Three Rajasthan Royals players, Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, have been taken by police for questioning over an investigation into their alleged involvement in corruption in the IPL
ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2013
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Como de costume, todo início de ano ocorre a Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, e com ela muitos nomes são lançados no cenário nacional, ganhando destaque posteriormente. Nesta edição do torneio um dos grandes nomes até aqui é o atacante Gabriel Novaes, do São Paulo, que já balançou a rede oito vezes em cinco jogos. Fabricio Oya, do Corinthians e Tiago Reis, do Vasco são outros jovens que têm brilhado no torneio. Confira a lista com alguns dos jogadores destaque na Copinha:
GABRIEL NOVAES (SÃO PAULO)
Autor de três gols contra o Rio Claro, o atacante Gabriel Novaes, do São Paulo, tem chamado a atenção pelo faro de gol (já marcou oito na competição). Aos 19 anos, faz boa dupla à frente com Fabinho, ora centralizado, ora buscando o jogo, e é artilheiro isolado da competição.
Diego, volante e capitão da equipe, também com 19 anos, tem se destacado pela qualidade no passe e pelos lançamentos inteligentes.
FABRÍCIO OYA (CORINTHIANS)
Aos 19 anos, Fabricio Oya disputa sua quarta e última Copinha pelo Corinthians. Meia de origem, o camisa 10 é o principal goleador do time na competição com quatro gols. Também se destaca pelas assistências. É cotado para integrar o time profissional em breve.
Em 2018, o atleta do Timão atuou em 31 partidas nas categorias de base da equipe paulista e marcou 12 gols. Roni, meia de 19 anos, e Nathan, atacante também com a mesma idade, são outros destaques do alvinegro.
TIAGO REIS (VASCO)
Tiago Reis, camisa 9 do Vasco na Copinha, é um dos principais destaques do Cruz-maltino até aqui. Só no último jogo, contra o Juventude, o atacante de 19 anos marcou três gols e ajudou a equipe a avançar na competição.
O lateral-esquerdo Riquelme e o meio-campista Lucas Santos são vistos com grande potencial também por torcedores e diretoria. O último inclusive já fez algumas partidas no time profissional.
ANTONY (SÃO PAULO)
Promovido ao elenco profissional no fim do ano passado, o atacante Antony foi “emprestado” para o time da Copinha. Após uma primeira fase tímida, o jogador de 19 anos se destacou contra o Rio Claro na abertura dos mata-matas com duas assistências, dribles e boas finalizações.
No ano passado, o atleta realizou três jogos na equipe principal, todas na reta final do Campeonato Brasileiro. Gabriel Sara, meia de 19 anos, também tem se destacado e marcou três gols em duas partidas na Copinha.
REINIER (FLAMENGO)
Apesar de eliminado, o Flamengo mostrou uma nova joia na Copinha. O meio-campista Reinier, de 16 anos, fez sua primeira Copa São Paulo e já é tratado como promessa nas categorias de base do clube. Nesta edição do torneio, o atleta do Rubro-Negro marcou um gol nos quatro jogos que o Fla disputou.
No ano passado, Reinier disputou competições como o Brasileirão Sub-20, Cariocão e Copa do Brasil Sub-17. Rodrigo Muniz, atacante de 17 anos e Bill, centroavante de 19 anos, também foram importantes atletas do Fla na Copinha.
LUCAS LOURENÇO (SANTOS)
O destaque do Santos é o meia Lucas Lourenço, de 17 anos, que chegou a treinar com o profissional em 2018 e jogou 16 minutos na partida contra o Sport pela 38ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.
É possível que fiquei com o time principal depois da disputa do torneio. No ano passado, foi o grande nome do sub-17 do Santos.
ALERRANDRO (ATLÉTICO-MG)
Revelado na base do clube, subiu para o profissional em 2018 e também é considerado um jogador a ser lapidado. Também subiu do sub-17 para o sub-20 antes da idade máxima. Estreou no profissional contra o Villa Nova-MG no dia 25 de janeiro de 2018. Teve problemas de indisciplina no meio de 2018 e foi “rebaixado” para o sub-20 novamente, mas o Galo queria interromper o contrato dele. O ato de indisciplina nunca foi revelado.
Voltou a treinar com os profissionais na reta final do Brasileiro e entrou em alguns jogos. A pedido da comissão técnica do sub-20, está disputando a Copinha e já marcou dois gols no torneio. É rápido, joga pelos lados também, sendo um bom assistente para os companheiros. Ele deve ficar no elenco principal quando acabar a Copa São Paulo. Alerrandro é natural é Lavras, interior de Minas e sempre jogou no Galo.
SAMUEL (FLUMINENSE)
Com quatro gols marcados em quatro jogos disputados na Copinha, o atacante Samuel é um dos principais jogadores do Tricolor Carioca até aqui. O jogador de 18 anos não ´o único que tem protagonismo na competição.
Leandro Spadacio, meia de 18 anos que já marcou dois gols, e o também meio-campista Resende são outros atletas que também estão brilhando com a camisa do Flu nesta edição da Copinha.
VINÍCIUS POPÓ (CRUZEIRO)
Vinicius tem feito gols na Copinha. Já foram dois. Mas o que chama atenção é sua força na base. Ele foi promovido para o sub-20 e já fez 107 gols em 126 jogos pelo Cruzeiro. O atacante de 17 anos é natural de São José do Rio Preto e veio para o Cruzeiro após uma passagem frustrada pelo Fluminense.
O clube aposta muito nele, tanto que renovou o contrato com o jovem jogador até 2023. Vinícius é rápido, tem boa visão de jogo e forte na presença de área. É tratado com muito zelo na Toca.
CAÍQUE (BAHIA)
Mesmo com a eliminação da equipe precoce, ainda na fase de grupos do torneio, o meio-campista Caíque brilhou. Nas três partidas do Bahia no grupo 12, o meia marcou três gols e foi uma das principais peças do time.
Aos 18 anos, o jogador, que atua centralizado, mas também sabe jogar pelos lados, já tinha sido destaque do Esquadrão de Aço na Copa do Nordeste Sub-20 em 2018, quando marcou sete gols em oito partidas.
South Africa piled on a score in excess of 200 and kept Bangladesh 39 runs away but were unimpressive and lazy with the ball
The Report by Firdose Moonda19-Jun-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHashim Amla made his highest Twenty20 score•AFPResults sometimes don’t tell the whole story, and this one should not be read into too deeply, if only for the reason that South Africa and Bangladesh were not playing against each other. Instead, they were playing against themselves. South Africa’s goals – to accumulate runs quickly and ensure their opposition was never in a position to do the same – were in stark contrast to Bangladesh’s, whose main task was to see out their 20 overs after being obliterated when they were bowling.If looked at from that perspective, both teams won and lost. South Africa made a score in excess of 200 and kept Bangladesh 39 runs away but were unimpressive and lazy with the ball. Bangladesh scored 170 and their captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, weighed in with a half-century. The one thing the teams had in common was butterfingers. South Africa dropped three catches and Bangladesh two as both teams showed signs of rustiness.South Africa played the opening combination that was used in New Zealand – Richard Levi and Hashim Amla – and the duo immediately sank their teeth in. They posted 70 runs in a little over six overs, making Mushfiqur’s hope of keeping South Africa below 160 seem nothing more than wishful thinking.While Levi scored his runs through force, Amla, who hit his highest Twenty20 score, did it through finesse. Bangladesh had no answers. Ziaur Rahman gave them some respite when he removed Levi with a slower ball for 37 off 21 deliveries. Amla would have gone shortly after, but Mortaza put down a tough chance at short cover. Amla brought up his half-century with his first six of the innings, arguably the shot of the day, using his wrists to hit high over extra cover.Albie Morkel was moved up to No. 4 but did not produce the expected fireworks. That Morkel did not deliver did not matter, because Amla continued to pepper the boundary. JP Duminy joined the plunder, pulling at will in the last over. Young Abul Hasan had little composure and sent down short ball after short ball to end a tough 20 overs for Bangladesh.Bangladesh never looked up to chasing at a rate of 10.50 runs per over but did not disgrace themselves either. Mohammad Ashraful showed early intent against the short balls from Tsotsobe, cutting and pulling powerfully. Anamul Haque, who replaced the injured Tamim Iqbal, could not provide suitable company, getting caught at fine leg off a Marchant de Lange short ball.Ashraful almost lost a second partner when Jahurul Islam edged a full ball from Morkel but the wicketkeeper Dane Vilas could not hold on as he dived to his right. After a 29-run stand in five overs, Ashraful eventually looked to force the pace but spliced a Tsotsobe short ball to a diving Amla at mid-on.Bangladesh suffered a mini-collapse in the next over, when Jahurul tried to take on Robin Peterson but holed out to long-on, and Nasir Hossain top-edged to Morkel at third man. Peterson’s double-wicket maiden contributed to his figures of 2 for 16.At 49 for 4, it could have unravelled for Bangladesh but Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah did not allow that to happen. They had the luxury of facing the weakest bowler in South Africa’s arsenal, Wayne Parnell, who bowled too short. The pair put on 61 runs before a Morkel slower ball accounted for Mahmudullah.Mushfiqur hung around until the end as South Africa’s bowlers seemed to interest and gave away runs, failing to control their lengths. He further irritated South Africa when he offered Tsotsobe a catch that the fielder let through for four. Mushfiqur reached 50 off the last ball of the innings, a full one from Parnell, which was driven for four. Bangladesh had seen out 20 overs, but it was a mismatch.
Michael Kasprowicz joins the Cricket Australia board as an unapologetic advocate of sweeping change to the governance of the game
Daniel Brettig09-Aug-2011
Michael Kasprowicz is an unapologetic advocate of governance reforms•Getty Images
Australian cricket’s newest decision maker, Michael Kasprowicz, joins the Cricket Australia board as an unapologetic advocate of sweeping change to the governance of the game.Kasprowicz is among the most amiable men in cricket, and as a Test match fast bowler was among the most stout hearted and resourceful of practitioners. But he is also a sharp observer and thinker, and little more than three years ago he was out of favour with Cricket Australia as one of the senior players to decamp to the Indian Cricket League.His promotion to the CA board is itself the product of reform, as Queensland Cricket last year revised its constitution to prevent state board members from holding national directorships. Kasprowicz had no hesitation declaring more was needed at CA headquarters.”I don’t think [my views] will change too much,” Kasprowicz told ESPNcricinfo. “At some stages there will be different arguments presented, but one of the big ones is the corporate governance in the game.”Look at what the AFL [Australian football] have done through their consultants in David Crawford and Colin Carter and the way that AFL has just blossomed because of the changes in making an independent commission running the game and looking after the welfare of the game. Now there is a review by Crawford and Carter of cricket, we’re in a position where there are going to be some real benefits for cricket by adopting those kinds of changes.”Walking onto the board from the presidency of the Australian Cricketers Association, Kasprowicz has over the past year augmented his own playing, business and study background with a working knowledge of Australian cricket’s administrative and financial landscape.”One thing I think I can bring to the board is some freshness, freshness of ideas, but also to use the cliché – a blend of youth and experience. That means a lot now,” he said. “In the 19 years I played cricket for Queensland and the years since, being involved as a broadcaster in the commentary box but also as the ACA president, I’ve seen a whole change in Australian cricket. Right from the days when I began to where we are today.”So I’ve been involved with the game the whole way through and I can bring that experience to the board. What I’ve always found is the one thing the game has always had and always needs is passion, passion for the game.”There’s no segment of the cricket community more passionate than the players, the people that have actually represented their state or represented their country because there’s a passion for keeping the game current, keeping it at the top where it needs to be, and that’s what I can certainly bring.”That passion includes T20, but unlike his board predecessor Matthew Hayden, Kasprowicz expressed a more even view of the balance between T20 and the game’s longer forms. Test cricket, he believes, will benefit from new audiences brought to it through T20.”Having played the first season in England when it first came out [in 2003], I’ve been involved in the game and seen where it’s come from,” Kasprowicz said. “I think it’s a wonderful vehicle, a re-branding of the game of cricket and putting it on the shelf to a whole new marketplace. That’s what it is designed to do.”It’s not designed to take over, that’s one thing I don’t think we can do, but what it is going to do is introduce the game to new people, to new customers, so they come along and enjoy the game, enjoy the outing. In that introduction they get to appreciate the skill of the game.”For those lovers of the game of cricket, of which I’m certainly one, we all know the best test of skill in cricket is Test cricket, so ultimately I would hope that [T20 converts] will become customers of the game of cricket in the long term. That’s the challenge cricket has at the moment, is capturing that young market.”Cricket’s task in Australia is to capture the young without losing sight of the old, and Kasprowicz did not hesitate to say the resources provided by former players had been under utilised. As an ICL participant, Kasprowicz was ostracised for some time in a manner similar to Jason Gillespie, and said the loss of that generation of players had contributed greatly to the Australian team’s parlous state today.”Have a look at the times when Australian cricket went through a trough, and how it all correlated to rebel tours, if you like,” Kasprowicz said. “We had World Series Cricket and went through a slump, rebel tours to South Africa and there was a slump, and then all of a sudden IPL/ICL as well.”And I think the reason that happens is you’re still losing your best players but it’s your next rung players, senior players in domestic cricket. I just reckon there’ve been three distinct times when that has happened. The ICL was one of those things where a wealth of experienced players in our domestic game were told not to come back and not to be involved.”One of the greatest resources that our game possesses is the players, and the ex-players as far as experience, coaching and opinions, that’s what we have. From a player’s point of view that’s something that I don’t reckon we’ve captured as well as we could have, or we should.”Kasprowicz has a few plans to re-arrange first but intends to be present at CA’s next board meeting on August 18 and 19, when the findings from the Don Argus-led review into the performance of the Australian team are expected to be tabled.”There’s a number of reviews being conducted at the moment in Australian cricket, one on corporate governance, also the Don Argus cricket review and also one with finances,” Kasprowicz said. “So there’s going to be some findings out of that, and you’d think there’s going to be some good results there and ways to take cricket forward.”
Somerset believe they have played an important part in giving England a head start to the Test series against India after being able to “bully” India for three days in Taunton
Andrew McGlashan17-Jul-2011
Arul Suppiah was one of a number of Somerset players who enjoyed good outings against India•Getty Images
Somerset believe they have played an important part in giving England a head start to the Test series against India after being able to “bully” the visitors for three days in Taunton. The Indians were never a threat in their lone warm-up match before Lord’s as their bowling was twice taken apart and the batting folded for 224.For most of the contest, once they had lost the toss on a flat pitch, the Indians didn’t appear to have their heart in the game whereas the county side took it very seriously. They were determined to limit the value India could take from the outing, which is why they didn’t enforce the follow-on. Then Peter Trego embarrassed them with a 57-ball 85, which left them looking well short of readiness for the first Test.”I fully understand it’s quite difficult for Test sides to get themselves up for these games, however it’s about practising good habits,” Andy Hurry, the Somerset coach, said. “They are going to come up against a stern test against a side challenging to be No. 1, so they’ll have to lift their game. I’m sure they will, playing at the home of cricket, but it’s been interesting – their approach and how that reflects in the way they performed.”It was important that we gave it our best shot and really put them under the pump. We won the toss on a great batting pitch, dominated the game and started to bully them, which is a great position for England to sit back in their seats and appreciate what we have done for them.”We had an opportunity to build scoreboard pressure, then got our rewards and bowled them out,” he said. “They were looking for the follow-on but we weren’t giving them that. It was an opportunity for us to go in again and reinforce our position before giving them a little dart at the end to try and bowl them out.”Andrew Strauss, preparing for the Test series with a guest appearance, made the most of his time with scores of 78 and an unbeaten 109 to ensure he enters the main contest in good spirits following his lean time against Sri Lanka earlier in the season. Hurry couldn’t praise Strauss highly enough for his short spell with the team and the benefit it brought to the younger players.”It’s been a perfect three days for him,” Hurry said. “We kept the Indians in the field for a number of overs. He looked really busy at the wicket and built his innings. He’s been outstanding to have in the changing room. The boys have thrived on having him around. He’s been a real good egg.”It’s had a huge positive effect on the younger players. Guys who have aspirations of playing for England now understand what the England captain is about. He has an aura about him. [As he] sat in the changing room, the guys were listening to everything he said about batting and the England set-up. It’s been positive from all sides.”
A round-up of the first day’s matches at the ICC WCL East Asia-Pacific Region Division One Twenty20 tournament
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2011An all-round performance from Papua New Guinea carried them to a comfortable 38-run win over Vanuatu in the opening game of the ICC WCL East Asia-Pacific Region Division One Twenty20 tournament in Port Moresby.PNG captain Rarva Dikana chose to bat and his decision was justified with the openers Asad Vala and Tony Ura putting on 82 runs in the first nine overs before Vala was dismissed. Ura though, stayed firm, making 73 off 55 balls with nine fours and one six to keep his team on track for a competitive score. Medium-pacer Patrick Matautaava picked up three wickets in the final over but PNG managed to reach 150 for 6 courtesy their strong opening stand and Ura’s half-century.”I am really happy with how I batted today,” Ura said after the day’s play. “Although it was disappointing to get out before the innings ended.”That total proved to be more than a handful for Vanuatu who lost two wickets within the first three overs. They never recovered from their poor start with only three batsmen managing to reach double figures. Joel Tom and Dikana picked up two wickets apiece as Vanuatu were restricted to 112 for 8, handing PNG an easy victory.Samoa stole a thrilling three-wicket win over Fiji with one ball to spare in the second match of the day. Put in to bat first, Fiji lost their openers cheaply before the captain Josefa Rika steadied the innings with 33, but Fiji kept losing wickets at the other end. The final score of 125 was aided by some waywardy bowling from Samoa, who conceded 12 wides in all.With a modest total to chase, Samoa lost their opener Sean Cotter early, before Geoff Clarke and Benjamin Mailata put on 79 runs for the second wicket. The match seemed headed to a predictable finish when the middle order collapsed dramatically, with the next five wickets falling for the addition of only seven runs, and it was left up to Uala Kaisara and Winston Mariner – the pick of the bowlers earlier on in the day – to steer Samoa home with an unbeaten 20-run stand.Mailata was relieved with the result, given that his side nearly made a hash of the chase. “It’s always good to get a win to start a tournament,” he said. “We certainly did it the hard way but it was still a great result.”Papua New Guinea followed up their earlier win in the day with another convincing victory, crushing Samoa by 77 runs. Winning the toss for the second time in the day, PNG chose to bat, and their opening pair bettering their previous effort with a 112-run stand. The momentum they created was enough to carry PNG to 182 in their 20 overs. Faasao Mulivai, who picked up two wickets, was the only Samoan bowler with an economy under six, a statistic that reflected the kind of day their attack endured.In reply, Samoa lost their top three batsmen with just 17 runs on the board, and never recovered. Only two of their batsmen reached double figures, and Uala Kaisara stayed unbeaten on 29, as Samoa finished with 105 for 9.PNG’s Mahuru Dai had words of encouragement for his opponents despite his side’s easy wins. “Last time I saw Samoa and Vanuatu play they weren’t too strong,” Dai said. “But now that they are here in PNG after seeing them again I have noticed great improvement in both of them.”Fiji trounced Japan by 74 runs in the final match of the day, moving to the second place on the points table, with a net run-rate superior to Samoa’s. Batting first, Fiji finished with 160 for the loss of only two wickets, with Kitiano Tavo top-scoring with an unbeaten 45.In reply, Japan’s top-order collapsed, and they never gained the momentum required to chase down a challenging total. Iniasi Cakacaka, who had contributed 33 with the bat, picked up two wickets in his four overs.
MatériaMais Notícias
Aos 18 minutos de jogo no 0 a 0 diante do Rosario Central, nessa quinta-feira, na Argentina, Reinaldo fez cruzamento que levou perigo e, pouco depois, deu murros no gramado do Gigante de Arroyito, irritando-se. O lateral-esquerdo precisou ser substituído com dores no adutor da coxa direita e, no Brasil, para onde o São Paulo volta nesta sexta-feira, fará exames para descobrir a gravidade do problema físico.
– Queria estar em campo, ajudando meus companheiros em um jogo gostoso desses. Estava favorável para nós, eu estava chegando na frente. Na hora do cruzamento, foi até um perigo de gol. Quando senti, fiquei bastante chateado, passa um monte de coisa na cabeça. Agora, estou mais tranquilo. Vamos ver o que vai apontar no exame. Se tiver que tratar, é tratar e voltar mais forte ainda para ajudar o São Paulo. Espero que não seja nada demais – disse Reinaldo.
Reinaldo se recuperou há menos de um mês de uma contusão com dores parecidas – teve um pequeno estiramento no músculo adutor da coxa esquerda que o deixou fora de quatro partidas. Mas, ao menos, o problema muscular é em outra perna, e exatamente a que o lateral-esquerdo menos utiliza.
– É a mesma contusão, só que na perna direita. Isso me deixa mais um pouco tranquilo, porque não foi a mesma perna. Foi a outra, e eu mal bato com a perna direita. Espero que seja só uma fadiga, que não seja nada sério – continuou o camisa 14.
Na Argentina, sem outras opções na lateral esquerda, o técnico Diego Aguirre apostou em Liziero na posição, escalando Lucas Fernandes no meio-campo. Edimar, lateral-esquerdo, ficou no Brasil e acaba de se recuperar de contusão no joelho direito. O próximo compromisso do São Paulo será na segunda-feira, no Morumbi, diante do Paraná, pela primeira rodada do Brasileiro.
Respected transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio has dropped an exciting update regarding Arsenal’s interest in Monaco midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni…
Speaking to German outlet Wettfreunde, the Italian Sky Sports journalist revealed that the Gunners are one of the clubs that “are following” the talented Frenchman, with the 22-year-old said to be keen on a Premier League move.
Previous reports have credited Mikel Arteta’s side with an interest in the former Bordeaux man, although they may face stiff competition from both Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for his signature.
In full, he said: “A lot of clubs in the Premier League are following him. Arsenal, Manchester United to name just two. He would like to play in the Premier League. He has stayed at Monaco for another year to await a chance to play in the Premier League. I think that will be the summer when he changes.”
The north London outfit are currently flying high with a Champions League spot well within their grasp, although one position that remains an area of concern is central midfield, with Arteta currently down to the bare bones with regards to potential options.
Summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga is yet to truly establish himself in the side, while former Atletico Madrid powerhouse Thomas Partey has been plagued by injuries since his £45m switch two years ago, with the Ghanian facing a race against time to feature again this season.
That has left both Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny as the club’s senior midfield options, although the latter faces an uncertain future with just a month or so left on his existing deal, despite having been the subject of praise from pundit Owen Hargreaves.
A new addition is then of paramount importance this summer, with Tchouameni seemingly the perfect fit as the defensive presence in an attack-minded side.
Not only does he fit with the club’s youthful transfer policy of late – with the Emirates outfit signing six players under the age of 23 last summer – but he also offers genuine quality, having been tipped to become a “complete midfielder” by teammate and former Gunner Cesc Fabregas.
The Spaniard knows what it takes to star in an Arsenal side, with his club colleague showing all the signs that he can be the man to pull the strings in midfield for years to come. However, his physical qualities are also symbolic of a certain Patrick Vieira, someone the north Londoners have been trying to replace for over a decade now.
The Monaco man has enjoyed another fine campaign for club and country, having made 2.8 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per game in his 32 Ligue 1 outings so far this season, while he’s also won an impressive 64% of his total duels.
Equally, he also ranks in the top 17% for progressive passes made and in the top 13% for total shots among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing he is much more than just a midfield destroyer.
Dubbed a “monster” by France U21 boss Sylvain Ripoll for his athletic ability, the £36m-rated ace is the type of player that the Gunners are simply crying out for at present, with a marquee midfield addition needed to help them kick on again next year.
IN other news, 0 passes all game: Arsenal flop doing a “Sanogo impression” must now never start again…
Ricky Ponting rates himself “a good chance” to play with his broken little finger on Boxing Day, but won’t be too proud to stand down if he’s not fit. Ponting has learned from last year, when he went into the biggest game of the summer with a serious elbow tendon problem, and expects to wait until the morning of the fourth Test to decide whether he can lead.The injury ensures another bumpy lead-up for Australia and means Michael Clarke will be on standby for his first Test as captain. Greg Chappell, the selector, said yesterday Clarke, the current deputy, was not ready for the top job but changed tack today.Ponting, who will not pick up a bat until later in the week, did not field on the final morning as Australia raced to a 267-run victory that levelled the series at 1-1. “I have to have treatment and look after it for a few days and rest it,” he said. “I think I have a really good chance of playing, it is only a small fracture. It is a bit sore and angry at the moment, but I’ll be right.”He suffered the break when he spilled the edge of Jonathan Trott at second slip on the third afternoon, with the rebound popping up to Brad Haddin. X-rays last night showed a small crack and he spent the morning of his 36th birthday in the dressing room to protect the injury. He walked out after the victory had been secured to congratulate his team-mates while keeping his left hand out of everyone’s way.Ponting was in a similar fitness race this time last year as he battled to be ready for the start of the series against Pakistan. His right elbow had been hit by a Kemar Roach short ball at the WACA, and the problem disrupted his batting for the rest of the summer.He was determined to play on despite the discomfort, but this time he will consider a different approach if the injury hasn’t healed. “I honestly think with it being a little finger on my left hand, I don’t think it’s as significant as being the top elbow last year,” he said”I’m not going to be silly and put myself ahead of the team. If I don’t think I can function well, I won’t play. If I feel like I can function and play somewhere near – I won’t say how I’ve been playing, better than I have been playing – then I will play the game.”Ponting not only has a hurt finger, but he also hasn’t been in form with the bat, scoring 83 runs in six innings in this series, and averaging 38.95 in 24 Tests since the start of last year. The lack of output has resulted in increased pressure on his leadership, although that has eased with the strength of this victory.Clarke, 29, has also struggled for runs and been facing scrutiny as the captain in waiting. Chappell attempted to back-track today after telling Channel 9 yesterday that nobody was in the right frame of mind to step into the captaincy. The comments came before Ponting was hurt.”In that discussion I was being very careful not to make suggestions against Ricky and I didn’t speak clearly to get that message across,” Chappell told the ABC. “Michael is our next captain, whenever that might be. We’re very happy, he’s done the job before, and we have no doubt he’s ready for it.”What I was trying to say was that when the handover comes we’d love him to be in peak form. I’m not trying to suggest there was a problem there.”Yesterday Chappell said: “If we’re going to replace Ricky, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got someone that we’re confident has the right frame of mind who can take over and do a good job,” Chappell said. “And I don’t know that we’ve got somebody that we feel we want to rush Ricky Ponting out the door at this moment. There is nobody absolutely ready for it. I don’t think there are too many other players I’d want to put that pressure on.”Chappell said today that Ponting will be given time to turn around his batting form, just like Michael Hussey was at the start of this series. “In the nets he’s batting well,” Chappell said. “Perhaps the pressure of this series, he built it up as a very important series, perhaps he hasn’t had the mental freedom to bat. Hopefully the win here might give him the freedom in Melbourne.”
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Tomas Soucek to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a recent report by The Express, who claim that Antonio Conte is keeping a very close eye on the situation of the West Ham United central midfielder ahead of a potential summer swoop.
The report goes on to state that David Moyes’ side have informed Juventus – who are also believed to be keen on the 27-year-old – that it would require a fee of around £40m in order for them to part with the Czech Republic international.
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Finally, it is suggested that both Spurs and Juve could look to take advantage of the fact Soucek is yet to agree a new deal at the London Stadium, with the midfielder demanding an improvement on his current £70k-per-week wage, and talks between the player and club expected to be resumed at the end of the current campaign.
He’d be a “monster” for Conte
Considering just how impressive Soucek has been for West Ham following his £15m move to east London back in 2020, it is easy to see why Conte is said to be a huge admirer of the 27-year-old.
Indeed, over his 38 Premier League appearances in his first full season with the Hammers last time out, the £42m-rated midfielder was one of Moyes’ standout performers, scoring ten goals, registering one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.7 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.
The former Slavia Prague star also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 2.7 clearances and winning a whopping 9.6 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per game.
These returns saw the player who Deji Faremi dubbed a “monster” average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.16, ranking him as the Irons’ second-best player in the top flight of English football.
The 27-year-old has also played a key role in West Ham’s run to the semi-final of the Europa League this term, making an average of 1.6 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 2.5 clearances and winning 5.3 duels per fixture over his ten appearances in the competition – with these metrics seeing the 48-time capped international average a SofaScore match rating of 7.04.
As such, it is clear to see that Soucek is exactly the sort of hard-working player Conte loves to have in the heart of his side, leading us to believe that Fabio Paratici simply must stump up West Ham’s £40m asking price in order to get a deal for the midfielder over the line this summer.
AND in other news: Conte now plotting THFC bid for “refreshing” £34m-rated gem, he’d be a “great signing”