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The Duleep Trophy quarter-final in Valsad remained in the balance as neither West Zone or East Zone were able to take a grip on the game by the end of the second day

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2012
ScorecardThe Duleep Trophy quarter-final in Valsad remained in the balance as neither West Zone or East Zone were able to take a grip on the game by the end of the second day. Like West Zone had relied on Suryakumar Yadav, East Zone depended on their captain Natraj Behera to ensure they were not in danger of conceding a sizeable first-innings lead.East Zone’s innings began poorly, with opener Manish Vardhan edging behind for 1, leaving the score 1 for 1. Then followed a steadying 98-run stand between Dheeraj Jadhav and Behera. Jadhav made 38 before he too was caught behind, and West Zone dismissed Ishank Jaggi for a duck soon after. Behera put on 80 more with Biplab Samantray to lift his team from 100 for 3. Samantray fell just before stumps, though, and Behera remained unbeaten on 102 as West Zone reached 183 for 4. Behera faced 246 balls and hit only 13 fours, and will want to take his team to a lead on the third day.The second day had begun with West Zone on 299 for 7 and the tail did not last long. They added 15 more and were dismissed for 314. Ashok Dinda finished with 4 for 85 and Abu Nechim took 3 for 61.

Graham Gooch, the former England batsman, has stepped down as Essex batting coach to focus on his England role

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2011Graham Gooch, the former England batsman, has stepped down as Essex batting coach to focus on his role with England although will remain a club ambassador.Gooch, who made the highest score at Lord’s with 333 against India in 1990, has worked with England in an advisory capacity since their South Africa tour in 2009 and the likelihood of a full-time position had been raised earlier this year. He has had a huge influence on England’s batting which enjoyed a prolific series against India including three double hundreds from Kevin Pietersen, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell.Having played for Essex from 1973 until 1997, Gooch admitted it was tough to cut his ties. “I never wanted to relinquish this role working with Paul [Grayson, head coach],” he said. “But as my England commitments have grown it is now impossible to do justice to both roles. I look forward to supporting Essex in the future through my work as the club ambassador.”Grayson thanked Gooch for his work with Essex. “He has been a massive support to both the playing squad and myself but we understand the England requirements he has.”Current Essex batsman Matt Walker will replace Gooch and has been appointed assistant coach. Walker joined Essex in 2009 from Kent, where he played since 1993. He has scored over 12,000 first-class runs at 36.08, including the highest score by a Kent batsman at Canterbury of 275 not out.”I am very honoured and flattered to be asked to become assistant coach,” said Walker. “I am very much looking forward to the new role, especially working with an exciting group of players. Although I will be registered as a player, I’m extremely focused on helping Paul Grayson and the rest of the coaching staff achieve success in the near future.””I am really excited to be working alongside Matt,” added Grayson. “He has vast knowledge of the game and I know he is looking forward to this next chapter of his career.”

Lendl Simmons finally made his first international hundred and, with the help of Marlon Samuels, powered West Indies to a total that proved too much for Bangladesh

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran13-Oct-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons had a partnership of 150•Associated PressFive years after his debut, Lendl Simmons finally made his first international hundred, and with the help of another batsman who has resurrected his international career this year, Marlon Samuels, powered West Indies to a total that proved too much for Bangladesh in the first ODI in Mirpur. The pair put on 150 for the first wicket before a power-packed Kieron Pollard cameo further demoralised a Bangladesh team that was on a high after their dramatic win in the Twenty20 two days ago.Bangladesh were asked to chase down 299, which was higher than any ODI score they have made in the past two years, and despite a quick half-century from former captain Shakib Al Hasan and a patient one from makeshift opener Naeem Islam, they ended well short.Simmons had made half-centuries in six of his previous nine ODI innings, but failed to reach triple-digits each time. On Thursday, he made a fidgety start before settling in on a surface that didn’t have much in it for either the medium-pacers or the spinners.In the sixth over, he was hurried into a pull which was top-edged just wide of the bowler, then he mistimed a straight drive with which he still managed to find the boundary, before jumping outside leg as he looked to crash a short ball through off without managing to connect. He punched the air in frustration after missing out on a cut in the next over, but then showed how good he could be with fours through cover off the back and front foot.Simmons was the dominant partner in an opening stand with Adrian Barath, whose usual effervescent batting style wasn’t on display in a watchful 21 that consumed 47 deliveries. Barath was struggling with a hamstring problem, and retired hurt after the 15th over, the first victim of the newly introduced ban on runners.That provided no relief for Bangladesh as Samuels began aggressively – muscling a six over wide long-on and following it up with a slap past cover for four. Both Samuels and Simmons soon settled down and largely dealt in singles against an unthreatening Bangladeshi attack. The odd poor delivery was smacked for a boundary, like the high full toss offered by Shakib in the 29th over, and West Indies smoothly progressed to 133 for 0 after 30 overs.Smart stats

Lendl Simmons’ 122 is the fifth century and the highest ODI score made by a West Indian batsman against Bangladesh. He surpassed Brian Lara’s 117 scored in Dhaka in 1999.

Simmons’ century is his first in ODIs. He has scored eight half-centuries in 30 matches and averages 34.07.

West Indies lost their first wicket with the score on 217. The 150-run stand between Marlon Samuels and Simmons after Adrian Barath retired hurt is the third-highest opening stand for West Indies against Bangladesh.

West Indies’ score of 298 is their second-highest score in ODIs against Bangladesh behind the 314 in Dhaka in 1999.

The 78-run stand between Imrul Keyes and Naeem Islam is the second-highest second-wicket stand for Bangladesh against West Indies.

Simmons then unfurled a couple of nonchalant sixes over long-on off Abdur Razzak to close in on his century. He reached the milestone in the 37th over, a delivery after Samuels was dropped by the keeper. There were more opportunities that Bangladesh wasted in the field, with Simmons, a notoriously poor runner, reprieved at least twice when a direct hit would have run him out.The final onslaught began in the 40th over, the last of the batting Powerplay, with Simmons bludgeoning a series of fours. The bowler, Shafiul Islam, also sprayed one down the leg side to concede five wides as 21 runs came off the over, leaving the new captain Mushfiqur Rahim with his hands on his head. Both Simmons and Samuels perished in a Rubel Hossain over soon after, but Pollard pulled out some massive hits in a 25-ball 41 to push West Indies close to 300.Bangladesh never looked like they could keep up with the tall asking-rate. Their best chance was if Tamim Iqbal gave them a flier but he was bogged down by the West Indies new-ball pair of Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul. He tried to break free when spin was introduced, trying to hammer Devendra Bishoo’s first ball, but could only edge it to the keeper.The other opener, Naeem, had even more trouble in providing the early momentum. At one stage he was 19 off 50 deliveries, and Bangladesh were crawling along at well below four an over when a much brisker rate was called for. Imrul Kayes, the regular opener, had to come in at No. 3 as he was off the field towards the end of the West Indies innings. He tried to inject some momentum with early boundaries and at the halfway stage Bangladesh still had an outside chance after reaching 101 for 1.That was snuffed out in the batting Powerplay that was taken after 25 overs, in accordance with the new rules that mandate that it should be completed within the 40th over. As it has done so often, the batting Powerplay resulted in a slew of wickets: both set batsmen, Kayes and Naeem, were dismissed, and Mohammad Ashraful edged a catch to the keeper.At 130 for 4, the game was pretty much over though Shakib raised some hopes with an enterprising 67. Still, it wasn’t enough to spoil Denesh Ramdin’s day – he captaining West Indies for the first time, on his return to ODI cricket, in the absence of Darren Sammy who was out with an upset stomach.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s new interim committee will meet with SomersetEntertainment Ventures on Friday to discuss the future of the Sri LankaPremier League

Tariq Engineer and Nagraj Gollapudi05-Jul-2011Sri Lanka Cricket’s new interim committee will meet with SomersetEntertainment Ventures on Friday to discuss the future of the Sri LankaPremier League (SLPL). The previous committee, which created the tournament,was dissolved last week by Sri Lanka’s sports ministry and a new panel wasappointed in its place. ESPNcricinfo understands that the new committee isstill getting up to speed on the tournament and will decide how to go aheadwith it once they have met Somerset.”We have not yet met the SLPL organisers,” Sidath Wettimuny, one of themembers of the new committee, told ESPNcricinfo. “The meeting is scheduled onFriday.” Wettimuny also denied rumours that the tournament had beenpostponed or that it would go ahead with only Sri Lankan players.The change in administration so close to the launch of the tournament is thelatest setback for the SLPL, which has already been hit by the BCCI’srefusal to allow Indian players to take part. The BCCI had withheld itspermission on the grounds that Somerset, which owns the commercial rights,would be handling the contracts for international players and that couldlead to complications should disputes arise over payments. In order toassuage the Indian board, SLC was willing to back the Indian players’contracts so that their financial interests were protected, but that was notenough to satisfy the BCCI. The Indian board has also claimed that former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had a hand in the event, but SLC and Somerset have repeatedly deniedthe allegation, as has Modi.The BCCI’s decision means the tournament does not have a broadcaster for thelucrative Indian market, a situation that makes it much more difficult forthe SLPL to find a secure financial footing, something that the newcommittee will have to consider.One potential incentive for holding the tournament as scheduled is theChampions League T20 in September. The winner of the SLPL receives a spot inthat tournament and since Sri Lanka host Australia in August and September,July is the only available window before the CLT20. However, given that theSLPL’s first game is set for July 19th, SLC would have only 11 daysafter Friday’s meeting to organise the event, including putting in place securityfor the players and the anti-corruption measures required by the ICC.

India’s one-day series against England is, Nasser Hussain believes, less about a result and, more finding out where their team is headed

Sharda Ugra04-Sep-2011India’s one-day series against England, Nasser Hussain believes, is less about a result and more finding out where their team is headed. “The ODI series is going to be close,” Hussain said in an exclusive interview to ESPNcricinfo. “More than the result India should be interested in what they find out from the series. They are world champions, no one can take that away from them. If they lose 5-0 to England, they will still be world champions. What they need to do is to start to look to the future.”In the Test series earlier in the summer, Hussain said India, “had been sinking in the present … World Cup, World No. 1, IPL, celebration and ah, if we lose in England … You’ve almost got to be ahead of the curve, all the time you’ve got to be ahead of the curve and it takes a very clever man to do that.”India could use the ODI series to find out who the replacements for their best players in the short form are. “I don’t care how good a side are, if you lose the likes of Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and the rest, it is going to be a massive blow … they need eventually to have replacements for some of these guys.”They need someone to come through with the ball to replace Zaheer, they need R Ashwin to bowl well and see if he is a replacement for Harbhajan. I think much more than the result, it’s about which of these young lads will put their hands up.”In English conditions, it will move around in day-night games in September, Fletcher will be watching closely and the selectors will be watching closely. Now is the great time for the young lads to show what you can do … it’s very important for the future of India.”He said that while the IPL had helped India’s one-day cricket, the length of the tournament would have an adverse impact on their longer form. “I think they wouldn’t have been world champions if it wasn’t for IPL. I think it has massively helped. Pressure situations, playing in your home country, players whacking the ball out of the ground, the handling of pressure, soaking it up. They’ve had it all in the IPL, and they go out and do it in World Cup, it absolutely helped them. But it is now going to hinder them – as we have seen here – in Test match cricket.”India’s short stay at the No. 1 Test ranking had coincided with the World Cup victory at home, and Hussain said that prolonged periods of sustained multi-format domination will become more and more rare. “It will happen, but it won’t happen every time, every team … The West Indies side of the 1980s and the Australian side of the 1990s and the 2000s dominated both types of the game. It doesn’t mean – as India are finding out now – that just because you are a great side – as India have been – you can’t be a great side in all forms of the game unless they [the team/ players ] grow up together. It’s becoming a bit late now for India because, for example, soon it will be broken up, there are some tired bodies in there.”The Australian side’s success and aura in the 1990s and 2000s,” Hussain said, “took a long time to build … the side grew up together, the Waughs, Warne, Ponting. It took a long time to build. It might come again, there is potential in this England side, but they have won nothing yet in one-day cricket other than the world T20.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in Chennai

The Preview by Nitin Sundar03-May-2011Match factsWednesday, May 4 Chennai
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)”Well of course, let’s play poker”•Associated PressBig PictureThe invincibles at home face off in back-to-back games over the next five days. Chennai go in as favourites for the first leg, but will not take things for granted. The Chepauk pitch has behaved a lot like the strip at the Sawai Man Singh – dry, slow and with lots of help for spin. The afternoon start will recreate the heat of Jaipur as well, and Shane Warne’s men might feel at home playing here. It will be up to the gladiatorial stands at Chepauk, and the vociferous fans filling them, to remind Rajasthan that this is an away game.Both sides are on the ascendancy, and will be keen to extend their three-game winning streaks. The game could be decided by the respective spin attacks. Both teams have used three-spinner arsenals to great effect in this tournament. Johan Botha has been flexible, opening the attack at times and coming in late at others – much like R Ashwin has done for Chennai. Shane Warne has rolled the years back in the middle overs, while Ashok Menaria has surprised everyone including himself with his guile. Chennai will look for the same kind of impact from Shadab Jakati and – if he plays – Suraj Randiv. Both have been inconsistent so far this year.Form guide (most recent first)Chennai: WWWLL (fourth in points table)
Rajasthan: WWWLL (third in points table)Team talkChennai will review Randiv’s role in the side. MS Dhoni likes to have three specialist spinners in the XI for home games, but Randiv has only managed five wickets in six games, and has gone at 7.69 runs per over. Jakati’s figures are worse, but he has improved dramatically in the last three games. Will Faf du Plessis be in line for an IPL debut? Or will Nuwan Kulasekara get another game?Stuart Binny has bowled only three overs and faced 24 balls in five games. Warne may consider benching him in favour of either a specialist bowler or a batsman.Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.In the spotlightOne of them is the best captain Australia never had. The other has nothing left to win – he leads the world’s ODI champions and the No. 1 Test side, and has World Twenty20, IPL and Champions League trophies in his cabinet. MS Dhoni and Shane Warne are diametrically opposite in demeanour and leadership styles, but bring the same innate flair and magnetism to their craft. Will they face off on the pitch tomorrow?We are three-and-a-half seasons into the IPL, and Rahul Dravid is yet to stamp his excellence on the tournament. He’s got starts in almost every innings this year, and has shepherded a couple of chases with his trademark assurance and correct shots. IPL glory can’t mean much to a man with over 10,000 runs in each of the formats that matter, but Dravid will still want to make a statement one of these days.Prime numbersSuresh Raina is the only batsman with over 1500 IPL runs. MS Dhoni is ninth in the list with 1191 runs, while Rahul Dravid is 13th with 1074
The last time these two teams played in Chennai, they scored a combined 469 runs in 40 overs – the highest aggregate in any single IPL game. The chatter”Once you have dismissed Sachin, you just develop a certain confidence. Any other wicket looks quite ordinary.”
“I am happy with the way we fought back. We play well in our home conditions and we showed that today. If we play with the same intensity we showed today, we will get far into the tournament.”

Aimee Watkins, the New Zealand captain, has retired from all forms of cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-2011Aimee Watkins, the New Zealand captain, has retired from all forms of cricket. Watkins, 28, played two Tests, 103 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20 games in a career spanning nine years.She made her debut in an ODI against Australia at Adelaide in 2002 and quickly became a fixture in the side with her aggressive batting and accurate offspin. She retires as the fifth ranked all-rounder in women’s cricket, having racked up 1889 ODI runs and 772 Twenty20 runs, to go with 92 and 22 wickets respectively, in the two formats.In addition to her international exploits, Watkins has also been a key member of the Central Districts squad since 1998, and said she was very grateful for the opportunities to represent New Zealand and Central Districts.”This is not a decision I have taken lightly and believe it’s the right time to step down. I have given it my all over the past nine years with the White Ferns [New Zealand] and eleven years with the Central Hinds [Central Districts] and really enjoyed it,” she said. “Cricket has been a massive part of my life for a long time and I’m going miss it, especially the people. I walk away with a lot of warm memories.”I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches, Taranaki Cricket, NZC and everyone who has supported me over the years.”The highest point of Watkins’ career was the 2009 World Cup, where she finished as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 11 scalps, including 4 for 2 against South Africa. She took over as New Zealand captain after Haidee Tiffen’s retirement in 2009.Gary Stead, the New Zealand women’s coach, thanked Watkins for her service to cricket, calling her one of the “most consistent allrounders for a long period of time”.”Everyone associated with women’s cricket will be grateful to Aimee for the immense contribution she has made,” Stead said. “I’m sure it was a tough decision because everyone who knows her is aware of the pleasure and pride she has in representing the White Ferns.”She has been one of the most consistent allrounders for a long period of time and a key member of the White Ferns squad, as well as a fine leader. Aimee is also a marvellous role model and great ambassador both on and off the field.”The new captain will be named in due course. Watkins signed off by top-scoring with 32 in her last game against India, but her effort was in vain as New Zealand lost the third-place play-off in the NatWest Women’s Quadrangular Series.

It’s crunch time for West Ham United on Thursday evening, as David Moyes’ side take on Eintracht Frankfurt in what is set to be an enthralling, Europa League, semi-final, second-leg clash.

The Hammers head into the game on a run of four matches without a win in all competitions – having lost their last three both in Europe and domestically – although all hope is not lost with the current aggregate scoreline at just 2-1 in favour of the Bundesliga side.

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The London Stadium outfit weren’t at their best in that defeat on home soil, although that one-goal deficit ensures it is all still to play for, with history seemingly on their side as they overcame the same opponents at the last four stage of the European Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1976.

Ahead of this pivotal encounter, here’s how the Football FanCast think that Moyes will line his side up…

With the former Manchester United boss announcing a clean bill of health in his pre-match press conference, the only changes to be made are likely to be tactical ones, with the Scotsman having shuffled his pack in the weekend defeat to Arsenal. As such, we are predicting that the 59-year-old will make four alterations from the side that lost at home to the Gunners.

One of those tweaks will see Alphonse Areola return in goal having featured in nine of the ten games in the competition, while ahead of him Craig Dawson returns to the backline after his brief suspension on Sunday, lining up alongside Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma and Aaron Cresswell.

The latter will return to his usual left-back berth, meaning that £38k-per-week dud Ryan Fredericks will drop out – the full-back having been dubbed a “shocker” by journalist Thomas Clark earlier this season.

In midfield, the club’s “man mountain” Tomas Soucek, as he has been described by pundit Micah Richards, replaces club captain Mark Noble alongside talisman Declan Rice, while ahead of them should be the attacking trio of Pablo Fornals, Manuel Lanzini and Jarrod Bowen.

Leading the line will almost certainly be Michail Antonio – with Said Benrahma making way – although as his manager admitted, the Jamaica international is in desperate need of a goal, having scored just twice in all competitions since New Year’s Day.

In other news, Forget Rice: Moyes now set for West Ham disaster on “remarkable” £125k-p/w giant

Newcastle United have been handed a bleak injury update on Kieran Trippier and his chances of potentially returning before the end of the Premier League season…

What’s the story?

The full-back underwent an operation on his broken foot after picking up a metatarsal injury in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this calendar year, and now, injury expert, Ben Dinnery, has cast serious doubt about him returning this season.

He said: “We need to understand that this is a serious setback. Yes, he went under the knife early and the surgery went well. That’s all true. But it doesn’t matter about the advances in technology, we’re still looking at an eight to 10-week period before the bone begins to heal.

“Typically, the data indicates that the return date is between 80 and 85 days. There are very few instances in which players return in a 70-day period. That shows that we’re looking at the higher end of the return-to-play timeline. By then, we’ll be approaching May.”

Body blow for Newcastle

After signing from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, Trippier quickly set about leading the Magpies away from the relegation zone and dragging them to some much-needed, morale-boosting victories.

His trademark free-kicks have already made him a cult hero at St James’ Park, and journalist Pete O’Rourke recently admitted that being without the England international for a significant amount of time would be a major blow for the Magpies.

He said: “I think it would be a big blow to Eddie Howe. Trippier has come and really slotted straight into the team. He has been a big improvement on what they’ve got.”

One man who’s a big fan of the 31-year-old is Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate himself, who has said previously: “He (Trippier) is a very underrated player. People are still looking at the player from a few years ago and not at the one who is at Atletico Madrid and playing like a warrior in the last few seasons. He is a big part of what we’ve done over the last few years and he gave a really good performance.”

News that Trippier may only be able to come back in May – at which point the Magpies will only have three games remaining in the Premier League – is a body blow for Newcastle and Howe, and one that will surely leave them gutted after seeing him get off to such a good start.

Meanwhile, Newcastle could find their Shelvey heir in this star…

Newcastle United are reportedly now targeting a move for Renan Lodi in the summer.

The Lowdown: Targett conundrum

The St James’ Park club have a conundrum over whether to sign Matt Targett on a permanent deal following his loan spell from Aston Villa.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-5/” title=”Newcastle news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

They have reportedly not made a decision yet, although polls suggest that the vast majority of the fanbase would choose to bring him in permanently.

The Latest: Lodi targeted by Newcastle

As per journalist Jacque Talbot, Lodi ‘remains a target’ for Newcastle despite Targett’s ‘glowing performances’, with the latter set to ‘hold talks’ with the Tyneside club this summer after his loan ends.

Replying to a fan on Twitter, Talbot then revealed that the Atletico Madrid defender will likely cost around €50m (£42.2m) and that a deal is ‘very negotiable’, saying: “Think about €50m but have heard it’ll be very negotiable how it’s done.”

Expanding in his article for Football Transfers, the journalist said that ‘sources’ have told the news outlet that talks over Targett will still proceed despite the interest in Lodi, as both Newcastle and Villa are ‘happy’ with how things are going at the moment.

However, the representatives of Lodi have already spoken to the Magpies, with discussions taking place in the January transfer window over a potential move then.

The Verdict: Targett over Lodi

If the Toon could only sign one of those left-back options, they should be looking at signing Targett over Lodi.

Firstly, the Englishman should be a lot cheaper, with €15m (£12.6m) thought to be enough for his permanent signature.

His performances for Eddie Howe’s team should not be overlooked either, and he is actually averaging more tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, shots, key passes, dribbles, crosses and long balls per game than the Atletico Madrid left-back in their respective domestic leagues so far this season (WhoScored).

The new owners at St James’ Park should be prioritising a move for Targett first, before potentially moving onto Lodi if a deal cannot be struck.

In other news, find out whose NUFC future is now in doubt