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Ramnaresh Sarwan has told his inexperienced team-mates they must be mentally strong to tackle Australia

Peter English18-Nov-2009

Ramnaresh Sarwan has told his inexperienced team-mates they must be mentally strong to tackle Australia in their own backyard. Sarwan started his third Test tour Down Under with 73 on the opening day of the warm-up against Queensland, but both new openers missed out as the West Indians were dismissed for a below-par 271.Australia has been a hard place to visit for Sarwan, who has 218 runs here in six Tests, but his role has suddenly increased following the departure of Chris Gayle on Wednesday to be with his sick mother in Jamaica. The 15-man squad was already light on experience following the end of the drawn-out players’ strike and Sarwan, a former captain, has already taken on more responsibility.”We have been trying to do that, especially the senior guys like myself, Shiv [Chanderpaul] and Chris,” he said. “I don’t think nothing much will change [with Gayle’s departure], it’s important we help the younger guys as much as we can.”Nine years ago Sarwan started his first Test trip to Australia with scores of 0,0,2,1 and 0 before gaining his first half-century in the final match in Sydney. “It’s pretty tough here,” he said. “I had my first baptism here in 2000-01, but that made me mentally tough. I’ve said to the young guys you have to remain mentally tough in this part of the world. You guys play pretty hard and it will be a pretty good challenge.”Both Adrian Barath (0) and Travis Dowlin (2), the only specialist openers in the squad now Gayle has left, were dismissed by the time the score was 10 against a Queensland line-up containing two opening bowlers appearing in their maiden first-class games. “It wasn’t the type of start we wanted to get off to and we’re a bit disappointed,” Sarwan said. “But at the start the ball was doing quite a bit. Unfortunately we lost a few wickets, but myself and Shiv batted pretty well through that period, but it’s disappointing we didn’t bat through the day.”Chanderpaul made 41 before he was out pulling and Dwayne Bravo sparkled over 49 runs in 53 deliveries until he edged the legspinner Daniel Doran. Sarwan was closing in on a century after tea, but his stay ended when he was ruled caught behind to the debutant Luke Feldman.”I would have liked to have gone on and got a hundred, but nevertheless I got 73 and, most importantly, I spent some time at the crease because I haven’t played a four-day game for quite a while,” he said. “On the other hand as a team we’ll be a bit disappointed not to have scored 300.”

ScorecardWest Indies crumbled under pressure and squandered a huge opportunity to draw the ODI series against South Africa. The game ended in a tie to give South Africa the series 2-1, after West Indies needed just two to win off the final over, which they failed to score.West Indies, chasing 181, were 179 for 7 at the end of the 49th over. Britney Cooper and Anisa Mohammed were the batsmen in the middle and managed just one run off a brilliant over from fast bowler Alicia Smith, who finished with figures of 2 for 13 from six overs. The first delivery was pushed back to the bowler, Cooper scrambled a single off the second while Mohammed ruined the end, playing out three dot balls before being bowled off the final delivery.”I basically kept a disciplined line and length, I knew that she just wanted to tap and run so I kept it tight outside off,” Smith said. “We got ourselves into a bit of trouble during the middle of the innings and the West Indies were walking away with it. We knew that getting wickets was the only way to win. None of us expected this fairytale ending but I’m proud of the girls for sticking together and keeping their heads.”West Indies had got themselves into a strong position, with eight needed off the last three overs, and seven off the last two but South Africa turned the tables at the death. Chasing a competitive total, West Indies were dominating at 100 for 2 in the 23rd over. But the dismissal of opener Deandra Dottin (34) resulted in a mini collapse as well as a drastic decline in the run rate. Three wickets fell for 19 in seven overs, and it was left to captain Merissa Aguilleira to guide her team through. She chipped in with 36 amid contributions from the lower order and though West Indies limped towards their target, they were will within reach of a win in the last three overs. Cooper and Mohammed, however, failed to get them past the finish line.Mignon du Preez’s unbeaten 70 had formed the backbone of South Africa’s batting effort, and she received good support from Shandre Fritz (31) and Smith (20). Smith, in the end, proved the match-winner with her miserly spell, as South Africa celebrated a major series victory.

Aston Villa are interested in a move to bring Jesse Lingard to Villa Park in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Birmingham Live, who claim that Steven Gerrard could look to make the Manchester United attacking midfielder one of the first signings of his tenure at Villa Park, with the 28-year-old looking set to leave Old Trafford in the winter market.

Indeed, a recent report by The Sun claimed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be willing to part with the England international for as little as £10m in the January transfer window, as Lingard’s current contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Furthermore, Birmingham Live also reported earlier this month that the midfielder’s exclusion from Gareth Southgate’s recent England squad is yet another reason the former West Ham United loanee will be looking to move onto pastures new this winter, something that would appear to bode well for Villa’s chances of securing a deal for Lingard.

Lange must move

Considering just how impressive Lingard was upon his loan move to East London last season, the argument that Johan Lange should make a move to bring the 28-year-old to Villa Park when January comes around is a rather easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, the £19.8m-rated man scored nine goals, registered five assists and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.6 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the player who Adrian Durham dubbed “absolutely phenomenal” average a SofaScore match rating of 7.19, with his performances playing a key role in West Ham’s qualification for the Europa League, in addition ranking him as David Moyes’ best player in the top flight of English football.

Indeed, there are clear comparisons between Lingard’s returns last season and that of Gerrard’s former star man at Rangers, Ryan Kent, who scored ten goals, provided 11 assists and created nine big chances over his 37 Scottish Premiership fixtures last term – with these metrics seeing the 25-year-old earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.23.

As such, it would indeed appear highly advisable for Lange to do everything in his power to bring Lingard to Villa Park this winter, and the £80k-per-week midfielder would undoubtedly be an extremely useful option in Gerrard’s favoured three-man attack.

In other news: NSWE must grant Gerrard’s AVFC wish for “amazing” £4.9k-p/w gem, he’d be a big coup

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash.

What’s the latest?

According to a report by BBC Sport, Willy Boly – who is yet to feature under Bruno Lage in the Premier League this season – is once again available for selection for the visit of Everton on Monday evening, as the centre-back has recovered from an illness which ruled him out of the 1-1 draw with Leeds United last weekend.

However, the report also goes on to confirm that Fernando Marcal will miss out once more due to a calf injury, while Everton will conduct late fitness tests on Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Andre Gomes, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure are unavailable for the Toffees.

Fans will be buzzing

While Boly has not exactly been an ever-present figure in the Wolves backline this season, the news that the defender looks set to make a return to action against the Toffees on Monday night will nevertheless have the Molineux faithful buzzing.

Indeed, last season, the £9m-rated man highly impressed over his 21 Premier League appearances, helping his side keep six clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.5 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, four clearances and winning 4.8 duels per game.

The Ivory Coast international also chipped in going forwards, scoring one goal, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.7 shots per game.

These returns saw the £46k-per-week centre-back earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as Wolves’ seventh-best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, it is clear that, when given the opportunity, Boly can be an extremely important part of the Wolves backline, something that means, considering just how short of options Lage currently is in the position, the 30-year-old’s return is a major boost for the club ahead of the Everton clash.

In other news: 1 start all season: Lage must unleash “dangerous” £60k-p/w Wolves ace, he’d terrify Ev

Leeds journalist Phil Hay has made a big Andrea Radrizzani transfer claim ahead of the 2022 summer window…

What’s the talk?

The Athletic reporter has claimed that the window could be a busy one for Leeds as owner Andrea Radrizzani wants to take the club into Europe.

Replying to a fan questioning the lack of money spent in the summer, Hay said: “What I’m starting to feel now is that if this season is going to be a slog (and it looks like it will be) now is the time to start seriously thinking about what to do next summer.

“Investment in the squad will definitely be needed because Radrizzani is the one who keeps talking about Europe. It seems like next summer should be so much more active than this one.”

Leeds fans could be buzzing

Leeds fans will surely be left buzzing by this claim from Hay as it suggests that they are in for an exciting summer next year. The Whites added only two senior players to their squad in the window just gone, with Junior Firpo and Dan James arriving from Barcelona and Manchester United respectively for a combined fee of £39.69m.

Young goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson was also brought in and Jack Harrison’s loan from Manchester City was finally converted into a permanent deal. Their spending totalled £53.01m as they made nothing from outgoings, which shows that Radrizzani did invest a fair amount in the squad despite the relatively low number of new faces.

It also highlights why Leeds fans may now be excited about what could be to come next summer. Hay believes that the club could be in for a busy transfer window in comparison to the one just gone, which suggests that more than £53m could be spent. Fans will surely be delighted as it means that big money could be invested in some exciting talent to add to the squad, particularly if the rest of this season continues to be a “slog”, as Hay put it.

They will also be buzzing with the club’s ambition to qualify for Europe in the coming seasons. Imagine a European night at Elland Road after so long without one to enjoy… it sends chills down the spine. If Radrizzani can give Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta the funds to go and build a squad capable of challenging for the top six, then fans could start to believe that the glory days will return to Yorkshire.

Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory will field teams in the national women’s competition next season after Cricket Australia announced an expansion of what was previously a five-state contest. For the first time there will be a women’s domestic Twenty20 tournament in 2009-10, which will feature all six states and the ACT.The ACT have also been included in the major competition, the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), while Tasmania will be restricted to the Twenty20 league only. However, there is a chance Tasmania could in 2010-11 join the WNCL, the 50-over competition which has not been expanded since it started in 1996-97.Cricket Australia said the ACT had been rewarded for developing junior talent having fielded strong sides in underage female national championships in previous years. Michael Brown, the general manager of cricket with Cricket Australia, said the expansions highlighted the growth of women’s cricket in Australia.”Female cricket participation has flourished in recent years and the inclusion of both ACT and Tasmania in national competitions in 2009-10 is another positive sign that we are moving in the right direction,” Brown said. “Importantly, the expansion of our interstate competitions will increase the pool of female elite cricketers in Australia and provide more pathway opportunities for the next generation of Southern Stars.”In previous years the women’s state sides had played occasional one-off Twenty20 games but forming an official league will allow the scheduling of double-headers with the state men’s teams. The announcement came as Australia progressed to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in England.

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia), Tottenham’s directors have met with their Fiorentina counterparts to discuss a move for striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The Lowdown: Spurs need goals

Despite having the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in their squad, Spurs have struggled for goals so far this season.

In their opening 10 Premier League matches of the campaign, they have scored just nine goals – only rock-bottom Norwich have managed fewer than that (Sky Sports).

The Latest: Spurs eye Vlahovic

As per this latest report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia), Spurs are interested in signing Vlahovic in the upcoming transfer window.

The club’s directors are said to have met with their Viola counterparts, and it has not been denied that the Serbia international could leave in January.

The Verdict: Spurs could do with him

Over the past year or so, Vlahovic has evolved into one of the best strikers in Serie A. Last season, he netted 21 goals in 37 games in the Italian top flight, and he already has 14 goals in 17 matches in all competitions for club and country this term.

Valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, he will not come cheap – his contract does not expire until 2023. However, Spurs need goals with the usually prolific Kane having just one Premier League strike this season, and they also need quality.

If they want to compete at the highest level, they must sign top-class players, and Vlahovic’s autumn form suggests that he fits that particular billing.

In other news, Spurs want to sign this up-and-coming centre-half

أكد سيد معوض نجم الأهلي ومنتخب مصر الأسبق، أن الفترة القادمة ستحدد اللاعبين الراحلين عن المارد الأحمر، مشيرًا إلى أنه يرفض التعاقد مع محمد إبرهيم لاعب سيراميكا كليوباترا.

وقال سيد معوض في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “ETC”: “أرفض تعاقد الأهلي مع محمد إبراهيم لاعب الزمالك السابق وسيراميكا الحالي، لأن طريقة لعب الفريق في الوقت الحالي لا تناسب إمكانياته”.

وتابع: “يجب مقارنة أي لاعب يرغب الأهلي في التعاقد معه، بالناشئين المتواجدين في القطاع، وإن كانت الفوارق قليلة أدعم منح الفرصة للاعب الناشئ لأنه سيكون قابلاً للتطور”.

وتطرق للحديث عن محمد أبو جبل قائلا: “الأهلي لديه حارسين بخلاف محمد الشناوي، وعلي لطفي عندما يشارك يؤدي بشكل جيد ولعب في كأس العالم للأندية، ومصطفى شوبير عندما لعب 3 أو 4 مباريات كان مميزًا للغاية، الأهلي لا يحتاج للتدعيم في هذا المركز، فهناك منافسة متواجدة بالفعل”.

طالع أيضًا.. سيد معوض: لاعب الزمالك السابق سيكون إضافة قوية لـ الأهلي في الموسم الجديد

وعن إمكانية انضمام محمد صبحي حارس الزمالك السابق وفاركو الحالي، للأهلي قال: “صبحي من العناصر المميزة للغاية، والحارس الذي سيتعاقد معه الأهلي هل سيلعب أم سيدخل في منافسة على المركز الثاني؟، مثلما قلت علي لطفي عندما يلعب يكون جيدًا، وشوبير كذلك الأمر”.

وتطرق للحديث عن أحمد عاطف لاعب فيوتشر قائلا: “لاعب جيد جدًا، لكن لا يوجد أي لاعب في الدوري بينه وبين أقرب منافسيه في مركزه فجوة كبيرة”.

وأضاف: “كل لاعبي الأهلي في الفترة المقبلة تحت التقييم، وسوف يتحدد الراحلين عن الفريق قريبًا، وبداية الإصلاح في فريق الكرة اعتراف محمود الخطيب رئيس القلعة الحمراء بوجود أخطاء”.

وتطرق للحديث عن بيتسو موسيماني المدير الفني السابق قائلا: “موسيماني كان له سلبيات وإيجابيات مثله مثل أي مدرب، ولكن إيجابياته أكثر بكثير، ودليل على ذلك البطولات والنجاحات والإنجازات التي حققها مع الأهلي”.

واختتم: “الجماهير كانوا معترضين عليه بسبب الأداء والإجازات الكثيرة التي كان يمنحها للاعبين، موسيماني تقييمي له بأنه ناجح، كان كل بطولة ينافس عليها يفوز بها، وكنت أتمنى أن يستمر مع الفريق”.

Pakistan bounced back from the defeat to India by beating Sri Lanka in their second match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval

Cricinfo staff09-Mar-2009Pakistan 161 for 7 beat Sri Lanka 104 (Siriwardene 58, Jalil 3-33) by 57 runs
Scorecard
Pakistan got themselves onto the points table © Getty Images
Pakistan bounced back from the defeat to India by beating Sri Lanka in their second match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval. Sri Lanka kept tabs on Pakistan after they elected to bat, restricting them to 161, but were rocked in their chase by new-ball bowler Qanita Jalil. Shashikala Siriwardene propped up Sri Lanka’s sloppy chase with 58 but the slew of wickets all around her eventually told, and once she was dismissed the end was swift. It was Pakistan’s first-ever victory over Sri Lanka in 19 ODIs and also its maiden win in the World Cup after six straight defeats.”There is always a first time and I am glad that we ended our win drought in the World Cup and also against Sri Lanka,” Urooj Mumtaz, the Pakistan captain, said. “I wouldn’t like to make tall claims but we would aim and try to beat teams we have never beaten before.”Urooj said that Qanita Jalil and Sana Mir, who scored 22 and took two wickets, stood out for their contributions, saying that it was their responsible cricket that kept Pakistan in the hunt for a Super Six spot.Jalil took the first three wickets to fall, leaving Sri Lanka in trouble in the seventh over. A run-out and a wicket to Asmavia Iqbal made it 47 for 5, after which Siriwardene and the wicketkeeper Dilani Manodara (9 from 56 balls) started a slow fightback. But then Manodara was run out at 91 for 6, Sana Mir quickly snuffed out two wickets, and Siriwardene was run out. Sri Lanka’s last five wickets had fallen for just 13 runs.When Pakistan decided to bat, they were give a steady opening partnership of 47. Bismah Maroof was dismissed by Eshani Kaushalya in the 13th over, and the bowler also accounted for the other opener Nain Abibi, whose 26 from 51 balls was the highest score of the innings. Suwini de Alwis turned in a tidy outing, netting 2 for 19 from her ten overs, and it took an unbeaten 22 from Mir and a 20-ball 19 from Jalil to lift the scoring.”I am proud of my team. The way it lifted itself after Saturday’s game was magnificent,” said Mumtaz. “It was a complete team effort and every player played her role to perfection. The batters stayed at the wicket to ensure we played out 50 overs while the bowlers bowled straight and were excellently backed up by the fielders.””All in all, it was a performance to be proud of and couldn’t have come at a better time when we prepare to play England in the last group match. Our feet are still on ground as we know plenty of cricket still has to be played in the tournament and anything can happen.”Pakistan are third in the Group B points table and Sri Lanka are winless after two games.

Former Crystal Palace player Darren Ambrose shared a post on Twitter featuring comments from Wilfried Zaha on Sunday evening, and a number of Eagles fans have been interacting with the one-time midfielder on social media.

Zaha, who still has just under two years remaining on his Selhurst Park deal, netted his first goal of the season in the 3-0 win over Tottenham earlier this month.

That took the 28-year-old’s goal tally to 69, with the Ivorian in line to make his 400th appearance for the club in his next outing. Zaha has been tipped to spend the rest of his career at Selhurst Park, and he recently shared his love for the Palace support.

Ambrose posted these comments from the Ivorian winger on Twitter, with the Palace star hailing the Eagles faithful for their support through the good and the bad:

“I feel like they are the only fans that back you through absolutely everything. Even when you are in bad form, they remember your good performances. Winning a trophy for them would be massive.”

Palace fans react

Ambrose admitted that he agreed 100% with Zaha, with these Palace fans giving their thoughts in response. They were all quick to heap praise on the current Selhurst Park legend, with many sharing their ‘love’ for Zaha.

“I think I’m going to cry”

Credit: @gazbod

“Oh my”

Credit: @bradhcpfc

“So glad he feels the love”

Credit: @liamb0117

“Love that”

Credit: @fivestarjane

“Love you x @wilfriedzaha”

Credit: @xmeganrichards

“I love Wilf so much”

Credit: @JacobCPFC_

In other news: this Conor Gallagher update had lots of Palace fans talking.