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Brydon Coverdale presents the Plays of the day from the third day of the first Test between South Africa and Australia

Brydon Coverdale at the Wanderers28-Feb-2009
Is this a question? Is this an answer? © Getty Images
Referring to what?
There was widespread confusion at the Wanderers when Ricky Ponting made a quick decision to refer Steve Bucknor’s not-out call for an appeal for a leg-side catch off JP Duminy. The players and umpires stood around waiting for a decision but the TV coverage didn’t cut to the replays. After a couple of minutes, the players started making their way back to their positions to resume the over while Ponting and Bucknor had an animated chat. There was uncertainty over whetherPonting had withdrawn the referral but it turned out the relevant TV camera had broken down and the third umpire couldn’t see any footage. When the replays were finally found after play resumed there was no evidence that Duminy had hit the ball.Peer support
Not a single decision has been overturned as a result of the referral system in this Test. Billy Bowden gave Bucknor a pat on the back when his decision to send Neil McKenzie on his way lbw was backed up by Asad Rauf on referral. Then came a couple of occasions when Bowden’s line-ball calls were upheld. Mark Boucher was adjudged caught-behind and was clearly convinced he hadn’t hit it, although Rauf couldn’t see any hard evidence to disagree with Bowden. Then Andrew McDonald was certain he had AB de Villiers lbw. Bowden said noand though it could easily have been given out, again there was no firm proof for Rauf to overturn the call.Take my advice …
McKenzie’s lbw looked out to most observers and it was a surprise when he asked for a referral. Perhaps the fact that Bucknor took so long to adjudicate placed some doubt in McKenzie’s mind. His partner at the time, de Villiers, wasn’t in any such doubt. “He asked me and I said it looked out,” de Villiers said. “He said we’ll take a chance and it’s worth taking a chance, it could be outside the line it could have run down [leg side] but it looked pretty plumb from where I wasstanding and that’s what I told him but he was adamant he should use the referral.”The one that got away
Ironically, the one decision that would have been overturned came at a time when South Africa declined to use their referral. Morne Morkel bounced Phillip Hughes and there was a big appeal as he tried to fend the ball down and it sailed through to Boucher. Graeme Smithdidn’t ask for a referral and it was a shame for South Africa – the replays showed there was some glove and Hughes would have been out for 21.A fillip for Phillip
After his ugly duck in the first innings of his debut, Hughes was again desperate to get off the mark in the second innings. However, he took a more cautious approach. A clip off the legs for a single in the first over could have been the moment he was waiting for, except that Bucknor called it a leg-bye. But in the next over a cracking four through cover off Makhaya Ntini gave South African fans their first look at Hughes’ skill.Decisions, decisions
Ponting doesn’t like to enforce the follow-on – he has done it only twice in his time as Test captain – and despite taking a first-innings advantage of 246 and despite the potential for rain in the next couple of days, he again declined to send South Africa in a second time. It meant he faced the tough call of how long to bat to allow his bowlers time to dismiss South Africa a second time, which in turn made it even stranger that he accepted the umpires’ offer to go off for bad lightwith an hour and a half of play still remaining.Tackling a hard Steyn
As a crocodile and several Australian batsmen have discovered in the past few months, Steyn is not a man you want to antagonise. Peter Siddle clearly hasn’t learnt that lesson. While Steyn tried to help South Africa push past the follow-on mark, Siddle peppered him with a barrage of bouncers. It was brave but also the kind of tactic that will come back to haunt Australia’s No. 10. Siddle wasn’t worried. “It’s part of Test cricket isn’t it?” he said. “Everyone is going to cop it one day. It’s going to happen to me. There’s plenty more times I’m going to get bounced out there so I don’t think I have to worry about just him.”

Leeds United must return for Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien in the January transfer window amid Kevin Campbell’s transfer claim.

What’s the story?

Marcelo Bielsa’s side failed in their attempts to sign the 22-year-old in the summer, with The Athletic’s Phil Hay reporting that the Whites simply did not want to pay the money that the Terriers were demanding.

However, Campbell has now suggested that the Whites could well return for the midfield dynamo when January comes around.

He said: “The money is there. Sometimes these transfers are to fatten your squad up. The player might not go into the starting 11 straight away.

“£8million to fatten the squad when Leeds actually have players who can do a job, maybe it wasn’t the priority. Maybe they will bide their time and return for him in January.”

Could answer Marcelo Bielsa’s prayers

While Leeds addressed their need for a new senior left-back (Junior Firpo), and a winger to challenge the likes of Jack Harrison and Raphinha (Dan James), one area of real interest on which they failed to deliver was a new central midfielder.

The decision not to pay up for O’Brien now places an even bigger demand on the limited options Bielsa currently has, and the Leeds manager will be hoping and praying that the likes of Kalvin Phillips can stay injury-free.

A January move for O’Brien would go a long way to ensuring that the Whites are well protected in that department.

Huddersfield Town writer Steven Chicken has raved about the 22-year-old’s work-rate and ability to develop into a Premier League player despite only playing at Championship level thus far.

He said: “O’Brien is a left-footed, tough-tackling central midfielder. Former Huddersfield boss Danny Cowley often praised O’Brien as being ‘like having two players’, with the midfielder receiving particular praise from his manager and fans alike for his ability and willingness to rush back and win the ball with a clean sliding tackle whenever his side were caught on the counter-attack.

“He certainly has the potential to be (a Premier League player), if he’s not already.”

As per WhoScored, O’Brien averaged two tackles and one interception per game in the Championship last season, which is only slightly less than the 2.6 tackles and 1.6 interceptions that Phillips managed in the top flight.

The £5k-a-week ace should be a top target for Leeds once again when the January transfer window comes around in a few months’ time. Signing him would solve one of Bielsa’s big problems of not having enough depth in central midfield.

Meanwhile, Leeds must unleash this starlet who’s more exciting than Dan James…

Aston Villa won’t entertain any late offers for midfielder Douglas Luiz and aren’t expected to make any further additions to Dean Smith’s squad.

That’s according to Matt Maher of The Express and Star, and his update has had a number of Villa fans talking on social media.

Villa have been fairly busy this summer, making four permanent signings at a cost of £95m while also bringing in Axel Tuanzebe on loan.

Jack Grealish’s £105m move to Manchester City has helped Villa bring in just shy of £115m in departures, but it could be a quiet deadline day at Bodymoor Heath.

Maher suggested that Villa won’t discuss offers for Luiz, who has been linked with a move to Roma, and barring any late twists, there won’t be a sixth arrival at Villa Park.

Villa fans react

Maher shared the news on Twitter on Monday afternoon regarding Luiz and Villa’s unlikely deadline day activity.

Here’s what some had to say in reply, with one labelling it as ‘disappointing’.

“Wow. We are short and it’s clear to see.”

Credit: @AVFCTheReligion

“Smith Out otherwise we’re finishing below 11th with our squad”

Credit: @SuperVillaDad

“no more incomings – were bottlers”

Credit: @JackAVFC77

“Mid table season at best then. Quality CM needed badly to push on. Disappointing.”

Credit: @Paulcass10

“we’re finished”

Credit: @1874dan

“Lack of recruitment in midfield is a joke. The depth of quality is a huge issue. Outside of McGinn and Luiz were suddenly relying on constant form from kids. Not good enough”

Credit: @MrLukeCE

In other news: ‘Noooooo’, ‘Big mistake’ – Lots of Villa fans flock to more ‘dreadful’ transfer news. 

West Ham United right-back Vladimir Coufal ‘wants a salary that reflects his performances on the field’, according to The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas. 

The lowdown

West Ham signed Coufal from Slavia Prague last October in a £5.4m deal (via BBC Sport). The Czech international went on to start 34 Premier League games in his debut season in east London, contributing seven assists. Of his team-mates, only Aaron Cresswell (eight) set up more goals in 2020/21.

Coufal also averaged 2.6 clearances, 2.1 tackles and 1.6 successful aerial duels per match last term (via WhoScored), and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher included the ‘brilliant’ defender in his team of the season, saying that his performances summed up the Irons’ campaign.

The latest

In a Q&A for The Athletic, Thomas was asked by a supporter to explain the situation with Coufal. He said that the 28-year-old, who isn’t ‘one of the high earners’ at the London Stadium, wanted an improved deal.

Coufal’s current contract runs until 2023, and there is an option to extend it by another two years.

The verdict

The Czech right-back has been one of West Ham’s strongest performers since his arrival, playing an instrumental role in their successful push for European football last season, so it’s hard to argue he doesn’t deserve a salary hike.

He’ll probably be looking at the wages paid to the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Issa Diop, which sit at £70,000-a-week each, and protesting that his contribution is far greater. The players’ respective WhoScored ratings from 2020/21 would suggest that Coufal has a fair argument, with the 28-year-old earning just under £31,000 per week.

If there isn’t a swift resolution, you might wonder if other Premier League clubs will begin sniffing around once they hear of his reported discontent. He has shown himself to be a dependable performer at this level, so the Irons hierarchy should perhaps take his feelings on board and ensure that his relationship with the club isn’t damaged.

In other news, West Ham have set their sights on signing this defender.

Everton head into their opening Premier League clash next week in a bit of a sticky situation.

They were ruthlessly beaten 4-0 by Manchester United in pre-season on Saturday so the Toffees will need to significantly improve.

However, with Rafa Benitez spending rather meagre sums so far, it’s been a rather anticlimactic summer to date.

On the chalkboard

Everton have looked to strengthen their options on the wing heading into the new season.

They’ve added Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend to their ranks but you sense they still need a signing of fairly high calibre in that region of the pitch.

Leon Bailey was linked with a move to Goodison Park but ultimately joined Aston Villa instead.

Everton signed James Rodriguez last summer but they lack quality and depth beyond that. Alex Iwobi is the prime example.

Signed for a whopping £34m, he’s scored just four goals since moving to Merseyside and such was his lack of end product that Carlo Ancelotti started fielding him at wing-back.

The solution

One answer to Benitez’s problems could be Josip Brekalo.

The Wolfsburg gem was touted with a move to Goodison Park a few months ago but it looks as though they still have a keen eye on the 23-year-old wide man.

That’s according to Transfer Market Web who suggest a bargain fee of €15m (£12.7m) will be enough to sign him. However, they will need to fend off interest from a number of other clubs including Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.

If they secure his signature then he’d represent a huge upgrade on Iwobi.

For starters, he scored more goals this season than the Everton winger has managed in his entire Everton career to date.

Brekalo found the net on seven occasions last term, taking his tally in Wolfsburg colours to 21 overall.

He also added three assists as he earned his place in Croatia’s squad for Euro 2020.

Not only does Brekalo have end product – something that Iwobi lacks – but he’s also incredibly progressive with the ball.

Described as a player who can “torment defenders everywhere” by journalist Ronan Murphy, he ranks in the 75th percentile for total carrying distance of the ball across Europe’s top five leagues.

Iwobi ranks higher in that department but without goals and assists, it rather counts for nothing.

Dismally, the Nigerian ranks in the 29th percentile for shot-creating actions while Brekalo ranks in the 67th percentile.

As a result, it’s evident why the young attacker would be such an upgrade on Iwobi.

AND in other news, Everton may repeat Lacina Traore howler by signing 83-cap gem Rafa compared to Shearer…

Namibia can make significant strides towards their first Intercontinental Cup final when they take on bottom-of-the-table Bermuda in Hamilton. They are currently second in the table, level on points with Scotland, but have two games in hand

Cricinfo staff01-Sep-2008
Gerrie Snyman is a key part of Namibia’s strong batting line-up © Getty Images
Namibia can make significant strides towards their first Intercontinental Cup final when they take on bottom-of-the-table Bermuda in Hamilton. They are currently second in the table, level on points with Scotland, but have two games in hand.Once again they are boosted by having a full-strength squad available, a factor which has been in their favour during the tournament while other sides have struggled to field their best elevens.Their quartet of Burgers (Louis, Sarel, JB and Kola) form the backbone of the side. They are supported by Gerrie Snyman, who scored 230 out of a total of 282 to set up victory against Kenya in January, as well as Louis Klazinga and Bjorn Kotze, who have also performed well in the tournament so far.Also included in the squad is 18-year-old Bernard Scholtz, a slow left-armer who impressed during this year’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. Scholtz, whose 21-year-old brother Nicolaas is also in the squad, could make his debut on Wednesday.”Bernard was one of the top bowlers in Malaysia last February and I have been impressed with him,” said coach Johan Rudolph. “He is still in school and very young but we thought he would benefit from being here. Whether he makes the final eleven for the match will depend on pitch conditions and how he goes in the nets but he is certainly one to watch for the future.”An outright win for Namibia would almost guarantee a spot in November’s final although mathematically there would still be a chance that both Kenya and Ireland could overtake them.”We are well prepared for this,” said Rudolph. “Everyone is fit and ready to go and I am very happy with our preparations. To get to the final or win this tournament would be huge for Namibian cricket. It would mean a hell of a lot to us and our sponsors. We are competing as a [ICC World Cricket League] Division 2 side against Division 1 teams in this competition and we are competing well. If we win it, it will be great for the sport in our country.”Our strength probably lies in our seam attack. We are able to put sides under pressure with our consistency and pace,” he added. “Then we have a few individual batsmen capable of scoring big runs. Altogether I am very happy with how we are developing.”For Bermuda, the only thing left to play for in this year’s Intercontinental Cup is pride and a place off the bottom of the table. A win for Irving Romaine’s team would lift them two places, ahead of United Arab Emirates and the 2006-07 finalist Canada, who are locked in joint-seventh position on 29 points.Namibia (from) Louis Burger (captain), Raymond van Schoor, JB Burger, Sarel Burger, Gerrie Snyman, Deon Kotze, Bjorn Kotze, Tobie Verwey, Craig Williams, Kola Burger, Nicolaas Scholtz, Bernard Scholtz, LP van der Westhuizen, Louis KlazingaBermuda (from) Irving Romaine (captain), Rodney Trott, Jekon Edness, Lionel Cann, Dwayne Leverock, Stephen Outerbridge, Ryan Steede, Christopher Douglas, Deloyne Borden, Oronde Bascome, Tamauri Tucker, Stefan Kelly, George O’Brien, Kyle Hodsoll

Kenya 6 41 0 0 1 96 1.3672075/73 2079/100 Namibia 5 50 0 0 0 82 1.2562390/83 2246/98 Scotland 7 31 0 2 1 82 1.3021969/69 1972/90 Ireland 5 30 0 2 0 72 2.6252261/38 1700/75 Netherlands 7 34 0 0 0 48 0.7713050/128 3030/98 U.A.E. 7 15 0 1 0 29 0.7873024/124 3129/101 Canada 7 15 0 1 0 29 0.7822814/114 3094/98 Bermuda 6 15 0 0 0 26 0.6552513/120 2846/89

Fulham have made the first move in their bid to bring Michael Obafemi to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claimed that Tony Khan has made an approach to Southampton regarding the availability of the 21-year-old striker ahead of a potential move for the Republic of Ireland under-21 international in what remains of the summer transfer window.

Indeed, talkSPORT’s Alex Crook recently claimed in a post on Twitter that Blackburn Rovers, Bournemouth and Fulham, as well as a host of other Championship clubs, are interested in the striker, with whom Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are believed to be willing to part ways this summer.

However, following Football League World’s latest update, it would seem as if the Cottagers could be leading the race for Obafemi.

Fans will be buzzing

With Khan having already landed two impressive signings in the shape of Harry Wilson and Paulo Gazzaniga in the summer transfer window, reports that Fulham’s director of football appears intent on continuing the Cottagers’ business in the transfer market – particularly for a player as exciting as Obafemi – are sure to have the Craven Cottage faithful buzzing.

Indeed, despite starting just eight of his 21 Premier League appearances back in 2019/20, the £2.7m-rated centre-forward still bagged three goals, provided two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 0.6 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

As such, taking into account that the £12k-per-week Obafemi is still just 21 years of age, the man who Hasenhuttl dubbed a “quality” player would very much seem to be an incredibly exciting prospect.

If Khan can follow up on his initial contact with an acceptable offer for the striker, the prospective signing of the Southampton starlet certainly appears to have the potential to go down as something of a transfer masterclass by the Cottagers co-owner.

In other news: Bye-bye Seri: Khan must seal Fulham deal for £518k-rated gem, he won’t cost a penny

واصل رمضان صبحي ومحمد حمدي لاعبا فريق نادي بيراميدز التدريبات التأهيلية على هامش المباراة الودية التي تجمع بين بيراميدز والاتحاد السعودي بملعب الأخير في مدينة جدة بالمملكة.

ويستعد بيراميدز لمواجهة إيسترن كومباني يوم 22 من يونيو الجاري ضمن لقاءات الدوري المصري.

وفضل الجهاز الفني بقيادة اليوناني تاكيس جونياس استمرار الثنائي في برنامج التأهيل، لتجهيزهما بعد الإصابات الأخيرة، للمشاركة في المباريات بالدوري والكأس.

بيراميدز يحتل وصافة جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 43 نقطة، بفارق نقطة واحدة عن الزمالك المتصدر.

طالع| طبيب بيراميدز يوضح حجم إصابة محمد حمدي

يذكر، أن بيراميدز سيخوض مباراة قوية أمام الأهلي يوم 26 من يونيو الجاري في كأس مصر بنسخته القديمة.

Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Manchester City midfielder Claudio Gomes as Patrick Vieira begins to make his mark in south London.

What’s the story?

According to 90min.com, the 20-year-old has attracted the attention of the Eagles, who could be tempted to pursue a loan move for the Frenchman over the coming months.

The report claimed that Palace may decide to fill up their Premier League loan quota with a handful of Arsenal or City players this summer, and Gomes is a prime candidate.

Parish must sanction Palace swoop for Gomes

It’s set to be an intriguing summer at Selhurst Park as Vieira oversees a major overhaul of the first team squad.

Several key figures have departed the capital club following the expiration of their contracts last month, leaving Palace threadbare in multiple positions.

The former Nice manager will have to bolster his ranks on a shoestring budget due to the financial impact of the ongoing pandemic, which means that astute loan signings could be vitally important.

Therefore, chairman Steve Parish must sanction a swoop for Gomes over the coming months in order to provide Vieira with the tools he requires to succeed at Selhurst Park.

Although he lack experience in senior football, the youngster comes with an enviable pedigree and was lauded by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola back in 2018.

When asked about Gomes’ contribution in training, the Spaniard said: “He has been so good, so good,”

When questioned on whether the youngster would be a part of City’s first team squad the following season, Guardiola added: “My opinion is that at that age you have to play. You need minutes, if not with us, then with the second team.

“But it could be like what happened with Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz – he could stay with us because from what we have seen in these days, the impression is good, so good.”

Gomes has found opportunities hard to come by in the Manchester City first team, making just three appearances in the domestic cups, two of those coming in the 2018/19 campaign.

However, he could be a valuable addition to Palace’s ranks, replacing the likes of James McCarthy while allowing Vieira to focus his resources on other positions.

In other news… Imagine him and Olise: Parish could form a dream duo with Palace swoop for 16-goal gem 

Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla is reportedly on the verge of joining La Liga side Elche on a season-long loan deal this summer.

The Lowdown: Casilla plays second fiddle

The Whites had a number of standout performers last season, with Illan Meslier outstanding between the sticks throughout the campaign. The young Frenchman’s form saw Casilla deemed almost surplus to requirements, however, with the 34-year-old limited to just three Premier League appearances.

A move away from Leeds this summer appears to make sense and it looks as though that will happen imminently, despite director of football Victor Orta once claiming that he was ‘very proud’ of the Spaniard.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Spaniard set for loan move

According to Football Insider, Casilla is on the verge of returning to his homeland and joining Elche on a season-long loan.

A move is expected to be completed ‘in the coming days’, with Marcelo Bielsa then looking for a replacement backup to Meslier ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

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The Verdict: Right decision for all parties

It makes perfect sense for Casilla to part ways with Leeds, considering his lack of playing time at Elland Road recently. At 34, the once-capped Spain international is still at an age where he can be a regular elsewhere, so it benefits everybody for the Spaniard to enjoy a fresh challenge this summer.

Bielsa now just needs to make sure he has an able deputy for Meslier brought in, should Leeds’ first-choice ‘keeper pick up an injury next season or suffer a slump in form.

In other news, one Premier League side are set to rival Leeds for the signing of one player. Find out who it is here.