All posts by h716a5.icu

Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar has said the team needs to maintain a level of enthusiasm even if the results don’t always go their way

Cricinfo staff16-Jul-2010Former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar has said the team needs to maintain a level of enthusiasm even if the results don’t always go their way. With the World Cup early next year, Bashar felt it was important for the team to build self belief in the coming months, and that could translate into better results. He added it was a good decision by Shakib Al Hasan to give up the captaincy when he was struggling for form on the tour of England.”I think the level of satisfaction should go up,” Bashar told the . “People always talk about too much expectation, which I think is not a good thing but if there’s no expectation, it does no good to the team. It is time we shed the habit of being happy when we are ‘playing well’. You must have some belief if you are looking for the right results.”Bangladesh recently recorded their first ever win against England, in Bristol, but they failed to convert it to a rare away series win when they lost the deciding ODI by 144 runs at Edgbaston.”I am not saying the win (against England) was insignificant,” Bashar said. “It is a huge achievement to win against England in their home conditions.”Bashar also threw his weight behind the struggling batsman Mohammad Ashraful, who for a long time hasn’t repaid the faith shown by the selectors.”You cannot question [Mohammad] Ashraful’s quality and I’m confident that Ash will make his comeback in the World Cup, but now he’s badly out of form,” Bashar said. “I think he needs a break to do well in the coming months. That will make sure of his return to form as far as I’m concerned.”Mashrafe Mortaza regained the captaincy after regular captain Shakib struggled to combine the roles of leading allrounder and leader. Mortaza only recently returned from a long-term knee injury, and he was the automatic choice to take over from Shakib. Bashar, however, felt Shakib would do better when given a second chance.”Shakib must feel better now that Mashrafe has the captaincy,” Bashar said. “I think it was too much pressure on him. I always felt that he was made captain too soon for his age. He can be the country’s best captain, but only in the future.”Bashar doesn’t expect wholesale changes to the squad for the World Cup, and felt it would be worth investing in the current group. “I see very little chance of that happening because in the past two years, player production hasn’t been too good and backups are not in place. We have a few options but I still think this current team is good enough and talented enough to produce the goods in the World Cup.”

Cedric Kipre, Matt Phillips and Adam Reach were deemed to be West Brom’s poorest performers in their 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup third round.

The Baggies traded Championship commitments for domestic cup action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Premier League outfit Brighton to The Hawthorns. Unfortunately, Valerien Ismael’s side exited the competition at the first attempt, losing 2-1 after extra time having initially taken the lead through Callum Robinson.

According to Sofascore’s performance metrics, it was Kipre, Phillips and Reach who stood out as the worst performers for West Brom of those to have played at least 60 minutes. We explore why that was the case.

Adam Reach – 6.4

The 28-year-old’s Baggies career has not got going since he joined from Sheffield Wednesday last summer and this was another ineffective outing, which took him to 20 Albion appearances without a single goal.

The winger played no key passes and had no shots on target in the match – a disappointing return, considering he is deemed a creative player – and he lost the ball a whopping 25 times, the most of any outfield player for the home side.

Reach played just two out of nine accurate long balls, too, and he did little to win over any of his detractors.

Matt Phillips – 6.3

Phillips was another Baggies player who failed to find his best form against the Seagulls, not affecting matters enough in the final third.

The attacker lost possession 12 times in a loose display, while from a defensive sense, he didn’t make one tackle or interception, failing to ruffle Brighton’s defenders’ feathers.

Phillips also didn’t have a shot on target in the match and won just one out of seven ground duels.

Cedric Kipre – 6.0

Kipre started in his usual right-sided centre-back role but had a very disappointing afternoon at the office, summed up by his game-changing red card midway through the second half.

He committed three fouls in total during a reckless performance, and he also failed to make a single interception or get a shot away during the game.

Furthermore, the 25-year-old won just three out of seven ground duels, as he was bettered by Brighton players all too often on a day to forget.

In other news: This Daryl Dike tweet had lots of Baggies fans gushing

Steve Waugh, the former Australian captain, has said a victory for England in the final ODI at Lord’s on Saturday will give them a definite advantage leading into the Ashes later this year

Cricinfo staff03-Jul-2010Steve Waugh, the former Australia captain, has said a victory for England in the final ODI at Lord’s on Saturday will give them a definite advantage leading into the Ashes later this year.”Australia would certainly like to be 3-2 rather than 4-1,” Waugh said during a press conference for the MCC World Cricket Committee. “At 3-2 neither side can say they had a big advantage, but 4-1 and England will walk away thinking we have got it over Australia.”They will think: ‘We won the Twenty20, we won the one-day games 4-1,’ and although Test cricket is a different game, momentum plays a big part in sport so this game coming up is important for Australia.”Waugh admitted England had grown more determined over the last year and will not be intimidated when they defend the Ashes this year. “I have noticed a bit of a change in the England side,” he said. “In the last 12 months they have escaped three Test matches. At Cardiff last year they were nine down and then the same happened in two Test matches in South Africa. That tells me they are a tough side to beat and fight all the way. They will go to Australia and will not be intimidated.”England had regained the Ashes in 2005, after a gap of 18 years, before being thrashed 0-5 when they toured Australia next year. However, they beat Australia 2-1 in 2009 under Andrew Strauss. The lessons learnt from the defeat in Australia on their previous visit, Waugh said, will stand England in good stead in their trophy defence.”I think they will learn from the last series, where they prepared poorly and were still thinking about the previous win in England [2005]. They got carried away but they won’t have the same complacency this time around. Eoin Morgan has brought a new element to the English side as well with the way he plays.”He has not lost in Australia, and it is really important whenever a side goes to Australia they have a lot of cricketers in there who have not been there before and experienced defeat. They go with fresh eyes and are not too worried about what has happened in the past and play on the present, so he [Morgan] will be an important part of the team.”

South Africa A opened the tri-series with a one-sided hammering at the Shere Bangla Stadium, beating Bangladesh A by a whopping 203 runs

Cricinfo staff05-May-2010
ScorecardDavid Miller and Colin Ingram added 128 for the fifth wicket in just 15.2 overs•Bangladesh Cricket BoardSouth Africa A opened the tri-series with a one-sided hammering at the Shere Bangla Stadium, beating Bangladesh A by a whopping 203 runs. Centuries by Colin Ingram and David Miller powered their team to 368, but Bangladesh’s reply lasted merely 33 overs.Ingram and Miller came together at the fall of the fourth wicket, but by then the South African top order had already laid the foundation for a massive stand. Ingram was already involved in stands of 66 and 50 with Riley Roussouw and Ryan Bailey respectively before Miller joined him.The pair added 128 for the fifth wicket in just 15.2 overs. Ingram made 127 off 118 balls with 13 fours and three sixes before he was dismissed by Noor Hossain. The bigger fireworks came off Miller’s bat, as he smacked seven sixes in his unbeaten 115 which came off only 60 balls. All the bowlers were smashed around, except for Shamsur Rehman, who returned more respectable figures of 1 for 52 off ten overs.It was a combined bowling effort from the South Africans which sunk Bangladesh. The hosts were unable to build solid partnerships and lost wickets in a hurry. The highest they could manage was the 45 between Marshall Ayub and Raqibul Hasan for the fourth wicket. Jonathan Vandiar was the main wicket-taker with 3 for 42.South Africa play their next game against West Indies A on Thursday.

West Ham United have received a massive boost in their pursuit of mooted transfer target Andrea Belotti this week…

What’s the word?

The Irons were linked with a move for the Torino talisman throughout the summer as David Moyes searched for new frontline additions, and they could be able to sign him for nothing come to the end of the season.

Belotti’s contract is up at the Serie A outfit and it has since been revealed that the 27-year-old centre-forward will not be signing an extension in Turin, according to quotes relayed by Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

“Italian striker Andrea Belotti is prepared to leave Torino as [a] free agent in June. Torino manager Ivan Juric confirms: ‘Belotti won’t sign the contract extension,'” he tweeted.

“‘Andrea is not gonna leave in January. He’ll decide his future in June’, Juric added.”

Door opens

The Hammers did not go and sign Belotti during the summer but the problem still remains. Michail Antonio (31) is Moyes’ only senior option in the striker position and he has been rather injury-prone for many a season now.

It’s a risky game to play considering that his side are unbeaten in the Europa League, where they seem sure to go on and progress into the knockout stages.

An injury or setback to Antonio could seriously curtail their chances of success in that competition, as well as the Premier League, where they are currently in fourth place.

Considering that Belotti is valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, getting him on a free transfer would be an absolute steal from Rob Newman in his new role as West Ham’s head of recruitment.

Similarly, the Euro 2020 winner has a very prolific goalscoring record, having bagged double figures in every season since 2015/16, including a career-best of 28 goals in 2016/17.

Former Irons shot-stopper Joe Hart enjoyed a loan spell at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino and waxed lyrical about Belotti’s ability, claiming that he was like no other striker in Europe.

“Andrea is similar to all the great strikers, English and not,” he told Gianluca Di Marzio. “It’s hard to compare him to someone else because he’s special. He’s Belotti and that’s it. He has instinct for goals, personality and he’s a team player: he’s always focused on his team and plays hard to help it.”

It would be inexcusable for the east Londoners to not try and secure Belotti in 2022. He could well be a very cheap but reliable fix to their attacking depth issues.

AND in other news, Moyes could unearth West Ham’s next Joe Cole in 19 y/o gem “similar to Jack Grealish”…

Jon Lewis, the Gloucestershire opening bowler, Glamorgan left-arm spinner Dean Cosker and Tim Murtagh from Surrey have been drafted into the MCC squad for the match against Durham in Abu Dhabi next week

Cricinfo staff23-Mar-2010Jon Lewis, the Gloucestershire opening bowler, Glamorgan left-arm spinner Dean Cosker and Tim Murtagh from Middlesex have been drafted into the MCC squad for the match against Durham in Abu Dhabi next week. The trio replace Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett due to their workloads with England and Surrey respectively.The match is the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season, but this year is being played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium so that trials can continue with pink ball and in floodlit conditions.Finn has played both Tests in Bangladesh so will be rested when the squad return to England ahead of the domestic season, while Tremlett has been removed from the four-day match because Chris Adams, the Surrey cricket manager, wants to managed his workload with Surrey having three Championship matches in three weeks in April.”I’m really pleased and excited to get this opportunity to play for MCC in Abu Dhabi. It will be extremely useful, high quality match practice ahead of the championship season,” Lewis said. “Playing with the pink ball and under lights is a fascinating prospect and I’m eager to learn more about the pink ball and how it behaves.”The addition of Cosker to the squad also allows an extra spin option alongside James Middlebrook if conditions show they are likely to help the slow bowlers. The MCC side boasts a strong batting line-up including Mark Ramprakash, David Sales and James Taylor, who was part of the England Lions tour in UAE.John Stephenson, the MCC head of cricket who will manage the team, said: “I’m glad to have been able to call on the services of three such experienced bowlers for what will be an important step in researching pink balls and floodlit first-class cricket.”The preparations are now in their final stages and all efforts are being directed towards making this a match worthy of its historical setting. I’m looking forward to see how the pink ball will behave under lights, and how these top players will react to it.”Revised squad Alex Gidman (capt), Scott Newman, David Sales, Mark Ramprakash, Dawid Malan, James Taylor, James Foster (wk), James Middlebrook, Tim Murtagh, Steve Kirby, Jon Lewis, Dean Cosker

Hampshire were undermined by a spell of sustained hostility from Liam Plunkettafter Michael Carberry made a superb century in an opening stand of 183

21-Apr-2010
ScorecardMichael Carberry led Hampshire’s innings with a positive hundred•Getty ImagesHampshire were undermined by a spell of sustained hostility from Liam Plunkettafter Michael Carberry made a superb century in an opening stand of 183.As in Durham’s opening match against Essex, Plunkett began poorly but improvedin his third spell to take three of the wickets as the visitors subsided toclose the first day of the County Championship Division One match on 298 for 8.Plunkett did well to extract some life from another placid Riverside pitch, onwhich Carberry and fellow left-hander Jimmy Adams looked totally at ease afterNic Pothas chose to bat on a cold, bright day.With Steve Harmison and Graham Onions both still absent with back injuries, theDurham seamers struggled early on and left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell was on asearly as 22nd over. But Carberry swept him for four then advanced to driveanother glorious boundary through extra cover.Adams glanced and pulled Plunkett for two leg-side fours as his first five-overspell cost 29 runs and it needed a touch of beginner’s luck for Durham to makethe breakthrough.After remaining wicketless on his championship debut last week, England Under-19 all-rounder Ben Stokes struck with his first ball of the day.It was short and wide of off-stump, but Carberry cut it straight to backward point, where Plunkett held a sharp, low catch.It had all begun to look a little too easy for Carberry. After reaching 50 off87 balls, he needed only 53 more to complete his century with 15 fours and asix. But it was no surprise when he was out as he had begun to look a littlecarefree.Three overs later the more circumspect Adams shaped to drive Plunkett butseemed to check the stroke and got an inside edge to be well caught by PhilMustard for 68.South African Neil McKenzie looked totally at ease in reaching 30, but thenshaped to drive Blackwell and edged to slip. The left-arm spinner had a second wicket when Chris Benham aimed to turn him through midwicket and fell lbw, also for 30.In the final session Plunkett induced an inside edge into James Vince’sleg-stump and after dropping Sean Ervine at gully off Mitch Claydon he quicklymade amends by claiming the wicket himself.Ervine followed a ball leaving him on off-stump to be caught behind, and threewickets had gone down on 284 when Claydon had James Tomlinson lbw immediatelyafter Pothas suffered the same fate.

Celtic are interested in a deal to bring Johnny Kenny to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Scotland, who claim that both Ange Postecoglou’s side and Hibernian are keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Sligo Rovers centre-forward ahead of a potential swoop this winter.

However, the report goes on to state that the 18-year-old was in attendance at Hibs’ 1-0 win over Dundee on Tuesday evening, something that would appear to suggest that the Edinburgh side are currently in the driving seat in the race for the youngster’s signature.

Imagine him & Moffat

Considering just how much potential Kenny quite clearly possesses, it is not difficult to see why Postecoglou is reported to be interested in a move for the forward this winter.

Indeed, over his 32 Premier Division appearances for Sligo Rovers this season, the £68k-rated man scored 11 goals and provided his teammates with two assists, returns which have earned the teenager a considerable amount of praise.

Speaking about the Ireland U19 international’s potential, Brendan Tuohy – the player’s former coach – said: “He knew what he wanted, he wanted to be the best that he could be. He worked very hard. Even when we weren’t training you would know well that Johnny was doing more on his own. He was living for it… he had that hunger, dedication. He was very committed, and he didn’t like losing. He had that hunger for success.”

As such, it would appear as if Kenny is a player who perfectly fits the characteristics Postecoglou likes in a signing, and, when taking into account the fact he is still just 18 years of age, the youngster is also a player who the 56-year-old manager could very much mould into a top-level talent.

And, with Celtic already possessing a number of extremely exciting youth prospects at present, none more so than Owen Moffat, the signing of Kenny this winter would only appear to make the future of the club brighter – leading us to believe that the Bhoys must do all they can to land the Sligo Rovers star in January.

In other news: Forget Abada: Celtic gem who won 67% duels proved he’s now someone “Ange can’t ignore”

Jacob Oram has been released early from his central contract by New Zealand Cricket after an agreement was reached by both parties

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2012Allrounder Jacob Oram has been released early from his central contract by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) after an agreement was reached by both parties. Oram said he could no longer make “a full-time commitment to NZC” and would continue playing Twenty20 cricket for Central Districts and in various competitions around the world.”Various factors have led me to make this decision including my age, the stage of my career and the impending birth of my second child,” Oram said. “I really enjoy the Twenty20 format and see it as a way to stay involved in cricket for a while longer.””I have loved every minute I have been fortunate enough to play for my country but the time has come for me to prioritise other areas of my life. Fortunately as a professional cricketer I can continue to play some T20 cricket as I transition into the next phase of my life. If the timing was right, and my form and fitness warranted selection, then I would definitely be available to play T20 cricket for my country but I have absolutely no expectations of NZC in that regard.”Oram last played for New Zealand as recently as their tour of Sri Lanka in October and November, appearing in one ODI and the only Twenty20 international.NZC chief executive David White said the board respected Oram’s wishes and appreciated his situation. “A NZC Playing Agreement has significant obligations on players and requires a full-time commitment and focus on playing for New Zealand. Form and fitness permitting, the selectors may well consider him for matches or events in the future. However, that said, it is appropriate for me to thank Jacob for his excellent contribution to New Zealand Cricket over the past 12 years.”Oram made his ODI debut for New Zealand in January 2001 and played his first Test the following year. During a career frequently interrupted by injury, Oram played 160 ODIs, 33 Tests and 36 Twenty20s.

Western Australia have clarified that the side strain their overseas star Chris Gayle sustained during the defeat to South Australia in Perth is only a minor one

Cricinfo staff30-Dec-2009Western Australia have clarified that the side strain their overseas star Chris Gayle sustained during the defeat to South Australia in Perth is only a minor one, and that it will not keep him away from international duty. Gayle, who is playing for Western Australia in the ongoing domestic Twenty20 tournament, strained a side muscle and had to retire hurt on 40, but scans revealed no tear.The team’s medical staff have decided not to allow Gayle to feature in Western Australia’s next game against Tasmania on Friday, and are confident the West Indies captain will be fit for the clash with New South Wales on January 5.”We’ll be working in consultation with their [the West Indies] medical team but at the end of the day we’ll be wanting the best for Chris Gayle,” said Western Australia’s coach Tom Moody. “We are certainly not going to wheel him out there if he’s not fit. It’s unfair on him as a professional athlete and it’s unfair on the team to play a guy that’s half fit. At the end of the day we’ll be making sure we do the best thing for him.”This means Gayle will should easily be fit for the five-match one-day series between Australia and West Indies, starting February 7.Gayle suffered the injury in the second over of the team’s chase. He immediately grabbed at his left side after attempting to heave a Mark Cleary delivery over the rope. He batted on for three more overs but left the field after smacking 40 from just 16 balls. Gayle returned in the 16th over but was clearly hampered by the injury.Gayle is one of the finest Twenty20 batsmen in the world and remains the only man to have scored a century in a Twenty20 international.