All posts by h716a5.icu

Sri Lanka’s cash-strapped board is facing more problems after sports minister Gamini Lokuge admitted that sponsors were deserting cricket as a result of the global downturn

Cricinfo staff19-Jan-2009Sri Lanka’s cash-strapped board is facing more problems after sports minister Gamini Lokuge admitted that sponsors were deserting cricket as a result of the global downturn.”The global economic crunch and the economic slowdown in Sri Lanka has had an impact on companies coming forward to sponsor our national team,” Lokuge said. “It’s a shame. We have a full calendar of games this year.”Dilmah, who had been national team sponsors for the last three years, declined to renew when their contract expired, and there has been a lack of interest in replacing them. Sri Lanka’s biggest mobile operator Dialog Telekom signed an US$89,000 deal to sponsor the side on a three-month trial basis, with a spokesman saying that there was an option to extend the deal “if the business climate improves and our team performs well in the upcoming tours”.The forthcoming tour by India will help the board. Clothing manufacturers MAS Holdings will continue its sponsorship until the end of March in a deal worth almost US$300,000, while SLC seeks broadcast rights for the series.

Oram: follows up great series with the ball with crucial knock with the bat New Zealand’s latest Test cap Jacob Oram might have had a dream start to his career, two Test victories, 11 Test wickets at an average of 11.09 and an

Lynn McConnell22-Dec-2002
Oram: follows up great series with the ball with crucial knock with the bat
New Zealand’s latest Test cap Jacob Oram might have had a dream start to his career, two Test victories, 11 Test wickets at an average of 11.09 and an example of batting under pressure, but he’s not lifting his feet off the ground.He knows that the tailor-made conditions in Wellington and Hamilton for the National Bank Series against India, will be far from those that might be struck in New Zealand’s next Test cricket excursions to Sri Lanka and India next year.But when he went out to bat today, as New Zealand were in danger of letting a winning opportunity slip from their grasp at 105/5 with India at peak confidence, it was another aspect of his cricket that was on display – his batting.Through this first series it has been his bowling that has been most important for New Zealand but after a first Test duck and a three in the first innings in this Test, he was determined to show the Indians he could bat.”I was more nervous than I have ever been. I thought I was nervous before my first Test innings last week and it probably showed in my batting.”But, I tell you, today was the most nervous I’ve ever been, and I honestly mean that.”Just the whole situation with the game in the balance. You can either win, or you can draw the series, and wickets were falling pretty regularly.”I just wanted to hold the ship steady for awhile and have positive intent,” he said.Oram was satisfied to achieve his goal of showing that he could bat under pressure. He acknowledged that the majority of times that he has “performed” in cricket, it has been in favourable conditions. But, in the 50/50 situation this match had become, he had pulled through.”I showed my peers, who I respect the most and whose opinions I hold in high regard, that in pressure situations I can come through,” he said.It was all a little unbelievable as an introduction to Test cricket. Bowling had been a priority for him after his selection, a selection that he thought had come a little early for him. But conditions had suited him well. He had been able to put the ball in the required spot and he’d been backed by some good fielding and had shown the selectors had got it right.Oram didn’t think New Zealand were home in their quest for 160 to win, until they were in single figures left for victory.”We were on 12 to win for a couple of overs and I remember thinking one wicket with three to go and Harbhajan [Singh] turning it, that it could be tricky.”But once there were six or seven to go, I realised we had it and you could tell that once we needed only singles figures, the Indians dropped their heads and it was game over.”I just wanted to be out there when the winning runs were hit,” he said.One shot, a cover driven boundary of Harbhajan had not been executed quite as he would have liked, but he had enough power in the shot to stay out of trouble.He thought to himself: “This is turning out to be a good innings, let’s have a not out and enjoy the moment when you are out here and hit the winnings runs.”It didn’t quite turn out that way as Oram had to concede that right to home town boy Robbie Hart.It is certain, however, that the Indians will go into the one-day series, knowing that Oram is more than just a bowler who has to be watched while Oram is looking to carry on, knowing that tougher times are ahead, and he’s looking forward to the challenge.

Steve Howey expects Arsenal to baulk at Leicester City’s asking price for James Maddison and switch their attentions to other targets.

The creative midfielder has been on the Gunners’ radar all summer after seeing Martin Odegaard return to Real Madrid following a promising loan spell.

Maddison has three years remaining on his £110,000-per-week deal at Leicester, so the Foxes are in a strong negotiating position and would only entertain selling the 24-year-old for upwards of £60million.

The Gunners tested Leicester’s resolve by submitting a players-plus-cash bid which would have seen Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles head to the King Power Stadium, but the offer was turned down.

Arsenal’s interest comes after Maddison scored 11 goals and registered 10 assists in 42 appearances last term.

Maddison, who has won one international cap for England, is also closing in on 100 Premier League appearances.

But former Leicester defender Howey believes Arsenal will not be willing to part with significant funds after already forking out £50million for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Howey said: “I really cannot see Arsenal paying another £60million.

“Yes, he’s quality but it’s consistency they need. Consistency is what Arsenal have lacked over the last couple of years.

“I like Maddison and think he is a good player but I couldn’t justify paying £60million.”

Celtic goalkeeper Ross Doohan is set to join Tranmere Rovers on loan this week, according to The Herald.

The Lowdown: Hart signed

The Hoops made a double signing on Tuesday, bringing in Joe Hart from Tottenham and free agent James McCarthy.

Hart, who was on £30,000 per week with Spurs, penned a three-year deal at Parkhead which is thought to be worth £15,000 per week.

That development appears to have opened the door for Doohan to leave, with Ange Postecoglou now having five goalkeepers on the books in Glasgow.

The Latest: Doohan update

According to The Herald’s Mark Hendry, Doohan will undergo a medical with Tranmere on Tuesday morning ahead of a season-long loan.

A move for the 23-year-old, who was described as ‘excellent’ by former Ayr manager Mark Kerr last year, is expected to go through this week.

Doohan, who has just 12 months remaining on his Hoops contract, has had a number of loan moves in the past and looks set to reunite with former Dundee United manager Micky Mellon at Prenton Park.

A season-long loan deal for Doohan was confimed by Tranmere on Wednesday lunchtime.

The Verdict: Another to go?

With Doohan heading to Merseyside for the upcoming campaign, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if another Celtic shot-stopper left on a temporary basis.

Vasilis Barkas and Conor Hazard have both been linked with possible loan exits this summer, so perhaps one of the two could leave.

That would still leave Postecoglou with three solid options from which to choose, but you’d expect that the vastly experienced Hart will be first choice going forward.

In other news: Celtic now ‘in talks’ for ‘really, really good’ 6ft 3 ace; may cost ‘significant’ fee. 

Fulham have been dealt a major blow in their bid to bring Leo Ostigard to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claimed that Stoke City have beaten off the competition to secure a loan deal for the Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back, with the 21-year-old having undergone a medical with the Potters ahead of his temporary switch to the bet365 Stadium.

Indeed, a host of Championship clubs were reported to have been keen on a move for the coveted defender, with Sheffield United and Middlesbrough, along with Fulham and Stoke, also credited with an interest in the Norway under-21 international.

However, it now appears as if Tony Khan will have to turn his attention elsewhere regarding additions to the Fulham defence in the summer transfer window, with Ostigard set to complete a move to Stoke in the very near future.

Khan will be fuming

With Fulham having lost the services of loanee Joachim Andersen at the end of last season, and the Cottagers’ director or football having so far failed to replace the 25-year-old centre-back with a new signing in the position this summer, Khan is sure to be fuming over missing out on a deal for Ostigard.

The 21-year-old impressed over his 39 Championship appearances while on loan at Coventry City last season, with the £2.7m-rated man helping his side to keep 11 clean sheets, averaging one interception, 0.7 tackles and 4.1 clearances and winning 6.6 duels per game.

He also chipped in for his team in an attacking capacity, scoring two goals, registering two assists and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of one shot and making 0.2 key passes per fixture.

These returns saw the man who Mark Robins dubbed an “outstanding” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.84, ranking him as Coventry’s joint seventh-best performer in the Championship last term.

As such, it would very much seem as if Ostigard would have made a fantastic addition to Marco Silva’s options in defence ahead of a hectic Championship campaign. However, with Stoke appearing to have all but secured the signing of the centre-back, Khan must now turn his search elsewhere over what remains of the summer transfer window.

In other news: Development emerges on “superb” £70k-p/w machine which will leave Fulham fans gutted

Australia’s likely perferred spinner for the opening Test, Bryce McGain, failed to bowl at the squad’s first net session in India on Wednesday. McGain strained his right shoulder earlier this month while on tour with Australia A

Cricinfo staff25-Sep-2008
The Australians had their first net session in India on Wednesday © AFP
Australia’s likely preferred spinner for the opening Test, Bryce McGain, failed to bowl at the squad’s first net session in India on Wednesday. McGain strained his right shoulder earlier this month while on tour with Australia A and while he was confident he would be back bowling several days ago, the team was taking no risks upon arriving in Jaipur.”Bryce is keen to have a bowl,” the coach Tim Nielsen told . “It’s a shame he got his little niggle in India with the A tour so we’re just nursing him through the last stage of that rehab.”He’ll get going in the next day or so and be ready to have a trundle. Once he can get his first bowl over here he’ll be a little more relaxed.”Plenty of eyes were also on Matthew Hayden, who has played no competitive cricket since a short stint in the IPL in late April. Hayden picked up a persistent achilles tendon injury that ruled him out of the West Indies tour and he also skipped Australia’s recent ODIs against Bangladesh to allow more recovery time. reported that Hayden did not look to be struggling in his movement but was clearly rusty due to his lack of practice. Hayden has two weeks to prove his fitness ahead of the opening Test, which starts in Bangalore on October 9.

Cricket throws up a lot of pointless statistics that are forgotten as quickly as they are uncovered but a century on Test debut is the type of record that will be remembered forever

Brydon Coverdale at the Wanderers27-Feb-2009
Marcus North: “I was a bit nervous [as the century approached]. I was probably more nervous waiting to go out to bat” © Getty Images
Cricket throws up a lot of pointless statistics that are forgotten asquickly as they are uncovered but a century on Test debut is the typeof record that will be remembered forever. In 132 years of Testcricket, only 18 Australians have achieved the feat, which equates toroughly one every seven years. It’s a truly special accomplishment.Marcus North, the latest man to join the list, has spent ten years waiting in first-class cricket for his opportunity at the highest level. With a late cut for three off JP Duminy, he joined an elite group including Greg Chappell, Doug Walters and Bill Ponsford, and proved that his long apprenticeship had not been wasted.For all the pressure of entering the 90s for the first time in a Test, North said he was less nervous as his century loomed than when he was waiting to get off the mark. He had already seen his fellow debutant Phillip Hughes make a duck and it was the calming influence of the last man to make a century on debut for Australia, Michael Clarke, that eased him through.”I was a bit nervous [as the century approached]. I was probably more nervous waiting to go out to bat,” North said. “I was spending quite a few hours [waiting] before I got my opportunity. But once you get off your mark, that’s always a nice feeling to get off your mark on debut.”Other than that, I think without a doubt the experience that I’ve had at first-class level held me in good stead. Out there with Clarkey at the start, he was extremely good just having a chat every couple of balls or in between overs to kind of calm me down a little bit. I felt pretty balanced out there.”An hour after stumps on the second day, North had not yet had a chance to speak to his wife Joanne and the rest of his family in Perth, where the time-zones meant he brought up his hundred in prime-time. Being ensconced in the team environment meant the enormity of hisachievement hadn’t really hit home.”Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty chuffed, very pleased to get an opportunity to play for Australia, let alone get a hundred on debut,” North said. “I’m sure that will sink in over the next couple of days.”As North ticked through the 90s he was given strong support by his partner Mitchell Johnson. The pair put on 117 for the eighth wicket, which was a record for Australia against South Africa, and Johnson went agonisingly close to becoming the fifth Australian to score a Test hundred from No. 9 or below.In the end he was stranded on 96 when Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus edged to the slips off consecutive Morne Morkel deliveries. It’s not quite as bad as being left on 99 not out and Johnson said he was not too worried about the missed opportunity.”Hilfy keeps apologising,” Johnson said. “I’m not disappointed at all.I really enjoyed myself out there. I got the message that came outjust before tea to start going after a few so that’s what I did. Ijust backed myself and got a few over the fence.”Johnson struck five sixes, including three in one Paul Harris over, allof which were slog-swept over long-on or midwicket. Having already hittwo fours in the same over, he set a new Australian record for themost runs in a Test over. His 26 eclipsed the memorable 24 that AdamGilchrist whacked off Monty Panesar in Perth in 2006-07 and Johnson was unaware of the record.”I didn’t know the stats,” he said. “But it’s funny because I wasactually thinking about Gilly while I was out there. Just seeing howhe used to play – that Test in Perth against the English. I want to bemy own person and everything like that but like I say, I reallyenjoyed today.”Johnson wasn’t the only one.

Leeds United have opened talks to sign FC Midtjylland midfielder Jens Cajuste, and he’s a transfer target that could be a really shrewd buy for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

What’s the story?

According to Swedish publication Expressen, the likes of Leeds, Wolves, Newcastle and Crystal Palace are all in discussions to sign Cajuste this summer, with interest from English sides having intensified in recent weeks.

The report adds that Cajuste’s non-involvement in Midtjylland’s Champions League qualifying clash on Tuesday night was an indication of the Danish club not wanting to risk anything ahead of a potential move for their 21-year-old starlet.

Wins more duels than Kalvin Phillips

Able to play as a holding midfielder or slightly further forward as he did last season, Cajuste could arrive as the player to take the burden off Kalvin Phillips’ shoulder in the engine room.

The Whites looked a shadow of themselves without the England international running things in the middle of the park, with Leeds winning just two of the eight Premier League games that he missed in the 2020/2021 campaign.

But in Cajuste, they could get that steady presence who could fill those shoes whenever needed.

A profile done by Leeds Live, said of him: “Cajuste is an all-action midfielder whose attributes look ready-made for Premier League football. Tough tackling, close control and accurate passing are seen as his main strengths but he offers everything you would want in a player of his position.

“Standing at 6 foot 2, he is dominant both in the air and on the surface which would provide vital stability in the middle of the park for Leeds. The 21-year-old also enjoys exhibiting his flair with a number of fancy but effective touches and passes being a particular stand-out feature of his overall game.”

In fact, as per Sofascore, Cajuste actually won more duels per game last season than his Leeds counterpart (5.6 to 5.3), while he also had a marginally better success rate in those 50/50s too, winning 56% compared to Phillips’ 52%.

The 21-year-old Sweden international is the kind of combative player that Bielsa desperately needs to bolster his midfield ranks, especially when Phillips could do with a breather or finds himself on the side-lines with injury.

It’s exactly why the Leeds boss will be buzzing that the Whites have opened talks over signing the midfielder this summer.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has dropped a Leeds United update…

Effortlessly, Sachin Tendulkar brought people back to the actual game, and with Sourav Ganguly’s help, India into the match

Cricinfo staff17-Oct-2008
There was plenty of reason for the actual game to get sidetracked today, but Sachin Tendulkar put matters, and India, back on track © AFP
The lead-up to this Test had been full of distractions – Anil Kumble’s injury, the players still fighting like children over who brought forward moral victories from Bangalore, the unseasonal rains in Mohali raising doubts over the match going the distance. Around a quarter past one on the first day more distractions were about to unfold. When Rahul Dravid played Brett Lee onto his stumps, the Test sort of took a back seat and another aside started: Sachin Tendulkar’s progress towards Brian Lara’s record.It was a pretty edgy hour and a quarter – so edgy it was surreal – that followed, during which Tendulkar made his way to the record and India lost two more wickets. What followed immediately after was more distraction from Test-match cricket: fire-crackers went off at the PCA Stadium and continued for three minutes. The Australians rushing to congratulate Tendulkar was expected but when it happened it felt unreal coming from a team that plays its cricket hard.There would be other milestones to follow, too: Tendulkar would go past 12,000 runs and Sourav Ganguly past 7000. But when Tendulkar bats as he did for the next two hours, distractions don’t matter. Effortlessly, he brought people back to the actual game and, with Ganguly’s help, India into the match.India had a confident, brisk start on a pitch conducive to one; the bounce was true but not big and there was no sideways movement. The immediate assessment was a total close to 500 would be par for this track. Gautam Gambhir and Dravid looked to put India on the way, but failed to score centuries – crucial for both of them, for different reasons – that appeared there for the taking. This was a pitch on which a batsman, once settled, would kick himself for not reaching three figures.Gambhir is due a big score. He has done well since forcing his way back to the Test side following his limited-overs success, and has been a good foil to Virender Sehwag at the top. He has scored 427 runs in nine innings on comeback, against tough opposition and in trying conditions, but his best has been 72. That he gets starts points to his form – perhaps the best of his career – but he also leaves the team in a spot of bother by not converting those starts into big innings, as he did today and during the first innings at the PSS in Sri Lanka this summer. In 19 Tests Gambhir only has one century, against Bangladesh. That should be enough to rile and inspire him.The way he batted in the first session today, it seemed certain Gambhir would end that century drought. For some reason, despite being an excellent rotator of strike in limited-overs cricket, he got bogged down when the field spread and the bowling became accurate. Having eased to 25 from 39 balls, Gambhir slowed down. He went into lunch on 53 from 90 balls and in the next hour or so he faced 50 balls for just 14 runs.If this was uncharacteristic, so was Dravid’s innings. Instead of the patchy starts he’s had recently, Dravid began, instinctively speaking, the way he did when at the top of his game. But this was his 11th score between 30 and 100, to go with one century, in his last 15 Tests. When scoring was made difficult, Dravid didn’t seem to show the kind of patience one associates with him. Once he went after a delivery wide outside off stump, and missed. In his prime Dravid would have left such deliveries alone for the next half hour; today, he went for the next delivery and failed to connect properly. Three overs later he went to cut another wide one, which was marginally too full, and chopped it onto his stumps.At this point Australia had taken three wickets, only one of them earned. A fourth followed, amid the frenzy around Tendulkar, but Mitchell Johnson should consider himself lucky to dismiss a quality batsman like VVS Laxman with a leg-side ball that didn’t deserve a wicket. Suddenly India had lost three wickets for 13 runs and were in danger of getting bowled out for a below-par total on a good batting track.Thankfully for India Tendulkar, once he’d acquired Lara’s record, batted with fluency. There was nothing circumspect about the way he played after tea. Ganguly took the initiative, but it was Tendulkar who showed Australia how hopelessly unhelpful the pitch was on the first day. There was no discrimination: no bowler nor shot escaped Tendulkar. Ganguly, in distinct patches of quietness and aggressive intent, was solid throughout. The difference in India’s approach after tea was clear: the first time Tendulkar faced the new ball he deposited it to the cover boundary.Australia were reduced to being honest witnesses who relied on the batsmen’s mercies and mistakes. And a mistake is what they drew from Tendulkar towards the end of the play. As a result, while they didn’t have any say in the way the game progressed, they ended the day pretty much even. India need a big partnership tomorrow morning to take a clear advantage. And tomorrow, there won’t be as many distractions from Test cricket.

An update has emerged on Sunderland target Todd Kane, regarding QPR’s plans for him in pre-season…

What’s the talk?

According to West London Sport, QPR have axed Sunderland target Todd Kane from the senior squad and have forced him to train and play with the under-23 side in pre-season following his falling out with Mark Warburton last season.

London Football News reported earlier this summer that Charlton, Portsmouth and Sunderland are all looking at Kane as a potential target to bolster their squad ahead of the League One campaign.

Fans would hate it

Following the departures of Max Power and Conor McLaughlin at the start of the month, Sunderland are in desperate need of a right-back addition to the squad.

Lee Johnson currently has no senior, natural, right-back options at his disposal and Kane could be being looked at to solve this problem as he is a Championship-experienced player in that position.

The 27-year-old has plenty of games under his belt at Championship and Eredivise level, with over 150 career appearances for a host of clubs, including Hull, Forest, Groningen and QPR. Sounds good for a player targeted by a League One club right? Yes, but his pedigree is not why Sunderland fans would hate this deal. His attitude is the reason supporters would likely not be able to get behind any swoop for the ex-Chelsea man.

Kane conducted an interview last season claiming that he was better than his teammate Osman Kakay, voicing his confusion at being on the bench behind the right-back. His manager, Warburton, was then forced to respond to the situation and pointed out that respect is important for him as a coach, with Kane failing to show it for hit teammate.

Warburton told West London Sport:

“I’m very aware of what was said. But what we speak about as a squad stays private. We’ll never disclose that.

“For me personally, amongst the squad and amongst the staff, respect is paramount.

“We’re in a very competitive business but it’s important to me that we all speak with respect.”

This suggests that the arrival of £7k-per-week dud would not be good for the spirit in the dressing room if he was faced with a negative situation. He has shown that he does not react well to adversity and Sunderland cannot afford to carry players who are not up the fight and who could down tools when the going gets tough.

His banishment to the under-23’s squad is just the latest example that Kane is not the right man to keep around a harmonious dressing room.

Therefore, Sunderland should be avoiding this deal at all costs, it would be a disaster if they took him to the Stadium of Light.

AND in other news, SAFC handed key boost in pursuit of “undroppable” £1m-rated gem, Johnson needs him…