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Former India batsman VVS Laxman believes the support staff appointed for India’s limited-overs matches in England should stay in their jobs till next year’s World Cup

Gaurav Kalra09-Sep-2014Former India batsman VVS Laxman believes the support staff appointed for India’s limited-overs matches in England should stay in their jobs till next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Laxman also said Duncan Fletcher must stay on as head coach “without a doubt” until the tournament.After the 3-1 drubbing in the Test series in England, the BCCI had appointed former India allrounder Ravi Shastri as team director and Sanjay Bangar, B Arun and R Sridhar as assistant coaches in an interim capacity for the ODI series that followed. Bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney were sent on leave for the series and their future was unclear. India went on to win the ODIs 3-1, though they were beaten in the T20 international. Laxman said the new support staff had a positive influence on the team.”I am hoping the BCCI will stick to the support staff we had for the one-dayers till the World Cup. The tournament is only six months away so there isn’t enough time to chop and change,” Laxman told ESPNcricinfo. “I have worked with Ravi Shastri in 2007 when we toured Bangladesh and he is a very positive person, immense knowledge of the game, he was himself a great leader for Mumbai and he captained India in one Test that India won convincingly. I am glad Bharat Arun and R Sridhar got their opportunity to coach at the highest level because they have a good track record at the India A and Under-19 level, and Sanjay Bangar because of his recent success with Kings XI Punjab.”India’s tour of England was a mixed bag with the team succumbing meekly after taking the lead in the Test series but bouncing back with a commanding show in the ODIs that followed. Laxman is convinced that experiences from the tour will help the players “blossom.””I have always regarded tours of South Africa, Australia and England as important for a team to become better,” he said. “I am sure the Indian players have learned, the way they bounced back showed a lot of character and definitely they will turn into much better players.”Laxman rejected claims that India’s young cricketers were not as perturbed by failure at Test level as previous generations. “I know for a fact that players like Kohli, Rahane, Pujara, Dhawan take a lot of pride in what they do in Tests and more so in overseas conditions,” he said. “You’ve seen the way M Vijay adapted to the Test series, he didn’t play his natural game, played with a lot of controlled aggression. So they focus on Tests and I don’t agree that they don’t give enough emphasis to Tests.”Laxman also insisted that Test success was the “number one priority” of the BCCI and said the number of matches India play were at “par with any other international side.” “The way the BCCI is organising A tours to countries such as Australia, England and New Zealand and the exposure being given to youngsters is also very important. I am sure importance is given to Test cricket.”With the World Cup a few months away, the focus has turned to India’s build-up towards their title defence. According to Laxman, India “should not read too much into this one-day series win because the England side was not very good or competitive.” Laxman said India needed to focus on two crucial areas to improve as a limited-overs side – death bowling and the openers.”In the T20 they gave away 50 runs in the last three overs, which is a lot, so I think these two issues are a problem. Also the way India start with their batting will be important because of two new balls and conditions suiting the fast bowlers,” he said. “Luckily for India they are playing a tri-series before the World Cup and that too against the Australians in their own backyard. It will be a good experience for the players to get used to the conditions.”Although Ajinkya Rahane was successful as an opener in the ODIs in England after replacing the injured Rohit Sharma, Laxman said Rohit should be restored in the job. “The wickets in Australia will suit him [Rohit]. He had a successful ODI series in 2007 when he was young and inexperienced. His style of batting will suit Australian conditions, so I will definitely go back to Rohit and have Rahane as a back-up but play him in the middle order.”One player Laxman marked out for special praise was Suresh Raina, who was named Man of the Series in the ODIs. According to Laxman, Raina’s century in the second game in Cardiff was the kind of “brilliant individual performance that can change the entire atmosphere in the dressing room.””He is a very important player because not only is he a good batsman but he is also an exceptional fielder, who lifts the entire team on the field. He is also a useful bowler, who has the knack of taking wickets at crucial times.”Laxman was not too concerned with Virat Kohli’s lack of form. Kohli’s only half-century on the tour came in the T20 international in Birmingham. “It’s good that he is having a break before the series against West Indies and isn’t part of the Champions League because this time away will allow him to reflect on what has happened and come back stronger,” Laxman said. “He is a very hard working young cricketer and I am sure that he will bounce back. It’s a matter of time before he starts scoring runs like the way he has over the last few years.”

While it was understandable that Virat Kohli limited himself to two debutants in Harare, it will be self-defeating now to keep Mohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Parvez Rasool away from ODI debuts in Bulawayo

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit31-Jul-2013Match factsThursday, August 1, 2013
Start time 0900 (0700 GMT)Cheteshwar Pujara could make his debut in the blue uniform•BCCIBig PictureThe young India side that won the Champions Trophy and the tri-series in the Caribbean was already without so many senior players, it was said the defending world champions already had one eye on building for the 2015 World Cup. For the short trip to Zimbabwe, the selectors picked an even more inexperienced squad, with as many as five of the 15 players having never played an ODI, including three who were still to play an international game. Further, five more players had little international experience. It is all very well saying that this trip was about testing the fringes of India’s bench, but there was also the unspoken expectation – almost an assumption – that Virat Kohli would lead the side to an easy victory in his first full series as captain.Raw side, raw captain. And three games later, Kohli has a 3-0 margin, a century and a half-century. He has also given debuts to Ambati Rayudu and Jaydev Unadkat, and stuck to them for all the three matches. Before the series moved to Bulawayo, Kohli gave himself room to experiment more with the line-up with the series already won. While it was understandable that Kohli limited himself to two debuts in Harare, despite fans’ desire to see more new faces on the field, it will be self-defeating now to keep Mohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Parvez Rasool away from ODI debuts in Bulawayo.With India’s focus ideally shifting to giving the bench a run, what’s in it for Brendan Taylor and his men? Plenty, as the Zimbabwe captain pointed out after the series was lost tamely in Harare. Just getting the chance to play as many as five games against the world champions and top-ranked ODI side is huge in terms of exposure for Zimbabwe. The series gone and, with the toss usually not as important in Bulawayo as it was in Harare, they might just be able to play more freely – especially someone like Taylor, who, as Zimbabwe’s best batsman, has appeared to bat under a lot of self-imposed pressure so far.Form guide India WWWWW (most recent first, last five completed games)
Zimbabwe LLLWWIn the spotlightJaydev Unadkat has come a long way from the teenager who was rushed into a Test debut against the might of South Africa in Centurion in December 2010. He has worked on his strength, increased the length of his run-up and ran in with energy on the unresponsive pitches of Rajkot in the Ranji Trophy. He has been the sharpest of the three India quick bowlers who have played so far, troubling batsmen with zip in his shortish deliveries. Bulawayo will offer lesser help for the bowlers, and it will be interesting to see how the 21-year-old responds.This series has been another typical chapter added to Hamilton Masakadza’s career – three starts in three innings this series and no conversions. He has fallen to the legspinner Amit Mishra each time, all three dismissals coming to loose strokes. Returns of 11, 34 and 38 are not what you expect from a senior top-order batsman in a series Zimbabwe have prepared so hard for. Can he get at least one big score before the series is done? He can begin by avoiding getting out to Mishra.Team newsIndia hardly ever give any hint about their combination at press conferences, but if one were to go by net sessions, Pujara has a bright chance of making his ODI debut. He batted for a long time on the eve of the match. Vinay Kumar did not train due to a niggle, and that could mean an opening for Mohit Sharma to make his international debut.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma/Cheteshwar Pujara, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Mohammed ShamiMalcolm Waller’s horror run of scores this series reads 2, 2 and 0. Timycen Maruma looks likely to play his first ODI since March 2010. He had taken a blow to the shoulder during training in Harare, but Taylor said he’s fine.Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Sikandar Raza, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Timycen Maruma, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Brian Vitori, 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Michael ChinouyaPitch and conditionsUsually, Bulawayo is hotter and drier than Harare, making for a flatter pitch and a quicker outfield, but the wind direction changed a few days ago, bringing in cloud, cold and some wet weather from South Africa. It’s unlikely that the games will be shortened by rain, but the cloud cover could make the toss more important than usual. It was cold and overcast on Tuesday, but the sun broke through around Wednesday noon. The cold breeze persisted, though.The Queens Sports Club pitch appeared dry and had a few cracks, and could play slow.Stats and trivia Brendan Taylor’s highest score in nine ODI innings this year is 39 Fourteen ODI totals in excess of 300 have been scored in Bulawayo as opposed to seven in HarareQuotes”We encourage our boys to play freely, and if we do that we generally play our best cricket. Hopefully there’s a little less pressure, and we just go out there and enjoy ourselves.”

Madness, who returned to fame by playing at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, will be the first band to appear at the County Ground in a five-year music deal for Northamptonshire

George Dobell21-Jan-2013Northamptonshire have secured a financial boost by agreeing a five-year deal with a concert promoter to bring high-profile acts to their county ground. Madness, who performed on the roof of Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year, will be the first to appear and have been scheduled to play at the ground on Sunday, September 22.The deal is a joint venture between Northamptonshire and the promoter so the income will depend on ticket sales, but conservative estimates suggest the concert should earn the club at least £50,000.Northamptonshire recently declared a profit of just under £23,000 for the year ending September 30, 2012. Although poor weather, poor results and a lack of off-field attractions reduced revenue, the club cut costs by around £475,000 to alleviate the effects of testing economic conditions.Long-term, though, the club are keen to increase their non-matchday income and hosting concerts plays a part in that. The club have previously hosted an Elton John concert and are about to embark on a major refurbishment of their conference and banqueting facilities that they hope will increase their revenue by 25 per cent over the next few years.A tourist game against Australia is expected to provide a major boost to Northants’ 2013 finances and the club have invested in improving their practice facilities in order to make the ground more attractive to future touring teams.It is not hard to see the influence of the club’s chief executive, David Smith in all these developments. Smith was appointed in December 2011 following a career as a player at Warwickshire, several years as CEO of Leicestershire CCC and 20 years experience in the leisure industry.

Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner, who is one of the directors on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), has questioned the CARICOM cricket review panel’s suggestion of dissolving the WICB

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Apr-2016Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner, currently a director of the WICB, has questioned the CARICOM cricket review panel’s suggestion of dissolving the board and asking all its members to resign. Garner, who is also president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), wondered how some members of the WICB could suddenly be called “illegal” when they were formed according to the individual constitutions of the region’s countries.”My questions are: is the BCA, which was constituted by an act of parliament in 1933, an illegal entity and my selection as president of the BCA an illegal act?” Garner asked while speaking at the association’s quarterly meeting on Thursday. “So I have to ask the question: is the GCB [Guyana Cricket Board] an illegal entity? Is the Jamaica Cricket [Association] an illegal entity? Is the Leeward Islands Cricket Association an illegal entity? Is the Windward Islands Cricket Board an illegal entity? Is the TTCB [Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board] an illegal entity?”If they are so, they have all been established in countries in which the prime ministers are making noise, and they have to tell the public of the region, if these entities are illegal, how they were able to remain vibrant for so long.”The five-member CARICOM panel, comprising V. Eudine Barriteau, Sir Dennis Byron, Dwain Gill, Deryck Murray and Warren Smith, was appointed by the Prime Ministerial Committee on the Governance of West Indies Cricket in response to the crisis that engulfed the WICB after the BCCI suspended bilateral ties and slapped $41.97 million as damages following the West Indies team’s decision to pull out midway through their India tour in 2014. The panel concluded its report in October last year.After extensive discussions and interviews with various stakeholders that included the management of the WICB , the CARICOM panel concluded that the governance structure of the board was obsolete. “There is an inherent and as yet unresolved tension between the evolution of the game of cricket into a powerful, professionally-driven entertainment and sporting industry and a system of governance predicated on an earlier, more simplified set of requirements,” the panel stated. “In this regard, the panel strongly recommends the immediate dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board and the appointment of an Interim Board whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven obsolete governance framework. These two key measures are absolutely necessary in order to transform and modernize the governance, management, administration and the playing of the game.”In its response, the WICB rejected the CARICOM panel’s report in January. According to WICB president Dave Cameron, the panel had not consulted either the six territorial boards – Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Leeward Islands and Windward Islands – or its directors, clubs, representatives and, hence, the panel’s findings were not supported by facts.”This [lack of consultations] has caused or triggered findings and recommendations by the panel which are not supported by the facts. The panel made statements and conclusions related to the structure and governance of the WICB, while ignoring the sweeping structural and governance changes which have taken place at the WICB since 2002,” Cameron said.

Samit Patel’s first one-day century for three years guided Nottinghamshire to a six-wicket victory over Warwickshire and maintained their 100% start to this season’s Yorkshire Bank 40 competition

16-Jun-2013
ScorecardSamit Patel’s hundred guided a solid run chase•Getty ImagesSamit Patel’s first one-day century for three years guided Nottinghamshire to a six-wicket victory over Warwickshire and maintained their 100% start to this season’s Yorkshire Bank 40 competition.Patel, overlooked by England for the Champions Trophy, scored an undefeated 129 as his side reached their victory target of 239 with five balls remaining at Trent Bridge.The 28-year old had arrived at the crease in the sixth over, after Nottinghamshire had lost both Alex Hales and Michael Lumb inside the first six overs and went on to hit 12 boundaries and four towering sixes in his 123-ball knock.Hales, recalled after being dropped for his county’s latest championship fixture, continued his run of poor form when Oliver Hannon-Dalby, with his first delivery after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, knocked back the batsman’s off stump for just 6.Lumb, who had posted a career-best first-class score of 221 not out just 24 hours earlier, had a brief but eventful stay at the crease. Despite hitting two mighty sixes, he scored only 21 but should have fallen earlier but for a comical slip by Ateeq Javid, whose feet went from underneath him as he positioned himself to take a routine chance at third man.Nottinghamshire overcame his loss as Patel and James Taylor combined with a punishing third-wicket stand of 125 to take the match away from Warwickshire. Taylor, who took his aggregate of runs to 318 in this season’s competition for just three dismissals, appeared set for his fourth score of fifty or above this summer until being over-ambitious and lifting a ramp shot to third man off Darren Maddy when on 46.There would be no denying Patel though, as he progressed to his highest one-day score before finishing the match with a straight six off Hannon-Dalby.Earlier, Maddy’s hard-hitting 56 had boosted the Warwickshire total to a respectable 238 for 7. He rolled back the years to bring up his 50 from just 33 deliveries, with nine fours and a six before he became one of Harry Gurney’s three victims.Gurney had been the pick of the Nottinghamshire bowlers, uprooting two of Will Porterfield’s stumps early on and then returning to see off Steffan Piolet in the penultimate over.Nottinghamshire’s task may have been easier had they held their own opportunities in the field. Tim Ambrose was dropped twice on his way to a 62-ball half-century as the visitors recovered from a scratchy start on a used surface.While last year’s defeated finalists slumped to their fifth loss of the current campaign, their victors celebrated a sixth straight win, their best start to a one-day season since 1976.

Hampshire became the first county side to qualify for five successive T20 Finals Days following a five-wicket victory in the quarter-final of the NatWest Blast over Nottinghamshire.

George Dobell at Trent Bridge03-Aug-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsJames Vince led his side to their fifth consecutive Finals Day•Getty ImagesHampshire became the first county side to qualify for five successive T20 Finals Days following a five-wicket victory in the quarter-final of the NatWest Blast over Nottinghamshire.Hampshire were indebted to their captain, James Vince, for helping them chase down a daunting target of 198. Vince, promoted to the captaincy for this competition despite his relative youth (he is 23), made an unbeaten 93 – a career-best score in this format – to help his side reach their target with an over to spare. It was the third highest successful run-chase in the competition this season.If Vince’s batting was worthy of victory – his driving through the off side was especially eye-catching – Nottinghamshire will know that they were, to a large extent, the architects of their own downfall.Not only was Vince badly missed on 20 – Alex Hales failing to take a sharp but distinctly catchable chance at cover off the bowling of Ajmal Shahzad – but the hosts also contributed 14 extras (eight no-balls, four byes and a wide) and will know they bowled well below their potential.Harry Gurney, who now carries the expectations of an England bowler, struggled to hit the correct lengths – Vince thrashed four boundaries in his first over as Gurney overpitched and then over-compensated with a short slower ball – while a preponderance of full tosses throughout the innings rendered it almost impossible for Nottinghamshire captain, James Taylor, to set a field.It is Notts’ first loss in white ball cricket in 10 matches, stretching back to June 13, but a result that will do nothing to shed their burgeoning reputation as chokers. It was their fourth successive home quarter-final defeat in the competition.Nottinghamshire were strong favourites at the halfway stage of the game. Making first use of an excellent T20 surface – it was hard to believe this was next pitch on from the strip deemed “poor” by the ICC after the England v India Test – they were powered to an excellent total through ever more impressive half-centuries from Hales, Riki Wessels and Samit Patel.If Wessels played some outstanding strokes – one slow-sweep for six off Kyle Abbott was quite exceptional – it was Patel who most caught the eye. Quick on his feet and blessed with strong wrists, he gave himself room to thrash the bowlers off their lengths and then punished the resulting full or short balls that followed. His half-century occupied only 23 balls and contained three sixes and four fours.Taylor blames bowlers for T20 exit

Nottinghamshire captain James Taylor was quite clear as to where the blame lay for his side’s fourth consecutive home quarter-final defeat.
“That is by far and away the worst we’ve bowled in the competition this year,” he said. “Our bowlers have been outstanding in this competition. They’ve won us plenty of games.
“So to put in a performance like that with the ball, when we’ve been outstanding all season, is uncharacteristic and very disappointing. It hasn’t happened all season. For it to happen on the big stage is devastating for the club and the guys as individuals.
“We never executed our plans. Even Luke Fletcher, who is usually a banker with his yorkers, missed them at the end which summed up our performance.”

While Hampshire’s bowling was not at its best – Kyle Abbott was particularly ragged, but Danny Briggs will not reflect with great joy on this performance, either – they were grateful for four frugal overs from the gentle-looking Will Smith. Bowling what might generously be described as off-breaks, Smith mixed-up his pace cleverly but most of all gave the batsmen little room in delivering the most economical figures of the day.Hampshire started well in reply. But when Michael Carberry ran past Patel’s first delivery and then Shahzad claimed two wickets in two balls it seemed Hampshire would have too much to do. The first delivery, a bouncer, took the glove of Glenn Maxwell as he attempted to hook, while the next, a well-disguised slower ball out of the back of his hand, completely deceived Jimmy Adams who was lured into a drive that he spooned to cover.Instead Vince thrashed four sixes in seven balls – the first three pulled off Patel, the fourth slogged over square leg off a Steven Mullaney no-ball – to put his side ahead of the run-rate and then calmly picked off the full tosses as they came. He rarely had to wait for long.He added 81 in just 6.4 overs with Sean Ervine with Patel squandering a chance to end the stand early by putting down a tough chance on the boundary when Ervine had 11. While Patel originally seemed to have held on to the ball, he was obliged to throw it to the ground as he staggered to avoid stepping over the boundary rope and conceding six. Ervine ran two instead and went on to take Hampshire to within 20 of victory.While four byes off the penultimate ball ended any chance Vince had of reaching an individual century, he still rated the finest innings as one of the finest of his career.”Given the situation – a high chase in a quarter-final – that is up there with one of my best innings,” he said. “At the halfway stage, chasing 200, it looked as if it was going to be tough.”Hampshire, who play Lancashire in the semi-finals and who have won the competition twice before in 2010 and 2012, will be without Maxwell and probably Abbott too, due to international commitments (there is a slim chance Abbott may be allowed to return) though Owais Shah will be back from Caribbean Premier League duty.It will be little consolation to Nottinghamshire that they were part of a highly enjoyable game of T20 in front of a large and appreciate crowd. 11,237 witnessed a match full of big hitting, some athletic fielding and some high-profile blunders. In the end, though, Hampshire simply made fewer mistakes.

Sarah Elliott wants the Women’s Ashes to include more than a single Test match believing it would be a true reflection on the two teams

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2014Sarah Elliott wants the Women’s Ashes to include more than a single Test match believing it would be a true reflection on the two teams.The ECB and Cricket Australia introduced the multi-format Ashes last year in England – where the winner is decided on a combination of points across all three formats – to move away from the situation where the Ashes was determined by a single contest, but Elliott still thinks more emphasis needs to be placed on Tests.”Test cricket is what it’s really about,” she said. “I would love to see a few more Test matches so the two teams can really fight it out. Three would be good. That would be fair.”Elliott, who was only part of the Test squad, scored a century in the match at Wormsley last year, which was drawn, and made 13 and 29 in Perth as Australia lost by 61 runs. That means they face an uphill struggle to regain the Ashes with England already six points up and only 12 remaining across the three ODIs and three T20s.England and Australia are the only two women’s teams who now compete in Test cricket. The previous Test not involving those two nations was in 2007 when South Africa played Netherlands.

Ashwell Prince hit an unbeaten 134 on a day of missed chances and milestones in Canterbury as Lancashire reached a respectable 269 for 8

24-Sep-2013
ScorecardAshwell Prince produced the classiest cricket on an end-of-season day•Getty ImagesAshwell Prince hit an unbeaten 134 on a day of missed chances and milestones in Canterbury as Lancashire reached a respectable 269 for 8 in their end-of-season Championship clash with Kent.The former South Africa opening batsman posted the 35th century of his illustrious career to cement an otherwise faltering first innings by the newly-crowned Division Two champions. He barely put a foot wrong against a makeshift Kent attack shorn of Calum Haggett, Mitch Claydon and Charlie Shreck.The hosts gave a surprise first-class debut to 19-year-old rookie pace bowler Matt Hunn, who was thrown in at the deep end to take the new ball after signing on the eve of the match. A right-arm, Colchester-born seamer with a handful of appearances for Kent and Essex second teams and Suffolk, he replaced Shreck who is Kent’s leading Championship wicket-taker with 33 scalps.Both Kent and Hunn made a sound start once the fog cleared allowing play to start at 10.45am and, having won the toss, Kent made their first breakthrough with the second ball of the match.Mark Davies found a perfect length to draw Paul Horton forward and have him caught low and left-handed at second slip by Darren Stevens. Hunn sent down three maidens but was seen off by Prince who notched his 15,000th run in first-class cricket early in his stay.Davies gave way to Adam Ball at the Nackington Road End and Ball struck with his ninth delivery by bowling Luis Reece will a full length delivery. However, Kent slip fielder Stevens grassed two tough chances just before lunch, missing Karl Brown on 4 against Ball and then 17 off the bowling of James Tredwell via a deflection off the wicketkeeper’s knee.Prince and Brown added 71 in 27.1 overs either side of lunch until Stevens had Brown, pushing in defence at an away-swinger, caught behind by Kent’s tumbling understudy wicketkeeper Sam Billings.Prince reached his eighth fifty of the season from 129 balls and with seven fours and, on reaching 73, posted his 1,000 runs for the Championship summer.Kent botched a third chance when Luke Procter edged a drive against Stevens to be dropped at second slip by Sam Northeast. Procter failed to capitalise however, and soon perished for 8 to a diving catch at slip by Stevens after the left-hander had toe-ended an attempted sweep against Tredwell.Andrea Agathangelou followed just before tea when he shouldered arms to Ball then, soon after the resumption Stevens took another athletic slip catch to account for Tom Smith and give Tredwell his 350th first-class wicket.After almost five hours at the crease Prince reached his second hundred of the summer from 215 balls and with 14 fours. It was his sixth ton for Lancashire.The second new ball accounted for Alex Davies, caught at slip when pushing defensively at one from namesake Mark Davies, then Hunn bagged his maiden Championship wicket by having Oliver Newby caught driving on the up at extra cover. Kent fluffed a fifth chance late in the day when Billings parried a diving chance off the edge of Stephen Parry’s bat to deny Hunn a second scalp.

Folarin Balogun scored a goal for Monaco and set up another, but it wasn't enough to upset Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Friday.

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Balogun scores fourth of yearSets up another for MinaminoMonaco fall 5-2

Balogun and Monaco were unable to take down PSG in Friday, as they failed to take a chance to go level with the Ligue 1 giants atop the Ligue 1 table.

The U.S. men's national team star did score in the 75th minute, though, but by that point the game was effectively over thanks to a second-half blitz from PSG.

GOAL analyzes Balogun's performance from the Parc Des Princes…

GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The hosts seized an early lead in the 18th minute, with Portuguese star Goncalo Ramos netting his third goal of the season.

Monaco fought back with a goal of their own just two minutes later, with Balogun's pressing leading to a Gianluigi Donnarumma mistake. The Italian's attempt to play the ball out of the back ended in a Takumi Minamino goal, equaling the score at one a-piece.

PSG wouldn't be denied, though, as Kylian Mbappe made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, giving the hosts the momentum going into halftime. It was a bit nervy in the second half, but PSG eventually put the game to bed via a world-class Ousmane Dembele goal. Moments later, Vitinha added a fourth, totally ending Monaco's hopes of a comeback.

It didn't stop Balogun, though, as the American broke through in the 75th minute go make it 4-2 and end his own day on something of a high. The goal didn't mean much, though, as Randal Kolo Muani essentially erased it with a fifth for the Parisians in stoppage-time.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

WIth the loss, Monaco squandered a chance to really make a statement in the title race, as they entered the match just three points behind league-leaders PSG with Nice sandwiched between the two. However, with the win, PSG now have a six point advantage on Monaco, who will remain in third place after this weekend regardless of what happens elsewhere.

Getty ImagesUSMNT IMPACT

Even aside from his goal, it's fair to say that Balogun did have a good game leading the line for Monaco.

His holdup play was solid throughout as he did feel involved in the attack. More importantly, his pressing was relentless, as he single-handedly created Monaco's first by pressing what should have been a lost cause. It wasn't though, as his effort led to a Donnarumma mishap for Monaco's first.

Monaco's second, though, was all him. The forward broke through all alone and provided a composed finish, leaving Donnarumma no chance.

Ultimately, there was no way back for Monaco, but Balogun certainly did his part.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Folarin Balogun (8/10):

Got his goal and set up another one, even if he won't be credited with the assist. Now has four goals on the season and performances like this will certainly keep him in the Monaco XI.

Alen Stajcic will lead the Philippines in their first-ever Women's World Cup. But who is in their squad?

The Philippines national women's team is set to play in their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup finals in July, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

A shootout win against Chinese Taipei in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup quarter-finals ended a 32-year World Cup wait for them. Despite missing two of their opening four spot-kicks, goalkeeper Olivia Davies-McDaniel's heroics helped her nation progress to its first FIFA tournament.

After Alen Stajcic was sacked in 2019 by Australia, the Philippines – a team that had won nothing and never qualified for a single major tournament – appointed the Aussie in October 2021. Since then, they have won the 2022 AFF Championship apart from qualifying for the World Cup.

However, in the recent 2023 Southeast Asian Games, they were unlucky to crash out from the group stage after finishing third behind Vietnam and Myanmar on goal difference after the three teams were locked on six points.

Nonetheless, they will look to overcome their disappointment and compete with renewed vigour alongside hosts New Zealand, Switzerland and Norway in Group A in the Women's World Cup.

Who can Grings pick in the World Cup squad? GOAL takes a look…

Getty ImagesGOALKEEPERS

Olivia Davies-McDaniel is the number one choice between the sticks for the Philippines. Her heroics against Chinese Taipei in the penalty shootout has catapulted her to a demi-god stature in her nation and will once again be entrusted with the responsibility of shot-stopping in Australia.

Her form will be crucial to the Philippines' chances as she is expected to have a busy time under the crossbar.

Meanwhile, Kiara Fontanilla, who plies her trade with Central Coast Mariners, is likely to be the backup goalkeeper with Inna Palacios as the third choice.

Name Club

Olivia McDanielFree AgentKiara FontanillaCentral Coast MarinersInna PalaciosKaya–IloiloKaiya JotaStanford CardinalAdvertisementGetty ImagesDEFENDERS

Stajcic likes to stick to four defenders in defence. Alicia Barker and Malea Cesar are the two options at right-back. The latter is 19 years old but already has 28 caps for the national team, highlighting her immense potential.

Meanwhile, Hali Long is the most experienced defender in the backline and has 71 international caps. She might be partnered with Maya Alcantara at the heart of the defence.

Whereas Sofia Harrison is likely to slot in at left-back, with Dominique Randle as the other option.

Name Club

Jessika CowartKalmarCathrine GraversenOdense QDominique Randle2023 Pinatar CupMaya AlcantaraGeorgetown HoyasAlicia BarkerPacific NorthwestReina BontaSantosMalea CesarBlacktown CitySofia HarrisonFree AgentHali LongKaya–IloiloEva MadarangBlacktown SpartansGetty ImagesMIDFIELDERS

It is mostly four players at the centre of the park for Stajcic. However, sometimes the coach also opts to have two defensive midfielders and a bank of three behind the striker.

Tanhai Annis and Sara Eggesvik are the two most trusted players who are the pivots of the team. Both play in Europe for KIL/Hemne and Por/KA, respectively. Jaclyn Sawicki is also a potent option in midfield, as the 30-year-old has plenty of experience and switched her nationality from Canada to represent Philipines in 2021.

Red Star Belgrade winger Quinley Quezada is most likely to occupy the right flank, whereas Isabella Flanigan can take the place on the left.

Meanwhile, Stabaek's Meryll Serrano is the x-factor in this team, who has four goals in eight appearances. She can be used as a number 10 as she is to be prolific in the attacking third.

Name Club

Anicka CastañedaMt Druitt Town RangersSara EggesvikKIL/HemneIsabella PasionLebanon Trail High SchoolNatalie OcaLoyola Marymount LionsSabine RamosWoodbridge High SchoolTahnai AnnisPor/KARyley BugayFree agentReinna GabrielCornell Big RedKaya HawkinsonCentral Coast MarinersCamille RodriguezLords FAMeryll SerranoStabækENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Getty ImagesFORWARDS

Carleigh Frillies and Sarina Bolden are the two preferred strikers for Stajcic. Fillies was born in the United States but has represented the Philippines right from the age group teams since 2016. She has 12 goals in 33 caps and is a crucial figure in the squad.

Meanwhile, Bolden, also born in the United States, caught the attention of Richard Boon, former Philippines national team coach, and convinced her to join the Filipinas. She has made 33 appearances so far and has 20 goals.

Katrina Guillou is another striker who has the potential to be a difference-maker. She sent a highlight reel from her college days to the Philippine Football Federation before the 2022 Asian Cup, which got her selected for the national team. Since joining the team, she has scored 10 goals in 25 appearances.

Name Club

Sarina BoldenWestern Sydney WanderersIsabella FlaniganWest Virginia MountaineersChandler McDanielFree agentQuinley QuezadaRed Star BelgradeCarleigh FrilliesBlacktown SpartansKatrina GuillouPitea IFAlyssa UbeUP Fighting Maroons