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Sri Lanka’s selectors named three uncapped players in a new-look 16-man squad to tour South Africa later this month to play two Test matches

Charlie Austin03-Oct-2002Sri Lanka’s selectors named three uncapped players in a new-look 16-man squad to tour South Africa later this month to play two Test matches.All-rounder Hasantha Fernando and fast bowlers Thilan Thushara Mirando and Tharanga Lakshitha were all included in the squad that includes six bowlers and just one solitary spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan.Mirando and Lakshitha, both aged 20, will join the experienced Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando, as the selectors look to the future.Mirando, a left-arm fast bowler from Balapitiya, rated the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka today, and Lakshitha, a right-arm quickie from Matara whose played just ten first-class games, are products of the BCCSL’s fast bowling unit and are both currently touring Pakistan with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team.Fast bowlers Sujeewa de Silva and Chamila Lakshitha Gamage, both of who impressed during Bangladesh’s two Test tour of Sri Lanka in July when they made their international debut, have also been included.The selector’s axe thus falls on five pace bowlers from Sri Lanka’s last Test tour to England, including Buddika Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Nuwan Zoysa, Ishara Amarasinghe and Eric Upashantha.There is also a place for 21-year-old left-handed batsman Jehan Mubarak, a former Sri Lanka Under 19 middle order batsman that also impressed with the Sri Lanka A team, who fills the vacancy left by Aravinda de Silva after the veteran decided to retire from Test cricket earlier in the week.Experienced 34-year-old left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne and 29-year-old wicket-keeper Prassana Jayawardene both retain their places in the side after the England tour.There is no place for middle order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, no Thilan Samaraweera, an off-spinning all-rounder that has excelled in the Test side in home conditions during the past year averaging 83 after 10 Tests.The two Tests are scheduled to be played at Johannesburg on November 8 and at Centurion starting November 15.The squad, picked on Tuesday and awaiting ratification by the Sports Ministry, will undergo changes for the five one-day internationals which will follow after the Tests.Full squad:Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russell Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Jehan Mubarak, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Sujeewa de Silva, Chamila Gamage, Thilina Thushara, Tharanga Lakshitha, Muttiah Muralitharan, Prasanna Jayawardene

Worcestershire Royals have regained their lead at the top of the first division of the Norwich Union League with a thumping win over local rivals Warwickshire Bears

George Dobell19-Aug-2002Worcestershire Royals have regained their lead at the top of the first division of the Norwich Union League with a thumping win over local rivals Warwickshire Bears.A stand of 183 for the first wicket between Vikram Solanki (91) and Anurag Singh (75*) was the key as the visitors made light of a target of 216, to clinch victory by eight wickets with five overs remainingSolanki was fantastic, hitting first Carter (whose first four over spell cost 29) and then Mo Sheikh (three overs for 24) out of the attack as the hosts, skippered by Dougie Brown in place of the dropped Michael Powell, wilted under the assault.Delicate late cut was followed by flowing drive and powerful pull as Solanki produced the form that attracted the notice of the England selectors, while Singh proved his worth on a return trip to the club that used him so sparingly.Earlier a one-day career best of 84 by Mark Wagh had led Warwickshire Bears to a challenging score of 216-8.The Bears started cautiously in a key game for both sides. Knight and Wagh were happy to play percentage cricket for the opening overs, secure in the knowledge that winning the toss was worth about another 30 runs in a floodlit encounter, played in front of a good-sized crowd.Knight tried to push on, hitting 14 off one Sheriyar over, including his trademark straight drive following a skip down the wicket. He helped add 62 for the first wicket before slashing flat-footedly at Lampitt only to see the ball lodge in between Rhodes’ legs.Ostler fell to a similar faint edge, leaving Ian Bell to show his class in outscoring Wagh in a 50-run partnership before pushing Lampitt to a diving Solanki at point. Troughton fell to a fine stumping off a leg-stump wide as Royals checked the attempted acceleration, and ensured that there was to be no late surge in the hosts scoring rate. A final total of 216 was probably about par.Ironically, Warwickshire were hindered by the absence of lights in the later stages of their innings, with Wagh and Neil Smith falling to straight ones from Leatherdale (to leave him with 4-37) in increasing gloom, while the lights remained down.In the other Division One match at Taunton, a second century in two days by Kevin Pietersen led Nottinghamshire Outlaws closer to safety and, consequently, increased the likelihood of relegation for Somerset Sabres. Pietersen scored 147 in the Outlaws’ total of 296 for seven and was well-suppoted in a stand of 158 for the fifth wicket with Bilal Shafayat, who contributed a stylish 66.The Sabres had lost half their wickets with only 80 on the board when Keith Parsons (73) and Matthew Wood (61) made a fight of it. They could not threaten the visitors’ total, however, and Nottinghamshire Outlaws won by 59 runs.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena SER (via Sky Sports), Sevilla president Jose Castro has lifted the lid on a ‘dizzying’ offer made by Tottenham Hotspur for manager Julen Lopetegui.

The Lowdown: Tottenham search continues…

Spurs have seen a host of managers come and go out of contention when it comes to the hot seat.

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The Lilywhites have most recently botched talks for Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Paulo Fonseca and Gennaro Gattuso – with the quest for a new manager seemingly showing no sign of ending.

Now, lifting the lid on another managerial offer made by Tottenham, Sevilla’s president has come out with a major claim.

The Latest: Castro lifts lid on Spurs offer…

Speaking to Cadena SER (via Sky), Castro explained that Lopetegui himself revealed the offer from Tottenham in a phone call – describing it as a ‘dizzying’ one.

“Julen rang me and told me. He said he’d received offers he’d not listened to in addition to a dizzying one from Tottenham,” explained the Los Nervionenses chief.

“But he said he doesn’t forget things and that he is very motivated here. We believed and believe in him, giving him a two-year contract extension, and I’m sure he will bring much more to the club.

“You see his ability and leadership every day. Some coaches are more driven by economic factors but Julen is very clear that he is happy here and he even said it would be very difficult to find a better place to work than here.”

The Verdict: Yet another sucker punch…

Described as a ‘very serious’ and ‘hard-working’ manager overall by president Castro in another interview (via The Athletic), this latest revelation comes as another managerial blow for Spurs.

The £2.5 million-per-year boss has enjoyed a rebirth since unceremoniously leaving the Spanish national team for Real Madrid, where he was sacked after just four and a half months.

Lopetegui would have fitted Tottenham’s desire for a manager who encourages open, attacking football – with the Spaniard’s teams known for their excellence in possession and patience in the build up (The Coaches’ Voice).

It appears now that the Spurs hunt continues, but chairman Daniel Levy is slowly running out of options.

In other news: Levy offered chance to sign ‘extraordinary’ £120,000-per-week ‘genius’ in Tottenham transfer discussions, find out more here.

Adam Gilchrist missed out on a million, but carved his way into the record books with Test cricket’s quickest double century as Australia took complete control of the first Castle Lager/MTN Test match against South Africa at the Wanderers on Saturday

Peter Robinson23-Feb-2002Adam Gilchrist missed out on a million, but carved his way into the record books with Test cricket’s quickest double century as Australia took complete control of the first Castle Lager/MTN Test match against South Africa at the Wanderers on Saturday.Gilchrist’s 204 not out, which came off just 213 deliveries, enabled Australia to pulverise a depleted South African attack for a record 652 for seven before the home team wobbled to 111 for four by the close.With three days to play and the follow-on target of 453 still somewhere over the horizon, South Africa seem to be in an impossible position. After the 3-0 drubbing in Australia, many feared that the scars would still to be too fresh to have healed and, if anything, the home team’s start has been worse than anything most could ever have imagined. Injuries, disorganisation and selectorial indifference have played their parts, but the basic truth of the matter is that Australia have simply overwhelmed the home team.If the first day belonged to Australia, the second day was a rout with Gilchrist and Damien Marty taking centre stage. Together they added 317 for the sixth wicket, at one point threatening the record 346 held by Sir Donald Bradman and Jack Fingleton.In the end, Martyn got out for 133, slicing Jacques Kallis down to Gary Kirsten at third man to leave the record intact. "It’s best you don’t tamper with those sort of records," Gilchrist said afterwards with Martyn concurring. "I don’t think you want to knock The Don off," he said.It was astonishing batting reaching a climax between lunch and tea as Australia took 190 off the South African attack in fewer than 26 overs. Gilchrist, who said he had gone through patches while at the crease, was 199 at the tea break after coming within a couple of metres of hitting an advertising billboard and thereby earning himself a solid gold ingot.At the current gold price, the shot would have been worth R1,3-million to Gilchrist and his team-mates and although he said he hadn’t set out deliberately to aim for the billboard, he admitted that he was aware of how close he had come.When Gilchrist reached his double-century with a four off the first ball he faced after tea, he had taken just 212 balls, eight better than the previous record held by Ian Botham. He also became only the fifth wicketkeeper to make a Test double-hundred.For much of the time, Martyn batted in Gilchrist’s shadow, but he opened up for the second 50 of his hundred – which took only 37 deliveries – as the South African attack looked less and less likely to achieve a breakthrough.It was, in other words, a massacre and when Australia declared, just after Gilchrist had reached 200, they were only two short of the 654 for five made by England in the Timeless Test of 1938/39, the most runs ever conceded by South Africa.If the home side believed that it couldn’t get much worse, they were mistaken. Kirsten fell to the second ball he faced, caught at slip off Glenn McGrath; Herschelle Gibbs made a streaky 34 without ever bothering to move his feet before falling lbw to Shane Warne; Kallis, who dropped Matthew Hayden on 0 and Gilchrist on 35, scarcely made up for it by managing only 3 and Neil McKenzie responded to a life given him by Steve Waugh in the gully by immediately top-edging McGrath down to fine leg.Ashwell Prince, a late replacement for Justin Ontong, has battled well for his 47, but there has been little support for him on his Test debut.Some of the batting was brainless, but the fact is that South Africa already look a well-beaten side. The question is not so much whether they can wriggle out of this game, but whether they have to stomach to contest the next two Test matches.

MatériaMais Notícias

O volante Fellipe Bastos apareceu nesta terça-feira no BID (Boletim Informativo Diário) da CBF e poderá atuar na estreia do Corinthians no Campeonato Paulista, sábado, às 17h, contra o São Bento, em Sorocaba.

Apesar de ter ficado à disposição do técnico Fabio Carille, o volante deve iniciar a partida no banco de reservas. Isso porque Camacho tem sido o dono da posição na equipe titular nos últimos treinos.

Com Fellipe Bastos já regularizado, o Corinthians terá todos os reforços à disposição para a estreia no Paulistão. O zagueiro Pablo, os volantes Gabriel e Paulo Roberto e atacantes Kazim, Jô e Luidy já haviam aparecido no BID.

O Timão ainda tem um amistoso antes de fazer seu primeiro jogo oficial na temporada. Nesta quarta-feira, às 21h45, a equipe recebe a Ferroviária, na Arena Corinthians.

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In a piece of huge transfer news, it has been reported that Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prioritizing a move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho this summer, despite Jack Grealish catching the eye of United’s players.

What’s the story?

According to The Telegraph, Grealish is privately admired by many members of the Red Devils first-team squad, although Solskjaer favours a move for Sancho instead.

The report claims the England international pair are both set to be available for around £75m this summer as United look to strengthen at the top end of the pitch.

Fans will be buzzing

German World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthäus previously described Sancho as the “perfect footballer” in a column for The Sun, and the 21-year-old has continued to live up to that billing ever since.

A quite remarkable record of 50 goals and 65 assists in 137 appearances for the Bundesliga giants has attracted the attention of many of the continent’s top clubs over the last 12 months.

However, it’s United who have continuously been linked with a move for the highly-rated forward after a long-running transfer saga ended in failure last summer when the Old Trafford outfit baulked at Dortmund’s £108m asking price.

Grealish has also been outlined as a potential target for the 20-time English champions after impressing for boyhood club Aston Villa throughout 2020/21.

Despite missing three months of the campaign through injury, the 25-year-old playmaker provided an incredible 12 assists in just 26 Premier League outings for Dean Smith’s side, bagging six goals to boot.

It’s claimed that Grealish impressed United’s England contingent while they were together on international duty, but his good impression hasn’t been enough to persuade Solskjaer to change his transfer plans.

The Norwegian boss is keen to bolster his attacking options as the English giant’s plan for an assault on the title, with Sancho the preferred target.

While the likes of Marcus Rashford, Dan James and Anthony Martial are all comfortable on the left-hand side of the front three, preferring that side so they can cut in on their stronger right foot, only Mason Greenwood appears to find the opposite flank preferable.

And even then, the teenage talent is playing out of position, with many believing a role through the middle awaits the youngster in future years.

Therefore, a move for Sancho over Grealish makes sense and if United do move for hi, it will surely have the club’s supporters buzzing.

As per Transfermarkt, Sancho scored five goals and provided 10 assists in 14 games on the right-wing last season. If the Manchester City academy graduate can replicate that sort of productivity at Old Trafford then a first Premier League crown in eight years could well be on the cards in 2021/22.

And, in other news…Forget Lindelof: Man United must swoop for “quality” £50m prodigy 

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Precisando de apenas um empate para garantir a classificação para a segunda fase da Copinha, o Cruzeiro entrou em campo nesta noite de domingo contra o União Mogi e venceu por 2 a 0. O jogo foi realizado no estádio Nogueirão, em Mogi das Cruzes, e foi válido pela terceira rodada do grupo 22.

Antes de começar a partida, um fato triste aconteceu nas cabines do estádio. O presidente do União Mogi, Senerito Souza, infartou e precisou ser levado às pressas ao hospital. A partida só foi iniciada após o retorno da ambulância. No intervalo, a notícia sobre a morte do presidente chegou aos jogadores e torcedores, que prestaram um minuto de silêncio na saída de bola para o segundo tempo.

Os gols da partida foram marcados por Vander e Marco Antônio, ambos no segundo tempo.

O Cruzeiro foi melhor durante praticamente toda a primeira etapa, mas o União Mogi perdeu uma chance de ouro logo no início. O time da casa teve um pênalti a favor, mas Bochecha arriscou uma cavadinha nada boa e o goleiro Jonathan conseguiu fazer a defesa. Depois disso, só deu Cruzeiro. A Raposa teve sua melhor chance com Rick Sena, mas a zaga tirou em cima da linha. Nas proximidades da área, surgiram outras chances de perigo, seja nas cobranças de faltas ou na finalização de Thonny, que acertou o travessão.

O cenário superior não mudou na etapa final, mas, desta vez, rapidamente o time mineiro largou na frente. Aos três minutos, Vander recebeu cruzamento da direita e balançou as redes. Com a vantagem ainda maior após o gol, o Cruzeiro teve mais tranquilidade para administrar o marcador e explorar os espaços deixados pelo Mogi, em busca do empate. No apagar das luzes, pouco tempo depois de sair do banco, Marco Antonio recebeu pela esquerda e selou a vitória. 2 a 0 placar final.

Com o resultado, o Cruzeiro terminou em segundo no grupo e agora vai pegar o Bahia. No outro jogo da chave, o Bragantino venceu o River-PI por 4 a 0, terminou na liderança e agora vai enfrentar o Trindade.

أشعل فريق ليفربول سباق المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعدما فاز مساء الأربعاء على آرسنال، بهدفين دون رد، في لقاء مؤجل من الجولة السابعة والعشرين.

ليفربول ضغط بذلك الفوز على مانشستر سيتي الذي تعثر مساء الإثنين الماضي في الجولة التاسعة والعشرين، وتعادل سلبيًا مع كريستال بالاس.

ويتصدر مانشستر سيتي حاليًا جدول الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 70 نقطة، بفارق نقطة واحدة فقط عن ليفربول، مع العلم أن ملعب الاتحاد سيستضيف مباراة الفريقين يوم 10 أبريل القادم. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد فوز ليفربول أمام آرسنال

1 مانشستر سيتي، 70 نقطة.

2 ليفربول، 69 نقطة.

3 تشيلسي، 59 نقطة.

4 آرسنال، 51 نقطة.

5 مانشستر يونايتد، 50 نقطة.

6 وست هام، 48 نقطة.

7 توتنهام، 48 نقطة.

8 ولفرهامبتون، 46 نقطة.

9 أستون فيلا، 36 نقطة.

10 ساوثهامبتون، 35 نقطة.

11 كريستال بالاس، 34 نقطة.

12 ليستر سيتي، 33 نقطة.

13 برايتون، 33 نقطة.

14 نيوكاسل يونايتد، 31 نقطة.

15 برينتفورد، 30 نقطة.

16 ليدز يونايتد، 26 نقطة.

17 إيفرتون، 22 نقطة.

18 واتفورد، 22 نقطة.

19 بيرنلي، 21 نقطة.

20 نورويتش سيتي، 17 نقطة.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2021/22، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

Derby County’s proposed takeover by Spanish businessman Erik Alonso is officially off, while talks have begun with another potential suitor.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a report by the BBC, who claim that Alonso’s No Limit Sports Limited company – who had agreed a deal to purchase the Rams last month – have been unable to complete the transaction.

Indeed, The Telegraph’s John Percy had claimed on Thursday that Mel Morris was prepared to walk away from negotiations with Alonso after fearing that the Spaniard could not fund the purchase of the club.

However, Percy also went on to reveal that Morris has now resumed talks with an American consortium regarding the sale of the Rams, with the 58-year-old believed to be desperate to wash his hands of the Championship side.

Great news for fans

While the collapse of a potential takeover is not normally great news for fans, the fact that Alonso will not be taking control of Derby would appear to be a very good thing for the Pride Park faithful indeed.

Following the confirmation that Morris had agreed to sell the club to the Spaniard, the 29-year-old subsequently went on a spree of making embarrassing faux-pas – from it being revealed that he had attempted to refinance Derby County’s stadium in order to have enough funds to purchase the club, suggesting that he wanted to lead the Rams to the rather unrealistic target of Champions League football and being caught out for attempting to claim that an image he had found online was his own property.

As such, the news that Alonso will not be Derby’s new owner should come as relieving news for fans of the club, as it would appear that the Spaniard would have brought something of a circus with him to the Championship side, in addition to the fact it seemed he would not have had the financial capability to properly invest in the squad.

Furthermore, Percy’s claim that an American consortium are now in talks to purchase the club would also appear to be good news for Derby fans, who will certainly want to get new owners in as quickly as possible in order for the club to move on from their rather disastrous 2020/21 campaign.

In other news: Derby dealt huge transfer blow over 19-goal starlet that’ll surely leave Rooney livid – opinion

Daniel Farke’s Norwich City side are considering a move for Hamza Choudhury this summer.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claim that the newly-promoted Canaries have made signing a defensive midfielder a priority in the summer transfer window, as the club are set to lose the services of on-loan starlet Oliver Skipp, who is returning to Tottenham Hotspur.

As such, Leicester City’s Choudhury has emerged as a transfer target for Farke, who can expect to battle Newcastle United for the £7.2 million-rated midfielder, with Steve Bruce also thought to be keen on a move.

Forget Skipp

While there is no denying that Skipp has been something of a revelation since joining City on a season-long loan deal last August – with the 20-year-old making an average of 1.1 interceptions and 2.2 tackles per game over his 44 Championship appearances, as well as averaging an impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.02 – there are a number of reasons that suggest Choudhury could actually prove a more useful addition to Norwich, following their promotion.

Firstly, while he has only featured for Brendan Rodgers’ Champions League hopefuls nine times in the Premier League this season, Choudhury has a total of 46 top-flight appearances under his belt, much bettering Skipp’s total of 15.

Secondly, it is easy to forget just how highly rated the 23-year-old was upon breaking into the Leicester City first team, with the Sky Sports News reporter, Rob Dorsett, claiming back in 2019 that Choudhury’s “reading of the game shows a footballing maturity beyond his years”, as well as stating that the midfielder has “pace to burn” and a “rare aggression in the tackle that sets him aside from many other midfielders.”

Furthermore, the Leicester and England legend, Gary Lineker, dubbed the 23-year-old an “extremely talented” footballer in reaction to the midfielder’s “exceptional” first goal for the club back in 2020.

Indeed, it could be argued that Choudhury has not kicked on to fulfil his potential just yet, but, with Stuart Webber’s Moneyball approach to the transfer market – signing talented but underrated players for lower fees – we would not bet against him flourishing at Carrow Road next season, if the Canaries do go on to complete a deal for the £7,500-per-week man this summer.

In other news: Farke must ensure damage limitation at Norwich after worrying transfer admission – opinion