A proposed change in the annual tri-series format has received backing from Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, who believe the concept is tired. Cricket Australia is considering swapping the schedule from almost six weeks of matches to two head-to-head contests for 2008-09.Starting as the World Series Cup in 1979-80, the idea was Kerry Packer’s, but the senior players believe after almost 30 years it is time for a change. “The system has got a little bit tired,” Hayden told AAP. “If you’ve got a decreased number of games but a highly competitive tournament it’s an asset.”The series involving Australia, India and Sri Lanka, which starts in February, involves 12 group games before the best-of-three finals. “Towards the back end of the tri-series if one side, like Australia has done for a long time, has dominated the competition, there does seem to be a lot of dead rubber games,” Hayden said. “That could be Hobart’s [only] game and I believe they deserve a more meaningful game.”Matches between the two visiting teams have also struggled for support in recent years and Gilchrist said Cricket Australia needed to determine if they could improve the product. “It would be interesting to see what the public think,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how the public attends the coming summer’s triangular series, that might give us a bit more of an indication.”Cricket Australia’s board was planning to discuss the change during a meeting on Friday, but the programme for 2008-09, which includes New Zealand and South Africa, will not be finalised until March. Expanding the Ashes series to six Tests is also on the agenda.
The Nairobi Jaffery Sports Club has been granted official ODI status by the ICC following the final inspection by Chris Broad on January 7.Cricket Kenya is particularly pleased with the accreditation of this ground as it has a picturesque setting and has the size and facilities to become a high-class spectator venue for international matches. Officials had been worried as torrential rain in recent weeks left the venue underwater less than a week ago.This news means that all three venues for the World Cricket League, which gets underway on January 30, now have ODI status. The other two venues are Nairobi Gymkhana and Ruaraka Sports Clubm which was granted ODI status at the end of last year..
Australia’s attempt at reclaiming the Ashes lost in September will begin with the first Test at the Gabba on November 23 next year. Cricket Australia released the highly anticipated schedule today, which includes five Tests, the one-day VB Series and a Twenty20 international.England begin the tour with a one-day fixture against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on November 10 and will play matches against New South Wales and South Australia before the first Test. The second Test will be at Adelaide starting on December 1 and the third in Perth beginning on December 14 before the Boxing Day and New Year matches conclude the series in Melbourne and Sydney. England, Australia and New Zealand will then play in the VB Series in January and February.James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said the Ashes would be the biggest event in Australia since the 2000 Olympics and ticket details would be announced on January 10. “Ordinarily we don’t release the program dates until six months out from the start of the season,” he said. “But we were conscious of the high interest in this tour and the number of people trying to make travel arrangements so we moved to get the dates finalised and announced as quickly as possible.”The Ashes urn, which has returned to Australia only once in 1988, is also expected to tour with MCC planning to exhibit the prize during the Test series. “The MCC has completed restoration work over the past few years to ensure the precious urn is safe to travel,” Sutherland said. “It will be a fantastic experience for Australian fans to be able to see this iconic piece of sporting history.”John Carr, the ECB Director of Cricket Operations, said it had been a challenge for the two boards to agree on a schedule, which falls in a relatively tight window between the Champions Trophy and the 2007 World Cup. “It has been agreed that the opening three-day match of the tour against New South Wales will allow participation from our full squad to help ensure that all players participate,” he said.”The schedule is unusual in not providing a one-day warm-up match between the Test and ODI series. This step has been taken as it is in the interests of all three teams participating in the VB Series to ensure that there is a minimum of a two-week break between the end of the series and the report date for the World Cup.”Sutherland also confirmed Australia would travel back to New Zealand for the 2006-07 Chappell-Hadlee Series but the dates for the three fixtures have not been finalised. “We are hoping to schedule the series early in 2007,” he said, “in between the end of the VB Series and the start of the World Cup.”Tour dates
Lisa Keightley took 4 for 22 to hurry India to defeat by 32 runs at Surat. Her efforts won her the match award and gave Australia victory in the seven-match one-day series.However, the day didn’t being well for Keightley, after Anjum Chopra bowled her in the sixth over for 10. Karen Rolton and Belinda Clark consolidated with a 40-run second-wicket partnership, before Melanie Jones kept up the momentum with a 62-ball 25, which included three fours and a six. But their work was undone as they lost five wickets for 26 runs to slide from 123 for 4 to 160 for 9 in the last nine overs. The slow-left arm bowler Neetu David was the most expensive, conceding 39, but she did complete one more over than her official quota.In reply, India lost their first wicket in the sixth over too, but did not build enough partnerships to make an effective challenge. Hopes were briefly raised when Mithali Raj and Mamatha Maben, India’s captain, were putting 38 for the fourth wicket, but after Julie Hayes accounted for Raj, Keightley cleaned up as India fell 32 short.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Indian board, has indicated that there would be a thrust on improving the standards of Indian coaches and physical trainers so as to reduce the reliance on foreigners. “We are not going to continue with foreign support all the time. Very soon, we are going to have a number of our own men having the required expertise and doing the jobs.”Currently, the coach (John Wright), physiotherapist (Andrew Leipus) and trainer (Gregory Allen King) have all been hired from other countries. “Through these foreigners, we’re trying to make sure that our support system is in place,” said Dalmiya, who is in Kolkata for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the BCCI which takes place over the weekend. “At the same time, we’re making every effort to ensure that there’s a culture whereby even the junior teams realise the importance of fitness training. Maybe, in the future, we will no longer need to seek foreign help and offer our help to the other countries instead. In fact, we have now made it mandatory for every affiliate unit of the board to have a qualified fitness trainer.”Dalmiya, who is expected to be re-elected board president at the AGM, stated that the BCCI had undertaken a number of steps to restructure junior cricket and ensure that the benefits of fitness – traditionally ignored in Indian cricket – were understood by players at an early age.Addressing the issue of India’s search for a reliable opening combination, Dalmiya informed that the Indian board has roped in the services of Sunil Gavaskar, one of the all-time great opening batsmen, to try and find a solution to the problem.According to the Times of India, Dalmiya said that Gavaskar, who is the chairman of the BCCI technical committee, had recently helped Sourav Ganguly with his batting. “Gavaskar’s tips to Sourav Ganguly, during the recent Bangalore camp, have been filmed and we are willing to release it at the right forum if anyone would be interested.”Dalmiya also indicated that the issue of graded-payments system for the players would be discussed over the next couple of days, as would the World Cup contracts dispute with the ICC, which still has not been sorted out.
Shane Bond came into the Bangladesh series with an average of 96.33, but after today’s play in Hamilton it rests on 44.12.He took career best figures, in his third Test, of four for 47 in Bangladesh’s first innings of the first National Bank Test and then picked up a fifth in the second innings for a cost of 17 runs to date.He felt he bowled better against Australia for less result, than he did in Hamilton today and that the Australians would have punished his bowling.”I still think I was a little inconsistent and if I did that against Aussie they would have been different figures,” he said.Bond said it was difficult to adjust the length of his bowling because the Bangladesh players were so tiny.They had been aggressive batsmen but New Zealand stuck to its game plan and had put the ball in the right areas often enough to keep the pressure on.”We are in a good position,” he said.”It is about us trying to be more patient than they were,” he said.Bond said he was enjoying being able to play Test cricket in New Zealand and it was up to him to put the bowling performances on the board.He had no problem with not having first choice of ends, having to defer to senior bowler Chris Cairns and he felt it was good that skipper Stephen Fleming was able to rotate the bowlers around.While he hasn’t played a lot of one-day cricket Bond said he would like the chance to return to Australia with the next squad for the one-day tri-series with Australia and South Africa.
Rain ruined this top of the table clash at Headingley. No play at all was possible on the final day following overnight rain. On Friday only 16.3 overs were bowled and on Thursday the Yorkshire batsmen faced 45 overs. The rain was a stark contrast to when play started on Wednesday in glorious sunshine.On that first morning the Leicester openers Maddy and Ward set off like an express train with the Leicester 50 coming up after only 38 minutes. Maddy’s own 50 was scored in 65 minutes off 57 balls and included nine fours. It was his second fifty of the season.The partnership was broken with the score on 84 when Ward was caught by Byas at second slip of Gavin Hamilton for 19. Maddy was the next out when the score reached 106. He too was caught by Byas but this time of the off spinner Middlebrook.Vince Wells scored 19 but he lost his off stump to Hutchison. After that dismissal the Leicester middle order folded. Habib was caught by Lehmann at short leg when he clipped Hutchison of his toes. Darren Stevens miss timed his pull shot straight to Craven at short mid wicket. Ben Smith became James Middlebrook’s third victim when he was leg before for 30.When Hamilton returned to the attack he bowled Neil Burns’ middle stump with his second ball. After a promising start Leicestershire had slumped from 106 for two 171 for seven. Their innings was revived by Phil DeFreitas. First with a partnership of 25 with Leeds born Iain Sutcliffe and a ninth wicket partnership of 61 with James Ormond. The fifty between the two came up in 13.3 overs.The partnership was broken by Middlebrook when he bowled Ormond for 20. DeFreitas and another Yorkshire man Scott Boswell added 39 before DeFreitas was bowled by Hutchison for 70. His innings included eight fours, of 111 balls in 146 minutes. Boswell scored 12 in 45 minutes of 54 balls and the Leicestershire innings ended on 296.In their reply Yorkshire soon lost Vic Craven and Richard Blakey for one and nine. Both players were out leg before, Craven to Ormond and Blakey to Wells. David Byas and Darren Lehmann took the score from 18 for two to 94 when Lehmann was run out backing up too far. Before rain and bad light stopped play on the second day Yorkshire lost Byas for 44.In the 65 minutes of play that were possible on the third day Yorkshire took their score from 107 for four to 146 for four.
Tottenham Hotspur have been hunting for a new talisman over the last couple of seasons, but none have been able to emulate the incredible levels achieved by Harry Kane.
The 32-year-old rose through the ranks in North London, even being sent on numerous loan spells in the EFL, before making himself a fan-favourite in the Lilywhites’ first-team.
He would spend a decade scoring goals for fun in the Premier League, subsequently achieving a total of 280 goals for the club – the most of any player in their history.
Such a feat highlights his incredible goalscoring prowess, but his ability to score 30+ goals in 50% of his ten years in North London further showcases his eye for the back of the net.
Whilst no player has been able to replicate such levels in recent months, Thomas Frank could be about to be rewarded with a new talisman to help him in his quest for success.
Spurs prepare move for Premier League striker in January
Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs’ hunt for a new striker has taken them across Europe, subsequently leading to links over a move for Porto star Samu Aghehowa.
The Spaniard has been a player in tremendous form during the 2025/26 campaign, as seen by his remarkable tally of 18 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions.
However, any deal could well prove to be one outside of the Lilywhites’ range, especially considering the Portuguese side currently value him at £80m.
As a result, their hunt for a new striker has brought them back to England, with Manchester City star Omar Marmoush one player the hierarchy are targeting at present.
According to TEAMtalk, Frank’s men are considering an approach for the Egyptian international who has only started two league games so far this campaign following a mega-money £63m move last January.
The report also states that a loan deal with an option to buy could be the perfect option for all parties, but that other sides are also keen on a move this January.
Why Marmoush would be Spurs’ best striker since Kane
Since Kane’s move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, Spurs have tried a whole host of options in the number nine position to try and fill the void at the top end of the pitch.
Richarlison is currently Frank’s number one option in such a position, as seen by his tally of 10 starts and seven goals in the Premier League so far this season.
As a result, Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel have both been impact players, often having to resort to minutes off the bench – leading to a combined tally of two goals in the league during 2025/26.
However, prior to the Dane’s arrival, Solanke was the main number nine for the Lilywhites, something which was to be expected given his club-record £65m transfer.
He ended last season on 16 goals across all competitions, but has been restricted to just 31 minutes of league action this time around due to an ongoing ankle issue.
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke
There’s no doubt he’s been the closest replacement to Kane, but that could be about to change should Marmoush make a switch to North London during the upcoming window.
Whilst he’s often struggled to dislodge Erling Haaland from his number nine role at the Etihad, his form at Eintracht Frankfurt is evidence of the talent he possesses.
Prior to his move last January, the 26-year-old netted a staggering 15 goals in his first 17 league games, not to mention also registering nine assists in the process.
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His underlying figures further highlight his quality, with many of which place him above the likes of Kane in the Bundesliga during the 2024/25 campaign.
Marmoush, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, registered 2.3 shots on target and 0.93 goals per 90 – with both the highest of any player in Germany’s top-flight.
He also created 2.2 chances per 90, whilst also achieving a dribble success rate of 60% – subsequently showcasing his ability to provide for those around him in the final third.
Omar Marmoush – stats at Frankfurt (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
17
Goals & assists
24
Shots on target
2.3
Goals per 90
0.93
Touches in opposition box
7.8
Dribble success
60%
Chances created
2.2
Fouls won
3.4
Stats via FotMob
The Egyptian’s talents were further reflected in his tally of 7.8 touches in the opposition box per 90, which could hand Frank the poacher-type forward he’s craved in recent months.
Whilst it’s unclear if the player or his current club would sanction a move this winter, it’s evident that Marmoush would be a sensational addition for the Lilywhites.
If he can replicate his numbers from his time at Frankfurt, he would certainly be the starting centre forward in North London and allow the club to end their hunt for a new talisman.
Not Romero or Simons: 5/10 Spurs flop is becoming Frank's biggest liability
Thomas Frank has some huge calls to make after Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Liverpool.
Australia’s new era continued to look much like their old one as they dominated mercilessly at the Gabba for a third day, forcing Sri Lanka to follow-on a massive 340 runs behind. The visitors then lost both openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu to complete a miserable day.Ricky Ponting has been prone to batting again to give his bowlers a rest, so his decision to make Sri Lanka follow on may have raised a few eyebrows, but it was not entirely unexpected. Sri Lanka, with the odd exception, haven’t batted well all tour and they were well behind when their first innings closed.It was an innings notable for Mitchell Johnson’s first Test wicket and Brett Lee’s 4 for 26, while Stuart MacGill nudged closer to 200 Test victims after eventually breaking through in the final session following some excellent, but hitherto unrewarded, toil. He will begin day four needing one more for the milestone.Wickets, though, didn’t come as easily as the scoreline may suggest. The bowlers certainly found it hard work on a pitch that remained good for batting, but once they had prised out the big guns by tea, the tail folded shortly after the break.Stuart Clark opened the day by finding the captain Mahela Jayawardene’s edge in the third over, but the biggest cheers were reserved for Johnson’s first Test wicket, that of Thilan Samaraweera. Johnson may have had to wait a year to make his debut, after being 12th man for the entire Ashes series, but he needed only eight overs to open his account, angling across the batsman with good pace and bounce, inducing a prod and sparking celebrations.Atapattu then took root and played out a battling 51, compiled over 183 deliveries. His great powers of concentration had flickered with a pop back just short of Lee, but they finally gave out when he pulled Johnson uppishly to Michael Clarke.Chamara Silva’s quickfire 40 brightened up play, although he dodged two bullets before falling, with two drops off MacGill – Adam Gilchrist on 13, and Clarke off a pull on 20. Silva batted like a man who wasn’t aware his team were 4 for 65 when he came in. He blazed here, he flashed there, and at last there was some of the spark and aggression that Sri Lanka had promised coming into the series. He finally sent one slash too many, off Stuart Clark over to Clarke, who made no mistake this time at wide short third man, having just been moved there by Ponting.Sri Lanka soon reverted to defence mode, eschewing the singles, as Australia’s hungry attack clamped down with tight lines and lengths. Then came the post-tea procession where they lost 4 for 30.Farveez Maharoof was bowled by Andrew Symonds before the new ball was due, with MacGill then bowling the left-hander Chaminda Vaas for 8, clipping the rough as it spun back in to him and took middle stump. MacGill was particularly impressive around the wicket, landing the wrong’un well and often deceiving the batsmen. Over the wicket, he allowed them room to cut.Three balls after Lee had taken the new ball, he trapped Prasanna Jayawardene on 37 with a full delivery on off which swung late. Lee made it four when Dilhara Fernando straight-pulled to Johnson for a comfortable catch at mid-on.Atapattu then found himself back out in the middle, two hours after Johnson had dismissed him. He and Jayasuriya added a solid 53 for the first wicket before he gloved one down leg off a jubilant Symonds. Jayasuriya played with his usual flair before departing just before stumps to bring up Lee’s fifth wicket of the match, edging to first slip where Ponting gratefully accepted following another good decision to bring Lee back on.The day finished with Australia’s tails up and Sri Lanka’s heads down and it will take something remarkable for the visitors to salvage anything from this match, as they still trail by 260 runs. Australia, meanwhile, will return on Sunday with the chance to wrap up the series opener inside four days.
The ICC has received a report on the banned Pakistani mediumpacer Shabbir Ahmed’s modified action and will make a decision as to whether his action is now within the limits prescribed once it has “read and digested” the contents of the report.Shabbir became the first bowler to be banned from international cricket after he was reported twice last year for a suspect action. He has not played for Pakistan since December last year. But having spent the time working on his action with Sarfraz Nawaz, he recently went to Australia to undergo tests on his new action at the University of Western Australia, under the supervision of Professor Bruce Elliott and Daryl Foster.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) say preliminary reports from Elliott suggest that the action is within the prescribed limits now, though the ICC has to go through the official report. An ICC official told Cricinfo, “The report has just arrived. Once we have read and digested the report we will write to the PCB confirming the findings and then it is expected we will issue a media release with the details.”The report needs to show that Shabbir is bowling within the legally prescribed limits in order for him to resume bowling at international level,” the official added. The board are confident that the action has been corrected for now at least and that Shabbir can resume a career blighted by problems with his action since he made his international debut in 1999. He has been reported a total of four times in ten Tests and 32 ODIs.Salim Altaf, director operations, PCB, told Karachi-based daily that they were confident that Shabbir will be able to represent Pakistan again. “According to the preliminary report we have received from Professor Bruce Elliot, Shabbir has improved his bowling angle and has brought it to 10 degrees which is below the 15-degree limit. It is because of this we are sure that he would be cleared by the ICC to play international cricket,” said Altaf.Pakistan are keen for a swift decision from the ICC. Shabbir has already been named in the 25-man squad which will report to the four-day training camp for the tour to South Africa in January. He has been in impressive form domestically and Pakistan will be eager to utilise his awkward bounce on the faster pitches of South Africa if he is selected. “Shabbir is a good medium pacer and if he is fit would be a valuable addition to our bowling attack,” Altaf said.