All posts by h716a5.icu

A round-up of the HRV Cup games on January 26

Cricinfo staff26-Jan-2010Auckland’s push to finish top of the standings was foiled during a thrilling finish against Otago at Colin Maiden Park. The match ended in a tie after which Otago prevailed in the Super Over. The result brought them level with Auckland at second place in the points table but Auckland progressed because of a superior net-run rate and will play Central Districts in the final. Auckland was dominant for the majority of the game, after scoring 171 thanks to Anaru Kitchen’s 54 and Colin de Grandhomme’s 40 off 23 balls. Otago were floundering at 65 for 5 in their chase before Nathan McCullum blasted 61 off 35 balls to revive the chase. A boundary off the final ball from No. 11 Nick Beard helped Otago level the scores and force the match into a tiebreaker. Otago batted first in the Super Over and managed 14 off Daryl Tuffey; Auckland scored only eight off Yasir Arafat’s.A blitz from Ross Taylor led Central Districts to a four-wicket victory against Northern Districts in a rain-shortened HRV Cup game at Seddon Park. Set a revised target of 96 in 12 overs, Central Districts got there with three balls to spare as Taylor carted three deliveries over the boundary during his 12-ball 28. Central’s innings also received contributions from Peter Ingram and Matthew Sinclair, while Daniel Vettori took 2 for 10 in two overs. Earlier, Northern Districts were able to bat out 20 overs but managed to score only 148. They began to collapse after an opening stand of 28 and only James Marshall’s unbeaten 59 propped them up to 148. Central Districts will host Auckland in the final of the HRV Cup in New Plymouth.A solid performance from Wellington’s top order helped fashion a seven-run win against Canterbury at Rangiora. Cameron Merchant’s 57 was Wellington’s top score but the innings also had useful contributions from Neal Parlane, Owais Shah and James Franklin. Craig McMillan bowled a handly spell for Canterbury as Wellington reached 162 for 5 in 20 overs. Canterbury’s chase lost direction after the openers added 24 and they lost five wickets for 30 runs as the innings was reduced to 54 for 5. Johann Myburgh and Dean Brownlie scored 40s to restore momentum to the chase but they Wellington eventually prevailed by seven runs.

Leeds United are eyeing a January transfer move for Middlesbrough midfielder Marcus Tavernier, with Victor Orta said to be a big fan of the player.

What’s the story?

According to TEAMtalk, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have joined the chase for the 22-year-old, with the likes of Southampton, Burnley and Brighton all having watched him closely among Premier League suitors.

The report added that Orta is a confirmed fan of the player, having overseen his rise during his time at the Riverside Stadium a few years ago.

Could be Leeds’ own Mason Mount

With the ability to play out wide on either flank, and in the centre of midfield, there’s a lot to like about Tavernier and what he could potentially bring to the table at Elland Road.

His former manager Tony Pulis once stated: “Some days he comes in and he’s brilliant, some days he’s a bit lackadaisical. He’s going to be a top player. He’ll eventually play in the Premier League.”

Indeed, former Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has even suggested that Tavernier could well end up emulating the success of Mason Mount and the kind of impressive step-up he has made in recent times.

Warnock added: “I think he has a few strings to his bow to be honest. I looked at Mason Mount and how he’s come on in the 12 months, there’s no reason why Tav can’t do that in the next 12 months.

“If he motivates himself and listens he’s got some great attributes and good habits, and one or two not so good. All being well we can put him in the right direction and he’ll become a very good player. Not that he isn’t now but I think he could become even better.”

At 22, Tavernier could come on leaps and bounds under Bielsa’s guidance at Elland Road, and the man with 14 senior goals to his name could possibly enjoy a rapid rise to stardom with a move to Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Leeds are facing a transfer battle for this Brazilian ace…

Shane Watson has justified his exuberant celebration of Chris Gayle’s dismissal in Perth by saying he was baited by the captain

Cricinfo staff22-Dec-2009Shane Watson has justified his exuberant celebration of Chris Gayle’s dismissal in Perth by saying he was baited by the captain. Watson was fined 15% of his match fee for his roaring celebration in the second-innings on Saturday and has been criticised for his behaviour, with Geoff Lawson likening it to a four-year-old’s tantrum.”There was a bit of build up to it, so it’s always nice to get Chris Gayle out, he’s obviously one of the most devastating batsmen in the world at the moment,” Watson told AAP. “He definitely let me know that he was keen for me to come on to bowl leading up to that, so it was very nice to get him out first ball.”That was the catalyst for me celebrating the way I did … I know there’s a line and I was extremely happy to get him out, I normally don’t celebrate to that extent when I get someone out. But when he baits me, talking about wanting me to come on to bowl to be able to take me down, it’s always very nice to get the upper hand.”Gayle said Watson over-reacted but was happy “to move on and let bygones be bygones”. “Watson didn’t actually say anything to me,” Gayle wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. “He just kept screaming in my direction.”He has a bit of a temper and is pretty emotional so he was probably just letting it all out. Each player is different and getting me out came at a crucial time in an important Test match. There is no doubt he over-reacted but I am prepared to move on and let bygones be bygones.”Watson did admit his antics were over the top and they added to a busy Test for the match referee Chris Broad. Sulieman Benn, the left-arm spinner, was banned for two ODIs for his exchanges with the fined Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin during Australia’s first innings.

Corey Collymore and Chris Liddle have both signed one-year extensions to their contracts, keeping them at Hove until the end of the 2010 season

Cricinfo staff21-Sep-2009The former West Indies fast bowler, Corey Collymore, and the left-arm seamer Chris Liddle, have both signed one-year extensions to their contracts, keeping them at Hove until the end of the 2010 season.Collymore, 31, has taken 31 wickets so far in first-class cricket this season at an average of 33.46. An integral member of the 2009 squad, Collymore has played most of his cricket in the longer form of the game, offering control and discipline with the new ball.Corey Collymore said: “It’s great to be returning to Sussex for the 2010 season. I enjoy playing my cricket at Hove and 2009 has been a remarkable year for the club. I look forward to helping this club make a big impact on world cricket.”Mike Yardy, Sussex’s captain, said: “Corey is a dream to captain and he’s fantastic to have around the dressing room. He’s a quality seam bowler and his experience and input always proves priceless.”Liddle, 25, has missed the whole of the 2009 season with a stress fracture of the right ankle, however, Sussex believe his pace and ability with the ball holds a great deal of potential for future years, particularly in Twenty20 cricket, in which he excelled in 2008.”It’s been a frustrating year,” said Liddle, “but I’m incredibly excited about getting fit and playing a full part in a successful Sussex team.””It was a shame for both him and the club that he was out all year due to injury,” said Yardy, “but he’s got a chance in 2010 to show everybody what they’ve been missing.”

This year’s Glucofit Cricket Sixes tournament, starting on October 16, gives schoolboys from the once war-torn North and East the opportunity to rub shoulders with Colombo’s elite

Sa'adi Thawfeeq16-Oct-2009This year’s Glucofit Cricket Sixes tournament, starting on October 16, gives schoolboys from the once war-torn North and East the opportunity to rub shoulders with Colombo’s elite. This is further evidence on how much this tournament has gained popularity over the years. Six combined school sides will feature players from lesser known schools and districts like Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Bandarawela, Moneragala, Ampara and Hambantota.Another new concept is the Free Hit off a no-ball and also an arts competition where students of Wesley College will figure in the Glucofit Cricart. This competition will beextended to all schools around the country from next year.The organisers will make use of the occasion to declare open on the finalday of the tournament the newly re-laid turf pitches at Campbell Park whichwas supervised by Sri Lanka Cricket. The winners will receive the MuncheeGlucofit Champions Trophy and the runner-up the Old Wesleyites SC trophy.There are individuals awards for Best Batsman, Best Bowler, BestFielder, Highest Number of Sixes, Man of the Tournament, Man of the Final,and Best Outstation Team. Another new trophy is for theWell Disciplined Team on and off the field.Wesley’s oldest living cricket captain who resides in Sri Lanka, EdmundDissanayake, will be the chief guest. Dissanayake, who captained Wesley in1946 is 86 years old and is one of four cricketers from the Hambantotadistrict to have led the schools at cricket. The others were TI Cassim(1944), Mahendra Dissanayake (1984) and Danesh Dissanayake (1989).

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly fighting clubs in the UEFA Champions League to try and sign Raul de Tomas.

The Lowdown: Ronaldo comparison

De Tomas came through the youth system at Real Madrid and immediately ‘stood out’, being labelled as ‘the most talented player of his generation’ (The Guardian).

He was even seen as a ‘mini Cristiano’ including by Cristiano Ronaldo himself (The Guardian), but has since left Madrid and now plays his trade at Espanyol.

The Latest: Tottenham ‘love’ him

As per Fichajes, the North London club are one of three teams who ‘love’ de Tomas, including Champions League sides Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

The Lilywhites reportedly have ‘very good reports’ from the player, and he could be signed regardless of whether Harry Kane ends up leaving or not.

The Verdict: Sign if Kane stays

If Kane ends up staying at THFC for the long-term, then de Tomas would be a smart signing by Nuno Espirito Santo’s team.

Kane remains the only recognised striker in the squad at the moment, and if he were to get injured for a sustained period of time, then that would leave Tottenham very short up top.

Nonetheless, de Tomas has showed that he can score goals wherever he has been, with no fewer than 118 over the course of his club career so far (Transfermarkt).

If he can channel his inner Ronaldo once more, then he would be a real asset, and aged 27 he is likely to just be entering his prime, potentially then offering his best years as a player to the Lilywhites.

In other news, find out whose agents Fabio Paratici is in talks over a potential move here!

England captain Andrew Strauss has said his team will take the field this summer and go “blow for blow” against Australia

Cricinfo staff05-Jul-2009England captain Andrew Strauss has said his team will take the field this summer and go “blow for blow” against Australia. Strauss, whose first Ashes series was in 2005 when England regained the urn, chose not too delve too far back into that epic summer when chalking up the home side’s chances.”It’s unhelpful to look back too much to 2005,” said Strauss at Edgbaston. “This is going to be a very different series and it would be wrong to expect things to go in a similar manner. What I take from 2005 is how close those games were and how hard it was to finish them off. There were times we were right on top and maybe we didn’t have enough belief to do that. One of the things we have been trying to work on is to be very clinical so that when we get on top of teams we finish them off once and for all. That’s going to be important in the coming days.”Strauss said to seriously compete with Australia, England would have to be prepared to scrap. “Anybody who goes in there and just thinks ‘Oh no, we’ll just stick to our own game’ is going to come unstuck. Our players are absolutely certain that they will go out there and go blow for blow.”He was, however, wary of overdoing that competitiveness. “There’s a fine line between aggression and being over the top so we have to check that line carefully,” said Strauss. “I think we know the type of cricket we need to play to beat the Aussies, we just need to go out and play it.”Strauss was eager to point out that England will not be overly dependent on Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. “You don’t win Ashes series unless all 11 play a big part”, he said. “If Fred bowls with aggression no player in the world is going to enjoy that. I still think there are some scars in their side. Maybe some of their batsman haven’t faced him very much before but they will have watched that series four years ago and know that when he’s good he’s very, very good.”Pietersen’s failures in the warm-up against Warwickshire at Edgbaston didn’t deter Strauss. “KP hasn’t changed his style of batting in four years. I don’t expect him to this time. KP is a man for the big occasion,” he said. “I wasn’t overly surprised he didn’t get many runs in the Warwickshire game, but come that first Test match you know that’s he’s going to be switched on and keen to make his mark on the series right from ball one. He backs himself against any bowler, he backed himself against [Shane] Warne and [Glenn] McGrath and he will do that against these bowlers. His number-one asset is his confidence”.Strauss was pleased with England’s build-up to the Ashes, even though their main competition in recent Tests has been West Indies. “I like where we’re at. I thought there were some really encouraging signs against the West Indies, there was good, controlled aggression and we were clinical,” he said. “We’re not going to know for certain until we go out there against the Australians, but the signs are good, and I like the characters we have got in the side. I don’t see any that are going to be open to exploitation and that’s vital.”While there has been plenty of understandable anticipation leading up to Glamorgan’s big day, Strauss said his players “will be walking into the unknown” when they take the field in Cardiff. “We are not entirely sure what to expect. Both teams will go there not knowing what to expect, and we can only judge when the Test match is over,” he said. “In world cricket home advantage counts for a huge amount.”

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur insider/club source John Wenham has made a claim involving summer signing and new Lilywhites starlet Cristian Romero.

The Lowdown: Spurs snap up MVP…

After Fabio Paratici’s first summer transfer window as managing director, you could certainly make the argument that Romero comes as Spurs’ biggest blockbuster signing.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-developments/” title=”Spurs developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

One of the most promising centre-back in world football, the Argentina international stood out as Serie A’s most solid presence last year – clinching the 2020/2021 MVP award for best defender.

As a result, Wenham believes that Spurs have another promising world class talent on their hands amid the plethora of youngsters already emerging from Hotspur Way.

The Latest: Wenham makes Romero claim…

Speaking to FI, the club source/insider has explained exactly why he thinks Romero can be ‘massive’ for Spurs and Nuno Espirito Santo.

“There is a really high ceiling there,” he explained.

“Romero needs to be our Roberto Ayala, that top tier Argentinian centre half who wins everything in the air.

“I know his English isn’t great but it is improving based on what I’ve seen on social media. I think he’s going to get even better on and off the pitch as the season goes on.

“Romero was solid yesterday, brilliant, especially up against two forwards I rate very highly. I think it’s the first time Ings hasn’t scored at the new stadium.

“Villa have very good attacking players and Romero kept them quiet. He made very few mistakes.

“I want to see him become a permanent fixture for the next decade, he’s at the right age to do that. He can be massive”.

The Verdict: Exciting times…

Adding Romero to the pool of talent already at Spurs certainly bodes well for the future in north London and, once he gets fully settled after a period of time, he could go on to become one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs.

A Serie A MVP winner already who made far more interceptions per 90 (3.1) than any Lilywhites player last season, it’s safe to say he has a chance to be a Spurs legend if he reaches his potential in north London.

In other news: Levy told to hire ‘world class’ boss over Poch if Nuno gets axed, Spurs players love him! Find out more here.

Scott Newman, Ed Joyce and Kyle Hogg have received reprimands under the ECB’s discipline code

Cricinfo staff27-Aug-2009Scott Newman, Ed Joyce and Kyle Hogg have received reprimands under the ECB’s discipline code.Newman, currently on loan with Nottinghamshire, was reported by umpires Richard Illingworth and Peter Hartley for a level one breach which covers abuse of cricket ground, equipment or fixtures and fittings when he swiped at his stumps following his dismissal against Sussex. From the same match Joyce was also reported for showing dissent.Hogg’s reprimand comes following an incident in Lancashire’s Pro40 match against Leicestershire on August 23 when he was reported by Peter Willey and Mark Benson for a level one breach of the code.The reprimands remain on the players’ record for two years and any further level one breach during that period will result in an automatic imposition of three penalty points.

While Lee Johnson’s high-flying Sunderland side should not have too much trouble securing three points in the visit of mid-table Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening, a number of injuries and fitness worries in the Black Cats squad could be something of a cause for concern for the 40-year-old manager.

Indeed, with both left-back Dennis Cirkin and centre-back Callum Doyle being assessed before the fixture due to their respective knocks, while Lynden Gooch is also sidelined for the clash as the winger is yet to recover from a hamstring injury, Johnson will have a number of tough calls to make in the build-up to the match.

Johnson must unleash Huggins

Regarding the potential absence of Cirkin in particular, although it will undoubtedly come as a blow to the Mackems manager to lose a player who has highly impressed since his summer move from Tottenham Hotspur, the 19-year-old’s unavailability could be something of an opportunity for Sunderland, as it presents an opening for another exciting youngster to get some much-needed game time.

Indeed, following his own summer switch from Leeds United, 20-year-old Niall Huggins has so far made just one appearance in League One, coming on for the injured Cirkin in the club’s 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

And, despite naturally being a right-back, the £180k-rated man turned in an extremely solid performance on the opposite flank in the win over the Trotters, blocking one shot, making three interceptions, making one tackle and winning one duel over the course of his 24 minutes on the pitch – seeing him earn a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.9.

The defender also impressed in the Black Cats’ 2-0 Carabao Cup victory against Wigan Athletic last week, providing one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, as well as making one interception, one tackle and one clearance – with these returns seeing the player Ian Harte dubbed a “fantastic” talent receive a SofaScore match rating of 7.3.

As such, should Cirkin indeed miss out on Tuesday evening, it would appear highly advisable for Johnson to unleash Huggins against the Robins, as the Leeds loanee clearly has the ability to be something of a game-changer for the promotion hopefuls.

In other news: Sunderland confirm injury blow ahead of Cheltenham clash, Johnson will be gutted