All posts by h716a5.icu

Jonathan Vandiar, a Dolphins legspinner, who took four wickets in six World Cup Under-19 matches, will also be making the trip to Mohali where the players will attend a training camp under former Indian spinner Narendra Hirwani and other coaches

Cricinfo staff30-May-2008
Thandi Tshabalala will train under Narendra Hirwani in Mohali © AFP
Thandi Tshabalala is one out of seven promising spinners picked by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to be sent to India for a 12-day coaching camp starting June 3. The players will be accompanied by national selector Shafiek Abrahams and Dolphins coach Yashin Ebrahim.Jonathan Vandiar, a Dolphins legspinner, who took four wickets in six World Cup Under-19 matches, will also be making the trip to Mohali where the players will attend a training camp under former Indian legspinner Narendra Hirwani and other coaches.The trip is being funded by Shyam Bhatia, a Dubai-based Indian businessman, who is keen to develop spin bowling in South Africa. Your [South Africa’s] strength is in fast bowlers, ours [India’s] because of the conditions is in the spinning department,” Bhatia told supercricket website. “I hope this sponsorship will lead to more people from other countries contributing to changing the lives of young talented and often under-privileged cricketers all over the world. India is the perfect place for young spinners to learn their trade.””This venture helps us complete the spinners’ programme we have set up with the national coordinator Shafiek Abrahams, who will be going with the spinners to India in June,” said Vince van der Bijl, the CSA general manager. “It is ideal – we will not only learn from the experienced masters of spin but our young bowlers will be given the opportunity of playing in the intense heat and on the very different wickets. That experience, too, for the future tours of the subcontinent is very much part of this plan.”Spinners:
Corbyn Dolley, Keshav Maharaj, Daryn Smit, Aubrey Swanepoel, Thandi Tshabalala, Roelof van der Merwe, Jonathan Vandiar.

Out of the Ashes from the Brisbane Test, emerged one bright spark by thename of Vaughan

David Wiseman22-Nov-2002Out of the Ashes from the Brisbane Test, emerged one bright spark by thename of Vaughan. He ignited the England side as the three Lions foundsomething to roar about.Michael Vaughan was rewarded because he challenged the Australians. He tookthem on and with a bit of luck batted with great aplomb. Not since MikeDenness scored 188 in the sixth Test at the MCG in 1975, has an Englishmanrecorded a higher score in Australia.Steve Waugh and his Australian side put the ball in the opposition batsman’scourt. With four slips, two gullys and a bat-pad, there are plenty of runsavailable if you are willing to swing the bat as opposed to most batsman whoseem to bring it out as a prop to lean on.Vaughan punished the bad ball which forced Waugh to remove some of hisaggressive field placings.This was in contrast to Robert Key who seemed hell-bent on not actually scoringany runs. He laboured very hard for his solitary run and he must learn thatas a batsman, the dual purposes of run scoring and survival are not mutuallyexclusive.On a day where Australia were challenged such as they were on this firstday, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath showed again how incredibly lucky the Australian sideis to have two stalwarts such as them. Together, they have carried theAustralian attack for nearly a decade.Coming into this Test, the Australian side had 1140 wickets between them, ofwhich Warne and McGrath had a share of 892.For England, the hard work has only just begun. Mark Butcher, Alec Stewart and Craig Whitehave to build and consolidate on Vaughan’s great work and one of those needsto go on and score a century.The minimum score they should be aiming for is 400 which would mark thefirst time since 1991, they have managed such a score in Australia. In thatTest at the SCG, centuries by Michael Atherton and David Gower took Englandto 8/469.That Test is also of interest because it is the last time, England bowledout Australia twice in a live Test match played on Australian soil.Australia had won the first two Tests of the series as England were striving towin back the Ashes 3-2 from 0-2 down. Their attempts to win the game werethwarted by Carl Rackemann who took 72 minutes to get off the mark andscored a defiant nine from 109 balls. England ran out of time in chasing awinning total.England need to bowl as well and field as well as Vaughan batted if they areto have any chance of taking 20 Australian wickets in this Test. It seemsout of their reach given the inexperience of their attack. They have 353Test wickets between them. Stephen Harmison and Richard Dawson share just 11.The Adelaide pitch is looking like it will be batsman-friendly for a couplemore days yet so the English bowlers will have to outwit the Australians toclaim their scalps. They will have learnt from their numerous mistakes inBrisbane and Andy Caddick and Matthew Hoggard should be better bowlers than they werethere.For Australia, their assignment is quite simple. Dismiss England asexpeditiously as possible on Day 2. Rack up a quick score and follow that upby bowling England out cheaply.After one day, this Test match still has four possible outcomes. Youcouldn’t say that after the first day at the Gabba.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have been dealt another devastating blow in their lengthy managerial search this week…

What’s the word?

According to Turkish radio station Radyo Gol, Nuno Santo is on the verge of being appointed as Fenerbahce’s next boss after talks accelerated over the weekend.

It’s claimed that a final meeting between the Super Lig giants and the Portuguese coach were held on Monday and that an announcement could be less than a few days away.

The 47-year-old has widely been touted as the front-runner for the Spurs job, with newly-appointed sporting director Fabio Paratici said to be ‘pushing hard’ to secure him in North London.

Nuno has been out of work for less than a month after leaving Premier League rivals Wolves by mutual consent at the end of last season.

Another setback

This would seemingly deal the Lilywhites their umpteenth setback since Jose Mourinho was sacked in mid-April. They’ve held talks with at least six to seven names, whilst as many as ten different options have been mooted throughout this tragic process.

In the early days, the likes of Julian Naglesmann and Brendan Rodgers were thought to be chairman Daniel Levy’s top candidates – the former opted for Bayern Munich and the latter played down a switch to the capital from Leicester City almost instantly.

There were then ‘confident’ talks with Antonio Conte – a former Premier League winner at Chelsea – but that collapsed late on due to concerns from both parties, whilst Mauricio Pochettino was even linked with a sensation return to the club he was sacked from in November 2019 after five years at the helm.

Paratici was hired as Spurs’ first director of football in six years and he quickly moved for former AS Roma and Shakhtar boss Paulo Fonseca, only for those discussions to break down at the 11th hour.

The Italian chief desperately turned to Gennaro Gattuso before fan backlash put pay to that, too. It has left the North Londoners back at square one but as you can see, it’s been blow after blow for the club’s hierarchy.

Even their interest in Nuno comes as a surprise because Paratici has had to convince Levy to do a U-turn on the ex-Wolves man and now it seems like he isn’t even going to be their next manager.

The Spurs supremo must be absolutely furious with these fresh developments and he, like the rest of us, has to be wondering if it will ever come to an end.

Pre-season training starts next week, they better find a solution – and fast.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Ndombele: Levy could form scary Spurs duo with £20m “exceptional talent”…

Tomorrow an estimated nine thousand Somerset supporters will converge on Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood, North London in a show of loyal support for their beloved Cidermen

Richard Walsh30-Aug-2002Tomorrow an estimated nine thousand Somerset supporters will converge on Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood, North London in a show of loyal support for their beloved Cidermen.They will travel by coach, by car and by train, and the demand for travel from the west country has been so great that coaches have been brought out of mothballs to make the trip up the M4,and Great Western Trains have laid on extra services to cope.Queuing up to walk through the Grace Gates and enter into the headquarters of the English summer game will be just like being in Taunton market on Saturday morning, there will be so many familiar faces and voices all around.This year there seems to have been even more interest in the final, and Somerset’s allocation of just 4500 tickets were all sold in the space of just a few days and almost as many fans again will have got their tickets direct from Lord’s.Despite Somerset’s disappointing form in other competitions they have played their hearts out in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, and after the breathtaking semi final at Taunton when they snatched victory from defeat, you almost wonder whether the name of Somerset isn’t already engraved on the cup for 2002.Over the years a visit to Lord’s for a Somerset final has been the highlight of many supporters summers, and those who made the trip on September 1st 2001 were left with a lasting memory as the Cidermen ended their eighteen year trophy famine with a comfortable victory over Leicestershire to win the first ever Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.The occasion was made doubly memorable for those who follow the winter game when England trounced Germany 5-0 in the World Cup qualifier later on that same evening.I was reminded recently of a `good samaritan’ story from the first final in 1967 that will be jog a few memories for the parties who were involved.During the match a fair amount of bonhomie had taken place involving no doubt the consumption of large amounts of local cider that had been transported to Lord’s in wooden barrels, which I suspect would not be allowed inside the ground nowadays.After the match had finished a group of well meaning Somerset supporters discovered a fellow west countryman who had over indulged and who was blissfully unaware of what was going on anymore, so decided to take him into their care.The well meaning Somerset supporters searched the fellows jacket pockets to ascertain where he came from and discovered that he was from Taunton, so lifted him gently onto their coach and gave him a lift back to his home town.During the journey the involuntary passenger slept like a baby, but woke with a start when the coach pulled up in Taunton.Far from being grateful for their act of kindness, the extra passenger told his fellow travellers that he would be in deep trouble and that he had to make his way back to London as soon as possible because he was on his honeymoon and his new wife would be far from happy to discover that he was missing!I wonder if that involuntary passenger of thirty five years ago managed to get back to London without landing in too much trouble, and whether or not he will be making the return journey tomorrow!

Liverpool are keen to offer new contracts to six first-team players this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to keep hold of his most prized assets.

What’s the story?

According to Liverpool Echo reported Paul Gorst, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are priorities for fresh terms.

The trio of Salah, Van Dijk and Fabinho all have just two seasons remaining on their current deals, so the urgency to tie them down is more pressing than the others.

Robertson, Alexander-Arnold and Alisson have contracts lasting until the summer of 2024 but are all still on the list of priorities, such is their importance to the Reds.

Fans will be buzzing

All six players have made a massive contribution to the recent success of Klopp’s charges, winning the Champions League in 2019 before adding a Premier League title 12 months later.

While Salah has asserted himself as Liverpool’s main source of goals and attacking talisman, bagging 125 goals in 203 appearances, the other five have helped to form one of Europe’s most formidable defensive units.

Brazil international shot-stopper Alisson signed a six-year deal back in 2018 upon his arrival from AS Roma, while compatriot Fabinho completed a deal lasting until 2023, and Salah penned an extension in the same summer that the two Brazilians came to Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold’s last extension came in January 2019, as did his fellow full-back Robertson, while Van Dijk hasn’t put pen to paper since joining from Southampton a year earlier.

Although Liverpool surrendered their Premier League title without a fight last season, finishing a whopping 17 points behind champions Manchester City, the sextet are still crucial components of the Reds’ team.

Only Salah has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks, but news that the Liverpool hierarchy are planning to extend so many contracts must have the supporters buzzing. Gini Wijnaldum is set to depart after letting his contract run down, joining French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, and they’ll be desperate to avoid a similar situation in the future.

In other news…Time’s up: Klopp must ruthlessly axe £25k-p/w LFC flop this summer, he’s been shocking 

New Zealand captain Emily Drumm played an innings of outstanding quality while Rachel Pullar produced a stunning bowling performance as India were routed for 26 at Jersey in the women’s tri-series

Lynn McConnell12-Jul-2002New Zealand captain Emily Drumm played an innings of outstanding quality while Rachel Pullar produced a stunning bowling performance as India were routed for 26 at Jersey in the women’s tri-series.The coach of the TelstraClear White Ferns, Mike Shrimpton was absolutely delighted with the effort in what were demanding conditions.And while Drumm and Pullar were the outstanding performers, he also had a special word for all-rounder Haidee Tiffen who produced a display that he said was the effort of “the complete player”.Tiffen scored 37 and shared a 54-run partnership with Drumm that was worth its weight in gold, she bowled well, and completed a run out with a superb piece of athleticism, he said.An Indian batsman played the ball to Tiffen’s right and set off for what she thought was a comfortable single.Tiffen dived fully out-stretched to her right, grabbed the ball and, from a kneeling position, threw the ball over the stumps for the run out to be completed with the batsman well short of her ground.India won the toss and asked New Zealand to bat first.”It was a very difficult wicket,” Shrimpton said. “There had been overnight rain, there were poor covers on the pitch and because the preparation of the pitch we were supposed to play on had not been completed we had to use the pitch that India and England played on the day before.”It had been difficult for the New Zealand women to play their attacking shots and they had to play straight and with good defensive screens, he said.”Drumm and Tiffen had quite an outstanding partnership for their 54. Emily went on to score a magnificent 56 and I doubt if anyone else could have played as well as she did under the circumstances.”The stand took the game away from the Indians and our effort in reaching 168 was quite creditable,” he said.New Zealand knew from watching India’s game the previous day against England that if they bowled straight, consistently and relentlessly they would have the answers to the Indians.Pullar’s bowling had been outstanding, he said. She took five for 10 from seven overs, the second best bowling performance of her career.Nicola Browne had bowled into a slight head wind from the other end and also did well to finish with two for eight from seven overs.The Indian innings was all over in 19.1 overs by which time Tiffen and Aimee Mason had also taken a wicket apiece.

Dean Windass thinks that this summer could finally mark the end of Liverpool’s famous front three.

Following Mohamed Salah’s arrival from Roma in 2017, along with that of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, the trio have been the catalyst for the Reds’ recent success both domestically and in Europe.

The trio have scored a total of 273 goals during that period, with 57 of those helping Jurgen Klopp’s team claim their first Premier League title 12 months ago.

Despite almost topping that figure last season, both Firmino and Mane struggled, and were not nailed on starters like in previous campaigns, although Salah still managed 31 goals as the Reds qualified for the Champions League on the final day.

Fortunately for Liverpool, unlike in previous years, they had summer signing Diogo Jota in reserve, and his early-season goals made up for their poor form.

Jota ended up scoring nine times in just 19 Premier League appearances, but with the Reds suffering from a lack of goals during periods last term, Windass believes that Klopp will opt to freshen up his front line this summer.

He told Football FanCast:

“I think one of the front three will leave… Firmino, he’d be the one.”

Whilst the £180,000-a-week Brazilian has done an excellent job leading the line for Liverpool, a more prolific number nine is badly needed if Klopp’s side want to close the gap on Manchester City and challenge for the title once again.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that West Ham regularly bringing in an income of more than £200m a year is achievable.

Claret and Hugh reports that West Ham’s turnover for the year is expected to be above £200m (£210m) after a season where the Hammers were able to finish sixth in the Premier League, resulting in an extra £30m.

It is undoubtedly a positive development for the east London club and its supporters, who will want to continue seeing their side compete at the top end of the table, something they should have every chance of doing if the money continues to flow in and is used to strengthen David Moyes’ squad.

Maguire, though, has warned that while possible, such a turnover can only be maintained if West Ham regularly qualify for European football.

“In order for West Ham to regularly achieve income of more than £200m, they’ve got to be playing in Europe, whether that’s Conference League, Europa League, ” The Price of Football author exclusively told FFC. “Clearly their ambition it will be Champions League.

“But they would need to have these additional fixtures coming in. West Ham’s revenue in 2019, which was a pre-pandemic year, was £191m, so it is achievable. And it certainly puts them on a par with Leicester, if not slightly ahead of Leicester.”

Whether Moyes can keep this high standard up remains to be seen. But West Ham fans will surely be feeling optimistic after what they saw from the Scotsman and his team in the season that has just gone.

Stoke City are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Nottingham Forest striker Lyle Taylor, as reported by The Mirror.

The Lowdown: Stoke City looking for some final-third firepower

Moving towards 2021/22, Stoke City will be hoping to build a team capable of challenging for top-flight promotion.

In need of strikers in the midst of Tyrese Campbell’s well-documented injury woes [Sportsmole], the Potters have previously been linked with the likes of Bristol City striker Andreas Weimann as they look to bulk up their final-third options [Stoke Sentinel].

However, it now seems they have turned their attention towards experienced poacher Taylor as they rebuild for next term.

The Latest: Potters back in for Taylor; they were also interested last summer

Aware of his desire for a fresh start away from Nottingham, Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill is rumoured to be attracted to the idea of bringing the Monserrat international to the Britannia Stadium, report The Mirror.

Needing another option up-top, the Lancashire outfit are said to again be keen on the man they previously courted last summer whilst at Charlton Athletic [TEAMtalk].

The Verdict: Proven goal-scorer Taylor would be a solid addition

Undoubtedly, Taylor would be an excellent fit for Stoke City. Despite only notching five goals in 2020/21 with Nottingham Forest, the striker registered an unbelievable 35 goals and 14 assists in 67 games for the Addicks the two years previous [Transfermarkt].

Once labelled as an ‘outstanding player’ by Neil Ardley, the 31-year-old has previously received interest from the likes of Celtic, Rangers and Galatasaray in his services [Glasgow Live].

Born to score goals, Stoke City should look to continue their pursuit the former AFC Wimbledon man. Whether as a starter or a squad player for the Potters, he would be a solid 2021/22 addition given his proven track record in front of goal.

Today at the Glamorgan Media Day, Ysgol St Curig Primary School in the Valeof Glamorgan met some of the Glamorgan cricket stars as a reward for winningtheir local schools indoor cricket competition

Cricket Board of Wales17-Apr-2002Today at the Glamorgan Media Day, Ysgol St Curig Primary School in the Valeof Glamorgan met some of the Glamorgan cricket stars as a reward for winningtheir local schools indoor cricket competition. Led by Teacher RhodriJones, they met with Test star Robert Croft to announce a brand new welshmedium pack for teachers in Wales to help brighten up lessons using cricketas a theme.Over the last two years the CBW has been placing in Welsh Primary schoolsthe “Howzat” cricket resource to help teachers teach cricket. This wellpraised pack also helps teachers in their delivery of key stage 2 curriculumfor Physical Education, English, Maths, Science, ICT, Design & Technology,History, Geography, Art & Design and PSHE. Within the cross curricular packare a set of worksheets which have been translated and produced into Welshwith the help of S4C.These translated small packs clip in to the Howzat file and have beendespatched via the Local Authorities to all 444 welsh medium primaryschools.Mark Frost Director of Cricket said:”We have been placing the complete resources in schools up and down Walesand this now adds to an excellent teacher aid for all schools where learningis via the medium of the Welsh language. I am really pleased that welshmedium schools will have the benefit of making lessons more interesting byusing cricket to add some colour!”