The Zimbabwe Cricket Union today announced the team to take on Indiain the second and final Test at Harare beginning on 15 June 2001. Asexpected, the selection committee made just one change, bringing inyoung mediumpacer Travis Friend for the injured Henry Olonga.Ironically, Friend was replaced by Olonga at the last, moment in thefirst Test as the former was injured. Olonga suffered a hamstringstrain while playing the first Test, bowled 8 overs in the firstinnings, came to bat with a runner and did not take bowl in theZimbabwe second innings.The announcement puts to rest all speculation about skipper HeathStreak’s fitness. Streak was rapped on the knee while batting and hetoo could not bowl as India successfully chased 184 to take anunassailable 1-0 lead in the 2 Test series. Streak has recovered wellin time for the second Test and will lead Zimbabwe.The rest of the side remains unchanged, with Gavin Rennie doingtwelfth man duties once more.Zimbabwe team: Heath Streak (Captain), Guy Whittall (Vice-captain),Andy Blignaut, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim,Andrew Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Brian Murphy, BrightonWatambwa and (Gavin Rennie 12th Man)
Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici has been linked with a move for Juventus attacker Paulo Dybala.
The Lowdown: Romano drops big Dybala news
According to fresh news reported by reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, Juventus and Dybala have failed to come to an agreement over a new contract.
Whilst there was a verbal agreement in place last October, the Serie A side have gone back on their word and have changed their proposal.
The Argentina international’s current deal expires in the summer, and it now appears that the 28-year-old will not be renewing with the Turin club as Romano told Sky Italy ‘he’s set to leave as free agent’ after a meeting on Monday morning.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Spurs join Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the race to sign the forward.
It is reported that the links are due to Paratici’s ability to use his connections with Juventus, and a proposal from the north London club is possible.
However, it has been reported that “it takes time to frame the technical aims of a club in full swing to qualify for the next Champions League”, essentially saying that Spurs’ chances of winning the race could hinge on finishing in the top four.
The Verdict: Unlikely
Given the statement about Champions League, a move for Dybala would be dependent on the end to Tottenham’s season, with a place in a European competition no doubt a necessary requirement for an international superstar in the prime of his career.
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A whole heap of legendary figures, including the likes of Michael Laudrup and Alessandro Del Piero, have heaped praise on Dybala, labelling him a “special” talent, and he certainly deserves to be playing at the highest level. Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini has even compared the Argentine with one of the greatest to play the game in Diego Maradona.
Therefore, it is easy to see why Paratici is interested in the £222,000-a-week Juventus man, but whether he can actually convince his former club-mate to make the move is a different story.
In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: John Wenham slams Sergio Reguilon
The ICC’s Future Tours Program (FTP) remains paramount for the Indian Premier League, Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman and commissioner, has told Cricinfo. Modi also reiterated the IPL would strictly follow the two-year freeze on players post their retirement, to prevent a rush of active cricketers towards the financially lucrative Twenty20 league.”The IPL is here to stay and I am sure it is in everyone’s interest that it carves its own place. That does not mean we will play less bilateral cricket. We will all continue to fulfill our commitments to the Future Tours Programme …[which is] the most important for all countries and most definitely for the BCCI,” Modi said. He also made the point that, in most countries, the season ends by March.There is also a concern that the IPL’s economy is on a completely different scale to traditional cricket economies, an imbalance that could harm the game. Modi indicated that the IPL was aimed at protecting cricket’s primary position on the subcontinent. “As far as scale is concerned India already has the largest market or appetite for cricket. The IPL will further ensure there is little erosion of support for cricket. Other sports like football have been slowly trying to make inroads, through the English Premier League. We think the IPL will help put a stop to that.”He also downplayed fears, most recently expressed by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, that the IPL would lure experienced cricketers into an early retirement by saying the onus would be on the player’s home board. “Even two years after his retirement, the player still needs an NOC [No Objection Certificate] from his home board. Only then will we take him. Our objective is to have players who currently or in the future are playing for their country. So we will always work with other boards to ensure that we are all on the same page.”And with just five days to go for the players’ auction in Mumbai, Modi addressed fears expressed by some of the eight franchises by saying they would be kept in the loop at every stage of the IPL’s decision-making process. “We need to work with them [franchises]. It’s with their success that we will achieve ours. It’s not us against them or them against us. We are all on the same side. We will ensure we work with our partners and that’s what my job is.”
An Irish bookmaker has announced that an old barrel of Guinness will be burnt and the ashes collected in an urn that can be used as a trophy for all future matches between Ireland and England. That particular version of the ashes may never enjoy the prestige of the fragile urn that was once in the possession of the Bligh family, but the very fact that such an idea has come up should give you some idea of the pride that’s at stake when two entities separated only by the breadth of the Irish Sea go head-to-head at the new stadium in Providence on Friday.Having turned over Pakistan a fortnight ago, Ireland won’t fear anyone and they will undoubtedly be boosted by the return of Trent Johnston, who missed the encounter against West Indies with a rotator-cuff injury. Johnston’s tidy medium-pace and lower-order hitting are integral to Irishhopes, and he showed with a stunning catch against Pakistan that he’s noslouch on the field either.By this time, Johnston and his team were supposed to be back in Ireland,reflecting on their first taste of the World Cup. The West Indies gameshould have been Adrian Birrell’s last in charge, and Phil Simmons, theformer West Indies opener, would have been engaged in planning for thefuture.The future right now is a golden one, with six Super Eights matchesagainst the best that world cricket has to offer. Johnston called it ahugely exciting time, before thanking the employers who have given most ofthe players extra time off. “We’ve had lots of phone calls to make to ourbosses back home and they’ve all been outstanding and we can’t thank themenough,” he said, a feeling no doubt echoed by Kyle McCallan, who stood inas captain for the West Indies game.McCallan is a teacher, and has had to ask his headmistress for an extramonth off after the dramatic tie against Zimbabwe and the stunning upsetof Pakistan sealed Ireland’s place amongst the game’e elite. Johnstonrefused to put any pressure on his side, saying that they’d just go outand enjoy the Super Eights, as they had the three group D games, when thevociferous support from the travelling Irish inspired them to theirgreatest feats.They’ll probably have a full squad to pick from against England. Rest hasallowed the torn fibre in Johnston’s shoulder tendon to heal, and DaveLangford-Smith, his fellow Australian, is also putting the pain of backspasms behind him.
Being the joker in the Super-Eights pack doesn’t faze Johnston one bit. Onthe contrary, it’s a tag that he appears to relish. “They would think theyhave two easy points and we are happy about that,” said Johnston, lookingat how the other teams might view his
Johnston reiterated his mantra of performing well in all three disciplinesbefore saying that “the fielding has been outstanding”. In Jeremy Bray,Eoin Morgan and Niall O’Brien – the latter two have represented Middlesexand Kent – Ireland have the batsmen with the potential to score big runs,and they’ll no doubt take encouragement from the meeting last June whenIreland managed 263 in response to England’s 301.Being the joker in the Super-Eights pack doesn’t faze Johnston one bit. Onthe contrary, it’s a tag that he appears to relish. “They would think theyhave two easy points and we are happy about that,” said Johnston, lookingat how the other teams might view his. “Maybe they’ll be relaxed in theirapproach, and that’s the incentive we need to spring an upset like we didagainst Pakistan.”On a pitch where the bounce could be variable, the biggest danger forEngland might be Boyd Rankin, soon to be under Mike Hendrick’s tutelage atDerbyshire. A cattle-and-sheep farmer from near Londonderry, Rankin hascorrected journalists who have put his height down at 6’7″. Apparently,he’s an inch taller, with size-15 feet to boot, and his ability togenerate good bounce at lively pace will pose questions for the Englandtop order.”It would be one hell of a party,” admitted McCallan when asked about thepossibility of victory in a match that also brings with it centuries ofpolitical baggage. “We are going ball by ball, we need to be realistic andat the end of the day, we’re concerned only about what we can control.”If he and his mates need any omens, it was just over 15 years ago thatrank outsiders Zimbabwe knocked over England in a thrilling game in theAustralian country town of Albury. The decisive factor in that game wasthe bowling of Eddo Brandes, a chicken farmer who blasted out five wicketsas England fell nine short of a meagre total of 134. Anything a chickenfarmer can do, a sheep farmer can do better? And what better incentivethan an urn that might give off the flavour of Guinness?
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, and Wasim Bari, the chief selector, have defended the selection of 17 players for the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka starting March 17.The selection of so many players for the ODIs led to a protest from Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of Cricket Operations, who wrote a note of dissent on the squad. “We’ve picked the new players keeping in mind the next World Cup in 2007,” Bari said. ” We need to give the new players who have some potential, some exposure to see whether they can develop into steady performers for Pakistan.”Inzamam said the process of preparing for the World Cup had started with the Sri Lanka tour and that’s why some young players had been included. “We just want to have a look at them closely to check out their potential and temperament,” he added. “You can only do that on a foreign tour and it’ll be good for the youngsters to travel with the team and get used to the dressing-room atmosphere and team discipline.”The selectors have picked Tahir Khan and Abdul Rehman, two uncapped spinners, but have said changes could be made for the two Tests, which follow the one-day series. He said, “In Sri Lanka the pitches offer encouragement to the spinners and it’s not going to be an easy tour for us. Sri Lanka are a tough team to beat at home.”He added that Muttiah Muralitharan, who passed 600 Test wickets on Friday in the second Test against Bangladesh at Bogra, definitely posed a threat to the Pakistan batsmen. “There is no doubt he is a world-class performer and we’ll have to play him very carefully and properly. We’ve practiced for his type of bowling but he remains a threat and must be watched closely.”He was however confident his players could handle the pressures of the tour and noted they had played Murali before. “The only thing is against a bowler of his caliber, you can’t afford to relax at all.” The last time Pakistan played in Sri Lanka was in the 2004 Asia Cup, where they suffered a big defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, a result that eventually cost them a berth in the final.Inzamam said his players now had to learn from their mistakes of the one-day series loss to India and start afresh. He welcomed the appointment of Zaheer Abbas, as manager, and Waqar Younis, as bowling coach, and felt the youngsters should learn a lot from them on tour.Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, admitted the board had some reservations over sending 17 players for the three one-dayers to Sri Lanka. “I’ve spoken to the selectors and captain and I can understand their point of view for picking some extra players,” he said. “The idea is to give them exposure and test them out in foreign conditions. It’s also a reward for their consistent performances in domestic cricket.”
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has signalled to India that Pakistan will seek to avenge last year’s defeat at home. Beginning today, Pakistan embark on their first tour to India in six years, with a practice game against the Board Presidents XI on March 3.”India will be under pressure at home. We lost the home series last year, now it could be India’s turn to lose a home series,” Inzamam was quoted by . “The Australian tour has been a big learning experience for all of us and I think we are in a position to reap the benefits in India. We definitely want to make amends for last year’s defeats.”India recorded their first series victory in Pakistan last year when they won 2-1 in the Tests and 3-2 in the one-dayers. The composition of the Pakistan team has changed since then, prompting a precautionary note from Virender Sehwag, who said that the anonymity of some Pakistani players could help Pakistan. Bob Woolmer was appointed coach in place of Javed Miandad. “Woolmer has helped change the attitude of the boys which is more positive and professional,” Inzamam continued, “and I think they can take the pressure of playing in India.”Haq said that the absence of Shoaib Akhtar, who opted out of the Test series with a hamstring injury, would be felt though he expected his spinners – Arshad Khan and Danish Kaneria to do the bulk of the bowling. “Our strength is playing as a unit. These two spinners [Arshad and Kaneria] have a big role to play in India. They are the ones on whom we will be depending a lot in the Tests as we are expecting slow turning tracks and we have been practising for such conditions.”Inzamam, who will be making his 100th Test appearance in the Third Test at Bangalore, will have a lot to prove on this tour. Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, had called for Inzamam’s axing after Pakistan’s below-par performance in Australia. In the wake of severe criticism, Inzamam was uncertain about leading the side any further. “It’s a huge challenge for the team as well as me. We can beat India in India provided we remain mentally strong and play as a team, because team spirit will be a deciding factor.”
Asked to rate his first-innings knock a couple of days ago, Rahul Dravid had responded with the realism that is a feature of his persona. “It is satisfying to score a hundred in Australia,” he had said, “but the true value of the innings will only be judged by what result it achieves for the team.” After ensuring the unbelievable for his team, he was willing to term his performance, a staggering 305 runs from 835 minutes of occupying the crease, as the greatest of his life. His captain was more effusive. “Rahul batted like god,” said Sourav Ganguly.God indeed. Because he offered India deliverance. From 85 for 4, he forged a partnership with his old ally, VVS Laxman, that first frustrated Australia and then drove them to desperation. And then, as they sought frantically for a breach in the second innings, Dravid stood before then like an immovable object, offering a straight bat to anything remotely threatening and latching on to every scoring opportunity. Australia blew their chance when Adam Gilchrist dropped him early because after he had got over his early tentativeness, he didn’t offer them a sniff. “It was a remarkable achievement,” said Steve Waugh, paying Dravid repeated compliments after the match, “to come back after a double-hundred and to be able to concentrate so hard, it is an outstanding performance.”Dravid said there were times today when his concentration flagged. “But it has always been a strong side of my game, so it wasn’t difficult to get it back. The motivation wasn’t hard to find. There was history for the making, there were many team-mates, our coaching staff, who have worked so hard over the last two or three years, I knew I had to do it for them.”He said the gameplan had been simple. “I knew that if we batted out the overs, we were going to win. It was my job to stay there and let the others bat around me. I had a few partnerships, a brief one with Sehwag, a good one with Sachin and another good one with Laxman. To be able to stay there till the job was done is a quite a special feeling.”Inevitably, comparisons were sought with Eden Gardens. “I have not had a chance to sit back and think about this. May be things will sink in better a few days later. But Eden Gardens was a very emotional affair, very special. But in terms of what it could mean to us as a team, and what this could lead to, this win is significant.”Ganguly offered the same sentiments. “We have been winning Tests abroad in the last couple of years. But to win in Australia, to go one ahead is special. I have been here as vice-captain in 1999. I remember the atmosphere in the dressing room then, and I can feel the difference now.”When asked if his team was not intimidated by Australia, Ganguly said while many members of his team may look soft from outside, there was a lot of steel within. “Don’t go by how they look,” he said, “we have plenty of tough guys. Rahul, Laxman, Kumble, Zaheer, Ajit, they are all very strong in their head. I am proud of them.”We know Australia will come hard at us in the next two Tests. But we will be ready for them. We know, and they know, that we can beat them. I have always said that we are the second-best team in the world. And now if we beat them, and with some of their top players going out, well …”The job isn’t done yet. “Perhaps we will party tonight,” Dravid said. “We have a few days of break coming up. Then it’s back to work.”Sambit Bal, the editor of Wisden Asia Cricket magazine and Wisden Cricinfo in India, will be following the Indian team throughout this Test series.
A forgotten man of West Indies cricket is sitting on the sidelines wondering why he’s not been part of the selectors’ plans.Franklyn Rose, however, says bluntly he’s not prepared to wait forever to gain the recognition he deserves.The 30-year-old Jamaican fast bowler burst onto the international scene with a six-wicket haul on Test debut against India five years ago. But for a variety of reasons, he has had a chequered career and has not represented the West Indies since the 2000 summer’s tour of England.I can’t see the reason why I’m out of the West Indies team, especially with the bowlers they are using at the moment no disrespect to them, Rose said. The biggest problem with our bowling is the lack of experience.We don’t have any tear-away fast bowlers. The pitches are flat and the guys need some more aggression and encouragement from teammates.Rose has returned to Jamaica prematurely following knee surgery in South Africa that cut short his professional contract with Gauteng, but he hopes to be fit enough to return to the game for the last two matches on the current Busta Cup.When his season came to an end, he was his team’s leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps (ave. 22.94) in five matches in the Super Sport first-class championship.He would have closely followed the fortunes of the West Indies team in recent series against Sri Lanka and the ongoing one against Pakistan.In both cases, West Indies bowlers struggled badly and having watched a lot of it on television, Rose described it as a `painful’ experience.I am very hurt, especially when I’m walking on the street and people say `why are you here? You should be on the West Indies team,’ he said.At the end of the day, the selectors call the game. It is very disappointing seeing the West Indies team on the television and know that I should be there.I know that I’m better than a few of the bowlers. I’m going to do my best and try and get as fit as quickly as possible and hopefully I can be back in the West Indies team and stay as long as possible.Rose, who has taken 53 wickets (ave. 30.88) in 19 Tests, has been in and out of the West Indies for a combination of reasons, including indifferent performances and problems over attitude.His options are not limited and he makes it clear that his overseas commitments as a professional may be his priority.I’m not going to sit and wait on West Indies cricket, he said.I’m going to continue playing my cricket in England and South Africa, play a few games for Jamaica, and hopefully to be back in the West Indies as well, but I’m not going to sit and wait on West Indies cricket.His situation, however, may be complicated in light of the West Indies Cricket Board’s eligibility rule which stipulates that players must make themselves available for regional competitions in order to be considered for international duty.Rose missed last October’s Red Stripe Bowl while he was in South Africa and will only play in this year’s Busta Series because of the injury that ended his season on the other side of the world.I can’t understand that rule, Rose said.He made reference to a previous scenario in which Barbadian Ottis Gibson, who was also playing professional in South Africa during the West Indies’ 1998-99 tour, was drafted into the Test team following a spate of injuries.Rose leaves for England in April to fulfil a league contract knowing that time maybe running out.I love my cricket. I’m still going to be playing my cricket, even if I’m not playing for West Indies or Jamaica, he said. Your main aim is to always play for your country and I’m looking forward to playing for Jamaica and West Indies again.
A slogged six that cleared the head of Warren Wisneski at mid-on from man ofthe match Tama Canning gave Auckland victory with two balls to spare in adramatic second round Shell Cup encounter.Canning’s 25 not out from 15 balls proved decisive after a superbhalf-century from Lou Vincent had put Auckland in a winning position.In a match that was in the balance until the final ball Canning’s cavalierinnings, together with his career best four-wicket haul in the Canterburyinnings, proved to be the difference between the two sides.Auckland won the toss and asked Canterbury to bat, but in doing so the Acesgifted Canterbury the best batting conditions of the match on a pitch thatslowed in pace as the match wore on.At 84/0 after 15 overs Canterbury would have been looking for one of itsopeners, Brad Doody or Mark Hastings, to bat through and guide the defendingchampions to a score in excess of 280.But as the pitch appeared to slow up the Aces, bowling depth came to thefore, with Canning, Andre Adams, Mark Haslam and Chris Drum combining todeny Canterbury a boundary between the 18th and 37th overs. Chris Harrisfinally broke the drought with a pull shot for six of Andre Adams.Umpire Brent Bowden’s reluctance to give decisions again came to the forewith the dismissal of Harris. A Chris Drum delivery appeared to take asubstantial deflection as Harris played away from his body and a nick wasclearly audible from the grandstand. The Auckland players gathered mid-pitchto congratulate Drum but to their amazement Bowden declined to send Harrispacking. Both Harris and the fielders stood their ground, prompting Bowdento confer with South African umpire Brian Jerling at square leg. Jerlingimmediately indicated he thought it was a dismissal and Bowden finally gaveHarris a nod.Debate about Bowden tends to centre on whether his clownish antics are goodfor the image of the game, but scrutiny of his umpiring would reveal a manhesitant to make a decision on even the most obvious of dismissals.Canning’s first spell of seven overs, 2/19 had been crucial in Aucklandchoking back the Canterbury run-rate and he struck again with the first ballof his second spell, having Gary Stead caught by cover sweeper RichardMorgan for 21, in the 41st over.At lunch Canterbury coach Gary MacDonald said the failure of either Harrisor Stead to bat on after getting starts, had resulted in score 20-30 runsless than he would have liked. However, he believed his side’s score of 228was defendable.Auckland began its chase in positive fashion, debutant Tim McIntosh, freshfrom his maiden first-class century, combined with a more circumspect AaronBarnes for a century opening stand. Both batsmen were dismissed soon aftermaking their half-centuries, McIntosh unfortunately run out when he lookedto have another hundred at his mercy.Auckland continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and the run-rateclimbed above seven. Carl Anderson bowled a tight spell, as did Shane Bond,but Harris bowled too many bad balls to be able to maintain the pressurefrom his end.Lou Vincent steadied the Auckland innings with an intelligent run a ballhalf-century. But when Bond bowled Vincent with the last ball of thepenultimate over Auckland still required six for victory.Three good balls from Geoff Allot conceded only two runs, leaving the matchin the balance. However the final act of the game was left to its starperformer, Tama Canning, who just got under an Allot attempted Yorker enoughto clear the desperately leaping Wisneski.
Everton are eyeing up a move for Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall ahead of the summer.
What’s the news?
According to reports, West Ham along with Brentford and Everton are all interested in the Forest centre-back, who is rated by Transfermarkt at just £3.6m. However, the Championship club are said to value him at between £12m-£15m.
The Premier League trio may look to try and negotiate that price down even lower though, particularly if he fails to help his club reach the top flight this season.
He would also likely be a cheaper alternative to Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, who has emerged as a surprise Toffees transfer target.
Bye-bye Keane
Everton defender Michael Keane has struggled badly at times this season, with some very inconsistent form as the team have slipped into a relegation battle.
His performances have led to fans and critics calling for manager Frank Lampard to drop him, with young and hungry centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite patiently waiting for more opportunities to shine.
Even critics have slammed the former England international this term, with Jim Beglin calling him “sloppy” and Journalist Sean Lunt suggesting that he’s “regressed awfully.”
Therefore, if the club survives in the Premier League this season, it would be quite likely that they target a new defender to replace Keane, and due to their financial issues, Forest star Worrall could prove to be a bargain option.
Worrall earned praise from Steven Gerrard for his leadership qualities during their time together at Rangers, with the now Aston Villa manager saying: “He will be a captain of whatever team he plays for.”
If there is one thing Everton need right now, it is leadership – and despite having the experience of Seamus Coleman in the backline anyway, given his poor form, it would be beneficial for him to have another experienced figure in defence alongside him to help organise and encourage.
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This season, Worrall has averaged a 7.08 in the Championship, as well as a 7.03 in the FA Cup, helping Forest reach the quarter-final, where they will take on giants Liverpool.
The 25-year-old, who has been described as a “colossus” by supporters, has kept 11 clean sheets in the league, as well as an average of two interceptions, 1.8 tackles and 3.4 clearances per game – and accompanying his excellent form would be the kind of confidence the Everton defence are lacking.
AND in other news: Everton will rue Brands clanger on £175k-p/w “lion” with “the strength of Mike Tyson”