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Malan celebrates England recall with unbeaten fifty as Middlesex move into strong position at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network23-Sep-2019Sam Robson and Dawid Malan hit half-centuries as Middlesex built a solid platform on a truncated first day against Derbyshire at Lord’s.Robson batted fluently for his knock of 93 from 163 balls, sharing a 90-run third-wicket partnership with Malan, who remained undefeated on 51 when bad weather brought proceedings to a premature close.The Middlesex captain, who has been named in England’s T20 squad for their tour of New Zealand, still requires another 16 to pass the landmark of 1,000 County Championship runs for the season.Derbyshire exercised their right to bowl first and gained an initial success in the fifth over when Nick Gubbins pushed forward to Luis Reece and was caught behind without scoring.Reece and Fynn Hudson-Prentice bowled tightly to squeeze Middlesex’s scoring rate to around two an over, but Robson and Max Holden dug in as they gradually put together a partnership of 52.However, Derbyshire struck again shortly before lunch when the pacy Sam Conners – making his first appearance at Lord’s – unleashed a rising delivery that Holden could only deflect into the hands of Wayne Madsen at first slip.Robson, who looked comfortable on both sides of the wicket, nudged a two to third man to pass 50 for the sixth time this season in the second over of the afternoon session.Meanwhile, Malan – who hit a career-best 199 when the sides met at Derby earlier in the season – settled quickly at the crease, clipping Reece for a boundary through midwicket as the Middlesex total progressed into three figures.The skipper survived an lbw appeal from Anuj Dal, who looked the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers, regularly getting the ball to fizz past the bat without any tangible success.There was another close call for Malan on 34 when he edged medium-pacer Alex Hughes to slip, but this time Madsen – who is only five catches short of the Derbyshire record for an outfield player – spilled the chance.Yet it was Hughes who made the breakthrough in his next over as Robson attempted to cut him and Harvey Hosein, standing up to the stumps, snapped up the edge.Bad light prompted the umpires to call for an early tea soon afterwards but, when play resumed, Malan swiftly advanced to reach his half-century from 94 deliveries.He and Martin Andersson moved their side’s score along to 176-3 before a further deterioration in the light, coupled with the arrival of rain, halted play for the day.

The extra official will be separate from the third and fourth umpires and will use technology to help the on-field officials

Vishal Dikshit05-Nov-2019The IPL is planning to have an exclusive TV umpire to monitor no-balls from the 2020 edition. It is understood this extra match official will be separate from the third and fourth umpires and will use technology to help on-field officials monitor no-balls.The decision to use technology more in order to reduce the errors made by the on-field umpires was taken by the newly-formed IPL governing council, headed by former India batsman Brijesh Patel, at a meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday.One governing council member confirmed that they were first looking to try out this additional umpire in a domestic tournament. With the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament beginning on Friday followed by the Ranji Trophy next month, the official said the new idea could be tried out in either of the tournaments.The development is likely to be welcomed by players and teams considering umpiring standards in the IPL have been a talking point for several years, which saw the introduction of DRS in the tournament in 2018. In IPL 2019, India’s two senior-most players – Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni – pulled up match officials in separate matches over controversial no-ball decisions.Kohli called a missed no-ball opportunity “ridiculous” after a match against Mumbai Indians when Royal Challengers Bangalore needed seven off the final ball and Shivam Dube only managed a single. TV replays on the big screen later showed Lasith Malinga had overstepped, and had the no-ball been called, AB de Villiers, who was on 70 off 41, would have taken strike and faced a free hit with five needed off the last ball.”We are playing at IPL level, not club cricket,” Kohli had said at the post-match presentation. “That’s just a ridiculous call off the last ball. The umpires should have their eyes open.”MS Dhoni stops the game to confront the umpires over a revoked no-ball call•BCCI

Earlier in the tournament, in Chennai Super Kings’ away match in Jaipur against Rajasthan Royals, Dhoni controversially walked on to the field to engage with the on-field umpire Ulhas Gandhe over a no-ball call. The incident took place in the final over of Super Kings’ chase with the visitors needing 18 to win. With eight needed off the last three balls and new man Mitchell Santner on strike, Ben Stokes bowled a full toss and Gandhe first signalled a no-ball for height, only for his square-leg colleague Bruce Oxenford to overrule the decision.The IPL’s idea comes on the back of a similar decision taken by the ICC which recently decided to conduct trials in which a TV umpire will monitor front-foot no-balls. The ICC said it was looking to try it out in a few limited-overs series first, similar to how it was used during an England-Pakistan ODI series in 2016.

Coach’s message to county’s supporters appeared to suggest links between the teams

Matt Roller17-Dec-2019Lancashire have removed an “inadvertently misleading” statement from Manchester Originals head coach Simon Katich from their website amid fears about the blurring of lines between the the county and the new Hundred team based at Old Trafford.Katich’s ‘open letter’, written to Lancashire supporters with the intention of encouraging them to attend games in the new competition, claimed that “the Originals are an extension of this great county” and that “the squad…is built around a core group of Red Rose players”.Lancashire share a senior member of coaching staff with the Originals, with the county’s head coach Glen Chapple set to work as an assistant to Katich, while four Lancashire players are also in the Originals’ squad: Jos Buttler, Matt Parkinson, Saqib Mahmood and Dane Vilas.ALSO READ: Blast stars frustrated by Hundred draft as smaller counties struggle for attentionKatich also told the last week that he “would have liked to have drafted a few more Lancashire boys, but the way the draft panned out a few things didn’t go to plan”.Andy Nash, a former ECB board member and an outspoken critic of the Hundred, claimed on Twitter that the letter represented “clear evidence [that the Hundred] elevates the eight hosts and leaves ten counties as bystanders”.The potential for concern is particularly notable in the case of the Manchester team. Every other Hundred team has at least two counties affiliated with it, but Lancashire are the only county linked with the Originals. The overlap in senior members of coaching staff raises the fear that players who impress for Lancashire are more likely to be signed in future drafts, providing players with an added incentive to sign for the county.Jos Buttler of Manchester Originals looks on prior to The Hundred Draft•Getty Images

An ECB spokesperson reiterated that there is no overlap in the two teams’ governance, that Katich is not employed by the club, and that it has introduced safeguards to ensure that no conflict of interests arises. Each new side will be run by a team board with an independent chairman, and regulations have been put in place to make sure contracts with counties and with Hundred teams cannot be linked.”Lancashire Cricket Club is wholly supportive and committed to the Hundred and the opportunity to attract a new and diverse audience,” a spokesperson said.”The letter was taken down as it was inadvertently misleading. We look forward to hosting Manchester Originals in the same way we’re looking forward to hosting England v Pakistan for the Specsavers Test next year and delivering a first class experience here at Emirates Old Trafford.”December 18, 1300 GMT – This article was updated to reflect the fact Mark Chilton will no longer be working for the Originals in the Hundred

James Frankin and Hamish Bennett have both earned elevated contracts from New Zealand Cricket after regular appearances in the national team

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2011Allrounder James Frankin and fast bowler Hamish Bennett have both earned elevated contracts from New Zealand Cricket after regular appearances in the national team.Franklin, 30, has three half-centuries in one-dayers in his past six innings, and also took three wickets with his medium-pace in the consolation victory over Pakistan on Saturday. In a squad filled with allrounders, Franklin has cemented a starting place edging ahead of the likes of Grant Elliott.Bennett, 23, impressed the team management with his pace and was picked in every match of the six-ODI series against Pakistan, in which he was the highest wicket-taker, finishing with 11 at 20.90.Players who have not received central contracts from NZC get an elevated contract after they play a specified number of matches for the national team. The new contracts of Franklin and Bennett, both part of New Zealand’s 15-man squad for the World Cup, will run till the end of July.

South Africa and Australia will not play a full tour against each other after next year until at least 2021 because the two boards have clashed over the rights to host the traditional Boxing Day and New Year Tests

Firdose Moonda04-Nov-2010South Africa will not take part in a full Test tour of Australia until at least 2021 because the two boards have clashed over the rights to host the traditional Boxing Day and New Year Tests. Both countries are now guaranteed to host their lucrative home Test matches over the festive period for the next ten seasons.Previously, South Africa played Australia away every four years during December and January. “That was a contract that was drawn up before my time,” Gerald Majola, chief executive of CSA said at the CSA road show at the Wanderers on Thursday. “According to that agreement, we have always toured Australia over the festive season. When the 2012-2020 FTP was being discussed we brought forward a proposal that we would play them once in Australia and once at home. They didn’t accept our proposal.”Majola explained that Australia used the home Tests as tourist draw cards because of the holiday season and he even though he “understood” that reason, he decided CSA would be bullish as well. “We thought if they don’t want to tour here, we will also say we don’t want to tour there during that time so we can host our own Tests.”In 2008, when South Africa last toured Australia, CSA announced that the national team would not tour Down Under over the festive period again because of Australia’s refusal to give up their monopoly on Test matches during that time. South Africa went on to win the three-Test series 2-1.Following a breakdown in discussions over tours over the holiday period, CSA managed to convince the International Cricket Council that, like Australia, it should host Test matches over the festive season every season from 2012 to 2020. In addition, neither South Africa nor Australia will host each other in that time. That means that Australia’s visit to South Africa next year will be their last full tour until at least 2021. They are scheduled to play three Tests and five ODIs in September and October 2011.Majola added, however, that by avoiding each other during the festive season, the two teams would meet more frequently as a consequence. “We will play Australia every year from now until 2020 but not for a full tour,” Majola said. “Once a year we will either play them in Tests or in one-day internationals but not both at the same time.”South Africa are scheduled to host India this season and Sri Lanka in December 2011, with CSA keen to emulate the Australian model of creating tourist activities around the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
In South Africa, the coastal cities of Durban and Cape Town have most often hosted the two, festive matches but Majola said that at least one of those venues may change.”Durban is still in question,” he said. “We have not had very good crowds there and we’ve tried Port Elizabeth as an alternative. We’ll have to see how Durban responds in the future before we decide what to do. Cape Town always had good crowds, so the New Year’s Test will be held there unless something drastic happens.”

Many Aston Villa fans have been discussing Jack Grealish’s latest tweet, which has elicited a glowing response on the social media platform.

The 25-year-old recently relayed a tweet from the official club account after Aston Villa had posted a video involving actor David Bradley, who was talking about the club and it’s rise and fall through the years. The title of the video was – “They say you don’t choose Aston Villa, it chooses you.”

Bradley was talking about the beauty of fans and how so many Villa fans are connected to the club. The video included footage of the Villans’ greatest moments over the decades.

Grealish shared his admiration for the video, retweeting it with the added comment of: “What a video man ❤️💙 the way I can’t wait to have fans back!! @bradders_david you legend! 🙌🏻”

This came after the European Super League was announced amidst widespread vehement outcry. Even during Leeds’ Premier League against Liverpool, the Whites’ players wore training jerseys in protests of the ESL, while protests were held outside Elland Road (BBC Sport).

Liverpool are among the six English clubs to have signed up to the Super League, while Gary Neville launched a scathing attack on the concept of the ESL.

Grealish’s tweet drew the attention of many Aston Villa fans, who loved the response from the 25-year-old, whose local status and love for the club has often been apparent.

What did Aston Villa fans make of Grealish’s tweet?

“100% accurate, I know cause it hit me when I was 5 years old and now I’m 49 and still as strong as ever.”

Credit: @Simon1874Villa

“Who needs a Super League when we’ve got Super Jack!”

Credit: @Gareth32Gareth

“Love you forever and always.”

Credit: @LawsAVFC

“We are, without any shadow of a doubt, a truly great club… if not the greatest in the country.”

Credit: @skippyjackson

“You’re never leaving are you hahahahaha love you.”

Credit: @AVFCOlly_

“Goosebumps, passion, pride, yes we are Aston Villa!”

Credit: @TonyV1lla
In other news, “The last thing you want to see” – Exclusive: Lee Hendrie reacts as big Aston Villa blow emerges

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Marlon Harewood, who spent four years as a West Ham player, believes David Moyes has enough quality and squad depth to qualify for the Champions League, despite their current injury crisis.

In the last three weeks, Moyes has seen Declan Rice, Mark Noble, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell all head to the treatment room having picked up injuries at the business end of the season.

West Ham beat Leicester City 3-2 last week despite Cresswell and Noble going off injured, and Moyes will be looking to keep up their Champions League push this weekend when they face Newcastle United, who are unbeaten in their last two games.

Speaking on why he’s confident Moyes has enough to get the job done and how there are plenty of options for the Scot to turn to during this crisis, Harewood told FFC:

“Moyes thinks he’s got enough in the squad to compete and to try and stay in the top four and if someone else gets injured I’m sure he will be able to throw someone else in.

“We’ve got some young lads that are coming through that could do a job, but Moyes thinks he’s got enough in his squad.”

Moyes’ first injury blow came off the back of the international break as Rice returned to West Ham with an injury that is likely to keep him out of action for at least a month.

West Ham have seven games left this season and only two of them are against sides in the top half of the Premier League, with their hardest game set to come next week against Chelsea.

Celtic goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas could be handed a quick route out of Parkhead this summer with the Greek stopper already being linked with a move away.

According to The Scottish Sun, Greek Super League outfit PAOK are eyeing the former AEK Athens man ahead of a potential loan offer in the summer.

Incoming Bhoys CEO Dominic McKay must cut his losses and let the 26-year-old go as soon as possible.

Since arriving at Celtic for a reported £4.5m just last summer, the 13-cap international has endured a horrendous time at the club.

Barkas has made just 20 appearances in all competitions and has not played a single minute in the league for the club since a 2-2 draw with Livingston in mid-January, with Scott Bain having been preferred in recent times.

Even when he has been on the pitch, the Greek international has not inspired much confidence at all. According to SofaScore, he has made just 1.1 saves per game in the league, whilst Bain is averaging much more at 2.1.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-roy-keane-nicky-butt-jesse-marsch-scott-brown” title=”Latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

Despite having only been with Celtic for just eight months, his transfer valuation has also already taken a hit from £4.5m to £3.6m.

With Barkas not looking likely to be afforded a chance with his current employers any time soon, that only looks set to drop even more as the summer transfer window approaches.

Currently raking in £13.5k per week at the club, which is even more than the likes of Kristoffer Ajer, Ryan Christie and Jeremie Frimpong, he surely has to be shifted sooner rather than later if he is not going to play.

With apparent interest in Barkas, Celtic really should just cut their losses on the goalkeeper and let him go in the summer.

AND in more news, take a look at which former Premier League defender Celtic have to secure for incoming manager Eddie Howe this summer…

It quickly went downhill for Musonda at Celtic. He joined the club at a difficult time but seemed more interested in his social media profile than playing his way into Brendan Rodgers’ system.

His 18-month loan deal was cut short in May, returning to Chelsea without any lessons learned. A knee injury hampered this season’s loan spell with Vitesse as the downward spiral continued.

Musonda will retire from football as a very rich young man. Perhaps he’ll have regrets about a talent scorned but his case perfectly highlights the player ‘farms’ being built up by big clubs like his parent club which is effectively killing off emerging talent.

A generation ago Musonda might have caught the eye in Belgium, earned a move to Anderlecht, perhaps Celtic then moved to a mid-table EPL side before reaching Chelsea.

Offering impressionable teenagers long contracts ensures that their bank balance will be healthy but their career will at best stall as they miss out crucial steps in their development.

Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that Leeds could do a lot worse than signing Harry Winks, who he thinks is a Marcelo Bielsa type player.

Winks has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho, and after being strongly linked away in January, is now being monitored by a La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, making a Spurs exit likely this summer.

The midfielder has also lost his place in the England squad after starting just four times in the Premier League since September, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele being Mourinho’s favoured central midfield pairing at present.

Winks’ only outing in the last month came in Tottenham’s embarrassing Europa League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, and if his opportunities don’t improve before the end of the season he might have no choice but to depart his beloved Spurs.

Despite previous interest from Valencia, staying in England would appear favourable for Winks, who received high praise from Frank Lampard back in 2017.

And Windass told Football FanCast that Leeds would be a good destination for the central midfielder, but only with Marcelo Bielsa in charge:

“I think if Bielsa does stay and brings in his own players, they will be a top four or top six side, and Harry Winks could get into any of them teams. He’s Bielsa’s sort of player.

“Is he going to play to two sitting midfield players? But Winks can get forward as well. Phillips was once a right-back and now he’s turned him into an England international sitting midfield player. The manager is obviously good on the training ground at developing players.

“I don’t think Leeds United players would say no.”