Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly open to leaving Manchester United this month after struggling for game time under Ruben Amorim.
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The USMNT midfielder has opened up about his surprising return to MLS, detailing how conversations with both clubs helped make his decision
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Sunderland are set to secure the signing of Lutsharel Geertruida in a shocking transfer victory snatching the Dutch international from Marseille.
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A late attempt by a Juventus to solve their defensive issues was rebuffed by the Bayern Munich, who opted to keep Sacha Boey despite his difficulties.
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Most of their personnel struggled against India, but South Africa still have a chance to finish well against another side at the top of their game
Firdose Moonda25-Feb-2018Winning only a third of the matches across all formats against India suggests South Africa have a lot to mull over, and they don’t have too much time to do it. A four-Test series against Australia starts in less than a week, so their focus has to shift quickly and completely away from the white-ball formats where they suffered their heaviest defeats.In fact, South Africa won’t think about limited-overs cricket for at least five months, when they tour Sri Lanka, by which time South Africa would like to be close to finalising a pool of World Cup candidates. That means the experimentation seen against India may have to taper off, and South Africa have to take stock of what they found.Lungi Ngidi is the obvious gem, across all formats. He showed maturity in the Tests and improved his control markedly in the shorter formats. Only injury will prevent him from featuring frequently for South Africa in the future.South Africa also handed out two other ODI caps, the first of which went to Khaya Zondo, who was controversially overlooked for the starting XI despite being in the squad when South Africa toured India at the end of 2015. Zondo’s name has come up often in the time after featuring for South Africa A and has captaining that team and his franchise, the Dolphins. There seems to be an investment on him, as well as a return.Zondo played three matches, scored one half-century and showed a fair amount of fight in a meek line-up. He definitely deserves more chances but may need to do something outstanding to make a claim for the World Cup. Something like what Heinrich Klaasen did.Klaasen struck two match-winning knocks – one in the pink ODI and the other in the second T20 – to make such a name that he was included in the Test squad. His presence around the national set-up extends further than just his current form because he has emerged as the first real challenger to Quinton de Kock.Though de Kock has been dropped before – early in his career and then for the Tests against India in 2015 when Dane Vilas played – since 2016 he has held a hegemonic grip over the wicket-keeper’s role, which became particularly problematic when he lost form. A wrist injury saved de Kock from being dropped, forced the selectors to look elsewhere and allowed them to discover that there is someone else. De Kock will be under a healthy amount of pressure, which every player needs.ESPNcricinfo LtdAt the T20 level, both Junior Dala and Christiaan Jonker were impressive in their early showings. At Newlands, in the T20 series decider, they kept South Africa in the game. Gibson acknowledged that the defeat was likely to hit them hardest. “Losing is never easy to take but when you are missing so many seniors and new players come in and put their names forward, the losses can be hard to take,” Gibson said. “The future seems like it is going to be bright.”The flip side is the disappointment of so many senior players underperforming. Imran Tahir, for so long a matchwinner for South Africa, was ineffective. Hashim Amla only made one contribution of significance in the ODIs. It took JP Duminy until he was named T20 captain to start performing. Neither David Miller nor Chris Morris lived up to their labels as x-factor players.Duminy is thought to be on his last legs, especially after South Africa opted to blood a new, young captain in Aiden Markram in the ODIs. But, even if Duminy is dispensable for the World Cup, the trio of him, Miller and Morris are not.While Miller was not specifically mentioned, Morris has already suffered a consequence for his lack of contributions, as he was dropped from the Test squad. Gibson seems particularly concerned about his consistency and hopes he can find form in the domestic circuit – three more rounds of first-class cricket – and in the IPL.”He has got some work to do,” Gibson said. “He has got some domestic cricket to go and get some consistency in his bowling, especially. He is a match-winner and he is short of that. We had a conversation, myself and him. He just needs to find what type of bowler he wants to become, put practice in that and work to become that person.”Instead, South Africa have opted for Wiaan Mulder, the man Gibson has had his eye on since arriving in South Africa, as an allrounder in the Test squad. But there may not be space for him in an XI that will include Vernon Philander, the person who delivered one of the most pleasing performances in the Tests.Though the celebrations over the Test series victory ceased weeks ago, South Africa will still look back on it fondly, not least because of the way the quicks performed albeit in conditions heavily stacked in their favour. Philander’s came against the backdrop of doubt in his ability and questions over the fitness of the senior seamers.Philander’s fitness concerns caused him to come under siege from his former captain, Graeme Smith. He spent the early part of the summer recovering from a lower back problem that kept him out of the deciding Test against England. He needed a big performance against India to reinforce his reputation. He was the joint top-leading wicket-taker and had the best average against India, a perfect precursor to the clash against Australia.The only thing left for South Africa to consider is the pitches they ask for during the Tests. Only Newlands offered them something they did not complain about. SuperSport Park was slow and took turn. The Wanderers overcompensated and ended up with variable, even dangerous bounce, and three demerit points. Against an Australia pack that will welcome surfaces that assist them, South Africa’s groundsmen cannot afford to make the same mistakes. They need to shut out the team noise, concentrate on preparing good pitches and perhaps good cricket will follow.
Valencia are reportedly considering legal action, claiming the Netflix documentary 'Baila, Vini' unfairly portrays their fans as racist.
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The hosts were struggling at 121 for 6 before the game was washed out in Harare
Hemant Brar13-Dec-2023No result Rain came to Zimbabwe’s rescue in Harare, forcing a washout after Ireland had reduced them to 121 for 6 in the first ODI.Zimbabwe had started aggressively after being sent in to bat, with Tinashe Kamunhukamwe smashing 28 off just 15 balls. But once he got out, the innings fell apart. The continuous rain, though, meant the match had to be called off after only 25.3 overs.Earlier, Mark Adair got the ball to nip off the seam in both directions and even bowled a maiden to Joylord Gumbie. But from the other end, Kamunhukamwe took apart Josh Little. He hit three fours in the left-arm seamer’s first over, and a four and a six off successive deliveries in the next to move to 25 off just ten balls.That forced Paul Stirling to bring on Graham Hume. Kamunhukamwe tried to attack him as well but miscued a pull and was caught at mid-on for 28. The wicket put the brakes on the scoring rate, with Zimbabwe managing only 16 from over sixth to tenth.Craig Young then bounced out Innocent Kaia to make it 48 for 2 in the 11th over. Sikandar Raza and Gumbie tried to stabilise the innings. Raza was lucky to be dropped on 10 by wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker when he chased a full and wide delivery from Little.But Little got his man soon after with the same ploy. The only difference being this time he was bowling from around the wicket.Gumbie had occupied one end but he was struggling to keep the scoreboard moving. In the 20th over, he was run out after having a mix-up with Ryan Burl when both batters found themselves at the keeper’s end. Gumbie contributed 28 but consumed 59 balls for it.On the very next delivery, Burl also departed, under-edging Young to the keeper as Zimbabwe slipped from 79 for 2 to 81 for 5. Clive Madande and Brandon Mavuta added 40 off just 37 balls to take the side past 100 before Hume returned to castle Madande.Immediately after that, lightning forced players off the field. Soon, rain also made an appearance and brought a premature end to the contest.The second and third ODIs, to be played on Friday and Sunday, are also expected to be affected by rain.
Real Madrid icon Gareth Bale has sent a special “legend” message to retiring former team-mate Wayne Hennessey.
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India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey credited England for being brave but doesn’t believe the hosts have fallen behind
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jan-2024The reverse sweep was England’s second most profitable shot (48 off 30 balls, no dismissals) in the second innings that took them from 190 behind to 126 ahead. Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett in particular were using it repeatedly, throwing India’s spinners off the good length area where most of the danger lurked in this Hyderabad pitch.In all, England made 79 runs off 46 balls using various kinds of sweeps – including a reverse Dilscoop that Pope played late in the day after raising an immense century.India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey credited England for being brave and said the only thing to do when a team comes out with such unorthodox strokeplay is to hold your line and hope for the edge.Related
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“It does happen. If a batsman starts to access different areas, it’s always going to be a challenge,” Mhambrey said. “Someone like Pope who played, he accessed the square, fine leg area as well and the sweep and the reverse sweep and he played it consistently. Credit must go to him. They really played well, took on the attack at the stage where it was needed and sometimes that happens. Someone who plays some shots like these consistently does get the bowlers under pressure in terms of variation in the lines. Credit goes to him.”But as I said, we still have to be patient with the lines, still hit the right areas and hope to get a wicket. Hope to get an edge or something or the other. That can happen. But I think the credit goes to him the way he played.”Joe Root, who spoke in glowing terms about Pope, said the key to playing the sweep and the reverse sweep is to believe you’re going to nail it every single time. This was when he was asked if they might be a better option than a forward defensive on a turning pitch.Ollie Pope reverse sweeps, something he did a lot•BCCI
“It can be if you can play it well,” Root said. “When it’s hardest is when some spin, some don’t. When it’s consistent spin you can work out when to take it on, and which balls from which line you can take a risk on.”The most important thing is you don’t think you are going to miss at all. Have that mindset of committing to the shot and nailing it for four or one, or whatever. Pope did it exceptionally well. It took until 110 to make a small error when he got dropped. There were a couple of balls that ripped past his outside edge but you expect that; it’s part and parcel, almost like in England when it’s swinging and seaming around, and you almost give yourself a pat on the back because you’ve not chased it. It’s exactly the same here. It was a really special knock.”India aren’t bothered that they’ve fallen behind because they believe that the surface in Hyderabad is a little atypical.”If you look at the way the game has progressed over the last three days, looking at the first session, the amount of balls, the pace of the wicket, the pace of the spin, it got better in the second innings and I think it’s only going to get a little better,” Mhambrey said.”It is on the slower side. There’s still turn but it’s not the usual turn that we see on Indian subcontinental wickets where the game progresses and there’s sharp turn. It’s not that. Still a little turn but not as challenging as maybe the other wickets we’ve played on.”
Following Marcus Rashford's arrival on loan, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made a revealing admission about the club's transfer plans.
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