All posts by h716a5.icu

Sri Lanka’s cricketers have refused to sign the International Cricket Council contract that is threatening the participation of leading Asian players in the ICC Champions Trophy next month

Charlie Austin25-Aug-2002Sri Lanka’s cricketers have refused to sign the International Cricket Council contract that is threatening the participation of leading Asian players in the ICC Champions Trophy next month.The Sri Lanka team returned home after the Morocco Cup 2002 on Friday and player representatives met with the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) to voice their concerns.The BCCSL is urging the players to sign the controversial ICC contract designed to prevent `ambush marketing’ during the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC World Cup, but the players will not do so unless key conditions are met.BCCSL chief executive Anura Tennekoon confirmed the players’ refusal to sign, saying: “They declined to sign the contracts pending clarification to certain matters”.Newspapers in Sri Lanka on Sunday claimed that the players were demanding 30% of the revenue accrued by the BCCSL from the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Cup as compensation.An anonymous player is quoted in the Sunday Times as saying: "If the players are not permitted to endorse any products and expected only to promote a selected product they should be compensated and remunerated accordingly."The players have requested that the cricket board negotiate with former Sri Lanka fast bowler Graeme Labrooy, a representative from the Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association (SLCA), who has been discussing the issue with the world players’ body (FICA).Labrooy has also insisted that: "Any future contract signed with the ICC that involves the players must have their consent."But despite the players’ reluctance to sign the contract, they are expected to do so, at least for the ICC Champions Trophy, considering the fact that Sri Lanka is hosting the tournament and that few of the players currently endorse international brands.During the past week the Australian, English, New Zealand and South African cricket boards reached agreement with their respective player associations, ensuring that their top players will participate in the 12-team tournament starting Sept 12.However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not been able to persuade its star players, who are not contracted to the BCCI and earn the majority of their income from endorsement deals, to sign the ICC agreement.

Fabio Paratici is eyeing up a raid on the Italian top-flight for his first signings as Tottenham Hotspur director of football, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

InterLive.it claim that the 48-year-old is targeting a double swoop on Serie A champions Inter Milan, in which central defender Stefan de Vrij is mentioned.

It’s thought that Paratici could offer around €22m (£18.5m) for his signature, with midfielder Marcelo Brozovic the other name mooted by the report.

This isn’t the first time that the North London outfit have been linked to the Dutch international in recent weeks as he was considered to be a potential target for Antonio Conte before he pulled out of talks to join the club.

A dream start?

There is a mighty task at hand for both Paratici and incoming manager Paulo Fonseca but a move for De Vrij could be the perfect signing to kickstart the new era at the Lilywhites.

Before either man had arrived at the club, football.london’s Alasdair Gold reported that Spurs were wanting to sign two central defenders in the transfer market but they’ll need to move a couple on first.

For much of the 2020/21 campaign, Jose Mourinho and then interim Ryan Mason suffered from numerous individual mistakes and a serious lack of cohesion in the backline. Ultimately, this was the defining and worrying theme of their tumultuous season.

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It was so bad at one point that former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara lambasted Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez as “one of the worst partnerships in the Premier League” to talkSPORT, whilst the sacked Portuguese coach utilised over 16 different defensive combinations throughout the year.

De Vrij has emerged as a solid defender over in Italy and could prove to be the difference-maker if signed by Paratici. If Fonseca is to be given the best chance of success, then he needs an addition of this calibre.

The 46-cap defender, who stands at 6 foot 2, played an integral part in Inter’s title-winning run, in which they recorded the best defensive record of anyone in the league.

He rated out as one of Conte’s best options on the ball, averaging an impressive 93.8% passing accuracy, which eclipses all of Spurs’ current defensive options. And even anyone in the squad, including anchorman Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Therefore, he seems to be the perfect fit to sit in the middle of Fonseca’s preferred three-man defence.

The £45m-rated colossus also averaged 0.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and two aerial duels won per game, via WhoScored, so it’s no wonder that former Lazio legend Mauricio dubbed him a “monster” to ESPN (via Football Italia).

Paratici and Levy must look to seal a move for De Vrij this summer as on the above evidence, he’d be a dream signing for Fonseca in North London.

AND in other news, Paratici must ruthlessly axe “underrated” £90k-p/w dud who’s held Spurs back for years…

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard will have to table a big bid for Jonson Clarke-Harris if he is to be allowed to leave the club, according to Barry Fry.

Posh sealed promotion to the Championship last season, as they finished second in League One, just two points behind eventual champions Hull City.

Clarke-Harris was in exceptional form throughout the season, too, as he scored 31 goals in 45 outings in the third-tier, while also providing three assists.

Rangers have been linked with a potential swoop to sign the 26-year-old this summer.

The Daily Record has reported before that Bournemouth tabled a bid worth £5m for Clarke-Harris in January and saw it rejected, while confirming Rangers’ interest.

And Fry has now said that there will have to be a significant offer tabled by Steven Gerrard’s side if he is to end up moving north of the border.

The Posh DOF exclusively told The Transfer Tavern: “Do I expect bids for Jonson Clarke-Harris? Yes I do. Will they be enough? I don’t know.

“Because we don’t want to go up to the Championship and be also-rans, we want to go up to the Championship and stay there and progress further, so it’ll have to be a good offer.”

Clarke-Harris has a contract at Peterborough until 2024.

New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has been offered a contract to play for Warwickshire in the English county championship next summer

Lynn McConnell18-Sep-2002New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has been offered a contract to play for Warwickshire in the English county championship next summer.Bond relieved at Warwickshire for South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock last month, on a managed bowling workload took 12 wickets at 27.50 with a best of five for 64 in his last game.Counties are allowed two overseas professionals next year.Warwickshire are having a change of coach next season with former South African coach Bob Woolmer not available. Former Australian Test cricketer John Inverarity will take over with the county.Bond’s appeal as an all-rounder was boosted with his end of innings batting in New Zealand’s opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.Of all scores by No 11 batsmen in One-Day International history, his 26 against Australia was the eighth highest, and the second highest by a New Zealander. West Indian Joel Garner hit 37 which is the world-best while New Zealand’s best is held by Chris Pringle who hit 34 not out against the West Indies at Guwahati in 1994/95.It is the fourth time in ODI history that a No 11 batsman has top-scored.The 10th-wicket partnership was the fourth time in a New Zealand ODI that it has been the highest partnership.Meanwhile, fellow New Zealander Craig Spearman who returns next month to play for Central Districts in the State Series, goes into the last round of the second division of the Frizzell County Championship tonight sitting on 1185 runs at 43.88 for the season which made him the fifth highest scorer in the second division.And New Zealand TelstraClear Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming has been named the captain of the Rest of the World side to play England in the two-match Power Cricket series at Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium on October 4-5.Each limited-overs match, to be played on Friday October 4 and Saturday October 5, will be staged under floodlights on an artificial ‘magic carpet’ pitch. Sky Sports Television is broadcasting both games live.Joining Fleming in the matches from New Zealand will be Bond and Nathan Astle, while other players in the side are: Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Shoaib Akthar (Pakistan), Azhar Mahmood (Pakistan), Mushtaq Ahmed (Pakistan), Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan), Javagal Srinath (India), Mohammad Kaif (India), Dinesh Mongia (India), Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka), Courtney Walsh (West Indies), Wasim Akram (Pakistan) and Andy Flower (Zimbabwe).

Aston Villa could complete their midfield jigsaw with the signing of Southampton star James Ward-Prowse.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Dean Smith is lining up a summer swoop for the England midfielder, and Noel Whelan has thrown his backing behind a potential move for the Saints man.

He said: “I’m not surprised he wants to move. Villa are showing real intent early on. I think the move will materialise, it’s happening. They have already got Buendia through the door so it really is exciting times for Aston Villa fans.

“If they can get James Ward-Prowse as well, another international, they could really reach that next level. He was very unlucky not to be in the England squad for the Euros. He would add serious competition for places.

“It would be a very exciting midfield if he was in there with Grealish, Buendia and McGinn. Time will tell if these signings are seen as replacements for Jack Grealish or not.”

Could complete Villa

The £35k-a-week earning ace would offer something that Villa really missed last season – goals from midfield. The Saints star managed eight goals in the Premier League, as well as chipping in with seven assists too, numbers that are far better than anything that Smith’s current options produced (John McGinn was the closest with three).

With Grealish and Buendia further ahead, Ward-Prowse would be tasked with breaking the lines with his passing deeper from midfield, and giving those two enough touches of the ball to cause havoc.

As Whelan says, it would make for a “very exciting midfield” if the trio started for Villa next season in the Premier League, with Grealish and Buendia offering real creativity, and Ward-Prowse coming in from deep and providing a supply line of both goals and assists too.

It’s a move that could see Johan Lange complete the midfield jigsaw for Villa.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has dropped a major Aston Villa transfer update…

BRISBANE, Nov 4 AAP – England batsmen Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher gave the tourists reason to smile on the final day of the cricket tour match against Queensland at Allan Border Field today.

AAP04-Nov-2002BRISBANE, Nov 4 AAP – England batsmen Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher gave the tourists reason to smile on the final day of the cricket tour match against Queensland at Allan Border Field today.At lunch, England was 2-199 in its first innings in reply to Queensland’s 582, with Vaughan surviving two dropped catches for 87 not out and Butcher unbeaten on 45.It was a fluent session for the visitors, who lost only nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard (one) in the first over to a catch behind off Michael Kasprowicz.Vaughan continued his impressive build-up to Thursday’s opening Test at the Gabba, driving and pulling strongly on the flat Brisbane wicket.But he was lucky to escape on 75 when he clipped paceman Damien MacKenzie to Andrew Symonds at deep backward square leg.Symonds – regarded as one of the best fielders in Australian cricket – spilled the straight-forward chance.Vaughan hit 15 fours and one six in his 139-ball stay.Butcher also looked comfortable against the Queensland attack, giving England some confidence after its bowlers were thrashed by the home team during the first two days.

West Bromwich Albion are close to securing a deal to bring Alex Mowatt to The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by The Telegraph journalist John Percy, who revealed in a post on Twitter that the out of contract Barnsley central midfielder is scheduled to have a medical at West Brom in the coming days, and, barring any 11th-hour hitches, he will complete a free transfer to the Championship side later this week.

It had previously been reported that Valerien Ismael was extremely keen for a quick reunion with his Barnsley captain at Albion, something that now appears to be have been pulled off by the Frenchman rather efficiently.

Ismael will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Mowatt was under Ismael last season, the fact that the 45-year-old appears to have snapped up the 26-year-old on a free transfer is sure to have left him buzzing.

Indeed, over his 44 Championship appearances for Barnsley last term, the £3.6m-rated midfielder scored eight goals, provided seven assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots and making 1.5 key passes per game.

The £6.5k-per-week man also made an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.7 tackles, 1.3 clearances and won 4.9 duels per league fixture, with these metrics seeing former England U20 international earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.10, ranking him as Ismael’s best performer in the second tier of English football.

His displays played a massive role in helping the Tykes defy their pre-season expectations last time out, with Ismael guiding the highly unfancied side to a rather extraordinary fifth-place finish in the Championship – the club’s highest final league position since their Premier League campaign back in 1997/98.

As such, with West Brom hoping to secure an immediate return to the top flight next season, the addition of a player who very nearly fired Barnsley up last term would appear to provide Albion with a huge boost to their chances of going on to achieve this feat, as well as with a player who Ismael trusts completely.

In other news: Get it done: Ismael must sanction West Brom summer swoop for “fantastic” £12k-p/w gem

Western Australian cricket selectors today announced an Australian Cricket Board Cup Second XI with a distinct view to the state’s future.

Western Australia Cricket Association02-Oct-2002Western Australian cricket selectors today announced an Australian Cricket Board Cup Second XI with a distinct view to the state’s future.The team will be captained by experienced Western Warriors all-rounder Stuart Karppinen.With a clear indication of a youth policy within the Second XI round-robin interstate competition, the selectors have banked heavily on emerging young players from the Warriors squad.Australian Under-19 World Cup 2002 team winning team member Shaun Marsh has been named vice-captain.Subiaco-Floreat top order specialist Brett Jones replaces injured opener Scott Meuleman.The team, to play South Australia in a four-day match at Tompkins Park starting on Monday, is:Stuart Karppinen (Captain), Shaun Marsh (vice-captain), Beau Casson, Michael Clark, Geoff Cullen, Andrew James, Brett Jones, Luke Ronchi, Craig Simmons, Michael Thistle, Callum Thorp, and Adam Voges.The team will be coached by Western Warriors assistant-coach Noel Knight.

The Jodhpur one-day international was different from the previous fivegames for one reason – the nature of the pitch

EAS Prasanna22-Nov-2002The Jodhpur one-day international was different from the previous fivegames for one reason – the nature of the pitch. It was not an idealtrack for one-day cricket, with the ball not coming on to the bat.Stand-in skipper Rahul Dravid’s decision to bat second, then, musthave been based on the inferior spin bowling attack of the opposition.Against the likes of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, chasing a total on atrack that was keeping low and getting slow would have provedsuicidal.
© CricInfoThat said, even against the West Indies, India almost stumbled atJodhpur, making heavy weather of a modest run chase. What was requiredwas for somebody to play through the innings. But sadly none emerged.In the end, it was left to Sanjay Bangar to steer India home with abrilliant cameo.I feel all young players must look to emulate Bangar’s example. Hereis the most unassuming cricketer of recent times, one who has provedhimself to be the ultimate team man. In Test cricket, he plays therole of the sheet anchor to perfection, while his attacking brand ofbatting in one-day cricket is the result of a lot of hard work.The team management must feel proud for having found a player like himjust ahead of the World Cup. I also thought that Bangar bowled verywell in the Jodhpur one-dayer, claiming the valuable wicket of CarlHooper. But it was with the bat that he proved what a champion playerhe is.When all the players around him threw away their wickets, Bangarcalled upon his tremendous powers of concentration to make sure thathe stayed on to score the winning runs. He is not a flamboyant player,but his utility value is immense. Bangar was my Man of the Match atJodhpur.But some of the other players, who had been given an opportunity bythe selectors to prove themselves failed.Dinesh Mongia, for one, made a mess of a great opportunity. I am surethat he would have come across similar tracks on numerous occasions indomestic cricket. But that did not seem to help him. With the level ofcompetition for the batting places being high, his failure could costhim dearly. As for Reetinder Singh Sodhi, I just do not know what wasgoing through his mind; he seemed to have forgotten that there was ajob to be done.Probably what these players need to do now is to spend some timeplaying in Ranji trophy matches. Over the last few years theimportance of the tournament has diminished somewhat with therelentless amount of international games. But what needs to beremembered is that it still can play a vital role in moulding aplayer’s career. Ask Ajit Agarkar.After he was dropped from the Indian team, Agarkar took eight wicketsin the Ranji Trophy game against Delhi and forced his way back. Theresults were there to be seen; at Jodhpur, Agarkar bowled with a greatdeal of confidence, and importantly he picked up crucial wickets totake the Man of the Match award.
© ReutersAnother man who covered himself in glory was Murali Kartik. A left-armspinner in Indian cricket these days is a forgotten breed. I rememberthe days when I had the legendary Bishen Singh Bedi as my fellowspinner. >From my experience with Bedi, I am sure that Harbhajan Singhwould be a far better bowler, if he were bowling in tandem withsomeone who can turn the ball the other way.It is in this context that the success of Kartik was particularlyheartening, The young left-arm spinner has worked hard over the lastfew years in Indian domestic cricket and has been one of the mainstars behind Railways’ success in Ranji Trophy in recent times. I amglad to see him succeed at the highest level of the game, and thecraft he showed in the Jodhpur one-dayer should make any spin bowlerproud.I was also delighted to see Dravid leading the side so well. Hiscaptaincy was excellent – his bowling changes, in particular, alwaysspot on. Dravid’s success only underlines the key role he has playedas a deputy to Sourav Ganguly in India’s recent successful campaigns.Moving on to the final one-day international, I think India are thefavourites to win it and take the one-day series. Having said that,they should not take their opposition lightly, for the West Indieswith their rejuvenated batting line up could seize even the slightestof opportunities.

Marcus Bent believes that Jonjoe Kenny will be competing for a regular place at Everton next season despite a recent story suggesting that Arsenal want him.

According to the Daily Mail, Mikel Arteta is keen on signing the young right-back, who spent the campaign on loan at Celtic.

Having played just 80 minutes of Premier League football before January, Kenny headed up north of the border to Celtic.

It proved an efficient loan spell for the 24-year-old at Parkhead, playing every minute of Celtic’s 16 matches in all competitions following his arrival – providing four assists in total, two of which came in the same game in a 3-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Cup.

Kenny will now return to Goodison Park to compete with Seamus Coleman for the number one right-back spot in what would be his last season with Everton, with his contract running out next summer.

Despite those Arsenal claims, Bent exclusively told Football FanCast that his short-term future remains on Merseyside:

“He did really well at Celtic, but speaking to Everton, they said that Arsenal won’t make a move for him, so he will end up back at Everton.”