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Derbyshire continue to bolster their squad with the signing of Chris Rogers, the Western Australia batsman. He has plenty of county experience including a previous stint at Derbyshire and spells at Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and will provide back-up for Mahela Jayawardene in two blocks.Rogers will start the season as Jayawardene is involved with the Indian Premier League and the Sri Lankan captain is then away again on international duty for Sri Lanka from mid-July.Derbyshire’s head of cricket John Morris said: “It is great news to have another player of the quality of Chris Rogers joining our playing staff for the coming season. It was important that we again identified and got the right type of character and player in our dressing room.”As the counties are only allowed one overseas player from next year, Rogers is only able to be a fill-in, but with a weight of domestic runs under his belt, he is a tidy back-up. He is also still pushing for a Test opener spot, but an untimely appendix problem ruled him out of contention for Australia’s Tests against Sri Lanka, when Phil Jaques weighed in with a century, sealing his place there for now.Morris added: “Mahela will leave us around July 10 to play in Sri Lanka’s series against India and Chris will again take over at this point. After that date Mahela’s international commitments are yet to be confirmed but whenever he is not here, Chris will be and that is great position to be in.”At this point it seems as if Rogers could be playing more than the overseas player he is scheduled to fill in for, with Jayawardene’s commitments possibly ruling him out for more than half of the county season.

Sreesanth on the famous celebratory jig: ‘”It just happened. I myself wondered when I saw it [later on TV]” © Getty Images

Indian fast bowler Sreesanth revealed the story behind the famous impromptu dance after he had hit Andre Nel for a six during the first Test in Johannesburg. “It just happened. I myself wondered when I saw it (later on TV). My brother and friends had e-mailed me about it.” Recalling the incident, Sreesanth said: “As soon as I walked in to bat, Nel said ‘I can smell blood. You do not have the guts.’ Showing his emblem on the shirt, Nel said ‘I am playing for this. You are a scared fellow, rabbit. I will get you next ball’.”Before delivering the next ball, Nel had also asked Mark Boucher to stay back and had also moved the short leg fielder. I being a fast bowler myself, knew Nel was going to bowl a bouncer. I just took my chance and prayed to God. I stepped out to connect the ball which flew over the ropes.”Sreesanth said he was very lucky to get some valuable tips from great fast bowlers like Wasim Akram and Allan Donald during the South African tour. Sreesanth said he had a session with Akram, who had advised him on how to use the reverse swing. “Akram has told me some small points. It was really helpful. It was nice of him.” Sharing an interesting coincidence, Sreesanth said: “This year on January 1, I had a session with Akram while last year the same day I had a session with another Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis in Kochi.”Sreesanth said he wants to use his performance in South Africa as a stepping stone for achieving greater success in the forthcoming series. “I cannot sit back on laurels. I cannot sit back and relax. I have to work with the same intensity and even more. I am still learning,” Sreesanth said. While expressing satisfaction over his performance in South Africa, during which he scripted India’s first ever Test win in the country by claiming eight wickets in Johannesburg, Sreesanth revealed that he had set a bigger target for himself. “My dream was to capture 25 wickets in the series. I thank God that I could get 18 wickets and equal Anil Kumble and Srinath’s record [in South Africa]. They are the legends in Indian cricket and to hold the record along with them is a great feeling.”Looking back at the tour where India lost both the one-day and the Test series, he said, “It is not always easy to perform well outside the country and especially in South African conditions. We tried our best. It was a team effort. May be in some points we were not good enough.” He also said the presence of Sourav Ganguly in the team helped the players. “He performed exceptionally well especially in tough situations. He is a mature player and performed well. He played a big role.”On reports of players damaging the dressing room during celebrations after the Wanderers Test win, Sreesanth said: “I do not know. That day we had a good party. I do not want to comment on that.”

Matthew Hayden has turned down an offer to return to Hampshire as their second overseas player for 2006. He has decided that he needs a break from the game ahead of the Ashes series next winter.Hayden, who made almost 1500 runs for Hampshire in 1997, has returned to form in dramatic style during the Australian season with 949 at 73 in seven Tests – a resurgence that began at The Oval in September with his backs-to-the-wall century.However, despite Shane Warne begin Hampshire’s captain the club have been unable to come to an agreement with Hayden, but are hopeful he will return sometime in the future.Rod Bransgrove, the chairman, told BBC Radio Solent: “We couldn’t quite reach an agreement, but I’m sure he will return in the future. Matt will have played 16 months of consecutive cricket by the time our season starts. He was keen to come back and see the club from the inside after all the developments. He loved his time here in 1997.”

Max Ebrahim, Zimbabwe’s embattled convener of selectors, has dismissed calls for Zimbabwe’s Test status to be suspended following the side’s dismal showing in South Africa. “It took New Zealand 45 years before they had their first win,” he said. “Look at what’s happening to New Zealand now.”Ebrahim, who, so rumours suggest, is likely to be replaced as part of a deal reached with some rebel players, told the Cape Argus that there was no question of the ICC revoking Zimbabwe’s status.”In 2004, because of the contractual dispute with 15 of our players, we asked for an eight-month break from Test cricket. No team would be able to cope adequately if they lost 15 players at once,” he explained. “But now we are delighted to have players like Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut back in the side, and we expect more of the rebel players to return which will mean that we will have a bigger pool of players to draw from.”And Ebrahim looked to point out the positives from recent games, where some of Zimbabwe’s younger players got a chance to perform in the Test arena. “Some of them have really put their hands up and have shown us that there is plenty of talent available,” he said. “Graeme Cremer, for instance, has been a real find. To bowl 26 overs and take three wickets for just over 100 runs against South Africa was really exceptional. And he’s just a baby – he’s only 18 … he’s got a great future ahead of him.”So we have some very promising young players, and with some older and wiser heads back in the team, I believe Zimbabwe can really go places,” he said. “I think those people who say countries like Zimbabwe and Bangladesh shouldn’t play Test cricket are not really talking about cricket. If it’s just results that count, perhaps there should be only four countries with Test status,”Ebrahim added that it was planned to play four-day domestic cricket and also to bring in additional coaches from overseas to help speed up development.But pressure from other areas is growing and the ICC will be reviewing the situation when it meets later this week in Delhi. Crowds stayed away from the matches in South Africa and even television companies are now questioning the value of covering such one-sided games. Add into the equation increasing concerns that Test cricket is being devalued by matches of the kind seen in Cape Town, and Ebrahim’s comments appear more designed to talk up the state of Zimbabwe cricket ahead of that meeting.

The Cricket Victoria Board of Directors today endorsed the state selector’s decision to appoint Cameron White captain of the Bushrangers Pura Cup team to play the Bulls at the GABBA starting Sunday.White replaces the injured Darren Berry who broke a finger in a practice match against South Australia on Tuesday.Victoria’s youngest ever captain was delivered the news at a team meeting this afternoon as the Bushrangers prepare for tomorrow’s day/night ING Cup match. "It is a huge challenge for the guys, Victoria has not beaten Queensland in the four-day game up here since 1983," he said.He added "we will miss Darren’s leadership however I am confident that we have the team to beat Queensland".

This was a day to remember for Chris Harris, Chris Martin, Shane Bond and Aaron Redmond. It was one to forget for Northern Districts who were 128 for eight at the close in reply to Canterbury’s 444.According to coach Michael Sharpe, Canterbury’s plan at the start of the day was extend their first innings to 450. This was almost achieved, but not in the way that was expected.Three wickets fell in the first hour, all as a result of aggressive shots by batsmen who were supposed to be supporting the main act, Harris.While this was happening Harris spent more time than he or his team would have wished at the non-striker’s end. The balance was redressed when he was joined by Martin, one of cricket’s true No 11 batsmen.Harris went to great lengths to protect his partner. He took an anorexic attitude to the diet of easy singles fed to him by ND. The field moved in for the fifth ball of most overs like a well-rehearsed formation dance team. It was not a great spectacle, but extended the Canterbury innings into the afternoon session, adding 75 precious runs.Martin will talk about his 25 for years to come. It is his highest first-class score (previously 13). He has now scored more runs in first-class cricket than he has taken wickets, for the time being, at least.But it is Chris Harris to whom the batting glory should go. The 52 runs he added today took almost as long as yesterday’s century. He lacked his previous fluency and touch, but today’s runs were arguably the more valuable.Sharpe was full of praise for Harris. “He’s a run machine at the moment. The longer New Zealand ignore him the more use we get out of him. He adds experience to the side and is able to bat with the top or the lower order.”Harris’ reputation as a one-day specialist means that his consistency with the bat in domestic cricket is often forgotten. On form, he should come into the Test team if any of the established middle order are injured.ND had to score 295 to avoid the follow-on. This should have been eminently achievable, but it soon became hard to believe that ND were batting on the surface enjoyed by Harris and Martin.The initial difference was the speed of Bond. Two wickets in two deliveries from Bond devastated the ND top order.James Marshall, who had been discomforted by Bond’s pace throughout, was bowled for one by the last ball of the seventh over of the innings. From the first ball of the ninth Mark Bailey was lbw, not very far forward.Bond struck again in his second spell, his extra pace and bounce finding Matthew Hart’s glove, sending a catch to Harris at fourth slip. Hart scored a dogged 23.Sharpe told CricInfo that agreement had been reached with Black Caps coach Denis Aberhart that Bond would be used in short spells. His figures of 13-5-35-3 serve the interests of both Canterbury and New Zealand, warming him up nicely for next week’s Test match.Sharpe says that Bond is a better bowler after his tour of Australia. “He has gained some yards in pace and he is even more confident than when he left. He’s a different player.”If Bond’s performance was expected, Redmond’s was not. The leg spinner finished the day with three for 22, dismissing Hamish Marshall, Grant Bradburn and Joseph Yovich.”It was the captain’s decision to bring him on,” explained Sharpe. “He has bowled reasonably well without luck so far this season. Today he turned a few early on and his confidence grew. It was his day.”Unless the weather intervenes, Canterbury should record a second victory to follow their first in 18 matches, last week.

Pakistan batsman Younis Khan will bring the curtains down on his ODI career after the first match against England at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.Younis, 37, played 264 matches in an ODI career that spanned 15 years. With 7240 runs, Younis is currently sixth on the list of highest run-getters for Pakistan in ODIs. Earlier this month, he overtook Javed Miandad’s record to become Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in Tests.Overall, Younis scored seven hundreds and 48 fifties at an average of 31.34, but had been on the fringes of the limited-overs side in recent months; he managed just one century since 2008, against New Zealand last December.”I am really pleased to announce that today I am retiring from ODI cricket after deliberation with my family, wife, and close friends,” Younis said. “I feel satisfied and grateful to almighty for showering numerous blessings on me. It is one of the his great blessings that I, by my own will, have taken this decision to retire from ODI cricket after having retired from T20 cricket already.”Explaining his decision, Younis said that he had to be honest with himself while contemplating his ODI future. “During my 15-year long association with ODI cricket, I always tried my best to play positive cricket for my team both as captain and as a player. But now I feel that the time has come when I should call it a day from one-day cricket,” Younis, who captained Pakistan in two stints, first in 2005-06 and later in 2009, said. “I hope that our young players will exhibit the same passion with which I played my game with strict adherence to discipline and fitness.”I would like to thank the PCB, selection committee and my fellow players who always respected and encouraged me. It is difficult to bid adieu to one-day format, but I believe in being sincere and honest with myself as well as with my profession. Pakistan cricket has a bright future ahead. We have been the champions in this game once and I believe we have all necessary ingredients to become champions once again.”While Younis has been in fine form in Test cricket, scoring eight hundreds from his last 15 matches at an average of 68.68, his records in ODI were less impressive. Last year, after being dropped from the ODI squad for the home series against Australia, a hurt Younis lashed out at the PCB, challenging the board to build a team without him in the mix. Despite being out of favour in ODIs at the time, Younis eventually returned to the squad for the home series against New Zealand, and was also included in the team’s World Cup squad. He however had a tournament to forget, scoring just 43 runs from three matches and was eventually axed from the line-up.Younis’ ODI retirement leaves him as an active international cricketer in just Tests. He had retired from Twenty20 Internationals after leading Pakistan to the World T20 title in 2009 in England, their first trophy on the global stage since the 1992 World Cup win.

There is a good chance that Marcelo Bielsa will leave his role as Leeds United manager at the end of the season, according to journalist Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Bielsa’s future in doubt

The Argentine has been a great modern-day figure at Elland Road, excelling since taking charge in 2018 and guiding the Whites back into the Premier League, in which they finished ninth in their first season back at that level for 16 years.

However, Bielsa is having a much tougher campaign this time around, with Leeds sitting 15th in the table and a return to the Championship far from being out of the question.

The 66-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of this season, at which point a massive decision will have to be made regarding his future.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Journalist backs summer exit for Bielsa

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Bridge stated his belief that Bielsa could move on to pastures new this summer.

Addressing the possibility of the Leeds manager stepping down later this year, the journalist said: “It wouldn’t surprise me, he looks tired, but I’m sure they’ll assess it at the end of the season.”

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The Verdict: Feeling increasingly likely?

With each passing week, it feels increasingly as though Bielsa’s time at Leeds is slowly coming to an end, with all great managerial reigns having to reach a denouement at some point.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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As Bridge says, there is almost a tiredness about the Whites boss at the moment, with injuries certainly playing a part in the team’s struggles this season, and some freshening up this summer may not be a bad thing.

That being said, should Bielsa sign another one-year extension, it would likely be met with positivity from most Leeds fans, given his hero status at Elland Road.

In other news, a pundit has bemoaned a latest Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Phil Jaques scored 150, but still wasn’t happy. He wants more (file photo) © Getty Images

Test batting looks too easy when Michael Hussey is doing it. While Phil Jaques set the base on another rampaging day for Australia, Hussey constructed the walls during a thrilling race to his century, which he achieved with four balls remaining in the day.As the Sri Lanka attack tired, Hussey took charge and smacked 81 in the final session as Australia finished at 3 for 329. He started to sprint once Jaques fell for 150, but it was only with four overs to go that reaching three figures became a possibility.”I didn’t think I was going to get there,” he said. “I was 82 and didn’t think I was a chance. When I hit two fours off Lasith Malinga I thought maybe I’m a silly chance. It was probably only in the last two overs I thought about it.”A couple of boundaries from Farveez Maharoof moved him to 96 and meant he could reach the target as long as he remained in control and was given the strike by Michael Clarke. There were a couple of nervous moments as he tried to force the pace, but he eased the stress of a night in the nineties with a crisp pull and finished on 101 not out.”I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me,” Hussey said. “The crowd was geeing me up and clapping each ball. I was trying to put it out of my mind, but was keen to get there. The pitch was so good, I was in and I felt pretty good. Maybe I took a couple of unnecessary risks at the end, but I was delighted to get through.”A pull was a suitable shot for the milestone as he had taken advantage of the short bowling throughout the innings. He struck 15 fours, including a string of crisp cover drives, during his 173-ball stay and it was his seventh century in 18 matches. The incredible record includes a live average of 87.19.”I’ve convinced myself it’s going to come down at some stage, but I’m happy to keep it like this for as long as possible,” he said. “I just want to enjoy it while it’s lasting and keep a level keel, not get too excited when things are going well, or too low when they’re not going well.”Hussey’s back-to-back centuries were matched by Phil Jaques and his former mentor Trevor Bayliss is finding him impossible to tame. “As his coach over the past ten years, especially the last three in first-class cricket, he gave me a few heart flutters and the opposition a few chances,” Bayliss said. “In the last two innings he’s still giving me heart flutters even though he’s in the opposition.”He’s been a lot more selective in the way he’s played in the last two matches, cutting out the riskier shots and making it a difficult package to get out. He fully deserves his success.”Jaques felt more relaxed after getting through a tough first hour, when the Sri Lankans “bowled a couple of balls that I wouldn’t have hit in a hundred years”. “I wanted to back myself and show a bit more intent,” he said. “I could express myself better and it worked out pretty good.”After posting 100 in Brisbane, he continued his liking for neat scores. “I really wanted to make a big hundred today and really cash in,” he said. Was 150 enough? “It’s never enough. I have to learn from it and cash in next time.”

Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath would be choosing the right moment to leave if the Sydney Test was their last, according to Ian Chappell © Getty Images

Reports that Shane Warne will announce his retirement on Thursday have caught the cricket world off guard. While there has been no official confirmation that Warne will step down, Australia is buzzing with the news that Warne, and maybe Glenn McGrath, will make the Sydney Test their last.”I haven’t heard anything official yet from Cricket Australia and people have been ringing me non-stop,” David Boon, an Australia selector, told . “I don’t know when he’s proposing to do it officially or whether it’s just rumour. I don’t know.”John Buchanan, the Australia coach, said he was not commenting “at this stage”. Ian Healy said he would not say anything until the announcement was official, but he said it was hard to believe that Warne could be so close to leaving the game.Allan Border, who captained Warne for several years, said on that Warne was in superb form and did not need to retire. “It’s just caught everyone by surprise,” Border said. “I just got the inkling that he was even considering one more tilt at England in England and that would see him out. I suppose there’s a lot of innuendo about what the reasons are … I’m in a bit of a state of shock.”Border said Warne would be remembered as one of the all-time greats. “Bradman – it’s hard to make comparison with that guy’s record, but on the next level of cricketers, Warne is right there,” Border said. “He’s been a breath of fresh air, what he’s brought to the game is immeasurable.”Ian Chappell said both Warne and McGrath would be choosing the ideal moment to retire if the Sydney Test was their last. “I’m delighted for both of them that they are calling it a day at the end of this series,” Chappell said. “I think it’s perfect timing for a champion player … if you make a mistake it’s best to get out a little early than a little late.”