Thomas Frank met Tottenham star James Maddison as Ange Postecoglou's successor set foot in north London following his move from Brentford.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
Wyatt, Mandhana lay platform before bowlers close out three-run win at Ageas Bowl
ECB Reporters Network16-Aug-2023
Danni Wyatt pulls through the leg side during her innings of 43•Getty Images
Southern Brave 132 for 4 (Wyatt 43) beat Birmingham Phoenix 129 for 8 by three runsSmriti Mandhana overtook Tammy Beaumont to return to the top of the Women’s Hundred scoring charts as Southern Brave beat winless Birmingham Phoenix by three runs in a thriller.Indian opener Mandhana has 224 runs in the 2023 edition of the Hundred after a stylish 39, which all made her the first women past 600 runs in the tournament’s history.The 84 runs she put on with opening partner Danni Wyatt set Brave on their way to fifth victory from six fixtures to send them back top of the table.Lauren Bell, Georgia Adams and Anya Shrubsole all took two wickets to make sure Brave defended 132 as already eliminated Phoenix reached 129 in front of a record 9,829 for a women’s Hundred game at the Ageas Bowl.Brave won the toss and eased through the gears with Mandhana and Wyatt cruising to 36 in a no-thrills powerplay.The overseas star was formidable through the leg side – with 25 of her runs coming from hits across the line, with a clear plan to rotate the strike with singles into the midwicket expanse.Wyatt struck all but one of her six boundaries behind the wicket before she was bowled by an impeccable legcutter for 43.The 84 the opening duo put on was the Brave’s fourth highest stand and the eighth time the pair had scored over 50 together.Mandhana fell 11 balls later to the 70th ball when she was given leg before to Arlott – who ended with two for 22. Replays showed it should have been reviewed as it pitched outside leg stump.Phoenix played three leg spinners on a pitch which turned but all three were milked, with only Katie Levick getting on the wicket list when she had Georgia Adams stumped.Maia Bouchier swept Erin Burns’ off spin onto her own stumps – the Australian was the only bowler to go at under a run a ball as Brave posted a slightly above-par 132.Sophie Devine swatted the third ball of the innings to midwicket but Sterre Kalis and Eve Jones built a platform with a 40-run stand.They both fell within nine balls of each other as the spin duo of Kalea Moore and Adams both pulled Brave back on top – Kalis lbw to Adams and Jones caught at midwicket.Another stand, this time of 43 between Burns and Jones edged the visitors towards favourites.But Jones was run out by Bouchier’s strong arm after some slow running to leave Phoenix needing 36 off 24 balls.Burns hit Adams for the first six of the day and then a four, but was caught at long-on.Defending 15 off the last end, Bell built pressure with a pair of slower-ball dots before finding Abbey Freeborn mishitting to mid-off.And Shrubsole had Tess Flintoff caught-and-bowled and Hannah Baker stumped while defending five off the final ball as Brave boosted their hopes of a third trip to Lord’s, with their play-off place now all but ensured.
MatériaMais Notícias
A queda de rendimento do Vasco na Série B não é casual. Por mais que o futebol apresentado no início da competição nunca tenha convencido, a piora, ou a não evolução do time, foi uma escolha. Ou ao menos é o resultado das decisões tomadas pelo próprio clube.
RelacionadasVascoVasco pode superar marca negativa como visitante na Série BVasco22/09/2022VascoJorginho diz que primeiro gol do Cruzeiro desestabilizou o Vasco: ‘O importante é que não fomos covardes’Vasco21/09/2022VascoApós derrota do Vasco, Anderson Conceição ‘vira a página’ e foca em duelo decisivo contra o LondrinaVasco21/09/2022
> GALERIA:Desespero do Vasco na Série B é prato cheio para memes nas redes sociais
Se o desempenho nunca encantou com Zé Ricardo, havia ao menos ali uma linha de trabalho sendo seguida. Um planejamento iniciado na pré-temporada, de uma equipe mais física, sólida defensivamente e que sabia explorar principalmente a bola parada para conseguir seus resultados. Algo que não conseguiu ser mantido após a saída inesperada do treinador, no início de junho.
Desde então, escolhas. Em sua grande maioria, equivocadas.Quase quatro meses depois, o Vasco ainda não se reencontrou.
O clube teve a chance de trazer um técnico experiente após a saída de Zé, tinha nomes disponíveis no mercado como Enderson Moreira, mas optou pelo inexperiente Maurício Souza. Em oito jogos sob o comando do novo treinador, o time se manteve no G4, mas perdeu a invencibilidade e diminuiu seu aproveitamento.
A equipe permaneceu na 3ª posição com seis pontos de vantagem para o Londrina, o 5º. A oscilação parecia natural, e uma correção de rota com a demissão de Maurício, que tentava implementar um novo modelo de jogo no meio do campeonato, era algo natural. Mas ela não veio.
O Vasco, mais uma vez, teve a chance de ir atrás de um técnico experiente o suficiente para encarar uma Série B com o peso que é ter que subir o Cruz-Maltino após dois anos na 2ª divisão. Não foi.
Enderson Moreira, atual campeão da competição com o Botafogo, acertou com o Bahia, que passou o Vasco. Odair Hellmann recusou o convite. Guto Ferreira, outro com acessos no currículo – quatro em quatro clubes diferentes -, ao que tudo indica, sequer foi procurado. Fechou com o Coritiba.
Novamente o Vasco apostou na inexperiência. Manteve, num período onde a última janela de transferência estava aberta, quando as contratações derradeiras poderiam ser feitas, um auxiliar no comando: Emilio Faro. Uma escolha. Mais uma que não deu certo – como era de se esperar.
Foram mais oito partidas até a decisão de trazer um novo treinador – Jorginho. Mais oito rodadas em queda livre, perdendo a 3ª posição e vendo a diferença de pontos para o 5º colocado cair para quatro. Quando a água já estava no pescoço, resolveram voltar a nadar. Mas aí já se foi a janela, as ideias iniciais e até a confiança – dos jogadores e, principalmente, do torcedor.
O Vasco escolheu jogar quase metade da Série B com um técnico de primeira viagem – seja Maurício ou Emílio. O Vasco escolheu trazer reforços na última janela sem um treinador definido. Escolheu, inclusive, mais uma vez, apostar mais em garotos do que em jogadores prontos. Foi ao mercado apenas repor o que havia perdido, fosse por lesão – casos de Riquelme e Gabriel Dias – ou dispensa – Isaque, Bruno Nazário e Vitinho. E também não soube escolher.
Com 48 pontos em 31 jogos, a campanha atual do Vasco é praticamente igual a do ano passado neste período, quando fez 47. A sorte dos cariocas é que as outras equipes, com exceção do Cruzeiro, também escolheram sofrer até o fim.
Chelsea star Romeo Lavia is impressed with the Club World Cup pre-match entrances and wants them to be used in the Premier League.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Lavia wants individual player walkouts in the PLFascinated with the way it is being done at CWCLabelled it as a bit of a "showbiz" move Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
At the heart of Lavia’s suggestion is the NBA-style entrance format, where players are announced one at a time and walk onto the pitch to crowd applause. This new format was introduced at the restructured Club World Cup and made a big impact from the opening fixture between Inter Miami and Al Ahly.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
When Lionel Messi's name was called at the Hard Rock Stadium, the crowd erupted, setting the tone for a tournament where entertainment meets sport. This style of entrance, although leading to slight delays in actual kick-off times, has been praised for its flair and spectacle, traits that are a staple in American sports presentations.
Watch every game of the FIFA Club World Cup live on DAZNStream nowWHAT LAVIA SAID
Lavia, speaking to , said: "I think it's something special and new for us. It's a first for us. I enjoyed it. Why not bring it to the Premier League? I mean, it's a bit of a showbiz thing, isn't it? I quite like it. The only difference is [if we did it in the Premier League], we might get a bit cold because once you're out there, you have to wait for maybe the other players. But apart from that, it was good. I guess we always learn new things from international tournaments and that's what makes it special."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
DID YOU KNOW?
Last season proved frustrating for the 21-year-old, who was plagued by a string of hamstring problems. Lavia made just 16 league appearances, with fitness concerns limiting his ability to contribute consistently. He was also excluded from Chelsea's Europa Conference League squad in a deliberate effort to manage his workload and avoid further setbacks.
Chamari Athapaththu has proven herself to be “one of the best allrounders in the world”, according to Sri Lanka Women’s batting coach, Malinda Warnapura, who hailed her “scintillating” strokeplay after sealing a famous victory over England at Chelmsford.Athapaththu’s 55 from 31 balls led a withering batting display from Sri Lanka’s top-order, as England’s sub-par total of 104 was hunted down with 6.4 overs to spare. Her 21-run assault on Kate Cross’s second over included a huge six over square leg and into a neighbouring garden, as Sri Lanka broke the back of the chase with 67 runs in the six-over powerplay.”Chamari has been playing some scintillating cricket for a long period of time,” Warnapura, the former Sri Lanka Test batter, said. “It’s lovely to watch. It doesn’t show any difference from watching a men’s game when Chamari is batting, the way she hits the ball so hard and doesn’t worry about gaps.”Athapaththu’s influence on Sri Lanka’s victory extended to her role with the ball too – after her team had conceded a hefty 186 for 4 in 17 overs at Hove, she took it upon herself to set the tone with her offspin, and duly bowled England’s most dangerous player, Danni Wyatt, for 1 with the sixth delivery of the match.”She’s been working really hard with the bat, but most of the time that when she was bowling, it was only over or two,” Warnapura added. “But now she has proven that she’s one of the best allrounders that we have in the world.”Related
Athapaththu signs with Northern Brave for Super Smash 2023-24
Chamari Athapaththu leads from front as Sri Lanka rout England by eight wickets
Gaur hits her straps as England's next generation step up
Knight: Sri Lanka series marks start of new World Cup cycle
Athapaththu’s aggression brought out the best in her team-mates too. Sri Lanka rejigged their batting line-up after their 12-run DLS defeat in Hove, with the wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani moving up the order to open, thereby allowing Vishmi Gunaratne to slot in at No. 4 behind Harshitha Samarawickrama at three, who didn’t get to bat in Thursday’s rain-shortened chase.Though Sanjeewani’s own impact proved to be limited, Samarawickrama proved the perfect foil for Athapaththu, as she sealed Sri Lanka’s chase with an unbeaten 30 from 35 balls, including a third six of the innings, over deep midwicket.”We had to try something new and the girls took it in a very great way,” Warnapura said. “The way Harshitha finished the game didn’t show any difference to the way she bats as an opener. We have six or seven betters who can do the job but, when Chamari [is leading the way], I think for the rest, it’s much easier for them to play a supporting role.”We wanted to make the batting order up to No. 7 a little bit stronger and because the wicketkeeper has been playing for a long time, it was an opportunity for her as well. Hopefully she will come back strong in the next game.”Warnapura has only been in his role for a few months, but in that time, Sri Lanka have also beaten New Zealand – another traditional powerhouse of the women’s game – for the first time in T20Is. Earlier this year, they also beat South Africa in the World Cup opener in Cape Town, and he admitted it was an exciting time to be involved with the team.”As a coach, it’s exciting to watch the way they play, and not only on the field… everywhere, even at training, even at the hotel and when you’re travelling,” he said. “That shows the qualities of discipline, and also that teamwork matters. The girls had this hunger to win. I think this is a good start for them.”Warnapura played down the suggestion, however, that England had shown Sri Lanka a degree of disrespect with their youthful selection for this series.”You can’t control that about the England side,” he said. “They can pick and they can rest, but when we came here, we knew that they are one of the strongest teams in the world. So we prepared ourselves well, back home, in training and in the warm-up games, and when you look at that fieldling and bowling, it’s really good to see.”Looking ahead to the series decider in Derby on Wednesday, Warnapura acknowledged that the sunny weather in Chelmsford had been like “home conditions” compared to a damp 7pm start in Hove, but said that he expected England to fight back hard, whatever the weather.”It’s a great confidence, but when you play against England, you can’t just say that you won today and you’re going to win tomorrow,” he said. “It’s going to be hard, but the way we are performing, we are playing as a unit and as a team, and that’s something that we are looking forward for.”
Chelsea are believed to be planning an offer to sign one Liverpool player ahead of the summer transfer window, amid claims that Enzo Maresca’s side could look to bolster their squad before the Club World Cup on June 14th.
Away from their chase for Champions League qualification and a Premier League top four place, BlueCo are believed to be making plans for the pre-CWC transfer window, which opens from June 1st to June 10th.
£180,000-a-week Chelsea star now keen to leave amid Real Madrid interest
The Blues may have a battle on their hands trying to keep hold of one of their most important players…
By
Dominic Lund
Mar 31, 2025
Last week, the Premier League confirmed that the summer window would be split into two sections, with the early June version allowing both Chelsea and Man City to sign players before the CWC commences.
|
Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Tottenham (home) |
April 3rd |
|
Brentford (away) |
April 6th |
|
Ipswich Town (home) |
April 13th |
|
Fulham (away) |
April 20th |
|
Everton (home) |
April 26th |
Chelsea are said to have laid “significant groundwork” over a deal for Liam Delap, and if all goes to plan, he could be signed from Ipswich Town before the CWC kicks off (Simon Phillips).
The tournament could yield £100 million for Chelsea if they manage to win it, leaving little wonder Stamford Bridge chiefs appear set to take it seriously.
A new striker of Delap’s ilk is just one of their many transfer goals for the summer, though. Despite their large backlog of goalkeepers, with Kepa Arrizabalaga out on loan at Bournemouth, Djordje Petrovic at Strasbourg and Mike Penders set to arrive from Genk in the summer, it is believed that they want another capable body in-between the sticks.
Petrovic has refused to rule out staying at Strasbourg next season, amid his very impressive spell in Ligue 1 on loan from Chelsea, so perhaps Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher could fill the Serbian’s spot.
The 26-year-old, rumoured to command a £40 million asking price moving into the next window, has seriously impressed as a very capable understudy to Alisson – leading to serious interest in his signature.
According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are “already” preparing a £40m bid for Kelleher, but it won’t be an “easy” negotiation for the west Londoners considering Arne Slot’s side view him as a solid squad player and understudy for Alisson.
The Irishman has showcased true match-saving quality when given the chance, and he’s arguably very unlucky that such a big-name currently sits ahead of him in the Liverpool pecking order.
During Alisson’s spell out through injury earlier this season, the Republic of Ireland international was an absolute revelation, with Virgil van Dijk calling him “world-class” and TNT Sports pundit Steve McManaman branding Kelleher a “superstar”.
“Look at the goalkeeper [Kelleher],” McManaman said.
“He’s a superstar, isn’t he? Caoimhin Kelleher.
“He played more games last year than Alisson because of injuries, he’s done exactly the same this year. If you have the quality behind you – Trent Alexander-Arnold went off today and Conor Bradley seamlessly comes in – if you’ve got that, great.”
اتخذ نادي بايرن ميونخ خطوة جادة في سباق التعاقد مع الجناح الكولومبي لويس دياز، بتقديم عرض رسمي إلى ليفربول، وفقًا لآخر التقارير الواردة.
وارتبط دياز بالرحيل عن ليفربول خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، مع اهتمام من برشلونة الإسباني وبايرن ميونخ الألماني بالتعاقد معه.
وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، بلغت قيمة عرض بايرن ميونخ لليفربول لضم لويس دياز، 67.5 مليون يورو، في محاولة لحسم واحدة من أبرز صفقات الصيف، لكن الرد جاء سريعًا من إدارة النادي الإنجليزي بالرفض.
بايرن ميونخ، الذي جعل دياز هدفًا أول بعد استبعاده لخيارات أخرى، يبدو مستعدًا للذهاب بعيدًا في هذه الصفقة، إذ تفيد التقارير الواردة من ألمانيا بأن بايرن يفكر في رفع العرض إلى 80 مليون يورو بعد إضافة حوافز ومكافآت متغيرة، وهو رقم يقترب من طموحات ليفربول المالية.
اقرأ أيضًا | لتجنب سيناريو أرنولد.. ليفربول يتخذ قرارًا بشأن رحيل كوناتي إلى ريال مدريد
ورغم هذه التحركات السريعة، إلا أن الاتفاق الشخصي بين اللاعب والنادي الألماني لم يُحسم بعد، خصوصًا في ما يتعلق بالتفاصيل المالية للعقد.
وتشير بعض المصادر إلى أن بايرن ميونخ يعرض عقدًا طويل الأمد حتى عام 2029 أو حتى 2030، وهناك مؤشرات إيجابية من جانب اللاعب إذا ما توصل الناديان إلى اتفاق.
من جهة أخرى، بات من الواضح أن دياز منفتح على الرحيل عن ليفربول هذا الصيف، شرط أن تصل إدارة ناديه إلى عرض مالي مُقنع.
ورغم قيمته الفنية الكبيرة داخل الفريق، إلا أن قرب نهاية عقده في 2027 وعدم وجود مفاوضات للتجديد، قد يدفع النادي الإنجليزي للنظر في الاستفادة من الصفقة ماليًا.
أما برشلونة، فرغم رغبة دياز الواضحة في ارتداء قميصه، إلا أن العائق المالي لا يزال حاضرًا بقوة.
النادي الكتالوني لم يتقدّم بعد بعرض رسمي، ويفضّل الانتظار حتى تتحسن أوضاعه الاقتصادية ويستعيد القدرة على التفاوض وفق قاعدة “1:1″، التي تسمح له بتسجيل اللاعبين الجدد دون قيود.
بايرن ميونخ يسابق الزمن لحسم الصفقة خلال الأيام المقبلة، مستغلًا تفوّقه المالي وسرعة تحركه، فيما يُراهن برشلونة على فشل المحاولة الألمانية ليدخل المشهد في توقيت أكثر ملاءمة.
Sri Lanka did well to trigger a middle-order collapse that saw India restricted to 116, but were stifled by Sadhu’s 3 for 6 during the chase
Shashank Kishore25-Sep-2023
In South Africa this January, Titas Sadhu was named Player of the Match in the final as India beat England to be crowned champions of the inaugural Under-19 women’s T20 World Cup. Nine months later, in Hangzhou, Titas not only realised her childhood dream of debuting for the senior team, she also bowled a memorable spell (4-2-6-3) in the final, this time to help India clinch the Asian Games gold.That victory was sealed by someone all of 18, especially with victory far from being a foregone conclusion, made it even sweeter. India were under pressure, having lost 5 for 14 to be restricted to 116. Then they saw Chamari Athapaththu make a brisk start in Sri Lanka’s chase.Related
Accuracy and pin-point yorkers on world champion Titas Sadhu's mind
Asian Games: Shorna Akter stars with ball and bat to give Bangladesh bronze
A sense of deja vu may have hit them that very moment. Memories of stage fright that got them at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and at the T20 World Cup semi-final in Cape Town may have come rushing back. But where Australia were a ruthless machine who knew to close out games from a corner, Sri Lanka perhaps let the occasion of a final get to them.Where calmness was the need of the hour, they panicked. And in losing three wickets inside the powerplay, they allowed pressure to dictate terms. They tried to limit damage by playing themselves in and taking the game deep. By then the asking rate on what seemed a rank turner, with balls bouncing and shooting off the rough, spiraled beyond reasonable measure.India, not-so-ecstatic after their batting meltdown only 90 minutes earlier, celebrated. Sri Lanka, riding a massive wave of confidence – only last month, they recorded a historic maiden T20I series win in England – sank to their knees. Two contrasting emotions that make sport the ultimate theatre were on display as the sun, which shone the brightest in the final after days of rain in the lead-up, went down behind the hills.Mandhana, Rodrigues steady IndiaIndia started cautiously as it became clear very early on that the pitch was going to take a lot of turn. Between overs 2-5, Sri Lanka didn’t concede a single boundary and the frustration of not being able to score one led to Shafali Verma’s dismissal as she was stumped off Sugandika Kumari. Yet, by the end of the first six overs, India had recovered to 35 for 1, and were looking for a lift off.Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues recalibrated India’s approach and turned into run accumulators, instead of looking to bash the ball. Occasionally, Rodrigues got bad deliveries that she kept putting away as India chugged along at a run-a-ball for the first 10 overs.Mandhana was at her calculative best and reined herself in for large parts, seldom looking to sweep against the turn, until she got to a point where she wanted to cut loose in the 12th. When Athapaththu fed her a full toss, she swatted it to the square leg boundary to signal a change in intent. But she was foxed soon after when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera slowed it down nicely and had her top-edge a slog to short fine leg for a 45-ball 46 as Sri Lanka broke a 73-run stand.
“When [javelin thrower] Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal [at the Tokyo Olympics], I had a match at the Hundred. His last throw was on, so I called [the team management] and asked for ten minutes. Then the way the national anthem was played and the Indian flag went up, it was pretty special. It was emotional for me. The same thing happened to us today, and it was a pretty special feeling. As cricketers, we don’t experience this much. Really happy that we could contribute to the medal tally of the Indian [contingent].”Smriti Mandhana (to ANI)
The collapseThis set into motion a full-blown middle order collapse. Harmanpreet Kaur, playing her first game of the tournament, struggled to adjust to the pace and was out nicking behind. Richa Ghosh was caught behind trying to play a full-blooded sweep against the turn and Pooja Vastrakar dragged a slog to deep midwicket. India managed just one boundary in the last four overs that went for 16 as Sri Lanka went into the break with momentum on their side.Sadhu lets it ripAthapaththu began the chase with clear intent of looking to put the bowlers under pressure and pocketed 12 off Deepti Sharma’s offspin. But that onslaught didn’t last long with Sadhu, brought on for the third over, striking twice. Anushka Sanjeewani was out toe-ending a slog to mid-off and Vishmi Gunaratne was late to defend a skiddy length ball that sneaked through to smash the stumps.In her second over, the fifth of the innings, Athapaththu slapped a length ball straight to cover where Deepti hung on to an excellent catch to leave Sri Lanka 14 for 3. Sadhu could’ve had a fourth two balls later, but for Amanjot Kaur putting down a chance at point to reprieve Nilakshi de Silva. Sadhu’s USP is her ability to hit hard lengths and move the ball off the seam. Much like her mentor Jhulan Goswami did for a better part of the last two decades. Here she was now, in a grand final, exhibiting tremendous control on the face of a challenge.Hasini roars but India have last laughHasini Perera didn’t take long to get going and broke the run-strangle with back-to-back fours off Vastrakar to end the powerplay. Over the next couple of overs, Hasini played herself in with an effort to try and put pressure on India in the back half. When Harmanpreet threw the ball to Amanjot Kaur in an effort to get an over or two in quickly, Hasini put the pressure right back by walloping her for a six across the line.She followed that up by clattering left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a four and six off the next over. She was now picking her spots and hitting them at will. Just when it seemed as if India were in for a fierce counterattack, Gayakwad roared back. By tossing the ball up nicely outside off, she challenged Hasini to clear the longer leg-side boundary and had her holing out to deep midwicket. That was a massive moment. India knew then it was theirs to lose.Sri Lanka’s lower order hung around valiantly, bringing out the odd big hit in the hope of a late surge, but India closed out the game clinically through their spinners to seal a win they were made to earn.
Shakib Al Hasan, has launched a scathing attack on Tamim Iqbal ahead of the World Cup, calling him “childish” and criticising Tamim for putting himself ahead of the team’s needs.Tamim has been in and out of the Bangladesh side, battling a persistent back injury, which on Tuesday was cited as the reason for his exclusion from the World Cup squad. Except, earlier today, Tamim took to Facebook to insist he would have been fit enough to take part in the tournament and that the reason he won’t be travelling to India is because he had grown weary of the BCB creating roadblocks for him. One of which, he said, was a top board official asking him to bat down the order.”I am sure someone who is authorized had said this (to Tamim),” Shakib, the Bangladesh captain, told the Dhaka-based TV channel T-Sports in an interview that was aired on Wednesday night. “I am sure whoever has said it, he thought of the team. A lot of things go into building a combination for a match. So if someone has said this to him, was it wrong? Or we can’t make such a proposal? I am just going to tell someone that you can do whatever you want. Is the team first or the individual?”Related
Tamim Iqbal to 'wait till January' before deciding on his international future
Hathurusinghe deflects Shakib vs Tamim talk, wants focus to be on making final four
Shakib Al Hasan outlines his retirement plan
Tamim hits out at BCB; claims he would have been fit in time for World Cup
In a sustained and unsparing critique, Shakib said Tamim was being selfish in not thinking of the team.”Someone like Rohit Sharma built his career from No. 7 to opener, scored 10,000-plus runs. If he sometimes bats at No 3 or 4, would it be a big problem? It is totally childish. It is my bat, I will play. No one else can play. A player should bat at any position for the team. Team first. It doesn’t make any difference if you have made 100 or 200, and the team loses. What can you do with personal achievement? You want to make a name for yourself?”You are not thinking about the team at all. People don’t understand these things. Why was the proposal given to him? It was for the team. What is wrong in that? You are a team man when you agree to such a proposal. Unless you are thinking along those lines, you are not a team man. You are playing for individual records, success, fame, and name. Not for the team.”Tamim’s troubles began in July during a home series against Afghanistan, where he said he was playing through a back injury, the same one that he is currently managing. It led to his missing the Asia Cup and the final match of his comeback series as well, against New Zealand, earlier this week.Shakib said he didn’t want to carry a player with a fitness question mark over him into the World Cup and even went to the extent of saying anyone playing without being 100% fit is cheating the team.Tamim Iqbal did not like being asked to bat down the order•AFP/Getty Images
“I didn’t discuss the subject with the particular player, medical team or selector. It is definitely the board’s decision. People might doubt my capability or capacity but someone like MS Dhoni, who has won everything and has the knowledge and sense, once said that the unfit player who is playing is cheating his team and country. I think we should accept it, and not just Tamim but every player (that you have to be fully fit when playing for the team or country).”Other teams have similar concerns, like New Zealand have named their captain Kane Williamson for the World Cup despite him not being 100% after an ACL injury. But there has already been clarity around the extent of his participation and the lack of certainty when it comes to Tamim appears to be a sticking point.”Kane Williamson won’t play the first two matches, but then he will start playing,” Shakib said. “If I knew something like this, I wouldn’t have any problems. But if I know that there’s uncertainty about him playing the seventh or the third or the first game, or that I will only know in the morning of the game, it will be difficult for me to select the team. I don’t think we need such a player.”There has been speculation that Tamim was only fit enough to play five matches at the World Cup and though the opener has refuted them as lies, not everyone is convinced.”I certainly heard that he will play selectively,” Shakib said. “A journalist can’t really tell you that he will come to the office an hour before he wants to come to office. If you ask me personally, if I was the company CEO, I won’t keep that employee. Although I never had any discussion about this matter.”Shakib also took a dim view of Tamim choosing to resign as ODI captain just two months out from the World Cup. “I have often heard in the dressing room that he is leaving the captaincy. Even a player once told him that ‘, leave it early so that the new captain gets a bit of time’. Exactly that’s what happened. The one who came in, didn’t get the time. Each and everyone knew including the selectors and board officials. Papon (BCB president Nazmul Hassan) certainly knew about it.”I don’t know why he didn’t leave it (earlier). He can tell you. It is like, your commander takes you to war but (Shakib mimicking a solider) after he has got you ready, the commander isn’t telling you to fire or retreat. Where will you go? We were in this situation in the last two matches against Afghanistan (in July).”The captain wouldn’t have changed ahead of the Asia Cup and the World Cup, unless he himself announced that he was resigning or retiring. It would have happened 18 months ago, when everyone knew what was about to happen.”
Wicketkeeper finds form to go with fifties from Westley, Critchley as hosts take charge
ECB Reporters Network19-Sep-2023
Adam Rossington made his highest first-class score for Essex•Getty Images
Adam Rossington ended his horror season with a century as Essex took command on day one of the LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Hampshire and boosted their title bid.Wicketkeeper Rossington came into the match having only scored 188 runs in a season disrupted by injury and poor form but pushed through the gears to reach 104 – his best for Essex. Matt Critchley added a ninth Championship fifty to his impressive season after Tom Westley reached 1000 runs for the campaign on his way to his own half-century.Essex ended the day on 310 for 6, Critchley still going strong on 83 after his 177-run stand with Rossington.Essex began this penultimate round of fixtures 18 points behind leaders Surrey, and the final challenger to the London side’s pursuit of back-to-back titles. They started by winning the toss and electing to bat first.Third-placed Hampshire will have a strong role in determining the location of the Championship as they face Surrey in the final round, after potentially making a decisive mark on Essex’s ambitions.This could be Alastair Cook’s final match at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford, with his current two-year contract ending at the end of this season. His future is uncertain as he approaches his 39th birthday this winter. If this does turn out to be his finale, it didn’t start well as he was bowled around the wicket by a textbook Mohammad Abbas beauty.His opening partner Nick Browne dangled his bat outside off stump to nick behind as Essex slumped to 18 for 2, but Westley and Dan Lawrence combined to improve the hosts’ position.yWestley needed 15 runs to reach 1000 first-class runs this season, something he had only achieved once before – in 2016, when he Ryan ten Doeschate and Browne also piled up four figures. That was the last time at Essex player had achieved the feat.In fact, only three Essex players – Stuart Law and Paul Grayson in 2001 and Andy Flower in 2003 – have ever scored 1000 runs in Division One since the Championship split into two in 2000.Westley joined the trio with a flick into the leg side with his 25th delivery. He ticked along nicely, as he has throughout the season, unleashing the odd straight drive or trademarked flick off the pads on his way to his seventh half-century.But he didn’t score another run as he drove Kyle Abbott to third slip. It ended a 64-run stand with Lawrence – who is definitely making his last home appearance ahead of his move to Surrey. Lawrence fell three overs later to Liam Dawson, having struck back-to-back boundaries, edging to first slip, with the left-arm spinner also picking up the skittish Paul Walter lbw to leave Essex 132 for 5.The Essex slide was short-lived as Critchley found his flow quickly, reaching his half-century in 70 balls. It wasn’t a boundary-a-thon though. He only scored two fours and a sliced six down the ground off Dawson, with 28 singles milked along the way.Critchley, Rossington and Walter had all been awarded their Essex county caps at lunchtime. Like Critchley, Rossington celebrated with fifty – his first of a frustrating season. It came in 83 balls and was brought up with a six over long on – which also moved his alliance with Critchley past 100.He raced past Critchley’s scoring with his second fifty coming in 56 balls to bring up his second ton for Essex, since moving from Northamptonshire at the beginning of last summer. Rossington’s assault ended on 104 as he attempted to yahoo one over midwicket and was caught behind, but Essex cruised to the close – which came to an early due to bad light, having earlier been on and off for rain.