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The South African Invitation XI batsmen held out against the touring Pakistanis to deny them a first win on their visit

The Report by Firdose Moonda28-Jan-2013
ScorecardThe South African Invitation XI batsmen held out against the touring Pakistanis to deny them a first win on their visit. The Pakistanis only batted for 5.1 overs on the fourth morning before declaring to give their bowlers a final run before the start of the Test series on Friday.Having resumed only five down, the Pakistanis lost three quick wickets on the final morning. Dolphins’ quick Kyle Abbott trapped Sarfraz Ahmed lbw with the old ball and then bowled both Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Gul with the new one. Beuran Hendricks got rid of Saeed Ajmal in between that and the Pakistanis declared on 250, with a lead of 322.They made early inroads into the hosts’ batting line-up with Junaid Khan and Umar Gul removing Andrew Puttick and Stiaan van Zyl. Davy Jacobs showed some resistance but became Mohammed Irfan’s first victim after an hour and a quarter at the crease. Irfan was again used only infrequently, although he also picked up the wicket of Cody Chetty.Saeed Ajmal got the most number of overs under his belt and finished the match with four wickets. With the Pakistanis deciding they could get no more out of the fixture, they agreed to shake hands on a draw with an hour left to play.Of concern to the visitors will be the fitness of Taufeeq Umar, who had to sit out the fixture with a sore leg, and the brittle middle order. Between them Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah and Asad Shafiq scored only one half-century in the two innings. The Pakistan squad travel to Johannesburg on Tuesday to prepare for the first Test. South Africa also assemble in the city tomorrow.

UAE coach Aaqib Javed, a World Cup winner with Pakistan in 1992, has become the latest figure to voice dissent at ICC plans to reduce future tournaments to ten teams

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2015UAE coach Aaqib Javed, a World Cup winner with Pakistan in 1992, has become the latest figure to voice dissent at ICC plans to reduce future tournaments to ten teams.The 2019 World Cup is expected to feature the eight top-ranked nations – almost certainly Full Members – along with two other teams who will come through a qualifying tournament in Bangladesh. Ireland and Afghanistan have been given a theoretical pathway to an automatic spot by being included in the rankings system but there are doubts as to whether they will play enough ODIs to reach the top eight.The current tournament features four Associate nations in UAE, Ireland, Afghanistan and Scotland, following the same format as 2011. Four years ago, the ICC decided to trim the numbers but was met with a wave of resistance and ultimately reversed the decision.Earlier this month, ICC chief executive David Richardson said World Cups should feature “evenly matched teams”. So far in Australia and New Zealand, while there have been several mismatches between Full Members, Ireland have beaten West Indies, Scotland gave New Zealand a scare on the way to a three-wicket win, UAE ran Zimbabwe close and Afghanistan threatened a victory over Sri Lanka.”I think the gap is narrowing now and every Associate is pushing the Full Members,” Javed told UAE newspaper the . “I am really surprised by the decision the ICC already made that the next World Cup would be 10 teams.”Which 10 teams? If you look at the performances from some teams, their graph has been going down, like West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. I am not just talking about in this World Cup. Overall, what have they achieved in the past 10 years? Why can’t there be pressure on them to improve, or go down?”He echoed comments made before the tournament by Ireland’s Ed Joyce, who questioned why cricket was trying to shrink participation in its marquee event, while other sports are looking to expand theirs.”It is very unusual if you compare it to other sports,” Javed said. “Sports need competition and opportunities for every one. What is there for us in Associate cricket? Ireland have been doing so well for the past 10 years, but haven’t gained anything. When it comes to open series, nobody wants to play them. Nobody wants to play Associate teams.”Due to the nature of bilateral agreements and cricket’s crowded schedule, Associate nations have found fixtures against the big teams hard to come by. Javed said there should be “an actual punishment” for underperforming Full Members and suggested two ODI divisions of eight teams, with promotion and relegation.”If after two years there was promotion and relegation, how much interest would be created? This is not rocket science,” he said. “Who are the ICC protecting and why are they protecting them? Forget about audience, it is about competition. Once you are a Test nation, you are a Test nation forever, whatever you do. There is no pressure on them.”

The Ajax pair are dominating transfer rumours, but they are not the only exciting youngsters excelling in the Netherlands' top flight

With Ajax's Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt heavily linked to the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City, the Eredivisie has been thrown into the limelight in recent months.

The pair spearhead an exciting new generation in Dutch football, but they are well-backed by a whole host of young compatriots and still just a drop in the bucket of talent in the Netherlands' top flight.

From the top of the table right down to the bottom, from the Netherlands to Brazil and even Japan, here are 15 rising stars in a league where its trust in youth continues to be justified.

GettySteven Bergwijn (PSV, 21)It’s no surprise that PSV have a perfect record in the league this season as, in addition to Hirving Lozano’s contributions on the opposite wing, Steven Bergwijn has provided five goals and six assists. The skilful 21-year-old is a fantastic dribbler with incredible pace, all attributes that have earned him his first senior caps for the Netherlands and links with Liverpool and Manchester United.AdvertisementGettyMatthijs de Ligt (Ajax, 19)Matthijs de Ligt’s name will be familiar to many as it’s one linked with Manchester City, Juventus and Barcelona. The 19-year-old centre-back is a brilliant reader of play, a strong tackler and has an aerial presence that proves effective at both ends of the pitch. Mature beyond his years with technical ability that is typical of any Dutch defender, De Ligt is expected to earn his big-money move sooner rather than later.GettyRitsu Doan (Groningen, 20)Groningen desperately gathered together the funds to make Ritsu Doan’s loan deal permanent in the summer, and it’s clear to see why. The creative midfielder, who is also effective out wide, scored nine times and provided three assists in his debut season and, with Manchester City having shown an interest, it seems unlikely the Dutch club will keep their star man much longer.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyKasper Dolberg (Ajax, 21)Recruited to Ajax by the same man who brought in Christian Eriksen and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kasper Dolberg is a ruthless finisher with excellent technique. His ability was abundantly clear in his 16 goals across 2016-17, before the Dane lost his place, and his confidence, last term. Dolberg is looking back to his best again though, despite injuries in pre-season, with five goals in five starts this year.

Luis Enrique insisted that "PSG is above any individual" and claimed all is "normal" with the manager being bombed with Kylian Mbappe exit queries.

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Mbappe will put an end to his PSG stintLikely to realise his wish of joining Real MadridEnrique says it's business as usual at clubWHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe's decision to depart Paris Saint-Germain has sparked intense speculation, with Real Madrid reportedly poised to secure the French forward's signature. However, Enrique remained tight-lipped about the superstar forward's potential exit despite repeated attempts by journalists to get a reaction from the manager.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT LUIS ENRIQUE SAID

Speaking to reporters, Luis Enrique said: "We will continue to work. The team is above everyone, that is our message. The club is above any individuality."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

When he was further pressed about the atmosphere in training, the coach added: "It's the atmosphere in every training session before a match. It's normal training. Do I have any fears? No. You have to have personality to sit here. There are rumours around the club all the time, criticism, praise, controversy… Anyone who doesn't like it can't be here."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

While Real Madrid officials patiently await Mbappe's response to their reported offer, Enrique did his best to maintain his composure in front of the press. However, the manager is well aware that he needs to lead the imminent restructuring at the Parc des Princes after the departure of Mbappe with the Parisians set to delve into the market for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Christopher Nkunku will be out for three to four weeks after picking up yet another injury.

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Nkunku out of action with another injuryRuled out for three to four weeksSuffered knee injury in pre-seasonGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The French attacker is undergoing a medical assessment at the club due to an unknown injury problem and Pochettino has confirmed that he is facing up to a month on the sidelines. The Chelsea boss also admitted that the 26-year-old is no longer the player he used to be at RB Leipzig.

AdvertisementWHAT MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

Speaking to reporters, the Argentine coach said: "We learned yesterday Nkunku got injured but we don’t know when he got injured. We need to see and evaluate every day but he's out for three or four weeks. We hope no more. It’s difficult for him. We watched him when he arrived in pre-season.

"He was flying on the training pitch until he got injured. Now it is nearly eight months and he has been involved again but he is not the same player as before. We have in our head the amazing Nkunku from pre-season but it is not the same player because of the circumstances. That’s why it is sometimes unfair when we judge."

(C)GettyImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nkunku suffered a knee injury during the club's pre-season tour which forced him to miss the first half of the 2023-24 campaign. Upon returning to action, Nkunku scored his maiden Chelsea goal in the club's 2-1 defeat to Wolves on December 24. He has featured in 10 matches across all competitions for the Blues to date, clocking 394 minutes on the pitch and scoring two goals, with his last outing coming from the bench in the Blues' Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

The Blues will be next seen in action in the FA Cup on Wednesday as they are set to take on Leeds United in an FA Cup fifth-round clash. Nkunku will definitely sit out that tie and a trip to Brentford in the Premier League three days later as Pochettino awaits a proper diagnosis on the forward's latest injury.

The limited-overs career of Younis Khan, the Pakistan batsman, hangs in the balance after he was left out of a 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2013The limited-overs career of Younis Khan, the senior Pakistan batsman, hangs in the balance after he was left out of a 30-man squad for the Champions Trophy to be held in June. The Pakistan board announced the pool of players unexpectedly early, and there had been speculation over Younis’ future after a poor one-day series in South Africa earlier this month.Younis, 35, was among several Pakistan batsmen who floundered in the series which South Africa won 3-2. Younis collected 116 ODIs runs at 23.20 as Pakistan’s fragile batting struggled through much of the tour. He has had a difficult ODI run in recent years – his last century came as long back in 2008, and in three of the previous four years he has averaged less than 25.The other major exclusion from the squad was of 20-year-old left-arm spinner Raza Hasan, who is looking to make his comeback after suffering a spine injury last December. Hasan had made an impact during the World Twenty20 last year, playing in four matches in that campaign.The experienced allrounder Abdul Razzaq, who hasn’t played an ODI since November 2011 continued to be ignored by the national selectors.The Champions Trophy features the top eight ODI sides in the world, and is scheduled to be held in England in June. Pakistan are in Group B along with India, South Africa and West Indies. All teams have to announce their preliminary squad for the tournament before April 6.Squad: Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Sohail Tanvir, Hammad Azam, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Asad Ali, Anwar Ali, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Imran Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Zulfiqar Babar, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan

Cricket Kenya has withdrawn its revised contracts, which the players had declined to sign, instead offering them annual contracts as was the system previously

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2011Cricket Kenya has withdrawn its revised contracts, which the players had declined to sign, instead offering 20 players – 13 now and seven more by the end of July – annual contracts as was the system previously.The contracts include two reviews, scheduled in August and February, to monitor the players’ performance. Senior players like Jimmy Kamande, Thomas Odoyo, David Obuya and Maurice Ouma, who were part of Kenya’s World Cup squad, are not on the new contracts list released by the board.The board chief, Tom Sears, said the contracted players have the ability to contribute in more than one area of the game. “There is a blend of experienced players who have competed in World Cups and other ICC events, and some young players who have come through our development programme and age-group teams,” he said. “We have selected multifaceted players who have the ability to excel in more than one of the three disciplines – batting, bowling and fielding.”He also said a lot of emphasis is being laid on fitness. “We have to aim to excel in the two areas we have complete control of – fielding and fitness, and achieve genuine world class standards in these areas. If we achieve this collective performances and results will improve.”The newly contracted players will be subjected to regular fitness testing and expected to attain specified standards. The door is open to any player … if they can show they have the potential to reach the standards we expect.”The current central contracts expired on May 31, and the players reportedly refused to start training for the upcoming inaugural East African Premier league in Uganda, until their concerns with the new system were addressed. The board had announced four-month contracts for 12 players to cover the league to be played in August. At the end of the league, the selectors were to recommend a minimum of 12 players for nine-month central contracts, which were to be reviewed every three months by the selectors and coaching staff to monitor the players’ progress. The review would have determined whether a player was retained or let go.The change in the contracts system was part of a transformation being implemented in Kenyan cricket following their dismal World Cup campaign. Kenya went through the tournament without a win, after which coach Eldine Baptiste resigned, captain Kamande was sacked, a new selection panel was instituted and the domestic cricket structure was overhauled.List of centrally contracted players: Ragheb Aga, Runish Gudhka, Tanmay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Lucas Oluoch, Elijah Otieno, Rakep Patel, Hiren Varaiya, Seren Waters

A ferocious 145 not out from captain Andrew Gale put Yorkshire firmly incontrol of their County Championship Division One clash with title-holdersNottinghamshire at Headingley

21-Apr-2011Stumps
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A ferocious 145 not out from captain Andrew Gale put Yorkshire firmly incontrol of their County Championship Division One clash with title-holdersNottinghamshire at Headingley.The visitors have been second-best on all fronts since winning the tosson the first morning, and had to fight hard to avoid a two-day defeat, eventually closing on175 for 6 – with 18 runs required to make Yorkshire bat again.Yorkshire began the second day on 213 for 5 with a lead of 70 but things didnot go entirely to plan early on. Gale completed a watchful half-century off 91balls but Adil Rashid added only a single to his overnight 39 before he playedround a ball from Samit Patel and was bowled.Richard Pyrah had his stumps hit by Luke Fletcher after one kept low but DavidWainwright gave valuable support to Gale as Notts began to feel the handicap ofbeing without Andre Adams, who did not take the field because of a groinstrain.Just as he was beginning to settle in, Wainwright drove a gentle return catchto Patel and in the following over Ryan Sidebottom was lbw to Paul Frankswithout scoring, leaving Yorkshire on 254 for 9.It looked as if Gale, on 67, would be denied his century, but he managed toplunder the bowling while last man Oliver Hannon-Dalby offered solid support.Every ball the number 11 kept out was loudly applauded by the home fans.Consecutive boundaries for Gale advanced him to 101 off 169 balls, with 13fours, at which stage Hannon-Dalby’s contribution to the 34-run stand was a meresingle. It was Gale’s first century since flogging an unbeaten 158 against thesame opponents at Trent Bridge towards the end of last season.Gale moved into hurricane mode as he planted consecutive balls from Fletcherhigh over mid-wicket for six and when lunch came at 334 for 9 he hadcontributed 76 from the previous 80 runs. That exceeded the previous best forYorkshire’s last wicket against Nottinghamshire at Headingley, 73 betweenWilfred Rhodes and Abe Waddington in 1920.Only two were added after the interval, however, before Hannon-Dalby was caughtat second slip by Adam Voges of Charlie Shreck, Gale receiving a standingovation for his unbeaten 145 from 205 balls with 15 fours and two sixes.It did not take long for Nottinghamshire’s top order to hit trouble again,Franks’ middle stump being struck so hard by Sidebottom that it had to bechanged. Mark Wagh’s off stump was flattened by Pyrah’s 10th delivery and in thenext over Patel bagged a pair when he was bowled by Sidebottom.At 38 for 3, a two-day finish looked on the cards but the visitors’ resolvewas stiffened by a 105-run stand between Alex Hales and Voges, during which theformer completed his second half-century of the match by driving Rashid overlong off for six.The fourth-wicket pair looked assured against both pace and spin but once againHales was to move into the 80s without reaching three figures. After making hisway to 83 off 112 balls, with 12 fours and a six, he stood no chance of keepingout a shooter from Pyrah which hit the base of his off-stump.Pyrah was once more fulfilling a vital role with the ball and he went on toremove Voges for 42 before being rested with figures of 15-8-19-3, Sidebottomreturning to deepen Nottinghamshire’s gloom by getting Alistair Brown caughtbehind.

Shane Watson has reiterated his desire to stay at the top of the order for Australia but said that if he has to bowl more overs for the team he may need to be played in a different role

Daniel Brettig in Colombo 13-Sep-2011Shane Watson has reiterated his desire to stay at the top of the order for Australia but said that if he has to bowl more overs for the team he may need to be played in a different role.Watson has managed a highest score of just 36 during Australia’s ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, but as a bowler has had a significant influence. He took three middle-order wickets in the first innings in Galle, which tilted the match decisively towards Australia, then offered excellent support to Trent Copeland and Ryan Harris as they sought to spoil the hosts’ efforts to save the Pallekele Test on the final day. This takes a toll on Watson’s batting, but he said he must find a way to better balance the two roles.”It’s easy to say that [my bowling is affecting my batting], but really in the end I’m in the team as an opening batsman; my primary job is to score runs and I’ve just got to get better at it,” Watson said. “There’s no doubt being an allrounder and bowling does take a lot more out of you than guys who just bat, but that’s part of being an allrounder.”I really do enjoy opening the batting and taking on the quicks with the new ball, but it does depend on what my role is. If the new dynamics of the team require me to bowl more, as I did in this [the Pallekele] Test match, then my role may change and I’m happy to bat anywhere to make sure we’ve got the best people in the right positions. I feel my body is really coping and handling the overs a lot better as well.”Watson enters the final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo without the runs he believes his batting touch has warranted. In something of a microcosm of Watson’s Test batting career, first-innings scores of 22 and 36 gave Australia a start, but were not the match-shaping tallies he and the team crave.A career ledger of two Test centuries, against 15 half-centuries, rather sums up his present state of frustration, despite spending plenty of time in this year’s Indian Premier League at the feet of Rahul Dravid, who he quizzed in some detail about the art of concentration.”It’s been disappointing,” Watson said of his batting performances in Sri Lanka. “After not playing Test cricket over the last seven or eight months I’ve been really excited about getting into the Test cricket side of things, the batting especially. I’m hitting the ball alright. Hopefully I can turn that into a big score.”That’s the most frustrating thing, not being able to capitalise when I’m batting really well. I know within the team I’m a more senior player now so it is my job as a top-order batsman to be able to score big runs, and unfortunately I haven’t been able to do that consistently. It’s something I’ve got to get better at.”

Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has criticised his batsmen’s inability to take ownership of a modest chase during the fourth ODI against Pakistan

Umar Farooq in Sharjah21-Nov-2011Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lanka captain, has criticised his batsmen’s inability to take ownership of a modest chase during the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Sharjah, a defeat that cost them the five-match series. Chasing 201, Sri Lanka were on course to level the series at 155 for 3 before they collapsed, losing seven wickets for 19 runs.”It’s unbelievable to lose seven wickets for 20 odd runs,” Dilshan said. “[Shahid] Afridi batted and bowled well, but it was really disappointing to lose from a winning position. We were in a good position but we relaxed and no one took the responsibility. As a batting unit we should have finished the game.”As a captain I can’t do anything to change the players’ game. As a team unit we have to take responsibility.”Since the 2011 World Cup, Sri Lanka have lost Test and ODI series to England, Australia and Pakistan. Dilshan, however, said he didn’t think his leadership would come under scrutiny.”I don’t know what their [Sri Lanka Cricket] views are but I was appointed captain until the South Africa series [in December] so I didn’t think [about being removed] but lets see how things goes on.”Dilshan also called for the younger players in his side to take the opportunities they’re being given. “We are giving opportunities to the young players and they have to grab them. But at this point they aren’t and are throwing their wickets sometimes. They have to learn and show that they are ready for international cricket.”Sri Lanka have already lost the one-day series to Pakistan 1-3 with a match to go in Abu Dhabi, followed by a Twenty20 international on November 25. “We have to finish the series in a strong manner,” Dilshan said.