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Opener Aaron Finch, who scored 72 out of Australia’s total of 142, has said that South Africa’s “excellent” execution of plans in the first 10 overs of the chase set up their 47-run win in Guyana

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jun-2016

Opener Aaron Finch, who scored 72 out of Australia’s total of 142, has said that South Africa’s “excellent” execution of plans in the first 10 overs of the chase set up their 47-run win in Guyana. After scoring 189 for 9, South Africa bundled out Australia in 34.2 overs to go on top of the table.”We knew that we had to try and take on the new ball a little bit and I probably didn’t do that straight up,” Finch said. “The pressure builds on other players and that was unfortunate. It took me a while to get going. Yes, there was some very good bowling and you have got to give credit on a wicket that suited bowling. I thought that they executed excellent in the first 10 overs; that pulled them well ahead of the game.”Finch was the only batsman among the top nine to score in double digits and the only Australian to go past 30. Even though he batted till the 31st over, taking Australia to within 77 runs of the target, the lack of substantial partnerships cost the team. No Australian pair could put on more than 30 runs or bat for longer than eight overs.”I think that chasing 188 on a wicket like that was always going to be tough,” Finch said. “We probably needed one or two big partnerships to really kick us off but three down early wasn’t ideal and we knew that as soon as the spinners come on, the new batters come in and it’s always going to be hard.”Finch’s patient knock was his 11th half-century in ODIs. He brought up his fifty off 58 balls but slowed down later as wickets tumbled around him. The rest of the top-nine batsmen managed only 24 runs together as Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell and the spinners kept getting the breakthroughs.”It was nice to get a few runs,” he said. “When you look up and you only get done at 50-odd runs, it’s disappointing. I thought that when I was batting with Nathan [Lyon] we could still get home and it was my responsibility and I got out. So that was disappointing, it doesn’t feel good getting runs when you lose. You move on and regroup and the players in our side are world-class so no doubt that we can turn it around quickly.”The pitches at the Providence Stadium in Guyana in the first three matches of the tri-series have been slow with slightly uneven bounce, especially on Tuesday. Finch said that while it would take Australian batsmen some time to get used to these conditions, they would have to come up with a strategy soon to tackle the spinners.”When you have wickets that are so foreign to us, you’re still going to take a little bit of time to adapt,” he said. “We know that teams are going to come with spin – both South Africa and West Indies have got quality spin line-ups. They’re going to come and be aggressive with their spinners and that’s something that we are prepared for and unfortunately tonight it didn’t pan out for us and we weren’t able to attack their spinners a hell of a lot, so that’s something to work on for next time.”Batting collapse aside, Finch was still upbeat about the show his bowling team-mates, particularly the fast bowlers, put on after South Africa opted to bat on what was expected to be a spin-friendly wicket. Josh Hazlewood got the early breakthrough with Quinton de Kock’s wicket and, when Nathan Coulter-Nile bowled AB de Villiers and JP Duminy, South Africa were reduced to 104 for 5.”Disappointing to lose but I think there’s still to take a lot out of it…for the way that Josh Hazlewood bowled throughout the innings – with the new and the old ball – Nathan Coulter-Nile coming back [for the second spell]…I thought that there were still a lot of positives for us,” he said.”The way that Josh Hazlewood bowled with the new ball on a wicket where we knew that Quinton de Kock was going to come hard at us. He got 2 for 20 off 10 overs, which was extraordinary. Nathan Coulter-Nile after his initial three overs, he comes back and he went for 18 or 19 off his next seven overs and grabbed the big wicket of AB. I think there were still positives there with the ball. The way that Nathan Lyon is coming back into one-day cricket is excellent, the way that he is bowling so far.”To have South Africa at 6 for 112 after 30-odd overs was a great position to be in. We unfortunately couldn’t get that other breakthrough and break that [Farhaan] Behardien and [Aaron] Phangiso partnership that allowed them to get on. But still a great effort to get them six down.”Even though spinners were expected to dominate on the slow pitch, the fast bowlers who opened for both sides in the match were successful and played cruial roles in limiting the oppositions. While Hazlewood and Coulter-Nile picked up two wickets each, Rabada finished with 3 for 13 from seven overs, and Parnell got the big wickets of David Warner and Steven Smith.”On wickets that are predominantly down, if you’ve got tall bowlers who hit the wicket hard, there can be just as much assistance as there is for spin,” Finch said. “You can probably get a little bit too focused on the spin having a big impact and [see] the quicks as less of a threat. But when the wicket is going down like that, if someone’s banging it hard on that length consistently and some are going underground and some are going normally, it can be hard to play and they’ve got some quality bowlers. Rabada is an outstanding bowler and he will be for a long time and Wayne Parnell is quite experienced.”Australia will now face South Africa again in their next match, at Basseterre in St Kitts on June 11.

أكد المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، يورجن كلوب، على أن قراره بمغادرة النادي في الصيف لا يمنحهم أي دافع إضافي للفوز بلقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

كان كلوب قد أعلن قبل أسبوع قراره بمغادرة صفوف ليفربول نهاية الموسم الحالي، 2023/24.

ويتصدر ليفربول حاليًا جدول الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 51 نقطة، بعد خوض 22 مباراة، ولكن كلوب أكد أن قراره لا يعني منحهم حافز إضافي للتتويج باللقب في النهاية.

وقال كلوب في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” الإنجليزية: “لو لم أعلن ما أعلنته قبل أسبوع، فماذا سيكون مختلفاً؟ الفرق البسيط الوحيد هو أنهم الآن يقولون (من أجل يورجن)، هذا هو الشيء الوحيد، لم يتغير شيء آخر”.

وأضاف: “بالطبع أريد الفوز بالدوري الإنجليزي، هل أعرف إذا كانت لدينا فرصة، حقًا؟ لأنه يبدو أننا يمكن أن نكون حول هذا الموضوع، ولكن هناك الكثير من المباريات بين الحين والآخر”.

اقرأ أيضًا | مباريات ليفربول في شهر فبراير 2024.. لقب محتمل ومواجهة ساخنة

وواصل: “علينا أن نفوز بالمباريات جميعًا، وهو أمر جنوني تمامًا، أنا فقط لا أستطيع التفكير في الأمر، أنا لست حالمًا”.

واستمر: “ألن يكون أمرًا رائعًا أن نفوز بلقب الدوري الإنجليزي مرة أخرى؟ ألن يكون أمرًا رائعًا أن نفوز بذلك؟ ألن يكون أمرًا رائعًا أن نفعل ذلك بعد كل الأشياء التي قمنا بها على مر السنين وإلى أي مدى كنا قريبين من ذلك؟ إنه نفس الأمر”.

وأردف: “ولكن إذا سألتني إذا كان الأمر (الفوز بالدوري) سيكون لطيفًا، فنعم، لطيف جدًا لجميع المعنيين ولعالم ليفربول بأكمله، لكن ليس من الصعب حجب ذلك، هذا ما أريد قوله، لأنه لا يختلف عن الأعوام السابقة”.

وأكد: “لم نتحدث عن ذلك لأنني لم أعتقد أنه ضروري، رأيت أن هذا سيكون قليلًا من الاحترام للأولاد لأنني لم أكن في شك على الإطلاق (الحافز لديهم)، لم يكن علينا إجراء تغيير إضافي، ولم يكن علينا إجراء تغيير كبير، الأولاد يفعلون ذلك دائمًا”.

واختتم: “كانت مباراة نورويتش جيدة، جيدة للغاية، مباراة تشيلسي كانت رائعة، من البداية إلى النهاية، الأداء متكامل، هذا ما تحتاجه، وهذا ما تريده، أنا متأكد من أنه لا علاقة له بوضعي، هذه ليست المرة الأولى التي يلعب فيها الأولاد بهذه الطريقة”.

Former Dermot Gallagher has claimed that Tyrone Mings should have been sent off against Liverpool following his shocking challenge on Cody Gakpo.

What's the latest on Liverpool, Villa and VAR?

The Reds took on Aston Villa this weekend in the Premier League but had to settle for just a draw.

Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring with a fine volley before Roberto Firmino equalised late on in what was his final game at Anfield.

As a result of the dropped points, Liverpool look almost certain to miss out on Champions League qualification and this will be hard news to take as it seems they weren't helped by the officiating on the day.

Indeed, Jurgen Klopp will feel as though they should have been playing against ten men for a large part of the game when Mings planted his studs into the chest of Gakpo but only received a yellow card.

Talking about the incident on Sky Sports Ref Watch (via Football Daily) Gallagher insisted it was a red card.

He said: “I think it’s a red card there. He is face to face, he brings his boot up after he's played the ball. So for me, there, I think red card."

He was then asked if referee John Brooks even needed to go to VAR, he replied: “Well, the referee retains all options until he restarts [play]. So the referee could red card [Mings without VAR] himself."

He continued: “The referee can change his mind. He could take advice from the assistants, the fourth official. He can ask VAR, have I seen this correctly?

"Because he can say to the VAR, I've seen this, I think he's hit him there. And then the VAR could say: Well, he hasn't actually, he’s hit him there. So you might want to go and have a look at the screen."

Did Mings deserve a red card for his foul on Gakpo?

At the time, Klopp actually didn't make too much off the incident as he didn't seem to see it clearly live.

Indeed, he told the press (via Liverpoolfcnews): "I didn't see it back. Was it a red card from your point of view?"

But journalist James Pearce certainly noticed the error in the moment, writing on Twitter: "Mings very lucky that his challenge on Gakpo isn't upgraded from a yellow to a red by VAR. Caught Gakpo in the chest with his studs."

Before adding: "Can't believe Brooks wasn't advised to look at the monitor."

Incidentally, rules expert for ESPN Dale Johnson explained in his column that "there tends to be much greater leniency when it comes to high boots" and that VAR wouldn't intervene as the referee had come to his own decision having seen the stud marks immediately after the foul.

By the sounds of it, then, referee Brooks should have reached for the red without needing the help of any technology.

Javed Akhtar, the former Pakistan spinner and international umpire, died in Rawalpindi on Friday. He was 75.

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2016

Javed Akhtar, the former Pakistan spinner and international umpire, died in Rawalpindi on Friday. He was 75.Akhtar, an offspinner, made his international debut as a 21-year old against England at Leeds in 1962. He went wicketless in the match that Pakistan lost by an innings and 117 runs. It would be his only Test in a first-class career that spanned 17 seasons, from 1959-60 to 1975-1976.He returned to the international arena as an umpire in the same year he retired, when he first officiated in an ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand in Sialkot.Overall, Akhtar, who served on the ICC panel from 1997 to 1999, officiated in 18 Tests and 40 ODIs, the last of which was at the 1999 World Cup in a league fixture between England and India.

علّق ميشيل، المدير الفني لفريق جيرونا، على هزيمتهم في مباراة اليوم أمام ريال مدريد في بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة والعشرين من الليجا، حيث خسر جيرونا بأربعة أهداف دون رد.

وقال ميشيل في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لم نكن على المستوى الذي يتطلبه ريال مدريد، نحاول اللعب بشكل فردي وعندما يصلون إلى أقصى مستوى من الأداء لا نتوافق معهم”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أن ريال مدريد كان أفضل مقارنة بنا، لقد بذل لاعبو فريقي قصارى جهدهم، لكنهم كانوا متفوقين كثيرًا في المبارزات، نحن لسنا على هذا المستوى وهذا يساعدنا على التحسن لأنه عندما تواجه فريقًا بهذا المستوى العالي فإن ذلك يجعلك تدرك الواقع”.

وواصل: “نحن نخوض موسمًا لا يصدق، يجب أن ندرك أن دورينا ليس هذا، علينا أن نواصل العمل من أجل التحسن، نحن بحاجة إلى خطوة أو خطوتين لنصل إلى المستوى الذي طلبه منا ريال مدريد”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريال مدريد يفقد خدمات لاعبه أمام رايو فاييكانو في الدوري الإسباني

وأردف: “الدوري الخاص بنا هو أتلتيك، وريال سوسيداد، وبيتيس، وفالنسيا، لا يمكننا أن نكون مع ريال مدريد، وبرشلونة، وأتلتيكو، نحن لسنا المرشح الرابع معهم”.

واستكمل: “نحن نادي ينمو ولا يمكن لأحد أن يخبرنا بأي شيء، لم تكن مباراة مريحة، لكنني لا أعتقد أنها يمكن أن تؤذينا، لدينا التواضع في معرفة كيفية الخسارة وعندما يكون المنافس أفضل علينا أن ندرك ذلك”.

واختتم: “لقد شرحت الكثير للاعبين، ولكن حان الوقت للمضي قدمًا، لا انتقادات للاعبين وكل المسؤولية تقع على عاتقي”.

India’s hopes of retaining the No. 1 Test ranking going into the home season suffered a setback as only 22 overs were possible on the first day in wet Port of Spain

The Report by Sidharth Monga18-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Ishant Sharma struck with the first ball he bowled•Associated Press

India’s hopes of retaining the No. 1 Test ranking going into the home season suffered a setback as only 22 overs were possible on the first day in wet Port of Spain. Forecast for the second day wasn’t great either, and the facilities at the ground came under scrutiny too. The first day’s play began half an hour late despite no rain since the evening before the Test, and it was called off as early as 2pm. There is no super sopper at Queen’s Park Oval.Any team will be a tad disappointed with losing two wickets in the first session after choosing to bat on a slow track, but such has been the state of the West Indies batting that they might take this, with the rain being the bonus. Only once in the series have they lost their third wicket after reaching three figures. Kraigg Brathwaite, who has shown the willingness to buckle down, did that job, but he will be disappointed they lost two wickets especially after he and Leon Johnson had seen off the first spells of the opening bowlers.West Indies will be all the more disappointed because the pitch was really slow after having spent a lot of time under covers because of rain leading up to the Test. It had left the outfield wet enough to delay the start of the Test by half an hour. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had cracked open the last Test for India, wasted little time, though, in creating opportunities. In his first four overs, he hit the outside edge of Brathwaite’s bat four times: twice the ball fell short, once it travelled in the gap in the slip cordon, and once Virat Kohli dropped it at second slip, seeming to suggest he expected third slip KL Rahul to go for it.That wasn’t the first disfavour he had done his bowlers: he had decided to play just the four bowlers so that both Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma could be included. Also he dropped Shikhar Dhawan for M Vijay after an uncertain batting line-up had been reduced to 126 for 5 in the previous Test.After seeing off Bhuvneshwar and Mohammed Shami for a partnership of 31 runs, Johnson fell to the first ball bowled by Ishant Sharma. This was his second straight dismissal to short leg, and again straight off the bat. Ishant got it just high enough into the ribs, but Johnson could have left it alone.The second wicket didn’t take so much co-operation from the batsman. After Darren Bravo had picked R Ashwin for a two and a four at his home ground, the next ball was just a bit shorter, creating the distance between the pitch of the ball and the bat. Then it had enough time to turn from middle and leg and past the outside edge to hit the top of off stump. That in the first session of a Test is excellent for a spinner.Brathwaite, though, remained solid and in partnership with Marlon Samuels took West Indies to within 15 minutes of lunch when rain brought them early relief. As it turned out steady rain for the next hour or so was all it took for the day’s play to be called off.

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has shared an emotional message on social media after a mural was created in his honour.

Why did Zaha get a mural?

It’s been a pretty good last few months for the Eagles. Indeed, Roy Hodgson has come in as interim and helped the club play for exciting football.

For example, in the eight Premier League games, since he’s been back, they’ve scored 15 goals, winning five matches and ensuring their safety amid the now-distant threat of relegation.

However, there is one issue that will be a nagging thought in the back of most fans’ minds. Zaha’s contract is up in the summer and he may have played his last game for Palace as he has an injury that will stop him from featuring this weekend.

Regardless of what happens this summer, though, it seems as though the winger is still loved by plenty at the club and this has been proven with a recent bit of artwork.

Indeed, 13 years since his first-team debut – in which time he has scored 90 goals in 458, and won Player of the Season in three consecutive years – the club unveiled a new mural just outside Selhurst Park.

After seeing it, Zaha reacted on Twitter as he outlined just how emotional it all was for him.

He said: “Speechless! Words can’t exactly express or describe the joy I felt standing there and witnessing this painting with my family and friends honestly still hasn’t sunk in but all I can say is thank you.”

Where will Zaha end up this summer?

As mentioned before, the player’s £130k-p/w contract expires this summer and there has been much speculation about where he could go.

Indeed, the Daily Mail claim that Chelsea are keen on a deal while both Milan clubs and Napoli were also linked.

Adding to that, TalkSport have reported that there is interest from Marseille and Saudi Arabia. Though in better news, they also state that Zaha is “seriously considering staying” and has been offered a four-year deal worth around £200k-p/w to become their highest-paid player in their history.

Perhaps with this mural honouring him too, the 30-year-old will now opt to show further loyalty and stay with the club a little longer.

Arsenal have reportedly already made an offer to secure a new defender, who could finally give Ben White some much-needed competition in his role.

What's the latest on Ivan Fresneda to Arsenal?

That's according to German outlet BILD, who despite focusing on Borussia Dortmund's transfer activity, suggest that they must remain wary of the Gunners.

Especially in their pursuit of Spanish youngster Ivan Fresneda, who these two clubs are set to battle over this summer.

Whilst huge investment will likely be gained from the impending sale of Jude Bellingham, the fact that Edu has already tabled a 'lucrative offer' to the player will worry the German outfit, who likely see the defender as part of their rebuild to finally topple Bayern Munich.

It was noted in early May that the north London club were plotting a £20m bid for the 18-year-old, and this could now be confirmation of a progressing deal.

Who is Ivan Fresneda?

To already be a starter in one of Europe's top five leagues marks a massive success for the teenage sensation, and denotes a glittering future.

With 24 appearances across all competitions, it has admittedly been a tumultuous year for the Spanish side, who face a must-win clash on Sunday to secure their place in the top flight.

In keeping solid at the back but equally potent in attack, Fresneda will surely be imperative despite what his 6.67 average rating might suggest. He has averaged 0.8 key passes, 2.2 tackles and two clearances per game in purple and white, via Sofascore, yet due to his youth is often caught defensively unaware.

Therefore, to bring him under the tutelage of his compatriot Mikel Arteta, he could continue his rapid growth as a fine backup for White, who has shone himself as a makeshift full-back in a title-challenging side.

His average rating of 6.91 sees the two share key attributes, as his 0.7 key passes give way to 1.6 tackles and two clearances per game, also via Sofascore. In taking up a place as his understudy, Fresneda would be able to learn from the England international whilst being moulded in the image of his new boss.

There is precedent to suggest he could soon be challenging the 25-year-old too, as Matt Clark of La Liga Lowdown remarked:

"Iván Fresneda has been one of the revelations of the season so far in LaLiga, standing out for newly-promoted Real Valladolid. He is a remarkably complete right-back despite his young age, balancing his defensive duties with the odd attack too.

"He has that coveted combination of physicality and technical ability. Tall but agile, quick and athletic, he is also strong in the tackle and reads the game very well for someone so green when it comes to first-team football."

Journalist David Cartlidge sought to support this, by suggesting the youngster also boasts the requisite skillset and knowledge to emulate Oleksandr Zinchenko in his inverted role.

He claimed: "Fresneda [is] a very special talent and any club will be lucky to sign him. He's like a CM dropped in at full-back. Just over 6ft, athletic but above all excellent with the ball at his feet."

With Cedric Soares having struggled for game time out on loan at Fulham whilst entering his twilight years in England, Fresneda would offer a young, hungry and exciting alternative to White who could see his potential capitalised upon by Arteta.

أعرب لامين يامال عن أسفه لتعادل فريقه برشلونة أمام غرناطة في منافسات الدوري الإسباني، مساء الأحد.

وفشل برشلونة في الحفاظ على تقدمه وحسم مباراته أمام غرناطة بتعادل إيجابي بثلاثة أهداف لمثلهم.

وسجل يامال هدفين لصالح برشلونة خلال المباراة التي أقيمت على ملعب “مونتجويك” ضمن مواجهات الجولة الرابعة والعشرين للدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

وقال لامين يامال في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “إنها فرصة ضائعة أخرى لكن علينا مواصلة العمل”.

وأضاف: “أتمتع بثقة المدرب لكني الآن أفكر في التعادل وحقيقة أننا نفتقد نقطتين أكثر من التفكير في أدائي”.

وأشار يامال: “كنا نستقبل الأهداف سريعًا بشكل كبير طوال الموسم وهذا ما يجعلنا نخسر النقاط”.

واستطرد لاعب برشلونة: “أعتقد أنه لا تزال هناك مباريات متبقية وعلينا أن نواصل المحاولة”.

وبشأن حصوله على جائزة رجل المباراة، أتم: “أنا ممتن للغاية للحصول على جائزة أفضل لاعب، لكن في النهاية أشعر بالحزن بسبب النتيجة”.

Peter Handscomb will captain Victoria in the Matador Cup next month and will lead a squad featuring four players uncapped in one-day cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2016

Peter Handscomb will captain Victoria in the Matador Cup next month and will lead a squad featuring four players uncapped in one-day cricket. Fast bowlers Jackson Coleman and Matt Doric have been included in the 14-man group, having not played state cricket in any format, while the Bushrangers also named allrounder Ian Holland and wicketkeeper Aaron Ayre, both of whom debuted in the Sheffield Shield last summer.Former Test spinner Michael Beer is also in line to play for Victoria for the first time. Beer was originally from Melbourne, but did not get a chance in state cricket until he moved to Western Australia. However, having lost his contract with the Warriors last year, he is back in Victoria and at 32 is set to make his Bushrangers debut.Batsman Marcus Harris is also set to play for Victoria for the first time, having switched from Western Australia this year. Last summer, Harris played in the Cricket Australia XI during the Matador Cup and was the leading run scorer for the young side, with 184 at 36.80.Victoria will be without usual captain Matthew Wade, opening batsman Aaron Finch and fast bowlers Scott Boland and John Hastings, all of whom are with the Australia ODI squad in South Africa. However, the axing of Glenn Maxwell from the ODI side could prove a bonus for Victoria’s hopes in the Matador Cup, as he should be available for the whole tournament.”Coleman and Doric have shown promising form in both Premier Cricket and Pathway competitions, and will help fill the roles left by our frontline pace attack currently missing through injury and overseas commitments,” Victoria’s chairman of selectors, Andrew Lynch, said. “Add to that a solid mix of young all-rounders, as well as experienced campaigners like Glenn Maxwell, Cameron White, Bobby Quiney and Dan Christian, and we’re set for a really positive month of cricket.”Beer comes in as a seasoned campaigner, and will really add depth to our spin attack led by Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland. To have those three as well as part-timers Maxwell and White is incredibly beneficial, and leaves us with plenty of options next month.”Peter Siddle, who retained his Cricket Australia contract this year despite the likelihood he would be sidelined for a lengthy portion of the year with stress fractures in his back, was not named in the squad. James Pattinson was not named either, as he continues to work towards a return from injury.”James has been consistent with his training output over winter,” Lynch said. “He’s working hard to have his body in the physical shape required to sustain the demands of bowling when the time comes. We don’t have a definitive date for his return yet, but his strong progress to date is promising heading into summer.”Victoria squad Peter Handscomb (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Aaron Ayre, Michael Beer, Daniel Christian, Jackson Coleman, Matt Doric, Marcus Harris, Ian Holland, Jon Holland, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron White.