All posts by h716a5.icu

Ireland’s first Test match will be against Pakistan in May 2018 after the two countries came to an agreement during the ICC meetings in Auckland this week

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2017Ireland’s first Test match will be against Pakistan in May 2018 after the two countries came to an agreement during the ICC meetings in Auckland this week.Ireland, along with Afghanistan, were elevated to Test status earlier this year.”We are excited to welcome Pakistan to Ireland for our inaugural Test match next year,” CEO Warren Deutrom said. “It has been our wish to make our Test debut in front of our own fans within 12 months of becoming a Test nation, and against a big team, so I’m delighted.”Pakistan’s trip to Ireland will come before their two-Test tour of England which begins in late May. The date and location for the Ireland match will be confirmed in the coming months.”There is a lot of work to do from now to ensure that it will be an occasion to remember but we, and I’m sure our players and fans, can’t wait to rise to it,” Deutrom said.”We would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board most sincerely for agreeing to be our first opponent in Test cricket, the Pakistan team has been a regular visitor to our shores in recent years, and their agreement to be our opponent on this important occasion for Irish cricket is further evidence of their terrific support.”Bangladesh were the previous team to join the Test ranks when they played their first match against India in November 2000.”Test cricket is the pinnacle of our sport and I know how much this game will mean to not only the players but all involved with Irish cricket. It’ll be another step on what has been an incredible journey for our sport in a relatively short passage of time,” William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, said.”It’s sure to be an incredible and emotional experience for all involved. I know how much this will mean to all the players and just how much we all will forward to our dream of being Test cricketers realised. I’m certain there will be an incredible atmosphere from both sets of fans who will be keen to witness a piece of history.”

Southampton are one of several clubs who are keeping tabs on the uncertain future of James McAtee.

What’s the latest on James McAtee to Southampton?

According to the Daily Mail, the Saints, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton, Celtic, and Sheffield United are all interested in signing the Manchester City youngster.

The reigning European Champions are said to be ‘reluctant’ to let McAtee leave, but it is clear that his pathway towards regular first-team football under Pep Guardiola.

Man City are now exploring a deal to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United, so McAtee might be forced to depart his boyhood club, with Russell Martin waiting with open arms.

Would James McAtee be a good signing for Southampton?

The 5 foot 11 livewire has been at Man City since 2013 and has developed into one of the country’s most exciting and effervescent talents.

In 86 appearances for the club’s U18 and U21 sides, whilst operating either as a conventional central midfielder or just behind the striker, he has recorded 70 goal contributions – it is a phenomenal record for a player who is clearly demonstrated that he is superior to youth level.

During this time, McAtee has also managed to feature six times for the senior side but formally rose to prominence in the English game whilst on loan at Sheffield United last term.

In 21 Championship starts, the Englishman registered 12 goal involvements and was an integral member of the team that achieved promotion back to the Premier League.

During this spell, where he made 43 appearances, the playmaker admitted that it was a ‘great experience’ that has massively helped his career: “I feel like I found myself at United. I found the way I want to play and how I want to affect games. It’s been a great experience.”

Now with a taste of playing regular football and being heavily valued, it seems unlikely that McAtee will be contempt with sporadic substitute appearances in Manchester.

The joyous technician is a tremendously promising footballer, which has led to the nickname the ‘Salford Silva’, in which Gary Neville feels he is almost a clone of the majestic Spaniard.

Stunning close control, unrelenting creativity, and wondrous vision were all traits that became synonymous with Silva’s trophy-laden ten-year stint in England.

From a Saints perspective, if they can tempt McAtee to the south coast, they could finally source a long-term heir to the irrepressible Adam Lallana.

The former Liverpool maestro spent eight years at Southampton and was an indispensable component of the side that progressed from League One to the top flight.

In 265 appearances, he scored 60 goals and created 48 assists, effortlessly gliding across the pitch with magnificent technique, dribbling, and flair.

His unassailable intelligence to pick up positions behind the striker meant he was crucial in offensive sequences.

This was recognised by Jurgen Klopp, who lauded Lallana as ‘brilliant’, adding:

“He can play different positions, he's quick, he's mentally strong, he's a smart player.”

McAtee, who has previously been hailed as “special” by Guardiola, can be offered a fresh start at St Marys, which would give him the chance to replicate his Sheffield United performances and the heroics of Lallana.

Liverpool are set to make a third bid for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to a fresh update from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

How old is Romeo Lavia?

The 19-year-old has emerged as arguably the Reds' main summer transfer target since the end of last season, with two bids for him already rejected by Saints. With Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai arriving earlier in the window, the main focus now seems to be on acquiring the Belgian's signature.

Lavia is a big transfer target for a club of Liverpool's stature, which says a lot about what an exciting young talent he is, having enjoyed an impressive first season at St Mary's after joining on a permanent basis from Manchester City last summer.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The midfielder started 26 games in the Premier League in 2022/23, standing out despite his side eventually being relegated to the Championship, and it would now be a big surprise if he was still a Saints player when the current transfer window closes at the end of August.

Are Liverpool set to sign Romeo Lavia?

Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri stated that he expects Liverpool to table a third offer for Lavia, as they finally look to break Southampton's resolve:

"Liverpool FC ready to make a third & ultimate offer for Romeo Lavia. I understand the bid will meet the £40m transfer fee expectations by Saints FC + add-ons. Player’s side just waiting for LFC to activate but informed the club his desire to join the Reds.

"There’s a feeling that Klopp’s team are the only squad able to do such offer at that moment. Dialogue remains opens as Southampton FC won’t let leave his biggest sale of the year with the financial impact of a relegation. Deal still ON."

At this point, it would be a shock if Lavia didn't move to Liverpool this summer, with Saints seemingly only holding out for a big fee, and the Reds likely to match the amount desired at some point.

The Belgium international could be a fantastic signing and a perfect replacement for Fabinho in the No.6 role, even if he is still a very inexperienced player learning his trade. He has shown that he can more than hold his own against top-flight players, outperforming older teammates at Southampton, and there is no reason why he can't hit the ground running.

Lavia's class is highlighted by what City manager Pep Guardiola has said about him in the past, with the Spaniard talking him up and justifying why it made sense for him leave:

"I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing. We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton."

It would be unfair to expect Lavia to play with the maturity of Fabinho every week, given his age, but his ability to cover ground, make tackles and keep the ball ticking over could be an invaluable addition to Liverpool's summer midfield rebuild, in what has been a massive change in the middle of the park.

The World XI captain spoke about how he initially wrestled with the idea of playing in Pakistan, before being put at ease by the comprehensive security arrangements

Danyal Rasool in Lahore11-Sep-2017World XI captain Faf du Plessis chose to see the silver lining amid the dark cloud of uncertainty that hovers over international cricket in Pakistan, saying the presidential-style security afforded to the touring players made them feel like they “were in a movie”.Squads

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Ruman Raees, Usman Khan, Sohail Khan.
World XI: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Samuel Badree, George Bailey, Paul Collingwood, Ben Cutting, Grant Elliott, Tamim Iqbal, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Tim Paine, Thisara Perera, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy.

The South Africa captain spoke about being approached to play in the series and how he initially wrestled with the idea of playing in Pakistan, before being put at ease by the comprehensive security arrangements.”When this whole thing came about, you do think about those sort of things, but as soon as we spoke to the people who were in control of the security, the planning, things were fine,” du Plessis said. “As a player all you want is that peace of mind and they gave it to us, so they are very confident that this will be smooth sailing. As soon as we got onto the plane those thoughts were gone; we just wanted to get here and experience what was going to be something that was going to be huge turnaround in world cricket. The last 24 hours were exciting because the excitement of last night is not something we as players get to do normally, getting on a private jet, being chauffeured away from the plane, so we felt like we were in a movie.”Du Plessis repeatedly alluded to the end of his playing days – he even said he was unlikely to be on a tour to Pakistan with South Africa because he would have retired by then – and spoke of the importance of this tour for the legacy he’d like to leave behind. “As a captain you always look for things to try and leave your mark in what you do in a team. I thought this was a great opportunity for me when the coach [Andy Flower] phoned me and said he’d like me to captain this side. In a few years’ time when I look back at my career, it would be nice to look at ways where you had your footprint in the game of cricket whether it would be in your own team as captain. This will be certainly be something that in few years’ time when I sit down with my family. This will be something that I can say was a huge honour to be a part of. Looking back on my career it’ll be great to say that I made an impact on bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.”Meanwhile, Andy Flower, whose brother Grant has been the Pakistan batting coach since 2014, spoke of the honour of coaching the World XI. “I feel privileged to be sitting here and addressing you as the coach of the World XI,” he said. “We are here to celebrate Pakistan’s 70th anniversary of independence, play our part in the revival of international cricket in Pakistan, and play some great cricket in front of the Pakistani people.Andy Flower and Faf du Plessis at a press conference after arriving in Lahore•Associated Press”We, as the World XI, would also like to offer our sympathy and condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones in terrorist acts in Pakistan. As you all know, this has been the reason for international cricket staying away from this great cricketing nation.”As someone who has contributed to cricket even after his retirement, primarily as coach of England for five successful years, it is easy to forget Flower is also one of the greatest cricketers from Zimbabwe. He expressed his affection for a country he toured three times in five years, as well as the 1996 World Cup, and his satisfaction at being able to do a favour for a country that he said was a “great supporter” of Zimbabwe cricket.”On a personal note, I have a strong bond with Pakistan, having toured here with the Zimbabwe cricket team in 1993, ’96 and ’98. Of course, the 1998 Test in Peshawar stands out for me because we won it and that helped us win our maiden Test series. The weather helped us just a little bit in the next two Tests in Lahore and Faisalabad as they were smogged off. But Pakistan was a great supporter of Zimbabwean cricket in those early days in the early 90’s, and I really appreciate the opportunities they helped create for me and other cricketers of Zimbabwe. My personal bonds with guys like Mushie [Mushtaq Ahmed] and Mo [Mohammad] Akram, and my brother’s experiences with the Pakistan players makes it particularly special for me to be here.”Flower also said that his brother’s stint in Pakistan helped him in making up his mind. “He’s [Grant’s] been with Pakistan team for three years, and he’s really enjoyed his time. He loved working with international batsmen and has enjoyed working with level of talent in this country. I spoke with him after Giles Clarke had first approached me with this idea. We always communicate a lot so I hear about things at the academy [National Cricket Academy], and I was quite comfortable with the feedback that he was giving me.”Du Plessis and Flower both said this was “more than just a cricket tour” in the way they hoped it would help Pakistan in the long run.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane's future hangs in the balance and it would be 'crazy' not to sell him this summer from a financial standpoint, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer?

According to The Daily Mail, Bayern Munich are 'increasingly confident' that they will be able to land Kane this summer in spite of seeing a £70 million offer for the England international rebuffed this window.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been instructed by owner Joe Lewis, who is facing criminal charges for insider trading in the United States, that he must sell Kane this window rather than allowing him to run down his £200k-a-week contract until 2024, where he would then be able to leave on a free transfer.

Telegraph Sport understand that Bayern Munich are now set to ramp up their efforts to sign Kane and have sent two of their executives, Jan-Christian Dreesen and Marco Neppe, on a private jet to London to hold face-to-face talks with Spurs' hierarchy over a deal for Kane.

Paris Saint-Germain had reportedly been keen to acquire Kane; however, it is said that the 30-year-old doesn't want to move to the French capital.

BILD via The Evening Standard have now delivered an update that the private jet Dreesen and Neppe were meant to travel on to London was cancelled on Thursday night; nevertheless, this is thought to be linked to Bayern Munich fans identifying and tracking the jet on flight-tracking technology, which had then been shared to social media.

Last term, Kane was in superb form for Spurs, registering 32 goals and five assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Brown thinks that Tottenham would be 'crazy' not to sell Kane this summer as it is the last chance they will get to recoup a sizeable fee for his services if he doesn't sign a new contract.

Brown stated: "That position makes sound, financial sense for Spurs. It doesn't seem like Kane is willing to sign a new contract and if that is the case, this is the last chance Spurs have to receive a decent fee for him.

"But I genuinely think that this summer is when Kane leaves Spurs. It feels like the stars are aligned for it now."

Who could replace Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur?

Football Insider report that Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic could be under consideration by Tottenham as a potential replacement for Kane and is available to move this summer due to the Italian giants being in the midst of financial difficulty.

Spurs will likely face competition for the Serbia international from Paris Saint-Germain, who are looking for a new forward in the window.

The Independent claim that Flamengo striker Pedro is on a list of targets as Kane's future continues to dominate the headlines in N17 and he feels he is finally ready to play for a sizeable European side four years on from a spell at Fiorentina.

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has revealed that Spurs have opened talks with Eintracht Frankfurt frontman Randal Kolo Muani over a deal that could be worth €80 million and the France international would be keen to move to north London.

James Anderson produced his best figures at Old Trafford as England reduced South Africa to 220 for 9 at the close, still well behind their first-innings 362

The Report by Andrew Miller05-Aug-2017South Africa 220 for 9 (Bavuma 46, Anderson 4-33) trail England 362 (Bairstow 99, Stokes 58, Root 52) by 142 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:21

Moonda: Anderson doing what SA would want from Steyn

Honours conferred on active sportsmen don’t always work out as their instigators might have intended – Sir Andy Murray, for one, hasn’t had much to cheer about since being asked to arise in the New Year’s Honours. But for James Anderson, Lancashire’s most prolific Test wicket-taker, the chance to ply his trade from the newly conferred James Anderson End at Old Trafford merely raised his game to heights he has rarely matched in six previous matches on his home ground.By the close of the second day, Anderson’s figures of 4 for 33, his best in Tests at Old Trafford, allied to a brilliant display of ball-striking and strike-farming from Jonny Bairstow in the morning session, had pushed South Africa to the brink of surrender in the series. They limped to the close on 220 for 9, still trailing by 142, with Kagiso Rabada’s last-ball dismissal summing up their futile situation.Anderson’s day was split into three acts, all of them originating from in front of his new fiefdom by the ground’s grand old pavilion. First he strode out with the bat to a hero’s welcome from the crowd, and responded with a vital and undefeated cameo at the end of England’s first innings – 4 not out from 15 balls providing an obdurate foil to the brilliant Bairstow, who reeled off the bulk of a 50-run stand in 9.1 overs for the last wicket before being adjudged lbw for 99 by the tightest of margins. On Bairstow’s watch, England had added 102 runs to their overnight 260 for 4 to turn a dicey position into a dominant one.Bairstow’s 99, Moeen’s best series

15 Players from England to be dismissed for 99 in a Test. Jonny Bairstow is the latest addition to this rather unlucky set. Bairstow also become the first player since Ricky Ponting in 2008 to be dismissed for 99 against South Africa.
12 Average runs addedThree different pairs have been tried by South Africa during this period but the highest stand has been 21.
3 Number of instances Toby Roland-Jones has dismissed Hashim Amla in this series. In 21 balls he has conceded 7 runs and has got him out three times.
20 Wickets for Moeen Ali in the series so far – the most he has taken in a series. His previous best was 19 wickets against India in 2014.

Then, armed with the new ball and doubtless eager to christen his end of the ground with a wicket worthy of the name, Anderson wasted no time in making his mark. Dean Elgar, South Africa’s anchorman, lasted just three balls before being pinned on the shin by a trademark Anderson inswinger to the left-hander. South Africa reached lunch on 12 for 1 after four testing overs.His most telling intercession, however, came midway through the evening session, when he returned in the 39th over to lively up what had been a meandering South Africa innings. His team-mates had, by that stage, fronted up to keep England in command: Toby Roland-Jones continued his improbable stranglehold over the mighty Hashim Amla by dismissing him for the third time in as many innings – appropriately enough, with a strangle down the leg side – while Moeen Ali, enjoying a superb run of form with the ball, applied a mercy killing to a tenacious but teetering stay from Heino Kuhn, inducing a low edge to slip in the second over of his spell.At 131 for 3, Temba Bavuma had been settling into a dogged but essential stay, in partnership with his captain, Faf du Plessis. But in the whirr of a bowling arm, Anderson accounted for both in the space of three balls – first, a snarling inswinger on a full length, that Bavuma attempted to leave but instead saw kiss the top of off stump, before du Plessis was late coming forward to another perfect-length delivery, and inside-edged on to his own stumps for 27.James Anderson produced a three-wicket burst from the James Anderson End•Getty ImagesWith the wind behind him, Anderson could have made it three in nine balls as Theunis de Bruyn flinched a searing lifter into the gully off the splice, where Keaton Jennings made brilliant ground to his left but couldn’t cling on with one hand. And then, to compound England’s momentary frustration, Quinton de Kock was reprieved from the very next ball, dropped by Ben Stokes at slip as he squeezed a cramped cut off Moeen.But England’s progress wasn’t dented for long. With fizzing full-length discipline, allied to a threat of movement and a short ball up his sleeve, Anderson ensured that South Africa’s only instinct remained survival. He conceded a solitary run from his next three overs, and that off a yorker to de Kock that all but wriggled through his defences.De Bruyn, who had got off the mark with an unexpectedly emphatic reverse sweep off Moeen, eventually dented Anderson’s figures a touch with a firm clip for four through midwicket. But, as if affronted, Jimmy made him pay with his very next ball – full, straight and bursting off the edge to Joe Root at second slip, as he completed a brilliant, innings-wrecking spell of 7-3-13-3.England’s erratic dominance continued straight after the evening drinks break, when Keshav Maharaj, on 1, edged Moeen off the tip of Bairstow’s gloves and away through his legs to safety. Maharaj briefly cast off his shackles – and surprised a crowd who seemed to be having a post-prandial snooze – by crashing Moeen over long-on for a vast six to save the follow-on, but three balls later, he was pinned plumb in front of the stumps and had given himself out before umpire Kumar Dharmasena had a chance to raise his finger.At 167 for 7, the ever-dangerous de Kock was South Africa’s last real hope of parity, but he seemed as muted, as he had earlier been in the field. He needed 39 deliveries to reach double figures, scored the second of his two boundaries via a thick edge through third slip, and had already survived a tough stumping opportunity on 16 when Stuart Broad found his outside edge for Bairstow to atone with a well-judged leap to his left.The final overs were a mishmash of intent and reticence from England, who were keen to wrap up the innings, but not so keen that they would be required to face any overs before the close. Dawid Malan even entered the fray for an exploratory over of all-sorts, before Broad set the seal on a day of largely unchecked dominance, Stokes swooping brilliantly in the gully to break a determined ninth-wicket stand of 31.The only minor note of discord in England’s day – at least where a hugely contented crowd was concerned – came when Bairstow missed out on what would have been a richly deserved and wildly acclaimed century.Having resumed on 33 not out overnight, Bairstow lost Roland-Jones and Moeen to an aggressive spell from Rabada in the first half-hour of the day, but took it upon himself to counterattack with the confidence of a man who is in the midst of an 18-month golden period. He was especially harsh on Morne Morkel, cracking him for four fours in 12 balls, and Duanne Olivier, whose first over included a towering six down the ground as he charged into the 90s, but despite Anderson’s most worthy efforts, three figures would prove elusive.With just a single needed for his fourth Test century, Bairstow elected for the sweep against Maharaj. He planted his foot outside off stump, but not far enough to satisfy Dharmasena, whose on-field verdict was upheld on review with the edge of the ball just satisfying the parameters of DRS. A groan of anguish went up from the ground, but Bairstow had done his bit. Not least, in setting the stage for the man that the crowd had really come to watch.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Football Scotland, the Hoops have an interest in signing Gremio attacker Ferreira before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that they are eyeing up the 25-year-old attacker as they also close in on a deal to sign Legia Warsaw centre-back Maik Nawrocki for a fee in the region of £4m.

This comes after the same outlet stated earlier this week that it could take around £6m for the Bhoys to secure a deal for the Brazilian winger, who has been the subject of an enquiry from the Scottish giants.

How good is Ferreira?

The Gremio ace has endured an injury-disrupted couple of years in Brazil and this transfer would be about how Brendan Rodgers is able to uncover the best of his form, which was showcased throughout 2021.

Ferreira has missed 31 competitive matches through injury since August 2022, due to a muscle problem and a hamstring issue, and this has stunted his development.

The tricky left winger, who has scored three goals and provided three assists in 14 games this season, has the potential to be a big upgrade on current Hoops forward Daizen Maeda if he is able to get back to his best.

During the 2021 campaign, the £6m-rated sensation produced 14 goals and 13 assists across 52 outings in all competitions for Gremio. This works out as a direct goal contribution every 1.93 matches on average – more than one every other game from a wide position.

Maeda, meanwhile, has scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 71 appearances for Celtic during his time in Scotland, which is an average of an involvement every 2.29 clashes.

Last season, the Japan international was directly involved in a goal every 2.72 outings with 11 strikes and seven assists over 49 competitive games.

These statistics suggest that Ferreira could provide a greater threat on the left wing if Rodgers is able to get him back to top form at Parkhead, due to his impressive numbers in 2021 for Gremio.

During the 2021 Serie A season, the Brazilian magician completed 84% of his attempted passes and created 1.4 chances per match for his teammates.

Out of Celtic's wingers, only Jota (1.9), who has since moved on to join Al Ittihad, produced more key passes per game throughout the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership campaign, as Maeda ranked 15th among the entire squad with only 0.8 per clash.

This indicates that Ferreira could provide his fellow attackers with more opportunities in front of goal to add to their own tallies, to go along with his superior goal involvement figures.

Of course, this transfer would be a gamble for the Hoops given the 25-year-old wizard's recent injury woes but it is one that has the potential to be worth it due to his sublime form when fully fit for Gremio.

Rodgers could uncover a big upgrade on Maeda on the left flank and it is now down to Rodgers to push for this deal to get over the line over the coming weeks.

Andrew Umeed battled throughout the day to score 95 runs in 96 overs and keep Warwickshire in the game against Lancashire

George Dobell at Edgbaston27-Jun-2017
Scorecard3:57

Does pink-ball cricket have a future in England?

It took 252 years to build York Minster, 400 years to build Angkor Wat and up to 2000 years to carve the citadel at Petra out of rock, so perhaps, in context, Andrew Umeed’s innings here wasn’t so slow after all. Just one of the slowest in Championship history.According to Robert Brooke, the cricket statistician, in terms of minutes, Umeed’s century exceeded the 420-minute hundred by WH Denton for Northants against Derbyshire in 1914, although at exactly seven hours that calculation sounds suspiciously like an approximation. Umeed’s hundred was raised in 429 minutes, although it is a safe guess he faced fewer balls. Only Jason Gallian, who made a 453-minute hundred for Lancashire against Derbyshire in Blackpool in 1994 has scored a slower Championship century.There was a moment – and by a moment, think a couple of hours – when it seemed Umeed might also register the slowest half-century (this time in terms of balls received) in the history of the County Championship. As it was, he edged one through the hands of Alex Davies to reach the landmark in the 71st over of the Warwickshire innings having faced 220 balls. Billy Godleman’s record – he faced 244 balls on the way to a half-century against Middlesex at Lord’s in 2013 – remains unbeaten.Umeed’s innings was, in its way, a masterful demonstration of patience and restraint. He knows where his off stump is and is clearly perfectly happy to leave and defend all day. Of the two boundaries in his first 50, only one – an off drive against Tom Bailey – was hit in front of square. It kept Warwickshire’s heads above water in this game and annoyed James Anderson enormously. At one stage, a pigeon circled and considered landing on his left shoulder. It could have nested quite comfortably without fear of disturbance. While long-form cricket is played, there will still be value – and an entertainment of sorts – in such batting.But it suggested, not for the first time, that there are limitations to the pink ball. It suggests, as was the case when the ball was trailed in a 2nd XI game here last year, that once it goes soft, the game can become terribly, mind-numbingly, counter-productively, stultifying attritional.There’s a place for attrition, of course. But the purpose of the pink ball is, in part at least, to attract a new audience to the game. And if that new audience – and at present, 45% of ticket sales to the Test here in August against West Indies are customers who have never bought Test tickets to this ground before – is presented with a spectacle like this, it’s a fair bet that few of them will be back.Perhaps, on a different type of surface, those factors might have been mitigated. This pitch, used previously for the Champions Trophy semi-final, was unusually slow and probably exaggerated the pink ball’s limitations. Warwickshire, understandably, were reluctant to risk a grassy pitch against an opposition with Anderson in their line-up but may well have learned from this experience and provide bowlers a bit more assistance for the Test. They certainly won’t utilise a used pitch for that Test and this whole game might reasonably be thought of as an experiment.From what we’ve seen in the pink-ball games so far, it seems safe to make a couple of guarded conclusions. For the first 15 overs or so, the ball appears to swing pretty much the same way as a red ball. It also retains its proud seam position for the full 80 overs, which ensures bowlers have at least something with which to work.But it seems impossible to buff, apparently due to a lack of grease in the leather (more grease would darken it), which limits the opportunities for swing – either conventional or reverse (though there was a little reverse in both innings). Combined with its propensity to lose hardness quite quickly, it means bowlers are pretty much reduced to bowling line and length and batsmen, with little pace with which to work, must wait for the poor ball. Which means, when patient batsmen and disciplined bowlers collide, you have something approaching stalemate.Andrew Umeed scored his second first-class hundred•Getty ImagesThat’s pretty much what we saw on day two at Edgbaston. Once Jonathan Trott had departed, attempting to force across the line having made a half-century, and Ian Bell had nibbled just a little tentatively at a fine ball that left him off the seam, the day became a battle for survival between Umeed and the Lancashire bowlers.The seamers gave him almost nothing to hit. But their attempts to lure him into a rash shot – or even any sort of shot – came to very little. He steered one past point and another just past gully – the uncharitable would call it an edge – but generally was happy to accumulate with a push here and a nudge there. There were no pulls and few drives but, for a man playing for his future and his team’s Division One survival, it was an admirable effort. He produced something similar – a 158-ball innings of 45 – in the pink-ball 2nd XI match here last year.He did give a couple of chances. The first, on 19, looked tough – Davies was unable to cling on to one far to his right off Clark – while the second, on 49, was similar and off Anderson. Anderson left Umeed in no doubt as to how he felt about such an innings.While Tim Ambrose, who reached his 10,000th first-class run when he got off the mark, wafted at a wide one, Sam Hain was brilliantly caught by Anderson – left-handed and ankle height – in his follow through. When Rikki Clarke and Keith Barker were dismissed by successive deliveries, victims of the swing of the second new ball, Umeed sped up. His second fifty took a relatively brisk 111 balls with his century brought up with a delightful back-foot force that would have delighted Joe Root. In all, having resumed on 8 overnight, he scored 95 in 96 overs and goes into day three with power to add. Lancashire, you can be quite sure, are sick of the sight of him.With Jeetan Patel adding some impetus, Warwickshire even managed to claim a second batting bonus point and claw themselves close to parity with Lancashire. If the weather holds – and the forecast is not promising – we might even have an intriguing finish.Meanwhile Haseeb Hameed was forced off the pitch after splitting the webbing between a couple of his fingers – he had two or three stitches and is expected to bat without undue impediment in Lancashire’s second innings – and Chris Woakes returned to training. Woakes had a bat on Monday and, after attempting a gentle bowl, decided he was not quite ready for such rigours. He could, if required, play as a specialist batsman for Warwickshire within a week or so.Warwickshire also announced the signing of Yorkshire allrounder Will Rhodes. He is not likely to be the last of their acquisitions, though they will have more scope for movement at the end of 2018 when over £1m of the annual wage bill will be freed up by players out of contract.

CA and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are inching towards a compromise, with discussions of a new hybrid model

Daniel Brettig25-Jul-20173:46

What exactly is the Cricket Australia-ACA pay dispute?

Compromise between Australian cricket’s warring parties appears closer than ever as the previously divergent positions of Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association shift towards long overdue middle ground.For virtually the first time in a pay war now more than nine months old, CA has appeared to consent to a model of revenue sharing that has been adjusted to allow more of the game’s financial upside to flow into areas such as grassroots cricket, while still affording a significant proportion of money above projections to all players.CA’s chief executive James Sutherland, his ACA counterpart Alistair Nicholson and their negotiating teams were believed to be meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the board’s most recent submission of MoU articles that factor in the new, hybrid model. The players had previously consented to discussions based on “modernised” revenue sharing that would commit up to A$30 million of player payment pool money to the game’s lower levels.While negotiations appeared to hit a major snag last week when CA sent the ACA an updated Article 5 of a proposed MoU that deleted all references to revenue sharing, further discussions and correspondence between Sutherland and Nicholson have proven more fruitful.Talks between the parties now appear to be as much about the optics of the deal – CA being able to claim a break from the fixed revenue percentage model that has existed over the past two decades and the ACA being able to say it has been retained – as its detail. One industry figure noted that the emergence of issues over the wording of clauses suggested that agreement “must be close to happening”.After the ACA distributed details of its “peace plan” based on recent discussions to all contracted players over the weekend, the newspaper has published an outline of CA’s possible compromise. “Under the terms of CA’s ­revised offer,” the report said, “men and women players would draw their salaries and bonuses from an agreed total player payment pool equating to a percentage of forecast revenue. Above forecast revenue would be distributed according to a complex, sliding scale ­between the players, community cricket infrastructure and other spending priorities.”Both the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket Australia have shifted from fixed positions•Getty ImagesThe same newspaper had previously published CA’s complaints about this year’s adjustment ledger payment of more than A$58 million going to the male players covered under the previous MoU but not the female players who were paid directly by CA during that time. It then published a column and front-page pointer story by the CA chairman David Peever in which he denied being “anti-union” during his days at the mining company Rio Tinto. CA’s head of communications, government relations and infrastructure is Mark O’Neill, a former Rio Tinto executive who has also worked in federal politics.The ACA’s proposed terms, meanwhile, were close to those reportedly offered up by CA. According to an ACA statement on Sunday: “Players conceded to accept CA’s lower end revenue scenarios as the basis for the allocation to Australian Cricket Revenue (ACR) given market and contract uncertainty; Players accepting an agreed percentage of the ACR forecast. (Note this percentage is of ACR and not Total Cricket Revenue (TCR) and it is not an increase in share on the last MOU but does factor in the inclusion of all female players).”Revenue sharing is modified so that the players allocate up to $30 million via a new Players Grassroots Investment Fund (PGIF) from their share of over forecast revenue and performance bonuses. Thus reducing the share of revenue players would otherwise earn.”While numerous areas remain up for debate, namely what the percentage due to players – previously 24.5-27% of ACR – should be and what should be excluded and included in the ACR definition, the earlier state of impasse has at least been broken down. CA had initially proposed fixed wages for all players, augmented by a capped bonus system for international male and female players, with minimal increases for domestic male players in particular.By contrast the ACA proposed a fixed percentage of 22.5% of agreed cricket revenue for all players, a further 22.5% for grassroots investment and the remaining 55% to remain with CA for other areas of the game. A week before the previous MoU’s expiry on June 30, CA revised its offer to include all players in the capped bonus system and also to raise the wages on offer to domestic male players, without specifying by how much.One of the ACA’s longtime complaints was that it had not been provided with sufficient financial records by which to judge CA’s offers, which the players claimed to include payroll tax, prize money and the assumption that all players would draw match fees by playing in all possible fixtures. Another point of contention was the inclusion of overseas Big Bash League players – who typically draw the most lucrative contracts from each team’s salary cap – in the “average” wage to be offered to domestic males.About three weeks remain for an agreement to be struck between CA and the ACA to avoid numerous forms of dislocation to the game, from the cancellation of the looming Bangladesh Test tour to the floundering of various commercial deals for the summer with sponsors, broadcasters and advertisers on those broadcasts.The dispute has already resulted in the cancellation of an Australia A tour to South Africa earlier this month, while more than 230 players have been left out of contract, and therefore unemployed, since the expiry of the previous MoU on July 1. All players have continued to train without pay over that period. Members of Australia’s Test squad for Bangladesh met in Sydney on Monday and stated their support from compromise, while also reiterating their commitment to refuse going on the tour unless an agreement is reached beforehand.Both CA and the ACA declined to comment.

Aston Villa are believed to be interested in signing Galatasaray midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour from Italy.

How many goals has Nicolo Zaniolo scored?

The 24-year-old has been a highly-rated footballer for some time now, but unfortunately, injuries have tended to define his promising career to date. Cruelly, a cruciate ligament problem in 2020/21 saw him miss a huge chunk of action and he has been dogged by various other fitness issues over the years, too.

On the plus side, Zaniolo has continued to perform at a good level when fit, and he scored five goals in ten Turkish Super Lig appearances for Galatasaray last season – he only joined during the January transfer window.

The attacking midfielder is also a 13-cap Italy international, further highlighting the ability that he possesses, and while his current deal in Turkey lasts until 2027, that doesn't mean that an exit this summer is out of the question.

Villa are enjoying a superb transfer window to date, bringing in the likes of Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres, while Moussa Diaby also looks set to join the club imminently. It could be that Zaniolo is another summer target for the Villans, following the emergence of a new transfer rumour.

Could Aston Villa sign Nicolo Zaniolo?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via The Boot Room], the Italian is wanted by Villa this summer, seeing him as someone who can bolster their options in the middle of the park, especially if other midfield targets end up being unattainable, such as Thiago Almada.

There is a clear risk element when it comes to the club potentially signing Zaniolo, with his aforementioned injury problems standing out as an obvious issue.

If Villa believe that he has overcome the worst of those issues, however, he could be an exciting signing, having been described as "incredible" by none other than Roma legend Daniele De Rossi in the past.

He tasted UEFA Europa Conference League glory with the Giallorossi in 2021/22 – a competition that Villa are of course in next season, which is an added bonus in terms of his winning mentality in it – and he also won the title with Galatasaray last term.

Whether Zaniolo's current club are willing to sell so soon after signing him remains to be seen, with a hefty offer potentially having to be table to get him, but he should certainly be viewed as an intriguing target by Villa.

His natural ability is undeniable, with 24 goals and 18 assists coming his way for Roma, and he could almost be seen as a luxury midfield option for Unai Emery – someone who may not always be available, but who can be an influential when he is fit and firing, providing something more exciting and unpredictable in midfield.

If the Villans were ultimately to decide against signing Zaniolo this summer, it would make plenty of sense because of his fitness concerns, but there would be a level of intrigue to the signing if he did come in, being seen as something of a wildcard addition that could pay off handsomely.