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Before this tour, England’s captain Charlotte Edwards said this would be her toughest challenge yet – playing India in India. But she shook off any concerns to hit a composed 68 as her team took an early lead in the five-match one-day series to beat India by 20 runs.Jenny Gunn blasted her way to her first international fifty, with 56, and the lower order chipped in to lift England to 188 for 7. England’s coach, Richard Bates, admitted afterwards that this was below their target of 200, but he had revised his expectations as the game got underway on a pitch that was slow, low and without much bounce. “We came up a bit short,” Bates told Cricinfo, “but soon realised that 188 was a decent score.”India’s batsmen made life difficult for England at Faridabad, Monica Sumra and Jaya Sharma putting on a very good opening partnership of 68. But England’s bowlers stuck to their task, showing character and discipline to apply the squeeze and take six wickets for 13 runs as India folded under the pressure.England’s ground fielding wasn’t up to their usual high standards, but there is room for improvement ahead of the second one-dayer at Lucknow. The teams haven’t seen much of each other in one-dayers – aside from one match in this year’s World Cup.”I’m very, very pleased with today’s performance,” Bates added. “They were a bit of an unknown before today’s match. Now we’ve seen the players we can look at how we can change our ways to restrict their bowlers. It was interesting to see how they fared under pressure – and we got a good look at their spinners. We hope to be firing on all cylinders for the next match.”

© Getty Images

It was one of cricket’s iconic images of the 1990s. When Jonty Rhodes dived headlong into the stumps to run out Inzamam-ul-Haq in the 1992 World Cup, a star was born, and that previously unglamorous discipline of fielding had suddenly been granted its very own cheerleader.For the next decade and more, Rhodes was a constant spring-loaded menace at cover point, forever on hand to pull off a stunning catch or a lightning-quick pick-up-and-throw, and his influence spawned a whole generation of imitators, from Herschelle Gibbs to Ricky Ponting to Paul Collingwood.And yet, Rhodes was more than just a champion fielder. To reach the top of his game, he had had to overcome epilepsy, and in doing so he became a role model and inspiration for all who suffer from the condition. Here was the most hyperactive proof imaginable that epileptics the world over could live full and happy lives, free of the prejudice and misunderstandings that often come with the territory.But it is not just epileptics who benefit from Rhodes’s high profile. As a committed Christian, his charity activities in South Africa are far-reaching and almost as renowned as his exploits in the field, while his clean and wholesome lifestyle make him a natural ambassador and spokesman for a wide range of charities, many of which are concerned with the well-being of children.Sadly for Rhodes, he suffered a broken finger during his swansong at the 2003 World Cup, which denied him one last chance to say goodbye to his adoring fans. But since leaving the field of play behind, he has if anything stepped up his charity work, and remains an iconic figure to an entire generation.

England’s first-class umpires will be allowed to continue until they are 70 if the British government accepts European Union legislation which will make it illegal to forcibly retire any employee before that age. At the moment umpires have to retire at 65, but many of them believe that this age limit is too low and makes no allowance for individual ability.Allan Jones, the chairman of the First-Class Umpires Association, will discuss the legislation with the ECB. "It will come in too late for some of our members and I do not know yet how our contracts, which are renewable after one to three years, will affect us," he told The Times. "We shall probably have to be given more stringent medical checks. Someone who wants to continue until he is 70 will be able to do so."An ECB spokesman told the newspaper: "I understand that the legislation will be phased in and organisations would still be able to contract employees to retire at a certain date."

Uttar Pradesh registered an outright victory over Rajasthan in theirRanji Central Zone tie at the Kamla Club grounds in Kanpur on Nov. 3;as a result, the winners picked up the full complement of eight pointswhile Rajasthan gained none.Rajasthan won the toss and elected to bat, but they could not takefull advantage of their time in the middle. Rahul Kanwat (63) andSanjeev Sharma were the only batsmen to register significant scores;although many got into double figures, none could convert their startsinto scores large enough to build a sizeable total. As a result,Rajasthan was bowled out for 250 just before the close of play on DayOne.Uttar Pradesh, although able to take the first innings lead, did notfare significantly better. Jyoti P Yadav, continuing his fine run ofform, scored 117 off 241 balls (17 fours, one six), but the onlysupport he got was from Mohammad Kaif, with whom he put up a 130-runpartnership. Kaif scored a responsible 55, but the lower middle-ordercollapsed in a hurry, with the last eight wickets falling for just 62runs. Bowled out for 281, Uttar Pradesh gained only a slender lead of31 runs.The batting department continued to be the bane of both teams in thesecond innings as well. Rajasthan, who could conceivably have wipedoff the first innings deficit and set their rivals a competitivetotal, refused to buckle down to the task. Aside from an encore fromKanwat, who made 55, the rest of the line-up failed miserably, leavingthe side bowled out for 153. Uttar Pradesh captain Gyanendra Pandeywas the wrecker-in-chief, returning second innings figures of16.4-4-33-5.Uttar Pradesh, thus, needed to make only 123 runs in their chase towin the game; any onlooker, however, could have been forgiven forbelieving that the target was a mammoth one, judging by the heavyweather that the batsmen made of it. Jyoti P Yadav shone again with48, but Kanwat, who impressed tremendously with his fighting spirit inthis match, and Lokesh Jain did not make runs easy to come by. Kanwatreturned figures of 15-2-34-3, picking up seven wickets in the game togo with his twin fifties; Jain’s figures read 10.5-2-34-4.The total, however, was ultimately too small to defend, and MohammadSaif and Javed Anwar saw Uttar Pradesh safely home with three wicketsto spare.

Celtic outcast Boli Bolingoli has returned to the club after his loan move to Russian club FC Ufa collapsed, The Glasgow Evening Times report.

The Lowdown: Pictured holding shirt

It looked as if the Hoops finally managed to get the left-back off the books last month, with FC Ufa posting a picture on Twitter of Bolingoli holding up their shirt.

FC Ufa confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the two clubs over a loan move to the end of the season.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-23/” title=”Celtic updates!!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Bolingoli, who the Hoops slammed for a ‘stupid’ health protocol breach in 2020, had made just two Premiership appearances under Ange Postecoglou this season.

The Latest: Glasgow return

As reported by The Glasgow Evening Times, Bolingoli had been training with FC Ufa in their Turkish winter training camp for the last month.

However, the Russian side were unable to secure a work visa for the defender due to diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia. As a result, Bolingoli will have to return to Celtic, with the Hoops once again stuck looking to offload the 26-year-old.

The Verdict: Ange’s awful international break continues

Postecoglou hasn’t had the best of starts to the international break with concerns over both Daizen Maeda and Tom Rogic, so this update on Bolingoli just adds to his woes.

Celtic already have Vasilis Barkas surplus to requirements at Parkhead, with the Greek goalkeeper ‘demanding’ to leave the club.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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The Hoops are now stuck with having to deal with Bolingoli once again, as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his Celtic contract in the summer, potentially even reaching the point where he will prefer to let his deal run down so he can demand more wages elsewhere as a free agent.

In other news: ‘Unfortunately…’ – Journalist gutted ‘for Celtic’ as more exit news emerges from Parkhead. 

AB de Villiers has refused to commit his long-term future to Test cricket despite being named South Africa’s stand-in captain and has warned that leading players will leave international cricket behind unless there are significant changes within the game. De Villiers, who was reported to be considering early retirement at the start of the England series when he also spoke about managing his workload, has once again emphasised the need for time off and explained his own uncertainty in the current set-up.”There have been a few rumours floating around, and in most rumours there is always a little bit of truth,” de Villiers said. “It’s not just in the last while; it’s for two or three years I’ve been searching for the right answers, to play a little bit less cricket in one way or another, to keep myself fresh and to keep enjoying the game. Every now and then in the past few years I’ve found myself on the pitch not enjoying myself as much as I should be, and that raises concerns within myself. I’ve been searching for answers and speaking to people and obviously that’s leaked a bit.”That also means de Villiers is not sure whether he will want to lead South Africa’s Test team permanently, even though he earlier said that being given the captaincy was the “fulfilment of a lifelong dream.” The decision on who will take over as long-term successor to Hashim Amla, who stepped down after the Newlands Test, will be made during the winter break which is also when de Villiers will decide on his own future.”I’m still very committed, to the job I’m not sure – obviously the two Test matches for now are all I’m focusing on and then there’s a nice big break of six months before we play Test cricket again. Lots of things can happen before then so I don’t want to commit myself too much to everything before that. But for now, I’m as committed as I can be and very, very hungry to make a success of the next two Test matches,” de Villiers said.Asked what he will consider in that period, de Villiers was unsure but mentioned the things that he would still like to achieve as an international cricketer, which stretch across various formats.”I honestly don’t know. But I’ve got some good advice around me, good people who have my best interests at heart, and we’ll just try to make the right kind of call on which direction I want to go,” he said. “My focus is on international cricket and I want to play for as long as possible. I’ve got dreams of winning World Cups and maintaining this No.1 status in Test cricket for as long as possible. Obviously I want to get my experience across to some of the youngsters. There are so many dreams that I’d like to follow. I’d just like to sit down, take some time away from the game and discuss all these things and make the right call.”For the next four months, de Villiers will find it difficult to get away from the game. After the Tests against England, South Africa play five ODIs and two T20s against the same opponents and three T20s against Australia before the World T20 in March and early April, which will be closely followed by the IPL.De Villiers is contracted to Royal Challengers Bangalore until the end of 2017 on a deal worth Rs 9.5 crore (US$1.5 million). At today’s exchange rate, that is 23.45 million rand, which is at least ten times more than his national contract which is believed to be between 2 and 3 million rand. The financial implications of that gulf against the backdrop of the congested international schedule is the biggest challenge facing the games’ global organisers, according to de Villiers.”I think it’s a growing concern for the ICC and they’ve been talking about it for the last few years to find the right structure to keep all the guys fresh. Obviously international cricket is the main cricket you want to play, especially Test cricket. It’s the main format and we all want to be part of that. There are huge traditions and culture in this format. I believe there are one or two areas where we can improve, and make sure that we keep the guys focus in the right place,” de Villiers said.”Obviously there are big tournaments going on around the world. Some you can’t ignore because financially they make a huge difference in our lives, and obviously you’ve got to look after that side of it as well. International cricket is the main one you want to play, and one or two things will have to change in order for that to happen.”De Villiers said the ICC have conducted surveys to ascertain player concerns. “I have seen some changes,” he said. “But there are definitely one or two that need some more attention.”His recommendation is for established players to have some leeway so that they can avoid being overworked and continue to enjoy the game. “One of those are the schedules of some of the older guys, to make sure they keep their focus on the right places. I don’t know what the answers are, I just know there are quite a few guys feeling that we’re playing a little too much cricket at times. We just need to get the focus right.”

Misbah in full flow during last week’s World Twenty20 © Getty Images

Misbah-ul-Haq’s impressive performances in the World Twenty20 have earned him a recall to Pakistan’s squad for the first Test against South Africa in Karachi on Monday. But there was no place in the 15-man lineup for either Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former captain, or Shoaib Akhtar.Misbah was the third-highest run-scorer in South Africa, helping Pakistanreach the final and was also the highest run-scorer in the Quaid-e-AzamTrophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament. He played the last of his five Tests four years ago against Bangladesh. Joining him in the middle order is Mohammad Yousuf, whoyesterday agreed to represent Pakistan, after having initially signed upfor the Indian Cricket League (ICL).But there was no place in the squad for Inzamam, another ICL signatory.Inzamam has retired from ODIs, though insists he wants to play Test cricket.Salahuddin Ahmed, Pakistan’s chief selector, said that Inzamam had been consideredfor the squad but had declared himself unavailable for the first Test.”I spoke to Inzamam and though he didn’t specify the reasons, he said hewas unavailable for the first Test,” said Salahuddin. “If he is availablefor the second Test [in Lahore], he will be considered.”Shoaib’s exclusion was also expected, as he is currently the subject of adisciplinary inquiry into his altercation with Mohammad Asif in SouthAfrica. “Shoaib’s is a policy decision,” said Salahuddin. “The disciplinary inquiry isongoing and only when their decision has come will we take a decision.”Rao Iftikhar Anjum took the third fast bowler’s spot, edging out SohailTanvir, the left-arm, wrong-foot bowler who did so well in the Twenty20World Cup. “Sohail is a very talented all-rounder but we feel he still hassome time before he is ready for the longer version of the game,” addedSalahuddin.Pakistan will field yet another new opening pair when the first Testbegins from October 1. One of Taufeeq Umar, who averages 74 in four Testsagainst South Africa, or Mohammad Hafeez will partner Salman Butt, thevice-captain.Pakistan squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez,Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wk), MohammadAsif, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, Danish Kaneria, Faisal Iqbal, YasirHameed, Taufeeq Umar, Abdur Rehman

Moot question: Will Andrew Flintoff partner Steve Harmison tomorrow with the new ball? © Getty Images

It should have been the dodo among dead rubbers. On Saturday West Indies, who havealready qualified for the semifinals of the Champions Trophy, take onEngland, who have no chance of qualifying to the next round. The onlything to consider was what position West Indies would qualify in, but nowthe game, which will be played at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium inMotera has piqued interest, as there’s a chancethe Andrew Flintoff will bowl for the first time since he suffered anankle injury.”There is a possibility, yes,” said Flintoff at a pre-match pressconference after a practice session, when asked whether he intended tobowl in the forthcoming match. “I have bowled in the nets over the pasttwo weeks or so, and the ankle has responded well to it. I have just done15-20 minutes, and if I don’t react to anything and I am fine, the chancesare I will bowl.”Flintoff the bowler has been one of the most imaginative and powerfulbowlers in the world in recent times. His deceptively quick deliveries,rearing into the rib-cage have posed problems for all sorts of batsmen,including the Australians. And so, whentalk of him returning to bowling does the rounds the excitement isunderstandable, and perhaps it got to one journalist, who asked ifFlintoff would go the whole hog and bowl ten overs if he picked up fivewickets in his first few overs. “I have no intentions of bowling my fullquota,” came the speedy reply, “under any circumstances.”Often, in recent times, you’ve heard the word pride being bandied aboutwhenever the West Indies come to town. For once, though, it was theopposition who had to think along those lines, as West Indies come intothe game with not just solid wins under their belt, but virtually everyplayer in good form. “We know this is a team that can fight back. AgainstPakistan in the summer in England, we came back from 2-0 down to draw2-2,” said Flintoff. “So the team does fight and has got lot of character.They also have a lot of pride and we will trying our damndest to win thegame, and take a win out of this tournament.”We obviously want to finish the tournament with a win,” Flintoffcontinued. “We have been beaten twice and we are playing for pride, andpride is a strong thing to play for. We want to win a game of cricket inIndia. The West Indies may be through and we may be going home, but westill want to put up a good show. We want to perform and want to go homewith a win.”When they do go home, though, don’t expect the English public to burneffigies of Flintoff and Duncan Fletcher and tar their homes just becausethey failed completely in a one-day tournament. That sort of thing happensonly in India and Pakistan. For most of England, little matters but theAshes, and naturally, that came up for discussion. “We have got a gameagainst the West Indies, which we are taking as an important game for usin our development,” said Flintoff, pausing for a moment at the presentbefore turning his attention back to the future. “Then we will make surewe go home and spend time with our families. Then when we get on the plane[to Australia], then obviously my attention will be focused on Australia.”The talk then shifted from England to West Indies, and inevitably it wentto Brian Lara. “He is up there, isn’t he? He is a fantastic player. Wehave been at the wrong end of Lara a couple of times,” said Flintoff. “Hedoes things that us mortals can’t. When he gets 400 at Antigua, makes mewish I could actually bat like him. He is one of the greats that the gamehas produced along with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh andobviously going back to the days gone by. He is someone we respect becausehe is a fine player.”Who knows, with his back still nowhere near 100% strong, Lara might justchoose to sit out the game against England. If he does, it will be adisappointment for the fans, but England won’t mind at all. The last timethese two teams played each other in a one-dayer, it was in the final ofthis very tournament, two years ago at The Oval, and in the dying light ona gloomy September evening, the horns of Brixton trilled in unbridled joyas Courtney Brown and Ian Bradshaw steered West Indies to a stunning win.And now here we go again, on a lesser stage, almost certainly without thesame ambience, but it’s the same two teams, and who knows, we could be infor another cracker.

Graham Thorpe is unlikely to find a place in the New South Wales team © Getty Images

Graham Thorpe, the former England middle-order batsman, is unlikely to play for New South Wales (NSW) in the 2005-06 season.Trevor Bayliss, the NSW coach, said that keeping in mind the objective of developing players for the national team, Thorpe would be considered for selection only after the fringe players were given opportunities to play. “We are hoping he doesn’t play as I have said before,” Bayliss was quoted as saying by AFP “and he is aware of that but we will have to see how the season pans out”.Brad Haddin, the NSW wicketkeeper-captain, added that the prospect of Thorpe playing was remote. “He is there if we need him but if the players are doing the job they are meant to do, I don’t think there will be any need to pick him,” Haddin said.Thorpe will play for UTS Balmain, a Sydney club, and Bayliss felt that his experience would be valuable for the team. “It is very difficult these days to get blokes like Mark and Steve Waugh, and Mark Taylor, who have played 100 Tests, it is very difficult to get guys like that around practice, other than one or two times a year. So to have someone there full-time after Christmas will be a benefit to our young guys.”Thorpe retired from international cricket after he was left out of the England squad for the Ashes series in July. Thorpe is said to be considering Australia as a permanent residence option.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Ramnaresh Sarwan: his 75 formed the backbone of the run-chase© Getty Images

The West Indies batsmen overcame a sluggish pitch and some strangulating bowling to sneak a thrilling five-wicket win over South Africa at The Oval, and enter the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan helped them stabilise the wobble and get within striking range. But it was Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s tremendous 51, off just 52 balls, that pulled the carpet from beneath the South Africans’ feet.On a pitch with spongy bounce, Herschelle Gibbs’s hundred yesterday had taken South Africa to a competitive total, and Shaun Pollock grabbed two quick wickets this morning to put West Indies in some trouble. Lara and Sarwan shared a period of consolidation, but it was Chanderpaul who injected the much-needed vim. And just as South Africa threatened to pull off a heist right at the end, Ricardo Powell carted two mighty sixes, and West Indies scraped through with seven balls to spare.Lara nearly ran himself out first ball after Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds had fallen to Pollock. Gayle came out like a sleep-walking bull and under-edged onto his stumps, while Hinds was unlucky to be given out lbw when the ball appeared to have pitched marginally outside leg (33 for 2). But after he survived that run-out chance, Lara dazzled in the next hour and a half, as he kept flicking the bowlers in the arc between midwicket and fine leg.Throughout that period Sarwan was almost invisible at the other end, and had cobbled together just 12 runs from 42 balls. Lance Klusener and Jacques Kallis kept it very tight, and both batsmen found their offcutters and slower balls tough to get away. Lara was finally frustrated out as he charged down the track to Nicky Boje in the 33rd over, played all over the ball and was bowled (131 for 3).Sarwan, who had made 34 off 66 at that stage, had just switched modes a few balls earlier. Both he and Chanderpaul put the fielders under pressure, and their calculated risks paid off. Sarwan’s last 41 runs came in 33 balls and contained some clean sixes straight over the bowler’s head. Sarwan fell trying to turn one to the on side, inside-edging Makhaya Ntini onto the stumps when West Indies still needed just 33 more (214 for 4).

Herschelle Gibbs returned to form with a bang, but it was in vain© Getty Images

Just like West Indies, South Africa had also struggled in the middle overs yesterday after Gibbs and Graeme Smith gave them a solid start. Gibbs showed glimpses of his usual intimidating self with some crashing drives and pulls. He brought up his fifty, from 59 balls, with a classical straight-drive through long-off, and the horrors of the last few weeks were all but forgotten. He also maintained his perfect conversion-rate against West Indies. On the four occasions that Gibbs has passed fifty against them, he has gone on to score a century.But a period of inertia followed after Smith’s wicket, at 102 for 1. Jacques Kallis’s strike rate was less than a run every two balls, and Gibbs kept hitting straight to the men in the infield. Gibbs, whose first fifty had come in quick time, took 76 balls for his second and West Indies clawed back into the contest. Ryan Hinds, with his wobbly left-arm spin, conceded just 35 in his ten overs and South Africa needed a special finish.The last ten overs produced 75, thanks mainly to Rudolph’s 46 off 39 balls, as South Africa managed to reach a competitive total of 246. That nearly proved enough, because even when Sarwan had fallen, West Indies needed 29 off 22 balls. But Powell blasted those sixes off Pollock, both full-tosses that landed way over midwicket, and Chanderpaul sealed it with two more fours.West Indies will take on Pakistan in their semi-final at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. Will this be their golden swallow after a woeful summer?