Tag Futebol

ScorecardKumar Sangakkara recorded another Championship hundred (file photo)•Getty Images

No one grumbles quite like a county cricket fan. Each individual has a slightly different tone shaped by their gender, experience and own personal angst. Some just sigh, a handful swear (loudly, too). Most reserve the chuntering for wickets but the ones that really pay attention can spend 10 minutes chewing your ear off about a couple of plays and misses from a different game entirely.Some do it among themselves, some to one another: at a ground like the Kia Oval, where the attendance is consistently good, you are never more than a row away from another fan. All it takes is a knowing look or a nod to begin conversation on a spinner introduced too late, a Curran bowling from the wrong end or another Gary Wilson 40. Here, on 49, Wilson edged Rory Kleinveldt to Rob Keogh at second slip. There were grumbles, but most of them were from Wilson.Two overs later, when Tom Curran was squared up by the same bowler and lost his off bail – Northamptonshire’s sub fielder Saif Zaib found it about 20 yards in from the fine leg boundary – the groans in the OCS stand were audible. At that point, Surrey were 47 runs shy of full batting points – a must, really, as they search for the points-heavy result that would see them promoted as Division Two champions. There were plenty of overs to go before the 110-over cut-off but just two wickets left.But as Surrey walked off for bad light, with 22 needed and 20 overs left – and those two wickets still in hand – spectators rose, shook hands with one another and promised to do it all again on Thursday. Because this season, Surrey fans have not had much reason to grumble. And it’s on days like these that you understand how lucky they have been.Just as they were about to forget that, when both Arun Harinath and Rory Burns fell to Maurice Chambers – both misreading the bounce to top-edge to the keeper and flick to fine leg, respectively – Kumar Sangakkara began his latest piece. For a good few hours, all you could hear were purrs.As he got going, Northants wilted. But there’s a small nugget in your brain that convinces yourself that maybe they were happy to be there, too, as Sangakkara took the scenic route to his fifth Championship hundred of the season. For those present, it was an incarnation of the dream scenario in which your favourite musician is in your front room, taking your requests and happy to oblige as you ask for the fifth rendition of “Tiny Dancer”. And out it comes, with just as much soul as was dished out at Central Park in 1980.He showcased all the classics – the driving against the seamers, that skip and whip to midwicket against the spinners, the straight-bat cut to both. At the lunch intermission, brought about by the wicket of Ben Foakes, he was 22 off 44 balls. Back out for the afternoon session, having been presented his county cap, he began once more, this time at a higher tempo, picking off boundaries at will.A luscious six over straight back over the head of Keogh – whose offspin had caused Sangakkara the most discomfort early on – took the Sri Lankan to fifty off 82 balls. A four in the same direction came a couple of balls later.He was backed up intermittently at the other end. Steven Davies hit as dreamy a 21 as you can imagine. Jason Roy was nearly out twice in three balls when on nought, edging Keogh just short of second slip and then ran past one, only for Murphy to fluff the stumping.It was left to Wilson to offer the congratulatory hug in the middle, as Sangakkara completed his jaunt to three figures by hitting his 139th ball through extra cover for four. By this time, he had opted to bat in a cap, which he doffed to the crowd and his dressing room. He was out on his 140th, dabbing Keogh to short leg. He walked off to his second standing ovation in as many minutes, looking over his shoulder and wondering if he could have given more.As he returned to the dressing room, he joined the huddle of Surrey players that had congregated around the analyst’s laptop. Perhaps they were looking to see if the dismissal was legitimate. They were probably just watching his highlights.So it was left to Sam Curran to keep the crowd sweet. A maiden first-class fifty came off 87 balls, featuring eight fours and a strong six. He moved to 48 playing a late cut off his toes, like it was the most normal thing for a 17-year-old to be doing on a Wednesday afternoon.Of course, it is important not to bestow the world upon this teen before he has even registered a full summer. But it is that train of thought that has you saying no to extra cheese or chocolate dusting on your tiramisu. This wasn’t a day for worrying about repercussions. This was another when the grumblers left the Oval contented.

Plagued with injury throughout his career, Shoaib Akhtar might be used selectively in the future to prolong his career © AFP

Talat Ali, the Pakistan manager, soothed fears over Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness after the bowler caused a minor stir by walking off the field in a practice match between Pakistan probables at a camp being held at the National Stadium Karachi.Shoaib bowled three unsuccessful overs in the searing afternoon heat before going off. He returned later for another bowl, this time completing his four-over quota, though he was given some rough treatment by Salman Butt and Imran Nazir.Talat said the absence was due to dehydration and nothing else. “It was hot, very humid and he got dehydrated. We gave him water and time to recover. He was a little dizzy because of the dehydration but he was fine after a cold shower and lots of water.”Shoaib took the field initially with strapping on his left knee and, coupled with his absence from practice matches yesterday, led some to suggest he was carrying an injury. “It’s nothing serious,” Talat said. “The strapping was only for support and nothing major. He was working out before as well and with the heat and the fact that he bowls so fast, it can happen. It’s not a fitness issue at all. In our Abbottabad training camp [in June] he was the fittest guy there.”Since the beginning of 2006, Shoaib has suffered from serious injuries to both knees and his ankle. Along with the doping scandal, it has resulted in him playing four ODIs and one Test in that time. It has led to calls that Shoaib be used selectively in future to prolong his career, though Talat would only acknowledge that the board will have to nurse him along.”We will use him whenever he is required. We have to look after him and nurse him along,” he said. “He has just come back from a long gap out and anyway we can’t expect him to bowl 100mph every match.”The arrival of Geoff Lawson as Pakistan’s new coach will also play a role. “He was a good fast bowler so he will be able to work closely with Shoaib and plan with him. It’s a joint thing and the management and Shoaib have to work together on it. He is our star bowler and he wins us matches.”

Steve Harmison will be reassessed in the morning© Getty Images

Another day, another set of injury scares for both England and Pakistan’s cricketers, as the jinx that has pursued the teams since they last met in December shows no sign of abating.Pakistan, already shorn of a trio of their potential opening bowlers in Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, looked set to launch their second innings without their only specialist opening batsman. But Imran Farhat, who sustained a dislocation and fracture to the third finger on his left hand while clinging onto a sharp catch in the gully, was unexpectedly strapped up and sent out to negotiate the four overs remaining in the day.He did so bravely, but how much of that was owed to the worrying rib niggle that Stephen Harmison suffered in the first over of the innings? Harmison, who destroyed Pakistan on Thursday with figures of 6 for 19, bowled an outrageous wide that was fielded by Andrew Strauss at second slip, but England’s laughter got stuck in their throats when he immediately clutched at his side, the same intercostal region that has forced Liam Plunkett to miss the rest of the series.Though Kirk Russell, England’s physio, instantly signalled for him to leave the field, Harmison carried on tentatively for the rest of the over, before being hauled off from his fielding position at fine leg as Russell was sent jogging round the boundary to retrieve him.”Harmison has responded to treatment and will be reassessed in the morning,” read an ECB statement issued at the close of play. “It is not as serious as first thought.” Something similar will apply to another of England’s jinxed Ashes veterans, Geraint Jones, who was hit on the right ring finger by Umar Gul and needed lengthy treatment out in the middle. “Jones’s finger is still sore and he, too, will be reassessed in the morning,” added the ECB.Throw in the travails of Faisal Iqbal, who suffered a bruised hand when nailed by an Andrew Strauss pull shot on Thursday morning, and it is clear that the fates are against these two teams. For the moment, however, all four of the latest injured parties are still standing.

The Sri Lankan board has launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by two players during the Champions Trophy newspaper last month. newspaper said that Sri Lanka Cricket had been prompted to take action after being “tipped off by well-informed sources” that the two players – allegedly Avishka Gunawardene and Kaushal Lokuarachchi – were involved in a late-night drinking binge midway through their rain-interrupted match against England.Mohan de Silva, the cricket board president, confirmed to Wisden Cricinfo that a disciplinary probe was already under way: “Investigations have been started. We have instructed the disciplinary committee to look into these allegations and they are making preliminary enquiries now before the players return from Pakistan.”The allegations surfaced soon after Sri Lanka’s early exit from the Champions Trophy, but were not taken seriously at the outset after being flatly denied by Ajit Jayasekera, the team manager at the time, and the coach John Dyson.de Silva refused to confirm the identity of the two players, and insisted that the decision to drop both Gunawardene and Lokuarachchi for Sri Lanka’s second match in the Paktel Cup had not been triggered by the inquiry.Lokuarachchi was banned for four months from all forms of cricket last year after his involvement in a tragic late-night driving accident. Legal proceedings are still continuing in that case.

The ICC has revealed that the proposed exhibition tie between India and Pakistan in Abu Dhabi was not sancioned because of match-fixing fears. According to a Press Trust of India report Ehsan Mani, the ICC’s president, said that the organisers of the event had bypassed the boards of both countries and directly contacted the players, which could have made match-fixing easier.”Organisers’ direct contacts with players could raise chances for match-fixing,” Mani said, adding that the Anti-Corruption Unit had brought down such incidents significantly.But the ICC’s comments took BR Shetty – the president of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Control Board – by complete surprise, according to the . “There was no problem when the ICC president Ehsan Mani and the Anti-Corruption Unit chief Lord Condon visited the stadium some time back. They were all praise then for the facilities and architecture. I fail to understand how such issues have been brought up now.”Shetty took a swipe at the ICC’s oft-repeated intention to make cricket a global sport. “On the one hand they say their motto is to take the game far and wide, but on the other, they do not allow the inauguration of a world-class stadium.”The Abu Dhabi board’s problems began when the BCCI rejected the proposal, sending plans for the match on May 14 into a tailspin, and giving rise to reports about a replacement World XI team. Even then, Shetty was upbeat about the prospects of salvaging the exhibition match. “We hope that by September everything would be settled and we will be able to host the Indian and Pakistani teams.”However, this time, Shetty is going by the book. He has sent the proposal directly to the two boards, instead of the players. “We have done exactly as the BCCI president has told us. We are now awaiting a reply.”

I don’t think we need any post-mortems to tell us what went wrong in the Cape Town Test match and indeed in the entire tour of South Africa. It would be better to push the erase-button so that no trace is left of an ill-fated tour where nothing went right, not even the weather and rain never threatened. It all happened in bright sunshine.The kindest construction that can be put on the tour is that the two teams were unfairly matched, a heavyweight against a lightweight. One team totally committed, the other simply going through the motions like a sparring partner.Were there any positives? Only Taufiq Omar. He showed strength of character and a high price on his wicket and didn’t give it away. He looked mentally tired after he made his hundred but was soon back in the fray as Pakistan followed-on but he battled on.If I was the team’s coach, I would gather the team and get them to see the videos of the Sydney Test match. First I would point to the innings of Steve Waugh, a captain under siege and let them, see what application and defiance means.Then I would show them the effort of the England team, thrashed and fighting to save the ignominy of a whitewash, the batting, bowling and the fielding of a team for whom pride means much, brilliant cricket that had the mighty Australia on its knees.Time and again, the commentators kept saying that the Pakistan team lacked motivation. Clearly national pride is not enough. Nor is the handsome money it gets. What else is needed to get motivation? I am stumped for an answer.The Pakistan team arrived in Cape Town two days before the start of the Test match. Yet, it chose not to have any nets, no doubt exhausted by their exertions in the Durban Test match which it lost by ten wickets with the best part of two days to spare.The body-language of the team on the first day of the Cape Town Test suggested that the end-of-tour fatigue had arrived early. As if to show that it was determined not to learn from its mistakes, Pakistan went in with four bowlers again.Once again Shahid Afridi was not in the frame and worse, Abdul Razzaq was supposedly injured and not in the team, the bowling was weakened, so too was the batting, Pakistan should have made a greater effort to try and level the series. It did not do so. It caved in without a semblance of fight, a tame surrender. Pakistan is much better team than the one that played in South Africa.The pity is that Pakistan had a great chance to get familiar with conditions in South Africa ahead of the World Cup and appears to have squandered the opportunity. We have been promised that the team will be re-group.What is needed is an agonising reappraisal of our whole approach. What has been missing is the spark of inspiration, the ability to seize the opportunity or play with determination when things have gone badly.In brief, what has been missing is team work, of playing like an unit. No one doubts the abilities of the players. It is simply that they can’t get their act together. There have been injuries but which team in the world has been without injuries? It is not possible to play non-stop cricket and come out unscathed. This goes with the territory.There isn’t much time between now and the start of the World Cup. The team has already been announced. The selectors have done a fine job and chosen the best available team.Generally, there is a hue and cry when a team is selected. Everyone has his own idea of what the team should be. But there has been no criticism of this World Cup squad. No one has been left out and it is a balance team.Saeed Anwar returns to the team and one sincerely hopes that he will be able to find his magic touch. He has been out of international cricket for a long time but he has the experience to get into the groove.Wasim Akram will be a key bowler. He has had the rest that he wanted and should be raring to go. It may well be his last appearance for Pakistan. If it is, he would want to go out on a high, a last hurrah.Shoaib Akhtar too can play a significant role if he can come to terms with himself. So far, he has played very much by his own rules. I think he needs to knuckle down. He is a great showman and likes the spotlight on himself. No one grudges him that.But I hope that he will accept the responsibility of being one of Pakistan’s strike bowlers. The game of cricket has a long history and so far no player has been able to prove that he is bigger than the game, not even Don Bradman or Gary Sobers.The World Cup should be seen as a new beginning and the South African tour should be forgotten but the mistakes should be identified and the team should make sure that these mistakes are not repeated. The cricket public has been very patient. It still believes in the Pakistan team has not lost its motivation!

Having failed to clinch the Test series, India will look to reasserttheir supremacy over Zimbabwe when they take on the hosts in theiropening match of the triangular one-day series at Harare on Sunday.With a 26-6 win-loss record, India obviously have an edge over theirrivals and start favourites against a home side devoid of thecharismatic Andy Flower and with a new captain at the helm.Grant Flower took over as the new captain of Zimbabwe after HeathStreak stepped down just ahead of the opening match against WestIndies today.That the Indians have left the setback of the four-wicket loss in thesecond Test far behind was in evidence in the thumping ten-wicket winover Zimbabwe A in a practice match yesterday.But probably the most important reason for the Indians to feelconfident about their prospects would be the absence of Andy Flower,the most prolific Zimbabwean scorer against India.For the same reason, Zimbabwe would be a bit worried, for it is theinspirational Andy Flower around whom the entire innings of the teamrevolves. He has played the sheet anchor role on so many ocassionsthat it has become almost impossible to think of a Zimbabwe sidewithout him.The Indians have some more reasons to cheer about. The four playerscalled especially for the one-dayers looked in fine touch in thepractice match yesterday with Virendra Sehwag making a blisteringunbeaten 75 off just 53 balls. Sehwag is a certainty for tomorrow’smatch along with Hemang Badani who too has been quite consistent inthe limited overs matches.Captain Sourav Ganguly must be feeling a little better after scoring afew runs yesterday and the team would be hoping his bad run with thebat finally gets over here.Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid have all looked goodhere though the big innings has eluded them. They have got accustomedto the conditions though they need to adhere to Streak’s advice ofexercising a bit more patience while batting.All-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi and middle-order batsman DineshMongia, who joined the one-day team along with Sehwag and fast bowlerHarvinder Singh, would find it difficult to make it to the teamconsidering they are yet to have a feel of the conditions here.It would be interesting to see the bowling composition of the team.With Delhi seamer Ashish Nehra being asked to stay back afterperforming exceedingly well in the Test series, India have four paceoptions and at least three of them are certain to play considering theseamer-friendly wickets here.For Zimbabwe, 17-year-old schoolboy Tatenda Taibu, who makes his debutagainst West Indies today, has been entrusted with the job of keepingthe wickets in the place of Andy Flower.In the absence of Andy Flower, his brother and new captain GrantFlower, who had a tremendous Test series against India, will have toshoulder the major responsibility. Stuart Carlisle and Dion Ebrahimhave shown their hunger for runs and Alistair Campbell is long overduefor a big innings.In the bowling department, David Mutendera and Mluleki Nkala form aformidable combination in the company of Streak and Andy Blignaut.Grant Flower and Brian Murphy will take care of the spin department.The teams (from):India: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, RahulDravid, Hemang Badani, Virendra Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Reetinder SinghSodhi, Samir Dighe, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Debasish Mohanty,Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Harvinder Singh.Zimbabwe: Grant Flower (capt), Alistair Campbell, Dion Ebrahim, StuartCarlisle, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala,Andy Blignaut, Tatenda Taibu, Dirk Viljoen, David Mutendera.

Tottenham are preparing for a crucial January window with the club hierarchy reportedly willing to back under-fire manager Thomas Frank with significant spending.

The Sun reports that Spurs could invest up to £150 million next month as they look to address clear weaknesses in both attacking and defensive areas following a disappointing first half of the campaign.

The north London club currently languish 14th in the Premier League after suffering five defeats in their last eight matches across all competitions.

Frank finds himself under mounting pressure after the club’s failure to build on the promising foundations laid during his first few months in charge, with supporters increasingly frustrated by the lack of consistency and identity in performances.

Wide attackers have emerged as the primary focus for recruitment chiefs ahead of January, with Spurs desperate to add pace, creativity and goal threat from the flanks to complement their existing options.

Related Tottenham officials sent to club as Spurs eye Hazard-like 'magician' after Semenyo snub

Spurs are craving a new left-winger.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

Antoine Semenyo was Tottenham’s top target for the upcoming window following his impressive performances for Bournemouth this season, with the Ghana international combining explosive pace with impressive output in the final third.

However, landing the 25-year-old has been far from straightforward given strong competition from Man City, who are understood to be in pole position to sign Semenyo and trigger his £65 million release clause.

Spurs now find themselves forced to ‘rethink’ their entire transfer strategy for January following Semenyo’s apparent preference for joining City rather than moving to north London, according to TEAMtalk.

Tottenham make 'fresh explorations' for Man City winger Savinho

The outlet and journalist Dean Jones have a fresh transfer update surrounding the Lilywhites’ plans today, detailing their Semenyo alternatives as Frank chases a quality left-winger.

The club recently touched base about Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, but early indications suggest they will not have much chance of signing the highly-rated Turkish winger either as he eyes a new contract in Turin.

Maghnes Akliouche and Yan Diomande have also been identified as ambitious transfer targets, though these moves are more realistically planned for the summer of 2026 rather than next month.

As per Jones, Tottenham have now made ‘fresh explorations’ around whether Savinho, who was chased during the summer, remains genuinely interested in departing Eastlands despite his recent contract extension.

The 21-year-old impressed during his time in France with Troyes and subsequently at Girona, attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs before ultimately choosing to join Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Savinho penned a new deal at City last summer despite indications that he ‘fancied’ a move to Spurs, but he has struggled significantly to tie down a regular starting role in Guardiola’s loaded attacking lineup.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Spurs transfer insight Make smarter sense of Tottenham’s January plans—subscribe to the newsletter for deep player profiles, realistic target assessments and tactical-fit breakdowns so you can follow every potential deal. Subscribe Subscribe to our newsletter for Spurs transfer insight Make smarter sense of Tottenham’s January plans—subscribe to the newsletter for deep player profiles, realistic target assessments and tactical-fit breakdowns so you can follow every potential deal.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Brazilian’s limited opportunities have raised questions about whether he made the correct decision to extend, especially with the 2026 World Cup looming next year.

This situation could potentially open a door for Tottenham to revive their interest if the player becomes frustrated with his peripheral role.

However, before Spurs attempt to formally test the water with any offers for the ‘incredible’ City forward, they want to understand precisely how keen he would be on making the switch to north London.

Intermediaries are now expected to uncover what the future holds in the player’s mind, with Tottenham looking to bring in a standout attacking talent to bolster Frank’s squad.

Related Tottenham player set for January exit talks after returning from injury

A Spurs departure is on the cards for him.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini

A four-wicket haul from Andrew Ellis and a 43-ball 76 from Peter Fulton were the headlining performances in Canterbury’s six-wicket victory with 21 balls to spare against Auckland in Christchurch.Auckland had made a steady, if not rapid, start after choosing to bat. Riding on Brad Cachopa’s 49, they had progressed to 115 for 2 in 15.4 overs, with plenty of wickets in hand for the final surge. Then they collapsed to a spate of run-outs and Ellis, who finished with 4 for 17 in four overs. Auckland lost seven wickets for 18 runs and ended with 133 for 9.Fulton ensured that Canterbury did not struggle for momentum in the chase. Coming in at 18 for 2 in 2.1 overs, Fulton hit seven sixes in his innings, making more than half the runs in the chase of 134. He was unbeaten when the winning runs were scored in the 17th over. Auckland fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan took three out of the four wickets that Canterbury lost.Northern Districts chased down a target of 171 with two wickets and four balls to spare, handing Central Districts their fourth loss in their six completed games in the Georgie Pie Super Smash. Northern Districts were steered by 70 off 47 balls from opener Anton Devcich, before No. 7 Nick Kelly exploded with 36 off 16 to power the team home.Devcich had strung together handy partnerships with his top-order partners, putting Northern Districts on course at 126 for 3 in the 14th over. But three quick strikes – including that of Devcich – reduced them to 135 for 6 by the end of the 16th, and it was nervous times in their change room. Kelly hit away those nerves, though, slamming four sixes even as he lost two lower-order partners for ducks to get the side across the line.Central Districts’ innings was built around an anchoring 76 off 52 by their overseas opener, Mahela Jayawardene, after they had lost George Worker off the first ball of the match. Worker was taken out by Scott Kuggeleijn, who, with 3 for 24, ended with the best figures on either side.

Geoff Lawson was pleased with what he saw in Pakistan © AFP

Geoff Lawson delivered a strong message to the Pakistan squad about the hard work needed to make the team successful when he was interviewed for the coach’s job. Lawson believes Dav Whatmore, the former Bangladesh mentor, is the favouite for the position, which is also being chased by Richard Done.”I won’t be surprised if I get it, I won’t be surprised if I miss out,” Lawson said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “I wouldn’t have gone for the interview if I wasn’t keen. It would be a terrific challenge. Dav is obviously the front-runner, but I told [the players] about the hard work that has to be done to make the team successful.”I think they appreciate how the Australian approach to playing cricket is a successful one and that’s what they’re trying to tap into. I didn’t chase the job, so there isn’t much to lose if I don’t get it.”Lawson said he was waiting to hear from the Pakistan Cricket Board about the appointment. When he went for the interview last month the players were at a training camp and Lawson was impressed with what he saw.”Those internal games can sometimes be played at, how would you say, less than full intensity, but they were having a go,” he said. “My impressions were very good. They were playing hard and they were playing with attitude. There’s a lot of talent there to work with. It’s an exciting prospect.”