Category Uncategorized

The tournament has had to navigate the pandemic once again and this season it will begin with 20 games in Tasmania

Andrew McGlashan and Alex Malcolm12-Oct-2021Click here for all the fixtures

Adelaide Strikers

Captain: TBC
Coach: Luke WilliamsLast season 6thSquad Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Nell Bryson-Smith, Sarah Coyte, Meagan Dixon, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McPharlin, Dane van Niekerk (SA), Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Annie O’Neil, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt (SA)In Jemma Barsby (Scorchers), Nell Bryson-Smith, Meagan Dixon, Dane van Niekerk
Out Suzie Bates, Ellen Falconer (Renegades), Alex Price, Stafanie TaylorPre-season
It’s a largely stable squad from a local point of view for Strikers. Darcie Brown’s elevation to a Cricket Australia contract means she is now one of the club’s five marquee names. The withdrawal of Suzie Bates due to concerns about getting a quarantine space on return to New Zealand has seen the signing of Dane van Niekerk after she left Sixers; with both bat and ball that should be a valuable addition. Brown, Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath and legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington make a very well balanced attack with plenty of wicket-takers. If they can put runs on the board they should be a major challenger.Player to watch
Remember that parried catch that went viral? It was one of the moments of the tournament last year. Tahlia McGrath was outstanding during the multi-format series against India with bat and ball. However, last season’s WBBL from a run-scoring perspective was underwhelming with 227 runs at 16.21 and a strike-rate of 82.24 opening the innings. Where she is used this season remains to be seen, but if it’s at the top again more impact will be needed in the Powerplay.

Brisbane Heat

Captain: Jess Jonassen
Coach: Ashley NoffkeLast season (2nd) Semi-finalSquad Anneke Bosch (SA), Nadine de Klerk (SA), Poonam Yadav (Ind), Zoe Cooke, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Laura Kimmince, Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia VollIn Anneke Bosch, Zoe Cooke, Ellie Johnston, Poonam Yadav
Out Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Delissa Kimmince (retired), Lilly Mills (Scorchers)Jess Jonassen missed the series against India with injury•Getty Images

Pre-season
The late recruitment of legspinner Poonam Yadav could be a vital part of Heat’s jigsaw after they fell at the semi-final stage last season in their bid for a hat-trick of title. They were a long way out at the midway point of the campaign but surged into the knockout stages. The top order will again look to Georgia Redmayne but it is lower down where they have a real X-factor in the finishing skills of Laura Kimmince who had an eye-watering strike-rate of 205.81 last season. They will also hope for further development from youngster Georgia Voll. With the ball, South Africa allrounders Anneke Bosch and Nadine de Klerk could be tasked will filling the role of the retired Delissa Kimmince.Player to watch
As mentioned above, Laura Kimmince brings a dimension to Heat’s batting that few other teams can match in their middle order. Despite facing just 86 balls last season she finished third on the sixes chart with 12 and her strike-rate was way out on top as the only batter over 200. With 37 off 17 balls in the semi-final she was on the verge of taking Heat into the final before she was bowled attempting a switch it as part of a lower-order collapse.

Hobart Hurricanes

Captain: Rachel Priest
Coach: Salliann BeamsLast season 8thSquad: Rachel Priest (capt, NZ), Nicola Carey, Tayla Vlaeminck, Mignon du Preez (SA), Richa Ghosh (Ind), Angelina Genford, Maisy Gibson, Ruth Johnston, Sasha Moloney, Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Naomi Stalenberg, Belinda Vakarewa, Rachel TrenamanIn Molly Strano (Renegades), Mignon du Preez (Stars), Rachel Trenaman (Thunder), Angelina Genford, Richa Ghosh, Ruth Johnston
Out Corinne Hall (Thunder), Emma Flint (maternity leave), Chloe Tryon, Brooke Hepburn (retired), Hayley Matthews, Erica KershawA fit and firing Tayla Vlaeminck could be a huge weapon for Hurricanes•Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Pre-season
Hurricanes have made some big moves in the off-season after finishing last for the third time in four seasons. They have not made the WBBL finals since 2016-17 and are hoping to change their fortunes on the back of some big-name recruits. They have lured the experienced Mignon du Preez from Stars and the exciting addition of Richa Ghosh means the batting line-up will have a great balance of youth and experience, as well as power and touch. They had also added Rachel Trenaman to the top order, but she will miss the entire season after rupturing her ACL. The bowling has also received a huge boost with all-time leading WBBL wicket-taker Molly Strano lured south from her beloved Melbourne Renegades. She brings so much experience and versatility to the side with her ability to bowl in the powerplay and in the middle overs. Hurricanes finally have a well-rounded attack if Tayla Vlaeminck and Maisy Gibson can stay fit, with Vlaeminck becoming a strike weapon around the reliable Strano, Belinda Vakarewa, and Nicola Carey.Player to watch
Tayla Vlaeminck has played 19 WBBL matches in her career with WBBL05 proving her only full season due to a raft of injuries. She did not play at all last season and has been nursed through the recent Australia-India series, only playing in the T20Is due to an Achilles flare-up during her preparation. She is arguably the fastest bowler in the world and strikes fear into international batters with her pace, bounce, and awkward action. Her value at domestic level is even greater and she could have a major impact in this tournament for the Hurricanes if she can stay fit. But they will need to use her judiciously as playing all 14 games plus finals might be too much to ask given the travel schedule in the second half of the tournament.

Melbourne Renegades

Captain: Sophie Molineux
Coach: Simon HelmotLast season 7thSquad: Sophie Molineux (capt), Georgia Wareham, Eve Jones (Eng), Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind), Jemimah Rodrigues (Ind), Makinley Blows, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin, Ellie Falconer, Holly Ferling, Poppy Gardner, Ella Hayward, Carly Leeson, Rhiann O’Donnell, Courtney WebbIn Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Eve Jones, Holly Ferling (Stars), Ellen Falconer (Strikers), Poppy Gardner, Rhiann O’Donnell
Out Molly Strano (Hurricanes), Maitlan Brown (Sixers), Lizelle Lee, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Erin Fazackerley, Courtney NealeHarmanpreet Kaur returns to the WBBL with Melbourne Renegades•Getty Images

Pre-season
Renegades have had a huge turnover of players and staff since last season with only a handful of familiar faces remaining following a poor campaign. Lachie Stevens departed as coach and Simon Helmot takes over, coming off winning the Caribbean Premier League title with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Sophie Molineux takes over as captain from Amy Satterthwaite while Lea Tahuhu also hasn’t returned. They have bolstered their batting with the signings of India duo Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues and Eve Jones from England while Jess Duffin’s return from maternity leave adds some much-needed experience. The bowling will be tested though without Tahuhu, Maitlan Brown and Strano. They still have a lot of spin depth, but they lack a little bit of strike power in the pace department. Holly Ferling adds some new-ball experience coming across from the Stars and there is some excitement around 16-year-old left-armer Poppy Gardner.Player to watch
There is plenty of quality in the top order but Georgia Wareham looms as an X-factor with both bat and ball. Her bowling is world-class as she has proved in T20 World Cups, but Renegades are very keen to continue to progress her batting in T20 cricket. She had the sixth-highest strike-rate last season (146.31) and found the boundary every five deliveries, ranking her only behind Laura Kimmince and Alyssa Healy, among those with more than 100 runs, and well above Meg Lanning and Sophie Devine. Wareham showcased her batting ability under pressure in the second T20I against India and the Renegades are keen to further develop her hitting ability.

Melbourne Stars

Captain: Meg Lanning
Coach: Jarrad LoughmanLast season (1st) Runners-upSquad: Meg Lanning (capt), Annabel Sutherland, Maia Bouchier (Eng), Kim Garth (Ire), Linsey Smith (Eng), Lucy Cripps, Maddy Darke, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Georgia Gall, Anna Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Erin Osborne, Elyse VillaniIn Kim Garth, Rhys McKenna, Anna Lanning, Maddy Darke (Sixers), Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith
Out Alana King (Scorchers), Mignon du Preez (Hurricanes), Holly Ferling (Renegades), Katherine Brunt, Natalie Sciver, Bhavi DevchandIt is a significantly different Melbourne Stars from the one that fell just short last season•Getty Images

Pre-season
It will be a big ask for Stars to replicate last season’s run to the final given the amount of playing quality they have lost. Jarrad Loughman takes over as coach, but he won’t be changing much of the formula having worked alongside the departing Trent Woodhill last season. However, the turnover of international players is where they will be tested the most. England stars Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt are unavailable while du Preez has moved to the Hurricanes. They have also lost some quality bowlers in Alana King and Holly Ferling. Kim Garth is an excellent addition having moved from Ireland to Melbourne permanently, while the recruitment of England left-arm orthodox Linsey Smith adds some international experience. Maia Bouchier comes off an England season where she made her international debut and will benefit from batting with the likes of Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani.Player to watch
Lanning and Villani are usually the keys to Stars’ success but the one player who could really take the WBBL by storm this season is Annabel Sutherland. She made her Test debut against India recently and her bowling appears to have taken another step forward. She has had limited opportunities with the bat in her brief international career so far but has shown promise on most occasions. She made one half-century in 11 innings in last year’s WBBL but in the absence of du Preez and Sciver she will shoulder far more responsibility in the middle order this season and her power game could set her apart.

Perth Scorchers

Captain: Sophie Devine
Coach: Shelley NitschkeLast season (4th) Semi-finalSquad: Sophie Devine (NZ)(capt), Beth Mooney, Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Samantha Betts, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Heather Graham, Lisa Griffith, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Taneale Peschel, Chloe PiparoIn Marizanne Kapp (Sixers), Chamari Athapaththu, Alana King (Stars), Lisa Griffith (Sixers), Lilly Mills (Heat), Ashley Day, Amy Edgar
Out Jemma Barsby (Strikers), Amy Jones, Sarah Glenn, Emma King (retired), Nicole Bolton (Sixers), Megan Banting, Georgia WyllieSophie Devine will again be key at the top of Scorchers’ order•Getty Images

Pre-season
Scorchers have once again had a high turnover of players but have added some quality to their line-up. The addition of Marizanne Kapp gives their attack some real potency while Alana King’s legspin adds some much-needed variety after they lost three good spinners in Sarah Glenn, Nicole Bolton and Emma King. Bolton is also a loss in the middle order, but Chamari Athapaththu will provide a different dynamic in terms of her power. She hasn’t previously produced her best in the WBBL with Renegades but has a superb record in Australia for Sri Lanka and produced two high-quality innings at the WACA in the T20 World Cup last year, with Scorchers scheduled to play three games there. Scorchers have the best opening combination in the WBBL with Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney set to star again but the team can be a bit top-heavy at times and will need both to produce all year and in the finals to claim the title.Player to watch
It seems obvious to say but Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney are difficult to ignore. Devine has the chance to win three consecutive Player of the Tournament awards while Mooney enters the competition on the back of impressive returns in the white-ball matches against India. They are two extraordinary cricketers who can carry their team on their shoulders. Devine has unfinished business having never won a title in Australia while Mooney is looking to claim a third having won twice previously with Heat.

Sydney Sixers

Captain: Ellyse Perry
Coach: Ben SawyerLast season 5thSquad: Ellyse Perry (capt), Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emma Hughes, Matilda Lugg, Angela Reakes Claire Moore, Shafali Verma (IND), Radha Yadav (IND)In Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton (Scorchers), Maitlan Brown (Renegades), Matlida Lugg, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Claire Moore
Out Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk, Jodie Hicks, Sarah Aley (retired), Maddy Darke, Lisa Griffith, Hayley Silver-Holmes (injured)The Alyssa Healy-Ellyse Perry opening combination could be broken up•Getty Images

Pre-season
After two disappointing seasons where they have finished fifth to miss the finals there has been a revamp of Sixers’ squad. Earlier this year their new list manager Lisa Sthalekar said they had “fallen behind” in the T20 game, while Ellyse Perry told ESPNcricinfo there would be changes to how they play. The most significant of those may involve Perry who could move down the order with new signing Shafali Verma joining Healy in what could be an electric opening pair. The arrival of Maitlan Brown will need to compensate for the loss of Kapp’s overs while Bolton’s role with her offspin in the Powerplay could be significant. Pace bowler Hayley-Silver Homes is out of the whole tournament due to a hip injury and Erin Burns will miss at least the Tasmania leg for personal reasons.Player to watch
Through a combination of various events – including the rain at the beginning of the tournament then another concussion – Ashleigh Gardner only faced 69 balls in last season’s competition and 35 of those of those came in one innings when she made 53. Her strike-rate of 134.78 was second behind Healy and the freedom she is given to play with means low scores are an occupational hazard. But she will hope to have an impact over a longer period this season. A lot of work went into her offspin during the winter and that will again be a key part of the attack, particularly against opposition left handers.

Sydney Thunder

Captain: Rachael Haynes
Coach: Trevor GriffinLast season (3rd) ChampionsSquad: Rachael Haynes (capt), Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Jess Davidson, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Smriti Mandhana (IND), Kate Peterson, Olivia Porter, Deepti Sharma (IND), Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson, Issy Wong (ENG)In Jess Davidson, Corinne Hall (Hurricanes), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Issy Wong
Out Rachael Trenaman (Hurricanes), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Shabnim Ismail, Saskia HorleySydney Thunder’s depth will be tested as they defend the title•Getty Images

Pre-season
The defending champions have kept the core of their local players together although it remains to be confirmed how much of the season captain Rachael Haynes is available for while she takes maternity leave. As with Sixers there has been a complete turnover in the overseas players with England players unavailable and the injury to South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail. Smriti Mandhana will have a big load to carry with the bat – especially during Haynes’ absence – but comes into the tournament in terrific form. Keep an eye out for the pace of Issy Wong while it will be interesting to see if Phoebe Litchfield is able to get an opportunity higher up the order.Player to watch
Sammy-Jo Johnson had a big impact with the ball last season after her move from Heat with 22 wickets at 14.81. She formed a telling new-ball combination with Ismail – which peaked with their almost perfect display in the final – but without the South Africa quick this season, Johnson will have to take more responsibility. During the off-season she took part in the Hundred where she finished as the joint second-leading wicket-taker. Depending on how she is used with the bat, an increase on last year’s 108 runs could also be critical.

South Africa aren’t in the final of the Under-19 World Cup because they slipped up against accurate bowling during their batting Powerplay and couldn’t take the chances Australia gave them while defending a low total.They lost three wickets for 10 runs during the five-over period of fielding restrictions between overs 36 and 40, leaving them with little firepower for the finish. Their fielders then dropped two sharp chances off Kurtis Patterson and one off Cameron Bancroft, who combined together for a 95-run stand to set up the successful chase of 191.Chad Bowes, the South Africa captain, thought the target was defendable, especially at Tony Ireland Stadium, where batting has been hard. “We saw yesterday Pakistan almost defending 130, and if we had taken our chances we would have defended it easily,” he said. “We can’t win semi-finals with a fielding performance like that.”The first chance was the toughest, when Patterson cut the ball high in the air over the infield at point and Prenelan Subrayen ran forward and to his left to try and reach the catch. He got hands to it as he dived full stretch but failed to hold on. Patterson was on 29 at the time and Australia 59 for 2. The life Patterson got on 37 was more straightforward, as Shayne Pillay grassed a hard cut at point. Bancroft was let off on 23 by Theunis de Bruyn at slip, the easiest chance of the lot. Calvin Savage was the unfortunate bowler all three times, and two balls later Bancroft hooked him for six.”We all had the belief [that we could win] but after a few went down you could see the guys’ heads starting to drop,” Bowes said. “We try and keep the belief going within the squad, we did fight back but it was just a bit too little too late. Seems we didn’t have any luck today, starting from the toss, we [should just] try and keep our heads up high and work towards the third-place playoff.”South Africa did have bad luck. Having come up from Brisbane, where they played their group games and won all three, they came up north to Townsville and lost the toss in both the quarter-final and the semi-final. Batting in the morning has been hardest at Tony Ireland Stadium and to their credit South Africa, after getting sent in, fared better than some of the sides that have been based here throughout the World Cup. Early wickets have routinely fallen against the new ball on a pitch that has had up-and-down bounce and seamed as well.Against England, South Africa had been 15 for 1 but recovered to score 244. Today they were 4 for 2 and did not recover. “I think today’s conditions were a bit tougher than against England, I also think the Aussie bowlers utilised the conditions better,” Bowes said. “They kept it in the right areas and gave us nothing to score off. They built pressure well and didn’t release it at any stage during the innings.”Bowes had steered his team through the new-ball threat against England by scoring 46 and batting until the 19th over. He scored 46 against Australia too, but had to toil for much longer, until the 35th over, leading South Africa to 125 for 3. After taking the batting Powerplay in the next over, Bowes was struck on the helmet first ball and dismissed by the second. The innings went off the rails thereafter and South Africa made 191 after looking set for 220.”They [Australia] bowled well as a unit, they bowled in partnerships and the pressure was from both ends,” Bowes said. “So by the time the 35th over came, there wasn’t any momentum from our side. We just had to try and tick it over.”I think momentum is key going into the end of an innings, so we knew we had to up the rate [in the Powerplay], even if was just by one or two runs an over. We backed ourselves to score at a decent rate, it was unfortunate that at the beginning of the Powerplay we lost key wickets.”Bowes is presently the leading run-scorer in the tournament, 271 in five innings, and has one match – the third-place playoff – to try and stay at No.1. While he said it was pleasing that he had been successful on his first tour to Australia, Bowes said it wasn’t a priority. “I didn’t come into the tournament wanting to have that goal. The goal was to get to the final,” Bowes said. “I would take the World Cup over the most runs any day. But it’s good that I’m able to adapt to these conditions.”

شن أنطونيو كونتي، المدير الفني لفريق توتنهام، هجومًا عنيفًا على لاعبيه بعد التعادل المخيب في مباراة اليوم مع ساوثهامبتون في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثامنة والعشرين من الدوري، حيث تعادلا بثلاثة أهداف لمثلها.

وقال كونتي في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “فوتبول لندن” الإنجليزية: “بالنسبة لي لم تكن ركلة جزاء الخصم مستحقة، علينا إغلاق تلك المسألة، ولكن الأسوأ هو ما حدث على أرض الملعب من قِبل لاعبي فريقي، طوال الأشهر الماضية، وفي موسمي الثاني مع النادي”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أن هذا هو الوقت المناسب للتحدث لأنني أعتقد أنه بعد هذا الأداء، هذا أمر غير مقبول بالنسبة لي، كنا متقدمين بنتيجة 3-1، وبعد ذلك اهتزت شباكنا بهدفين، وكان على فورستر التصدي لهجمات أخرى، من الأفضل الخوض في تلك المشكلة، نحن لسنا فريقًا”.

وواصل: “نحن 11 لاعبًا إلى أرض الملعب، أرى لاعبين أنانيين، لاعبين لا يريدون مساعدة بعضهم البعض ولا يضعون قلوبهم في الملعب”.

وأردف: “قبل اليوم أحاول إخفاء الموقف وتحسينه بالكلمات، كل شيء يتعلق بالرغبة، النار المشتعلة في عينيك وقلبك، تحتاج إلى هذا في كل لحظة، هذا الموسم مقارنة بالموسم الماضي، نحن الآن أسوأ في هذا الجانب، عندما لا تكون فريقًا لا يمكنك التحسن”.

وفي إشارة إلى خروجهم الأخير من كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، أضاف كونتي: “لا تنسوا أننا لعبنا ضد فريق شيفيلد يونايتد مع لاعبين صغار وخرجنا من المنافسة، نحن بحاجة إلى فهم أننا نلعب من أجل النادي، من أجل جماهيرنا”.

وأوضح: “تعودنا على ذلك هنا لفترة طويلة، النادي مسؤول عن سوق الانتقالات، المدرب هو المسؤول، لكن اللاعبين أين هم؟ أرى 11 لاعبًا فقط يلعبون لأنفسهم”.

واستطرد: “الآن هناك 10 مباريات متبقية ويظن أحدهم أنه يمكننا القتال بهذا الموقف، بهذه الروح، نقتال على أي شئ؟ المركز السابع؟ الثامن؟ أنا لست معتادًا على القتال من أجل هذا، إنها مسؤولية الجميع”.

وواصل كونتي غضبه قائلًا: “لقد اعتادوا على ذلك هنا، إنهم لا يلعبون من أجل شيء مهم، إنهم لا يريدون اللعب تحت الضغط، قصة توتنهام استمرت 20 عامًا، نفس المالك ولم يحققوا أي بطولة، لماذا؟ إنها القصة نفسها كل موسم بغض النظر عن المدرب”.

كشف الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، هوية اللاعبين الذين منحهم قائد منتخب مصر ونجم ليفربول، محمد صلاح، صوته في المنافسة على جائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم 2022.

وكان فيفا قد أقام احتفالًا، مساء الإثنين، في العاصمة الفرنسية باريس لتوزيع جوائز الأفضل في العالم عن العام الماضي.

وفاز ليونيل ميسي، لاعب باريس سان جيرمان ومنتخب الأرجنتين، بجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم 2022، متفوقًا على الثنائي كريم بنزيما وكيليان مبابي.

ويمنح قادة ومدربو المنتخبات وممثلو الإعلام في مختلف البلدان، أصواتهم للمنافسين على جوائز ذا بيست، حيث يحصل صاحب المركز الأول في التصويت على 5 نقاط، مقابل 3 نقاط لصاحب المركز الثاني ونقطة واحدة للثالث.

اقرأ أيضًا | نقاط المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم 2022.. مركز محمد صلاح

وحسب ما كشفه فيفا، منح محمد صلاح صوته في المركز الأول بجائزة أفضل لاعب، للاعب ريال مدريد فينيسيوس جونيور، ثم جاء في المركز الثاني كيفين دي بروين لاعب مانشستر سيتي، وأخيرًا لاعب باريس سان جيرمان أشرف حكيمي.

وعلى صعيد جائزة أفضل حارس مرمى، منح محمد صلاح صوته في المركز الأول لزميله في ليفربول أليسون بيكر، ثم تيبو كورتوا حارس ريال مدريد وإيدرسون حارس مانشستر سيتي.

وفاز إيميليانو مارتينيز بجائزة أفضل حارس مرمى في العالم لعام 2022، متفوقًا على تيبو كورتوا وياسين بونو.

بينما منح محمد صلاح صوته في جائزة أفضل مدرب في العالم، في المركز الأول لـ كارلو أنشيلوتي مدرب ريال مدريد، ثم بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي ووليد الركراكي مدرب منتخب المغرب.

وفاز مدرب منتخب الأرجنتين، ليونيل سكالوني، بجائزة أفضل مدرب في العالم، متفوقًا على كارلو أنشيلوتي وبيب جوارديولا.

ScorecardA strong all-round showing from Mountaineers helped them to an eight-wicket win against Matabeleland Tuskers at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Tendai Chatara, with a five-for, and Kevin Kasuza, with an unbeaten century, led the way for the Mountaineers.Being put in to bat, the Tuskers lost wickets at regular intervals. They slipped to 122 for 6 in 29 overs as their top order caved in, before handy cameos down the order carried them to a respectable 197 in 45.1 overs. While the Mountaineers bowlers, led by Chatara, were incisive, they were not very disciplined; they conceded 42 extras, including 25 wides, which was the highest individual score in the innings.In the chase, Mountaineers lost their openers off consecutive deliveries in the third over to be reduced to a wobbly 4 for 2, but Hamilton Masakadza and Kasuza were not to be defeated. While Masakadza constructed a solid innings of 64 not out off 84 balls, Kasuza hit the Tuskers out of the match with a blistering 110 of 91 balls. His innings included 14 fours and two sixes, and helped his side seal the game in just the 32nd over.

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.”

MatériaMais Notícias

A noite deste sábado foi feliz para o torcedor do Botafogo. A equipe comandada por Alberto Valentim se portou muito bem diante do rival, Vasco da Gama, em São Januário e saiu com a vitória de 2 a 1 sobre o Cruz-Maltino. Autor do gol que inaugurou o placar, Kieza falou um pouco sobre a partida:

– Marcamos muito melhor, atrás da linha da bola, saindo no contra-ataque, é natural o cansaço, pelo tanto que corremos e lutamos. Fizemos uma grande partida, para levantar o ânimo, temos uma partida em casa agora e vamos em busca da vitória para colocar o Botafogo lá em cima que é o lugar onde ele merece. – falou o atacante do Glorioso.

Com o resultado positivo, o Botafogo subiu para a décima colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, com 12 pontos e enfrenta agora o Caerá na próxima quarta feira no Nilton Santos. O zagueiro Igor Rabello, que fechou o placar para o Glorioso comentou sobre a maratona de jogos:

– Agora vai ser assim, jogos no meio e no fim de semana, muito próximos, mas o Botafogo tem grandes profissionais para recuperarmos rápido – disse o jogador do Alvi-Negro.

RelacionadasVascoZé Ricardo pede demissão e não é mais o técnico do VascoVasco02/06/2018VascoATUAÇÕES: Andrey se salva e Fabrício é destaque negativoVasco02/06/2018BrasileirãoNúmeros da Bola: Estatísticas de Vasco 1×2 BotafogoBrasileirão02/06/2018

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.

In their first warm-up before the home World Cup, Bangladesh showed a mix of nerves, rust and over-excitement to lose to Pakistan by 89 runs. Four simple catches went down, two big batting guns didn’t quite deliver, and the batsmen looking in good touch played reckless shots to get out. Coach Jamie Siddons, always a forthright talker, didn’t look to hide what went wrong, but said he wasn’t too concerned with what happened in the warm-up game. The team was ready for February 19, he said, when the whole world will be watching them.”The other catches were quite disappointing,” Siddons said. “[But] I am glad it was a practice game that we dropped catches in, and not on the 19th. Our batting was a little bit rusty. Probably been three months since we have played against good-quality bowling. We weren’t quite up to it. Especially in the middle overs, we couldn’t quite get off strike. Hopefully we have got the bad one out of our way. The boys are still upbeat, I am still upbeat. I am not too worried about this match.”Big chases against good sides have always been a problem with Bangladesh, and that is what Siddons focused on. Once they lose Tamim Iqbal early, which they did in this game, there is almost always a feeling of inevitability when Bangladesh are chasing scores in excess of 250 against good sides. That, Siddons says, has to change.”I think chasing 285 is a big target, but it is achievable,” Siddons said. “I don’t think we were sensible enough. The captain led from the front, and played a silly shot [a pull straight to long leg], and it went through the whole team. With five and six required an over, they got under pressure a little bit. We have talked a little bit about it already, we are going to talk more about it before the India game. Against good teams, we are going to have to chase 280 a lot. The chase is gettable, and I think we will do a lot better the next time.”There were positive signs too. Shafiul Islam, before going off with a foot injury, started well, bowling five overs for 19 runs. The pitch assisted the spinners, and Shakib Al Hasan was quick to utilise it both as a bowler and as a captain. “Shafiul was the pick of the bowlers,” Siddons said. “He bowled beautifully. Swung the ball a lot, bowled fantastic lines, had the openers in trouble, got a wicket. Shakib has got his rhythm back, and confidence back, which he hadn’t had for two series. And the pitch spun, which is a positive for us for the tournament. Imrul Kayes [39] was a positive. Raqibul Hasan [30] positive towards the end.”It was a better warm-up experience for Pakistan, with their in-form batsmen, Ahmed Shehzad and Misbah-ul-Haq, struck centuries to take their side to a big total. The concerns, if you were to look hard, were that Younis Khan was yet to get into his groove, and Shoaib Akhtar didn’t bowl at all.”Often only one or two players score big in one big innings, that’s what Misbah and Shehzad did,” Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s coach, said. “Younis Khan missed out, we would love to have him get some runs going into the World Cup. I am not too worried about it, but if he gets runs in the next game, things will start rolling for us.”Shoaib could be a bigger concern, in whose absence Abdul Razzaq opened the bowling. “Shoaib is not in touch at the moment,” Waqar said. “If he gets it right in the next game, he is obviously the No. 1 choice. At the moment, we have a slight problem with the new ball, but there is still some time to go.”We played Shoaib in New Zealand. He improved in patches. It is important he gets into full throttle before we get him into the side. We are trying to work with him. Aaqib Javed and myself, we are working with him, trying to get his rhythm right before the tournament starts.”Waqar was pleased with Shehzad, who survived a good opening spell, and then accelerated to get a century. “Pretty impressed,” he said. “He has been playing really well, from the back end of the New Zealand tour. He scored a hundred in his last game as well. He is in superb touch. For a youngster to come in to such a big scene and playing such a good knock with such responsibility, it is amazing to see that. Hopefully he is going to carry on delivering.”

West Bromwich Albion have secured the signing of Jayson Molumby on a permanent move from Brighton and Hove Albion that keeps him at The Hawthorns for three years.

Baggies boss Steve Bruce spoke out (via BBC Sport) on his first permanent signing ahead of next season:

“We’re really pleased to have Jayson on board permanently.

“He’s managed to force himself into our XI recently and now his challenge is to stay there by continuing to show improvements in his game.”

Despite the side failing to earn promotion back into the Premier League next season after a disappointing campaign that has seen West Brom fall to tenth in the Championship table, Molumby has been a consistent and reliable player in the team throughout.

In 30 appearances the 22-year-old midfielder who was hailed “very energetic” by Brian Kerr and dubbed “feisty” by Gary Rowett, has scored one goal during his time with the Baggies.

More importantly, he’s won the majority of his ground duels (51%), has been successful in the majority of his dribbles (69%) and makes 1.2 tackles and 0.8 interceptions on average per game, proving that he is comfortable making his presence known in the centre of the pitch.

Former West Brom boss Valerien Ismael was the manager who gave Molumby his chance to prove his worth in the team after struggling to gain game-time back at his parent club Brighton.

Ismael was full of praise and highlighted how “important” the midfielder was for the Baggies during his club debut;

“He gave us another volume in midfield and the option to breath to win more balls for our attackers. It was really important that he came on and made an impact.”

Alongside Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Alex Mowatt, Molumby can further progress and develop a great partnership with the pair in the centre of the pitch to inspire the Baggies onto better things following a less than satisfactory campaign this year.

Now the youngster has secured his long term future at the club early, Bruce can focus on building a better team around him as it is clear there are big changes needed in the squad to give them a real chance at pushing for promotion back into top-flight football again next season.

However, in midfield, the manager has now secured himself an option that could not only help them secure that promotion, but also someone who can save millions in future fees down the line.

AND in other news: Bruce must brutally axe “shocking” & “strange” disaster duo, they’re holding WBA back