Shane Warne feels like he’s had “50 Vodka and Red Bulls” whenever he’s walked on to the field during the series, but it won’t stop him from waving goodbye at the next Test at Sydney. The first of Warne’s two tribute laps ended with him being chaired briefly by Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds before he stepped down to walk off with his fellow retiree Glenn McGrath.Warne showed his full repertoire to his home crowd for the last time in a Man-of-the-Match performance that was boosted by his unbeaten 40 in the first session. Two wickets as England fell to an innings loss pushed his match tally to seven and the team is now in sight of a 5-0 result.The first time Warne came to the ground was when Allan Border and Jeff Thomson failed by four runs to beat England in 1982-83. Money was tight in the Warne family back then, so they caught the train and entry was free. In the future those who have been lucky enough to be at the MCG at any time during Warne’s career will remember his performances as fondly as Border and Thomson’s brave steps.”I’m jumping out of my skin at the moment, I feel like I’ve had 50 Vodka and Red Bulls every time I go out on the field,” Warne said. “I suppose that’s why I’m trying all my tricks. I feel very happy and young and fresh.”Warne said there were tears in the dressing room when Andrew Symonds earned his first Test century, but he felt only excitement at the victory when he stepped off his “backyard”. “I’m not sad,” he said. “I’m leaving when I’m on top and feel I’m bowling as good as at any stage during my career.”I couldn’t ask for this to go much better. I got my 700th wicket, runs down the order, some catches.”The performance of Warne left Ponting light-heartedly reconsidering his decision not to challenge him when he originally brought up the exit plan. “I didn’t even think about talking Warney out of retirement,” he said, “but I might have to think about it after today.”
Two Zimbabwe players, Vusi Sibanda and Waddington Mwayenga, and the national team manager, Mohammed Meman, who were arrested on Saturday by the police on charges of violating foreign exchange regulations have been released.The local Herald newspaper reported that “sources within Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) said they had been informed that the police were also interested in questioning at least six more players over their offshore foreign currency accounts and transactions.” It did not specify who those sources were. The newspaper also said the arrests followed investigations by Zimbabwe’s central bank into the cricket league’s financial affairs.Meman, speaking via telephone to AFP, said that the matter was close to being resolved.”We are in the process of being released right now. I don’t foresee any hicups and there are no restrictions on us,” he said. “I believe the instruction to let us go came from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. We know who caused this mischief, but he has failed except to give anxiety for our families.”Clive Field, the players’ representative, said that the news had come out of the blue. “It came as a shock to all of us,” he told Cricinfo. “We are not sure why those players were picked up. We are trying to get more information as we are concerned for the players.”
In the balmy heat of New Year’s Eve, thousands of revellers thronged the Victoria and Alfred waterfront to celebrate the start of 2005, and as the vast majority would later testify, Cape Town certainly knows how to create a hangover. For these poor unfortunates, the spectacular firework display that marked the arrival of midnight was matched only by the cranial explosions that kicked in roughly 12 hours later, and for an excruciating afternoon, as one lurked in semi-darkness waiting for the bad men to go away, it was briefly possible to take for granted the charms of perhaps the most beautiful city in the world.That indifference doesn’t last for long, however, because if there is one factor that makes Cape Town the sine qua non of New Year venues, it is its unrivalled ability to right the wrongs that it has inflicted. A cooling sea-breeze and a massaging midsummer sun are good starting points; then, once you’ve dared to open your eyes again, there is the opportunity to drink in the breathtaking scenery of the fairest cape; and then maybe, if you’re feeling brave or foolish (or both), you can go for a quick yomp up Table Mountain (or Signal Hill for the less energetic).A far more palatable option, however, is to write off the first of January entirely, and start your year afresh with a day at the cricket on the second. Newlands is a leafy suburb on the flip-side of the city which boasts scenery and sea-breezes in abundance, and with 22 appointed athletes doing all your exercise for you, you can even kid yourself into believing you’ve kept your New Year’s resolutions. It was certainly the preferred option for scores of Capetonians, not to mention a vast throng of English fans, and after the relative lack of interest at Port Elizabeth and (latterly) Durban, a full and enthusiastic house was an uplifting sight to launch the year.Rather like Lord’s, cricket’s other leafy bastion, Newlands is a ground that is aware of its assets, and makes sure that it lives up to its reputation. Admittedly, with Table Mountain seemingly within touching distance, it would have to try particularly hard to be anything other than stunning, but the ground doesn’t just trade on its location. There are none of the lawnmower’s graveyards that were dotted around the fringes of Kingsmead, nor the grim barbed-wired backstreets that were hidden from view at St George’s Park. Aesthetes might grumble about the nearby railway line and the adjoining Castle brewery, but the spectators can hardly complain about the convenience of either. (Well, OK, one or two delicate souls might consider the brewery to be an unpleasantly in-your-face reminder of the weekend’s revelries …)Given that the purpose of this day was primarily medicinal, it is probably just as well that the cricket was hardly edge-of-your-seat stuff. But whatever your state of health, the ground provides something for everyone. On each side of the ground, there are four fabulously appointed pagoda-style stands, with their green roofs and elevated views of the ground, where the spectators lounge beneath canopies (and, given the number of corporate boxes up there, no doubt eat canapés as well).These are offset by the grassy banks beneath the scoreboards at midwicket, where on one side, the Barmy Army take up residence in the shade-free vicinity of the beer tent, and work themselves into a more original voice than they have been demonstrating so far on this trip – to their signature tune of “Everywhere we go …”, they have added one or two new numbers, including the hilarious jibe “You’re Dutch and you know you are.” And sure enough, on the opposite bank lurk the Dutchmen, although given that they have a row of trees to shelter them, a full mountain vista to please them, and a range of tempting braais to whet their taste-buds, it is hard to find fault with their choice of location.
Not much that is new in cricket is left as a challenge for the all-conquering Australians, but a home Test match against Zimbabwe is one of them, and Test cricket’s second-youngest participants arrived in Perth yesterday for their first crack at the world champions on their home soil. Even international cricket’s newest country Bangladesh have played Tests in Australia before Zimbabwe.It is a task as difficult as any the African nation has faced in the game. They arrived in Australia severely depleted and not fully representative of the advances the side has made since they played their first Test, against India, in 1992-93. They have lost wicketkeeper-batsman Andy Flower, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup to pursue a career with South Australia, his brother Grant Flower cruelly suffered a broken finger just before the side left for the tour and one of its more promising bowlers, Henry Olonga, made a political statement at the World Cup, along with Andy Flower, about events in Zimbabwe, and decided to follow a singing career in exile.For a country so ill-equipped in resources, these were body blows and when captain Heath Streak says his side will be aiming to draw their Test matches it is an indication of the reconstruction the side is having to go through. “If we walked away with a draw, I think that would be a huge achievement for Zimbabwe cricket,” Streak said. “If we had the opportunity for a win, then obviously we are going to go for it. But I think it is going to be a huge learning curve for us on this tour.”If we can take some big positives out of this tour, Zimbabwe cricket will be the better for it. Hopefully, we can come back in a couple of years’ time as a more experienced side and one that can maybe play in a three-Test series.”The first Test of the tour is to start in Perth on October 9, the earliest Test in an Australian season but one that is indicative of the greater pressures on all countries to fulfil their obligations under the five-year plan in the International Cricket Council’s Test championship.In their 67-Test history Zimbabwe have won seven Tests, five of them at home but it has been two years since their last victory, and with such a depleted side at the moment the chances of the next being in the two matches with Australia are slim.Coach Geoff Marsh, the former Australian opener, said the emphasis would be on the batsmen in the series. “The key for us is our batting,” he said. “If we can get to 300, we will be competitive given our bowling line-up. But getting to 300 will be the big test.”Zimbabwe’s official opening match is on Wednesday against the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI at Lilac Hill but since the announcement of the tour itinerary, an unofficial 12-a-side, three-day match starting on Sunday has been arranged against Rockingham Mandurah at Settlers Hill, Baldvis. After the Lilac Hill match Zimbabwe will have a three-day warm-up match against Western Australia, before the first Test. The second Test is in Sydney from October 17-21.The Zimbabwe touring squad is: Heath Streak (captain), Andy Blignaut, Gary Brent, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Gavin Ewing, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Hondo, Stewart Matsikenyeri, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart.
All teams competing in the ICC Under-19 World Cup starting in Christchurch on Saturday next week will be spoken to by representatives of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit.Sixteen teams, from all 10 Test playing nations, as well as Scotland, Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Kenya will take part in the tournament which has its opening ceremony in Christchurch on Monday and its first official game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval when host team New Zealand meets Sri Lanka.New Zealand Cricket’s tournament director Tim Murdoch said today that he is scheduled to have a meeting with the ACU people next week.Teams are spread through Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin during the initial phases of the tournament with the top six playing the latter half of the tournament in Christchurch and the next six playing in Auckland.”We’re fully supportive of them being here and taking the chance to talk to these young players,” Murdoch said.”They are the cream of the future Test prospects from around the world and to speak to them about their obligations to the game, and what they should do if they are ever approached will be good educational value for the players,” he said.
Warren Hegg and Graham Lloyd hit glorious centuries to put Lancashire on thetrack of a 20 points championship win over Somerset at Old Trafford today.But the scent of failure was in the air after Surrey’s demolition ofDurham at the Foster’s Oval.Even if Lancashire go on to beat Somerset tomorrow, they look destined tobe runners-up for the third year on the trot. Theoretically Surrey would needone point from the last match of the summer at Old Trafford next week but,practically, there is no way Lancashire can stop them.Hegg, acting captain, hammered 128, only six short of his career best, andhis first century since 1996. He reached 100 with 13 fours off 171 balls.Lloyd, who has struggled for top form, also claimed his first hundred ofthe campaign, and it was a thrilling performance with 100 runs before lunch.He finished on 126, and there was a six and 19 fours in his century whichcame off 132 balls.They linked up with Lancashire at 160-5 and piled on 152 before Lloyd wasadjudged lbw, perhaps a little unluckily, to a delivery from Michael Burns.Hegg kept going, receiving solid support from Glen Chapple and MikeSmethurst, and when he was out, hoisting Adrian Pierson to long-on, hedeclared at 463-9.Somerset, 331 behind, looked daunted by their task and slipped to 63-4 inthe face of some potent seam bowling from Peter Martin, Glen Chapple and MikeSmethurst who nabbed Jamie Cox for the second time in the match.Lancashire are still waiting to see if they will suffer a points penaltyfrom the pitch inspectors. Mike Denness, A C Smith, and Tom Flintoff were atthe ground today and planned to interview head groundsman Peter Marron, thecaptains and umpires before reaching a decision.
Everton are now reportedly targeting a move to finally sign a replacement for Seamus Coleman after their scouts were impressed by a Premier League star.
Everton send scouts to watch Coleman replacement
At 37 years old, Coleman deserves every bit of credit for how he’s still playing his part at Everton. When 2026 arrives, however, the Toffees must move Jake O’Brien back into the heart of their backline and find a permanent solution to their right-back problem. Coleman has been an excellent servant, it would be a transfer failure if The Friedkin Group failed to find a replacement.
With the Republic of Ireland defender set to become a free agent at the end of the season, his farewell is certainly set to be an emotional one. In many ways, it’s almost fitting that David Moyes – who handed Coleman his Everton debut – will get the chance to oversee his final match for the Toffees.
Everton eyeing "fantastic" Middlesbrough star who's dropping hints about his future
The Toffees could land a key replacement for James Garner.
ByTom Cunningham
The veteran manager has already been full of praise for his captain this year, telling reporters back in March when it looked as though the right-back was on his way out of the club: “You don’t just keep people for the sake of keeping them because if you did every club would have hundreds of old players there.
“But if we had our way, we would try and keep Seamus around – definitely. Or give him the opportunity to be around but he may have something else on.
So, off the pitch there may still be a role for Coleman. On the pitch, though, the Toffees are seemingly assessing their options. According to Football Insider, Everton are now targeting a move to sign Jayden Bogle to succeed their well-respected captain in 2026 after their scouts were impressed with the Leeds United defender.
"Unbelievable" Bogle would finally replace Coleman
In terms if candidates, Bogle should be among those at the very top of Everton’s list to replace Coleman next summer. The Leeds defender has endured a solid season so far, with the Whites currently on course to achieve Premier League survival, and he could receive a summer switch as a result.
Whether Leeds choose to stand in his way is the big question. Daniel Farke is certainly a fan of the 25-year-old, having told reporters back in February: “He’s an unbelievable lad, unbelievable attitude – in all aspects. He works relentlessly, his defensive behaviour is so crucial, also his offensive behaviour, he’s a top team-mate in the dressing room, a perfect age and home-grown. What more do you want?”
PL stats 25/26
Bogle
O’Brien
Minutes
1,403
1,310
Assists
1
1
Tackles Won
19
13
Ball Recoveries
72
40
Based on this season’s numbers, Bogle would be an upgrade on central defender O’Brien, who has been asked to play the right-back role in place of Coleman so far this season.
Subscribe to our newsletter for Everton transfer insight Want deeper coverage? Our newsletter breaks down Everton’s right-back search – player stats, scout notes and transfer scenarios showing why Jayden Bogle is being linked as Seamus Coleman’s likely successor, alongside wider Premier League transfer analysis. Subscribe to our newsletter for Everton transfer insight Want deeper coverage? Our newsletter breaks down Everton’s right-back search – player stats, scout notes and transfer scenarios showing why Jayden Bogle is being linked as Seamus Coleman’s likely successor, alongside wider Premier League transfer analysis.
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If Moyes’ side are to push on, then welcoming a natural option down their right-hand side should be among their top priorities when the summer transfer window arrives.
Kagiso Rabada said it five times but it was difficult to believe the mood in the South African camp was “positive,” as they prepared for the final Test against England at SuperSport Park.Before the session had officially started, the players milled about in the middle, some tossing balls to each other, others shadow-boxing, but with little of the intensity that usually accompanies the start of a Test-match week. Whatever the outcome of this match, it is not going to change too much for a squad that has come out of their biggest season in recent memory, including two four-Test series in a row, with nothing to show for it.”It hasn’t been a great two months from us – coming from India and also here against the English,” Rabada said. “But we are bonding together as a team. I think that’s the best thing we can do right now. We are trying to get ourselves in a good space. We’re very positive at the moment. That’s the best thing to do.”The words escaped his lips but his eyes betrayed him. There was no spark. There was no smile. Rabada was resigned in the way Ashwell Prince, now a selector, feared young players would be when even their captain, AB de Villiers, has condemned the current situation as hopeless.”I feel that it is very disappointing,” Prince said in an interview with the Cape Times. “The messages coming out in the media about AB not enjoying the game, about whether he is going to play, and how long is he going to play. And obviously that comment that ‘all hope is gone’. If I was a young player in the team, I would be concerned about what the captain is saying. Does that mean he has no faith in me as a young player?”Although de Villiers recommitted himself to Test cricket in the immediate aftermath of the Wanderers defeat, there remain concerns about how much longer he will make himself available to South Africa. And he is not the only senior player in the spotlight.Dale Steyn will sit out his sixth Test in eight when he misses the Centurion match, and the fact that he broke down in the other two matches, at Mohali and Durban, merely adds to the doubts over his long-term future.Steyn himself responded to a speculative story about the end of his career by tweeting the publication where the piece appeared, saying he still had a long time left before his career was finished. Nevertheless, his absence, coupled with the injury that kept Vernon Philander out of the series, cost South Africa dearly. Rabada even identified it at as a possible difference between the two sides.”Maybe we can say we’ve got a young bowling attack, they’ve got a very experienced bowling attack. That’s the only difference,” he said. “I don’t think they are that much better than us. Maybe they are playing better cricket than we are.”The reality is that, even with their inexperience, South Africa’s bowling is the only thing that has kept them competitive. Their batting, barring the first innings in Cape Town, has floundered. The line-up has struggled for consistency in an XI battling for balance. In the last two months, they have been shot out for their two lowest totals since readmission – 79 in Nagpur and 83 at the Wanderers – and the number of soft dismissals has pointed to mental fragility. But Rabada insisted they have some fight left.”We are trying our best. It’s not like the batters are trying to get out. You are playing for your country; you have to do your best. I know for a fact every guy is trying to do their best. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way,” he said. “The fighting spirit is natural in the team. No-one is trying to lose their wickets. Everyone is fighting out there.”Prince believes one person needs to fight harder than the rest and that’s de Villiers. “People say we don’t have Graeme Smith anymore, Alviro Petersen, Jacques Kallis, so AB is not batting behind all those types of guys anymore. That means there is even more responsibility on his shoulders as a batsman,” Prince said. “We don’t have the names that people are throwing about, so especially in terms of where the team is at the moment – our backs against the wall – his performances are going to become even more important than they were in the past. The country needs him now more than ever.”That may be Prince’s way of asking de Villiers to stay a little longer, to lead a little more by example or just to try and lighten the mood. Whatever it was, it hasn’t worked yet.By the time Rabada’s media session was over and he had tried his best to convince everyone present that “we are very positive,” the squad had formed a huddle. On previous occasions when they stood in that ring, you could hear the war-cry, their clasping of hands and the shout of “Protea Fire.” Maybe that came later. But as the clouds gathered overhead and the squad stood with their arms around each other, they were an image of unhappiness. Over the next week, only they can change that.
The Sri Lankans’ Test preparations suffered another severe wobble when their top order collapsed for the second time in the tour match against Queensland. After folding to 5 for 45 in the first innings, the visitors were in more trouble at 4 for 55 as they tried to overhaul the 85-run deficit created by Andy Bichel’s muscular century.Ashley Noffke continued his fine match when he raced through the openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu before Michael Vandort and Thilan Samaraweera added to the tourists’ pain. They finished the day at 4 for 62, still 23 runs behind, and will rely on Mahela Jayawardene (22) and Chamara Silva (2) to ease the headaches of a side already missing Kumar Sangakkara with injury.Jayasuriya began the tour with a century on a flat surface in Adelaide, but he has struggled with the pitch’s pop at Allan Border Field and managed only three runs for the game. Noffke, who captured five victims on Friday, forced him to fend a lifting ball to Clinton Perren and he departed to similar dismissals on both occasions.The exit of Atapattu, who was lbw to Noffke for 7, was less of a concern as he has performed strongly in both games, but Michael Vandort missed an opportunity for a meaningful contribution when he went for 26 to an excellent legside take from Chris Hartley. At least the Sri Lankans have an idea of what they will face at the Gabba from Thursday after dueling with a high-quality attack.Shaun Tait’s elbow injury means Mitchell Johnson is a virtual certainty for the first Test even though he has struggled for wickets in this match. He took one on Friday and was again out-bowled by Noffke, who had 2 for 8 off six overs in his opening spell. Bichel chipped in late to dispose of Samaraweera and complete a satisfying day of personal achievement.Bichel smashed seven sixes, the most in a first-class innings for Queensland, and 11 fours as he led the Bulls from the early-morning trouble of 4 for 60 to relative comfort. Entering at No. 6 in a bowler-heavy line-up, Bichel started the day cautiously but expanded his repertoire as he got comfortable and reached three figures shortly before tea.”I was a bit lucky today, I got away with a few things, but it worked for me,” Bichel said. “I’m feeling quite comfortable with the bat in my hand and I hope that continues.”The rescue mission of 125 from 168 deliveries ended when he top edged a sweep off Malinga Bandara, who suffered the most bruises from Bichel. Taking advantage of a dropped chance at mid-off on 18 and a run-out escape, Bichel hit freely and rushed to 99 with two sixes in a Bandara over before flicking a single to midwicket for his century.A couple of mistakes in the field did not help the bowlers, who were unable to shut down a pesky lower order despite regular movement off the pitch. Farveez Maharoof was the most successful with 3 for 72 while Bandara picked up 2 for 89 and Jayasuriya claimed the final two wickets as Queensland were dismissed for 285. Maharoof was unlucky, forcing numerous plays and misses, and eventually gained a reward when he had Hartley caught behind for 8 after Noffke had fallen for 34.Bichel and Noffke, who lost a ball with a six over mid-on, combined for an 80-run stand before Johnson and Bichel added 94 in quick time to pass the Sri Lankans’ first-innings total of 210. Johnson may have struggled for impact with the ball over the opening two days but he contributed a lively half-century to complement the work of Bichel.Maharoof, who was pleased with his return, said there was a lot of work to do on the final day. “Whoever gets in just has to bat on,” he said. “You can’t do that much on this wicket, the only thing you can concentrate on is playing down the line and occupying the crease. The first day the pitch was a bit spongy, but it’s dried out a bit and it’s taking off from a length.”
West Indies A 274 for 8 (Smith 69, Joseph 59) v Sri Lanka A Scorecard Devon Smith jogged the memories of regional selectors with another half-century, while Sylvester Joseph and Narsingh Deonarine notched their own, as West Indies ‘A’ kept their Sri Lankan counterparts in the field for the entire opening day of the second unofficial “Test” at Warner Park yesterday.The left-handed Smith, who last played for the West Indies against Australia on the tour Down Under late last year, cracked an attractive 69, to help the hosts to 274 for 8 at the close. He hit a century in the drawn opening “Test” last week.Captain Sylvester Joseph, also seeking to stir the thoughts of selectors, stroked an enterprising 59, while Deonarine carved out 55.West Indies A’s total thrived on two major partnerships. First, Smith and Joseph added 88 for the third wicket to revive the regional side from 41 for two and then Deonarine and Darren Sammy (48) posted a further 80 for the seventh wicket when the score slipped to 178 for 6.Smith’s innings contained 12 fours from 103 balls while Joseph faced 82 balls and batted a shade over two hours, striking eight fours.