a string of expletives. The incident was spotted by Akhtaruddin, the third umpire, who then reported it to Raja.
New Zealand’s path to the finals of the tri-series in Australia was made a little more difficult when South Africa won the second match of the Adelaide yesterday.It is still possible that New Zealand can miss the finals. South Africa breathed life back into their campaign with the win while it is tempting realities for New Zealand to record five successive victories in ODIs against Australia.But that is what the side must do tomorrow in Melbourne when playing Australia if they are to secure their place in the finals.Newspaper comment on both sides of the Tasman picked through the bones of New Zealand’s defeat.The New Zealand Herald: “Having lost Saturday night’s batting star Nathan Astle to the first ball he received, New Zealand were always paddling upstream during the chase and in the end left their lower order too much work to do in too short a period of time.”Only captain Stephen Fleming, who grafted to 43, could make a meaningful contribution with the bat as South Africa took full advantage of a wearing pitch and moved into second place on the points table with 13. New Zealand have 17 and Australia 9.”Earlier in the day, New Zealand appeared to have the South African innings in a straitjacket at the midway point, but in circumstances similar to Saturday night’s effort, the batsmen managed to wriggle free and unleash several match-deciding overs of carnage.”From a modest 82 for two at the 25-over mark, the solid platform from Herschelle Gibbs (89) paid a rich dividend down the stretch as South Africa piled on 111 in the final 10 overs.”Most of the damage was inflicted by the scything blade of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who smashed 57 off a mere 32 balls, but there was plenty of destruction coming from the other end as well, with Jonty Rhodes cracked a quickfire 55.”Together the pair added 86 in a breathtaking 7.3 overs, their running between the wickets – including 15 singles and 11 twos – almost as much of a feature as their big hitting.”Sydney Morning Herald: “South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher put a blowtorch to the belly of the New Zealand bowling yesterday and brought a simmering innings to a violent boil in the one-day international at the Adelaide Oval.”With his side requiring at least two wins from three games to make the finals, Boucher (57no off 32 balls) conspired with Jonty Rhodes (55 off 54) to lead a flurry that delivered 111 runs from the last 10 overs for a total of 5-253.”New Zealand were dismissed for 160, giving South Africa a bonus point and putting them ahead of Australia. Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming provided the only resistance, scoring 43.”New Zealand had restricted South Africa to 142 after 40 overs but the Proteas had seven wickets in hand.”That platform had been established through the cautious deeds of opener Herschelle Gibbs, who resisted his tendency towards self-inflicted injury until the 43rd over, by which time he had compiled 89.”Boucher and Rhodes then put on 86 in a 45-ball blitzkrieg that put deep cracks in New Zealand’s composure.”Rhodes raised his 50 when dropped to one knee and swept Chris Cairns into the crowd, as the Kiwi all-rounder conceded 39 from his last two overs.”The Australian: “Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje took 4-31 after man-of-the-match Mark Boucher’s batting fireworks helped South Africa defeat New Zealand by 93 runs in their tri-series day-night clash at the Adelaide Oval.”The victory lifted South Africa to 13 points and second spot on the tri-series table behind New Zealand (17) and enabled them to leapfrog Australia (nine).”Each side has two more matches before the best-of-three finals series starts on February 6 in Melbourne.”Boucher scored the second fastest international limited overs half-century on Australian soil to set up the huge win.”South Africa overcame a sluggish start to make 5-253 in their 50 overs and then dismissed the Kiwis for 160 in the 46th over, earning a bonus point.”After a late barrage by Boucher (57 not out off 32 balls) and Jonty Rhodes (55 from 54 balls) set up the demanding South African total, the Kiwis never looked like getting close in their run-chase on a difficult pitch.”NZ opener Nathan Astle, who made 95 against Australia yesterday, was out for a golden duck, caught behind off Proteas skipper Shaun Pollock on the fourth ball of the innings.”
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
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 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.