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Former India coach John Wright remembers his professional relationship with Jagmohan Dalmiya, saying what a ‘tough’ and ‘fair’ boss he was

John Wright22-Sep-2015I am very sorry to hear about Mr Dalmiya’s passing away and as I look back at our time together when I was coach of India, he was probably the best boss I have worked for. He was a tough but fair boss. On the first day that I was in the job with India, Tony Greig said to me that Mr Dalmiya is a very powerful man in Indian cricket and it was ironic because he wasn’t even the president [of BCCI] then. I had been hired by Mr AC Muthiah. The next thing I heard when he came to power in 2001 were rumours that he wanted to sack me and [physiotherapist] Andrew [Leipus]. I met him for the first time when we went to Delhi for a long interview with him, two hours, in a hotel suite.At the end of it, I’ll never forget what he said to me. His exact words were, “I’ve heard a lot of things about you but you’re quite tough. I think we could work together.” He asked me to put a report together about what Indian cricket needed and I spent a lot of time on it. He always wanted you to report personally to him. I had to fly every month to see him and we got to know each other well over the next four years. A lot of people said a lot of things about Mr Dalmiya, but you take everyone for what you see and he was a great boss to work for.I remember early on while working together, we were on a tour of the West Indies. They were 400 something for 3 and Gautam Dasgupta, the manager, handed me the phone and said “it is the president.” We were sitting in the pavilion in Georgetown, Guyana and Mr Dalmiya came on the phone and said, “John, what is going on?” I can’t remember what I said, something like, “We have to do better, Mr President.”In those days I think failure wasn’t tolerated whether you were a captain or coach or even administrator, you needed to win, or things changed very quickly. There weren’t other types of cricket, it was just international cricket and the success of the Indian team was very, very important. Mr Dalmiya was a big part of that era and while he gave both Sourav [Ganguly] and me support, he was a staunch supporter of Sourav but he also wanted the results.The thing I loved about him as a boss was that he never interfered, but you knew very well where you stood with him. He didn’t interfere with me about how to coach, you just had to report and let him know what was going on. He was hands off in that respect and we gained a great friendship and respect for each other. It is why I say he is probably the best boss that I worked for, in terms of not telling you how to do your job, but telling you what was expected.During one of our meetings just before the team left for the 2003 World Cup, he wished me good luck and said, “if you don’t come first or second we might not be meeting again.”When we reached the final, I was re-employed, and to me that was okay, because we used to joke about it. We knew there was a lot at stake, that it was important that the team did well. He cared about the team very much and he cared about Indian cricket. But he was pragmatic enough to know that if things weren’t going well, then something would have to be done and it would probably start with the coach.We had that understanding that it was business and it was important for India and for the Indian cricket team. He understood that performance was important, that is wasn’t just about talking the good game, you had to get the results there. We would joke about it but it was real. He used to say, “well I might have to show you the door,” and I would say, “if things don’t go well, you will have to show me the door.”When I finished with India, he came over from Calcutta to attend a presentation in Delhi and he didn’t usually do that a lot, it was a nice gesture. We kept in touch irregularly over the last few years and I heard about his return to the top of the BCCI again and you would never underestimate him and his political ability in Indian cricketing circles.I had a lot of time for him, I enjoyed working for him because he was tough but he was fair. And he always did what he said.

England have never lost to Scotland but Peter Moores could think of more straightforward first assignments as he prepares to head north with the independence argument in full swing

Jon Coates02-May-2014England’s misadventure against the Netherlands is still fresh in the memory, but they have never lost a match to Scotland. There again, they have only deigned to play Scotland three times, and only once has there been a result.Scotland have been active as a cricket team for 149 years, but only as a recognised international team since 2006. When you consider that the Union came into being nearly 400 years ago, it is farcical that the two neighbours took so long to get together on a cricket field. But here we are, bound for Aberdeen.It was one of international cricket’s support acts, the Netherlands, whose victory in Chittagong finally banished Ashley Giles’ hopes of getting the England coach’s job. Now the Scots are a potential pitfall for the man preferred to Giles, Peter Moores, as he embarks upon his second term in charge.There is certainly enough anti-English sentiment around at the moment to spice up the contest. As the Scots squabble over whether or not to end a political pact that was signed in 1707 and declare independence, there is for the first time an expectation across the border that their team might just have enough ammunition to outgun the Sassenach forces.Such an upset would be cheered especially loudly by the champions of Scottish independence, so it is the last thing they will want to hear about in Westminster. From small shifts in self-belief, mood swings can take place. Why, to stretch the point, Moores might just have the future of the Union in his hands.According to the polls, the Yes vote is currently creeping on the No vote, which was previously thought to be protected by impenetrable walls. England look as vulnerable as they have for a long time, while Scotland have the new-found confidence of World Cup qualifiers.This is their first game since the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in New Zealand, where they lost only one game and pulled off many victories with an unfamiliar swagger. Suddenly they are no longer dreaming of the win that would make them national heroes but purposefully plotting it.From an England perspective, at least the Mannofield ground does not carry bad memories. It has only been an ODI venue since 2008 and Scotland have yet to make it a fortress. Unless the scalp of England is taken it will remain most famous for being the last place Bradman batted on British soil – he made a century there in September 1948 at the end of the “Invincibles” tour.Aberdeen is not a nationalist heartland, either. North Sea oil has made the city and surrounding county a cosmopolitan and increasingly wealthy part of Scotland, all of which has helped cricket to flourish. Scotland’s current shirt sponsor is the Parkmead Group, an oil and gas exploratory firm run by Tom Cross, father of Scotland’s hard-hitting wicket-keeper batsman Matthew.Both teams have new coaches, albeit one, in Moores, who has been in this position before. “You don’t take games like this lightly because if you do, you get stung,” Moores said on the eve of the first Scotland-England ODI in 2008, when he was England’s coach and Kevin Pietersen the captain. That was one Union which failed to stand the test of time.Moores could probably think of better ways to begin his second coming than the danger of a defeat in Aberdeen of all places. As for Craig Wright, his Scotland adversary, he could not imagine a better statement ahead of next year’s World Cup than Scotland’s first ODI win over a full ICC member other than Bangladesh.Wright, a former captain and seam bowler, is only in caretaker charge until Grant Bradburn, currently coach of New Zealand A, takes over in early July, with Wright as his assistant. But he has never failed to impress cricket people in the shires and his career prospects would be buttressed by a famous win at Mannofield.But what is all this loose talk of a revival for Scottish cricket? Haven’t they been banished from the county one-day circuit after becoming so weak they no longer even enjoyed the occasional win? Didn’t they fail to reach the 16-team World Twenty20 finals, unlike Nepal, the UAE and Hong Kong? Haven’t they been left lagging behind by the Irish?Weren’t they mocked on the Emerald Isle for writing to every county professional, including William Porterfield and Paul Stirling, to ask if they could trace any Scottish blood in their ancestry and did they fancy a crack at playing at the next World Cup?All of those things are true, but Scotland turned a corner at the qualifiers in New Zealand, they now have a six-match World Cup campaign to work towards and there is much about the team to like, and to respect.Because they are young and largely homegrown, fans no longer have to sheepishly acknowledge that their only decent players are Dougie Brown, Gavin Hamilton and southern-hemisphere sorts who found a girl in Arbroath or Motherwell and settled down.They are energetic and ambitious, fortified by three or four of the players who answered Cricket Scotland’s infamous correspondence, and they have uncovered individuals like Calum MacLeod and Preston Mommsen who not only know how to play but also how to win.Ireland would probably never have beaten England had some of their players not accelerated their development within the English system, and the Dutch have benefited from county links of their own.Scotland have given seven or eight domestic players enough money to dedicate themselves to full-time training in Edinburgh, but players such as Yorkshire left-armer Iain Wardlaw, Sussex batsman Matt Machan and Rob Taylor of Northants have also made key contributions.Four months ago, though, before the renaissance, they returned from the World Twenty20 Qualifier having lost four of their games and finished seventh. Despite the introduction of Wright and Paul Collingwood to the coaching ticket, they had been so mentally weak that Collingwood admitted when he looked back over the winter: “There were moments when, I’ll be honest, I thought ‘these guys can’t take the heat’.”He challenged the players to prove him wrong, and within weeks of that Scotland interview he was coaching England in his guise as a temporary fielding coach and coming to terms with the reality that their players could not cope with pressure terribly well either.England have not struggled to stifle the Scots in their previous meetings, but it feels like there is far more riding on the result this time, and the hosts are in rude health.MacLeod, who reinvented himself as a free-flowing opener after his action was judged illegal at Warwickshire, is on a short-term trial at Durham. Machan is rated highly by Sussex and the Scotland captain, Kyle Coetzer of Northants, was born and bred in Aberdeen and averages 82 in ODIs on his home ground.One thing that probably won’t give the Scots an advantage is the Mannofield wicket. In ten ODIs on the ground the average run rate is 4.73 and there have been seven centuries, two of them by New Zealanders who christened the track in style with 402 for 2 against Ireland in 2008.Most Scottish cricketers have benefited at some point from an association with England. Few, if any, will be supporting the Yes vote when they enter the polling booths in September. But they will realise they have a chance to make cricket history next week, leaving the more significant political battle to others.

Matthew Wade’s century in Sydney showed that he has the fighting instincts and batting power to add tungsten to the Australian middle order at a time when there is brittleness elsewhere

Daniel Brettig at the SCG05-Jan-2013On Test match eve, Michael Clarke was posed an earnest question: having reclassified Mitchell Johnson as an allrounder, was Australia’s captain giving any thought to promoting him to No. 6, ahead of Matthew Wade? Generally Clarke will give any question its due, even if most of his answers tend to be towards the safe side. This time, though, his response was pointedly dismissive.”He won’t be batting No. 6 ahead of Wade,” Clarke said. “He is a genuine top-order batsman, Matthew Wade. It’s just that he keeps, so batting at six or seven gives him more time to recover. He has been hitting the ball really well [though] hasn’t made a big score for a while, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you see him walk out and make a hundred in this Test match.”Emphatic as those words were, they paled next to the actions with which Wade vindicated his middle-order posting on the third morning at the SCG. In guiding the tail through the morning and making a joyous century, Wade set Australia up for a much improved third-day performance in which Sri Lanka were hurried towards defeat. There is even a case to be made that Australia’s wicketkeeper should be considered for a higher commission than No. 6. At the very least, he should be acknowledged as Australia’s best allrounder – more reliable than Johnson, more durable than Shane Watson.As he did in Dominica last April, guiding Australia out of awkward circumstances with another compelling century, Wade arrived at the wicket at a moment on the second evening when the game was slipping from his team’s grasp. He was cautious early on, even a little uncertain, as he tried to get acquainted with the turning ball. The early passages of a Wade innings can appear hesitant, almost apologetic, for he commits time to establishing himself deliberately, not manoeuvring the ball around with the alacrity of Michael Hussey.But there is invariably a moment in Wade’s innings when he clicks up several gears, going from a posture of reacting to the circumstances to an altogether more assertive one where his intent is to set the tone for proceedings. In Dominica, that moment had been when he passed 50. Earlier this summer against South Africa in Brisbane, Wade stodged his way to two from 23 balls, before cracking a straight drive that nearly took the head off Rory Kleinveldt, then cutting him to the boundary next ball. Wade plays himself in carefully, but having done so he feels free to unleash.A special day for Wade

Matthew Wade’s century had added significance on Jane McGrath Day at the Sydney Test. With the ground decked out in pink to raise awareness and funds for cancer sufferers, Wade felt proud to have made a batting contribution given he had fought testicular cancer himself as a teenager.
“It was an amazing feeling,” he said. “Driving to the ground today, I didn’t think that would happen. To do it on a day like today with the McGrath Foundation day it was something special. I will never forget it. As a young kid growing up watching cricket, the last few years watching this Test match on day three, the pink day for the McGrath foundation – it was a special day for me.
“I was really keen to make a good score in this last Test match. I felt like I’ve been building towards something since the WACA game probably [against South Africa]. I feel like I’ve been flirting with my form a little bit with the bat, so it’s nice to get a score I’m happy with.
“We didn’t bowl the best we’ve bowled throughout the summer, but credit to the boys – when we sat down at tea and had a think about it, we took six wickets. It could’ve gone the wrong way for us this afternoon, but our bowlers are good enough and we fielded very well to pull it back.”

In Sydney the point at which Wade declared his intent sticks in the memory not so much for the runs that were gathered as for the pain that was inflicted. On 22 he had endured a torturous period in which he was given out caught behind and escaped via DRS – which spotted a no-ball in addition to the absence of an edge. Next he was dropped at short leg, and finally given out caught at bat pad off Rangana Herath’s bowling – this dismissal was also overturned via the DRS, but it was clear that a change in approach was required.In the same over Wade responded to a pair of similarly pitched deliveries from Herath by sweeping with a great deal of venom. Twice he knelt down to play the shot, twice he connected sweetly, and twice Dimuth Karunaratne was sent hopping around the infield after being struck stinging blows to the body. From this over Wade was far more committed in his intentions and went to stumps well set on 47.A series of indifferent strokes and questionable judgements by the other batsmen had left Wade with only the tail for company on the third morning, and his innings resumed in a collected manner. Again he followed the pattern of the evening before, gathering himself and reading the circumstances before going on the offensive. This time the loss of wickets forced Wade into greater aggression, but when he chose to attack after the arrival of the last man Jackson Bird he did so with breathtaking precision and power, going from 70 to 101 in 18 blistering balls.Nuwan Pradeep felt the brunt, as Wade bisected the two men roaming the offside boundary early in an over, before taking advantage of the field coming up to stop the single by cuffing behind point for another. On a pitch Phillip Hughes had described as difficult to drive on, Wade’s timing was beyond compare, pinging further boundaries to cover and wide long off. He saved his best for the shot that took him from 97 to 101, gliding with power to the square side of deep cover and racing in ebullient celebration towards the dressing room.Given that this will be the last match in which Michael Hussey takes a place in the middle order, it was a performance to hearten Australia, expert in its rhythm and decisive in its execution. Wade’s wicketkeeping has a little further to go, particularly on the higher bouncing surfaces of Australia, but his fighting instincts and batting power to give them full vent offer tungsten to the middle order at a time when there is brittleness elsewhere.As for where Wade might bat in the future, it is worth remembering another line from Clarke, which he uttered in the wake of the Dominica innings. “I think if he plays the way he’s been playing,” Clarke had said, “there’s no doubt he could play as a batsman.” Those words ring truer now than ever.

Who took over the Basin in their baby pink outfits. And the mystery of the messed-up scoreboard finally revealed

Trish Plunket12-Dec-2010Choice of game
It was the Hell Firebirds versus the Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights who wear pink. I couldn’t miss a game like this, especially not with the stunning day Wellington turned on. (So ner ners Scotty Styris.)Team supported
I was again supporting the HellFirebirds, though it was a bit of an effort, as I do like pink, and am a fan of a lot of the Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights. I was very restrained however. I let BJ Watling escape with his cheeks unpinched.What’s in a name?
Four of the Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are named Bradley. A third of the team. Does naming your child Bradley increase his chances of cricketing success? Was it just a trendy name however long ago? Are Bradleys more partial to pink?Key performer
Brad Hodge, Peter McGlashan, and Anton Devcich all did horrible things to the Hellfire Birds’ bowling attack. At one point the PA had to remind people that the ball is hard, and thus you need to watch to make sure it doesn’t kill you.One thing I’d have changed

What the Hell Firebirds? Again I have to change the top order’s inability to bat. And Matthew Bell isn’t around to blame it on this time. In fact, looks like the whole team forgot how to bat.Detective work of the day
After my suspicions last time that the keepers of the scoreboard were in fact drunk, I confirmed it today. Wine spotted in the windows at the bottom of the scoreboard! How’s that for investigative journalism? (Or just being really nosy?)Wow moment
Wow the Yahoo!Xtra Northern Bradleys are an amazing outfit. And not just the pink. Scoring 200 runs and giving an exhibition of batting the likes of which the Basin has not seen in a while.Player watch
Completely overshadowing the return of Jesse Ryder is the supreme confidence of Anton Devcich. Rocking the baby-pink broad brimmed hat (which looked remarkably bonnet-like) while all his team-mates stuck to their caps… Fierce.Shot of the day
While it wasn’t the biggest six, it was the most terrifying. Devcich slammed a shot over the long-off fence, where it flew over the head of a small child by approximately three inches. Child remained blissfully unaware; all of us who saw it felt the need for a stiff drink.Crowd meter
Biggest crowd so far this summer, and why wouldn’t it be. It was hot, the breeze was pleasant, the cricket was fantastic. The bank was full and a few people had even spilled up into the museum grandstand. Can’t beat Wellington on a good day. (Note: that saying is about the weather).Entertainment
It seems they’ve managed to pick out someone with an actual sense of humour to run the music and address system. The music as Wellington tanked grew progressively more depressing. I think “Sending out an SOS” probably summed up everyone’s feelings as we got to seven down.Accessories
Today I took several mates, an ugly, ugly blanket, and a top with the NZ flag printed on it. I figure there needs to be some support for the local boys among all the ring-ins. I attempted to purchase a Hellfire Birds top, but they were going for $135 and I couldn’t locate a small child to sell.Overall
It was glorious. The summer is in full swing, Christmas is coming and the cricket is great. Well, the XtraBradley! Pink Knights are great. The Hell? Firebirds? Are their lovely inconsistent selves.Can I make any more terrible puns out of the team names?Marks out of 10
8. Minus two for losing and not getting a cheek to pinch.

It was the naked hunger and opportunism of Vandort that was the most compelling story of the day

Charlie Austin25-Jun-2007

If Marvan Atapattu was given a day off at Lashings CC and was able watch the opening day of this series then it might not have been easy viewing. According to Jayanda Dharmadasa, Sri Lanka Cricket’s chairman, Atapattu has requested more time to overcome the “trauma” of his difficult World Cup on the sidelines. Michael Vandort, meanwhile, a opener that has been overlooked so much in his career that he might be forgiven for seeking professional trauma counseling, was, not for the first time in his stop-start career, grabbing an opportunity with a typically solid 87 not out.The first day at the near-empty Sinhalese Sports Club was dominated by the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan, who wreaked havoc with his devilish doosra, and the most sublime batting came from Mahela Jayawardene, who was in regal form until a calf strain interrupted his fluency. But it was the naked hunger and opportunism of Vandort that was the most compelling story of the day. With Atapattu taking a mental break in England, Sanath Jayasuriya “resting” with Lancashire and Upul Tharanga nursing a broken bone in his left foot, Vandort once again laid out his credentials.Atapattu’s controversial decision to sit-out the series could have serious repercussions. Whether he really is recovering from trauma or not, when senior players try to pick and choose tours then selectors and coaches are naturally suspicious. Trevor Bayliss may yet be convinced that Atapattu, now aged 36, still has a role to play, especially in tough series against Australia and England at the end of the year, but if Vandort keeps showing this commitment, composure and stickiness at the crease then it will be brutally unfair for him to be unceremoniously unseated later in the year.

It is true that Vandort has a long way to go before he can claim to be equal to Atappatu, a classical batsman with a marvelous record. It is true, as well, that this is Bangladesh, the weakest Test team in the world. But you can’t knock the ability to score runs when under personal pressure. He did this when he was selected back in 2002, scoring a century against Bangladesh only to then spend three-and-a- half years on the sidelines. He did it again when picked for the England tour in 2006, scoring an obdurate 105 on a tricky pitch at Edgbaston. Surprise, surprise…he seized his chance today too.The experts seem to be in two minds about his ability to produce the goods against top-class bowlers. His fielding has also been highlighted as a weakness. But having now passed fifty in seven Test matches spread over six years, he surely deserves a proper chance to disprove his doubters. He is organised in approach, well aware of his strengths and weakness, and quite prepared to graft hard for his runs. In a team of strokeplayers his adhesiveness could be a great asset. Atapattu should be ruing his incredibly short-sighted decision to opt-out of the tour.

The Bangladesh selectors have rested Mahmudullah for the first two ODIs against Ireland, saying that they want to see other players given a chance at the highest level. Mahmudullah, a veteran of 218 ODIs who has retired from Tests and is no longer part of Bangladesh’s T20I plans, scored 71 runs in the three ODIs against England earlier this month.”Mahmudullah is rested. We have given the others a platform to do well at the highest level. Zakir has been doing well. Shoriful is returning due to his full fitness. This is actually the easiest time to see everyone’s form in a World Cup year,” BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.The selectors have also dropped Shamim Hossain and Taijul Islam from the squad, bringing in the batters Zakir Hasan and Yasir Ali, the left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed and left-arm quick Shoriful Islam.Zakir made a debut Test hundred against India while Yasir has been in the white-ball setup since early 2022. Nasum is a like-for-like replacement for Taijul, while Shoriful Islam could be included to cover for a slightly off form Mustafizur Rahman.Tamim Iqbal will lead the side with Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim among the seniors. Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto will bat in the top order with Tamim, but there’s competition for middle-order places. Afif Hossain, Towhid Hridoy and Yasir will all be competing for one or two spots.Taskin Ahmed will lead the pace attack with two out of Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful likely to be picked. Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be handly with his offspin and batting at No 8, leaving Nasum Ahmed as the backup spin option in his hometown Sylhet.Ireland have already arrived in Sylhet on Sunday. They will play a practice match on March 15, before the ODI series will be held in the same venue, Sylhet, on March 18, 20 and 23.IN: Yasir Ali, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Zakir HasanOUT: Shamim Hossain, Taijul Islam, MahmudullahBangladesh squad: Tamim Iqbal (capt), Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Zakir Hasan

MatériaMais Notícias

Com a janela de transferências nacional tendo o seu fechamento programado para o dia 4 de abril, o Palmeiras tem adotado uma nova postura no mercado. Se no início de ano imperava a cautela na busca por reforços, tanto que o clube ainda não anunciou atleta algum, a partir de agora a ideia palmeirense é ser mais ‘agressivo’.

E essa iniciativa já pôde ser notada na movimentação que o Palestra tem feito para contratar o volante Allan, do Atlético-MG. Já foram duas propostas apresentadas: 9 e 11 milhões de euros (R$ 46,7 a 57,1 mi, na cotação atual), ambas recusadas pelo Galo, que não deseja reforçar um rival brasileiro. Ainda assim, os valores ofertados pelo Verdão são superiores ao oferecidos para outros atletas da posição.

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A proximidade cada vez maior do encerramento do prazo para contratações explica a mudança na forma com que o Palmeiras está se posicionando no mercado. Em um mês, o Verdão terá pela frente a Libertadores, e os responsáveis pelo futebol palmeirense sabem que é necessário se reforçar pelo menos para recompor as lacunas deixadas com as saídas de Danilo e Gustavo Scarpa, negociados com o Nottingham Forest, da Inglaterra.

PRIORIDADE

O Palmeiras está na busca por um meio-campista defensivo desde que vendeu Danilo, em janeiro. A princípio, a equipe alviverde chegou a trabalhar em cima de três nomes para reposição: Matheus Henrique, do Sassuolo (ITA), Wallace, da Udinese (ITA), e Jean Lucas, do Mônaco (FRA). Em todos os casos, o máximo sinalizado pelos palestrinos foi o pagamento de 6 milhões de euros (R$ 31,1, na cotação atual), pouco menos que metade da última proposta entregue pelos palmeirenses ao Atlético-MG por Allan.

O jogador atleticano é o favorito da comissão técnica do Verdão para reforçar o meio-campo. E a ideia de abrir os cofres para contar com o atleta é justamente pela confiança que eles têm que a contratação desse jogador seria um ‘tiro certeiro’.

Ainda não se sabe se o Palmeiras fará uma nova investida pelo meio-campista do Galo ou se o valor de 11 milhões de euros (R$ 57,1, na cotação atual) é o máximo que o Palmeiras chegará pelo volante. Nos bastidores atleticanos, estima-se que somente uma proposta de 15 milhões de euros (R$ 77,9 mi, na cotação atual) será o suficiente para fazer com que o Atlético-MG cogite liberar o seu camisa 29 para um adversário no Brasil.

QUEM MAIS PODE CHEGAR?

E não é só um volante que o Palmeiras busca. Com a saída de Gustavo Scarpa, no fim do ano passado, para o mesmo Nottingham Forest, da Inglaterra, que recebeu Danilo, o clube palestrino busca uma alternativa de meio-campista/atacante que atue pelos lados do campo. A bola da vez é Artur, do Red Bull Bragantino.

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A direção palmeirense tem usado a boa relação que possui com os dirigentes do Massa Bruta para tentar chegar a uma condição que possibilite abrir negociações. Inicialmente, uma consulta foi feita e nela os representantes do Braga sinalizaram que só liberariam o atacante por 15 milhões de euros (R$ 77,9 mi, na cotação atual), valor considerado alto pelo Verdão, principalmente porque Artur foi cria palmeirense e vendido ao próprio Red Bull Bragantino, em 2020, por 6 milhões de euros (R$ 27 mi, à época).

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Em um segundo momento, o Palmeiras chegou a tentar envolver o meio-campista Matheus Fernandes para facilitar que o negócio acontecesse, mas isso também não prosseguiu. O volante, que pertence ao Verdão e está emprestado ao Braga até o fim do ano, terá 60% dos direitos econômicos comprados pela equipe do interior paulista por 1,8 milhões de euros (R$ 9,3 mi, na cotação atual), mas a diretoria do Toro Loko rechaçou qualquer possibilidade que o negócio pudesse envolver uma possível venda de Artur.

Nos bastidores, trabalha-se com a hipótese do Massa Bruta liberar Artur ao Palestra por uma proposta de 10 milhões de euros (R$ 51,9 mi, na cotação atual).

Antes de ‘apostar’ em Artur, o Palmeiras buscou dois outros nomes para o ataque: Michael, ex-Flamengo, que está no Al Hilal, da Arábia Saudita, e Luiz Araújo, cria do São Paulo, e que atualmente defende o Atlante United, dos Estados Unidos.

+ Veja a tabela do Paulistão e simule os jogos das quartas de final da competição

No caso de Michael, o Verdão fez duas propostas para tirá-lo da equipe saudita, mas ambas foram recusadas. Na primeira, a oferta foi por um empréstimo, já na segunda os palmeirenses acenaram pagar 5 milhões de dólares (R$ 26 mi, na cotação atual) pelo jogador.

Porém, o Al Hilal vive um momento delicado, banido pela Fifa de contratar novos atletas. Assim, caso libere algum jogador, o clube não conseguiria repor. A equipe trabalha para resolver essa situação até o fim da temporada local, no meio do ano. Caso isso aconteça, é possível que Michael seja liberado para retornar ao Brasil no segundo semestre. O próprio jogador deseja voltar ao seu país. Se a situação acontecer, não é descartada uma nova investida palmeirense na próxima janela de transferências.

Sem sucesso na tentativa de contratar Michael já para esse início de temporada, o Palmeiras chegou a abrir conversas com o estafe do Luiz Araújo, mas também esbarrou nos valores, tanto para compra, quanto de salários.

O ex-são-paulino foi contratado pelo Atlanta por 12 milhões de dólares (R$ 62,3 mi, na cotação atual), no segundo semestre de 2021, e a equipe que disputa a MLS não aceitaria vender o atleta por um valor menor. Além disso, os vencimentos de Luiz nos Estados Unidos giravam em torno de R$ 1,5 milhão por mês, algo considerado surreal pela cúpula palmeirense.

An unbroken double-century seventh-wicket stand between Ed Barnard and Michael Burgess rescued Warwickshire from the depths of despair and lifted them into a commanding position against Essex at Chelmsford.The pair came together with the score on 104 for 6 soon after lunch and by the close, 56 overs later, they had established a Warwickshire record for the seventh wicket against Essex of 204 and counting, passing a mark that had stood for 92 years.During an innings in which he initially had to knuckle down before breaking loose, Barnard took his tally in his last four Vitality County Championship innings to 336 runs with an unbeaten 115. Meanwhile, 105 represented Burgess’s highest score for the season by 62. Neither man’s innings was chanceless, but both looked imperious.Essex had appeared well in control when they claimed five wickets before lunch – four of those wickets falling to catches by Simon Harmer – but they toiled for the last two sessions as their usually consistent strike-force was reduced to ordinariness. Warwickshire finished on 308 for 6.With James Anderson’s impending international retirement announced this week, Essex paceman Sam Cook had an early opportunity to elevate himself on the list of candidates to replace him.It took Cook just 13 balls to strike with his 26th wicket of the season after Warwickshire decided to bat on a grass-less wicket that encouraged the bowlers early on before easing significantly as the day progressed. It was unlucky 13 for Rob Yates, who edged low down to Harmer at second slip. Cook bowled another 44 balls before claiming his only other wicket.In between Warwickshire slipped to 64 for 5 with Shane Snater grabbing two wickets in the space of six balls, inducing Will Rhodes to thick edge to Harmer again before the off stump of Sam Hain was removed as he shouldered arms without scoring.Harmer’s third catch of the innings came off his own bowling as Dan Mousley patted the ball tamely back down the wicket.Alex Davies had remained resolute at the other end, taking his three boundaries in a 60-ball 19 off Jamie Porter, one driven straight past the bowler. However, Porter had the last laugh as Harmer pulled off a brilliant one-handed catch to his right to dismiss the Warwickshire captain.Barnard swept Harmer for two fours in three balls, but otherwise settled into an obdurate sixth-wicket stand with Jacob Bethell, who got off the mark with a single from his 26th ball, and that thanks to a misfield at square leg.Bethell was re-energised after lunch and multiplied this total by five when he tucked Porter off his legs to the square-leg boundary before rocking on to his back-foot to cut the same bowler for another.The partnership steadied the ship for 20 overs while adding 40 runs before Bethell played down the wrong line and was Cook’s second victim. It was the last wicket of the day to fall.Burgess and Barnard accelerated the score with their first fifty coming from just 59 balls, though both players survived dropped catches. Barnard was on 17 when missed by Michael Pepper off Cook while Burgess was grassed at bat-pad and then off a top-edge on 19 and 39.A reprieved Burgess reverse-swept Harmer for a smart boundary and reached his half-century from 49 balls with a six over midwicket off Matt Critchley. When Burgess hit Harmer for another four, this time with a more orthodox sweep, he carried the stand past 150 in 40 overs.Barnard was first to his century, scored off 198 balls; Burgess slowed as he neared three-figures but still reached it from 149 balls.

The allrounder will make a landmark outing against India in Mumbai on Sunday

AAP06-Jan-2024Ellyse Perry is keeping an open mind about the rest of her outstanding international cricket career, saying playing 400 matches could be feasible.The allrounder will become the first Australian woman to make 300 international appearances when India host the second match in the teams’ T20I series in Mumbai on Sunday.Perry is an all-time great of Australian sport and key to the ongoing success of the national women’s team. Asked whether reaching 400 games is a goal, Perry said she had set no ceiling on her playing career.Related

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“I don’t know what’s in store …but if it’s meant to be down the track and I’m still around playing …I’m really open to what happens,” she said from India. “I don’t have a set time frame on it. Either way it doesn’t really matter, it’s just another number.”For as long as I can contribute to the team and it’s something I find really motivating and enjoyable, I’d love to be here.”Perry was left out of Australia’s T20I team early in 2022, but reshaped her game to return as an integral player.The 33-year-old has also bowled less since a serious hamstring injury during the 2020 World Cup. The key for Perry individually, and for the all-powerful Australia team, is to keep evolving.India have beaten Australia in a Test for the first time on this tour and the home side also won their opening T20I clash, while the tourists swept the one-day series in between.”It’s a great time for us, of evolution. You’ve seen a lot of that in the way that Phoebe Litchfield has performed in those one-day matches; Annabel Sutherland, her last 12 months,” Perry said.”That’s something we’re incredibly conscious of – [to] maintain the success we’ve had, but equally evolve that, to look a little bit different in the way the team plays. The game is moving at such a rapid pace. There’s a new environment. In a lot of ways the sky’s the limit in terms of where it can go.”Perry paid tribute to her family, saying she relishes still having net sessions with her dad Mark.”Every time, he bowls me. In general terms, Dad will always have my measure,” she said.Perry has been a key figure in the rapid rise of women’s cricket, which attracted 86,000 fans to the MCG to watch Australia win the 2020 World Cup final.”My first game in Darwin, there were probably about 30 people,” she said, recalling her 2007 debut. “It continues to blow my socks off when stuff like that happens, which has been a true privilege.”

Sydney Thunder 190 for 5 beat Sydney Sixers 148 for 9 (Athapaththu 3-20, Knight 3-27) by 42 runsPhoebe Litchfield continued her impressive early-season form while Chamari Athapaththu began her Sydney Thunder stint with a key all-round display as they downed injury-hit rivals Sydney Sixers who have lost their first two games of the season.Litchfield closed Thunder’s batting display with consecutive sixes to reach a 28-ball fifty a few weeks after equalling the fastest T20I half-century against West Indies at the same venue.Athapaththu, who was Thunder’s fourth overseas signing, took 34 balls to reach her milestone on the ground where she plundered her career-best T20I score of 113 in 2019. She was only playing this game because Marizanne Kapp had not recovered from an illness picked up before leaving South Africa.Related

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Sixers were selecting from just 12 fit players following the dramatic news of Alyssa Healy’s hand injury picked up at home yesterday which has required surgery. Mathilda Carmichael also suffered a back strain in training and was unavailable, while bowler Gabby Sutcliffe was unfit, although they were able to welcome back captain Ellyse Perry after her over-rate suspension.In Healy’s absence there was more onus on Perry and for a short while she shone with six fours and a six in a 16-ball 31 before falling to Heather Knight. A huge moment followed two overs later Ash Gardner was brilliantly caught at midwicket by Olivia Porter, diving low to he right, off Athapaththu.Athapaththu and Tahlia Wilson had laid the play for Thunder with an opening stand of 98 in 11 overs, which followed the first game of the day between Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers which brought more than 400 runs.Sixers struck back when Jess Kerr claimed both openers in the same of four balls, but Litchfield and Knight then added 62 for the third wicket with Litchfield dominant. She lost strike in the final over until the last two deliveries and she took full advantage of them with two powerful swings down the ground off Lauren Cheatle.