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Having broken a run of 1021 days without a century for India, Virat Kohli was elated and grateful – and a tad surprised to have ended this phase in the shortest format

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Sep-2022

“I feel very blessed, very grateful right now. Last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I’m going to turn 34 in November, so celebrations [on getting to landmarks] are all [a thing of] the past. I have put a lot of things in perspective and, actually, I was a bit shocked because this was the format I least expected a century to come in any time soon, but it’s all God’s blessings. I have been working hard and this was just a moment which was very special for me and the team as well.Related

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“It [the thoughts running through his head] was an accumulation of a lot of things. As I said, when I came back into the team [after a break], the team’s been really open and welcoming and helpful, given me space to work on my game. I know there was a lot of stuff going on on the outside but they really kept my perspective right.”And I kissed my ring [on a chain around his neck] in the celebration as well. You see me standing here like this right now because [of] all the things that have been put in perspective [and] have been done by one person, who stood by me through all these difficult times – that’s [his wife] Anushka [Sharma] and this hundred is specially dedicated to her and our little daughter Vamika as well.”As I said, [it helps] when you have someone next to you putting the things in right perspective like I have [had], and Anushka has been by my side through all these times…”Time away from the game taught me a lot of things, when I came back I wasn’t desperate. I was grateful for what God blessed me [with] before. People were talking about me not getting a hundred but I looked at how much he has given me already, so that really calmed me down, that relaxed me, I was just happy to come back.”Six weeks off, I was refreshed, I understood after taking a break how tired actually I was mentally and physically. Your competitiveness doesn’t allow you to take that call, but I think it was a blessing in disguise for me. I wanted to be the best version of myself for the team, and when I came here, when I started playing in the nets, I felt like my old rhythm was coming back. It was just about getting those performances in the middle again.”

Symonds’ kids, Billy and Chloe, ran drinks during Australia’s fielding stint, and spent the innings in the team dugout

Andrew McGlashan28-Aug-2022Andrew Symonds’ children were at the centre of tributes to him during the opening ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.The outfield was emblazoned with Roy 388 – Symonds’ nickname and Test cap number – in memory of the former allrounder who died in a car accident west of Townsville in May.Related

Townsville grandstand officially named after Andrew Symonds

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'You ripper, Roy' – Andrew Symonds farewelled as true Aussie great

Symonds’ children, Billy and Chloe, were part of the pre-match ceremony, standing alongside Aaron Finch and Steven Smith for the anthems where there was a moment’s silence for Symonds. They then helped run the drinks during Australia’s fielding stint, and spent the innings in the team dugout.At the interval, Symonds’ family members Laura Vidmar, sister Louise and mother Barbara – along with his children and close friend Jimmy Maher – walked to the pitch to lay his baggy green, his bat, his Akubra hat, a fishing rod and a crab pot at the wickets. Symonds’ two dogs, Buzz and Woody, also walked to the centre.”What he did as a player was remarkable,” Finch said ahead of Australia’s match against Zimbabwe. “He was someone who put bums on seats, he was box office with bat and in the field. [It’s been] a really sad time obviously for Australian cricket over the last little while. It’ll be nice to have some tributes and his family here.The late Andrew Symonds’ kids, Chloe and Billy, run drinks during the game•AFP/Getty Images”For someone who was so laidback, his depth of knowledge of cricket and players was second to none. I think the larrikin tag was there, but the deep knowledge of the game was outstanding as well.”Earlier in the week, Australia coach Andrew McDonald had said Symonds was a cricketer who had changed the game.”Roy was an amazingly talented, natural cricketer and a brilliant team-mate. He loved playing for his country and his mates,” McDonald told the . “He had a significant impact on the game, particularly here in Queensland as well as across Australia and the world.”Roy also had a huge influence on inspiring the new generation of cricketers. He changed white-ball cricket just as Dean Jones did in his time. They were two of the true legends of Australian cricket. It is a great tragedy he is gone, but it is fitting we get the opportunity to honour him here in Townsville, and the local fans will be able to pay their respects to a true great.”It is expected that the grandstand at the Riverway Stadium will be renamed after Symonds in the near future.Symonds played 26 Tests, 198 ODIs and 14 T20Is for Australia, which included his central role in winning the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and a maiden Test century against England in the 2006-07 Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is hopeful that Amad Diallo may well feature for the club again before the end of the season.

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• Amad had been ruled out for the season
• Ivorian had been excelling under Amorim
• United hoping to claw back respectability

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Before he suffered an ankle injury in training that had thought to have ruled him out for the season, Amad had been one of very few bright sparks in the United team this season. The winger, capable of playing across the front-line or at wing-back, had chipped in with six goals and six assists in 22 Premier League games and quickly became a key player under Amorim. Despite those initial fears, the Portuguese coach has suggested he may well return for the latter stages of the Premier League and, more importantly, Europa League campaigns.

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  WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Speaking ahead of the Manchester derby, Amorim said of Amad: "He’s doing quite well. We hope to have him before the season is finished. We'll see, but he's anxious to play, so we are waiting for him."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amad's return would represent a huge boost to the squad and Amorim's attacking options. In a number matches under the new coach, United have often had to rely on the attacking brilliance of Bruno Fernandes to bail them out of trouble and it is hard to imagine Amorim would not want to balance the attacking burden across his forwards. With Champions League qualification via the Premier League all but written off, United will have to put all their eggs in the Europa League basket and will be desperate to have their tricky winger back in time for the later rounds.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  With Amad still recovering, United will have to conjure up any result against Manchester City without their star from the reverse fixture. They face their city rivals on Sunday afternoon, buoyed by their Amad-inspired success at the Etihad. This comes before a huge game in Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

استقر أسامة نبيه، المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 عامًا، على تشكيل مباراة جنوب إفريقيا، اليوم الأحد، في افتتاحية مشواره في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا.

يفتتح منتخب مصر مشاركته في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا بملاقاة منتخب جنوب إفريقيا على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

وتستضيف مصر هذه البطولة من 27 أبريل حتى 18 مايو، والتي تُعد مؤهلة لكأس العالم.

طالع.. منتخب مصر للشباب يختتم تدريباته استعدادًا لـ كأس أمم إفريقيا

ويقع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى، إلى جانب منتخبات جنوب إفريقيا، سيراليون، زامبيا، وتنزانيا.

ويتأهل إلى دور الثمانية من البطولة المنتخبات الحاصلة على المركزين الأول والثاني في كل مجموعة، بالإضافة إلى أفضل منتخبين من أصحاب المركز الثالث.

وتنطلق المباراة بين مصر وجنوب إفريقيا، في كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 20 عامًا في تمام التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والمملكة العربية السعودية. تشكيل منتخب مصر للشباب المتوقع اليوم أمام جنوب أفريقيا

حراسة المرمى: عبد المنعم تامر.

الدفاع: محمد عاطف وأحمد عابدين وعبد الله بوستنجي ومحمود لبيب.

الوسط: أحمد كاباكا ومحمد السيد وأحمد وحيد.

الهجوم: عمر خضر وأحمد شرف ومحمد زعلوك.

The left hander will fly out with the squad at the weekend but remains under a fitness cloud

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2022 • Updated on 11-May-2022

Henry Nicholls has been cleared to travel to England this weekend but may be struggling to be fit for the opening Test at Lord’s after picking up a grade one calf strain during a pre-tour training camp.Nicholls, the left-handed middle-order player, underwent a scan on his right calf on Tuesday after picking up the injury doing running drills in Mount Maunganui. The positive news was that he has not suffered a tear but he still faces uncertainty and is unlikely to play a full part in the two warm-up matches at the end of the month.”While it’s a positive that Henry hasn’t torn the calf, the next two to three weeks are going to be crucial in terms of his recovery and subsequent availability for the Test series,” head coach Gary Stead said. “Calves can be a challenge to rehab and we will need to minimise the risk of him re-injuring himself with any return to match action.”Related

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Nicholls is a key part of New Zealand’s Test side having made eight centuries in 46 matches with an average of 40.38. Daryl Mitchell, who is one of five members of the Test squad currently at the IPL, would be in the frame to replace Nicholls in the middle-order if required with Rachin Ravindra another option who would also be able to provide some spin bowling.”Henry’s obviously an important player for us at number five and we know he’ll be doing everything he can to make himself available,” Stead saidNew Zealand face England in three Tests during June with the opening match beginning at Lord’s on June 2.There remains a question mark over when the IPL-based players – Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Trent Boult and Tim Southee – will join the tour depending on the progress of their franchises.Initially an enlarged 20-player squad has been named to cover for those absences with a reduced 15 names expected to be confirmed before the opening Test.

Javagal Srinath says the surface didn’t offer an even contest between bat and ball

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2022

The pitch for the second India-Sri Lanka Test in Bengaluru, which finished inside three days, has been rated as “below average” by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath.An office bearer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in the past, Srinath felt “the pitch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball,” as per an ICC media release.Twenty-six of the 39 wickets in the Test fell to spin. The first day accounted for 16 wickets, while days two and three produced 14 and nine, respectively.Related

Rawalpindi pitch gets 'below average' rating

Shreyas Iyer, who was named Man of the Match for his twin half-centuries, felt the pitch was “not that great” during a press conference after his counterattacking 92 gave India a strong first-innings total.”You saw the players who defended the ball, there was a lot of chance of nicking, and there was variable bounce on that wicket,” Iyer said after the opening day.”You can’t just play very negatively on that wicket and just keep defending the ball. You’ve got to have that positive intent when you step out on the field. The wicket is not that great. It’s obviously bowler-friendly.”Srinath, the former India fast bowler, has submitted a report that has been forwarded to the BCCI. The venue, meanwhile, has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring process.Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period. If a venue accumulates five demerit points, it will be suspended from hosting international cricket for a 12-month period.Bengaluru became the second venue in two weeks to receive a “below average” rating. Rawalpindi, which kickstarted Australia’s first tour to Pakistan in 24 years, also received a similar rating from match referee Ranjan Madugalle after the Test produced 1187 runs for the loss of just 14 wickets over five days.While the Chinnaswamy surface offered variable bounce from day one, the Rawalpindi track “hardly changed over the course of five days” and that there had been “no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower.”For the record, India claimed the series 2-0, with Dimuth Karunaratne’s fighting century in the fourth innings merely delaying the inevitable. The Test marked the first time Jasprit Bumrah picked up a five-for in a home Test.

تواصلت شكوى نادي بيراميدز من المضايقات التي تتعرض لها بعثة الفريق الكروي الأول في المغرب، قبل مواجهة الجيش الملكي في إياب الدور ربع النهائي من دوري أبطال أفريقيا.

وأصدر نادي بيراميدز بيانًا رسميًا حصل بطولات على نسخة منه كشف فيه عن واقعة جديدة تمثلت في إطلاق عدد كبير من الألعاب النارية من قِبل جماهير الفريق المغربي أمام فندق إقامة بعثة بيراميدز بمدينة مكناس، في الساعات الأولى من صباح الإثنين.

موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة بيراميدز والجيش الملكي اليوم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. والمعلق

وأوضح البيان أن أفراد البعثة قد استيقظوا عند الساعة الخامسة فجرًا على أصوات مرتفعة نتيجة تجمع مشجعي الجيش الملكي أمام الفندق وإطلاقهم الألعاب النارية بكثافة أمام غرف اللاعبين، في محاولة واضحة لإزعاجهم ومنعهم من الحصول على قسط كافٍ من الراحة قبل المواجهة المرتقبة.

وأشار نادي بيراميدز إلى أن البعثة قد تعرضت، مساء الأحد، لمضايقة مماثلة خلال التدريب الختامي على ملعب المباراة، بعد أن تم إطفاء إضاءة الاستاد الشرفي بمكناس بشكل مفاجئ، قبل نهاية المران المقرر من قبل الاتحاد الأفريقي لكرة القدم (كاف) بأكثر من 10 دقائق، رغم استمرار الفريق في أداء تدريباته.

وقدمت إدارة نادي بيراميدز شكوى رسمية جديدة إلى الجهات المختصة، تضمنت تفاصيل الواقعة الأخيرة التي حدثت فجراً، مؤكدة أن مثل هذه التصرفات لا تليق بالأجواء التنافسية التي يفترض أن تسود في البطولات القارية.

ويستعد بيراميدز لمواجهة الجيش الملكي المغربي في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساء الثلاثاء على ملعب الشرفي بمدينة مكناس، ساعيًا لحسم بطاقة التأهل إلى نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد فوزه ذهابًا في القاهرة بنتيجة 4-1.

Pakistan stars Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan have been recalled from the BBL by the PCB to be ready for the start of the PSL which begins on January 27.Brisbane Heat were left frustrated by Fakhar’s withdrawal in particular after Heat signed the opener on December 31 as a replacement player for injured Englishman Tom Abell, but he only managed to play one game for them due to a combination of Covid-19 issues and travel restrictions between states in Australia.”Unfortunately the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed it had rescinded its permission for Fakhar to play our remaining games, along with all Pakistan players currently involved in the BBL, and summoned him to return immediately to prepare for the Pakistan Super League,” Heat said in a statement.”We are disappointed that he won’t be able to play for us and he is disappointed he won’t have the opportunity to get some more games in for us. He asked us to thank the fans for their support and wish the team all the best for the remaining three games.”Rauf confirmed on social media on Saturday that he was leaving Melbourne Stars with two games to go, while Shadab didn’t play in Sydney Sixers’ win over Sydney Thunder.Meanwhile, Adelaide Strikers have also lost Rashid Khan for the remainder of the tournament due to international duty for Afghanistan, who play Netherlands in a three-match ODI series starting January 21.Heat do receive a boost with Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson to return for their clash with Stars, while Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis have also been released from Australia’s Test squad to rejoin Perth Scorchers.

Gary O’Neil is under increased pressure as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Even though the Old Gold won their first game of the season against Southampton last time out, thanks to a goal and assist from star man Matheus Cunha, their manager is still under fire with his side sitting 19th in the Premier League.

They have certainly started worse than people may have thought, including Phil McNulty, BBC Sport’s chief football writer. In his pre-season predictions, he predicted them to finish 15th, explaining he believes “Wolves can avoid danger”. Whilst there is still some way to go this campaign they haven’t made the best start.

A big reason for their struggles this term is their poor defensive record.

Wolves’ defensive stats

Wolves’ biggest weakness this season has undoubtedly been their defensive frailties, and it is a real cause for concern. They have comfortably conceded the most goals in the top flight this term with 27. That is five more than any other side, with Ipswich Town and Brentford the two closest sides who have both conceded 22.

They have conceded five or more goals in a single game twice this season. One of those came against the Bees, losing 5-3 in London.

The other instance was also against a London side, this time Chelsea, who beat them 6-2 at Molineux, in one of the most frustrating performances under O’Neil.

Their home record is certainly a cause for concern. As per Understat, the Old Gold have conceded 14 of the 27 goals at Molineux, three more than any other side. Their expected goals-against tally at home is currently 10.44xGA, with the 3.56 difference between that and the number of goals they have conceded at home the worst in the Premier League.

It is certainly a real issue that the Old Gold have such a leaky defence. As Sir Alex Ferguson famously said, “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. Whilst the Midlands club are not attempting to win the Premier League, a more watertight defence would certainly help their survival bid.

With that in mind, they may regret the sale of a former defender who is now worth so much more than what they made for him. That man is Nathan Collins.

Collins' value in 2024

The Irish defender joined Brentford for £23m back in July of 2023. At that time, the Old Gold were managed by Julen Lopetegui, who left around one month later, with O’Neil being drafted in as his replacement.

He only played one season at Molineux before swapping the Midlands for London in 2023. In total, the defender made 31 appearances, including 26 in the Premier League, although never managed to find the back of the net for Wolves.

Since making the move to the Gtech Community Stadium, Collins has become a pivotal player under the tutelage of Thomas Frank. The Republic of Ireland international has so far played 38 games for the club, managing to get on the score sheet three times, with one of those goals coming this season against the Old Gold.

Competition (season)

Games

Minutes

Clean sheets

Premier League (2023/24)

32

2650

7

FA Cup (2023/24)

2

210

0

Carabao Cup (2023/24)

1

90

0

Premier League (2024/25)

11

990

0

Carabao Cup (2024/25)

2

106

1

Given the defender is just 23 years of age, it is clear that the Bees signed a player for both the present and the future. He was described as a “complete and dominant” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also compared him to Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

Looking back on it, the Old Gold might regret selling Collins. Not only did he join a Premier League rival, but his value has since shot up. According to CIES Football Observatory, the defender is now worth as much as £46m, an increase of roughly £23m from what they sold him for.

O’Neil might well wish he still had Collins in his ranks to call upon, given their defensive frailties this term. Not only could he have helped sure things up at the back for Wolves, but they could have even sold him on for a far larger sum than what they did.

Dawson 2.0: Wolves want "monstrous" £79k-p/w star who can replace Mosquera

Gary O’Neil would be overjoyed if this defender joins Wolverhampton Wanderers in January.

1 ByKelan Sarson Nov 14, 2024

It will be the the state’s first Test since 2016 after they were preferred over the MCG and SCG

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2021Hobart has been confirmed as the venue for the fifth men’s Ashes Test – which will be the second day-night fixture of the series – after seeing off competition from the much larger MCG and SCG.It will be the first Ashes Test hosted in Tasmania and the first in the state since 2016 when Australia played South Africa.”This is a famous victory for Tasmania,” premier Peter Gutwein said. “This top-level international event will be the biggest sporting event our state has ever hosted.”I’d like to thank Cricket Tasmania for their support with our bid. Also Cricket Australia for the way they engaged with us on this. And for making the right decision in the interests of cricket and development of the game across the country.”A new location was required for the final match of the series after Western Australia’s hard border restrictions meant it was not possible to hold the contest at Optus Stadium. The dates for fixture remain January 14-18.Related

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Fifth Ashes Test moved out of Perth

Hobart’s Bellerive Oval had been the frontrunner – backed strongly by the state’s government while also being endorsed by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison – but Cricket Australia had to weigh up the commercial considerations alongside their duty to take the game around member states.The ground can hold up to 20,000 spectators but the capacity for the Test is expected to be just under 14,000.The match will be played under lights with the pink ball so that broadcasters can maintain the primetime east coast slot that they get when a Test is played in Perth. Hobart will join Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide as hosting day-night Tests in Australia.”We are delighted to announce that Blundstone Arena in Hobart will be hosting an Ashes Test match for the first time and thank the Tasmanian government for its support,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said.”I would like to thank all the states and territories who took part in this process. The submissions we received were outstanding and we had no doubt that each of the venues that took part would have hosted a wonderful event.”There were a range of considerations, including commercial, logistical and operational factors and on the balance of these, the CA board agreed on Blundstone Arena being the most appropriate venue to host the fifth Vodafone Men’s Ashes Test.”Last month Cricket Tasmania came out very strongly against CA’s handling of the Tim Paine situation but they were always confident that would not be held against them in this process.”This is a great day not just for Tasmanian cricket, but for Tasmania in general,” Cricket Tasmania chief executive Dominic Baker said. “This will be without a doubt the biggest sporting event Tasmania has ever hosted.”Hobart was due to host the Test against Afghanistan last month but that was postponed due to the political situation round the Taliban government’s impact on female sport.