Former Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has opened up about his struggles with nearly losing his voice, describing it as "by far the worst" time.
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Fast bowler Trent Boult smashed a 37-ball 61 for Northern Districts against Otago in Mount Maunganui on the opening day of Plunket Shield 2018-19. Coming in at 59 for 8, Boult smashed six fours and five sixes to register his highest first-class score – bettering his unbeaten 52 against Bangladesh in 2013 – on a day where 21 wickets fell.Boult looted 28 from one Mark Craig over, hitting the offspinner for three successive sixes over midwicket off the first three balls. He then steered the next ball past first slip for a boundary before finishing the over with yet another six, this time over long-off. But two overs later, Craig got his revenge when he dismissed Boult to end the innings on 136.Northern Districts had the services of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, but he managed only 1, while BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme were dismissed for ducks.Earlier, Boult, Neil Wagner and de Grandhomme shared eight wickets to bowl Otago out for 108. However, in their second innings, Otago cruised to 88 for 1 to finish the day 60 ahead.Meanwhile, at Saxton Oval, Ross Taylor’s 75 helped Central Districts to 301 for 7 against Canterbury despite Matt Henry’s 4 for 87.At Basin Reserve, James Neesham and Michael Bracewell struck half-centuries, but Wellington could manage only 255 in their first innings. In response, Auckland were 64 for 2 at stumps, with Neesham chipping in with one wicket.
Erling Haaland has reportedly knocked down Netflix for a fly-on-the-wall documentary as he is keen on protecting his trade secrets.
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ScorecardFour years ago on a steamy Leeds evening Nottinghamshire Outlaws also derived great pleasure from arriving at Headingley and dumping Yorkshire out of the T20 Blast. The visitors’ six-wicket victory on that occasion was achieved in a match that saw 401 runs scored and a host of sixes arcing into the Western Terrace. The top scorer was Alex Hales, who made 67; and four summers later, at a rather different stage in his life, here was Hales again, putting any troubles behind him, and making 71 not out as Nottinghamshire coasted home by eight wickets with an over to spare in one of the lower-key shoot-outs seen in this year’s short-form competition.But if Hales was a player common to both of Nottinghamshire’s wins – his unbroken 71-run stand with the excellent Tom Moores induced a sense of resignation in the Yorkshire players quite early in the piece – most other things about this game were different to that 2014 match. For after six weeks of flat pitches and fine days the match to decide which of these teams qualified for the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast was played under lowering skies and on a used wicket where the ball stuck in the surface. It was an evening when the Nottinghamshire bowlers wisely opted for cutters and one or two spectators even chose Bovril in preference to their normal beverage on a T20 night. Players in the dug-outs warmed themselves under towels. There were as many miscues as maximums.The value of the spin bowlers was evident as early as the second ball of the game when Tom Kohler-Cadmore spooned a dolly catch to Steven Mullaney at midwicket off Nottinghamshire’s T20 debutant, Matt Carter. The off-spinner’s first over in the Blast cost four runs and his second only a single more. One immediately wondered why Yorkshire had selected no specialist spinners, opting instead to rely on five pace bowlers and Adam Lyth. In many respects the outcome of this strategy could have been predicted.For all that David Willey later made 51 and Kane Williamson added an incurably cultivated 44 late in the piece, the tone of Yorkshire’ innings was set in the first six overs. Whenever canny Nottinghamshire bowlers like Ish Sodhi or Luke Fletcher dug the ball into the pitch, the batsmen found it difficult to get the ball away. Dan Christian, the Outlaws’ skipper, could even afford to give just one over to that classic purveyor of dibbly-dobblies, Steven Mullaney. It cost two runs and was later eclipsed by the variations and immaculate control of Harry Gurney, whose four overs went for a mere 16. Five different visiting bowlers took wickets but it was a game where the bowlers needed to do little more than frustrate the batsmen. Yorkshire’s 163 never looked sufficient and its limitations were soon made apparent.Riki Wessels clubbed 16 before he was bowled by Willey but Jake Libby then helped Hales take 58 runs off the six Powerplay overs, 17 more than Yorkshire had managed. The pair had taken their partnership to 82, albeit without ever extending themselves, before Adam Lyth had Libby stumped for 30 in the twelfth over. Lyth’s emotions are rarely far from the surface and his roar of triumph could have been mistaken for a howl of defiant anguish. Moores joined Hales and the pair took a couple of overs to get established. Yorkshire’s bowlers helped them by sending down a couple of wides – the fielders had earlier conceded four overthrows – and Nottinghamshire’s batsmen gradually increased the run-rate.Moores batted as coolly as his more experienced partner but allowed himself a late flourish when his two sixes off Willey ended the match. “We did alright with the bat on what was a tricky surface but when we tried to nail slower balls, we didn’t nail it as well as they did,” suggested Willey, which somewhat missed the point that Yorkshire’s team selection as well as their execution had been awry from the first.Hales, who hit only five fours and one six in his 56-ball innings, could look back on an evening of triumph and forward to a quarter-final at Taunton. No doubt he enjoyed the chance to play some cricket and it barely mattered that he had not been quite at his destructive best. “It has been a tough couple of months with all the stuff off the field but it was nice to get out there in a Notts shirt,” he said.No doubt it was but if Hales needs any reminder as to how privileged he is to be a professional cricketer he might do worse than glance again at that scorecard from four years ago. Nottinghamshire’s victory that night was sealed by a fine unbeaten 35 by a batsman who was thought to have a bright future in the game. His name was James Taylor.
Tottenham Hotspur may have enjoyed a largely proficient summer transfer window, but there remain numerous key positions that could use some strengthening…
Who could Spurs sign in January?
It already seems like Ange Postecoglou, buoyed by his blistering start to life in the Premier League, now has his sights set on the January transfer window, seeking to build upon the fine foundation already built.
As such, it could mark an ample opportunity to begin reinvesting the £100m gained from Harry Kane's sale, perhaps into a striking replacement to put Richarlison out of his misery and return Heung-min Son to his natural role.
That's according to Italian outlet La Repubblica, who suggest that €50m (£43m) of those funds could be spent on tempting Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez to join their revolution.
Having spent much of last window reportedly trying to snag the Mexican, it seems his continued form has caught the eye of others now, with Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund all reportedly interested.
How good is Santiago Gimenez?
Having enjoyed a solid stint in his homeland, the 22-year-old marksman would move to the Eredivisie after a modest nine goals across all competitions for CD Cruz Azul.
However, it seems that a switch to the Netherlands has already proved fruitful, as his pacey and powerful play style allowed him to crash home an impressive 15 goals in the league, and a total of 28 across all competitions.
What makes this even more exciting is that the 6 foot finisher has started the new term in even more blistering fashion, having scored 12 in eight league games, poised to easily surpass last year's tally.
Such form simply had to gain adulation, with former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt leading the praise: "He's standing here among the defenders again and he's really fast. Watching the goalkeeper before he shoots, the halftime… In my opinion he is currently the best striker in the Eredivisie."
To pair him with James Maddison, who has enjoyed an outstanding start to life in N17 as well, and these two could strike up an instant partnership to help propel Spurs to the unthinkable in the final six months of the season.
After all, the England international already boasts two goals and five assists in the Premier League so far after just eight games, averaging a mouth-watering 3.3 key passes per game, via Sofascore. Gimenez must be salivating at the prospect of linking up with one of the game's most in-form creators, and likewise with the former Leicester City man.
It must also be noted that the attacking midfielder has earned success without a recognised striker, given Richarlison's woes in front of goal, having scored only once all campaign. Instead, his South Korean teammate, Son, has stepped up, and whilst posting an admirable return of six league goals, would likely be far better suited to the left wing.
Gimenez's arrival would help recalibrate Postecoglou's system, returning Son to his favoured position and the Brazilian forward to a less pressurised role on the bench. Then, he can start building his relationship with Maddison, which could prove devastating for English football.
Kent took advantage of improving Championship batting conditions as Sean Dickson made Gloucestershire toil in Bristol
ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2018
ScorecardSean Dickson became the first Kent player to register a hundred in the Specsavers County Championship this season as Gloucestershire’s bowlers were made to toil at the Brightside Ground.Translating his impressive one-day form into runs in the red-ball format, the South African top-scored with 117 to help the Second Division promotion contenders to close on 297 for 4 at the end of day one.Kent are riding high in Division Two largely thanks to the wickets of Matt Henry but this time it was the chance fo their batting to make amn impact.Gloucestershire stuck to their task in the field on a hot day and fought back in the final session, taking three wickets to partially redress the balance. Craig Miles claimed 2-61 but, in the continued absence of front-line pace-men David Payne and Liam Norwell, lacked the incisive support needed to trouble a strong Kent batting line-up.Clearly, it was a day for batting and Joe Denly did not hesitate to make first use of a placid Bristol pitch, watching from the dressing room balcony as Dickson and Daniel Bell-Drummond staged an opening stand of 124 in 46.2 overs.Becalmed in the face of a probing new-ball spell from Matt Taylor, Bell-Drummond mustered just two scoring shots in the first hour as the hosts kept a lid on things.But Dickson played with rather more aggression, raising a chance-less half century from 108 balls to ensure the scoreboard kept ticking over. Bell-Drummond eventually summoned fluency and was one run short of his first fifty of the summer when he lost concentration end edged a Miles length ball to Chris Dent at second slip.There was no stopping the resolute Dickson, who pulled and drove to good effect to eclipse the 69 not out made by Heino Kuhn, Kent’s previous highest score in the Championship this summer.He dominated a partnership of 92 for the second wicket with fellow South African Kuhn and guided a Benny Howell delivery through third man to realise three figures via his 11th boundary in the 66th over.Increasingly assertive, Dickson was looking to accelerate when he miss-judged a Miles in-swinger and played on, having faced 214 balls and struck 13 fours and a six.Certainly, Gloucestershire’s hard-pressed bowlers were glad to see the back of him and, energised by that success, they made further in-roads soon afterwards, Kuhn attempting to hit Graeme van Buuren over mid-on and offering a catch to James Bracey for 33.Their progress checked at 220 for 3, Kent’s innings was in need of a re-boot when Denly and Zak Crawley joined forces in the 72nd over. Crawley succumbed to the new ball, edging Ryan Higgins to second slip for 30, but Denly and Darren Stevens reached the close without further mishap.
Ryan Higgins left Middlesex for Gloucestershire in search of more white-ball opportunities and he put his Championship debut to immediate good use
ECB Reporters Network15-Apr-2018
ScorecardRyan Higgins bowling for Middlesex in 2017•Getty ImagesGloucestershire’s bid to complete a Specsavers County Championship win inside five sessions over Kent was scuppered when rain stopped play in Canterbury with the visitors 47 runs short of their victory target with nine wickets in hand.Chasing a modest target of 108 for victory over their Division 2 rivals, Gloucestershire had reached 61 for 1 after 15.5 overs when showers and bad light forced the teams from the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence to ruin west country hopes of wrapping up victory in this rain-delayed game with a day to spare.On a Canterbury pitch enlivened by heavy midweek rain that waterlogged the outfield and led to the loss of the game’s first four sessions, it was Gloucestershire’s seam bowlers who fared best in twice skittling the hosts for an aggregate match total of 174.”Wicket suited me” – Higgins
Ryan Higgins (Gloucestershire): “The wicket was suited to my sort of bowling, it was ideal for the slower, swing bowlers and the blokes who pitch it up there. The pitch was a little dryer today and wasn’t nipping about as much, but there was still plenty in it if you hit the right areas.
“I bowled quite a lot at Middlesex last year but am really enjoying this experience playing four-day cricket for Gloucestershire. We’re in a good position here but we still have to knock these runs off.”
Gareth Roderick’s gritty 51 helped Gloucestershire secure a valuable first-innings lead of 46, after which Ryan Higgins held a swing-bowling masterclass, taking 5 for 22 to dismiss Kent for 110 second time around.It was a great Championship debut for Higgins with Gloucestershire – a county he chose to join from Middlesex in search of precisely this sort of opportunityContrasting knocks from Daniel Bell-Drummond, who hit 61 from 63 balls with 10 fours and six, and a patient 32 in a shade over two hours by Zak Crawley, marginally saved Kentish face, but the domination of Gloucestershire’s bowlers continued thereafter as Dan Worrall and Matt Taylor claimed two wickets apiece in a controlled and skilled display of seam and swing-bowling in helpful conditions.Bell Drummond’s demise – his was the 11th of 15 lbw decisions in the match to date – sparked Kent’s second collapse in as many days as five wickets fell for 24 runs in 10 overs either side of lunch. Kent’s acting captain Joe Denly bagged a pair, Darren Stevens departed without scoring soon after then, with a single to his name, Will Gidman nicked to the keeper to complete a miserable performance against his former county as Kent succumbed in 48.3 overs.The visitors started the fourth and final innings of the match 30 minutes before Sunday’s tea interval and soon lost Chris Dent to a Matt Henry inswinger that rearranged the left-hander’s stumps.It proved a false dawn for Kent fans however, as Benny Howell (34*) and the visitors’ first-innings top-scorer, Gareth Roderick (11*), dug in after the interval to post an unbroken half-century stand that only the inclement weather could halt.As if to rub salt in Kent wounds, they also lost seamer Grant Stewart two deliveries into his third over of the afternoon with a recurrence of a hamstring problem that ruled him out of last week’s final pre-season friendly against Surrey.At the start of day three, Kent needed only six deliveries to mop up the final two wickets of Gloucestershire’s first innings.Henry, the Black Cap paceman snared Worrall leg before with a skidding first delivery of the day, then last man Taylor was well held low at first slip as Henry marked his county debut with 4 for 33.Stevens celebrated his 200th first-class appearance for the club with three for 19, while Stewart, Gidman and debutant Harry Podmore bagged a wicket apiece.Weather permitting, Gloucestershire appear destined to complete a deserved victory on day four, leaving Kent with plenty to ponder after their dismal showing in this opening fixture of the domestic season.
أعلن الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك بقيادة البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز، بدلاء فريقه في مباراة اليوم أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا، التي تجمع بينهما ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
ويتواجه الزمالك مع سيراميكا كليوباترا على أرضية استاد المقاولون العرب، في اللقاء المؤجل من الجولة الحادية عشر لمسابقة الدوري.
ويحتل الزمالك المركز الثاني عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 28 نقطة حصدها من 17 مباراة، حقق الفوز في 8 مواجهات، وتعادل في 4، بينما خسر 5.
طالع أيضاً.. تشكيل الزمالك أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري.. ثلاثي هجومي
بينما يتواجد فريق سيراميكا كليوباترا بالمركز الثامن، وفي جعبته 34 نقطة حصل عليها من 23 مباراة، إذ فاز في 9، وتعادل في 7 وخسر مثلها. بدلاء الزمالك اليوم أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري
محمد عواد وأحمد رفاعي ومحمد أشرف “روقا” وسيد عبد الله “نيمار” وزياد كمال وسيف جعفر وأحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو” وإبراهيما نداي ويوسف أوباما.
Newcastle United have now received an update on their interest in Antonio Silva, with a report revealing how much they will have to fork out on the Benfica defender…
What's the latest Newcastle transfer news?
Speaking on a recent episode of the Pod On The Tyne The Athletic's Chris Waugh has confirmed that Newcastle have been keen to bring in a new centre-back this summer, due to concerns over Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles:
“One of the thoughts going into the summer was that a right-sided centre-back would be a position Newcastle would like to add greater depth to,”
“A, because of Schar’s age and the fact that he does seem to succumb to these injuries that thankfully he seems to come back from relatively quickly but eventually you would think one is going to keep him out for a little bit of time.
“And just more of a ball-playing centre-back than Jamaal Lascelles who would be the direct backup."
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed the Magpies are keen on a new defender, naming Edmond Tapsoba and Silva as two of the centre-backs "they love", although they are deemed to be "way too expensive".
As a result of Financial Fair Play concerns, it may be tricky for Eddie Howe to bring in a top defender this summer, especially considering reports from Portugal have now confirmed that Benfica are unwilling to let Silva leave for below his release clause.
According to a report from O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are "unlikely" to be able to sign the 19-year-old before the transfer deadline, as Benfica would demand his €100m (£85m) release clause to be paid in full.
The Portuguese club are unwilling to negotiate at all, as he is viewed as one of the biggest gems in their squad, meaning the Magpies will need to get in line for a potential transfer in 2024 if they really want to sign him.
Read The Latest Newcastle Transfer News HERE
How good is Antonio Silva?
Although he is still a teenager, the Viseu-born defender has already established himself in the starting XI at Benfica, making 30 league appearances in the 2022-23 campaign, during which time he averaged a Sofascore match rating of 7.17.
The youngster is currently plying his trade in a weaker division, but Kieran Trippier is the only Newcastle defender to have averaged an average higher rating in the Premier League last season, showcasing just how well he performed in the Liga Portugal.
Lauded as "amazing" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 6 foot 2 starlet ranks in the 93rd percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and the 98th percentile for his pass-completion rate, indicating he is composed in possession.
Having already picked up four caps for Portugal, Silva could now be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, but his performances do not yet justify an £85m outlay, and the Magpies will have to wait until next year to sign him, given their FFP obligations.
West Ham United are facing fierce competition from Fulham in the race to sign a Premier League striker before deadline day…
What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?
The Irons and the Cottagers are in the market for a new frontman, having lost Gianluca Scamacca and Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer, and both clubs have identified Dominic Solanke as a possible option.
According to Football Insider, West Ham have submitted an offer believed to be around £40m as they look to reinforce their attacking options.
Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…
However, the report also said Fulham have a ‘concrete’ interest in Solanke, but the west Londoners are reluctant to match their city rival's bid and are only willing to table around £30m.
This puts David Moyes’ side in pole position, but a deal is far from finished as AFC Bournemouth are yet to accept any proposals.
Would Dominic Solanke be a good signing for West Ham?
Solanke’s decision to join the Cherries in 2019 has worked out beautifully, as he has evolved from being a sporadic second-tier scorer into a consistent top-flight threat.
In the 2021/22 season, the forward was an indispensable component of the Scott Parker side which clinched promotion back to the Premier League – he started every Championship game and was the division’s second-highest scorer with 29 goals.
As is the case with any free-scoring Championship striker, there is always an overhanging question mark of whether they will be effective in the top flight.
But, Solanke has demonstrated that he is a useful, dogged, and effervescent attacking force in the Premier League.
Last term, he netted six times and crafted seven assists, often tasked with dropping deep to link play and lead an aggressive press.
His former manager Gary O’Neil recognised the £50k-per-week dynamo's invaluable contribution to the team and said:
“Dom works his socks off for me. People that maybe don’t know, could underestimate how big Dom is for this group. Absolutely massive. I couldn’t ask for a better number nine to go and face the challenges that we’re faced with.”
The 40-year-old has extended his praise, hailing Solanke as a “dream as a centre-forward.”
A workhorse frontman of this impressive profile could forge a devastating partnership with Lucas Paqueta, who now looks set to stay in the English capital.
The Brazilian is currently being investigated by the FA for potential betting breaches, casting serious doubt over his proposed transfer to Manchester City. It was understood that the reigning European champions were close to reaching an agreement with the playmaker before the allegations surfaced.
Nevertheless, Paqueta hasn’t let this disruption affect his West Ham form, and he was a pivotal part of a 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The technician’s trickery and energy were a constant nuisance for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, and he rounded off the game with an injury-time penalty.
Similarly to Solanke, the 5 foot 11 artist has amassed a formidable reputation for his athleticism and work rate. This is mirrored by his rank within the top 5% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles, blocks, clearances, and aerials won per 90.
The possibility of these attackers lining up together is a mouth-watering prospect and is an avenue that the West Ham hierarchy should continue exploring.