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As West Ham United edged League One outfit Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup third round, David Moyes reaffirmed the role entrusted to the youth, having placed six academy graduates on the bench.

The Hammers have been on the rise for a number of years now and won the Europa Conference League final last term to cherry-top the progress made under their Scottish manager's tutelage.

Declan Rice was the embodiment of the Premier League club, having ascended from the youth ranks to play a starring role before departing for Arsenal for a staggering fee of £105m in the summer.

What did Declan Rice achieve at West Ham?

Rice has been heralded as a Hammers “legend” by Ray Parlour, such is the influence of his 245-match career in east London, where he has been an arrowhead in a charge to European exploits, indeed winning European silverware on his final game.

The 45-cap international, who has also been described as a "force of nature" by journalist Rob Blanchette, the 23-year-old is one of the most tenacious, crisp and all-conquering midfielders in Europe, and had he not risen from the youth ranks, the Irons would almost certainly have failed to glean the same level of success.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for interceptions, the top 16% for pass completion, the top 19% for progressive passes, the top 17% for progressive carries and the top 22% for goals scored per 90.

Now thriving with the Gunners, the £240k-per-week phenom is a generational talent and one West Ham will cherish eternally, and while replicating his rise would be a fruitless task, there might in fact be a prospect capable of cementing a big position in Moyes' first-team plans, included in the matchday squad against the Imps on Wednesday night. Step forward Dan Chesters.

Who is Dan Chesters?

Chesters has been on West Ham's books since adolescence and is establishing himself under Moyes' stewardship, and after clinching a place on the bench against Lincoln, will now hope for a maiden appearance on the pitch of the campaign.

Now 21-years-old, the creative midfielder will be hoping to add to his two senior Hammers appearances this season, having cemented his position as a distinguished member of the academy, completing 99 appearances, scoring three goals and providing 20 assists. Different to Rice, yes, but he is shining just as bright in the youth team ranks.

Praised for his "marvellous" early displays by journalist Jack Elderton, he could be the perfect starlet to wedge his way into Moyes' plans, and while Divin Mubama is the star of the show in that regard right now, Chesters' talents could be aptly placed for inclusion over the coming months.

Mubama has been sensational at youth level and has scored a goal and an assist apiece from seven outings for the United first-team, both coming in last season's victorious Conference League campaign.

With Chesters' creativity from the centre and, in addition, the right flank, Mubama and indeed the likes of Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and Mohammed Kudus could have the perfect homegrown supplementation for years to come.

While a player of a different distinction to Rice, Chesters could yet prove to be a talent capable of thriving at the highest level, and this might indeed be a big year for the rising star.

RCB have relied heavily on Kohli, de Villiers and Umesh. They’ll need others to punch above their weight against the best attack of the season

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan16-May-20183:51

Swann: Keen on seeing Alex Hales play well

Form guide (most recent match first)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: beat Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets, beat Delhi Daredevils by five wickets, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by five runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: lost to Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, beat Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets, beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by five runs

Big PictureFor the first time this season, Royal Challengers Bangalore have picked up wins in successive matches, both away from home. Now with their campaign on the line, they return to home comforts to take on table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. Irrespective of how other results pan out, wins in both their matches is non-negotiable for RCB, although mathematical possibilities could see them miraculously enter the playoffs even with just one win. That’s a route they wouldn’t want to take, however.Each of their three recent wins, against Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, have been a result of stupendous bowling performances, led superbly by Umesh Yadav. Four of their wins overall have come while chasing, with either AB de Villiers making a half-century or Virat Kohli steering them through. Now against the best bowling attack of the tournament, they will need more players to up their game.RCB concede 12.17 per over in the death overs, the highest by a team this season. Their ability to chase notwithstanding, a strong finish with the ball is mandatory, if they are to chase, against an attack that has a history of defending small targets. Sunrisers are already assured of a top-two finish. This means they could look at giving a few of their back-up players an opportunity without hampering the team’s balance. It’s also as good an opportunity as any for the misfiring Manish Pandey to hit form at the ground he calls home.In the newsWriddhiman Saha is recovering from a shoulder injury and should slot back in if the team management deems his recovery satisfactory. This could mean a return to the bench for Shreevats Goswami.Previous meetingSunrisers’ bowling might came to their rescue. They huffed and puffed to 146 after losing 7 for 34, but outstanding death bowling – they gave away just 19 off their last three overs – helped pull off a coup, with RCB falling five short.Likely XIsRoyal Challengers Bangalore 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Parthiv Patel (wk), 3 Moeen Ali, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 Mandeep Singh, 6 Sarfaraz Khan, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Umesh Yadav, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalSunrisers Hyderabad 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Shreevats Goswami/Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Siddarth Kaul, 11 Sandeep SharmaStrategic punt Kohli has scored 30 or more in four out of five RCB wins this season. Against Sunrisers, he’s made 473 at 59.1 and a strike rate of 145.1, so getting him out early is paramount. If you’re Sunrisers, your two best men for the job are Rashid Khan and Sandeep Sharma. The RCB captain has stuttered against legspin this season, managing just 75 runs from 65 balls and losing his wicket three times in eight innings. And while he has had his share of success against Sandeep, whom he has slapped for 56 runs in 33 balls, Kohli has fallen to him five times in eight innings. RCB can look to counter the Alex Hales threat by bringing on his England teammate Moeen Ali. Hales has scored at a run a ball off the 17 balls he has faced from Moeen and perished to him twice in three innings. Hales, in fact, has struggled against all kinds of spin bowlers this season. He has 22 runs off the 31 balls he has faced from them and perished to them twice in three innings.Stats that matter RCB have won three of the last five meetings between these two sides at this venue. And the players to have won it for them (no prizes for guessing): de Villiers twice and Kohli once. Since Sunrisers came into existence, RCB have never held a superior head-to-head record against them. While they were even in the first three seasons with one victory each, Sunrisers have bettered RCB in each of the last three seasons: 2-1 in 2016, and 1-0 in 2017 and 2018. De Villiers feasts on this Sunrisers bowling attack. None of Sunrisers’ main bowlers has a favourable record against de Villiers. Overall, he has plundered 380 runs off the 219 balls he has faced from them, averaging 42.2 and striking at 173.5. Several big names are approaching important milestones. Kohli needs 68 runs to notch up 5000 career IPL runs, while Shikhar Dhawan is 70 away from 4000 and Kane Williamson needs 45 to hit 1000.Fantasy pickDhawan is one of the reasons Sunrisers haven’t felt the absence of David Warner. He is their second-highest run-scorer and is now riding on successive half-centuries. Moreover, his record at the Chinnaswamy makes him a favourable pick: 246 runs in eight T20 innings at an average of 49.2 and a best of 73 not out.Sandeep has had an outstanding IPL. His economy rate of 5.83 is the best this season and goes alongside eight wickets at 22.62. A proven, consistent performer who doesn’t really eat into your purse. What else do you need?

تحدث خفيتشا كفاراتسخيليا، لاعب منتخب جورجيا بعد التأهل التاريخي لفريقه لدور الـ 16 في كأس أمم أوروبا “يورو 2024”.

وسجل كفاراتسخيليا هدف تقدم جورجيا أمام البرتغال في المباراة التي حسمها منتخب بلاده بالفوز بنتيجة 2-0.

كفاراتسخيليا حاز على جائزة أفضل لاعب في المباراة وقال في تصريحات نشرها موقع “يويفا”: “لم يكن هناك أفضل لاعب بصورة فردية اليوم، لقد كان الفريق، وأثبتنا للجميع أننا قادرون على اللعب حقًا”.

وأضاف: “نحن دائمًا نخرج للفوز ونركز دائمًا، نحن سعداء للغاية اليوم ولكن غدًا سنبدأ في التفكير في المباراة التالية، لكننا ممتنون جدًا لكل الدعم الذي تلقيناه”.

وتابع: “لقد حصلت على قميص رونالدو، وتأهلنا إلى الدور التالي، هذا هو أفضل يوم في حياة مشجعي كرة القدم الجورجية، لقد صنعنا التاريخ، لن يصدق أحد أننا فعلنا ذلك”.

وأكد: “لم يكن ليصدق أحد أننا قادرون على الفوز على البرتغال، لكن هذا هو السبب وراء كوننا فريقًا قويًا، إذا كانت هناك فرصة بنسبة 1%، فقد أظهرنا أننا قادرون على تحقيق ذلك”.

اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة إسبانيا وجورجيا في دور الـ 16 بـ يورو 2024

وواصل حديثه عن نجم البرتغال كريستيانو رونالدو: “قبل المباراة كان هناك اجتماع وتمنى لي النجاح، لم أتخيل أبدًا أنه سيأتي ويتحدث معي، إنه لاعب عظيم وشخص عظيم، ولهذا السبب فهو شخصية عظيمة داخل وخارج الملعب”.

وشدد: “لدي احترام كبير له، إنه أحد أفضل اللاعبين في العالم، عندما يأتي للتحدث إليك قبل المباراة، كان ذلك أمرًا رائعًا، مما ساعدنا على الاعتقاد بأنه يمكننا القيام بشيء ما اليوم”.

وعن مقارنة نجاح جورجيا الليلة بلقب الدوري الإيطالي مع فريقه نابولي، أفاد: “السكوديتو كان لحظة لا تُنسى بالنسبة لي، لكنني أكثر سعادة اليوم لأنه عندما تلعب لبلدك، فإن ذلك يجعلك فخورًا جدًا، على الرغم من أنني كنت سعيدًا جدًا بكليهما”.

وأصر: “هذا هو أسعد يوم في حياتي، الفوز باللقب كان حلمي وكان هذا حلمي أيضًا، من الصعب التعبير عن مشاعري بالكلمات، أنا سعيد جدًا”.

وعن مباراة دور الـ16 ضد إسبانيا، أوضح: “نحن نحترمهم كثيرًا، لقد لعبنا العديد من المباريات ضدهم ونعرفهم جيدًا، إسبانيا والبرتغال من بين أفضل الفرق ولكن اليوم أظهرنا أنه من الممكن التغلب على أي فريق”.

وأتم: “لا يوجد منافسون سهلون في بطولة أوروبا لكننا سنبذل قصارى جهدنا لتقديم أفضل ما لدينا، نحن نحترمهم جميعًا ولكننا سنكون هناك للقتال والفوز”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras bateu o Bragantino por 3 a 1 na partida de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil, no Nabi Abi Chedid, em Bragança Paulista, e encaminhou a vaga para as quartas de final da competição. Com gols de Raphael Veiga, Wesley e Luiz Adriano, o Verdão saiu em vantagem no confronto. Hurtado descontou para o Massa Bruta. O Palmeiras agora decide em casa, na próxima quinta-feira (5), a vaga nas quartas de final da competição.

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Palmeiras pressiona e abre o placar logo no começo
A partida começou com o Palmeiras tentando pressionar a defesa do Bragantino, estratégia que deu certo ao longo do jogo. Zé Rafael e Rony criaram duas chances de gol nos primeiros cinco minutos. Com domínio, parecia que o gol palmeirense não ia demorar.

E ele veio logo aos quatro minutos.Zé Rafael passou pela marcação, invadiu a grande área e cruzou para trás. Raphael Veiga chegou batendo e ainda contou com o desvio na zaga para abrir o placar em Bragança Paulista. O Bragantino assustou em uma cabeçada de Ytalo, que acabou indo para fora, aos nove minutos.

Verdão não tira o pé e amplia o marcador
O gol não relaxou os comandados de Andrey Lopes, que continuaram pressionando a defesa da equipe do interior paulista. Aos 17, Felipe Melo acertou um lindo lançamento para Wesley, que invadiu a área, ganhou de Ligger e bateu forte, estufando a rede de Cleiton.

Só dava Palmeiras no jogo. Com tanto domínio, o Verdão acabou fazendo o terceiro com 27 minutos de jogo. Veiga lançou para Rony,que cruzou rasteiro. Léo Ortiz cortou mal e a bola sobrou no pé do centroavante Luiz Adriano, que mostrou oportunismo para ampliar ainda mais o placar. Weverton ainda fez uma grande defesa em cabeçada de Ryller, antes de terminar a primeira etapa.

Bragantino volta tentando pressionar
Em desvantagem no placar, o Bragantino tentou voltar do intervalo pressionando. Aos dois minutos, Bruno Tubarão bateu de fora da área e Weverton fez a defesa. Ytalo e Lucas Evangelista também tentaram nos quinze minutos iniciais da segunda etapa, mas sem sucesso.

Sob forte chuva, a pressão do Massa Bruta continuou. Aos 26 minutos, Evangelista subiu sozinho, mas cabeceou na mão de Weverton. A grande chance do Bragantino veio dois minutos depois, quando Luis Phelipe bateu colocado de fora da área, assustando o goleiro do Palmeiras. Aos 30, Hurtado teve a chance de descontar, mas foi travado na hora por Lucas Lima.

Palmeiras recua e Bragantino diminui o placar
Após tanta pressão, era natural o gol do Massa Bruta. Aos 37 minutos,Morato recebeu na entrada da área e deixou Hurtado livre, que dominou e bateu firme no canto do goleiro Weverton. Aos 40, Luan saiu jogando errado mas Luis Phelipe não conseguiu aproveitar o vacilo da zaga palmeirense.

O Bragantino ainda teve uma última chance aos 48, quandoMorato recebeu a bola na grande área, girou e bateu firme, mas Gustavo Gómez travou na hora certa. Fim de jogo em Bragança e o Palmeiras mais perto das quarta de final na Copa do Brasil.

FICHA TÉCNICA
BRAGANTINO 1 x 3 PALMEIRAS
Local: Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid, Bragança Paulista (SP)
Data/Hora: 29de outubro de 2020, às 19h (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima (RS)
Assistentes:Leirson Peng Martins (RS) e Lucio Beiersdorf Flor (RS)
VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (RS)
Cartões amarelos: Aderlan, Edimar, Claudinho (Bragantino); Felipe Melo, Raphael Veiga, Wesley (Palmeiras)
Gols: Palmeiras: Raphael Veiga (04’1ºT), Wesley (17’1ºT), Luiz Adriano (27’1ºT)

BRAGANTINO:Cleiton;Aderlan, Léo Ortiz, Ligger e Edimar; Ryller, Lucas Evangelista (Uillian Correia, aos 41’2ºT), Claudinho (Cuello, aos 41’2ºT); Artur (Morato, aos 20’2ºT), Ytalo (Hurtado, aos 20’2ºT) e Bruno Tubarão (Luis Phelipe aos 12’2ºT). Técnico: Mauricio Barbieri

PALMEIRAS: Weverton, Gabriel Menino, Luan, Gustavo Gómez e Viña; Felipe Melo, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga (Lucas Lima, aos 27’2ºT); Wesley (Gustavo Scarpa, aos 42’2ºT), Rony (Willian, aos 27’2ºT) e Luiz Adriano (Ramires, aos 38’2ºT). Técnico: Andrey Lopes

West Ham United manager David Moyes has suggested that one "very important" player could miss the Newcastle United game on Sunday.

West Ham vs Newcastle preview

Both sides come into the contest in very good form, with West Ham winning four out of their opening seven Premier League games. Picking up all three points against Chelsea, Brighton, Sheffield United and Luton Town, only Man City and Liverpool have managed to beat Moyes' side so far this season. The Irons are also enjoying a brilliant start to their Europa League campaign, clinching two wins from two after beating Bundesliga side SC Freiburg and Serbia's Backa Topola in the group stages.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have just experienced one of their most exciting fortnights in recent memory. The Magpies knocked City out of the EFL Cup last week after they put newly-promoted Sheffield United to the sword with a seismic 8-0 win at Bramall Lane. Eddie Howe's side are unbeaten since the start of September, most recently Ligue 1 giants Paris-Saint Germain 4-1 in the Champions League.

The mood around both east London and St. James' Park is one of real positivity, and it will be very interesting to see if West Ham have enough to overcome a Newcastle side on top of the world right now.

West Ham vs Newcastle team news

A big positive for West Ham is that Newcastle could be without an array of key players for their trip to the London Stadium. Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Sven Botman are all unable to feature. Joelinton and Callum Wilson are also doubts for Newcastle.

On the Hammers, defender Aaron Cresswell is sidelined and Ben Johnson has picked up a little injury too, with striker Michail Antonio also missing their clash against Freiburg. Sharing an update on the Jamaica international, Moyes has suggested Antonio could be absent from their face-off with Newcastle tomorrow, but doesn't rule out his inclusion either.

“I will need to see if Michail is available. He’s not trained yet," said Moyes.

"He has done some running with the medical team, so over the next couple of days we will see if he is able to play.”

The forward has played excellently in parts this season, scoring two goals and grabbing an assist over West Ham's opening league games. Called a "very important" player by Thilo Kehrer earlier this year, former Irons striker Frank McAvennie also praised Antonio for his contribution.

Michail Antonio's style of play

Likes to do flick-ons

Gets fouled often

Likes to dribble

Indirect set-piece threat

"If Antonio wasn’t back to his old self, we wouldn’t be the team that we are now," said McAvennie.

"Because the way we play, you need somebody up front working hard, and that’s what Antonio does. Danny Ings can’t do that, so if Antonio doesn’t do that we’re in trouble, because he’s doing that and it’s part of the team and it’s working because of the way he runs and fights up front."

The 33-year-old could be a crucial player for Moyes over the coming season, as West Ham didn't sign a new striker in the summer window.

ظهر ديديه ديشامب، مدرب منتخب فرنسا في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الخميس، قبل مواجهة البرتغال بكأس أمم أوروبا.

ويلتقي منتخب فرنسا مع البرتغال، في العاشرة مساء غد الجمعة، بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ضمن مباريات الدور ربع النهائي لكأس أمم أوروبا “يورو 2024”.

وبدأ ديشامب الحديث عن حالة المجموعة على المستوى البدني، وقال: “أشعر بذلك، هناك الكثير من العمل بالنسبة للطاقم الطبي، نحن عشية المباراة، لذلك لن نفعل الكثير اليوم”.

وواصل في تصريحاته التي نشرتها شبكة “RMC” الفرنسية: “البرتغال منتخب لديه توازن قوي، هذا الفريق يفضل الهجوم على الدفاع”.

وأكمل: “كان المنتخب الهولندي حذرًا نسبيًا، وبلجيكا أيضًا، هل ستكون البرتغال كذلك؟ أعرف ما يحب روبرتو مارتينيز القيام به، سنحاول الحصول على أكبر قدر ممكن من السيطرة”.

وتابع ديشامب الحديث عن البرتغال التي خسر أمامها اللقب في عام 2016: “نهائي 2016؟ كان قوياً، كان ذلك قبل 8 سنوات، كان مؤلمًا، لا أعرف ما إذا كان قوياً إلى حد ما، نحن في ربع النهائي، الأفضل سيتأهل”.

وأكد: “يمكن حسم المباراة من خلال بعض الأمور، إنهم أحد أفضل الفرق الأوروبية، ستكون مباراة كبيرة”.

وعن مطالبة مبابي بدعم أنطوان جريزمان وقوله إن الانتقادات التي يتعرض لها غير عادلة، علّق ديشامب: “إنه ليس مكتئبًا! هل نحن قاسيون للغاية مع تورام؟ لست هنا للحكم على ما تقوله أو تكتبه، الشيء المهم هو ما أقوله لهم، أنطوان، ماركوس تورام… هناك أشياء إيجابية وهناك أشياء يمكن أن تتحسن”.

وعن قلة عدد التغييرات، أوضح: “لم أفعل الكثير حتى الآن نظرا لكثافة المباريات، ليس من السهل المشاركة”.

وانتقل ديشامب للحديث عن كريستيانو رونالدو قائد البرتغال، وأتم: “لقد كان دائمًا يشكل تهديدًا على المستوى الهجومي، لديه دائمًا القدرة على التسجيل والحسم، إنه يمتلك ذلك، إنه يظل منافسًا عظيمًا للغاية”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Aos poucos a Seleção Brasileira vai recebendo todos os jogadores para a disputa das Eliminatórias e nesta segunda-feira o técnico Tite comandou o primeiro treino da semana. Ainda sem o elenco completo, o comandante teve apenas 12 atletas disponíveis para a atividade na Granja Comary.

Na próxima sexta-feira, a Seleção recebe a Venezuela, no Morumbi, às 21h30 (de Brasília). O jogo é válido pela terceira rodada das Eliminatórias e o Brasil, até o momento, lidera a competição.

+ VEJA A TABELA DAS ELIMINATÓRIAS

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Na tarde desta segunda, apenas cinco dos 12 jogadores que já chegaram a Teresópolis treinaram: o goleiro Weverton, o zagueiro Felipe, os laterais Alex Telles e Renan Lodi e o atacante Richarlison.Luiz Henrique e Metinho, do Fluminense, completaram o trabalho. A comissão técnica fez atividades detécnicas de passe, cruzamento, finalização, controle de bola e marcação.

Os outros sete atletas que já se apresentaram (os zagueiros Diego Carlos, Marquinhos e Thiago Silva, o lateral Gabriel Menino, o volante Allan, o meia Everton Ribeiro e o atacante Pedro) apenas correram em volta do gramado da Granja Comary.

Tite só terá o grupo será completo na terça-feira. Ainda faltam as chegadas dos goleiros Alisson e Éderson, do lateral Danilo, dos volantes Arthur, Bruno Guimarães e Douglas Luiz, do meia Lucas Paquetá e dos atacantes Gabriel Jesus, Vini Jr., Éverton Cebolinha e Roberto Firmino.

Principal jogador da Seleção Brasileira, Neymar também se apresentou ao centro de treinamentos, mas faz trabalho com o departamento médico. O jogador do PSG se machucou no dia 28 de outubro, na Liga dos Campeões, e tem chances de entrar em campo no duelo contra o Uruguai, no dia 17.

Change in leadership an opportunity for Australian cricket to refresh, says former captain

Daniel Brettig16-Jun-2018

Improving relationships between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) should be a priority for the governing body’s next chief executive, according to the former captain and CA Board director Mark Taylor.Speaking for the first time since James Sutherland’s resignation as CEO after a tenure of more than 17 years, Taylor said that the leadership change was an opportunity for CA to refresh, and pointed to a better and more productive relationship with the players and their association as critical to the future.Last year’s pay dispute between the ACA and CA, as it sought to end the fixed revenue percentage model at the core of all collective agreements between the parties since 1998, created distance between CA and the national team that proved unhelpful when the behaviour of Steven Smith’s team deteriorated on the tour of South Africa, culminating in the Newlands ball tampering scandal. That event took place a matter of weeks after Sutherland and CA had warned the team that higher standards of behaviour were expected than those seen in the first Test of the series at Durban.’Sutherland harshly judged’

Mark Taylor believes Australia’s Newlands ball tampering disgrace and last year’s pay dispute were two issues that should not be allowed to cloud the achievements of the the chief executive James Sutherland’s long stint at the top. “I think James’ tenure has been outstanding to be totally honest,” Taylor said. “Seventeen years as CEO and you think back to 2001 where cricket was then to where it is today, and people generally try to harp on negatives, but you look at the growth in the game both in numbers and where the game is at, the profile of the game I think James has done a great job.
“The disappointing thing is that James standing down is something that’s been in the pipeline for those of us within Cricket Australia for quite a while, over a year now. It’s very hard to get that timing absolutely right because issues come up all the time and often you get judged on the issue of the day, which is obviously what happened in Cape Town and reviews and all these sorts of things.
“That’s one incident that unfortunately mars what’s been a great era of Australian cricket and James has been at the helm of that. I look back at all the things he’s brought to cricket, the amount of people playing, women’s cricket, day/night cricket, Big Bash Leagues, a lot of things in the game have gone forward over 17 years of James’ tenure. Unfortunately a lot of people focus on a couple of issues that I don’t think James had a lot of say over in recent times.”

“I think that’s a fair comment,” Taylor told ESPNcricinfo when asked whether CA and the national team needed to form a stronger relationship. “I think you’ve only got to see the MoU stuff last year, which in the end I think has worked out well for both sides. But we got there with too much head-banging.”I think if there was a better relationship, full stop, we could have got to the same conclusion without a lot of angst. That’s one area that both sides can improve, Cricket Australia and the players and the Australian Cricketers Association. I think if we get that better, that’ll be good for cricket right throughout Australia.”Taylor’s words will provide food for thought to many, given that CA’s lead MoU negotiator Kevin Roberts is widely favoured to assume Sutherland’s post. Roberts was unsuccessful in pushing a hard line with the ACA, allowing the nation’s best players to fall out of contract and ultimately be sidelined from negotiations as Sutherland entered the fray to broker a compromise a matter of weeks before a Test tour of Bangladesh was threatened.At the same, time the chairman David Peever, who with Roberts was seen as a major driver of the Board’s adversarial industrial relations strategy, was endorsed to serve another three-year term, something Taylor said had been unavoidable due to the fact that Sutherland’s departure called for some measure of stability at the top.”David’s got the unanimous support of the Board, he had that when we made the decision a few months ago and he still has it today,” Taylor said. “There is a lot going on in the game of cricket at the moment, we’ve lost three players through an incident in Cape Town, they’ve lost a coach, we’re now losing a CEO, John Warn leaving Cricket NSW [chairmanship], there is a lot of change going on.”So it’s good to have some stability at the same time. I think David will bring that to CA and sometimes a change is as good as a holiday. There’ll be new people coming in, as we’ve seen with Justin Langer as coach, we’ll have a new CEO at some stage over the next year to bring in some different ideas, thinking and processes, and I think it’ll be a good refresh for the game.”That’ll be all post the reviews that are coming out in a couple of months’ time. So it is a turbulent time – an interesting time for the game but a refreshing time for the game. Sutherland standing down was something [that] those of us in the inner sanctum knew was going to happen last year, so we knew there was change afoot. But when you have an incident like we did in Cape Town, you can’t just say ‘oh well things will change in the future’, because people don’t believe you.”The dual reviews currently being undertaken – one into the whole of Cricket Australia, another more specifically the men’s national team – are set to provide the incoming chief executive with a roadmap for how to take the organisation forward. “We knew there was going to be a refresh of Australian cricket and I think in a way these reviews will certainly help us do that, focus our minds on how we refresh Australian cricket,” Taylor said. “I know there’s been a desire from some people to try to link James’ exit with what has gone on in the last three months, and really they’re not related.”A lot of the big deals have been done, and now I think whoever does come in, be it he or she, will also have an independent document or documents to help them work out where we need to improve. Cricket Australia have had their hand up for a while to say ‘let’s get a body in to work out where we can improve, what areas we need to work on’ and I think these will be great documents for he or she to have to start a new era of Australian cricket.”After the Nine Network lost the rights to broadcast cricket in Australia for the first time in 40 years, Taylor has re-signed for another three years with the broadcaster to continue working as a commentator and digital contributor. Nine retain the rights to next year’s Ashes tour and also ICC global tournaments, including the 2019 World Cup and the World Twenty20, hosted by Australia in 2020. On Saturday night, Taylor will sit alongside the banished David Warner in the studio for the second ODI between Australia and England.”As soon as we unfortunately lost the rights, they were very keen to grab hold of me and keep me because they want to keep some teeth in the game I think – contact with the game they’ve broadcast for 40 years,” he said. “I’m delighted they’ve offered me the job and I was more than happy to stay – I’ve been there for 20-odd years now and looking forward to the next three.”I’m sure David will have his opinions on how the team is going to go and what have you, but how much he talks about yesteryear and a few months ago will be up to David. I suspect it’ll be more looking forward to how the side’s going now and how David’s going to approach trying to get back into the side in a year’s time.”I’ve had lunch with Smithy [Steve Smith] in recent times as I’ve done for a few years. If I know David, he’ll obviously still be disappointed, saddened by what happened but he rebounds pretty quick, David, and I think he’ll be very much looking forward to next year. If I know David at all I’m sure he’ll be pretty perky and more so looking forward than looking back.”

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their interest in adding to Daniel Farke's first-team group in the upcoming January transfer window.

What's the latest on Noel Tornqvist to Leeds?

According to Fotboll Skanalen, the Whites are one of a number of clubs currently keeping tabs on Swedish goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist this season.

The report claims that the Championship outfit had scouts in attendance for Mjallby's recent 1-0 defeat to AIK Solna as they weigh up a possible swoop for the 6 foot 6 giant at the start of next year.

This comes after Football Insider reported last month that the club are open to offers for current number one Illan Meslier after they failed to cash in on the French shot-stopper during the summer transfer window.

Date

Illan Mesliers's market value (via FootballTransfers)

October 2022

£26.9m

January 2023

£25.4m

July 2023

£22.4m

October 2023

£19.7m

However, it remains to be seen how much Leeds would be able to rake in for the former Lorient prospect or if any teams are willing to splash the cash on him.

How good is Noel Tornqvist?

Farke must avoid a swoop for the Swedish titan in January as his form this season suggests that the German head coach would be signing a downgrade on Meslier between the sticks.

The current Leeds player was once described as a "massive liability" by journalist David Kent but that does not mean that any goalkeeper would improve the club.

In terms of shot-stopping, there is not much to separate Tornqvist and Meslier this season. The former has conceded 1.2 goals per game in 23 matches throughout 2023 in comparison to the latter's one per match in 11 Championship outings.

However, the Whites colossus appears to have the edge with his play in possession as he has completed 77% of his attempted passes and 95% of his passes within the Leeds half. Whereas, the Swedish youngster has a pass completion rate of 69% and that includes an 87% success rate within his own half.

Meslier is also more proactive in coming out to clear danger. The French gem has completed 0.5 run-outs per match to sweep up behind his defence, whilst Tornqvist has not made a single sweeping action all season.

This suggests that the Whites target would not suit the high line that has caused the ex-Lorient 'keeper to be called upon to come out and make clearances when the ball is played into the space between him and his back four.

Mjallby's number one has also been more of a liability than the Leeds stopper with the number of direct errors he has made throughout 2023. The 21-year-old prospect has made two mistakes that directly led to a shot or goal for the opposition and given away two penalties, as per Sofascore.

Meslier, on the other hand, has not made a single error that has led to a shot or goal for the other team and has not conceded any penalties in the Championship this term.

Overall, Tornqvist's statistics do not indicate that Leeds would be signing an upgrade on the French talent, who is only two years older than the Swedish ace, and that is why Farke must avoid a deal for the left-footed target.

Bangladesh’s batsmen have only themselves to blame for their wretched performance in the two Tests against West Indies, according to Tamim Iqbal

Mohammad Isam15-Jul-2018

Bangladesh’s batsmen have only themselves to blame for their wretched performance in the two Tests against West Indies, according to Tamim Iqbal. He said that even when the pitch became easier for batting on the third day of the Jamaica Test, they couldn’t enter into a contest with the West Indies fast bowlers.Instead, Bangladesh collapsed to 168 all out in 42 overs as West Indies completed a series-winning 166-run victory. Home captain Jason Holder finished with 11 for 103 as their fast bowlers dominated the two Tests. Only two out of the 40 wickets West Indies took went to a spinner – Roston Chase. Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel took five-wicket hauls in the first Test while Miguel Cummins chipped in with wickets from time to time.”What happened here, there’s nothing to explain,” Tamim told ESPNcricinfo. “We only have ourselves to blame. Our batting was not up to the mark. We were playing on difficult wickets but these were not unplayable. There were exceptional deliveries but it wasn’t so bad that we couldn’t get 200 in any innings. Even today, we weren’t going to make 330 or 340 but it was a really good wicket to bat on. If we could have been in the contest longer, it would have been an interesting game.”None of the Bangladesh batsmen could total 100 runs in the four innings, The team’s series batting average stood at 12.60, their lowest ever. Only Nurul Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan scored fifties while Mahmudullah and Mominul Haque made 19 and 16 runs in the series respectively.The only departure from usual Test conditions that Tamim observed during this series was the use of the Duke ball. The last time Bangladesh played with the Duke ball was during their 2014 West Indies tour. Bangladesh regularly play with the Kookaburra ball both at home and in other countries. The Duke balls are known to have a more pronounced seam than the Kookaburra, helping the pace bowlers for movement off the seam for longer periods.”The only thing that was different here was the Duke ball which we were playing [with] after four years,” Tamim stated. It swings and seams more than the Kookaburra ball, but that’s the only difference. But it is not an excuse for our bad performance.”I think it was more mental than technical. The top six here had similar dismissals. I think we were prepared enough for tackling swing and bounce, but you can’t really prepare for a seaming track where the ball is cutting.”Bangladesh lasted 88.1 overs in this game, after having batted for only 59 overs in Antigua. They only lasted 883 balls across the series, the fewest by a team in a two-Test series since 1888-89, not counting heavily rain-affected contests. Tamim said that it was perhaps their biggest downfall not to bat longer and take advantage of lulls in a Test match. He felt that by batting for 60-70 overs at a time, they could have tired down the West Indies pace bowlers who played three Tests against Sri Lanka recently.”I have played in different conditions in New Zealand and South Africa. In these wickets, you have to spend a lot of time,” Tamim said. “You can’t play a big shot early. But I think our biggest downfall was not being able to keep them on the field for 60-70 overs at a stretch. Their pace bowlers were playing five back-to-back Tests, so they would have been tired.”If we could have stretched the game longer, we could have cashed in. We all know there are difficult phases and easy periods in Test matches. We never gave ourselves that chance. We got all out in less than 20 overs in the first innings in Antigua and here it was no different. We got bowled out in 40-45 overs.”Tamim also questioned his own performance, having scored just 64 runs in four innings, and understood he needed to improve quickly. The battling 47 in the first innings in Jamaica was the only highlight for him in the Test series. “I haven’t failed like this since 2014 so it is shocking to me regardless of how other people feel about my performance,” he stated. “I know that I have to be better at coping with this kind of thing.”From a personal point of view, I would say three out of my four dismissals were very good deliveries. But having said that, I should have handled it differently. I am a senior cricketer from whom people expect runs.”With the three-match ODI series starting next week, Tamim found some solace in returning to a more favoured format, although he said that they needed to shed the memory of the Test series quickly. He, however, warned that completely forgetting how poorly they played in Antigua and Jamaica wouldn’t be ideal ahead of their next Test assignment.”A different format would suit us but we are going in with bad rhythm,” he said. “We have four-five days to forget the Test series and rebuild for the ODIs. But I think we shouldn’t forget it completely. We should keep in mind how we did, before our next Test series.”