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Crystal Palace are among the clubs interested in signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, according to a report from 90min journalist Toby Cudworth.

The lowdown: Nketiah set for summer move

Out of contract at the end of June (Transfermarkt), the Gunners ace has already rejected offers of a new deal to stay in north London.

Having come to the fore in recent weeks for Mikel Arteta’s side, the 22-year-old’s future is coming under increased scrutiny as the end of the season fast approaches.

It now appears that a move away from the Emirates Stadium as a free agent could be on the horizon…

The latest: Palace interested in Nketiah

Taking to Twitter to share the in-depth report from 90min, transfer expert Cudworth explained the current situation regarding the England youth starlet’s future.

The reporter outlined: “It’s increasingly unlikely Eddie Nketiah will stay at Arsenal – #WHUFC, #NUFC, #EFC and #CPFC all chasing. Liverpool and Chelsea also monitoring situation – 22 y/o could provide attractive squad depth option.”

Furthermore, within the report, it was claimed that Palace are ‘firmly interested’ in signing the youngster, who was hailed as ‘extraordinary’ by his manager following one match against Manchester City in June 2020.

The verdict: Make it happen

Whilst the progress at Selhurst Park since the arrival of Patrick Vieira has been superb, it does feel as if the Frenchman could do with strengthening Palace’s centre-forward options.

As things stand, Wilfried Zaha once again tops the Eagles’ scoring charts, with attacking midfielder Conor Gallagher in second. Strikers Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta are in the top five but neither have managed to reach double figures this season.

That is an area which needs to be addressed if Palace are to move on to the next level under Vieira, and the capture of Nketiah from the Gunners would go a long way to solving the issue.

Overall this season, the Londoner has scored nine goals and provided one assist in 26 outings across all competitions, starting to translate a remarkable record at youth level, scoring 16 times in 17 England under-21 appearances and 28 goals in 40 games for Arsenal’s under-23s.

With Nketiah soon to be a free agent, this move seems like a no-brainer for Crystal Palace.

In other news: Palace are now eyeing Championship star for summer transfer, read more here

The BCCI’s acting secretary was responding to comments by CoA chief Vinod Rai who has accused office bearers of obstructing change within the board

Interview by Sidharth Monga04-Aug-2018The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has failed at implementing the Lodha Committee reforms and, along the way, lost sight of its mandate. That is the withering assessment of BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary about the CoA’s 18 months in charge.The CoA was appointed by the Supreme Court and tasked with not only bringing in reforms in the BCCI but also to supervise day-to-day board activities. Instead, significant reforms are yet to be put in place, and the Court has reserved its final order on certain key reforms, which has led to expectations that the Lodha reforms might face significant alteration.Choudhary, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, was responding to comments by CoA chief Vinod Rai who has accused office bearers, such as Choudhary himself, of obstructing change and the members of exploiting “loopholes” in the court order.The view the CoA seems to hold is that the office bearers have been obstructionist instead of cooperative. Can you personally say you have cooperated to the best of your ability in the implementation of reforms?I had given an undertaking to the honourable Supreme Court that I was for reforms, and would cooperate in implementation. Have a look at the so-called status reports. The same status reports were all praise for me – the fourth in particular – that I was cooperating and trying my best. So on and so forth. Had that not been the fact, why did I, in the month of February, persuade these 13 states to accept the reforms? They stood persuaded barring two or three points, which liberty the honourable court itself had granted, which they mentioned. I forwarded the opinions and suggestions of these 13 states. Was I not cooperating with the reforms? My job was to cooperate, I had given that undertaking. But I am not there to cooperate with any individual. Any mistakes on that, I am sorry to say, I am not there for that.But the individual has contended that the states did not come forward with any suggestions for the draft constitution.This is untruth, because I am a signatory as secretary of the BCCI to the written statements of 13 full members of BCCI, including the pillar of Indian cricket, Mumbai, Ranji champions Vidarbha and Full Members from each and every zone.Mr Rai says the court has taken an unduly long time and that’s why the impasse. So the entire fault lies with the system which means either the Supreme Court or the office bearers or the BCCI? How can anyone talk about Supreme Court in such manner? He says the argument to take off the cooling-off period is untenable but on July 5, the honourable Supreme Court heard the matter, spoke on the subject and thereafter said we reserve our judgement. So the honorary Supreme Court is seized with the matter, is considering a view on the matter, taking a view on the matter. How is he stating his view? On a subject that Supreme Court is taking a view, he has no right to take a view.Vinod Rai, the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, who is on the Supreme-Court appointed interim panel to oversee the BCCI•Associated PressMr Rai has also spoken about your daily allowances, USD 750 for foreign tours, which in his view is a vested interest and in effect takes away your honorary status.Are our allowances in accordance with rules as they are today in the BCCI? If they are, then so be it. If you are comparing to those of the players, you are conveniently forgetting the fact that the players for playing these matches – and I am not even remotely referring to sponsorships – are getting match fees apart from annual central contracts. This DA that Mr Rai is quoting and juxtaposing with that of the office bearers is unfair.Also this TA-DA is in accordance with the amount cleared by Mr Rai himself on June 22, 2018.But he is saying the amount is unreasonableFair enough. Make it reasonable, through due processes. I am all for that. But you must find out what DA I was drawing at the time of the fourth status report and what I am drawing now. It hasn’t changed. Why has this issue come up suddenly?You said you were there to co-operate with the reforms and not with an individual. It was going fine as you say until the fourth status report. What went wrong after that?I began to block appointments made through rank opaque processes. One of Priya Gupta (GM, marketing) and the other of Ajit Singh (head of ACSU). Nobody knew what the processes were, what the selection panel were, when the selections were done. We were just presented with a that A has been selected, B has been selected, and when some queries were raised, we were treated as if we were obstructionists. And even in overlooking our objections, they were not consistent: Ajit Singh’s appointment was authenticated by the CEO despite my refusal, but Priya Gupta has been left out in the cold. He should have been truthful to both. Mr Rai selected both Priya Gupta and Ajit Singh. Both were rejected by me. Both should have been appointed by the CEO. Only one was.The BCCI officials at the IPL opening ceremony•BCCIDid disagreements also extend to cricketing matters?Yes. Take day-night Test cricket, for example. The issue is absolutely clear. It had to be brought to the stakeholders. Who are the stakeholders? Players. Public. Visiting team. Broadcasters. Also those who work for cricket, those who select the team. Everyone had been consulted, and I had put it on record. I didn’t only speak to the head coach, I told him don’t take a decision in a hurry. You take two days, and then send me an email about your view on the subject, incorporating the players’ views. He said they were okay with it as long as we had only one session under lights. But now the plan stands cancelled because apparently the team doesn’t want it. Nobody else has shown me anything in black and white from the head coach. Remember the fact that apart from Bangladesh, India is the only country which has still not started playing day-night Test cricket. Indian cricket team as represented by the head coach was ready, the opposition was ready, the broadcaster was ready. Nobody has shown me an on-the-record refusal from the team because apparently none exists.You also didn’t sign the new player contracts.We knew nothing about them. To assign categories to different players is the job of the selectors. They did not meet. I should know because I am the convenor of the selection committee. Nor was I informed of the criteria of the contracts. That is why I didn’t sign the contracts. I said come what way I will not sign. It is only after the general body agreed to them in the June 20 meeting that I signed.They tried to intimidate me in the Priya Gupta case but I stood my ground. I said I will appear personally in the Supreme Court, and argue against it.There seems to be a general dislike for Mr Rai and the CoA because they have begun to rule on the day-to-day matters. Mr Rai’s counter always has been that their mandate was to supervise the functioning of the board until the reforms were implemented.Do you accept the fact that a district magistrate supervises affairs of the district? If the answer is yes, do tell me when the DM goes to a district, does he frame new laws or work under the laws that exist? He doesn’t have the mandate from the Supreme Court to change rules except for these reforms.The CoA’s opinion of the office bearers is known now. How do you rate the way the CoA has gone about implementing the reforms, and also have they stuck to their mandate?They have lost sight of the mandate. Sorry, they had lost sight of the mandate. Now the time is over. That is why they failed. For the simple reason that if they had focused on the mandate, they would have at least travelled the distance that I could travel with the members wherein I persuaded 13 Full Members to accept the reforms only exercising slight discretion with regards to the July 24 2017 order where some liberty had been granted by the honourable Supreme Court. They have not been able to persuade one single member of the BCCI.

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Oct-2016Imrul Kayes continued his fine recent form with 46 from 58 balls•Associated Press… adding 80 for the first wicket with Tamim Iqbal, who made 45•Getty ImagesBen Stokes broke the opening stand when Imrul holed out to square leg•Associated PressAdil Rashid claimed the big wicket of Tamim, who misread the googly•Getty Images… and slapped a catch to James Vince at cover•Getty ImagesMahmudullah was Rashid’s second victim, caught at short cover by Jonny Bairstow•AFP… before Sabbir Rahman edged a fizzing legbreak to depart for 49•Getty ImagesMushfiqur Rahim anchored Bangladesh’s lower-order with a well-constructed fifty•AFPEngland’s target was 278 for a 2-1 series win•Getty ImagesNasir Hossain ended a solid opening stand with the wicket of James Vince for 32•Getty ImagesTempers briefly frayed when Sam Billings and Mashrafe Mortaza collided going for a single•Getty ImagesBillings used the sweep to good effect to record a career-best 62•Getty ImagesHis second ODI fifty put England in command•AFPBen Duckett made his second half-century of the series to keep the chase on track•Getty ImagesShafiul Islam struck twice to give England pause for thought•Getty ImagesBut Ben Stokes continued his recent form with an unbeaten 47•AFPJos Buttler gave Bangladesh another glimmer when he dragged on for 25•AFPBut Stokes turned up the tempo to put the match beyond doubt•Getty ImagesGetty ImagesEngland’s cricketers pose with the series trophy after their 2-1 win•Getty Images

Also: players dismissed on the same score in both innings, oldest T20 players, and longest unbroken bowling spells

Steven Lynch05-May-2015Graham Gooch was lbw b Holding for 51 in both innings of a Test in 1986. Is this the highest score by anyone out the same way in both innings? asked Shriram Moharil from India

Graham Gooch’s double of 51 in each innings in Antigua in 1985-86 is one of 19 instances of a batsman making an identical score of 50-plus twice in the same Test. It’s unusual for the dismissals to be identical too – but the record in this regard (and the only higher double) is Frank Worrell’s twin 65s in the famous tied Test in Brisbane in 1960-61: Worrell was caught by Wally Grout off the bowling of Alan Davidson in both innings at the Gabba. The highest repeat score in any Test is Duleep Mendis’ brace of 105s for Sri Lanka against India in Madras (now Chennai) in 1982-83. He was out in different ways, though. There have been 37 instances in Tests of a batsman being out the same way twice for a pair: perhaps the unluckiest was the West Indian fast bowler John Trim, who was run out for 0 in both innings against Australia in Melbourne in 1951-52.Sussex’s Oliver Robinson scored a century on debut from No. 9. How many people have done this? asked George Murray from England

The Sussex fast bowler (or maybe allrounder) Oliver Robinson hit 110 on his first-class debut against Durham in Chester-le-Street last week. He’s only the seventh player to score a debut century from No. 9 in the order, the first since Ryan McCone hit 102 – still his only first-class hundred, after 39 more matches – for Canterbury against Otago in Christchurch in 2008-09. The highest debut score from No. 9 remains James O’Halloran’s 128 not out for Victoria against South Australia in Melbourne in 1896-97. Robinson, who’s 21 and the stepson of England’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace, shared a tenth-wicket stand of 164 with Matthew Hobden, breaking the 107-year-old Sussex record of 156, set by George Cox senior and Harry Butt against Cambridge University at Fenner’s in 1908.Is Brad Hogg the oldest man to play in a Twenty20 international? asked Lindsay Curtis from Australia

The Australian left-arm unorthodox spinner Brad Hogg does sit on top of this particular list – he was 43 years 45 days old when he played his most recent T20 international, against Pakistan during the World T20 in Mirpur in March 2014. Second at the moment is the UAE’s Khurram Khan, who was 42 years 273 days old when he played his most recent T20 international, also in that World T20, against Zimbabwe in Sylhet: if Khurram, who featured in the recent 50-over World Cup, were to play another one now then he would break Hogg’s record. In all, seven 40-year-olds have played official T20 internationals: the only one apart from Hogg from a Test-playing country is Sanath Jayasuriya, who was just short of his 42nd birthday when he played his last one for Sri Lanka, against England in Bristol in 2011.What is the longest spell in a Test in which the bowling was not changed at all? asked Michael Durbridge from England

I’m not sure whether this can be verified, because we don’t have full details for an awful lot of Tests. My suspicion is that it probably happened during West Indies’ tour of England in 1950, when Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine got through some marathon spells – they took 59 wickets between them in the four Tests, while the other bowlers managed only 18. In England’s long second innings in the second Test at Lord’s, Valentine bowled 71 overs and Ramadhin 72, the others only 48.3; and in the second innings at Trent Bridge, Ramadhin sent down 81.2 overs and Valentine 92 (a record at the time, broken a few years later by Ramadhin). A contender from a different series might be the fifth Test in Port Elizabeth in 1948-49, when South Africa’s spinners Athol Rowan and Tufty Mann did a lot of work against England: they both got through more than 40 eight-ball overs on the third day, although not entirely consecutively. The longest unbroken spell by one bowler is 59 overs (354 balls), by Narendra Hirwani for India against England at The Oval in 1990. If you mean the longest innings in which there were no bowling changes at all, that was in one of the earliest Test matches: in Sydney in 1881-82 the Australian opening pair of Joey Palmer and Edwin Evans bowled unchanged for 115 four-ball overs (460 deliveries in all) as England were dismissed for 133. In the second Ashes Test in Melbourne in 1901-02, there were no bowling changes at all until well into the third innings of the match.Bob Simpson converted his maiden Test century to 311 at Old Trafford in 1964•Getty ImagesIt’s been reported that England may award six new caps in next week’s one-day international against Ireland. Have they ever blooded so many players at once before? asked Daniel Harrison from England

Apart from the inaugural one-day international against Australia in Melbourne in 1970-71, when obviously all the players made their ODI debuts, the England record is six new players, which happened against West Indies at Headingley in 1973. The new boys were Mike Denness, Mike Hendrick, Chris Old, Mike Smith (Middlesex), Bob Taylor and Bob Willis. That was West Indies’ first one-day international, so they also had 11 debutants – including Garry Sobers, who never played another one. England had five first-timers (Robert Croft, Dean Headley, Nick Knight, Graham Lloyd and Alan Mullally) in the first one-day international against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 1996, and Adam Hollioake made his debut two days later, at Edgbaston.What’s the highest score to which someone has extended their maiden Test century? asked Aniket Singh from India

Two men have turned their maiden Test hundred into a triple-century: Garry Sobers famously made 365 not out for West Indies against Pakistan in Kingston in 1957-58, and not long afterwards Australia’s Bob Simpson – having taken a long time to reach three figures in Tests – made up for lost time in his 30th match by going on to amass 311 against England at Old Trafford in 1964. In third place is Reginald “Tip” Foster of England, whose 287 against Australia at Sydney in 1903-04 came on his debut – and remained his only Test century too. For the full list, click here.

Zaheer Khan used to be a tailender who could contribute with the bat, but he does not seem to have the will to tough it out anymore

Sidharth Monga in Durban27-Dec-2013A timeline of Zaheer’s failings

December 28, 2011: India are battling for a first-innings lead after they bowled Australia out for 333 in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. They have had good partnerships, but Australia have broken them. At 259 for 8, Zaheer withdraws to the leg side, shows James Pattinson all three pegs, heaves wildly, and is bowled for 4 off six balls. His partner at the time: R Ashwin, on 10. India concede a lead, and go on to lose.
January 13, 2012: Batting first at the WACA Ground, India are under the pump at 152 for 7. Zaheer joins MS Dhoni, who needs support. However, he starts swinging blindly, refusing to stand in front of the stumps. Zaheer finally edges one. India lose by an innings.
January 26, 2012: After conceding 604, India are struggling on a good batting pitch in Adelaide. Kohli is fighting hard, toiling to show he belongs at Test level. He is on 91, and has just lost Ashwin, but is hoping someone will stick around. Zaheer flails at his first delivery outside off and departs for a duck, leaving Kohli despondent. India go on to lose the game.
November 26, 2012: India are barely in the game in the second innings at the Wankhede Stadium, against England, and need a target to defend. Gautam Gambhir is batting on 61, and India are only 45 ahead, but Zaheer slog-sweeps at Monty Panesar and is caught for 1 off 11 balls. India lose again.
December 19, 2013: Kohli has scored a hundred at the Wanderers, the first Indian to show fight on the tour. However, India are threatening to throw away the advantage on the second morning. Zaheer walks out to join a fighting R Ashwin, but moves about in the crease before offering no shot to a quick straight delivery, and is lbw first ball. India are bowled out for 280, but their bowlers do a good job, and one of the greatest draws of all time is played out.
December 27, 2013: India are up against Dale Steyn, who is finding form after more than 70 wicketless overs: 198 for 1 became 199 for 4, but two half-century stands have taken the score to 320 for 6. Ajinkya Rahane is nearing a fifty and India need to make 400 to shut out a defeat in a Test that has already lost close to two sessions to bad weather. If India eliminate defeat, they eliminate a series defeat, a big achievement for a transitioning side in South Africa. Zaheer comes in at No. 8, and is given strike by Rahane, who is now on 49. He backs away and swings at the first ball he faces and edges behind. India are bowled out for 334 – last five wickets gone for 14 – and they could still lose the game.

Almost every time Zaheer Khan has come to bat in the last three years, with the match still alive and his contribution vital, he hasn’t – for some reason – shown willingness to get behind the line of the ball, or fought for the sake of the better batsman at the other end (see sidebar). He has collected eight ducks over this period, taking his tally to 29. Only five cricketers have more.Zaheer wasn’t always like this. He once played an important role in saving a Test by scoring an unbeaten 57 off 121 balls with Harbhajan Singh for company. He followed that innings with a sledge at his opponents, Australia, saying they couldn’t even get Harbhajan and him out, and went on to win the series for India with the ball. Something has gone wrong with Zaheer the batsman in the last two years or so, and it is hurting India because they know he can contribute crucial runs if he applies himself.Zaheer has been an invaluable bowler for India. He has been a great mentor for the younger bowlers. Nobody can, or should try to, take that away from him. When he bats like he did in Durban, though, and like he has done in the recent past, it sends wrong signals to the opposition and to his own team-mates. For starters, Zaheer’s wicket and the one that fell before him seems like the beginning of a collapse, and it’s difficult for Ishant Sharma to quell the opposition’s momentum.Ishant has always treated Zaheer as a guru. Maybe it is time for Zaheer to learn a few lessons from the apprentice. Even against the fastest bowlers, and in the trickiest conditions, Ishant tries his best to get behind deliveries. When Zaheer left Kohli on 91 in Adelaide, it was Ishant who saw the youngster through to a century that told him he belonged in top-flight Test cricket. Kohli was India’s only gain during the 0-4 whitewash.Today in Durban, with Ashwin dropped and Zaheer batting the way he is, India’s batting practically ended at No. 7. Given the fine margins and micro management of the modern game, it is surprising India have neither worked on Zaheer’s batting nor demoted him down the order. It was also surprising that Rahane took a single off the first ball of the 109th over, although that could have much to do with this being only his third Test. The leadership team needs to step in there again.This is not to bag Zaheer, who has bravely fought his body to play 90 Tests and take 300 wickets. He has quite a few deserved allowances in the team. Zaheer is not expected to dive around and save runs. That can be overlooked. However, batting – or the effort put into batting – for a specialist bowler in modern cricket is as important as fielding – or the effort put into fielding – is for a specialist batsman. Especially when you aren’t a complete mug.This is not to blame Zaheer for the predicament India are in. However, the impact of such performances accumulates over time. For those who think criticising Zaheer’s batting is making a mountain out of a molehill, this is what MS Dhoni said in 2010, incidentally in Durban, when India were the No. 1 Test side: “We have done really well. We have played some good, consistent cricket. As a team we have done well. Every one has contributed: bowlers or the batsmen or the fielders. The part-timers have contributed in getting wickets, at the same time the lower order has really contributed quite consistently throughout the year.”One of the important things was the lower-order contribution. Over the years it has really changed. The lower-order batsmen have put a price on their wicket. They have contributed along with the batsmen. At the same time if the batsmen get out, they are able to score runs. Which really helps, and frustrates the opposition.”

Carefree, a little controversial and one of cricket’s premier 20-overs league specialists – that’s Herschelle Gibbs for you

Firdose Moonda12-Oct-2012There can be no happier cricketer in the world than Herschelle Gibbs. The former South Africa batsman is not bothered by much – the use of the word ‘former’ being an exception – and with less than 140 days to go for his 39th birthday, still has the mischief and manner of a 12-year-old.Being carefree, a little controversial and always cheerful is what Gibbs is known for and not even being dropped from his CSA contract on release of his autobiography has changed that. Irrespective of the amount of prodding and poking by the media when looking for a reaction, Gibbs gives his answers with a smile.Like when he was asked what if feels like to be an Australian, since he will turn out for the Perth Scorchers in the Champions League this year … “It doesn’t feel like anything,” he said, grinning. “As long as I am playing I am happy, I just want to play. I’m not worried about who I am playing for. I didn’t worry about anything when I played for South Africa anyway. It doesn’t make a difference which team I am playing for.”Simple as that. Everyone suspected it and now Gibbs confirmed it: he seldom stresses about anything. It may be exactly that quality that has helped him launch a freelance career playing in 20-overs leagues around the world. Happy to pack-up and go from location to location, play in a different team with different colleagues under a different coach – if someone can adjust to the constant shifting, that someone is Gibbs.Most recently, he has had stints at the Big Bash League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Friends Life t20. He also played for two IPL franchises, one New Zealand team and in the South African 20-overs competition. With only West Indies, Sri Lanka (whose SLPL he turned down) and Zimbabwe being unchartered territories, Gibbs is one of the people best placed to assess the standards across leagues.His Australian came through when he commented. “The Big Bash is probably the best,” to the delight of Marcus North, the Perth captain who had stayed behind to listen to Gibbs’ antics (he could not have been there to stop them because nothing can).”The contest between bat and ball is pretty good. Bowlers are not just targets, like they are in the IPL. Also in the IPL, the boundaries are about fifty (metres) but in the Big Bash they are bigger. And the wickets are fantastic, so there is something for everyone. Once you get in there, you can go haywire.”That seems to be what Gibbs did. He was Perth’s second-highest run-scorer, with 302 runs at an average of 43.14 that included four half-centuries. He finished the season with seven fewer runs than Mitchell Marsh, the chart-topper for Perth, but played two fewer matches than him.And the worst league? Gibbs was unusually careful not to launch scathing criticism but said the BPL is one he may not be in a hurry to return to. “Bangladesh has been interesting. It was their first time, so there were a few issues you could not avoid but logistically it was a failure.”

“I would have liked to get 250 or 300 hundreds in first-class cricket. [But] it just wasn’t for me anymore. When I played that last game, I stood there and knew it wasn’t for me.”Herschelle Gibbs

From the outside, it all seems quite glamorous but Gibbs explained that the life of a free agent comes with its own stresses. “The main thing is that you have to do well in order to get invited again. It’s very much a pressure-driven environment.”Even though he works from assignment to assignment, Gibbs said he would not consider taking up a contract and finishing his career quietly in whites. He last played a first-class match in 2009 for Glamorgan against Northamptonshire and says the format has no appeal to him anymore. Unlike Chris Gayle, who once said he “wouldn’t be so sad” if Test cricket was erased from the future, Gibbs did not rubbish the format but sees it as the most important building block to a successful stint in the sport.”I did my time in the field there,” he said. “I would have liked to get 250 or 300 hundreds in first-class cricket. [But] it just wasn’t for me anymore. When I played that last game, I stood there and knew it wasn’t for me.”Just like his international career, Gibbs has moved on from there. Now, he prefers to continue playing for as long as he remains in demand, and his body will let him, in format he “just loves”.It’s hard not to believe there is nothing about his life Gibbs is not content with, until you see what is behind the big smile, dancing eyes and booming voice: one massive regret. Gibbs is still haunted by knowing that he will probably never be the owner of a World Cup medal, the only thing he thinks is missing from his cricketing career.”Nothing could be as big as winning a World Cup,” he said. “We [Deccan Chargers] won the IPL in 2009, which was quite nice but I can’t imagine what it must be like to win a World Cup. Nothing can be as good as playing international cricket, not even this.”

Nothing sets a tournament up better than a tight finish

Andrew McGlashan in Guyana30-Apr-2010Nothing sets a tournament up better than a tight finish. Last year in England the World Twenty20 was sparked into life by Netherlands’ shock last-ball victory against the hosts and while New Zealand’s success over Sri Lanka at Providence can’t even be ranked as an upset it launched this latest event in suitably thrilling style.The match itself was a slow-burner on another sluggish pitch, but it always had the makings of a tight contest. It involved many changes of momentum, as the best Twenty20 matches always do, and nothing better encapsulated the shifts than the closing stages of New Zealand’s run chase.When Jacob Oram walked to the crease it was Sri Lanka’s game. Then Oram hit consecutive sixes off Ajantha Mendis, but to the first ball of the penultimate over he missed a wild heave at Chanaka Welegedara to leave the stumps splattered. At the non-striker’s end Daniel Vettori thumped his bat in frustration, but New Zealand had more left to give as Vettori found a crucial boundary and it came down to 10 off the last over.If any bowler in the world could defend that it would be Lasith Malinga – this, remember, was the ground where he took four wickets in four balls against South Africa during the 2007 World Cup – but this wasn’t a game for the two fastest operators on show. Shane Bond had been New Zealand’s most expensive bowler and Malinga lost the accuracy off his normally pinpoint yorkers as Nathan McCullum flicked a boundary to deep square-leg then launched him over long off to seal the victory.”We made it a bit harder than we should have,” Vettori admitted. “Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptil were fantastic but we probably lost our way in the middle stages by not being aggressive enough and trying to take some risks.”You always think you can chase that down, but then Malinga is on there and he’s very good at the death. He normally never misses and it was always going to be tough. Fortunately those two sixes by Jacob Oram and Nathan’s little cameo really got us through.”As Trevor Bayliss, the Sri Lanka coach, said there is no way Malinga should be blamed for the defeat but when a bowler of his speed is slightly off target it gives the batsmen vital extra pace to work with on a slow surface such as this. Still, you wouldn’t have put it past him to still secure the game for Sri Lanka when it came down to three from two balls following Vettori’s sacrificial run out.However McCullum – and not the one who normally launches sixes for New Zealand – knew the ball would be full and when it was a touch short of yorker length he freed his arms, clearing the boundary and let out something close to a primeval roar.I’ve been there a couple of times and a couple of times I’ve been on the other end of it,” McCullum said. “It’s good to finally get one to go the other way.”A fired-up Nathan McCullum took New Zealand home with a ball to spare•AFPAnd although he knew what to expect from Malinga, playing it was another matter entirely. “He’s very good at that and doesn’t often miss but luckily he missed one today and we were able to get it away, but he’s pretty good at what he does,” McCullum added.The match supported the predictions that this won’t be a ground for huge scores; both because of the surface and the large boundaries, but that doesn’t have to preclude compelling contests. What it does require is a slight adjustment in expectations, both from the players and supporters who have become attuned to Twenty20 being a boundary blitz. Sixes will be at a premium here, which is never a bad thing especially after six weeks of “DLF maximums.””I think we can cope with all conditions but the important thing is this is a really good sized ground which brings the bowlers a lot more into play,” Vettori said. “It allows myself and Nathan to be a bit more attacking. I really enjoy playing here, the nature of the wicket suits us but I hope we can adapt to anything.”The result leaves Sri Lanka, one of the pre-tournament favourites, facing a must-win match against Zimbabwe. The second game in this group is no longer a freebie after Zimbabwe’s impressive warm-up form with victories against Australia and Pakistan, but New Zealand are in a much more comfortable position.”It’s pretty big [this win] because otherwise the last game becomes do or die,” Vettori said. “Zimbabwe have shown their hand by beating Australia in the first warm-up game so are obviously competitive in this format and we can now go in knowing what we have to do. It’s a good feeling in the camp, although we know it’s still an important game.”undefined

Of any great cricketer, statistics show only part

Stephen Lamb08-Jan-2006Of any great cricketer, statistics show only part. 50,000 first-class runs, 167 hundreds, 732 wickets, 819 catches, 85 Test matches. Not bad on paper, but it is a tale told by Tom Graveney in the video “A Cricketing Great” on Walter Hammond, that reveals more than can be gleaned from the scorebooks. Originally made for HTV West in 1987, the video is now available from CricShop, running time 52 minutes.The scene is the County Ground in Bristol, where Tom Goddard has just taken 15 wickets to bowl Kent out twice, and is lording it in the dressing room afterwards. Hammond says: “Hang on a minute, you’re not quite as good as you think. I reckon you were bowling against some pretty poor players out there. Come on, we’ll go out in the middle and have a bowl.” Hammond took a brand new bat, and with the players watching turned the bat sideways and played Goddard on the same wicket with the edge.Graveney rates Hammond as the greatest player ever on a dry turner, and is not the only contributor to pay superlative tribute. Hammond’s great rival from Down Under, Sir Donald Bradman, heads the distinguished cast, opining: “Without any shadow of a doubt, Wally would be one of the greatest all-round cricketers who ever played.”Another England great, Sir Leonard Hutton, felt that Bradman and Hammond didn’t get on too easily. Hutton himself would have liked “to see just an hour of Walter Hammond rather than 8-10 hours of Don Bradman” and would also have had “difficulty in naming a greater slip catcher than Hammond.” There are assessments from RES Wyatt, Andy Wilson, Les Ames and Gubby Allen.We first see Hammond in the nets at Bristol in 1946, his final domestic season, before he captained the MCC’s winter tour of Australia. It had been 26 years since his first-class debut at the age of just 17. There is footage of his century against New Zealand in 1931, and the 240 at Lord’s in 1938, memorable for all who were fortunate enough to see it. Accustomed as we now are to modern methods of ground communication, the sight of a barrow being wheeled around the Lord’s outfield to reveal the outcome of the toss is an endearing piece of nostalgia.Seen by some as a complex, even intolerant man, Hammond could be distant and aloof. This impeded his captaincy. According to his Gloucestershire and England team-mate Charlie Barnett he “never learned the art of asking,” and Hutton says that he was “not good with the press” in Australia in 1946/7. By that time Hammond was suffering from health problems, and his life after retirement from cricket was a chequered one.After emigrating to South Africa upon the break-up of his first marriage, he encountered financial difficulties before being gravely injured in a car accident in 1960. Although he was later filmed back in Bristol assisting Gloucestershire’s membership drive, he never fully recovered. He died of a heart attack on the 1st July 1965.Hammond’s name lives on at the County Ground, where a room in the pavilion is named after him, and he ranks with WG Grace at the head of Gloucestershire’s panoply of great cricketers. As RC Robertson-Glasgow wrote: “He enriched the game with a grace, simplicity and nobility that may never be seen again.”

Manchester United have reportedly handed Ruben Amorim a hefty summer kitty as he looks to rebuild the squad after their horror season.

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Amorim set to be handed £100m budgetEnough to sign Cunha and DelapClub prioritising three salesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United have endured several underwhelming seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013, but have hit a new low in the current campaign. The Red Devils have only managed to win 10 Premier League games this season and are currently placed 16th in the standings ahead of the final matchday. A Europa League win could have somewhat rescued their horror season, but it wasn't to be as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final.

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Manchester United are reportedly backing Amorim to stay at Old Trafford and are set to offer the Portuguese coach the ability to sign players of his liking. As per The Guardian, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are set to hand the Red Devils a transfer budget of close to £100 million ($134m) to revamp the squad ahead of next season. United are reportedly set to sign Wolves' Matheus Cunha for a reported fee of £62.5 million ($83.8m), and that would leave them with just enough budget to sign their other reported target, Ipswich Town's Liam Delap, who has a release clause of £30 million ($40.2m).

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If the reports about United's transfer budget and summer signings are accurate, they will not have a lot of wiggle room for more signings. As such, the Manchester Evening News has reported that the Red Devils have prioritised the sales of three key players: Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho. Other reports have also suggested the potential departure of Alejandro Garnacho, which could raise a sizeable increase in the transfer budget.

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With a lack of European football next season, United's ability to sign new players for the team this summer will be impacted. However, they will be keen on an overhaul in a bid to bounce back from a disastrous campaign.

تحدث خالد الدرندلي، نائب رئيس اتحاد الكرة، عن مواجهة منتخب مصر القادمة أمام إثيوبيا، المقرر لها غداً ضمن منافسات تصفيات إفريقيا لكأس العالم 2026.

ويحل منتخب إثيوبيا ضيفاً على نظيره المصري على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، في إطار مباريات الجولة السابعة من تصفيات كأس العالم.

وقال خالد الدرندلي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “إن شاء الله نؤدي مباراة جيدة غدًا، أمامنا مواجهة مهمة جدًا، نحن نلعب كل المباريات وكأنها مباريات تأهل”.

طالع أيضاً.. منتخب مصر يستضيف إثيوبيا في مشوار التأهل إلى كأس العالم

وتابع: “فرصتنا كبيرة، المباراة على أرضنا، كل مباراة أهم من التي تليها، نريد أن تكون الجماهير معنا في الملعب وتكون اللاعب رقم 12، الجمهور له تأثير كبير جدًا على اللاعبين”.

وأوضح: “مثلما تذهب الجماهير لمساندة الأهلي والزمالك، هذا منتخب مصر وإفريقيا كلها تخاف من جماهيرنا، لدينا أمل كبير أن تكون الجماهير متواجدة ونفوز بالمباراة”.

وأتم: “كل لاعب يتمنى التأهل لكأس العالم لأنها توضع في تاريخه وسيرته الذاتية، منتخبنا يضم عددا كبيرا من النجوم، جيل كبير وهذا الجيل من حقه أن يفرح ويسعد المصريين ويحقق إنجازًا لبلده ولنفسه”.