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Manchester United have seemingly leapfrogged Aston Villa in the race to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara.

That’s according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, and, as to be expected, a number of United fans have been reacting to the update on social media.

Kamara appears to be a player in demand, with the holding midfielder’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The 22-year-old is on Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa wishlist, with United, Villa and Leeds all talking to the player’s agent ahead of a possible £10m transfer.

And now, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, United have overtaken all competitors when it comes to Kamara and are leading the race to secure his services.

United fans react

@utdreport relayed the update regarding Kamara on Twitter via GIFN (Get Italian Football News). This is what these United supporters had to say in reply, with many hoping to see a move materialise in the final days of the January window.

“We’re alive”

Credit: @BigTeezo

“Never heard of GIFN but let’s go”

Credit: @utd_victor_

“PLEASEEEE”

Credit: @hhhhmmmm_

“I hope this is true”

Credit: @I_am_lakes

“Definitely a better option defensively when compared to Zakaria.”

Credit: @TheUnitedLink

“SIGN HIM PLS IMMEDIATELY PLS”

Credit: @kurtbuckerfield

In other news: ‘Finished’ – Many MUFC fans react as Spurs make move for ‘amazing’ ace. 

Newcastle United have already made plans for the summer transfer window, according to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder. 

The lowdown

Newcastle are working to secure Premier League survival and then proceed with the long-term project of new owners PIF. Their goal is to have eventually have the Magpies competing for the biggest honours in football.

The club spent just under £92m on new arrivals during the January transfer window, comfortably the highest outlay in the English top flight last month.

However, three of their four permanent signings perhaps shouldn’t be characterised as ‘long-term’, with Dan Burn, Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier all 29 or older and only signing two-and-a-half year contracts.

The latest

In an article for The Chronicle, Ryder wrote that figures in the Newcastle boardroom have told the publication that “plans are already in place for the summer in terms of signings”.

The journalist then tweeted a link to that article, with the additional comment of: “Newcastle set for great escape and sources predict exciting summer window”.

The verdict

What kind of players might Newcastle go after?

They are expected to reignite their interest in a number of players who they failed to land in January. For instance, Ryder recently revealed that scouts were still watching Lille’s Sven Botman, and The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has said that Reims Hugo Ekitike remains a target.

In terms of new names, a report from 90min claimed that the Magpies are monitoring the situation of Kalvin Phillips at Leeds United, while transfer insider Dean Jones feels that an audacious move for Harry Kane shouldn’t be ruled out.

With Ryder hinting at an “exciting” summer in the transfer market and that plans are already in motion at the club in that regard, Newcastle fans may be giddy with anticipation as to what lies in store in terms of potential incomings later this year.

In other news, Luke Edwards has an update on Allan Saint-Maximin

Newcastle’s under-23’s pulled off an incredible victory on Monday night as they beat West Brom 4-3 in a thrilling clash at St James’ Park.

A smattering of supporters attended the match and they got the chance to watch some of the club’s talented young prospects in action live in the flesh. They were able to see an enthralling game and may have come away from it wondering whether or not any of the players on show will make it to the first-team in the future.

One player in particular who caught the eye was Mexican forward Santiago Munoz, as last summer’s signing scored his first goal for the under-23 side in just his second appearance.

He rose highest to brilliantly place the ball into the bottom corner with his head, halving the Baggies’ lead to 2-1 at the time and kickstarting the comeback. The goal showed that he has the aerial quality to leap and score with his head, in a similar fashion to Callum Wilson, as perfectly shown by the latter’s goal against Everton in 2021.

The 19-year-old striker already has experience of senior football. He played 19 games for Santos Laguna in his homeland prior to joining the Magpies, scoring three goals and providing three assists despite his tender age.

He is currently on loan at Newcastle until December and the club have an option to make that deal permanent in January 2023. They should be looking to exercise that clause, as they have may Wilson 2.0 in the making with the Darsley Park teenage talent.

Whilst they were both at Bournemouth, Eddie Howe said about Wilson: “He is an outstanding player with unique attributes for us. He has that ability to run in behind and he’s got the work ethic off the ball and, of course, he knows where the goal is.”

Munoz seemingly shares the £20m Englishman’s work rate, with Lee Ryder noting: “Santiago Muñoz so far. Has battled hard, decent with the ball at his feet and has stood up to a so far physical test from West Brom.”

The journalist’s view on watching the Mexican live suggests that he has the desire to put in a shift for the team, much like Wilson. He was able to find the the net in the process, a trait at which the ex-Cherries predator also excels, with 18 Premier League goals in two seasons for the Tyneside club.

It is now up to Munoz to kick on and show that he can continue to fire in goals at youth level before earning the chance to play in front of a packed-out crowd for the Toon. Howe will then be able to unearth the new ‘outstanding’ predator in the same vein as Wilson further down the line.

The 19-year-old has rarely been seen so far, but this goal against the Baggies will hopefully spur him on to fulfill his potential in England. Munoz may not go on to play for Real Madrid like his near-namesake in a certain film but he may well have a great journey at St James’ Park…

AND in other news, Howe can get St James’ rocking as Newcastle plot bid for “phenomenal” £50m wizard…

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left flocking to an exit claim involving both Stephen Kelly and Kai Kennedy.

As per Football Scotland, Kilmarnock are now interested in taking both players on loan in the January transfer window.

Kelly has only made once ever, and so both could do with moves away in order to get some more game time.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst already has plenty of central midfielders and wingers in his squad anyway, and so sending both out on loan would be a good move for all parties.

One concern may be the artificial pitch at Kilmarnock, which could leave them more susceptible to injury, but nonetheless they would be playing more regular football in the Scottish Championship.

Rangers fans on transfer news

These Teddy Bears flocked to the transfer news as it was shared on Twitter, with one Light Blues supporter even going as far as to claim that Kelly is a ‘smashing’ player:

“Great move for all parties.”

Credit: @dbr1872

“Be good to see them both go out on loan to gain more experience. Stephen Kelly is a smashing young player.”

Credit: @stef5512

“Would be a good move for the pair to get more game time”

Credit: @alfie_west_55

“Good move for both, will get game time under McInnes”

Credit: @Ronnieislip1

“Let them go, will be good for them both and can only help in their progress”

Credit: @macdaddy1690

“No-brainer, great for the boys”

Credit: @rfcscube

In other news, find out what transfer update has been bemoaned by Gers here!

The counties will be playing one less competition this season but more days of cricket. With such a mixture of four-day, 20-over and 40-over cricket squads will be stretched to the limited.

Andrew McGlashan and Sahil Dutta07-Apr-2010Can Steve Harmison spearhead another Durham title push?•Getty ImagesDerbyshire
Captain Chris Rogers Coach John Morris Overseas Chris Rogers (Aus), Loots Bosman (SA – T20)
There was precious little for Derbyshire fans to cheer about last season and they will struggle again this year to make a real impact in any of the formats. Yet the strength and depth in batting, led by Chris Rogers, should make them tough to beat in the Championship. Winning games will be more of a problem given the slim bowling resources. Charl Langeveldt has departed but another South African import, Robin Peterson, will bring experience and nous to the attack and they will need another big season from Graham Wagg. SD
Key man Chris Rogers – 1461 runs at 73.05 last season was miles ahead of the rest of his team and the captain will have to score equally big to give his side a sniff.
Keep an eye on Tim Groenewald – A South African-raised allrounder, his bustling medium pace was a revelation last year with 34 wickets in nine first-class games.
Winter surprise The players will have to remember to stand in the right place after the pitch was turned to avoid the setting sun.
Silverware? The bowlers probably lack the quality to secure silverware in any of the formats.Durham
Captain Will Smith Coach Geoff Cook Overseas Albie Morkel (SA), Ross Taylor (NZ, TBC – T20 only)
Can they do the hat-trick? No county since Yorkshire between 1966-1968 has claimed three Championship titles on the bounce, but it would be a brave person to bet against Durham. They were so far ahead of the pack last season that their nearest challenges are going to have make significant strides to catch them. International calls will mean seeing little of Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions, but the squad has depth to cover their absence. In a sign of confidence they haven’t signed an overseas player for the Championship and instead will show faith in the likes of Gordon Muchall and Ben Stokes. Once again, though, it’s the pace attack that makes them favourites with Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett leading the pack. Don’t rule out one-day success, either, from a squad that has that winning habit. AM
Key man Steve Harmison – The man himself wants another Ashes chance, but selectors are likely to think differently. However, he remains hungry for domestic success and county line-ups will pay the price.
Keep an eye on Ben Stokes – A young allrounder who impressed with England Under-19s. Gives the ball a hefty thump and bowls useful medium-pace
Winter surprise Have decided not to recruit from overseas for four-day cricket. Will that prove costly?
Silverware? Will take some stopping in the Championship and a one-day trophy for the taking as well if they can stand the pace.Essex
Captain Mark Pettini Coach Paul Grayson Overseas Danish Kaneria (Pak)
Promoted on the final day of last season after Ryan ten Doeschate slammed a 59-ball 108 against Derbyshire, Essex’s first challenge is to ensure they don’t become a yo-yo team that goes straight back down. It will be a tough ask for a side that looks a little thin in a few areas – especially the bowling. With Ravi Bopara back in England favour they will also need to cover for his runs, although Alastair Cook will be available while the World Twenty20 is on. They need a big season from Tom Westley and regular contributions from the likes of James Foster, Graham Napier and ten Doeschate. The one-day route appears to be their best chance of success with the clutch of allrounders capable of winning Twenty20 matches.
Key man Matt Walker – Needs to produce a consistent output in a line-up than is missing a big name if Cook and Bopara are absent. AM
Keep an eye on Tom Westley – Time for him to kick on after showing glimpses of his potential
Winter surprise Grant Flower was named Zimbabwe’s batting coach, but will play this season before taking up his role.
Silverware? Championship survival will be a success, but don’t be surprised to see them compete for 40 and 20-over trophies.Gloucestershire will need a big haul from the fiery Steve Kirby to challenge for promotion•PA PhotosGlamorgan
Captain Jamie Dalrymple Coach Matthew Maynard Overseas Mark Cosgrove (Aus), Shaun Tait (Aus – T20)
Glamorgan’s search for trophy success has them looking again to Australia. Jason Gillespie, their overseas player in 2008, has helped persuade the express Twenty20 specialist Shaun Tait to go to Cardiff, fresh from his pursuits in the IPL. Glamorgan’s intentions are clear – they are searching T20 silverware and an opportunity to collect Champions League riches after disappointing in all formats last year. Two wise-heads at the helm in Jamie Dalrymple and Matthew Maynard, alongside the evergreen Robert Croft, who turns 40 in May, means there is plenty of guidance for the younger members of the squad. If Mark Cosgrove can continue his good form from last year a shot at promotion may not be out the question. SD
Key man Michael Powell – They will need plenty of runs from an experienced batsman to help along the younger players.
Keep an eye on James Harris – The 19-year-old played for the England Lions against Australia last year and has the responsibility of leading Glamorgan’s pace attack
Winter surprise That Maynard has kept his job after rumours of a behind-the-scenes problems
Silverware? Their best chances lies with Tait and the Twenty20.Gloucestershire
Captain Alex Gidman Coach John Bracewell Overseas James Franklin (NZ)
Gloucestershire have nurtured a lively attack led by the ever-fiery Steve Kirby, but to improve on last year’s ‘almost’ season they need some backbone to their batting. Jonathan Batty’s arrival from Surrey will add to an impressive think-tank led by former New Zealand coach John Bracewell. James Franklin, a fellow Kiwi, will strengthen both the lower order and the bowling attack but there may still be a touch of class missing from both. They remain a competitive one-day unit, but have lost that unbeatable quality from the beginning of the last decade. SD
Key man Steve Kirby – Surely destined to be a nearly-man for England now, if can stay fit and find some support could lead the push for promotion.
Keep an eye on Vikram Banerjee – A left-arm spinner rated highly enough to be part of the Performance Squad.
Winter surprise Ian Saxelby’s dislocated shoulder when appealing during a practice session.
Silverware? Having reached the semi-final of the FP Trophy last year Gloucestershire could push for one-day honours this season.Hampshire
Captain Dimitri Mascarenhas Coach Giles White Overseas Ajantha Mendis (SL), Rangana Herath (SL), Shahid Afridi (Pak – T20), Abdul Razzaq (Pak – T20)
For the sake of a competitive Championship race Durham need some close challengers and Hampshire may just provide that. They flirted with relegation last season, but have the core of a strong side especially after the signing of Kabir Ali. If Ajantha Mendis appears for his spell bowling sides out shouldn’t be a problem. Runs have often been harder to come by, but with Michael Carberry unlikely to feature regularly for England he can anchor the top order alongside Michael Lumb, while James Vince and Liam Dawson can cover for John Crawley’s retirement. Dimitri Mascarenhas will miss the start of the season, but when he returns his one-day skills will also make Hampshire a force in the shorter formats. With their new ties with Rajasthan Royals, Twenty20 success is likely to be high on the agenda. SD
Key man Michael Carberry – If he can churn out the regular runs again it will keep in the selectors’ thoughts and also help Hampshire to commanding totals.
Keep an eye on James Vince – Some of his strokeplay in the Pro40 last season took the breath away and he’s another of the new generation of fearless, young batsmen.
Winter surprise Becoming part of the world ‘global’ sporting franchise after linking with Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals as Twenty20 shows no sign of slowing down.
Silverware? They should compete on all fronts and it may all depend on the club’s priorities. Four-day or Twenty20?On the outside: Joe Denly has been dropped by England so needs a profitable season for Kent•Getty ImagesKent
Captain Rob Key Coach Paul Farbrace Overseas Malinga Bandara (SL)
One of most financially strapped counties on the circuit they continue to have a small playing staff which hasn’t left Paul Farbrace, back at Kent after his time with Sri Lanka, much room to manoeuvre. Their promotion was a fairly comfortable affair and with a following wind they could mount a challenge in the top division, but there is also the potential for things to unravel quite quickly. At least the batting order led by Rob Key, Joe Denly and Martin van Jaarsveld – not to mention a revitalised Geraint Jones – should mean decent totals and all are destructive one-day players as well. It’s easy to forget that Amjad Khan played for England a year ago and he should form a potent new-ball attack with Robbie Joseph. The problems will come if they are injured, but Malinga Bandara will help cover for James Tredwell. AM
Key man Joe Denly – Has failed to establish his England place during the winter and motivation to impress the selectors could benefit Kent.
Keep an eye on Sam Northeast – Earmarked as a rare talent since a schoolboy he started to score consistently last season but may have to wait his chance.
Winter surprise Not so much a surprise, as many saw it coming, but the losses of £800,000 hurt.
Silverware? Injuries will test the bench-strength, but if they hold it together through the middle part of the season another dip at the Twenty20 title is in the offing.Lancashire
Captain Glen Chapple Coach Peter Moores Overseas Ashwell Prince (SA), Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
The best news for Lancashire during the off season came in early March when Trafford Council approved their development plans for Old Trafford. Barring any late problems, the club can now start the desperately needed work to secure their Test future. There have been subtle touches to the team itself rather than major work and, by and large, it is a familiar group of players who will try to end Lancashire’s trophy drought. Each season begins with the same expectation and Peter Moores’ honeymoon period is now over. The loss of Mal Loye and Faf du Plessis will put pressure on import Stephen Moore to find his feet quickly, but Ashwell Price and Kumar Sangakkara (if he remains available) should fill their boots. Wickets are a bigger issue and Gary Keedy will hope for a dry summer. Meanwhile, the wait for Andrew Flintoff’s return goes on. AM
Key man Sajid Mahmood – Seemingly been discarded by England again, he needs to lead the attack in all forms. Has the pace to trouble county sides and needs to aim for 60-wicket season.
Keep an eye on Steven Croft – A developing allrounder who pushed for England Lions honours last year. Outstanding in the field.
Winter surprise Daren Powell – The former West Indies quick was a shock acquisition to join the pace attack.
Silverware? If Mahmood and Keedy fire they can push Durham and should challenge on the one-day front. But that’s said every year.Leicestershire
Captain Matthew Hoggard Coach Tim Boon Overseas Andrew McDonald (Aus), Brad Hodge (Aus – T20)
After enduring a torrid bottom-of-the-table finish last season, their first since 1962, Leicestershire decided on a winter spending spree. In came Matthew Hoggard to captain the side, Will Jefferson to bolster the batting and the Australian duo of Andrew McDonald, for the whole season, and Brad Hodge for the Twenty20. They add experience to a talented young side which, under Hoggard’s quirky leadership, could bring a turn-around in fortunes at Grace Road. Hodge was key to the club’s previous Twenty20 success and they could surprise a few teams once again. SD
Key man Matthew Hoggard – May have lost his ‘nip’ but he remains as canny as ever, his wickets and leadership will be crucial.
Keep an eye on James Taylor – As the ‘one-to-watch’ last year he duly delivered a barnstorming county season, making 1184 runs at 65.77. How he copes with ‘second season syndrome’ will be critical.
Winter surprise That they saw captaincy material in Hoggard – it will be nothing if not interesting.
Silverware? Silverware could be beyond them but a sneaky charge at promotion is not out of the question.

A preview of the second game of the one-day series between West Indies and Zimbabwe

The Preview by Siddhartha Talya05-Mar-2010Match FactsSaturday, March 6, Providence
Start time 0930 (1330 GMT)
Kieron Pollard has much to offer in the middle order and will look to make amends for his lapse in the first ODI•Getty Images

Big PictureOttis Gibson’s tenure as West Indies coach could not have begun on a worse note. In his two internationals at the helm, his team has slumped to unprecedented lows – a defeat in the very first Twenty20 between the sides, and an ODI loss for the first time against Zimbabwe at home.The series was meant as an opportunity to cast aside the memories of a winless tour of Australia and begin a fresh phase with a dose of success. But the performance in the first ODI in Providence, where three batsmen – Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin and Dwayne Smith – played irresponsibly to bungle a winnable position presents the hosts with a renewed headache. The trio played poor shots to be dismissed, and poor running between the wickets cost Andre Fletcher and Narsingh Deonarine. It was the middle order that led the resistance, though inadequate, against Australia in the 0-4 loss, but the trend was reversed on Thursday, with the same personnel wilting under pressure on a sluggish track.For starters, Chris Gayle’s blunt description of the middle-order collapse as “crap” is a step in the right direction. He acknowledged Zimbabwe’s competitiveness, but his own team’s failure to measure up would have hit the confidence of a man who, not too long ago, had aimed at a 4-1 win against Australia.Amid poor crowds and declining form, West Indies are battling for pride against an opposition which, with each successful outing, is shoring up the resolve and determination to return from self-imposed exile.Form Guide (Last five completed matches)West Indies: LLLLL
Zimbabwe: WLLLL
Watch out forGreg Lamb was the best of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, conceding just 35 in ten overs despite his lack of variation. His strategy was to angle the ball in towards off stump, leaving little room for the batsman to get him away. But Lamb, who decided to return to Zimbabwe after being released by Hampshire last year, is primarily a batsman and a fairly successful one at the domestic level. With an average of 55.68 in the Logan Cup, the first-class tournament, and 64 in the one-day competition, Lamb could prove a handful in the middle order.Ruthless batting in the Champions League Twenty20 won Kieron Pollard a US$750,000 IPL contract with Mumbai Indians, and his successful stint with South Australia contributed towards him making scores of 31, 32, 62 and 45 in the ODI series in February. An average of 17.88 in ODIs – not befitting a player of his talent – and the lapse in the first ODI should spur him to make amends.Team newsAn unexpected defeat is likely to prompt a change in plans for the hosts. Though Dwayne Bravo has not been named in the squad for the first two ODIs, a call-up, given the urgency of a series-levelling win, cannot be ruled out. Bravo could take Dwayne Smith’s place if he has recovered from an injured thumb; if not, Darren Sammy could be drafted in. Ramnaresh Sarwan, also not in the squad for the Providence fixtures, has warmed up nicely with a century for Guyana in the domestic four-day competition. The signs are that he has recovered well from his back injury and West Indies will be tempted to have him in the line-up, stepping in for Andre Fletcher.West Indies (probable) – 1 Chris Gayle (capt), 2 Adrian Barath, 3 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 4 Andre Fletcher/Ramnaresh Sarwan, 5 Narsingh Deonarine, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy/Dwayne Smith, 9 Nikita Miller, 10 Sulieman Benn, 11 Kemar Roach.Zimbabwe will be keen to retain their four-pronged spin attack and are likely to field the same team. While Zimbabwe have so far opted for Brendan Taylor, who is an attacking batsman and also provides them with an additional spin option, the absence of Charles Coventry, the previous joint record-holder for the highest score in ODIs, remains a surprise.Zimbabwe (probable) – 1 Hamilton Masakadza, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 4 Brendan Taylor/Charles Coventry, 5 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 6 Greg Lamb, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya (capt), 10 Shingirai Masakadza, 11 Ray Price.Pitch and conditionsSpinners are likely to feature prominently in friendly conditions in Providence and the forecast points towards a mostly sunny but windy day. A sluggish track, spinners racing through their overs and a tempered run-rate were the features of the first game, and the second promises much the same.Stats and trivia Barath consumed 27 deliveries from Lamb for just 11 runs. Ray Price, too, troubled him, conceding just eight in 24 balls. In contrast, Shivnarine Chanderpaul took Lamb for 18 in 21 and Price for eight in as many. Taibu’s innovativeness was evident in his scoring rates against West Indian spinners – he took Nikita Miller for 19 in 17 and Deonarine for 29 in 24. Vusi Sibanda’s 162-ball 95 is seventh in the list for the number of balls faced for a score of under 100. The list is led by the PCB’s newly-appointed chairman of selectors Mohsin Khan, who ate up 176 balls for his 70 against West Indies in the second semi-final of the 1983 World Cup. Next is Sunil Gavaskar, with his infamous 174-ball 36 against England in the 1975 World Cup.Quotes”When you do crap, it’s definitely crap and there is no excuse. Guys have to take responsibility out there in the middle. It is just sad and disappointing.”
Chris Gayle is straightforward in his criticism of the dispiriting performance in the first ODI.”West Indies are still a good side. We still respect them. For us to beat them, we need to make sure that we play hard, remain focussed, pay attention to the small things, and remain disciplined.”
Prosper Utseya lays down the strategy to upset West Indies.

Australia Under-19 captain Mitchell Marsh has commended the team effort that gave his side a narrow two-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the World Cup semi-final. After bowling Sri Lanka out for 205 in 48.2 overs, Australia faltered in the chase, losing regular wickets before getting across the line with nine balls to spare.”I think run-chases in finals are always pretty tough and they’re the sort of games you never win two or three down,” Marsh said. “It’s a credit to the boys at the end who stuck to their guns and got us over the line.”Marsh led from the front, scoring 97 of 110 balls, including twelve fours. Even as wickets fell around him, he continued to keep the score ticking over, eventually finding able support in wicketkeeper Tom Triffitt, who made 50. The two put on 78 for the sixth wicket and Marsh noted the importance of the crucial stand, which rescued them from 93 for 5.”When you get those sorts of scores you always want to go on and make hundreds but it was a pretty good catch and at the end of the day it was just important for us to get the win,” Marsh said. “Being 5 for 93 at one stage, I think we’ve done pretty well to win and my partnership with Triff [Triffitt] towards the end there was pivotal and that’s what you need in these sorts of games.”The form of the Australian fast bowlers through the tournament has been impressive and Marsh said he was pleased with their efforts to pin down Sri Lanka to 205. “You always want to bat first on tracks like that but credit to the way the boys came out and the attitude of the fielders and bowlers,” Marsh said. “In these sorts of games if you can bowl consistently good areas you’re always going to get wickets and that’s what the two big guys [Josh Hazlewood and Alister McDermott] did at the start.”Marsh also said he had set his sights on the final against Pakistan on Saturday. He said he was excited about the challenge ahead and hoped to return home with the big prize. “Pakistan’s going to be a tough encounter, they’re a very well-drilled side and if we can just keep doing the basics right then I think we’re in for a good day Saturday,” he said. “They’ve got a fair bit of experience at the top of the order and a few good spinners so we’ll look to counter them and hopefully we can do the job.”

Simon Katich doesn’t want to replace Ricky Ponting as captain and is happy supporting the current leader. After Australia’s draw with West Indies in Adelaide there has been some noise from former players about removing Ponting and Rodney Hogg, a vocal critic, wants Katich to be promoted.”It’s a shock to hear that sort of stuff,” Katich told AAP. “Ricky’s obviously done a fantastic job and I’m just happy being back in the team. It’s flattering to hear that sort of comment but at the same time I know what my role in the team is and that’s to open the batting and hopefully be a senior player to help Ricky out. From that point of view, I don’t buy into that at all.”Katich did not believe criticism of Ponting, who was in charge of the Ashes defeat in August, is warranted and wanted the team to take on extra responsibility to improve the results. “Whenever we don’t win a Test match there’s always speculation about why we didn’t win and the captain always comes under so much more heat than anyone else,” he said. “We did everything we could the other day to try and win the Test match, it didn’t work out. The West Indies deserve some credit for the way they played, they showed a lot of application.”There’s always some speculation about Ricky when the results don’t go to plan but there’s obviously 11 of us out there trying to help him out and win a game of cricket. It’s up to all of us to get a bit better at that.” The third Test against West Indies begins in Perth on Wednesday, with Australia holding a 1-0 advantage.

MatériaMais Notícias

A torcida do São Paulo deu mais uma grande demonstração de apoio ao time neste sábado. Horas antes do clássico contra o Santos, no Pacaembu, milhares de torcedores se reuniram em frente ao CT da Barra Funda. Fizeram festa no local até a saída do ônibus com a delegação tricolor rumo ao estádio municipal. Os torcedores, então, seguiram em caravana escoltando o time.

A concentração começou cedo, por volta das 13h, quando os são-paulinos começaram a tomar uma das vias da Avenida Marquês de São Vicente, onde fica o CT do Tricolor. O São Paulo, ciente do evento, preparou grandes para separar os torcedores do portão principal do local de trabalho. A partir daí, valia tudo para pegar o melhor ângulo da festa: teve torcedor em cima de muro, do ponto de ônibus, em cima das grades…

Pouco depois, chegaram ônibus com os torcedores organizados, em sua maioria da Independente, a maior do clube. Um dos líderes da torcida disse que cerca de 2 mil pessoas vieram pela caravana da organizada.

Por volta das 14h45, com muita festa, fogos de artifício e instrumentos musicais, os jogadores saíram do CT e passaram por um corredor entre os torcedores antes de entrarem no ônibus. Neste momento, os são-paulinos cantaram exaltados com a saudação dos atletas e da comissão técnica. Funcionários do São Paulo registravam o momento. Em seguida, o ônibus partiu para o Pacaembu, com a caravana de torcedores atrás. Carros, motos e ônibus, lotados.

A Polícia Militar e a CET (Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego) participaram da escolta, que foi organizada dias antes em reunião entre torcedores e autoridades. Funcionários do São Paulo também participaram. Não houve registro de ocorrência.

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Dean Kino, head of business and legal affairs for the Champions League Twenty20, has intimated that a second team from the Caribbean may participate in the second edition of the tournament

Cricinfo staff17-Dec-2009Dean Kino, head of business and legal affairs for the Champions League Twenty20, has intimated that a second team from the Caribbean may participate in the second edition of the tournament. Speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation Kino said the success and popularity garnered by Trinidad & Tobago this year had prompted consideration of further Caribbean flavour for 2010’s tournament, the destination of which would be decided at an upcoming governing council meeting.”T&T brought great value in terms of their cricketing skills, performances, the terrific spirit in which they played the game and the many talented cricketers on display, who had not been seen outside the Caribbean before,” he told CMC, adding that the governing council had gotten in touch with the West Indies Cricket Board.”They have been told that all participating countries must host a domestic tournament, and do so early to mid-2010, in order to be considered for inclusion in the event, and the dates have to be confirmed soon,” said Kino. “The defending champions will not be allowed to return to the competition automatically, all teams must re-qualify.”As for the country to host the second edition, Kino said: “We are yet to decide on a venue but what I can say is that the tournament in 2010 will be played around mid-September.”In the inaugural edition of the Champions League, held in India in October, T&T not only won Indian hearts with their distinctive brand of cricket but also brought alive the tournament which at its halfway stage was flickering once the hopes of the IPL teams had been extinguished. They won all their games but lost in the final to New South Wales.