All posts by h716a5.icu

The South African cricket team is in a “beautiful space” ahead of next year’s World Cup in the subcontinent, Herschelle Gibbs has said

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-2010The South African cricket team is in a “beautiful space” ahead of next year’s World Cup in the subcontinent, Herschelle Gibbs has said, thanks to a change at the management and personnel levels that has translated into a change of attitude on the field. It’s a far more positive view of the team than is painted in the much-publicised extracts from his autobiography , in which he wrote of a disjointed unit, run by a clique of players and paralysed by a fear of failure.Gibbs was speaking to ESPNcricinfo in a long and wide-ranging interview on Monday, the day the book was published. He’s been part of the South Africa team for 14 years, and in his time has seen it go from a “fantastic team” that was unlucky to lose out on the 1999 World Cup final to a “team without focus” that crashed in the 2003 tournament to a unit that could not “handle the pressure” in 2007 to the men he sees them as now.The current South African squad under Corrie van Zyl doesn’t get a mention in the autobiography – though he praised the coach in his interview – but all the regimes from the Bob Woolmer era do. Gibbs feels the team never reached the heights it did in the Hansie Cronje era and is particularly harsh on Mickey Arthur’s tenure. He wrote that Arthur was “not the most forceful personality” and that “without Graeme (Smith’s) backing Mickey didn’t have influence over guys.”Gibbs wrote that during that time the team was run by a clique consisting of Smith, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and later AB de Villiers. It’s a charge he repeated on Monday. “That particular clique was an issue I was asked about a lot, even by ordinary people,” he said. “They’d always see those guys together because they are good mates and they (Boucher, Kallis and de Villiers) were senior players and they were outspoken so they assisted Smith.”The book reveals how Arthur was often held hostage to this clique and “bowed to senior players’ opinions.” Gibbs also described Smith as being “too powerful.” Arthur reacted in an article published by the South African paper , saying that Gibbs “didn’t know what was going on” when it came to player and management relationships. Gibbs had not had word of Arthur’s reaction but said he expected his former coach to react in that way and stood by what he published in the book.Smith reacted in a more personal manner. “He actually sent me a BBM (Blackberry message) this morning. I know he’s just going on what he’s seen in the papers but he didn’t even say ‘Good morning Hersch’ or anything. He just wrote ‘Too powerful? Is that what you really thought?’ And I said it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.” Gibbs said he was never in Smith’s “inner circle” of friends but that he hopes the two will not have a strained relationship going forward.”I can’t ever feel resentment or hatred for him because he was my opening partner and partners go through a lot together. We might have not spoken for a bit of time, but when I saw him the other day at the Cobras I SMSed him and said ‘I can’t be upset with you. It’s just not possible.’ He just replied saying he respects my opinion,” said Gibbs.One of the other members of the alleged clique also communicated his unhappiness. “Kallis has voiced his opinion and I believe is not entirely happy and he will support any move by Cricket South Africa (CSA) if they decide to take any action against me,” Gibbs said. However, he hasn’t only incurred wrath. Long-time friend Mark Boucher, he said, hasn’t taken the revelations too badly. “Bouchie is a hardcore sort of boy and he went through the book and he said it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.”Gibbs said the clique does not hold the same sway anymore, because van Zyl is now in charge, and, though he didn’t write about it in his book, admits that the team are gelling. “Maybe they (the clique) are still close but they don’t have as much influence on the coach.” Van Zyl’s induction has played out on the field, he said. “We had a workshop a couple of days before the Zimbabwe series started and for the first time in a long time, I felt the team was a unit. There was a sense of togetherness and they are in a much better space.”He also thinks that the likes of David Miller, Colin Ingram and Rusty Theron have added to the new sense of hunger in the side. “There are a couple of youngsters now, who have brought in a lot of self-confidence. Those guys haven’t struggled to make the adjustment to international cricket and it bodes well for the World Cup.”The 2011 tournament is one Gibbs would dearly love to be a part of. “All I’ve ever wanted to do”, he said, was win the World Cup, and didn’t even hang on to his man-of-the-match trophies because he only aimed to keep a winner’s medal. Gibbs signed a new contract with CSA this year and van Zyl has assured him that he is in their plans for the tournament, but Gibbs has resigned himself to not taking part. “I can’t see the current squad changing too much. They’ve got such depth, both with batters and bowlers.”Although it was a lifelong ambition of his, Gibbs said he won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t get to participate in the tournament. “Maybe when they’ll play without me, they’ll win,” he said in jest.He has two pieces of advice for the team that will travel to the subcontinent in February. The first is to lose the “fear of failure” that he says has crippled South Africa since the 1999 tournament. The second is more of a warning. “Until we win a World Cup, the chokers tag will stay.”

In the aftermath of England’s embarrassing 2007 World Cup campaign the first wicketkeeper selected was Matt Prior. Nearly four years on, and a month away from the next global tournament, he is again in possession but that doesn’t mean it’s been a smooth r

Andrew McGlashan in Hobart20-Jan-2011In the aftermath of England’s embarrassing 2007 World Cup campaign the first wicketkeeper selected was Matt Prior. Nearly four years on, and a month away from the next global tournament, he is again in possession but that doesn’t mean it’s been a smooth ride. Prior has been dropped three times in that period, the most recent 10 months ago in Bangladesh, as the selectors tried various options before deciding their original choice was the best.When Steve Davies was given the gloves against Pakistan last year, following a brief stint for Craig Kieswetter, and retained for the one-day series against Australia it appeared Prior’s World Cup chance had gone. But he’d finished the Ashes in prime form with 118 at Sydney and, wisely, took up the chance to play Twenty20 cricket for Victoria.”I wasn’t expecting it, to be honest,” Prior said. “Obviously I was hoping, you always do when the team is getting selected, and I’ve always said that whenever England are playing I want to be the man with the gloves on. I’m absolutely delighted with the selection. It feels like I’ve come home again.”Prior has never hidden his drive to be England’s keeper in all three formats. He has sometimes felt harshly treated over one-day cricket and his desire for self-improvement was evident when he took up the Big Bash offer rather than return home after the Ashes.”When the option was thrown at to me either go home or stay here playing cricket it was a pretty simple decision for me,” he said. “I’ve stated for a long time that I want to play one-day international cricket again and flying home to sit in the snow in England wasn’t going to better my chances at all.”I’ve been in positions before when I’ve felt I’ve done okay and then been dropped, but that’s international sport. The one thing you do is go back to the drawing board, dust yourself down and come back harder. I’ve put a lot of hard work into my one-day game, it hasn’t just happened overnight. There are obviously reasons why I’m here and it’s now down to me to prove that by performing well.”However, the recall doesn’t mean all the tricky decisions are made. A feature of Prior’s 55-match one-day career is how many positions he has filled in the order; everywhere apart from Nos.5, 10 and 11, while his last 50-over outings were at No.6. This constant movement hasn’t helped his development and the next stage of his career will be back as an opener, where he has batted on 27 occasions.He has never been a complete failure in the one-day side, but his career to date is characterised by how many starts he has made only to then fall without dominating. He has just two half-centuries, with a top score of 87 against West Indies, but has been dismissed between 20 and 50 on 18 occasions – 13 of those as an opener. Prior, though, remains convinced that’s his best position rather than a middle-order worker.”That’s where I want to play in one-day cricket,” he said. “Andrew Strauss and I will form a pretty good partnership, we get on well and run well between the wickets. I’m a very different player to the guy who opened the batting however many years ago. Getting the starts wasn’t a problem, or getting in against the new ball, I was always seemed to get good starts but I didn’t have the experience at the time to then make the match-winning score.”If you look at Shane Watson in the last game with 161, those are the type of innings all batsmen are trying to get. Forties and fifties don’t win games and that’s certainly what I’ll be trying to do once I get in and make a start.”Another factor in Prior’s return is the part he plays in the field, not just as a much-improved and now world-class keeper but also the central focus of the fielding unit. Prior’s constant chirping and encouragement is not to everyone’s taste, but the coach Andy Flower made specific reference to the energy he brings to the side.”I’ve taken it upon myself to lead the fielding unit,” he said. “As an England team we thrive on setting very high standards in the field. I like to try and push the boys as much as possible with that. When I’m out there it’s one of my roles – I want to score runs and catch more than I drop – to make sure I’m pulling people with me and making sure our standards in the field remain very high.”The remainder of the one-day series in Australia will see Prior and Davies travelling together as part of the squad, but Prior doesn’t foresee there being any issues with the man he has just pushed out of a World Cup berth.”We are the keepers’ union and have been for the whole of this trip. We go a long way back,” he said. “I think we both know that we are pushing for the same place and all you can do is try your best to perform. Whoever gets the nod on the day fair play to them. It works that way, it is international sport and cut-throat at times but everyone has been through it.”Prior knows only too well the feeling of losing his place, and having earned it back, he wants to keep it for a long time to come.

Noel Whelan has been left fuming at what he has now heard from an Everton source involving Richarlison in the build-up to the clash with Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Agent talk

Speaking to Football Insider, a source from the Goodison Park faithful has revealed that Richarlison has now told his agent to find him a new club in the summer as another crucial fixture looms this evening, when the Toffees welcome Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes to Goodison Park.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-4/” title=”Everton news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Brazil international still has over two years left of his contract remaining on Merseyside, but given how the season has gone, it looks as if he wants to bail out now.

The Latest: Whelan fumes

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan, who regularly used to feature as a pundit for the BBC, fumed when he heard the news, claiming that ‘it’s not right’ that Richarlison is ‘plotting’ a way out of the Toffees when they are struggling near the bottom of the Premier League:

“That doesn’t surprise me at all.

“I’ve said all along that I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with him, and that just proves my point.

“You just knew all along, once Everton got into this struggle, he would be sitting at home and plotting his way out.

“That’s not commitment to me. That’s not fighting for the cause. It’s not right.

“Will he get the move? Of course he will. He’s Brazil’s number nine, and he had Barcelona at his door only a couple of years ago.

“I’m sure he’ll get the move he wants, but it won’t be cheap. Everton will hold on for what they think he’s worth – provided they’re still in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Sell

Richarlison has often been criticised for having problems with his attitude, and this seems no different as he reportedly looks to force his way out of the club.

He has not exactly been on top form either this season so far, with just six goals to his name in the top flight, and at 24 years of age, Frank Lampard’s team could demand a sizeable fee for him this summer.

Nonetheless, the Blues could then use that money to strengthen in other key areas of the pitch, so letting a player go who is seemingly unhappy would not be the worst thing.

In other news, find out which ‘fantastic specimen’ EFC are now eyeing here!

Geoffrey Boycott thinks it is time for Steven Finn to be given a run in the England team and has tipped him to replace Tim Bresnan in the side

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2012Geoffrey Boycott believes it is time for Steven Finn to be given a run in the England team even though that could mean fellow Yorkshireman, Tim Bresnan, missing out on playing on his home ground in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley.England’s bowling attack flopped in their innings-and-12-run defeat to South Africa at The Oval, as the visitors piled up 637 for 2, and Boycott told ESPNcricinfo he feels changes need to be made.After making his debut in 2010 against Bangladesh, Finn played 11 consecutive Tests before being dropped for Bresnan in Melbourne. Boycott believes it is now time to reverse that selection and for Finn to be given another run of games.”Finn will be in the squad for Headingley and he deserves to have a run in the side,” Boycott said. “He’s been carrying the drinks for far too long. He’s been playing well for his county and we need to find out if he can play well at Test level.”Finn has been in contention for selection in every Test since being left out for the fourth Ashes Test but has only played three more times – once in series home and away against Sri Lanka, and against West Indies at Edgbaston when James Anderson and Stuart Broad were rested.Finn has been in fine form for Middlesex this season, taking 22 first-class wickets at 20.04 and was also a key part of England’s ODI attack that beat Australia 4-0; Finn claimed eight wickets at 19.37.Bresnan’s place in the side has been much debated with his batting ability seen as the justification for his selection. He averages 39.00 from his 15 Tests and scored a best of 91 against India last year. With the ball he has claimed 56 wickets at 28.12 and took eight wickets at Trent Bridge against West Indies in May. Despite his record, and the fact that until The Oval defeat, England had won all but one of the Tests Bresnan had played in, Boycott feels Finn deserves a run in the side.”You have to find out if he can play well at Test level and you don’t get that by dropping somebody after one or two Tests,” Boycott said. “Eoin Morgan got a good chance and now Finn has to have a proper chance.”Through the same reasoning, Boycott feels Ravi Bopara is the man to occupy England’s other debated position – the No. 6 slot. Bopara was in line for a recall against Sri Lanka in April and West Indies in May but injuries on both occasions meant he was left out. He finally returned to the Test XI at The Oval but made 0 and 22, being dismissed with poor strokes in both innings.”Bopara is the right man to play,” Boycott said. “Whether he’s good enough is a different matter, but he has to have a proper go.”

Nathaniel Clyne is interested in signing a new deal and extending his stay at Crystal Palace this summer, according to journalist Tom Barclay.

The Lowdown: Clyne out of contract

The 31-year-old is currently in his second spell at his boyhood club, proving to be a solid squad player under Patrick Vieira this season.

Clyne has made nine Premier League starts in 2021/22 to date, acting as a solid understudy to Joel Ward and putting his experience to good use, arguably becoming first-choice in recent weeks.

The defender’s current deal expires at the end of the season, though, at which point he would be able to leave on a free transfer.

The Latest: Clyne keen on new Palace deal

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Barclay claimed that Clyne wants to extend his stay at Selhurst Park. The journalist said of the Palace defender:

“He suggested he definitely would like a new contract. And there’s a bit of talk about it at the moment; we’ll see what will happen.”

The Verdict: No-brainer for Palace

It makes complete sense for Palace to give Clyne a new contract, with the Englishman proving what a reliable figure he can be throughout this season.

Granted, his very best days may be behind him, but he remains a reliable defender who has averaged 1.5 tackles and 1.5 clearances per match in the current Premier League campaign.

Jurgen Klopp once hailed Clyne as ‘amazing’, which speaks volumes given the calibre of player with whom the Liverpool manager has worked, and at 31, there is no reason why the defender can’t stay at the top level for a few more years yet.

In other news, one player is reportedly considering moving to Palace. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo has hinted at eventually returning to former club Real Betis following a disappointing first season at Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Firpo disappointing so far for Leeds

The 25-year-old joined the Whites from Barcelona last summer, coming in as a direct replacement for the exit-bound Ezgjan Alioski.

Firpo has failed to hit the ground running for Leeds so far, though, with only 12 Premier League starts coming his way and a mixture of patchy form and injuries holding him back.

Indeed, the defender appears to have hinted about a potential move back to Spain, less than year after arriving in Yorkshire.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Firpo hints at Betis return

Speaking to DAZN [via Sport Witness], Firpo has said that he sees himself returning to Betis one day even though he is happy at Leeds for the time being, having spent the 2018/19 season with the Andalucian club.

The 25-year-old stated: “I would love to spend a lot of time here, but, well, in the end, the house always wins and I would like to return to Betis, obviously.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-35/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: More required moving forward

Firpo arrived at Leeds last July as an exciting addition, with the glamour of signing a Barcelona player perhaps raising expectations, but there is no denying that he has been disappointing so far.

While there have been moments of quality – he has one league assist to his name – he hasn’t delivered enough attacking output, while his defensive shortcomings have played a part in Leeds conceding 56 times in 25 league matches.

The hope is that the 6ft tall Firpo comes good over time and doesn’t become a forgotten man who swiftly returns to Spain after failing to thrive in the blood-and-guts nature of English football.

In other news, one journalist has provided a crucial update on Bielsa’s Leeds future. Read more here.

ExWHUEmployee has claimed that West Ham United “will try” once again to sign Jesse Lingard in this final week of the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to earlier reports from The Evening Standard, David Moyes remains keen on exploring a potential January deal for Lingard, and with fellow Premier League side Newcastle seemingly out of the running now, the race has opened up for the Hammers.

Via his Patreon, Ex said: “The club, on the back of the Lingard situation with Newcastle (although we do expect Newcastle to try again), will try another attempt at a deal but Manchester United are very reluctant to deal with us and there are issues to resolve still with his former stay here. We hope to have more details on this deal later.”

Moyes will love it

With Newcastle potentially out of the picture, the chances of the Hammers making a late swoop for Lingard is now very much a realistic prospect.

If the London club can work out some of the issues Ex says exists from Lingard’s previous loan deal at the London Stadium, then it would be a superb late window coup for Moyes.

After joining West Ham back in the January transfer window on a short-term loan, the attacking midfielder notched an impressive nine goals and four assists in just his first ten Premier League games for the club – it was no surprise then that he was lauded as being “absolutely phenomenal”.

His performances with the Hammers showcased the kind of impact the £75k-a-week earning star can have when he’s on song and the confidence is flowing through his veins.

With West Ham still very much in the mix for a Champions League spot this season, adding that extra sprinkling of goals and dynamism in Lingard could well prove to be the difference-maker when it comes to those big moments and big games.

After seemingly looking like Newcastle would trump them in their chase for Lingard, making a fresh move to land the England ace’s signature would surely have Moyes buzzing.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on this reported West Ham transfer target…

Michael Lumb will help Queensland’s push for a berth in the Champions League after agreeing to join them for this summer’s Big Bash

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2010England’s Michael Lumb, who has played seven Twenty20 internationals, will help Queensland’s push for a berth in the Champions League after agreeing to join them for this summer’s Big Bash. Lumb, a left-handed opener, was part of the World Twenty20 victory in the Caribbean in May and will aim to provide the Bulls with some much needed power hitting.”When we learned that Andrew Flintoff was not going to be able to take up his contract with us, we looked at a few players that we felt would bring something special to our group,” the Queensland coach Trevor Barsby said. “Having caught a few of his performances for England and Rajasthan Royals, Michael was pretty well at the top of the list as far as I was concerned.”Lumb, 30, has a strike-rate of more than 140 in both international and domestic T20 competition, and will be released by the state if he is called into England’s plans. “It’s going to be an amazing experience playing in Australia – I honestly can’t wait,” Lumb said.”I’ve come across lads like Ryan Harris and Andrew Symonds in the IPL and have had a good chat with Trevor Barsby, so the tournament can’t come soon enough.” He is the second English player to join the event, which starts in late December, after Sajid Mahmood was picked up by Western Australia on Tuesday.

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, has warned his side to guard against complacency during their upcoming ODI series in Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-2010Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, has warned his side to guard against complacency during their upcoming ODI series in Bangladesh. New Zealand play five one-dayers in early October, before the tour to India, as part of their build-up to the 2011 World Cup.New Zealand beat Bangladesh 3-0 during the ODI series in New Zealand in February, but Vettori believes Bangladesh will be a completely different proposition at home. “If we go over there expecting to walk over them like we did here, we’ll be in for a bit of [a] fright,” he told . “But if we respect them and hopefully play to our potential, then we should beat them.”Vettori returns to the 15-member squad, along with Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder, who missed the tri-series in Sri Lanka in July. There is also a fair amount of inexperience in the squad: six members have played less than 10 one-dayers and Hamish Bennett, the 23-year-old Canterbury fast bowler, has earned a call-up. Bennet bowls in the mid-140 kph range, and Vettori said his pace would come handy, should he prove himself at the international level. “Andy McKay has really stepped up as well, so we are trying to produce a group of guys who can bowl a bit quicker and see if they can succeed in subcontinent conditions looking towards the World Cup.”Vettori, who missed the Sri Lanka tri-series for the birth of his second child, said he felt refreshed after the break. “It’s the longest time in my career that I’ve had away from cricket and it’s been nice to be at home with my family and get reacquainted with everyone. I feel great and I’m looking forward to playing cricket again.”Vettori had said the tour of the subcontinent would give his team an advantage over other overseas sides during the World Cup early next year. New Zealand play five of their six World Cup league games in India, and the other in Sri Lanka, while the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur – the venue for the upcoming ODI series – will host two of the World Cup quarterfinals.”We’re going to play games over there during the World Cup and probably important games,” Vettori said. “We want guys to feel pretty familiar, so when we turn up there on a short stay, World Cup time, they will know what to expect.”New Zealand play two warm-up games against a Bangladesh Board President’s XI on October 1 and 2, ahead of the first one-dayer on October 5.

Samit Patel’s second half-century in three days secured a third straight Friends Provident t20 win for Nottinghamshire Outlaws as they swept aside Worcestershire Royals by six wickets with 23 balls to spare

13-Jun-2010
ScorecardSamit Patel’s second half-century in three days secured a third straight Friends Provident t20 win for Nottinghamshire Outlaws as they swept aside Worcestershire Royals by six wickets with 23 balls to spare.After limiting the visitors to 150 for 7, with Dirk Nannes and Graeme White both picking up two wickets, Patel hit 63 from 34 balls with five fours and three sixes while David Hussey was unbeaten on 34, finishing off the match with a straight six.Moeen Ali top-scored for Worcestershire with 67 from 48 balls, supported by stand-in captain Daryl Mitchell (34 not out), but with Vikram Solanki missing with a pelvic injury, the visitors were always short of batting power. In particular, they were unable to deal with the pace and hostility of Nannes and England pair Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom, with the trio conceding only nine boundaries from their 12 overs.Mitchell chose to bat in this Trent Bridge contest after winning the toss but saw openers Jack Manuel and Phil Jaques both depart cheaply in the powerplay overs. Alexei Kervezee and Steve Smith also contributed little but a partnership of 64 for the fifth wicket between Ali and Mitchell gave Worcestershire a score closer to par, with Ali hitting three sixes in the 13th and 14th overs to boost the run-rate.He then hit White for a further maximum with a slog-sweep before perishing with the same shot to the next ball, while Nannes yorked James Cameron and ran out Gareth Andrew in the final over. The pedigree of Nottinghamshire’s international pace trio was amply demonstrated in the first two overs of their innings, as openers Alex Hales and Ali Brown took 26 off bowlers Imran Arif and Richard Jones.That set the tone for the chase and while Hales, Brown and Matt Wood all departed in the powerplay overs, the hosts were well ahead of the run-rate and Patel ensured they only pulled further ahead with a succession of sweet boundaries over extra cover. He was one of two wickets for leg-spinner Smith but Hussey and Chris Read completed the win to leave the Outlaws sitting pretty at the top of the North Group.