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Chittagong Kings maintained their position as one of the leading teams on the Bangladesh Premier League points table, with a clinical eight-wicket win against Barisal Burners in Mirpur

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2012
ScorecardNasir Jamshed hit his third half-century in five BPL matches•BPL T20Chittagong Kings maintained their position as one of the leading teams on the Bangladesh Premier League points table, with a clinical eight-wicket win against Barisal Burners in Mirpur.Chittagong captain Mahmudullah chose to field and his bowlers did not let him down. Apart from Dwayne Bravo, the six other bowlers employed during the innings kept things very tight: none of them conceded more than a run a ball. Barisal were not helped by the fact that their explosive opener, Chris Gayle, had to retire hurt with a groin injury after smacking 30 off 16, including three sixes. Subsequently, none of batsmen could build innings of consequence and Brad Hodge with 38 off 40 was the top scorer.Chasing a paltry 126, the Chittagong batsmen were in stark contrast to the opposition. The openers, Nasir Jamshed and Jahurul Islam, smacked 97 in partnership at almost 11 an over. While Islam fell short of a half-century, Jamshed went on to score an unbeaten 81 off 47, to help Chittagong to romp home with eight wickets and 44 balls to spare.Pakistan batsman Jamshed, who was named Man of the Match, is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament so far – this was his third half century in five games. He has 261 runs at an average of 87.00, and is 27 runs behind the tournament’s leading run-getter, Gayle.It was more bad news for Barisal after the match, with their overseas signing, Ahmed Shehzad from Pakistan, being fined for misconduct. Shehzad was reported by the umpires for ‘damaging the pitch and misbehaving with the curator before the start of the match’, a BPL media release stated. He was fined 30,000 Taka by match referee Roquibul Hassan for the offence. “This kind of action by an experienced player is totally unacceptable and tantamount to seriously damaging the image and spirit of the game,” Roquibul said.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been confirmed as part of West Indies’ squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting in Guyana on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2011Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been confirmed as part of West Indies’ squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting in Guyana on Thursday. The 13-man group also includes the legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who is expected to make his Test debut, along with the fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who hasn’t played for his country in two years due to a serious back injury.The batsman Marlon Samuels is also in the line-up, and if selected he will play his first Test for more than three years, having served his ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers. Of the 15 men chosen for a practice game in Guyana earlier this week, the opener Kraigg Brathwaite and the allrounder Andre Russell missed out on the final Test squad.Brathwaite will remain in Guyana to work with the batting consultant Desmond Haynes, and his absence means Devon Smith’s likely opening partner will be Lendl Simmons, whose only three Tests so far came in early 2009. Brendan Nash will be vice-captain to Darren Sammy, who is hoping to lead West Indies to their first Test victory in 18 Tests.At least he will have at his disposal the experience of Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, whose international careers appeared to be in doubt when, along with Chris Gayle, they were left out of the squad for the opening one-dayers against Pakistan. Chanderpaul was upset at being dropped and at some of the comments from the WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire, but has been welcomed back in to the side.At the other end of the experience scale is Bishoo, who was the leading wicket-taker in the five-match ODI series, with 11 victims at 17.18. He will be keen to make his debut in his home country, and his rise has meant there was no place for Sulieman Benn, who has been West Indies’ preferred spinner for most of the past two years.West Indies are seventh on the Test rankings table, but they will move up to sixth if they win the two-match series against Pakistan. The first Test starts on Thursday in Providence and the second Test begins the following Friday in St Kitts.Test Squad: Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul.

Daniel Smith stunned Victoria with a rollicking 183 not out from 123 balls to take New South Wales to its first domestic points of the season in the limited overs match at North Sydney Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2011
ScorecardDaniel Smith’s belligerence won the day at North Sydney Oval•Getty ImagesDaniel Smith stunned Victoria with a rollicking 185 not out from 123 balls to take New South Wales to its first domestic points of the season in the limited overs match at North Sydney Oval.Having never previously made a century for his state, 29-year-old Smith crashed a competition record 11 sixes to rush the Blues past the visitors’ seemingly imposing 7 for 317 with all of 49 balls to spare. The innings was also the highest by a NSW batsman in a domestic one day match.Smith was helped in the chase by Tim Cruickshank, who made 75 in a second-wicket partnership of 167 as the Blues made remarkably light work of the target.Simon Katich, who on Sunday was reported by Cricket Australia for comments he made about the Australian Test captain Michael Clarke, made only 13 but was shown support by members of the crowd in the form of numerous banners.Victoria appeared to have tallied a strong total on what was an admittedly small ground and docile pitch, with Brad Hodge gliding to 144 from 116 balls while Rob Quiney swung freely for his 92 from 58.Moises Henriques had nabbed three early wickets as the Bushrangers slid to 4 for 78, the slow start ultimately costly on what was otherwise a day dominated by the batsmen.

Allan Donald, the newly-appointed South Africa bowling coach, wants to create an attack that is “cocky and arrogant in all the right ways,” during his time with the national team

Firdose Moonda20-Jun-2011Allan Donald, the newly-appointed South Africa bowling coach, wants to create an attack that is “cocky and arrogant in all the right ways,” during his time with the national team. Donald, who retired from international cricket after the 2003 World Cup, believes that bowlers who don’t back down will be key to South Africa’s success in the future.”The training ground is meant to be the most hostile,” he told ESPNCricinfo. “That’s where it must all happen so when the captain goes in the match, he will be absolutely sure of what everyone can give him.” Donald aims to use net sessions to inject a match-day type of antagonism into the bowlers, similar to the one he had in his playing days.South Africa’s bowling attack can hardly be accused of a lack of aggression, especially after their performance at the 2011 World Cup. They were the only side to bowl out their opposition in all six of their group stage matches. The pace and swing of Dale Steyn combined with the bounce of Morne Morkel has earned them the reputation of being the most feared new ball pair in Test cricket. Donald said that although the two men were as “technically sound” as can be, mindset was something that could always be worked on, both with Steyn and Morkel and with the younger players coming through the ranks.”It starts with the A team. That’s where the message must get across so that the players aren’t scared and know what international cricket is about.” Donald’s first task as the bowling coach will be to travel with the A team to Zimbabwe later this week, where they will take part in an ODI tri-series which includes the hosts and Australia A. The trip means that Donald’s work will begin a month earlier than head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant Russell Domingo, who will report for duty on August 1, because of Donald’s desire to get to know the country’s bowlers.Despite having worked with England, the Mountaineers in Zimbabwe’s domestic competition, and most recently New Zealand, Donald has never coached in South Africa. He has watched some of the bowlers but wants to take the time to get to know them in order to “get into the psyche”.Most importantly, Donald wants to create an internal environment of competition, to ensure a strong of supply of players for the national team. “I want the younger guys to punch a hole into the line up and not just sit and wait for their turn.”Donald’s commitment to developing the best South African attack he can stems from his passion for the country he represented, the one he was willing to change his future plans for at short notice. He accepted the job of bowling coach on the eve of relocating his family and signing a two-year deal with New Zealand, who he had worked with since January and was involved with when they knocked South Africa out of the World Cup in March.Donald applied for the Australian bowling job, which Craig McDermott won, before recommitting New Zealand and has expressed his commitment to them. “We had just started to spark something there and I think the players were looking forward to what was going to happen. I had been in close contact with some of the guys during the IPL, like Brendon and Nathan McCullum.”Some of New Zealand’s players, including Jacob Oram, credited Donald with teaching them to be more aggressive and infusing them with self-belief. Even though he won’t be around to continue that work, Donald says he hopes to “stay good friends” with the players and administrators at New Zealand cricket.He singled out Tim Southee and stood by his statement that the 22-year-old would go on to become the best swing bowler in the world. Donald also added to his prediction, saying that Southee has the potential to become a genuine allrounder.”He is such a talented guy. We were working on some other variations to his bowling which I hope he develops. What people don’t know about him is that he can hit a cricket ball a very long way. He has the skills to become a very good allrounder.”

The leadership could be Clarke’s for years or it might last the length of the fifth Test, depending on what happens when Ricky Ponting returns from his broken finger

Peter English in Sydney02-Jan-2011Every new captain has to deal with the ghosts of his predecessor, but Michael Clarke will have the real-life version in the dressing room. The leadership could be Clarke’s for years or it might last the length of the fifth Test, depending on what happens when Ricky Ponting returns from his broken finger.The temporary nature of Clarke’s promotion was highlighted by Ponting at an official function on Saturday when he responded to a speech from Julia Gillard, Australia’s prime minister, instead of Clarke. Ponting, who is hanging around to have his injury treated, has also been working as an extra coach by passing on tips to the batsmen in the nets. Yet he has told Clarke to make his own decisions.”Ricky’s made that very clear,” Clarke, Australia’s 43rd Test captain, said. “Once I take that field they [the decisions] will come from me.”The uncertainty over his tenure, and the troubled state of the team, makes it a difficult assignment for Clarke. A photograph of Clarke and Gillard in Sydney’s Sun-Herald today had a caption that said: “One of these people has the toughest job in Australia, the other is the prime minister.”Clarke starts the year with more responsibility, two debutants, concerns over his batting form and a mixed reaction to his appointment. The Ashes have already been retained by England and the hosts’ best-case scenario is earning a win that will draw the series. Australia’s past four captains have been promoted with the team on top of the world while Clarke’s men are taking water at No. 4.The environment limits what Clarke can do, but he has already made a notable alteration. Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer will receive their baggy greens from past Australian players instead of the captain, which has been Ponting’s preferred system. Clarke named the team the day before the game so the debutants could get used to the idea they were playing. Ponting had kept Beer waiting until just before the toss in Perth to tell him of his fate.Clarke received his baggy green from Shane Warne in Bangalore in 2004. While he was too excited to hear anything Warne said back then, he has since listened closely to all his advice and watched the way he played and led.”Warney was a very aggressive captain, I don’t think I’m that aggressive, but I’ve learned from him on the field,” Clarke said. “He’s a friend, first and foremost, but especially when I was a young player, he’s been a mentor as well.”I just hope that come tomorrow, I back myself, back my judgment, back my instinct. That’s what people who have helped me have told me throughout my career, as a leader and vice-captain. Hopefully I continue to do that.”He intends to be true to himself whatever happens. “Some people are going to like that, some people aren’t,” he said. “I’m not that concerned about it. What I’m concerned about is me getting out there and scoring some runs for Australia and helping this team win.”Clarke was relaxed, polite and cautious when he spoke on the eve of the game. He said his first days in charge had been fun, but the serious business of stopping England was about to begin. “There’s been a lot of talking about what’s happened in the past month and not achieving our goals that we set ourselves in India,” he said. “It’s a new focus, a new year.”The results have hurt Clarke and the campaign already feels like a defeat, even though it’s 2-1 to England. “I’ve been involved in four Ashes series and lost three of them,” he said. “I remember fondly in 2007 when we won the series 5-0. We still have so much to get out of this last Test match. We can’t regain the Ashes but we can level the series.”In a quirk of the modern game, Clarke will be captaining his maiden first-class match. When he has played for New South Wales, Clarke has been ordered around by Simon Katich, Brad Haddin or Stuart Clark, while Ponting has been the boss for all off his deputy’s 68 Tests. Clarke wants Ponting back and fit as soon as possible, playing until “in 10 years when he retires”.Clarke said he is “very comfortable” with Ponting being in the dressing room. “Ricky being around throughout this Test is a great thing for all the players, but especially for me to have this chance to be captain,” he said. “I can run things by him and I think it’s pretty important for the team to have him around.” Even though Clarke is the leader, it’s clear it’s not his team yet.

Big Bash defending champions Victoria have begun their 2011 campaign in perfect style with a clinical display to account for Queensland in game two at the MCG

The Bulletin by Alex Malcolm02-Jan-2011Victoria 4 for 188 (Finch 58, Hussey 42*) beat Queensland 9 for 155 (Hopes 36, McKay 3-26) by 33 runs
Scorecard
Aaron Finch clubbed 58 off 38 deliveries•Getty ImagesBig Bash defending champions Victoria have begun their 2011 campaign in perfect style with a clinical display to account for Queensland in game two at the MCG.The home side rewarded the 29,429 locals who turned out with a dominant display on a sluggish drop-in wicket.The Victorian openers set the tone, Aaron Finch and Brad Hodge clubbing 98 from the first 64 balls of the innings after Cameron White won the toss. Anything back of a length or shorter Hodge cut or pulled with typical ease. Anything fuller and straighter Finch clubbed to the sightscreen or into the long-on bleachers, which he did on three separate occasions.Finch’s brutal 58 from 38 balls earned him Man-of-the-Match honours. His dismissal and some tight bowling from Bulls’ captain James Hopes slowed the Bushrangers momentarily, but the classy veteran David Hussey (42 not out) sussed the conditions quickly to produce a gem of an innings to take the total to 4 for 188.It was always going to be a tough ask against a barrage of Victorian quicks. New-ball pairing James Pattinson and Dirk Nannes removed the Queensland openers in consecutive overs to put the Bulls well behind in the game. Hopes, on return from a broken thumb, clubbed five boundaries in 36 but his demise to a slower ball from Clint McKay signalled the beginning of the end as Queensland battled to 9 for 155.McKay claimed three wickets with off-speed bowling, Nannes three with blistering pace. The Victorians are going to be hard to beat again with the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Cameron White and Matthew Wade playing just minor roles in tonight’s first-up win.

Callum Ferguson has been added to Australia’s squad for the remaining two one-day games against England after Shaun Marsh became the latest casualty in Australia’s batting line-up

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2011Callum Ferguson has been added to Australia’s squad for the remaining two one-day games against England after Shaun Marsh became the latest casualty in Australia’s batting line-up. The hosts began the series without Ricky Ponting (finger) and Michael Hussey (hamstring) and Marsh joined the injury list during the series-clinching win on Sunday when he hurt his right hamstring.Marsh entered Sunday’s game with a question-mark over his hamstring and he has been ruled out of the rest of the series after scans showed a low-grade injury, although it is still unclear how long he will be sidelined. Marsh is not part of the World Cup squad, but was viewed as the most likely candidate to be included if Hussey’s recovery did not allow him to make the trip.The problems have allowed a late-season call-up for Ferguson, who missed a year due to a serious knee injury and did not bat in his only appearance for Australia since his return, in a game against Sri Lanka in Brisbane in November. Ferguson had been gearing up to be part of South Australia’s side for Saturday’s Big Bash final, but will instead be pushing for a place in the Australia team.”Callum has an excellent record in one-day internationals for Australia and is in good form this season,” the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said. “We are sure Callum will seize the opportunity that comes following the unfortunate hamstring injury suffered by Shaun Marsh.”The series against England concludes with matches in Sydney on Wednesday and in Perth on Sunday, and the players have virtually no break before heading to the World Cup for their title defence. That means a call will need to be made on Hussey, who has had surgery on a serious hamstring injury he suffered during the opening ODI against England.”At the moment it’s only sort of two weeks since the surgery and basically in those two weeks I’ve been able to hit every target that we’ve set so far,” Hussey told the ABC on Monday. “So that’s a good start but I don’t want to get too carried away. I just want to keep keep hitting my target.”I’ve certainly got exercises I’ve got to be doing two or three times a day, physio probably three or four times a week. The first sort of week-and-a-half I was struggling a fair bit to get around but just the last four or five days it’s been a lot easier to get around. I’ve seen some improvement everyday which has given me a lot of hope.”

Less than a month ago Steve Snell was playing Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire but on Sunday he will fly to the Champions League Twenty20

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2011Less than a month ago Steve Snell, the former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper, was playing Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire but on Sunday he will fly with Somerset to the Champions League Twenty20 qualifier in Hyderabad.Somerset have been given a headache over their wicketkeeping position due to the likely England call-ups of Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler for the two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies next week. The matches coincide with the qualifying event in Hyderabad from where three teams will join the main Champions League event.Somerset went through a similar scenario at the end of August when Kieswetter and Buttler were both in the Twenty20 squad to face India and called up Snell, 28, for the final CB40 group match against Essex – which they needed to win to qualify for the semi-finals – where he made an unbeaten 18 and took two catches. He then played the following Championship match against Hampshire, but the feeling was that Somerset would gamble on using 19-year-old Alex Barrow behind the stumps.”I think we might have been made to look ridiculous had we not taken a specialist keeper,” Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, told the club website. “Alex Barrow could have done it at a pinch, but it wouldn’t have been fair on him. Steve Snell did a good job for us in the CB40 game with Essex and on the opening day of the Championship game with Hampshire so he was the obvious choice.”Snell, though, will not be needed if Somerset qualify for the next stage of the tournament because Kieswetter and Buttler will be able to come into the squad providing they get clearance from England. The same applies for George Dockrell, the Ireland left-arm spinner, who isn’t available for the early matches due to international commitments. Lewis Gregory and Max Waller would be the other two players to drop out if all the internationals became available.Somerset’s problems haven’t been confined to their wicketkeeper. Gemaal Hussain, the pace bowler, is having problems obtaining a visa for India and if it doesn’t come through in time his place will be taken by Chris Jones. However, they have been boosted by the return of Roelof van der Merwe, the South Africa left-arm spinner, who will be the second overseas player alongside Murali Kartik in a potent spin attack. Alfonso Thomas will captain the team in the absence of Marcus Trescothick who no longer travels overseas.The odds are stacked against Somerset heading into the qualifiers because of a congested schedule which has them flying out on Sunday evening having played the CB40 final at Lord’s on Saturday. They arrive in Hyderabad less than 24 hours before their opening match against Auckland on September 20.”We shall see how the players are on Tuesday morning after their long journey before making practice plans and, of course, our first game is that evening, starting at 8 p.m. Hyderabad time,” Rose said. “It’s far from ideal, but we are going to give it our best shot and in Twenty20 cricket you just never know. It only takes a couple of big individual performances to swing a game.”Somerset Squad: Alex Barrow, Nick Compton, Adam Dibble, James Hildreth, Gemaal Hussain, Murali Kartik, Steve Kirby, Craig Meschede, Arul Suppiah, Alfonso Thomas (capt), Peter Trego. Roelof van der Merwe, Steve Snell (wk), Lewis Gregory, Max Waller

Newcastle United have been subject to plenty of attention over recent weeks regarding their January transfer window activity, the first under the ownership of PIF.

The additions of midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon and right-back Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid were the standout deals struck by the Magpies during the month and they should certainly boost Eddie Howe’s chances of avoiding relegation.

However, there are other players already in Newcastle’s squad who were signed under the much-maligned Mike Ashley regime who have proven to be bargains, with Allan Saint-Maximin arguably top of that particular list.

The Frenchman was signed from Ligue 1 outfit Nice in August 2019 for a fee of £16.5m, which was reported to rise to £20m with add-ons, and he has been a revelation since.

Labelled “breathtaking” by Gary Neville earlier this season, Saint-Maximin has hardly missed a game since moving to the northeast, making 79 appearances for Newcastle whilst scoring 12 goals and registering 14 assists, averaging a goal involvement every 3.04 games.

However, his return in the Premier League this season is slightly better, with his five goals and three assists in 21 appearances amounting to a goal involvement every 2.63 games, which suggests that the 24-year-old’s stock is only going to rise even further. Moreover, according to SofaScore, the winger is averaging 4.3 dribbles per game with a success rate of 63%, whilst maintaining a 76% passing accuracy.

The Tyneside outfit have a real gem on their hands, as can be seen by the changes in the Frenchman’s market value during his two-and-a-half-year spell in the northeast.

Having been signed for an initial £16.5m, Saint-Maximin was worth £22.5m soon after joining Newcastle according to Transfermarkt.

That figure dipped to £18m when the pandemic hit just under two years ago, but the Frenchman is now back to his highest-ever valuation of £28.8m, an increase of 75% on his 2019 outlay, and it’s hard to argue that it won’t increase further if he maintains his recent form.

Transfermarkt also rate Saint-Maximin as the Newcastle United player with the highest current value, ahead of Bruno Guimaraes, who was signed for £40m last month whilst being valued at £27m.

Newcastle’s position in the Premier League is still very precarious. Howe’s side are a point behind 17th-placed Norwich with a game in hand, but Burnley (19) have played two games fewer than the Magpies.

It is imperative that Saint-Maximin maintains his good form and continues improving, as he could prove to be the man who makes the difference for the Magpies in their bid for top-flight survival.

AND in other news, “From what I’ve heard”: Waugh drops behind-scenes PIF claim that’ll intrigue NUFC fans…

Newcastle United are reportedly now eyeing up a move for Marco Asensio in the summer.

The Lowdown: Madrid frustration

Asensio has been struggling with a lack of game time at Real Madrid this season, as he has only managed to complete the full 90 minutes in five matches.

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He was limited to just a 2023, his long-term future at the Bernabeu is now under question.

The Latest: Newcastle contact

As per Spanish news outlet Cuatro, the St. James’ Park faithful, as well as Juventus, have ‘already asked’ about Asensio ahead of a potential move this summer, but AC Milan seem to be the favourites for his signature.

The Italian giants are set to join the Tynesiders ‘soon’ in terms of having new owners from the Middle East, and so it looks as if they will face tough competition to land him.

The Verdict: Risky

Given Asensio’s lack of playing time, a big-money move for him this summer does seem risky – his rather remarkable £442million release clause would have to be whittled down exponentially.

Once hailed as ‘world-class’ by former Madrid and Spain international manager Vincente del Bosque and likened to Lionel Messi by Zinedine Zidane, the winger has had an illustrious career already, with two Champions League titles the standout in his trophy cabinet.

Despite his titles with Los Blancos though, Asensio has arguably fallen behind in the shadows of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, with just 71 goal contributions over six seasons, and often shuffled around in a number of different positions across the pitch (Transfermarkt).

At 26 years of age, he still has a lot to offer, but this feels like a signing that would have to pay off straight away for the Magpies to be worth the money.

In other news, find out which ‘special’ Mbappe-like star NUFC could now sign this summer here!