All posts by h716a5.icu

The Australian domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League, moved a step closer to its new and revamped avatar, with eight new sides announcing fresh and innovative team names and colours

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-2011The Australian domestic Twenty20 competition, the Big Bash League, moved a step closer to its new and revamped avatar, with eight new sides announcing fresh and innovative team names and colours for the 2011 season which gets underway in December. The competition will feature sides based out of the main grounds in the capitals of each of the six Australian states. Melbourne and Sydney will house an extra team each at the Etihad Stadium, and the Sydney Olympic Park respectively.Cricket Australia’s Mike McKenna said the confirmation of team names was an important milestone in the league’s development. “Completing the process of developing team names is the first step in explaining to fans what the BBL will look like when teams take the field for the first time in December this year,” he said. “A lot has been achieved in a short space of time. While team names, colours and venues have been resolved, work is continuing on a number of other important features of the league, including team logos and uniform development, the competition match schedule, team and BBL operating structures, and the appointment of key personnel by teams.”The move to city, not state, names is a change from traditional Australian cricket. However in order to grow the game we need to move away from the existing state-based structure because we can’t increase the number of teams, and provide more opportunities for players, under the current system which is the core of our four-day and one-day cricket. It’s necessary we take this approach now so that BBL can help grow the game and evolve domestic T20 in Australia.”No-one’s underestimating the mountain of work that still needs to be completed before the tournament starts, including issues surrounding player allocation and private investment.”It’s critical we get the issue of private investment right before we roll out this new competition. We’ve got a meeting with all key parties from CA and the state associations scheduled which will look to finalise this issue and allow teams to continue discussions with potential investors.”In addition to the migration from a state to city-based franchise model, the BBL will also allow private ownership of the teams, though the modalities of investment are yet to be worked out. Despite the entry of private parties, state cricket associations are expected to retain a controlling stake, which is in contrast to the IPL, the biggest and most successful Twenty20 league. McKenna hinted that the focus of allocation will be on creating teams that are evenly matched.”As far as the allocation of players is concerned, we’ve come a long way towards working out the model by which players will be signed by teams,” he said. “We’ve been clear from the outset that we want an even spread of talent to give each team a chance to be successful.”Team nameColourVenueCoachAdelaide StrikersBlueAdelaide OvalDarren BerryBrisbane HeatTealGabbaDarren LehmannHobart HurricanesPurpleBellerive OvalTBCPerth ScorchersOrangeWACA GroundMickey ArthurMelbourne RenegadesRedEtihad StadiumSimon HelmotMelbourne StarsGreenMCGGreg ShipperdSydney SixersPinkSCGTBCSydney ThunderElectric greenSydney Olympic ParkTBC

India succumbed so meekly that Sri Lanka waltzed through to the tri-series final without breaking into a sweat

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera22-Aug-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Thissara Perera celebrated his maiden five-for•Cameraworx/Live ImagesSri Lanka came into the game needing to win to stay alive in the tournament. Their captain had made some prickly comments – “We don’t try and hide behind the press or hide behind our board” – on the eve of the game. One of their players was coming back from a ban and another had lost his match fee the previous time these two teams faced. One expected this game to be spicy. One anticipated some heat in the middle. One thought there would be a great fight. However, India succumbed so meekly that Sri Lanka waltzed through to the tri-series final without breaking into a sweat. India, after slipping to their worst defeat in terms of balls remaining, face New Zealand on Wednesday in a knockout.The Sri Lankan seamers, led by Thisara Perera, owned the first half of the game as India were shot out for 103. What stood out was Sri Lanka’s discipline in executing their plan to perfection. What surprised you was how easily India fell into the individual traps. And the chase was over in a blink.Sri Lanka had a plan for each batsman, simple in its thought and perfect in its execution. Far too often these days, Dinesh Karthik’s plan to tackle the moving ball, while opening, has been too one-dimensional: He walks down the track in an effort to make the bowler change the length. Nearly always, Kumar Sangakkara counters it by standing up to the stumps. If Karthik has a plan B, it doesn’t really come through with any sort of clarity. Today, again, Karthik began to stutter once Sangakkara stood up. Nuwan Kulasekara is known for his incutters but he kept pushing them away from Karthik’s outside edge. Sure enough, he fell to a delivery that straightened outside off, though the replays didn’t confirm the edge.For some time now, Rohit Sharma’s head-position and iffy foot work has dragged him into trouble. Time and again, he presses that front leg far too across and tries to get the bat around the front pad. Often, he doesn’t manage to do it in time. Today, too, he fell, trapped right in front by Angelo Mathews. The discipline in the plan came through again: For five deliveries (four in the over before the dismissal), Mathews took it away from Rohit before he brought one back in to get his man. India’s other young middle-order hope Suresh Raina was repeatedly tested with deliveries in the off-stump corridor. Raina, who’s recently been in good form, struggled to get on the front foot and paid the price. He edged one from Mathews, which led to a fierce appeal from all the close-in fielders, but wasn’t given out. He poked at a similar delivery from Perera and didn’t seem to get an inside edge but was given out this time.India slid further as MS Dhoni fell after a scratchy innings. In the recent past, he has developed a habit of walking forward and across and poking with uncertainty at seaming deliveries. Often, it has landed him in trouble. Today, he twice edged Perera just past the lone slip fielder placed slightly wide. On both occasions, Sangakkara was standing up to the stumps. As soon as Sangakkara went back, Dhoni walked forward and across, reached for another Perera delivery, got the outside edge and was caught.Only Yuvraj Singh looked in any sort of control. He unfurled a couple of gorgeous drives – one was caressed through extra cover and the other sped away between the bowler and mid-off. He hit a stunning six over wide long-off but fell, given out lbw when a Lasith Malinga delivery not only hit him outside the off stump but was also missing it. And the lower order didn’t last long – Ravindra Jadeja squeezed out to gully, Praveen Kumar fell to an over-ambitious hit, Ashish Nehra was bounced out, and Perera completed his maiden five-for when he bowled Ishant Sharma.India’s troubles had started early once their best batsman Virender Sehwag fell, trapped lbw by a trademark incutter from Kulasekara; the replays showed it would have clipped the leg stump. And Sri Lanka closed in.When the TV cameras cast their digital eye on the stands at the start of the morning, it caught a banner: ‘Randiv we are with you ‘. As it turned out, he didn’t have to bowl in the end. Another one went up at the half-way mark: “Tandoori chicken for Lion’s dinner- Rs 104”. Back in India, at least one news channel screamed – “Umpires cheat India”. It was a day when emotions ran high.

ESPNcricinfo previews the Netherlands’ chances in the 2011 World Cup

Andrew McGlashan14-Feb-2011For a country with the limited cricket resources of the Netherlands, making their fourth World Cup is an impressive effort. They are the least likely to cause an upset, especially with Ireland being the other minnow in their group, but they certainly won’t suffer from a lack of desire and determination.You only have to ask England about that. Remember Lord’s in 2009? It may have been Twenty20 and not 50-over cricket, but Netherlands’ final-ball victory in the opening match of the tournament was one of the biggest shocks in cricket history. And, in a neat fluke of scheduling, their first match in the World Cup is against Andrew Strauss’s team. Only one team has anything to lose in that one.However, as with the likes of Ireland, Kenya and Canada – not to mention the Associates who narrowly missed out, such as Afghanistan – this is looking like a last hurrah at this major global event. With ten teams slated for the 2015 tournament, even though TV rights say there have to be the same number of matches, the smaller nations are being pushed aside. Netherlands will be desperate not to go out with a whimper.The batting is reasonably strong – Ryan ten Doeschate is their main man; Tom Cooper plays for South Australia and Alexi Kervezee has impressed for Worcestershire – but in subcontinent conditions against the clumping bats of the major nations, the bowlers could come in for some harsh treatment. They’ll all be hoping not to go the same way as Daan van Bunge at the 2007 World Cup, when Herschelle Gibbs took him for six sixes in an over at St Kitts.World Cup PedigreeHave appeared at the 1996, 2003 and 2007 World Cups but have just two victories, against Namibia and Scotland, to show for their efforts, while the defeats have been by huge margins. Their best effort was probably against India in 2003, at Paarl, when they managed to bowl out a star-stubbed batting line-up for 204. Time de Leede took 4 for 35.Form guideThey haven’t played a one-day international since August when they lost two matches against Ireland, which doesn’t bode well for their meeting in this tournament. However, before that they upset Bangladesh with six-wicket victory, so they’ll harbour hopes that a major scalp isn’t beyond their reach.Where they are likely to finishThey won’t get out of the group, but their aim should be to cause some of the big teams uncomfortable moments. Their World Cup comes when they face Ireland on March 18 in their final group match.WatchabilityThe batting has some fine stroke-makers, led by Ryan ten Doeschate of Essex, and if he gets going, he likes to deal in boundaries. When the bowlers come up against the likes of Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, it could be a time to cover your eyes and wish them the best.Players in focusRyan ten Doeschate has established himself as a fine Twenty20 cricketer, so much so that he put his name into the IPL auction and was signed by Tasmania for Australia’s Big Bash. But he is more than a hit-and-hope batsman and has the ability to build long innings. His ODI average is a Bevan-esque 68.55 and his strike-rate a powerful 87. Against his Associate peers has sometimes looks a class above, so this global stage is the perfect chance for him to show he can perform against the best. Netherlands will need all the runs he can manage. His medium-pace bowling is also useful and his experience under pressure in the professional game will be vital.There are more than 15 Australian cricketers at this World Cup. Tom Cooper is part of South Australia’s squad but by virtue of his Dutch mother is plying his trade for Netherlands when opportunities arise. He brings solidity, and a bit of Aussie toughness, to the top order and will be important in seeing off any early movement from the new ball. Has good memories of facing some of the West Indian bowlers he’ll come up against after making 160 for the Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra in 2009-10.If you listen to some watchers of county cricket, Alexei Kervezee will have a career with England. His first-class average is only 37, but that’s rising after he made 1190 Championship runs in 2010. At ODI level for Netherlands he has still to fulfil his talent, with an average of 26.56 and a top score of 92. If he really harbours ambitions of an international career above Associate level, the next month is the ideal shop window.

According to a report in the paper edition of The Mirror (via West Ham Zone), West Ham United are now eyeing a new target as news emerges on attacker Paddy Lane.

The lowdown: Bursting onto the scene

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Signed for current club Fleetwood Town from Non-League Hyde United in 2021, the Northern Irish winger hadn’t been involved at a professional level prior to making the switch to the League One outfit.

The 21-year-old has made an instant impact in the North West and has rapidly become a regular starter for Stephen Crainey’s side.

Now another rapid rise could be on the horizon for the talented youngster.

The latest: Hammers interested

As per the Mirror (Page 74 via WHZ), the Hammers, and by extension manager David Moyes, are reportedly ‘keeping tabs’ on Lane ahead of the summer transfer window.

It’s claimed that the Irons view the versatile ace as a ‘potential understudy’ to Jarrod Bowen.

Furthermore, the report states that West Ham have sent club officials to scout the one-cap senior Northern Ireland international who has been dubbed the ‘next Jamie Vardy’ due to the similarities in his career pathway to date.

The verdict: Make it happen

Albeit far from a well-trodden path to the elite level, every so often a story such as this comes along and this time the east London club should do everything in their power to be the benefactors.

In truth, Moyes has developed a penchant for creating a squad full of players that have taken different routes to the elite level, Michail Antonio and Bowen to name just two,  and adding Lane to the London Stadium ranks would be another smart addition this summer.

Described as a ‘top player’ by Crainey, so far this season the Northern Irishman has scored five times and provided another eight assists in 36 league outings whilst operating in a variety of midfield positions.

Whilst the report makes no mention of a fee, it’s unlikely that the League One Young Player of the Year nominated youngster would be an expensive outlay for GSB and therefore certainly one the club should be pushing to complete.

In other news: Three West Ham players struggled in 1-1 draw with Burnley! Find out more here.

An opening stand of 154 between Chris Hartley and Usman Khawaja set Queensland on the path to a 30-run victory over New South Wales in Canberra

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2012
Scorecard
An opening stand of 154 between the captain Chris Hartley and the opening batsman Usman Khawaja set Queensland on the path to a 30-run victory over New South Wales in the domestic limited overs match in Canberra.Hartley and Khawaja laid a platform for the Bulls’ eventual total of 6 for 292, its dimensions ultimately proving out of reach for the Blues despite a doughty rearguard from Ben Rohrer.NSW lost regular wickets in their pursuit as Cameron Gannon picked up a first five-wicket haul of his domestic limited overs career, before Rohrer added 81 with Josh Lalor in a mere 56 balls to give the Bulls a fright.The match was the last of the Australian domestic summer before the states break for the Twenty20 Big Bash League, which commences on December 7.

West Ham United are now waiting on manager David Moyes’ green-light to chase a key signing this summer with news emerging on the club’s transfer plans.

The Lowdown: Hammers eye new keeper?

The Hammers have been linked with the possible signing of a new goalkeeper amid doubts over the future over Paris Saint-Germain loanee Alphonse Areola.

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Areola, playing mostly in cup competitions, has featured in just one Premier League game all season under Moyes (WhoScored) – raising some doubts over whether West Ham will activate the option to make his move permanent this summer.

The likes of Nick Pope, Dean Henderson and Jordan Pickford have allegedly been targeted by GSB and co as a result, but according to club source Claret & Hugh, Moyes is holding all the cards.

The Latest: West Ham wait on Moyes…

According to their information from a ‘top club insider’, West Ham are ‘still waiting’ for Moyes to green-light the possible signing of new keeper and ‘make a call’ on the position

They add that Areola’s future is ‘up in the air’ as a result as they weigh moves for the likes of Pope or Pickford – especially if either one of their clubs in Burnley or Everton fall to relegation.

The Verdict: Move for Pope?

The Times claim Pope in particular could be available for as little as £12 million if the Clarets are relegated, but given Areola’s purchase option stands at around £10.5m, it appears Moyes may have a perfectly capable understudy/eventual heir to Lukasz Fabianski right under his nose.

The Frenchman has performed brilliantly over West Ham’s run in the Europa League and a move to sign him permanently could be far less complicated than competing for the likes of Pope.

Bearing this in mind, we believe Moyes’ best bet is signing the 29-year-old on a permanent basis and focusing his efforts on the acquisition of a central defender, midfielder and forward.

In other news: The Times: West Ham weighing ‘monster’ player move alongside three more potential signings! Find out more here.

Lancashire did not make any attempt to chase down 336 from 85 overs on thefinal day of their County Championship Division One match against Essex,instead settling for a draw at Old Trafford

27-May-2010
ScorecardLancashire did not make any attempt to chase down 336 from 85 overs on thefinal day of their County Championship Division One match against Essex,instead settling for a draw at Old Trafford.The home side had been offered the target by Mark Pettini when he declaredEssex’s second innings on 212 for 5 after Ryan ten Doeschate and MatthewWalker both completed half-centuries during the morning session.It was soon obvious from the way opening batsman Luke Sutton set about hisinnings that the Red Rose were happy with six points. Sutton finished with a painstaking 26 off 155 balls, his innings spanning just over three hours.Despite opening bowlers David Masters and Maurice Chambers bowling tightspells, Essex struggled to take wickets as they searched for victory on a deadtrack. Chris Wright had both Paul Horton and Steven Croft caught behind by JamesFoster within three balls in the 66th over but it was too little, too late.Horton top scored for Lancashire with 64 off 179 balls and his side had reached177 for 5 from 83.4 overs when the players shook hands on the draw. Essex, who travel to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Saturday, took eight points from the fixture.Masters had given the visitors an early glimmer when he had Stephen Moorecaught behind by Foster for five in the ninth over of Lancashire’s chase. Sutton and Horton then shared a second-wicket partnership of 93 in 40 overs which effectively killed the contest.Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was expected to be a major threat with theball but he only took one wicket for 49 runs from 33 overs. Ten Doeschate claimed Essex’s second wicket in the latter stages of the afternoon when Sutton edged behind to Foster.Lancashire’s reluctance to even attempt to chase down the runs was somewhatsurprising, given their coach Peter Moores had said after day three: “The waythe points are structured this year encourages sides to be aggressive with 16for a win.”Ashwell Prince hit three fours and a six in a brisk 29 before he was caught atshort leg by Billy Godleman off Kaneria and Wright’s double strike meant Essexhad taken three wickets in 10 balls.But Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple batted through to close for Lancashire, whoface Yorkshire at Headingley on Saturday. Simon Kerrigan had earlier claimed the only wicket to fall in Essex’s second innings when Ten Doeschate holed out to Croft at long off for 56 off 57 balls – his second half-century of the match. Essex added 57 runs from 9.4 overs with Walker finishing unbeaten on 53 off 108 balls.

Cricket Australia will not finalise its next candidate for the ICC vice-presidency until August

Peter English09-Jul-2010Cricket Australia will not finalise its next candidate for the ICC vice-presidency until August after its board decided only to review the events that led to John Howard’s rejection last week. Australia and New Zealand must make another joint nomination for the role, which includes two years as the global organisation’s president from 2012, and there will not be a swift conclusion to this complicated episode.Jack Clarke, Cricket Australia’s chairman, led the teleconference from London on Friday and briefed his board on the way Howard’s appointment was blocked at the ICC’s annual conference in Singapore. Howard has not withdrawn from the race but will stand by Cricket Australia’s decision if it does not retain him.No names were discussed as possible new candidates and the board will not be asked to consider a nomination until its next meeting on August 13. “Jack gave a highly detailed debrief to the directors and one of the key things he stressed was that Australia and New Zealand were joined at the hip throughout this process,” a Cricket Australia spokesman told Cricinfo. “They want to remain that way as they move forward.”New Zealand Cricket’s board will discuss the situation on July 23 before further talks take place between its chairman Alan Isaac and Clarke. When the ICC board rejected Howard’s elevation it gave the organisations until the end of August to provide another option.One person who is definitely not in contention is Mark Taylor, the former Australia captain. He has ruled himself out due to his commentary, business and family interests. Allan Border, a former board member and Test leader, is also not interested.In the early stages of the process New Zealand promoted its former chairman Sir John Anderson for the role, but Howard, 70, won the nomination following a decision made by an independent panel. That move was stopped in Singapore when six board members from Asia, Africa and the West Indies signed a letter opposing Howard. The issue did not even get to a vote.

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Southampton did not make any attempt to sign Dele Alli this month, despite previous reports linking him with the club.

The Lowdown: Dele Alli’s recent struggles

Alli has faced a tough period in his career over the last year, having lost his place in Tottenham’s starting XI. The 25-year-old has made just two Premier League starts under current Spurs manager Antonio Conte, totalling a meagre six appearances during the Italian’s reign so far.

As a result, the playmaker has been linked with a move away from N17, and it seems that a breakthrough has been made regarding his exit from north London.

Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter to report the news, saying: ‘Dele Alli to Everton, done deal and here we go! Full agreement reached with Tottenham, permanent move subject to medical in the next few hours. It’s done.’

The Latest: Saints fail to move for Alli

According to talkSPORT journalist Crook on Twitter, Southampton made no effort to sign Alli from Tottenham during the January transfer window, stating: “Also reliably informed #SaintsFC did not make any attempt to sign Dele Alli this window”.

This is despite previous reports linking the 25-year-old with the south coast club, with Ralph Hasenhuttl an admirer of the England international.

The Verdict: Missed opportunity

Despite his poor form, Alli could have been a fantastic option for Southampton, who have now missed the opportunity to pull off a late transfer in January. This could have been similar to the Takumi Minamino loan move from this time last year, which proved to be relatively successful.

Once hailed as ‘good enough for Real Madrid’, it seems ridiculous that Southampton would not have gone in for the Spurs ace, particularly when he seems set to be leaving on a free, with a £10m fee following clauses being met. Having totalled 91 career goals, Alli could have been of real use to Hasenhuttl, as he would’ve bolstered the Saints’ attacking options with proven top-flight quality.

If Southampton want to push higher up the league table, they will need to meet £100,000-per-week demands. Otherwise, they won’t be able to secure many players of significant quality in today’s inflated market.

In other news: Southampton are till in talks over this striker

Wolves have been boosted in their efforts to sign Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek, with the Dutchman now set to leave the club this month.

The Lowdown: Van de Beek struggles at United

The 24-year-old moved to Old Trafford back in 2020, having been a key man for the Ajax team that reached the 2019 Champions League semi-finals.

Van de Beek has had a nightmare time of things at United, however, making just 50 appearances in all competitions, mostly from the bench, scoring and assisting only twice apiece.

He appears to be completely out of favour under Ralf Rangnick and a January exit looks to be on the cards.

The Latest: Wolves given fresh boost

According to Algemeen Dagblad [via Sport Witness], it ‘seems inevitable’ that Van de Beek will move on to pastures new before the current transfer window ends. His situation has become ‘more and more hopeless’, leading him to pursue a fresh challenge.

Wolves are mentioned in the report, as are Everton and Newcastle United, as Bruno Lage eyes up a move for the 19-time capped Netherlands international, who has been hailed as ‘close to perfect’ by Owen Hargreaves in the past.

The Verdict: Worth the risk

Van de Beek’s reputation may have been damaged during an awful spell in Manchester but he can’t have become a bad footballer overnight and still has so much to offer.

At 24, his peak years should still be ahead of him, while 75 goal contributions in 175 appearances for Ajax shows how productive he can be in the final third.

Van de Beek could provide Wolves with the goal threat that the likes of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves often don’t bring, adding an extra dimension in the middle of the park to the Portuguese pair’s control and tempo.

Perhaps the funds for a move could be available through the expected sale of Adama Traore to Tottenham.

In other news, a journalist has highlighted the position Wolves are trying to strengthen in this month, Read more here.