All posts by h716a5.icu

A hat-trick and five wickets for Rene Farrell set up a tense final day of the one-off Test between Australia and England

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2011
Scorecard
Hat-trick hero: Rene Farrell is ecstatic after having Danielle Hazell lbw•Getty ImagesA hat-trick and five wickets for Rene Farrell set up a tense final day of the one-off Test between Australia and England, with the hosts needing another 169 runs to regain the women’s Ashes. Farrell stormed to 5 for 23 off 17 overs, mixing control and destruction as England fell for 149 in their second innings at Bankstown Oval.That left Australia with a target of 198 and they lost Rachael Haynes (4) before Shelley Nitschke and Sarah Elliott both scored 12 as they guided the side to 1 for 29 at stumps. Farrell, whose stock ball is an inswinger, reduced England to 7 for 95 with her hat-trick, which began with the vital wicket of Charlotte Edwards.Edwards, who scored 114 in the first innings, was again looking comfortable until she was lbw on 28 when attempting to hit across the line. Katherine Brunt played-on and the locals erupted when Danielle Hazell missed a full ball and was caught in front, giving Farrell her hat-trick and fifth wicket.In her previous over Farrell had removed Jenny Gunn, who top scored with 30, and had picked up Caroline Atkins in the second over of the day. “Winning the Twenty20 World Cup last year was a massive highlight but this sits up there very high on the list and I’ll remember it for a long time,” Farrell said.”The girls asked me what I was thinking before the hat-trick and I just said what we had been saying all Test – that’s to take it one ball at a time. I wanted to bowl it nice and straight and make her play and I was lucky to get the lbw. It’s a great feeling now and to also finish with a five-for was nice.”England resumed on 0 for 9 and were soon suffering at 3 for 35. Edwards and Gunn slowly rebuilt the innings during a 57-run stand in 28.1 overs, while Isa Guha (26) and Holly Colvin (21) were even more gritty when they added a crucial 41 for the ninth wicket.While Farrell was outstanding and the conditions have been tough for scoring throughout the match, England were not helped by three run-outs. Australia have not held the trophy since 2005 and face a testing assignment to regain the prize.”It was a very good day for us but there is still a long way to go in this Test match and it will be an even better feeling if we can chase these runs,” Farrell said. “I love celebrating any wicket for Australia and if we can pull this win off tomorrow we’ll be celebrating a great win.”

West Ham United’s top-six hopes were dealt a big blow this afternoon as the Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Burnley.

The managerless Clarets, who parted company with Sean Dyche on Friday after ten years in charge, took the lead through Wout Weghorst in the 33rd minute and could’ve had a two-goal lead at half-time when awarded a penalty. However, the spot-kick was missed by Maxwell Cornet.

Irons midfielder Tomas Soucek was able to equalise with 16 minutes to go for the hosts to ensure they took something from the match, although after Thursday’s 3-0 win in Lyon, the result will certainly be a disappointment.

Depsite the result, there were some shining lights for David Moyes’s side with attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini particularly impressive.

According to SofaScore, the Argentinian was the Hammers’ joint-second best player, picking up a 7.4/10 rating alongside right-back Ben Johnson with goalscorer Soucek the highest-ranked with a score of 7.5.

The Czech Republic international’s goal was assisted by the 29-year-old, his fourth of the campaign, who also managed to impressively complete 93% of his passes whilst making 65 touches in a lively 79 minutes.

With three key passes and a 100% dribble success rate, the playmaker was a handful to deal with for Burnley. Moreover, Lanzini also won half of his duels.

Eyelids certainly wouldn’t have been batted outside the London Stadium when team news was announced if the Argentinian wasn’t starting having played from the off three days prior in Lyon.

Furthermore, the attacking midfielder was recently involved in a serious car crash that left him with a knock.

However, once again being deployed in the middle of an attacking midfield trio, the 29-year-old, who was labelled as a “special, special player” by captain Declan Rice earlier this season, impressed.

There’s plenty of competition for places in West Ham’s attacking midfield with the likes of Said Benrahma, Nikola Vlasic, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen all able to play behind the striker.

The Argentinian is easily the longest-serving of them all though and is certainly a fan favourite after seven seasons at the East London club.

Although, his time as a Hammer may soon come to an end with the maestro’s contract set to expire next summer with few signs suggesting an extension will be signed.

For now, though, Lanzini must continue performing well to maintain a starting spot in both the Premier League and Europa League as the Hammers look to push for European qualification for next season.

AND in other news: West Ham plot bid for £21.6m-rated “leader”, Moyes can now axe “shocking” £61k-p/w dud

Tottenham are facing a panicked last few days of the January transfer window with Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte struggling to bring the club’s main targets through the door.

The likes of Luis Diaz and Adama Traore are moving elsewhere but fortunately, Spurs have moved quickly to identify new targets.

What’s the word?

The Lilywhites have opened talks to bring Dejan Kulusevksi to English football in the remaining days of the window but he’s not the only Juventus player believed to be involved in discussions.

That’s according to Sky Sports News with journalist Lyall Thomas taking to Twitter on Friday to confirm interest in one of their midfield players too.

He stated: “Sky in Italy: Tottenham are rivalling Aston Villa with interest in Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (From @DiMarzio) Villa have already had a bid in the region of £20m turned down.”

Separate reports claim Juve want at least £21m to consider a sale.

Great news

After failed moves for both Diaz and Traore, as well as the news that it’s unlikely Spurs will land Franck Kessie, it is superb news for Conte and the club’s supporters that they have alternative targets lined up.

Of course, the first two names are more offensive players but Kessie is a totally different beast, capable of dominating defensively and in the final third.

However, with a move now appearing to be off the cards, Spurs will need to consider other options, particularly with Tanguy Ndombele and Dele Alli linked with exits away in the remaining days of the window.

Bentancur is more of a defensive-minded midfielder by comparison but he’d still be a terrific acquisition.

After all, this is someone with plenty of experience at the top table of not only European football, but also World football, being capped 46 times by his country.

At just 24, he is also approaching his peak years and would surely strengthen the club’s central areas.

This is a player who is supremely confident with the ball at his feet, completing 87.5% of his passes in Serie A this term, while he’s won an impressive 1.7 tackles per game. Combine that with his three assists this term and Bentancur looks to be an all-round midfielder who could dominate in multiple facets of the game.

He has constantly strived to prove the doubters wrong and was once named as the “surprise” of Serie A by Max Allegri.

On that evidence, he’d be a wonderful late signing and one that Paratici simply has to get across the line.

AND in other news, Bid accepted: Spurs now closing in on first January signing, Conte will be buzzing…

Southampton had ‘shown an interest’ in former Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli on transfer deadline day, according to a report by The Telegraph.

The Lowdown: Dele’s January transfer fiasco

January saw many rumours arise as to where Alli would end up following the closure of the transfer window. The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United, who set to work building their new squad following unprecedented Saudi investment.

Despite being the most prominent rumour, they were not the only Premier League club linked with a late move for the midfielder. Crystal Palace were also said to be interested in the former England international and were hoping to complete a loan deal until the end of the season.

Deadline day also saw prominent interest emerge from overseas. The Athletic reported that La Liga side Valencia were interested in signing the 25-year-old on loan, with the Spanish club heavily considering this proposition.

However, it was Everton who ultimately secured the midfielder’s services on a permanent deal. The two clubs agreed on an initial free transfer, with the Toffees paying £10m once he plays 20 games, with further performance-related add-ons potentially totalling up to £40m.

The Latest: Alli’s wages were ‘an issue’ for Saints

With Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously quoted saying that “everyone wants a Dele Alli”, it comes as no surprise that Southampton were interested in signing the midfielder.

However, The Telegraph have reported that whilst Saints had ‘shown an interest in Alli’, his wages – which were in excess of £100,000 per week – had ‘proven to be an issue’ for the club.

The Verdict: Wasted opportunity

Once lauded “good enough for Real Madrid” by Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos, it seems ridiculous that Southampton would not have gone in for the Spurs playmaker. This sits particularly true as his Everton transfer has been agreed to be initially free, with a £10m fee following clauses being met.

Alli could have been of real use to Hasenhuttl, as he would’ve bolstered the Saints’ attacking options with proven Premier League quality. Therefore, if Southampton want to push higher up the table, the club will need to be willing to meet high wage demands if they truly want to attract Europe’s top talent.

In other news: Southampton are still in talks over a possible deal for this sharp-shooter

Tottenham Hotspur could dip their toes into the Championship before the January transfer window deadline on Monday night…

What’s the word?

According to HullLive, the north London outfit are preparing a ‘big-money’ bid for versatile Hull City attacker Keane Lewis-Potter, who has been subject to a bid from Brentford and interest from rivals West Ham United in the past.

It’s believed that any move from Spurs would see the 20-year-old gem loaned back to the Tigers for the remainder of the season, whilst manager Antonio Conte was one of a number of managers to have sent scouts to watch him in recent games.

Hull City are expected to hold out for at least £14m and their new Turkish owner Acun Ilicali isn’t keen to sell, especially as his value will only increase with time.

Shades of Eden Hazard

Whilst this potential signing isn’t going to provide Conte with an instant addition or the fans much excitement this month, it would be a very wise long-term investment.

The 5 foot 7 winger has been in solid form for the Championship strugglers, leading the way for goals scored (five) and he isn’t too far behind in terms of creativity, having managed three assists and an average of one key pass per game, via WhoScored.

Primarily a left-sided attacker, Lewis-Potter is capable of playing in a variety of roles – indeed, he’s played in five different positions this season alone, which includes upfront and on the other flank.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/tottenham-hotspur-thfc-spurs-transfer-rumours-gossip-conte-paratici-levy-updates” title=”Read the latest Spurs news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

Conte loves to make the most of a player’s versatility but in the Hull City gem, he could well discover his new Eden Hazard.

“I’ve seen some players that are playing in the Premier League now who I don’t believe are as good as Keane is,” Tigers youth coach Craig Fagan told The Athletic last month. He later added:

“Keane is maybe more athletic, maybe technically has a few more tricks in the bag than Jarrod. He’s similar to how Eden Hazard plays, with that low centre of gravity, coming inside and shooting. He’s not as good as Hazard by any stretch of the imagination at this point but he’s got the skills and abilities to be striving towards that.”

Spurs have certainly had a mixed bag of success when it comes to lower league signings, with the likes of Jack Clarke and Joe Rodon perhaps erring on the side of disappointment but for every one of those there is a Dele Alli, for example.

Lewis-Potter, who has also been dubbed a “special talent” by his former boss Grant McCann, isn’t going to drastically change Spurs’ fortunes in the race for a top-four finish but under Conte’s stewardship, he could well become a future first-team star.

You only have to look at the success of Jarrod Bowen at West Ham to see why this risk might be one worth taking.

Conte could well have a new Hazard in the coming years, should Fabio Paratici and co seal a move for the promising EFL sensation before Monday night’s deadline.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Dele: Spurs plot swoop for £18m-rated “extraordinary talent” who’s like Zidane…

Transfer insider Dean Jones has now dropped a big Everton manager claim involving Sean Dyche.

The Lowdown: Lampard under pressure

Frank Lampard is under huge pressure to guide the Goodison Park faithful to survival in the Premier League, as they currently find themselves lurking in the relegation zone, although with a game in hand on Dyche’s former club.

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

The Merseyside club reportedly have the option to part ways with Lampard at the end of the season, and could look to act on that if they were to go down to the Championship.

The Latest: Dyche talk

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has now shared ‘talk’ of Dyche potentially succeeding Lampard at the Toffees, but feels the Burnley icon would not ‘fit the mould’ for what they are looking for:

“I see people are starting to talk about Sean Dyche as a potential option for Everton. Typically, he wouldn’t really fit the mould.

“Moshiri likes to be ambitious and go for managers of profile and a certain elegance when it comes to the Premier League and world football status.”

The Verdict: Keep the faith

The manager situation will be a matter of waiting until the end of the campaign to see whether Lampard can keep them up, and if he does, the board should really keep the faith for next term.

There is no doubt that Dyche is a quality manager, having kept Burnley up for five straight seasons in the Premier League, including one seventh-placed finish (Transfermarkt).

However, Lampard needs to be given time to implement his ideas and bring in his own players to the club, so if the Blues were to stay up, then he should be given next season as well.

In other news, find out which EFC star has now been offered to this top-flight giant here!

Lalit Modi has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court requesting it to quash the board’s disciplinary proceedings against him

Cricinfo staff08-Jul-2010Lalit Modi, the suspended IPL commissioner, has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court requesting it to quash the Indian board’s disciplinary proceedings against him. Modi has also asked the court to appoint a mutually acceptable and independent person, or panel, to judge his case.Modi has moved the court to recall and withdraw the suspension order issued by the BCCI on April 25, as well as the three show-case notices issued on April 26, May 6 and May 31 respectively that accused him of a number of financial irregularities related to the bidding process for franchises and the sale of theatrical rights and mid-over ads. He was also charged with colluding to set up a rebel league in England.In addition to asking the court to quash the board’s proceedings against him, Modi has challenged the legal validity of the board’s decision to ratify the charges against him at last week’s special general meeting, calling the decision “malafide, illegal, perverse and unconstitutional”, and asked the court to prevent the BCCI from taking any further steps against him.The petition was filed by Modi’s lawyer Mehmood Abdi and names the BCCI, its president Shashank Manohar, secretary Srinivasan and the three members of the disciplinary committee – interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin, Arun Jaitley and Jyotiraditya Scindia – as the respondents. Scindia was appointed to replace Manahor on the committee after the board president recused himself from all proceedings having to do with Modi. The disciplinary is currently considering Modi’s case and has until October 26 to to make its recommendations to the board.Two days ago, Modi sent a legal notice to the board saying Amin holds a grudge against him because Modi revealed he was part of a failed bid for one of the two new IPL teams, and therefore should be removed from the disciplinary committee.

C Ganapathy, the Tamil Nadu allrounder, has been named as Abhimanyu Mithun’s replacement for India A’s tour of England starting this month

Cricinfo staff02-Jun-2010C Ganapathy, the Tamil Nadu allrounder, has been named as Abhimanyu Mithun’s replacement for India A’s tour of England starting this month. Mithun, the Karnataka fast bowler, was called-up to the senior Indian squad currently on tour in Zimbabwe to replace his state team-mate Vinay Kumar who was injured.An opening bowler and useful lower order batsman, Ganapathy made his mark in the 2008-09 season as a bowler, helping Tamil Nadu make the Ranji semi-finals. The following season, he started contributing more as a batsman, converting his 40s and 50s to centuries and bailing the team out of trouble in crucial situations. He ended the season with 543 runs at 77.57 and 18 wickets at 24.22. He followed it up with a five-wicket haul for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final and was awarded an IPL contract, though he played just one game for Chennai Super Kings.India A play their first match on tour against Yorkshire at Leeds, a three-day game starting on Saturday.

T&T selector Rangy Nanan has suggested that Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard believe they can earn more money from playing in different leagues

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2010Trinidad & Tobago selector Rangy Nanan has suggested that allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard turned down their national contracts because they believe they’ll have opportunities to play in different leagues, but thinks there won’t be too many others following in their footsteps.”If you are under contract by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) they could prevent you from playing in other tournaments because they are paying your salary,” Nanan told . “If you do not have a contract you will not be paid if you are not selected, and would make [the] player available to play in other leagues.”The WICB had offered contracts to 25 players on August 31. While 23 of those players expressed their willingness to sign the one-year retainers, Bravo and Pollard were reported to have turned them down. The WICB offers players three different grades of contracts – Grade A, B and C – and according to Nanan, only two players were given Grade A contracts.”From what I heard only Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were given Grade A contracts. I am not sure how true that is, but if that is the case maybe they [Bravo and Pollard] believed they could earn more money playing in different leagues. “Pollard and Bravo most recently turned out for the Mumbai Indians in the Champions League Twenty20. Pollard also played for South Australia and Somerset, while Bravo played for Victoria and Essex. All these teams reached at least the semi-finals of their respective Twenty20 tournaments, in part due to the performances of the two players.The pair has been named in Trinidad & Tobago’s squad for the upcoming domestic limited-overs tournament and Nanan believes Bravo, who has played 37 Tests for the West Indies, would opt to play Test cricket if he were selected. The 23-year-old Pollard, on the other hand, has yet to make his Test debut, and turned down a place on the one-day leg of the West Indies A-team tour to England in June in favour of his deal with Somerset for the Friends Provident t20.Pollard’s desire to play Test cricket has been questioned in the past, but former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop is confident that the 23-year-old Pollard has the skills to make a big impact in the longest version of the game.”As far as whether he has aspirations to play the longer form of the game he says he has and I have to take him at his word on that,” Bishop told . “Does he have what it takes skill wise to play the longer form? I think so, yes.”Nanan, who played one Test for the West Indies, does not believe the duo will start a trend of players refusing to sign national contracts, as not all players enjoy the demand they have. At the same time, he said cricketers should be more focused on representing their national side than on how much money they can make.”We need to get back the pride of playing for the West Indies because it is the only thing that keeps the people in the West Indies together,” he said. “If the West Indies lose the people in the Caribbean hurt.”

Queensland took the only points from their draw with Victoria at the MCG, but finished four wickets short of victory

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2010
ScorecardRyan Harris will join Australia’s squad in reasonable form after taking six wickets for the match•Getty ImagesQueensland took the only points from their draw with Victoria at the MCG, but finished four wickets short of victory. The Bushrangers were set a highly improbable target of 339 from 55 overs after the Bulls declared at 2 for 190 in their second innings, and despite a strong bowling effort from an attack led by Ryan Harris, Queensland couldn’t quite get through Victoria’s lower order.The hosts finished at 6 for 142, after David Hussey top scored with 48. Harris collected 2 for 27 from 13 overs to add to his first-innings collection of 4 for 41, which ensured he will be in good form when he joins the Australian squad for the second Test, which starts in Adelaide on Friday.Queensland spent a large chunk of the final day batting Victoria out of the match, with Chris Lynn finishing unbeaten on 77 and Wade Townsend on 72. The rain-affected draw has left Victoria, the defending champions, struggling in second-last position after half their matches, while Queensland are on top of the table.