Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, will return to the side for the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at Auckland on Saturday. Fleming sat out the first three games as per New Zealand’s rotation policy ahead of the World Cup in March and the side was instead led by Daniel Vettori, the left-arm spinner.While Nathan Astle, who opened for New Zealand in the absence of Fleming, will sit out of the fourth game, Jeetan Patel, released from the squad to play for Wellington, was recalled. Craig McMillan, who wasn’t part of the third one-day squad, replaced James Marshall.”With the continued use of Brendon McCullum at the top of the order, it is now necessary to introduce a player who can provide a powerful finish to the innings and we are looking to Craig to provide that,” said John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach. He added that though Marshall was unlucky to miss out the game, the management wanted him to put pressure on those who had been selected.New Zealand lead the five-match series 2-1 after they won the low-scoring third game played through rain interruption.Squad Brendon McCullum, Stephen Fleming (capt), Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Andre Adams, Mark Gillespie, Shane Bond, Michael Mason, Jeetan Patel
The Rhos ground and the Wooller family are closely linked as itwas Wilf Wooller who was instrumental in taking first-classcricket to the ground his father helped to found in 1924.Indeed, it was the actions of Wilf Wooller senior that led to theground being laid out in a field off Penrhyn Avenue, near theseafront at Rhos-on-Sea , and within many decent club cricketershaving moved to the area from Manchester and Liverpool, it wasn’tlong before the Colwyn club became successful. The legendarySydney Barnes also lived in the area, and he acted as a coach inthe nets in the 1920’s.The Colwyn club therefore soon became successful, and in 1929 theground hosted Wales’ game with the South Africans. In 1930Denbighshire entered the Minor County Championship and they alsoused the Rhos ground for their home fixtures. During the SecondWorld War, the Club also hosted a number of fund raising gamesfor the War Effort, and with a further influx of good playersfrom the cities of North-West England, the Colwyn club went fromstrength to strength.These wartime friendlies were well attended, so when Wilf Woollerbecame Glamorgan captain in 1947 he organised a short tour toNorth Wales which would help to boost the club’s support and flythe flag in the North. The tour, at the end of August, includedtwo day games against Sir Learie Constantine’s XI and a NorthWales XI. During the next few years, another series ofexhibition and Benefit games were held at the ground, including amatch in 1955 between R.W.V.Robin’s XI and Vinoo Mankad’s IndianXI and as a result of the success of these games, the club spendmoney on various ground improvements, including an extendedpavilion and dressing room area.By the 1960’s, the Rhos club were holding a Cricket Festival,attracting top playerts from the Lancashire Leagues, during thepeak holiday period in August. The success of these games ledWilf Wooller into considering the viability of county games atthe seaside ground, and in 1966 the Rhos ground stagedGlamorgan’s Championship match with Derbyshire. Over 4,000people attended the game, so in the period up until 1974 theground staged either an Annual Champioship game, or a SundayLeague fixture.Taking cricket to the North was quite expensive, so when theclub’s finances started to shrink during the mid 1970’s, ColwynBay was deleted from the county’s calendar, although it continuedto host Benefit and exhibition games, including the 1984 WestIndians match against the League Cricket Conference. These gamescontinued to be well attended, so when a sponsorship package wasoffered to the county, they agreed to return to the North in 1990for their Champioship and Sunday League fixture with Lancashire.This became a regular fixture until 1995, as Glamorgan beganinvesting in a club base at Cardiff, and it now seems likely thatthe Colwyn Bay ground will alterante with Abergavenny on thecounty’s calendar. In the past few years, the ground has alsohosted several of Wales Minor Counties’ fixtures, and in 1996 anew extended Pavilion was opened by a game involving a GlamorganPast and Present XI.
A solid century from Herschelle Gibbs lifted South Africa to 291 for 5 and into a 2-1 series lead as they defeated England by 108 runs in the fourth one-dayer at Newlands. On a belter of a pitch, Gibbs and Jacques Kallis posted a record third-wicket stand of 143, before Justin Kemp topped things off with 57 from just 36 balls. England then slumped to 35 for 3 in reply, and a lone stand of 75 from the inevitable Kevin Pietersen couldn’t rescue them as South Africa completed a convincing allround performance to win at a canter.In an unchanged South African side, Gibbs and Kallis came together on 50 for 2 after Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers had played well against the new ball. The third-wicket pairing played a patient game at first, before upping the tempo later on. Kallis fell for 71 attempting to do just that, as he chanced the golden arm of Paul Collingwood. But by this time South Africa were on 193 and, with seven wickets still remaining, the perfect platform for more fun had been set, and the in-form Gibbs was joined by the big-hitting Kemp.Gibbs’ century was his 14th in ODIs, and was well deserved. It was a mainly chanceless innings, although he survived one hairy moment as Darren Gough clung on to one which was sailing over his head – only for the momentum to carry him over the rope. But Gibbs stood firm, adding a host of sixes as he sailed to his century, until Collingwood took a comfortable catch on the cover boundary off Harmison’s bowling to end his reign (227 for 4).Kemp wasted no time, dancing down the track to launch Ashley Giles over long-on for six to announce his arrival. He added three more sixes, and four fours as he floored the accelerator to race along to 57, supported along the way by Ashwell Prince (14 not out). South Africa clubbed 98 runs for the loss of just two wickets in the last ten overs, as Kemp went on the offensive – clattering Kabir Ali for 20 from the final over of the innings – before Giles and Geraint Jones combined to run him out. But the job was already done.
England had picked up two early wickets to peg South Africa back after Michael Vaughan won the toss and sent them in. de Villiers had time to launch Harmison over midwicket for six, but Gough trapped him lbw in front of middle-and-leg for 9 before he had the chance to do further damage. South Africa were 18 for 1, which became 50 for 2 after Kabir sent down a straight one and pinned Smith plumb for 16.Then came the onslaught, and South Africa took firm control at Cape Town after tabling the highest total in an ODI between the two sides. England could not respond to the mountainous task and, as they lost three wickets for three runs, the writing was on the wall, authored by Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock. The fiery Ntini was again on song, removing Geraint Jones and Marcus Trescothick, while Pollock (10-0-35-2) scalped Michael Vaughan for a duck as England lurched to 35 for 3.Jones was the first to go, having rattled up 19 from 20 balls, as his flamboyant swing at Ntini’s widish delivery sailed through to Mark Boucher (32 for 1). This started the rot. Vaughan fell next, his edge off Pollock rocketing to Kallis at first slip, and Trescothick departed soon after, for 13, as Ntini sent his middle and leg stumps flying.England were in deep trouble, and in need of a sturdy rescue act from Andrew Strauss and the form batsman, Pietersen.But Strauss drove Andre Nel to Prince for 17 and Ian Bell made just 2 before edging thinly to Mark Boucher off the final ball of an expensive Jacques Kallis over. Kallis, having been taken to the cleaners by Pietersen with two fours and a six, mopped up as he dismissed Bell as England wobbled to 92 for 5. Pietersen set about engineering the run-chase, but his rampant innings came unstuck on 75. He launched Nicky Boje’s left-arm spin for a four and two sixes, but next ball he fell hooking as de Villiers held on at deep midwicket.Kabir was run out shortly afterwards, and then Ntini picked up his third victim as Giles chipped up to Pollock at cover. Giles’ 20 was, tellingly, the second-highest score for England behind Pietersen’s 75 – and there was no way back from 175 for 9. Boje applied the finishing touch, as Harmison spooned to Nel at long-off to end the first one-sided match of the series to date. There are now three matches left in a see-saw series, and England will head to East London on Wednesday to try to level the series.Jenny Thompson is assistant editor of Cricinfo.
If the timing of Lord MacLaurin’s remarks regarding the future of English cricket last week was designed to kick-start a debate on the subject, then it has done exactly as intended.On Thursday, MacLaurin told the BBC that to survive English cricket had to consider reducing the number of first-class counties from 18 to 12 and, as a result, decrease the number of professionals in the game by about 100. He warned that with the next television deal likely to produce far less income than the current one, the alternative was for cricket to become a minor summer sport "like croquet". Several of the county chairmen spluttered on cue, although the biggest reaction came from the world of croquet who were livid at the perceived slight.But the idea was in the public domain, and in the four days since it has been the subject of considerable discussion. At the forefront is the Reform Group, a loose collection consisting of two former England captains – Michael Atherton and Bob Willis – Michael Parkinson, David Willis (Bob’s brother), and Nigel Wray, the multi-millionaire owner of the Saracens Rugby Football Club.Over the weekend the Reform Group published an open letter outlining a four-point plan to safeguard the future of the game. They said they were responding to “England’s performances against South Africa” and supporting MacLaurin’s comments. Their proposals were:1. An end to the First-Class Forum (made up of the first-class counties plus MCC) which wields considerable power within the game, and its replacement by a streamlined management board responsible for all aspects of the game without the vested interest that the existing forum has.2: A reduction in the number of first-class teams to improve the quality of domestic cricket being played.3. A de-professionalisation of parts of the county game, allied to the establishment of a properly organised and financed county-based Premier League system.4. The creation of a true pyramid structure which allows non-professionals the chance to progress into the higher levels of the game. This would also create closer links between the professional and amateur competition.Mike Soper, chairman of the First-Class Forum, gave the proposal a mixed response. "I don’t agree with half of what the group has said. Some of it makes sense. You don’t just look at a piece of paper and agree with everything written on it, similarly you don’t dismiss it either.”But Soper did support the view that change was needed. “The ECB was formed six years ago, I think it is now time that we started looking at the whole constitution again. I don’t think the First-Class Forum will ever relinquish its power, until they are happy that the governing body and the executive can deliver."I don’t agree that there should be a reduction in the number of professional counties, but I do think Second XIs should be scrapped … and you could reduce costs by getting rid of half a dozen players from each the 18 counties.”At the moment the Reform Group is little more than a collection of like-minded souls who probably met up at The Oval and fostered a plan over a few post-match drinks. But if it builds up some momentum, it could become the focus for a genuine movement to begun to try and change a system which has proved doggedly resistant to all previous attempts to make it face up to the harsh economic realities of the modern world.
South Africa’s batsmen had a decent Test preparation on the final day of the drawn cricket tour match against Western Australia here.All the Test regulars – with the exception of the injured Herschelle Gibbs – got among the runs with Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie making centuries.Gary Kirsten and Lance Klusener added half-centuries as South Africa finished on 5-390 in its second innings before the match ended early.It was just the batting fillip the tourists needed ahead of the first Test against Australia – especially after being in the field for 10 hours over the weekend as WA made 8-600 in its first innings.Kallis was out on the stroke tea for 120 while McKenzie notched his 10th first-class ton – and probably his easiest – shortly after the break.Kallis arrived in Australia after scoring 590 runs at an average 295 in South Africa’s four home Tests this summer.He showed every sign of retaining that form with an effortless ton.His century took 199 minutes but 60 of the runs came in boundaries – 13 fours and three sixes – as he batted patiently and waited for the bad balls.He was eventually caught behind off Brad Hogg, the ball hitting his pad and bouncing off his glove as Ryan Campbell took a good reactive catch.McKenzie’s batting was delightful, full of deft wrist work and sweet timing.His century came off 141 balls and featured 10 fours and two sixes.He fell for 114 when Murray Goodwin took a spectacular diving catch at mid-off to the bowling of Stuart Karppinen.In favourable conditions, Kallis and McKenzie smashed 157 runs in the middle session, as they added 161 for the third wicket.Klusener hit a huge six off Hogg to bring up his 50 – which took 57 balls and featured 10 fours and a six.He was out off the next ball, trapped lbw by Hogg and the match ended.Earlier, Kirsten blew a chance to gain some valuable practice on the last day, getting out for 59 six minutes before lunch when he spooned a return catch to the left arm wrist spin of Hogg.Kirsten’s fellow Test opener Gibbs, after making only two in the first innings, was unable to bat because of a groin strain.Jacques Rudolph, bidding for a Test spot at No.3, was the only real failure – caught behind off Gavin Swan without adding to his overnight score of 12.But he made 59 in the first innings when batting was more difficult.The South Africans had indicated they wanted to declare late in the day to give Test spearhead Allan Donald a handful of overs after he missed a day’s bowling on Sunday with a foot injury.But in the end, they opted to bat out the day and take an early finish.South Africa’s cause was helped by the WA attack missing pace spearhead Matthew Nicholson, who made his maiden first-class century yesterday after taking fivewickets in South Africa’s first innings.He was unable to bowl because he was struck a painful blow on the toe while batting.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRangpur Riders walked off a happy lot after dismissing Sylhet Super Stars for 59•BCB
Sylhet Super Stars coach Sarwar Imran had said on Sunday that the side’s last three matches would all be “knockout games”. On Monday while, they were not technically knocked out of the tournament yet, Rangpur Riders belted them in an eight-wicket win.Arafat Sunny took his second four-wicket haul in T20s, giving away just 14 runs in four overs while Mohammad Nabi took three wickets. Shakib Al Hasan picked up two wickets while Thisara Perera had one as Sylhet were bowled out for 59 runs in 11.5 overs, the second-lowest innings total in the BPL, narrowly beating Barisal Bulls’ 58 all out, against them in their previous game.However, Sylhet now hold the record for getting bowled out in the least number of overs in a BPL innings. The previous lowest was 13.5 overs, in which the Chittagong Kings bowled out the Sylhet Royals for 74, in the 2013 edition. Mohammedan Sporting Club hold the record for getting bowled in the leas tnumber of overs in Bangladesh – 8.4 overs.Shakib decided to bowl, predictably, and straightaway opened the attack with Sunny. Darren Sammy dropped a simple catch in the first over of their innings, before Sunny bowled the survivor, Dilshan Munaweera, off the next ball. Junaid Siddique gave Sunny a simple return catch in the next over before Mushfiqur Rahim couldn’t connect a switch-hit and was caught at point.Sunny’s fourth wicket was Nazmul Hossain Milon who was bowled trying to slog him in the seventh over. Sylhet captain Shahid Afridi was stumped by Shakib who also removed Nurul Hasan earlier for a catch at mid-off.Perera had Ravi Bopara leg-before and there was a danger that Sylhet would break the record of being bowled out for the lowest score, 58, which they had inflicted on Barisal in their previous game. Thankfully for them, Sohail Tanvir struck a six and four before Mohammad Nabi removed the last three wickets, giving away just 15 runs. When last man, Rubel Hossain, tried to loft him in the 12th over, Nabi ran back 20 yards and completed a stunning catch to end the Sylhet innings.In the chase, Mohammad Shahid took two wickets – getting Lendl Simmons to edge to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim in the second over and having Soumya Sarkar caught at deep square-leg in the sixth over, before Rangpur wrapped up the chase with consummate ease as Shakib anchored the innings with an unbeaten 29.
An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Hellas Verona striker Giovanni Simeone…
What’s the talk?
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Magpies and Atletico Madrid both hold an interest in the centre-forward ahead of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that he is set to be available for a fee in the region of £20.8m (€25m) after the Serie A side sign him permanently from Cagliari at the end of the season.
New Wilson
Eddie Howe can find the club’s new Callum Wilson with a deal to sign Simeone ahead of the 2022/23 campaign as he could be the figurehead of the attack moving forward.
Wilson is the club’s top scorer with six Premier League goals this term and ended the previous season with 12 strikes – four more than any other player. This shows that the Magpies have been reliant on the ex-Bournemouth attacker for the majority of his time on Tyneside, with January signing Chris Wood yet to get off the mark since his switch from Burnley.
Howe will be able to ease the burden on the Englishman by bringing in Simeone to replace what he brings to the side, which will mean that any injury absences he takes will not be as big of a hindrance in the future.
Last month, journalist Toni Padilla claimed he has found “the scoring nose” and his statistics back that up. In the Serie A this season, the Argentine has scored 15 times and provided three assists in 21 starts – his fourth campaign of scoring 12+ goals in the Italian top-flight.
He has proven that he can find the net on a regular basis in the top-flight and this means that he would be able to replicate Wilson’s impact if he is able to adapt to Premier League football, with the pair – who both stand at 5 foot 9 – scoring at a similar rate in the top-flights of their respective countries.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
At the age of 26, he is also heading into the prime years of his career and Newcastle could pick him up at the right moment as he continues to blossom. Howe can work with him on the training pitch to ensure that he fulfils his potential and is able to be the prolific goalscorer that his Verona form suggests he is.
His statistics indicate that the predator will be able to come in at St. James’ Park and take over from Wilson on the goalscoring front and become the new frontman for Howe; that is why PIF must get this deal over the line in the summer.
AND in other news, Ashley endured Newcastle howler with “really strange” £15m dud who’s “badly damaged”…
An ECB working party has examined ways of maintaining well-behaved crowds following a few isolated incidents last season. Gordon Hollins, the head of venues, led the group after the 2007 domestic Twenty20 tournament was marred by unruly behaviour at some games.Last season at Southgate some Middlesex players had their wallets stolen and the Hampshire team bus was pelted by stones. Robert Croft also spoke about the abuse he took while fielding on the boundary at Taunton.Now the ECB are implementing the same crowd standards that apply for international matches, which includes encouraging the grounds to designate one area a family zone and a ban on bringing in alcohol.”ECB want to ensure that the type of behaviour which caused some unfortunate headlines last summer is not allowed to resurface in cricket during the summer of 2008 and spoil the enjoyment of the majority,” said Hollins. “We were adamant that we had to be proactive in this area to nip these issues in the bud.”There will also be a zero-tolerance policy concerning foul language, and anyone using racist language shall be subject to prosecution. We are trying to ensure that all those who do wish to drink at matches also consider the spectators around them.”David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: “We have a great tradition of sporting crowds at cricket in England and Wales and so were concerned by a limited number of examples last season which if not addressed could lead to a decline in the standards of behaviour we are seeking to preserve at cricket events in this country.”
Ricky Ponting has admitted to being disappointed by the timing of Damien Martyn’s shock retirement last week. Martyn stunned the cricket community, including his Australia team-mates, when he quit the game mid-series.Speaking as his side prepared for the third Test at Perth, Ponting said he would have liked Martyn to play a farewell game at home. “When I sat back and digested that he had retired, I thought why didn’t he give it one more week?” Ponting said. “He would have had a home Test match and the chance for us to win the Ashes in this Test was there.”I guess it was the timing that was the real big surprise for me. I am really shocked and surprised. I am as close to Marto as any of the guys in the team and I didn’t see it coming.”Martyn is believed to be on holiday in Hawaii with his wife and Ponting said he had been hard to contact since the announcement. “We have all tried to be in contact with him as much as we can over the past few days, but he has been pretty aloof. He will talk to us after the game, he doesn’t want to get in the road at the moment. He wanted to do the right thing by the team and get away and not have the spotlight on the team.”Ponting wondered if the mounting pressure on Martyn to retain his berth, with speculation Shane Watson would replace him as soon as the allrounder was fit, had got to him. “He probably didn’t make the runs he would have liked in the first two games,” he said. “Knowing Marto he would have put a lot of extra pressure on himself.”Martyn, 35, has not spoken publicly since his decision. His only statement on his retirement came in a letter, which it was later revealed was prepared by the Australian radio personality Alan Jones.
Hugh Morris, the former Glamorgan and England batsman, has been appointed as deputy chief executive of the ECB. Morris, 42, has previously been the ECB performance director.He will head up the cricket department in addition to his roles as deputy chief executive, and John Carr will take responsibility for the performance of the international team matters.David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said: “I am delighted for Hugh. He did a magnificent job as acting Chief Executive in the time last year between Tim Lamb departing and my appointment. Hugh’s strong cricket background is important for the ECB and, as a former Test player, he brings strong qualities to the management team. His work with the National Academy has been outstanding and has been recognised around the world.”Morris was highly successful and consistent with Glamorgan, scoring almost 20,000 first-class runs at an average of 40.29. He won three England caps in 1991 and also captained England A to South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka as well as becoming Glamorgan’s youngest ever captain in 1986.