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England’s forthcoming series against South Africa, the most enticing contest in the near future, has been given an extra edge after the teams swapped places in the latest ICC rankings

Cricinfo staff08-Jun-2008
Plenty to celebrate: England are back to No.3 in the world after beating New Zealand © Getty Images
England’s forthcoming series against South Africa, the most enticing contest in the near future, has been given an extra edge after the teams swapped places in the latest ICC rankings. After their 2-0 series victory over New Zealand, England have leapfrogged their next opponent into third place in the table.They were on 108 points at the start of the series but the draw at Lord’s followed by victories at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge boosted them to 110, just one point behind India, who retain second spot. Australia, currently 1-0 up against West Indies, remain well ahead of the chasing pack.England could have ended this series in second position had they won all three Tests, but can still finish the season ahead of India if they beat South Africa and India do not win the series in Sri Lanka starting next month.However, if South Africa edge the four-match series, beginning at Lord’s on July 10, they could be the one to go into second depending on how the Sri Lanka-India contest pans out.New Zealand remain in seventh place, 11 points ahead of West Indies, but that gap could close if West Indies can level the series against Australia with victory in the final Test in Barbados.

Australia 33 4650141 India 42 4642 111 England 48 5285 110 South Africa44 4789 109 Sri Lanka 353709 106 Pakistan 33 310794 New Zealand 29 2559 88 West Indies 31 2380 77 Bangladesh24 23 1

Australia have opened up a 278-run lead after a day of hard-fought Test cricket in the best traditions of the Ashes. England were dismissed for 325, with Glenn McGrath finishing with four for 87 and Jason Gillespie overcoming injury fears to ensure that Australia enjoyed a useful lead on first innings. Despite Andrew Caddick claiming two early wickets when Australia batted again, Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn consolidated to take Australia into day four in a commanding position.When England resumed on 158 for one, it was the usually economical and precise McGrath who took the valuable wickets of Mark Butcher for 54 and Marcus Trescothick for 72 to prevent the tourists from making progress from their promising overnight position.Trescothick looked dangerous and showed his class when he drove two consecutive deliveries past McGrath to the boundary. Yet McGrath, slightly out of rhythm and looking laboured, made the breakthrough when Butcher shaped to drive but edged to Hayden in the slips.McGrath struck the next blow five balls later when Trescothick drove without conviction at a ball outside off stump and Ricky Ponting was waiting in the slips for the edge. After being tied down for a while by the pace duo, Trescothick played at a ball on the line which he had been happy to leave earlier in the morning.McGrath’s 100th and 101st Ashes wickets came at precisely the right time for his team. He could have done with another, however, as Nasser Hussain and John Crawley settled in to revive English hopes with a partnership that added 97 for the fourth wicket and appeared to be taking their side towards comfort.After lunch, however, Steve Waugh took the new ball with immediate success. Gillespie, this time was the destroyer. During this period the 27-year-old was electric. Passing a fitness test on his calf before play, he continually stretched the muscle during and after his spells.The injury did not seem to hinder Gillespie in any way as he continued to pose more of a threat than McGrath. After Hussain hoisted Gillespie for six to bring up his fifty, the bowler seemed to crank up the pace and accounted for Hussain with a beauty. He squared up Hussain with a ball at which he had to play and wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist did the rest.With the cracks in the pitch beginning to open up, Gillespie struck again in his next over as Alec Stewart played an indecisive inside edge onto the stumps to be bowled without scoring and England had slumped to 270 for five.Now it was the turn of McGrath. Craig White had made 12 misjudged the bounce to lose his off bail without offering a shot to a ball that he thought would go over the stumps.The only recognised batsman left, John Crawley played patiently and responsibly as he pushed for ones and twos, then waited and punished the bad balls. His fifth fifty against Australia and the fourth in the England innings took all of three hours and 120 balls, but he was doing a fine job for his side.Crawley, however, could only watch as Andy Bichel stepped up to account for Ashley Giles for 13 – caught behind playing some way from his body – and Caddick in quick succession. With the injured Simon Jones unable to bat, Crawley was left on 69 not out.Australia started their innings in blazing fashion, as they tend to do. Justin Langer had hit four boundaries in his 22 from 25 balls when he edged Caddick to Stewart, while the same bowler produced an absolute snorter to account for Ponting. It flew from a length to take the shoulder of the bat on its way to Trescothick at first slip. Ponting took a long look at the pitch as he departed.Hayden was joined by Martyn to see the home side through to stumps, playing with controlled aggression to both finish with 40 not out.In the last 12 matches played at the Gabba, only three have ended in a draw. Rain has been the deciding factor in those three but, in the middle of a local drought, that consideration is not likely to come into play on this occasion. The Australians will be happier with that knowledge than England at this stage of the match.

PERTH, Oct 21 AAP – England’s form batsman Michael Vaughan will sit out his team’s tour opener, but insists his knee injury will not stop him playing in the upcoming Ashes series starting next month.The Yorkshireman enjoyed a remarkable northern summer in which he registered four Test centuries including scores of 195 and 197 against India.But his right knee, which he had a minor operation on last month, has pulled up sore forcing him out of the match against an ACB Chairman’s XI at Lilac Hill tomorrow.His knee will be of an enormous concern for the England team as it already has some major injury worries in the 16-strong squad.But the 27-year-old said he hoped to be fit in time for the two-day match against Western Australia starting at the WACA ground on Thursday.Allrounder Andrew Flintoff and Darren Gough will also miss the Lilac Hill fixture as they try to recover from respective hernia and knee operations.But Vaughan will arguably be the tourists’ biggest concern as his partnership with Marcus Trescothick at the top of the order is seen as pivotal to England’s hopes of winning an Ashes series for the first time in 16 years.Vaughan has scored 1710 runs in 23 Tests and his average of 47.50 is easily the best in the England team.The only other batsman with an average of more than 40 is Trescothick.”A bit of dehydration from the flight and obviously a little bit of swelling (of the knee) but it has gone really well the past 48 hours,” Vaughan said today.The right-hander is one of the great unknowns for Australia as he missed the 2001 Ashes series also because of a knee injury.Vaughan has only played one match against Australia in a one-day encounter at Old Trafford last year but was bowled first ball by quick Jason Gillespie.”I have played one game so far and only lasted one ball, so things can only get better,” he said.And despite averaging an impressive 90 in six Tests over the northern summer he also conceded he was also dismissed first ball by Australian paceman Glenn McGrath in their only encounter in a county match.However the amiable Vaughan didn’t appear very concerned about his previous efforts against Australia’s pace attack.He said he and Trescothick would try to play in a positive fashion against McGrath who reached the 400 Test wicket mark in Sharjah today.Vaughan said the openers probably wouldn’t follow New Zealand’s tactic against Australia last summer of leaving anything slightly outside of off stump.”If it is there to leave you have got to leave it, but I think the positive approach is the best approach,” he said.”Marcus and I are the type of guys who go out looking to be positive.”But Glenn McGrath is going to have periods of play where he’s bowling very well and leaving the ball might be the best option.”But we’ll have to judge the wicket and the best way to play on the day.”The first Ashes Test starts on November 7 in Brisbane.Meanwhile the ACB Chairman’s XI made one change with West Australian batsman Chris Rogers replacing teammate Scott Meuleman who has a thigh injury.The England team is: Nasser Hussain (c), Mark Butcher, Andrew Caddick, John Crawley, Richard Dawson, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Stephen Harmison, Simon Jones, Robert Key, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, James Foster.The ACB Chairman’s XI is: Michael Hussey (c), Ryan Campbell(v-c), Michael Clark, Kade Harvey, Brad Hogg, Chris Rogers, Matthew Nicholson, Marcus North, Callum Thorp, Paul Wilson, Kim Hughes, David Hookes, Wayne Clark.

During Ange Postecoglou’s first Celtic press conference on Friday afternoon, he suggested there was a need to improve a few problem positions ahead of their first competitive fixtures in a few weeks’ time.

The Hoops have granted rest to those players who were at the European Championship but, after witnessing a host of loan players leave the club, they need fresh faces.

What’s the word?

One area where recruitment is of utmost importance to the Bhoys before their Champions League qualifiers is in defence. Postecoglou admitted that he hoped to have announcements in place on new signings shortly and it wouldn’t be a great surprise if the first arrival was a centre-back.

They have begun talks to sign Brazilian defender Riccieli while negotiations are reportedly taking place over the signature of Mario Vuskovic.

According to Mundo Deportivo, another player on Celtic’s radar this summer is Ecuadorian centre-half Piero Hincapie.

The 19-year-old is valued at £8.6m by his club Atletico Tallares, but he’s found no shortage of suitors. Also interested in signing the teenager are Bayern Munich, Milan, Real Betis, Atletico Madrid, PSG and Newcastle United.

Good luck then, Ange.

Huge potential

Described as an “elegant” defender by South American football enthusiast Tom Robinson, Hincapie seems to be one of the most promising players coming out of his continent.

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He has caught the eye significantly during the ongoing Copa America, particularly with his aggressive but modern style of defending. In his three games for Ecuador so far, Hincapie has been extremely productive in the challenge by winning 2.3 tackles per game.

The youngster is also supreme in the air, prevailing in a colossal 3.7 aerial duels per game. That final statistic places him above Kristoffer Ajer at Celtic while it puts him on a level playing field with fellow promising defender Stephen Welsh.

As for Hincapie’s tackling percentages, no player managed more successful challenges per match in the  Celtic squad than the Ecuadorian. A modern-day centre-back, he is also strong in possession of the ball, completing 90% of his passes in the Copa Sudamericana this term. He also possesses an element of pace which would set him apart from the rest of the defenders at Celtic.

Writing for World Football Index, Robinson commented: “A left-footed ball-playing defender, Hincapie impressed with his ability to build from the back and was fourth highest for successful passes and fifth highest for progressive passes in the division [Copa de la Liga].”

Analysis account Football Chatters spoke of his form at Copa America, adding: “There was one situation where a Peru attacker threatened to get one-on-one, but Hincapie’s acceleration ensured he could make the tackle and close the opportunity in recovery.”

With all of those qualities in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that he has been courted by some of the best clubs in Europe. His ability to keep possession and recover quickly would also make him perfect for Postecoglou’s attacking and high-intensity brand of football.

It feels like only a matter of time before Hincapie makes the trip across the Atlantic. Hopefully Parkhead will be his destination.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Forrest: Celtic must swoop for 56-goal beast who is “among the best”…

Everton have a new manager at the helm but their transfer strategy doesn’t look as though it’ll differ from years gone by.

The Toffees hierarchy are set to back Rafa Benitez but there has been no sign of any incomings just yet.

What’s the word?

The Merseyside outfit have been linked with a number of high profile players from Isco and Philippe Coutinho to Denzel Dumfries.

However, one of the latest rumours revolves around a goalkeeper; Pierluigi Gollini.

TuttoAtalanta (via Sport Witness) claims that Everton have taken information on the Italian stopper and are now considering a bid for him this summer.

Gollini is expected to be pushed down the pecking order at Atalanta and the Toffees could offer him an escape route.

The ‘keeper is currently valued at £15.3m by Transfermarkt.

Pickford in trouble?

There is no doubting just how good Jordan Pickford is when it comes to England duty.

He has very rarely put a foot wrong under Gareth Southgate and has shown as much on his way to helping the Three Lions reach the final of the European Championships.

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Pickford kept five clean sheets in his opening five matches but began to look a little shakier in the semi-final win over Denmark.

The Everton stopper was poor with his distribution as some of the flaws we’ve seen during his performances for the Toffees reared their ugly head.

During recent campaigns, the 26-year-old has been questionable between the sticks, being described by many, including journalist Phil McNulty, as a “liability.”

It’s easy to see why. Throughout 176 Premier League appearances, the stopper has made 15 individual errors directly leading to a goal. Seven of those errors have come in the last two years which make him the most error-prone ‘keeper in the top-flight over that time frame.

Everton have been linked with a few goalkeepers including Barcelona’s Neto but considering Gollini is a first choice, this could finally give them an excuse to axe Pickford.

His form this summer has been near impeccable but that might not matter if he continues to perform under par for his club.

Standing at 6 foot 4, Gollini is a giant frame between the posts and is particularly highly rated in Italy.

Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny once claimed that he’s “performed miracles.”

The 26-year-old ranks in the 62nd percentile for post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed. For those who may be confused, the higher your percentage in this department, the better you are at stopping shots.

Gollini ranks higher in this regard with Pickford falling into the 54th percentile.

One of the biggest things to notice about the Everton target is his ability to sweep. He ranks in the 85th percentile for defensive actions outside of the penalty area. Pickford is only in the 40th percentile for this department.

On that evidence, it would appear that Gollini is a completely different type of goalkeeper.

Either way, Benitez will be hoping that he brings greater stability than Pickford has done in recent campaigns.

AND in other news, Everton eye move for £34m gem with “incredible finishing qualities”, DCL surely scared…

An unknown England line-up, and unknown Indian frame of mind and an unknown pitch quality make just a little difficult to predict the outcome of the third npower Test starting in Leeds tomorrow

Ralph Dellor21-Aug-2002An unknown England line-up, and unknown Indian frame of mind and an unknown pitch quality make just a little difficult to predict the outcome of the third npower Test starting in Leeds tomorrow. However, Headingley has proved to be a happy hunting ground for England in recent years and with a win at Lord’s and the better of the draw at Trent Bridge, there is every indication that the home side might be able to force home their advantage to secure the series before going to The Oval for the final Test of a long summer.In the past, there has been little doubt about what to do about selection for a Headingley Test. Pack the side with seamers, pay close attention to the weather forecast and try to win the match while cloud cover makes the ball do extraordinary things on a pitch not noted for its good behaviour in such conditions. Those plans can sometimes go awry when the sun shines, the surface becomes totally benign and the ball races over a quick outfield to all parts. You do not often get boring cricket at Headingley.There is a suggestion that the square has been playing a bit differently this year and the old propensity for uneven bounce has been eliminated. Whether this new-found quality extends to the Test strip has yet to be discovered, as even chairman of selectors David Graveney admitted when announcing the 13-man squad.”Although we have talked to counties who have played at Headingley this summer, we don’t yet have an inkling as to what sort of surface has been prepared for this Test match. We will have to assess the wicket and think about what impact it will have on our selection.”There is growing speculation that left-arm spinner Ashley Giles might reverse the trend of recent history by being included in the final eleven. He was left out at Trent Bridge in favour of five seamers, leaving only the occasional off-spin of Michael Vaughan to exploit the turn that was evident in Nottingham. Giles can put a brake on scoring, especially on a ground where a little nudge against the quicker bowlers can and usually does result in four runs down the hill.Andrew Caddick will return to the side after injury and to the scene of his remarkable triumph against the West Indies two years ago when his four wickets in an over wrapped it all up in a couple of days. Matthew Hoggard will open the bowling, with Caddick, on his home ground but after that it all becomes a little problematical. Steve Harmison might be retained after a no more than promising debut at Trent Bridge. In the absence of the injured Craig White, Alex Tudor might be preferred for his extra batting potential as well as his bowling ability, while the hernia injury under which Andrew Flintoff is labouring could open the door for yet another chance for Dominic Cork.In the batting department, England are unlikely to make changes with another opportunity for Robert Key to open the batting with the in-form Vaughan, allowing Mark Butcher to bat at three on the ground where he played such a memorable match-winning innings against Australia last year. With Nasser Hussain at four, John Crawley at five, probably Flintoff at six and then Alec Stewart, there is a settled solidity. This all assumes that Flintoff is going to be fit enough to play, albeit as merely a batsman.Despite all the forecasts and fanfares for the Indian batting, it has not performed consistently as a cohesive unit in the series so far. Shiv Sunder Das did his chances of replacing Wasim Jaffer as an opener no harm with an innings of 250 against Essex in the last tour match at Chelmsford. Virender Sehwag got a substantial hundred in that match as well, but it will need the big guns of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to all fire to give the captain a chance of manipulating his bowling resources to full effect.That is another area for interesting speculation. If Anil Kumble is fit, will he come into the side to partner Harbhajan Singh? Or to replace him? Will India give a chance to Tinu Yohannan? Might he replace Ashish Nehra or supplement him? Will Ajit Agarkar’s batting insulate him from the axe that his bowling might have attracted? And while we are asking questions that time alone will answer, did young Parthiv Patel do enough at Trent Bridge to retain the wicket-keeping spot in front of fit again Ajay Ratra?There is another question mark lurking around the Indian dressing room. That comes in the form of the distraction from the job in hand that might have resulted from the ongoing contracts row concerning the ICC Champions Trophy tournament and then the World Cup. The players have expressed the view that they are unable to agree to the terms of the contracts and therefore could drop out of the Indian squad for the tournament. Other sides, including England, are involved, but the focus of attention has centred on the Indians.They will, of course, vehemently deny that this sideshow has any bearing on their preparations for the Test. However, these are intelligent men who will have realised that what they are talking about here is the possibility of a serious breach in the unity of world cricket. It would be asking a lot of them to be able to put it all to the back of their minds and, one-nil down and a long way from home at the end of an arduous tour, simply concentrate on preparing for a crucial Test.

أكد رونالد أراخو مدافع برشلونة الإسباني أن فريقه وقع في أخطاء لا يمكن ارتكابها أمام آينتراخت فرانكفورت، متحدثًا عقب توديع البلوجرانا للدوري الأوروبي.

واستنكر أراخو ما حدث على الجانب الجماهيري، حيث قام عدد كبير من جمهور برشلونة ببيع تذاكر المباراة لجمهور فرانكفورت، ليمتلاً الملعب بمشجعي الفريق الألماني، وانسحبت رابطة البارسا احتجاجًا.

آينتراخت فرانكفورت تغلب على برشلونة بثلاثية لهدفين وتأهل بمجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب (4-3). أهداف مباراة برشلونة وآينتراخت فرانكفورت

وقال أراخو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “إنه لأمر مخز أن نخسر هذه المباراة، بالرغم من النتيجة، لعبنا مباراة جيدة، لقد سجلوا في الوقت المناسب”.

وأضاف: “جاؤوا ثلاث مرات بفرص وسجلوا ثلاثة أهداف، لنا هناك أخطاء لا يمكن ارتكابها، وهذا هو سبب عدم التأهل”.

وتابع مدافع برشلونة: “كان علينا أن نتحلى بمزيد من الصبر واليقظة بشأن الهجمات المرتدة، كان ينبغي أن نعدل هذه التفاصيل أكثر، إنه لأمر مخز لأننا أردنا التأهل”.

وعن الحضور الجماهيري المكثف لجماهير فرانكفورت، استنكر أراخو الأمر قائلًا: “يفاجئني أن هناك الكثير من جمهور فرانكفورت هنا في ملعبنا، على النادي أن ينظر إلى ذلك”.

واستطرد: “بالنسبة لقمة هذا الفريق، والجودة التي يتمتع بها، يمكن القول إنه فشل، لأننا أردنا الفوز بالدوري الأوروبي”.

وأتم أراخو تصريحاته: “علينا أن نرفع رؤوسنا، نحن سعداء ونعمل بشكل جيد، الدوري باقٍ والموسم المقبل سيكون بالتأكيد أفضل”.

Rangers fans will have been keeping a close eye on the England vs Croatia game on Sunday afternoon, not only because both teams are in Scotland’s group, but also because Borna Barisic was set to represent Zlatko Dalic’s side at Wembley.

However, an injury saw him miss out on the squad, one which could prove to be a blow for Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit ahead of next season.

After a superb season for the Gers, which saw the 28-year-old contribute five goals and 14 assists in 50 appearances in all competitions, it was no surprise that he earned a call up to the Croatian side ahead of the European Championships this summer.

Barisic is arguably Croatia’s first-choice at left-back but unfortunately, he missed the opening game of the Euros against Gareth Southgate’s side, and they fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Dalic confirmed after Barisic missed out on the squad for the game against England that:

“Barisic has had problems with injuries for the last ten days, Gvardiol is now the most prepared.”

He doesn’t allude to how long the defender will be out for, but the last thing Gerrard needs is one of his key players returning injured ahead of next season, which is set to kick off in around six weeks time, with Rangers confirmed to be facing Livingston in the opening game at Ibrox on July 31st.

The fact that he went into the Euros with an issue, and that he has picked up another, suggests that Barisic isn’t 100% fit and firing. Given Croatia’s precarious position in their group, it would not be a shock if the defender pushes to get back for their upcoming game with the Czech Republic and if he goes into that game without having fully recovered, he risks further aggravating his injury.

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The former Osijek man missed the final few games of last season after picking up an injury in the Old Firm derby, which forced Gerrard to deploy Joe Aribo at left-back due to Calvin Bassey also being missing through suspension, and the 40-year-old will surely be desperate to avoid a similar situation as they get their title defence underway next month.

If Barisic’s injury issue does end up costing him time at the start of next season, then he may well have already played his last game for the Gers, when you consider that he has been attracting serious interest from the Premier League in recent weeks, which could well see him depart Ibrox in the current transfer window.

Given his ability as a player, it’s easy to see why Premier League clubs would be keen to sign him and if a big-money offer comes in, it could be tough for Rangers to prevent him from moving on.

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It would be a massive blow for the Gers to lose the “exceptional” defender and their fans will be desperate for him to make a swift recovery with Croatia so he is fit in time for the start of the next campaign, as they’ll be keen to see him in a blue shirt once again.

And, in other news… Wilson can repeat double Allen masterclass with bargain swoop for £450k-rated beast

Peter Roebuck has been arrested on three charges of indecent assault.According to the BBC, the former Somerset cricket captain has been accused of inviting three teenage boys back to his Taunton home for private coaching before indecently assaulting them.Avon and Somerset police began their investigation after complaints by three 19-year-olds that they were assaulted, on separate occasions, between 1998 and 1999.Roebuck is the man widely credited with rebuilding the Somerset side after the debacle of the departures of Botham, Richards and Garner. He also captained an England XI in the Netherlands and is one of the most respected writers on the game.Roebuck was released on bail and will appear before Taunton Deane Magistrates on Thursday.

After seeing him shine out on loan last season, Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa must finally look to unleash Alfie McCalmont in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old was in impressive form for Oldham Athletic in League Two, scoring ten goals in 41 games in all competitions, and providing a further five assists too, being a key reason behind why they avoided relegation to non-league.

After seeing him make waves at Boundary Park, former Leeds man Noel Whelan waxed lyrical about the midfielder, saying: “He is a player that is immensely talented and he will do very well for Oldham. The way he plays the game is very intelligent.

“This is not a loan with a view to a permanent move from Leeds, this is a learning process. You have to be mentally tough to go out on loan, especially in League Two because it is more direct and robust compared to what you would get in the Premier League and Championship. He will be learning a lot about his game.”

And, speaking after he saw the 21-year-old put pen to paper on a new long-term deal to stay at Elland Road, Whelan insisted that Bielsa should be looking to utilise him more often.

He said: “A very good player, great on the ball and a good football mind. He is one that is learning his trade from watching Kalvin and being in and around that first-team setup.

“It is important that these young lads are integrated. It is vital for their progression and to give them confidence to step in when needed because there will be injuries and suspensions. Use them – that is why you have an academy and youth policy.”

A season away at Oldham, where he’s had regular football and developed into a real goal-scoring midfielder, will stand the youngster in good stead and will give Bielsa another option in the middle of the park.

And given he has already been involved in Bielsa’s set-up, he could go onto make a real impression and potentially even partner Phillips in the engine room and give Leeds that vital source of goals from central midfield – compare to McCalmont’s ten, the best a midfielder for the Whites managed was the four Mateusz Klich netted.

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The Leeds starlet may feel that next season offers him the perfect opportunity to show Bielsa that he’s deserving of a chance in the first-team.

Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa is eyeing this Raphinha-like star…