Category Uncategorized

It is going to be a tricky selection because only eight players select themselves. Only two of them are bowlers

Cricinfo staff25-Jun-2010The Asia Cup champions would have barely reached their homes when they will be told on Saturday whether they are needed for the Tests in Sri Lanka, which begin on July 18. While the bowling attack looks massively uncertain except for Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, there is one middle-order place available in the XI and two more in the reserves.It is going to be a tricky selection because only eight players select themselves. Only two of them are bowlers. Ashish Nehra doesn’t trust his body enough to play in Tests, Munaf Patel seems to have been rejected, RP Singh’s form has been ordinary, and Praveen Kumar is strictly a limited-overs bowler. That means India will most likely go back to Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth.Amit Mishra is likely to join them in the bowling department. On their last tour to Sri Lanka, India played the two-seamers-two-spinners combination in all three Tests. So there is a possibility India might go with only three seamers and include Pragyan Ojha as the third spinner. The more orthodox approach would be to pick a fourth seamer, but not many have been showing promise. Lack of readymade choices means there could be a surprise or two.Most of the batting choices seem easier by comparison. Virender Sehwag, who was advised 10 days’ rest after he injured himself during the Asia Cup game against Pakistan, is expected to be picked. Rahul Dravid, who missed the South Africa Tests, will surely come back. Sehwag’s injury, though, makes a case for the selection of M Vijay as a back-up opener who can bat in the middle order if required.The other two spots will be contested by Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and S Badrinath. Dinesh Karthik, who can open, and also be a back-up wicketkeeper, could be a left-field choice. Karthik could also go solely as a reserve keeper in case India go for a 16-man touring party. His fifty in the Asia Cup final has done his chances no harm.It was pretty clear that Yuvraj’s drop from the ODI side had more to do with his fitness than his form (his statistics weren’t all that bad if the IPL was ignored for a moment, admittedly difficult to do in India). It is for the selectors to decide if dropping him from one tournament has sent home the message. There is a possibility of reading too much into his Twitter message, “This elephant is back from injury and ready to rock!”, which links to a photo of his with an elephant statue.Raina, who was part of India’s squad for their last Test, against South Africa, has reason to be hopeful. While his weakness against the short ball is obvious, it cannot be denied that he has been scoring consistently despite that awkwardness. A week after he played a nice cameo in perhaps the most high-pressure situation of his career could be just the right time to draft him in for the longest format.Raina and Yuvraj will be competing with Badri, who played in India’s last Test, and Rohit, who scored two centuries in Zimbabwe before doing a steady job in the Asia Cup. Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a double-century in India A’s tour of England and followed it up with another ton against Scotland a day before the selection, stands an outside chance.The squad
Certainties: MS Dhoni (wk & capt.), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan
Batting hopefuls: M Vijay, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara
Bowling hopefuls: Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha

Daniel Vettori is confident New Zealand can continue to improve after easily accounting for Ireland in their first warm-up match at the ICC World Twenty20

Cricinfo staff28-Apr-2010

Daniel Vettori is confident New Zealand can continue to improve after easily accounting for Ireland in their first warm-up match at the ICC World Twenty20. Jesse Ryder (64) starred with the bat and Nathan McCullum with the ball on a Providence Stadium pitch that proved very slow.Ross Taylor, Shane Bond and Brendon McCullum played no part against Ireland and will be keen for a run in the second practice game, against West Indies on Wednesday. Vettori was pleased with the victory, which also featured a Martin Guptill half-century, but he said the West Indies match would be a better gauge of New Zealand’s form.”We’re satisfied with the win and satisfied with some individual performances,” Vettori said. “Jesse was outstanding at top and Guptill finished it off pretty well, and Nathan McCullum was outstanding with the ball. On a wicket like that you’ve got to be inch perfect because it’s so slow.”It’s important to improve, we’ve got Bond and McCullum to come back in and Taylor, they’re three pretty crucial players for us. Getting those guys back in the team will be important. West Indies look like a really good team and I think they’d be one of the favourites on their home grounds, so if we can perform against them then we know we’re in good shape.”Taylor will be extra keen to find some touch in the shortest format, having failed to pass 20 in his most recent five international innings. Although he is a key Test and one-day player, his Twenty20 record of three half-centuries and an average of 21 for New Zealand leaves room for improvement.”He’s a proven Twenty20 performer,” Vettori said. “He probably needs to step up a little on the international form of the game but he knows what he’s doing. To have him back in the team will make a huge difference. But McCullum at the top of the order is the real key. If he has a good tournament I think the team will fire.”The two warm-ups in Guyana will be extra useful for New Zealand, as they play both their pool matches against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the same venue. The slow pace encouraged Vettori to open with the spin of Nathan McCullum, who grabbed three wickets, but he was disappointed with his own results of 0 for 33 from three overs.

MatériaMais Notícias

O presidente Eurico Miranda sofreu nova derrota na Justiça em ação envolvendo a urna 7 no fim da tarde desta quarta-feira. O mandatário, postulante à presidência na chapa “Reconstruindo o Vasco”, tinha entrado na última terça-feira com mandado de segurança para impedir perícia simples que vinha sendo realizada por ordem da juíza Maria Cecília Pinto Gonçalves, da 52ª Vara Cívil do Tribunal de Justiça do Rio de Janeiro. O recurso foi julgado pela desembargadora Márcia Ferreira Alvarenga, da 17ª Câmara Cívil do Rio, que não viu irregularidades e manteve a perícia da forma atual.

– Recurso do Eurico Miranda foi negado. Processo da urna 7 segue normal com isso – afirmou o advogado João Basílio, representante de Fernando Horta – o autor da ação na Justiça -, em conversa por telefone com o LANCE!.

A juíza em primeira instância determinou perícia simplificada com urgência e com laudo pericial sendo apresentado até a próxima segunda-feira. Em nota via site oficial na última terça, o Vasco informava que “reivindica, por meio de mandado de segurança, que a perícia técnica não seja simplificada, mas completa, que analise ampla e detalhadamente a questão, sem os atropelos em série até aqui perpetrados. Afinal, como bem demonstrado no mandado de segurança, urgência não é atropelo, especialmente quando a urgência foi criada pela parte contrária, que a invoca valendo-se da própria torpeza”.

Vale lembrar que a perícia foi determinada com urgência por conta do prazo curto para conclusão do período eleitoral do Vasco – 15 de janeiro de 2018. Foi nomeado o perito judicial contábil Luiz Alberto de Azevedo Leite para realização de prova técnica simplificada – o que já está em fase final. Ele vem analisando também o caderno de votação da urna 7 – 475 sócios foram os que compareceram em São Januário. Com o recurso de Eurico Miranda negado, após o laudo simples ser entregue, a juíza Maria Cecília Pinto Gonçalves deve ouvir as partes e divulgar a decisão final em primeira instância até o próximo dia 19, última data antes do recesso judiciário.

Vale lembrar também que com a polêmica urna 7 contabilizada, Eurico Miranda na chapa “Reconstruindo o Vasco” venceu a eleição. Sem a urna 7, a vitória ficou com Julio Brant via chapa “Sempre Vasco Livre”. O próximo presidente comandará o Vasco no triênio 2018-2020. No mês passado, o LANCE! publicou uma reportagem exclusiva com dois sócios que votaram na urna 7 e apontaram fraudes, detalhando o esquema de aliciamento – confira clicando aqui.

RelacionadasVascoPré-temporada do Vasco em 2018 não será em São Januário; saiba motivosVasco06/12/2017Fora de CampoNenê participa de programa da TV francesa e dança ‘Despacito’Fora de Campo06/12/2017Futebol NacionalSerá que vêm? Veja brasileiros que podem reforçar seu time em 2018Futebol Nacional06/12/2017

Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand batsman, expressed his disappointment at being ignored by the national selectors despite doing very well in domestic cricket and is considering a permanent move to UK.

Cricinfo staff02-Mar-2010

Lou Vincent, the New Zealand batsman, expressed his disappointment at being ignored by the national selectors despite his success with Auckland in the domestic Twenty20 competition and thinks he still has it in him to play for his country.Mark Greatbatch, the New Zealand coach, said Vincent was not considered for the upcoming ODI series against Australia because he did not commit to New Zealand cricket. Vincent, however, denied Greatbatch’s contention and said he had attempted to clear the air with the coach.”I made it perfectly clear to Greatbatch. I want to play for New Zealand. I want to be considered for the Twenty20 World Cup. That’s my niche, that’s my specialty. I’ve definitely proved to the world and to the New Zealand selectors I’ve still got what it takes,” Vincent was quoted as saying in .Vincent last played for New Zealand in December 2007 before he was dropped from the side. After suffering from a bout of depression that threatened to end his career early, Vincent gave up his New Zealand contract to play in the Indian Cricket League. After moving on from the ICL, Vincent had been living in the UK before heading back to New Zealand in the hope of returning to the top flight.With the selectors continuing to ignore him, Vincent is considering taking up club cricket in the UK. Though his chief interest lies in playing for New Zealand, Vincent is aware that he could qualify for England in less than two years.”I came back to New Zealand to prove that I wanted to play cricket again and to tell the selectors that I want to play for New Zealand again. And I guess the ball is in their court. And yeah, if all else fails I might play against the Black Caps at the next Twenty20 World Cup for England,” Vincent said.

Rangers take on Hearts on Sunday in a testing for the visitors at Tynecastle, with the home side enjoying a strong season so far.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side is currently sit nine points clear of the Jam Tarts in the Premiership and will be looking to extend that gap to double figures in what promises to be a tight game.

Rangers captain James Tavernier was dropped in the Europa League game against Lyon on Thursday, but fans will surely be keen to see him return to the side this weekend. Van Bronckhorst’s 100% win record since taking over was lost in midweek, but he will be hoping to come back from that result and get back to winning ways this weekend and continue their unbeaten run.

Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard was effusive in his praise of the 30-year-old in the past, saying: “Tav is a huge player. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves I don’t think from our own supporters or the credit he deserves from outside. I think Tav is someone who, when he goes through the gears, is unstoppable.”

As quoted by The Glasgow Evening Times, Van Bronckhorst has also heaped praise on the Rangers captain, saying: “He is very influential as a captain and in the way Rangers play.”It is really important in these top-of-the-table clashes to field your most influential and experienced players who will help to lead and control the game throughout, keeping players focused, which Tavernier is more than capable of doing for his team.The 30-year-old has scored 68 goals and bagged 103 assists in his time with the Scottish giants, as well as being integral in Rangers’ invincible 2020/21 Premiership season with 12 goals and 11 assists leading the side to their first top-flight title in a decade, which is a pretty impressive return for a right-back.Van Bronckhorst must utilise and nurture Tavernier’s talents with Rangers, starting by bringing him back into the team on Sunday against Hearts.In other news: Van Bronckhorst has been dealt a blow to his transfer plans

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar de o Dérbi de domingo colocar frente a frente o líder e o segundo colocado do Brasileirão, o lateral-direito Fagner tentou minimizar a importância da partida que será realizada na Arena Corinthians. O jogador do Timão usou o velho discurso de que o clássico “vale os mesmos três pontos de qualquer outro duelo”, mas pediu atenção com o Palmeiras, principalmente com o atacante Borja, que voltou a ser titular e marcou dois gols na última segunda.

– Vamos estudar o Palmeiras, traçar nossa estratégia e tentar tirar vantagem para a gente vencer o jogo. Futebol é muito da cabeça, confiança você não pega e tira na hora que você quer. A gente tem que tomar cuidado, tem um jogador (Borja) que retomou confiança. Vamos tomar cuidado, avaliar e fazer um jogo consciente – afirmou Fagner, em entrevista coletiva nesta terça-feira.

Um dos capitães do Corinthians nesta temporada, Fagner também comentou sobre as pichações no Parque São Jorge após a derrota para a Ponte Preta, no último domingo. O lateral minimizou as ameaças, como “jogue por amor ou por terror” e “acabou a paz”.

– Não me incomoda porque sei da minha índole, do meu caráter, sei o que faço quando saio da minha casa, largo meus filhos e venho trabalhar. É uma coisa que não me afeta e bola pra frente – disse Fagner.

– Aqui no Corinthians a gente vive em time grande, vive pressão constantemente. Jogar em time grande é assim, você é pressionado por resultado e desempenho e precisa ter tranquilidade de se preparar bem para fazer um grande jogo, é o principal objetivo – acrescentou o latera.

O Corinthians lidera o Brasileirão com 59 pontos, cinco a mais que o Palmeiras, segundo colocado. O Dérbi será realizado no domingo, às 17h, em Itaquera, pela 33ª rodada.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansMarquinhos Gabriel tem lesão e deve perder mais cinco jogos do TimãoCorinthians31/10/2017BrasileirãoTimão x Verdão: relembre os últimos dez jogos e vote no melhor time atualBrasileirão31/10/2017CorinthiansCorinthians inicia venda de ingressos para os três últimos jogos na ArenaCorinthians31/10/2017

Newcastle United are reportedly ‘in the running’ with clubs currently competing in the Champions League to sign Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Interest there

Record (via Sport Witness) reported earlier in the month that the St James’ Park club were ‘tightening the siege’ for Nunez, implying that interest is well and truly there to bring him to Tyneside.

He is certainly catching the eye this season, with eight goals and two assists in 15 matches across all competitions with Benfica, including three goals in five Champions League matches (Transfermarkt).

His agent Edgardo Lasalvia claims that the striker is ‘destined for great things’, and at 22 years of age, the Uruguay international should only get better.

The Latest: Nunez update

According to Record (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are ‘in the running’ along with Champions League quartet Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid for his signature.

Benfica are reluctant to sell him in the January transfer window, and it would require a club to pay his astronomical release clause, currently standing at €150m (£126.2m).

Therefore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium at St James’ Park may need to wait until the summer if they wish to bring Nunez in.

The Verdict: Wait until summer

Nunez is certainly a player with a lot of promise, but paying £126.2m for him, even for the new mega-rich owners, is simply far too much.

The Magpies must wait until the summer before they make their move, as their fate will also become clear as to whether they have avoided relegation from the Premier League.

However, if they are still in the top flight, and if they can get him for a reasonable price, then Nunez is someone they should pursue.

With a 6 foot 2 frame, the forward has both the physical and aerial attributes to thrive in the Premier League, and his agent has even claimed that he has ‘a lot of things in common’ with Manchester United beast and fellow Uruguayan Edinson Cavani, a man who has scored an abundance of goals wherever he has played.

If he goes on to score as many goals and be as ruthless as Cavani has been over the next few years, then Newcastle would have a real player on their hands.

In other news, NUFC are eyeing up a move for this ‘exciting’ midfielder with a Kante-like engine

حلل لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، فيدي فالفيردي، الهدف الرائع الذي سجله في مرمى ريال مايوركا في المباراة التي جمعتهما في الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإسباني.

ونجح فالفيردي في تسجيل هدف التعادل في المباراة قبل نهاية الشوط الأول بتسديدة صاروخية على يمين حارس ريال مايوركا وهو اللقاء الذي انتهى بفوز ريال مدريد بنتيجة 4-1.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لويس جارسيا يوضح سبب انخفاض مستوى محمد صلاح مع ليفربول شاهد هدف فالفيردي الصاروخي في مباراة ريال مدريد وريال مايوركا

وتحدث فالفيردي بعد نهاية المباراة لشبكة “موفيستار” الإسبانية، وقال: “سعيد للغاية بهذا الفوز، والهدف جميل ولكن المهم هو النقاط الثلاث”.

وتابع: “الهدف كان فكرة في رأسي، وهي الجري والتخلص من أكبر عدد من القمصان الحمراء (لاعبو ريال مايوركا)”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “انتهى بي الأمر بتسجيل هدف رائع، حتى عندما نكون محبطين، نجد طريقة ما للعودة، فنحن نفخر بارتداء قميص ريال مدريد دائمًا”.

The Pakistan batsman hoped that his electric performance in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy would fast track his return to the national team

Cricinfo staff24-Oct-2009Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq was hoping that his electric performance in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy would fast track his return to the national team after he was dropped for the upcoming series against New Zealand. Barely a day after being axed from the one-day, Twenty20 and Test squads, Misbah scored a career-best 284 for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) against Lahore Shalimar at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground.He shared a Pakistan record of 479 with Usman Arshad (183), 41 short of the world record for the fifth wicket in first-class cricket, set by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja for Saurashtra against Orissa in India last year.”Naturally it’s disappointing to lose your place, but I have played a big innings, which I badly needed to revive my career, and I will prove that my career is not over,” Misbah said. “There is no better way to prove your critics wrong than by scoring runs, and I will prove that my age is not a hurdle in my career. I will definitely work my way back into the team.”The 35-year-old right-hander, who has played 15 Tests, 56 ODIs and 23 Twenty20 internationals, fared poorly in Pakistan’s Test and one-day defeats in Sri Lanka in July-August and managed just six runs in Pakistan’s opening match of the Champions Trophy against the West Indies. He was overlooked for the match against India, and managed 41 against Australia in the last league game before being left out for the semi-final against New Zealand.However, Misbah said he would stay positive. “I am a positive cricketer and will try my level best to get my place back.”Pakistan will play three ODIs in Abu Dhabi and two Twenty20 internationals in Dubai against New Zealand, beginning November 3. After the limited-over series, the teams will fly to New Zealand to play three Tests.

According to The Athletic, West Ham United manager David Moyes may have been handed a boost in his pursuit of Burnley defender James Tarkowski.

The Lowdown: West Ham re-join Tarkowski race…

Since Angelo Ogbonna sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 3-2 win over Liverpool last weekend, West Ham have been tipped to add a new centre-half to their ranks in January.

Indeed, a reliable report from The Evening Standard claimed that Moyes will be backed to sign a central defender as cover for Ogbonna alongside the possible additions of a striker and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.

Rob Dickie and Dael Fry, two standout performers in the Championship, have been linked with the Irons, while West Ham have also reignited their interest in Tarkowski. The 28-year-old was subject to two failed Hammers bids in the last few seasons but The Evening Standard reported that he is back on the Londoners’ radar.

Football Insider also believe that Moyes is personally eyeing the Burnley defender, with Tarkowski himself ‘very keen’ to join him.

The Latest: The Athletic share update…

As per The Athletic reporter Andy Jones, Burnley’s mainstay has ‘made his position clear’ in regards to leaving and ‘wants a new challenge’. Tarkowski is also set for an ‘imminent departure’ and only ‘extreme circumstances’ would change this, despite remaining ‘committed to the club’ this season.

The 28-year-old’s current deal expires in 2022, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of this season, and he is currently one of many Burnley players with their long-term futures in question.

The Verdict: Boost for Moyes?

As West Ham eye defensive reinforcements, news that Tarkowski is almost certain to leave Turf Moor could come as a boost for Moyes and co. Depending on developments, the Irons and transfer chief Rob Newman could theoretically put pressure on Burnley to sell at a cheaper rate in January so as not to lose him for nothing next summer.

He would certainly be an astute addition too when looking at Tarkowski’s defensive statistics when compared with West Ham’s current crop.

According to WhoScored, he has averaged more clearances per 90 in the Premier League this season (5.1) than any Hammers player bar summer signing Kurt Zouma (5.3). Furthermore, Tarkowski beats everyone in Moyes’ squad in terms of aerial duels won in that time – dominating his opponents a colossal four times per match (WhoScored).

If West Ham can take advantage of the defender’s desire to leave Lancashire, he would come as a brilliant coup.

In other news: Italian source leaks transfer news out of West Ham involving ‘extraordinary’ £22.5 million-valued beast, find out more here.