All posts by h716a5.icu

Winning captain Stephen Fleming attacked the pitch quality that allows bowlers to dominate Test matches to the extent that occurred in the National Bank Series with India today which ended with a 2-0 margin to New Zealand

Lynn McConnell22-Dec-2002Winning captain Stephen Fleming attacked the pitch quality that allows bowlers to dominate Test matches to the extent that occurred in the National Bank Series with India today which ended with a 2-0 margin to New Zealand.The home team held on to win by four wickets in Hamilton on a pitch that took until the fourth day of the scheduled five to reach anything like Test standard.It had been caused by the weather, he acknowledged that point, and said New Zealand were close to getting the formula right, but in the meantime it was frustrating for a variety of reasons.”I guess we’re caught in the middle where the groundsmen are preparing bouncy wickets which is great, and I’ve been an advocate for that for a long time, unfortunately we are having to put up with the sideways movement as well because of the weather these guys are getting to prepare wickets,” he said.Fleming said he wanted his bowlers to work hard for wickets, and if there was bounce in pitches there would be reward for good bowling, but the pronounced seam movement was a bugbear.It meant that New Zealand would not see the scores in excess of 400 that were so common in other countries.”Good true wickets with bounce do provide entertainment, I’ll 100% guarantee that,” he said.Fleming said the message for the batsmen going out to attempt to secure the win today was defence and looking out for the opportunity to score.”We believed we were the better side in these conditions,” Fleming said.Man of the match Daryl Tuffey said he felt he bowled best in the second innings of the game, he had to work harder and wasn’t as fresh.”The partnership between [Sachin] Tendulkar and [Rahul] Dravid was the key one for us to break and once we got Tendulkar out, they let us right off again and a procession of wickets fell again and it really got us back in the match. They could easily have taken it away from us,” he said.The performance in the Test series, in which he took 13 wickets at 8.69 had been a stepping stone for him getting back into the side for the National Bank One-Day International Series starting in Auckland on Boxing Day.

Second-tier New Zealand provincial players will have their competition after all

Lynn McConnell14-Nov-2002Second-tier New Zealand provincial players will have their competition after all.New Zealand Cricket (NZC) reinstated the second XI competition today.It had been a victim of NZC’s withdrawal from the bargaining process last week when a final offer was not accepted by the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association.NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said the Provincial A competition, as it is known, was a necessary part of the elite player development pathway.He said the reinstatement was a gesture of goodwill by NZC to the players and was a demonstration of the intention to work with players and to return to business as usual as quickly as possible.Like other tournaments on the New Zealand scene, a large proportion of the competition will be staged at the High Performance Centre at Lincoln University between January 2 and January 14. The second round of the competition will be played at various centres around New Zealand in February at venues, and on dates, still to be finalised.Snedden also announced that the Indian tour opener, a Super Max international to be played at Jade Stadium on December 4 will continue as planned.”There has been some confusion among cricket fans about this match. The State Max competition to be played between our domestic first-class teams was cancelled as a result of the player payment dispute. The Max Blacks v India match will continue as scheduled,” he said.

There have been two departures from the Rose Bowl home of Hampshire

Ralph Dellor28-Nov-2002There have been two departures from the Rose Bowl home of Hampshire. One of them – long-serving wicket-keeper Adrian Aymes – was not entirely unexpected, but the departure of Graham Walker, the chief executive of Rose Bowl plc, took many by surprise.A persistent knee injury restricted 38 year-old Aymes to just five appearances last season and it has been decided that he should stand down with a year of his contract still to run. His enthusiastic approach to the game was appreciated by teammates and spectators alike and he leaves with glowing tributes from all at the club.Aymes had been with Hampshire for 17 years, while the chief executive was something of a newcomer. Walker was brought in to mastermind the establishment of the Rose Bowl as Hampshire’s new ground after the move from Northlands Road and to develop the business opportunities such a new venture offered. However, he has left suddenly "in order to pursue alternative business interests."

Hampshire Hawks suffered yet another defeat in the Norwich Union League Division II match this time against Lancashire Lightning, their sixth successive reverse in this league.

Vic Isaacs06-Aug-2002Hampshire Hawks suffered yet another defeat in the Norwich Union League Division II match this time against Lancashire Lightning, their sixth successive reverse in this league.There were perhaps a few more optimistic points to this performance than of late, in particular the batting of Jason Laney, and the bowling of the young James Tomlinson.Choosing to bat first, as is the norm in these floodlit matches, Hampshire struggled early on against the Lancashire seamers, the muggy conditions making the ball wobble about alarmingly.At 60 for 5, an early finish looked on the card, but this time the batting fought back, and posting 187 in the end was a testament to the grit that this team has at times. Jason Laney who has not been having the best of seasons scored a gritty 71, and he was helped in partnerships with Kendall, Mascarenhas and Tremlett.A partnership of 116 between Stuart Law and Mark Chilton gave Lancashire a platform that should have seen them coast to victory, not without controversy, when Law edged Tremlett to Johnson at slip, and was three parts back to the pavilion when he was called back, for the umpires to consult the third TV umpire, who was undecided by numerous replays, and had to give the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.On Law’s dismissal finally, Lancashire began to panic, and wickets fell at intervals, until with seven required off the last over skipper Warren Hegg drove Tomlinson for four to win it for the home side.Some questions however remained. Why was Law allowed to hang around when he had first accepted the catch from Johnson, why did Mullally and the economical Tremlett not bowl their full allocation of overs and why was Stuart Law awarded the Man of the Match award, an overpaid overseas star, when really Mark Chilton deserved the honour.

Many Wolves fans have flocked to a transfer update involving Trincao.

As per Diario Sport, an unnamed club in the Premier League have explored the possibility of signing him in the summer window, but FC Barcelona want at least €30m (£25.8m) for his signature.

The Midlands club were linked with a move for Trincao earlier this month, and so there has been some speculation that it could be them who are looking at signing the player.

The Portugal international is an emerging talent at just 21 years of age, and has gained a lot of experience playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt).

Given that he is a young Portuguese prospect, Trincao could fit in well at Molineux under new manager Bruno Lage, and so it is no surprise to see some WWFC supporters calling for him to be signed.

Wolves fans on Trincao transfer update

These Wanderers flocked to the transfer update as it was shared on Twitter by Talking Wolves, with one fan claiming that Trincao looks like a ‘promising’ player:

“Seems like a decent deal tbf. Very promising player”

Credit: @Kebab_Efendi

“Quit the chatting. Pay the money. Bring him in”

Credit: @dinglette1972

“This sounds like one our classic loan to buy deals in the making. Would be a decent one too.”

Credit: @parker_bradley

“Please do it”

Credit: @_samwwfc_

“Throw them the money they want immediately”Credit: @JoshHLem02″Bring him in”Credit: @WolvesNumber37In other news, find out what transfer update has left Wanderers buzzing here!

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has provided an update on the future of star player Wilfried Zaha and it’s not great news for the club’s supporters.

What’s the story?

The 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park for several years now, but rumours resurfaced in recent weeks, citing fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Everton as potential suitors.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Parish addressed the speculation surrounding Zaha, providing a fresh update on his future.

Fans will be gutted

However, since rejoining the south London outfit on a permanent basis back in 2015, the £40.5 million rated gem has gone from strength to strength.

The Ivory Coast international has been the Eagles’ talisman in recent seasons, scoring 68 goals and providing 72 assists in 393 appearances for his boyhood club.

His impressive form saw Arsenal attempt to acquire his services before settling for Nicolas Pepe a couple of years ago, but links to the Gunners have never fully died, with Mikel Arteta labelling the skilful winger “phenomenal” back in January 2020.

Zaha himself openly admitted that if an opportunity to play for a bigger club arose over the coming months, then he “wouldn’t turn it down” as he wants to win some silverware before he retires.

And Parish’s latest comments are bound to leave the Palace supporters feeling gutted as they prepare themselves for a turbulent off-season.

“We understand his position,” Parish said. “It’s no secret that he would like to challenge himself.”

“But it has to be right for the football club. He understands that as well. If those two things collide then we will have to look at it. But right now, we are two days into the transfer window, so it’s a bit early to talk about it.”

The capital club’s chief appeared to leave the door open to a possible exit for Zaha, which could be extremely damaging to their chances in the Premier League next term.

Palace are entering a transitional period following Roy Hodgson’s departure, and they’ll need their star man around to ensure things don’t turn sour in 2021/22.

The fact that Parish is seemingly willing to listen to offers for Zaha will leave plenty of Palace fans gutted as it opens the door for a club to come in and sign their club’s best player.

And, in other news…Imagine him and Lampard: Palace could form a dream duo with “different class” £15m gem 

Aston Villa transfer target James Ward-Prowse could form a superb partnership with Jack Grealish amid reports linking him with a move to the club this summer.

What’s the story?

The Guardian recently claimed that Villa manager Dean Smith is keen on making a move for the Southampton and England midfielder, which would tie in with what he recently had to say about the club’s transfer plans.

Smith admitted that the club would be looking to target players who have played in the Premier League before, as that can help them hit the ground running when joining.

Imagine him and Grealish

While Ward-Prowse didn’t make the cut to be a part of Gareth Southgate’s final England squad for Euro 2020, the prospect of him joining up with fellow Three Lions teammate Grealish at Villa Park next season is a mouth-watering one to say the least.

The £27m-rated star enjoyed an impressive season in the Premier League, bagging eight goals and setting up another seven, including scoring twice in a superb 4-3 win over Villa in November.

His set pieces in particular have become a real trademark of his, and it was something which left Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer raving about it last season.

The Norwegian said: “We played some fantastic football and created so many chances. We must have had five or six clear-cut opportunities but they had Ward-Prowse! You can’t stop him.

“It’s just one of them where you hope you don’t give set-pieces away. He’s got the quality and it’s one of them, you can’t blame anyone.”

Given that he plays deeper in midfield, Ward-Prowse can be the kind of central playmaker who collects the ball from the two centre-backs before playing those progressive passes into Grealish further forward.

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As per fbref.com, Ward-Prowse’s passes in the Premier League last season progressed for more than 10,000 yards, a real indication of how he is always looking to move things forward rather than keeping things simple.

That stat ranks him 49th in the entire division for 2020/21, a pretty impressive achievement considering most of the players above him are goalkeepers and defenders – in terms of midfielders, only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Ashley Westwood, Rodri and Granit Xhaka exceeded the 26-year-old’s tally.

Grealish would surely love to have someone who can raise the tempo of a game by playing those key passes in between the lines and into his feet as quickly as possible, and it has all the potential to be a really impressive partnership at Villa Park if Ward-Prowse makes the move.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing a move for this 6 foot 5 star…

West Ham United should be in for an exciting summer as David Moyes looks to bolster his playing squad ahead of a campaign in the Europa League next season.

It’s no secret that the 58-year-old needs additions right across the pitch, most notably up front, with Michail Antonio being his only senior striker since January.

There are also a lot of question marks over the future of Jesse Lingard, a player who has played an integral part in the Irons achieving a European finish.

The east Londoners would like to sign him permanently from Manchester United in the upcoming transfer window but, according to The Sun, there has been no contact between the two clubs over making that happen just yet, and there is a fear that the Red Devils could keep hold of him.

It means that West Ham should probably start considering other options, in which West Brom sensation Matheus Pereira features, whilst they have also been linked to Norwich City’s Player of the Season Emiliano Buendia.

Earlier this month, the Sunday Mirror (2nd May, page 72) linked the Hammers to the 24-year-old maestro but, since then, The Athletic believe that both Arsenal and Aston Villa are going toe-to-toe over his signature.

David Ornstein revealed that the Canaries expect him to leave in the summer window but it will require a fee in the region of £40m to sell him. That does seem like a huge price but his performances this season have been off the charts.

On their way to the Championship title, the Argentine playmaker has provided the Norfolk club with 15 goals and 17 assists, managing a direct contribution once every 106 minutes, as per Transfermarkt.

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By comparison, Lingard managed a goal or assist every 101 minutes since joining West Ham, although he registered just one assist in their final six matches of the season.

Moyes has had some very impressive names in the same role and he certainly hasn’t been afraid to dip into the lower divisions in English football to find the right man. For example, Tim Cahill was plucked from Millwall and quickly became one of the Scotsman’s most reliable and tenacious threats from midfield at Everton.

Only four other players have made more appearances under Moyes (277) but no man scored more than goals than the Australian talisman (68), via Transfermarkt.

In Buendia, the Hammers boss could well find himself another Cahill.

Recently lauded as a “special talent” by Norwich team-mate Ben Gibson, the 24-year-old has proven to be a source of consistency when it comes to creativity.

He averaged a whopping 3.1 key passes per game, a number which saw him top the charts across the Championship by quite some margin, and would also see him eclipse every single West Ham player by nearly double in 2020/21.

Also dubbed a “game-changer” by Norwich manager Daniel Farke, and “tenacious” and “very strong” by team-mate Max Aarons, it’s clear to see that the £20m-rated midfielder is destined for big things in the Premier League.

If Lingard proves to be out of reach, then Moyes should certainly look to repeat his successful trick with Cahill by plotting a swoop for the Canaries hotshot instead.

He would be a fine addition ahead of their Europa League campaign in the autumn.

AND in other news, West Ham could find next Antonio in explosive 23-goal “absolute predator”…

Everton are diving through their list of potential managers following the swift departure of Carlo Ancelotti back to Real Madrid and Forza Italian Football editor in chief Conor Clancy has backed Paulo Fonseca to do well at Goodison Park if given the chance.

The Toffees will need to get this appointment spot on as they have spent far too much money over the last few years to be languishing in mid-table, and Fonseca has been tipped as a contender to take up the hot seat at Everton by The Athletic.

Fonseca was the man who guided Roma to the Europa League semi-final which they ultimately lost against Manchester United because of their defensive frailties, however they showed glimpses of real quality especially on the counter-attack and from set-pieces.

Everton have hired and sacked their fair share of managers recently with the likes of Marco Silva, Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce the most recent examples, but Clancy has backed Fonseca to be the man to get it right at Everton, as he told Football FanCast exclusively:

“He got Roma to the semi-final of the Europa League which they shouldn’t have been anywhere near, and I know they got hammered in the end by Man United but that was just a 15-minute collapse.

“I quite like Fonseca and I do think that level of job just below the very top tier is one that he would do really well at and I think if he got the Everton job then I’d back him to do a very decent bit of work there.”

Everton started the season brightly, however, once their form fell off a cliff in 2021 their hopes of a European spot were dashed and considering they lost to the likes of Sheffield United and Newcastle United at home, fans must have expected that outcome.

The Toffees may struggle to keep some of their top players such as James Rodriguez and Richarlison now that Ancelotti’s has left as he appeared to be the glue keeping them all together after several poor seasons at Everton.

Hampshire’s bowlers toiled at Canterbury when on a good wicket Kent amassed 340-2 in 84 overs on the opening day of the Frizzell County Championship.

Vic Isaacs19-Apr-2002Hampshire’s bowlers toiled at Canterbury when on a good wicket Kent amassed 340-2 in 84 overs on the opening day of the Frizzell County Championship.Robert Key and David Fulton shared a record opening stand for the first wicket of 266, a record for the home team against Hampshire. The stand delayed by a 75 minute break for rain.Key in particular was punishing with an array of shots all round the wicket, passing his century with ease, before a mixup between the two led to Key being run out. An accurate throw from Mullally breaking the partnership after tea.Fulton fell two short of a well deserved century, when he skied an attempted pull to Tremlett off Zimbabwean Johnson.With a good forecast for Saturday, Kent will be looking to emulate the first day of the 2001 season when the strode past 500 against Middlesex.