Uncapped allrounder Dwaine Pretorius has been named as Dale Steyn’s replacement for the remaining Tests in Australia
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2016
Dwaine Pretorius had made his ODI debut in September•Cricket Australia/Getty Images
Uncapped allrounder Dwaine Pretorius has been named as Dale Steyn’s replacement for the remaining Tests in Australia. South Africa needed the reinforcement because Steyn broke his shoulder while bowling on the first day of the Perth Test; he bowled only 12.4 overs in the match and was ruled out of the series.Pretorius, 27, represents the Lions franchise in domestic cricket in South Africa and made his ODI debut in September, playing three matches against Ireland and Australia. He has played 36 first-class matches and taken 115 wickets at an average of 22.27. He also has 1963 first-class runs at an average of 43.62 with four centuries.In the first three rounds of the ongoing Sunfoil Series, South Africa’s first-class competition, Pretorius made scores of 87, 80, 97, 28 and 72. He also took 6 for 81 in an innings, against Warriors.Despite losing Steyn – he is expected to be sidelined for around six months – South Africa were able to win the Perth Test by 177 runs, bowling Australia out twice with a three-man attack comprising fast bowlers Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada, and debutant left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. South Africa have Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel, who was not 100% for the first Test, in the squad as well and they will now be joined by Pretorius.
Nic Maddinson has the chance to get off the mark in Test cricket in the first match against Pakistan, after failing to do so in the third against South Africa
Brydon Coverdale11-Dec-20161:49
‘I’ve tried to be more selective with my shots’ – Maddinson
Nic Maddinson is in fine company. Prior to Maddinson, only a dozen Australian top-six batsmen had fallen for a duck in their first Test innings on debut. Victor Trumper was one of them, also Joe Darling, Syd Gregory and Harry Trott, among Australia’s best early cricketers. In the more modern era there was Matthew Elliott, Phillip Hughes and Andrew Symonds – all of whom went on to score Test centuries.But there are some not-so-elites in the group, too. Roy Park is best remembered for the story, apocryphal or not, of how his wife bent down to pick up her knitting and missed his entire Test career: he was bowled first ball in his only Test innings. Others such as Ken Meuleman and Roland Pope, like Park, never played another Test.Whatever happens at the Gabba this week, at least Maddinson won’t fall into the latter camp. He will get another chance in the baggy green, a second opportunity to get off the mark in Test cricket after his 12-ball duck against South Africa at Adelaide Oval. It will be a chance to show that he has the game to bat in the longest form; by his own admission he, at times, has played too aggressively in first-class cricket.”It’s all about me finding a consistent mental state where I can start my innings,” Maddinson said in Brisbane on Sunday. “Have a game plan where it can work, not just when I’m batting on a good day on a flat wicket, but something I can implement on days where the ball is moving and I’m not feeling like it’s all going together.”I think that’s an important part of how I can improve as a player. And that’s… where the inconsistencies lie at the moment. At times I’ve been a bit too aggressive when the situation didn’t suit, but I feel like I’m more comfortable with my batting at the moment which comes with making enough mistakes and being around long enough to work it out.”In Adelaide, Maddinson came in under lights, facing the swinging pink ball, and was a little tentative before being bowled by a fine delivery from Kagiso Rabada. It meant he was the only one of Australia’s three debutants to leave Adelaide empty-handed – Peter Handscomb scored a first-innings fifty and then struck the winning runs, and Matt Renshaw occupied the crease for 183 balls.But having wiped out nearly half the side in moving from Hobart to Adelaide, the selectors opted for a steady hand in the wake of Australia’s consolation victory and named the same 12 for the first Test against Pakistan. Maddinson hopes that after a nervy debut, he will be better placed for Test cricket come his second opportunity.”It helps when the team wins… it’s easier to keep it together and let guys develop a little bit if they have missed out,” Maddinson said. “Although it was a good ball, there’s always something you can do differently. Whether it’s a mindset or just sharpen up a little bit. I’ve had time to watch it and there’s definitely some things I’ll be taking in when I start my innings this week.”One positive for Maddinson is that, unlike on Test debut, he now has a decent pink-ball score under his belt. Prior to the Adelaide day-night Test, Maddinson’s pink-ball day-night first-class career consisted of scores of 1, 18, 17, 1 and 46. But against South Australia in Adelaide last week, Maddinson scored 80 in the first innings of a day-night Sheffield Shield game to give him some confidence.”Regardless of what ball it was, it was an important innings for me,” Maddinson said. “The game before that in Shield cricket I probably didn’t get the runs I would have liked when I sort of felt in at times as well.”So to be able to get 80 last week – I was still extremely disappointed to get out when and how I did in that innings, and to miss out in the second innings. But that’s cricket, I’ve moved on and I think the experiences that I’ve gained from failing in pink-ball games has probably helped me I think in what I can prepare for this week.”
Newcastle United have been linked with a shock move for Nicolo Barella this summer and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.
What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Nicolo Barella?
According to Football Insider, Newcastle will need to make a club-record bid to sign the Inter Milan midfielder this summer.
As per the report, the Italian giants value Barella at £70m – despite Newcastle being linked with a £50m move – and the Magpies have made a move for a top-quality midfielder their main priority this summer to partner star man Bruno Guimaraes in the heart of the team.
Will Newcastle sign Barella this summer?
With Champions League qualification secured there is a real opportunity for Eddie Howe to add even more star quality to his first team as the club continue their pursuit of success and trophies.
Indeed, Howe will want to give opportunities to his current squad to experience playing Champions League football next season considering their determination and resilience to secure a top-four finish, but it will be important to also ensure there is enough quality and experience in the squad to give it their best shot.
As a result, the signing of Barella – who was once hailed "top-class" by Jurgen Klopp – would certainly prove the club hierarchy's ambitious intent to keep up the rapid progress the Tynesiders have made over the last 18 months and compete comfortably at the highest level both domestically and on the European stage next season.
The Newcastle boss has relied heavily on the undeniable connection that Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff have formed in the centre of the pitch, but a club record-breaking move for Barella could not only break that bond but also improve the quality in performances drastically.
sean-longstaff-newcastle-premier-league
When comparing the Euro 2020 winner's output to Longstaff's over this season, it is clear that Barella has comfortably outperformed his positional peer in a number of key attributes including goal contributions (12 v 5), pass completion (81.6% v 81.1%), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.17 v 2.22), take-on success (57.1% v 29.6), progressive passes (214 v 116) and progressive carries (76 v 21), as per FBref.
Not only that, the 26-year-old Italian – dubbed a "genius" by sports editor Mike Piellucci – ranks in the top 8% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals and progressive passes received, as well as ranking in the top 20% for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and progressive carries, proving that he is one of the best attacking-minded midfielders in Europe.
With that being said, there is no doubt that Barella would be a major coup for Newcastle and a worthy upgrade on Longstaff, but at £70m it will be interesting to see if the club are willing to break their club record to sign the Champions League finalist this summer.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could raid Wolfsburg to sign their talented young defender Micky van de Ven this summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.
What's the latest transfer news involving Micky van de Ven?
According to German publication WAZ via Sport Witness, Liverpool will need to pay a fee in the region of €30 million (£25.8 million) to land Van de Ven this summer.
Jose Fortes Rodriguez, formerly of AZ Alkmaar, spoke to the outlet regarding the future of Van de Ven, stating:
“Micky has played a fantastic season. There are many clubs that are interested. “It would be stupid to say now that he will definitely stay in Wolfsburg. Anything can happen this summer. A player like Micky, who has developed so well – the calls from the clubs come automatically.
"I am asked: What is the situation? Do we have a chance? As I said, anything can happen this summer. It could be that he leaves. But if the right club doesn’t come along, why shouldn’t Micky stay in Wolfsburg?”
As per VI via The Mirror, the 22-year-old has fanned the flames concerning Liverpool's interest, saying in an interview: "Of course I heard of Liverpool links and I know they’ve been following me in the past. That’s it. Of course. Liverpool is a great club. There’s a chance for me to leave this summer. If a nice club with good plan arrives… I’d be open."
Journalist Florian Plettenberg has recently delivered an update on Van de Ven to his Twitter following and indicated that he would rather move to the Premier League than Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, who are also keen to sign him.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has said that Van de Ven may be a more viable target for Liverpool than Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman, who is another left-sided centre-back that was linked with a move to Anfield earlier this year.
Jones told FFC: "He's certainly good at passing the ball out; he's got a smartness about him. He's got an adaptability, too, along the back line that I believe they like. Out of those two. I have to say right now, the more likely option is Van de Ven."
Would Micky van de Ven be a good signing for Liverpool?
Van de Ven is definitely the right sort of profile that Liverpool should be looking for in a defender and could potentially be a long-term project that could stay at Anfield for many years to come.
In 2022/23, the 22-year-old racked up 36 appearances for Wolfsburg in all competitions, registering one goal and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.
WhoScored also note that Van de Ven – who's been called a "monster" by some in the media – is a comfortable presence on the ball and maintained a pass success rate of 88.3% in the Bundesliga during the campaign.
As per FBRef, the Dutchman managed to obtain a tackle success rate of 71.8% over the course of the term, demonstrating his ability to fearlessly win challenges and turn over possession.
Liverpool look set to undergo a major rebuild at Anfield this summer and Van de Ven would add a multitude of distinguishable qualities as Klopp looks to reshape his squad.
أعلن نادي ليتشي الإيطالي، إقالة مدربه روبرتو دافيرسا، بسبب اعتدائه على لاعب فريق هيلاس فيرونا، خلال مباراة الفريقين أمس على ملعب فيا ديل ماري، ضمن الجولة 28 من الكالتشيو.
المباراة شهدت العديد من الاستفزازات على أرضية الملعب من الجانبين، وانتهت بمشاحنات قوية، بعدما حقق فيرونا الفوز بهدف فلورنشو.
طالع أيضًا.. إنتر ميلان يخمد صحوة بولونيا ويُعزز صدارته للدوري الإيطالي
بعد المباراة، ذهب روبرتو دا فيرسا، للاعب هيلاس فيرونا توماس هنري، ونطحه بالرأس، ليقوم الحكم بطردهما.
نادي ليتشي، أدان تصرف مدربه، وأصدر بيانًا رسميًا، أعلن من خلاله إقالة دا فيرسا، وقال: “ندين بشدة تصرف المدرب، والذي لا يعكس مبادئ نادينا وقيمنا الرياضية، وبعد تلك الأحداث، قررنا إقالة روبرتو دافيرسا”.
من جانبه، علق دافيرسا: “لم أنطح هنري، لكنني ارتكبت خطأ وأعتذر عنه، لقد نزلت إلى أرضية الملعب لمنع اللاعبين من الدخول في مشاحنات تجعلهم يتعرضون للطرد، لقد شهدت المباراة استفزازات كبيرة من قبل لاعبي فيرونا”.
واختتم: “التلاحم كان بالرأس بشكل عادي، لكنني لم أقم بنطحه، لكن بسبب العصبية والأدرينالين نظرًا لما حدث، ظهرت الصورة هكذا، لكنني أعتذر له وللجميع على هذا المشهد”.
It was tale of two centuries at the National Stadium in Karachi with Karachi Whites opener Shahzaib Hasan’s 171 trumping Islamabad opener Shan Masood’s 136
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2017 ScorecardFile photo – Shahzaib Hasan drilled 18 fours and seven sixes during his 171 off 117 balls•PCB
It was tale of two centuries at the National Stadium in Karachi with Karachi Whites opener Shahzaib Hasan’s 171 trumping Islamabad opener Shan Masood’s 136. In a 680-run match, Anwar Ali, who last played for Pakistan in March 2016, also made an impact, sealing Karachi Whites’ place in the final with career-best List A returns of 5 for 49.After being sent in, Karachi Whites lost Arsalan Bashir to seamer Shehzad Azam in the third over, but Shahzaib and captain Akbar-ur-Rehman lifted their side with a 162-run stand in 27.1 overs. By the time Akbar departed in the 31st over, Shazaib was into the 120s. He pressed onto his 150 off 106 balls, then fell in the 40th over for 171 off 117 balls, including 18 fours and seven sixes.Saad Ali (61), Anwar Ali (45), and Tariq Harron (31*) followed up with late blows as Karachi Whites got their total up to 375.Anwar then sparkled with the ball, slicing through Islamabad’s middle and lower order. At 235 for 3 in the 36th over, Islamabad were in the hunt, but they lost their last seven wickets for just 70 runs. The collapse came after Masood was the architect of a pair of strong stands with Abid Ali and Faizan Riaz, 99 and 91 respectively. Masood went onto hit 136 off 116 balls before he was the fifth Islamabad batsman to be dismissed.
A round-up of the Group A matches in the WICB Regional Super50 played on February 12, 2017
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2017Trinidad & Tobago beat Leeward Islands for the second time in round-robin play, handing the host side a five-wicket loss at Coolidge on Sunday in a match that decided first place in Group A. T&T will now face Jamaica in the first semi-final on Wednesday while Leewards have to go up against Group B winner Barbados on Thursday to decide the other finalist.Leewards were bowled out for 189 in 48.1 overs after choosing to bat first. Their batting struggle was set in motion almost from the start when captain Kieran Powell, who entered the game as the tournament’s leading scorer with 509 runs, suffered his first failure of the tournament when he was caught behind off Shannon Gabriel for 1 in the third over. Gabriel wound up taking two more to finish with 3 for 40 while fellow medium pacer Ravi Rampaul took 3 for 27 from his ten overs to keep Leewards tied down. Five batsmen crossed 20 for Leewards but none made more than Jermaine Otto’s 38.Evin Lewis got the T&T chase off to a typically aggressive start, top-scoring with 47 off 23 balls, dominating a 57-run opening stand with Kyle Hope that spanned 7.4 overs. Lewis fell to Rahkeem Cornwall, who did his best to slow T&T’s victory charge by taking 3 for 40 in ten overs but Denesh Ramdin (31*) and Imran Khan (38*) produced an unbeaten 54-run stand for the sixth wicket to take T&T to the target in just 34.1 overs.Kent scored their third win of the tournament, signing off the Regional Super50 with a six-wicket win over West Indies Under-19 at North Sound. West Indies battled through their 50 overs to post 191 for 8 but Kent managed to haul it down with 5.1 overs to spare.West Indies were 20 for 4 inside of eight overs after choosing to bat first thanks to three wickets from Calum Haggett’s opening spell. Captain Kirstan Kallicharan did the lion’s share of the work to rebuild the innings coming in at No. 6 and wound up facing more than a third of the deliveries in the innings to grind out 47 off 110 balls. He added 63 for the fifth wicket with Shamar Springer to repair the early damage done by Haggett and lasted until the 44th over before Keemo Paul took over and produced a furious finish to the innings, hitting six sixes in his 72 off 57 balls before falling on the final ball of the innings.Kent’s reply got off to an assured start thanks to a 50-run opening stand between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Adam Ball. The run rate slowed after the Powerplay though and by the 18th over it was 64 for 2 with two new batsmen at the crease. Sean Dickson and Adam Rouse kept the junior bowling attack at bay with a 104-run third-wicket stand to steer Kent towards the target. Dickson made 53 before he fell in the 43rd over with 24 left to win and ended as Kent’s leading scorer at the tournament with 202 runs. Rouse was able to stay at the crease until the end, finishing 61 not out off 105 balls to ensure Kent would leave Antigua on a winning note.
رد مدافع نابولي، خوان جيسوس، على لاعب إنتر ميلان فرانشيسكو أتشيربي بعدما نفى الأخير الإدلاء بأقوال عنصرية تجاهه، خلال مباراة الأحد.
وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة التاسعة والعشرين من الدوري الإيطالي، حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله.
وشوهد خوان جيسوس وهو يسير نحو الحكم ويشير نحو أتشيربي، حيث زعم أن لاعب إنتر ميلان تفوه بكلمات عنصرية ضده.
عند صافرة النهاية، قال خوان جيسوس إن أتشيربي اعتذر عما بدر منه وتم الانتهاء من الأمر، ولكن تصاعد الموقف بعدما قرر منتخب إيطاليا استبعاد أتشيربي من المعسكر الدولي الحالي جراء ما حدث.
من جهته، قال خوان جيسوس عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع إنستجرام: “لقد تم إغلاق الأمر بالنسبة لي بالأمس على أرض الملعب باعتذار أتشيربي، وكنت أفضل عدم العودة إلى هذا الأمر الدنيء الذي كان عليً التعامل معه”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. مدرب إيطاليا يتحدث عن أزمة استبعاد أتشيربي بسبب العنصرية
وأضاف: “ومع ذلك، قرأت اليوم تصريحات أتشيربي التي تتناقض تمامًا مع ما حدث بالفعل، مع ما قاله بالأمس على أرض الملعب والأدلة التي تظهر أيضًا من خلال لقطات لا لبس فيها، لقراءة الشفاه والتي طلب فيها الصفح مني”.
وواصل: “لن أقف عند هذا، يجب محاربة العنصرية هنا والآن، قال لي أتشيربي (اذهب بعيدًا، أنت نيجرو)، وبعد احتجاجي أمام الحكم، اعترف بأنه ارتكب خطأ واعتذر وأكد أن تلك الكلمة مجرد إهانة مثل أي إهانة أخرى”.
واستمر: “لقد غير اليوم روايته للأحداث وأكد أنه لم تكن هناك إهانة عنصرية، ليس لدي شيء أضيفه، لا للعنصرية”.
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ويتم استخدام كلمة نيجرو بشكل عنصري للإشارة إلى الزنوج، أو أولئك الذين يعتبرون من أصل إفريقي أسود.
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Udinese striker Beto this summer to ease starring talisman Harry Kane's workload, according to recent reports.
What's the latest on Beto to Tottenham?
That's according to one Spanish outlet, who claim that Spurs – alongside Bayern Munich, Napoli and Real Madrid – could secure the services of the formidable forward.
Beto is valued at €30m (£26m) by his Serie A outfit – the fee a clause in his contract – and with I Bianconeri unwilling to conduct business for a lesser fee, the interested suitors are yet to commence negotiations.
With recent reports that Bayern are pushing for the transfer of Kane, reaching an agreement in principle despite facing an obstinate hurdle in Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, the requirement to sign a new first-rate forward is only magnified.
Should Tottenham sign Beto?
While the emphasis at Tottenham this summer will be on bolstering the backline and restoring balance to the squad through eradicating the seasonal issues of a leaky defence, targetting a centre-forward is certainly not a bad shout.
Manager Ange Postecoglou will have his work cut out in replenishing Spurs after an eighth-placed finish confirmed European football to be outside the side's reach next year, and Beto would add a new dimension to the fold.
Standing at 6 foot 4, the £3k-per-week ace has maintained a steady rate of scoring in Italy, bagging ten times in Serie A last term before netting 11 strikes this time around.
The Brazilian menace would also add a new dimension to the fold, offering greater physicality than Kane and perhaps utilising his imposing stature to serve as a conduit, and a focal point from which the likes of Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski could wreak havoc with well-timed inversions.
This is evidenced through FBref, with the 25-year-old ranking among the top 18% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons, the top 11% for clearances, the top 26% for interceptions and the top 25% for aerials won per 90.
The consistency within the top quarter of positional peers across the aforementioned metrics illustrates an aptitude in physicality across the park.
And for all Kane's excellence – having scored 30 goals from 38 league matches this year – he ranks below the bottom 50% mark for each defensive statistic FBref has to offer.
Tottenham forward Harry Kane is wanted by Bayern Munich.
Reporter Sam Tighe even said: "The way Beto spooks defenders is amazing. Chuck a ball into the channel for him to chase and even if he doesn't latch onto it, defenders panic under his pressure and end up making the craziest decisions or panicked clearances."
With statistical likeness to Alexander Mitrovic and Ollie Watkins, with the Fulham striker hailed as a "monster" by Andy Naylor while Aston Villa's goal-happy striker has been dubbed "lethal" by pundit Trevor Sinclair, the Lilywhites would secure a gem with qualities fit for Premier League football.
He would bring a brutish presence and a new angle for the attack, Kane is one of Europe's foremost forwards and deserves all the plaudits for his prolific brilliance and leadership skills, but perhaps what the club needs is a new striker to add something different when the situation demands it.