All posts by h716a5.icu

Gloucestershire trail by 117 overnight after ex-England opener posts 195, his Durham best

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2023Durham 433 for 8 (Lees 195, Clark 82) lead Gloucestershire 316 by 117 runsAlex Lees gave the England selectors a gentle nudge after scoring his third century in as many innings to guide Durham into a strong position against Gloucestershire in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash.Lees anchored the innings with a flawless knock of 195, posting his highest score as a Durham player since his move to Seat Unique Riverside in 2018. Graham Clark provided the perfect complement with 82 as the two shared a stand worth 195 after the hosts were reduced to 109 for four in reply to Gloucestershire’s 316.The two batters rebuilt the innings and propelled Durham ahead in the game, having skittled the visitors’ tail within the first half-hour of day two. It allowed Brydon Carse to tee off late in the day to push the hosts into a 117-run lead at the close with two first-innings wickets remaining.Resuming on 280 for six, Gloucestershire put their foot down before the arrival of the new ball. Zafar Gohar smashed three boundaries off Carse’s first over, while Josh Shaw cleared the rope with a huge strike over long-on against Parkinson to earn a second batting bonus point.Durham answered fire with fire as Carse responded with a hostile spell to make the breakthrough. Shaw could only glove behind to Robinson down the leg-side and the next ball was too good for Matt Taylor. Zaman Akhter survived the hat-trick ball and another barrage from Carse before the arrival of the new ball.Ben Raine then wrapped up the innings within three deliveries with the new Kookaburra in hand by bowling Gohar and pinning Dominic Goodman lbw, securing maximum bowling points for the hosts.Shaw made quick inroads for the visitors to remove Michael Jones, but Lees responded by taking the attack to the Gloucestershire bowlers. The left-hander shared a stand worth 67 with Scott Borthwick before the Durham captain picked out substitute fielder Jack Taylor as he aimed to clear the short boundary, presenting Shaw with his second wicket.Lees worked his way to his fifty from only 56 balls, but Durham had issues at the other end when David Bedingham emulated his captain’s dismissal falling three balls before the lunch break. Ollie Robinson continued the procession after the interval as fell caught and bowled to Goodman, leaving Durham in trouble at 109 for four after losing three wickets for 32.The home side required patience at the crease and Lees duly delivered without taking any risks on his march to three figures. He showed composure in a slow grind through the nineties before bringing up his third hundred of the term after striking Gohar straight down the ground to the fence.Clark offered a useful foil at the other end to support the former England opener. After a period of consolidation, the two batters upped the ante and cranked up the pressure on the Gloucestershire bowlers.James Bracey turned to a variety of options, but could not stop the onslaught from the fifth-wicket stand, especially from Lees who powered his way to his highest score of the season by passing 150 with three-straight pulls to the boundary against Akhter.Ben Charlesworth took the ball in the 70th over and finally broke the stand for 195 when Clark drilled the ball straight to Chris Dent at short mid-wicket, falling narrowly short of a deserved century. Carse and Lees guided the hosts to their third batting bonus point before the new ball.Matt Taylor found his rhythm from the off with the new ball to end Lees’ brilliant knock for 195 and then Raine first ball to give the visitors hope of skittling the hosts late in the day. But, Carse stamped his authority in the final hour, reaching fifty from 45 balls and smashing three sixes in the process, ensuring Durham ended the evening in command closing in on maximum batting points.

Jeremie Frimpong says it is the "best feeling" that former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Florian Wirtz will link up with him at Liverpool.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Frimpong leaves Leverkusen for LiverpoolWirtz joins him following £116m transferDutchman revels in German's Anfield switchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A matter of weeks after Frimpong swapped Leverkusen for Liverpool, Wirtz has sealed a £116 million ($156m) switch to Anfield. Now, the Dutchman has expressed his delight at the fact they will be team-mates once more, while explaining how Wirtz made him feel welcome when he joined the German team in 2021 from Celtic.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT FRIMPONG SAID

Frimpong told Sky, via journalist Florian Plettenberg: "Now that it’s official, it’s the best feeling. When I first came to Leverkusen, Flo was the one that took me in. Now we’re doing it all over again – so it’s good. I’ve been in Leverkusen for four and a half years, and I won everything. I won the Pokal. I won the Super Cup. I won the Bundesliga. So I wanted a new challenge. With Celtic, I won the treble. With Leverkusen, the double. So in Liverpool, I also want to win trophies."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Frimpong, 24, and Wirtz, 22, formed a strong partnership at Leverkusen over the past few years, as they won a host of titles during a successful link-up. Now they will hope to build on that when they begin playing for defending Premier League champions Liverpool next season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT?

Frimpong, who can play as a right-midfielder and as a right-back, will be reunited with Wirtz, who tends to play as an attacking midfielder but can also operate on the wings, when Liverpool begin their pre-season campaign next month.

Hasty World Cup prep begins as England embark on first white-ball campaign since March

Alan Gardner29-Aug-2023Big picture: Back to the 20-over format
Roll up, roll up! We’ve had rollercoaster men’s and women’s Ashes, the Hundred has enjoyed its month in the spotlight… but there’s still room in the sardine can for a bilateral white-ball series or three! Astute followers of the game will be aware that New Zealand arrived in the country a few days ago, but the rest of you are forgiven if you missed it between 100-ball shenanigans and World Cup squad headlines.The tour begins with four – yes, four – T20Is, starting at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, before four – yes, four – ODIs that will set England on the runway towards their 50-over World Cup defence. As such, the T20Is provide more of an opportunity to test the hosts’ depth, ahead of another global event in the US and Caribbean next year – although plans to blood a trio of young pace bowlers have already taken a turn after injuries ruled out John Turner and Josh Tongue.Gus Atkinson, one of the breakout stars of the season and a man capable of bowling 95mph/152kph, should, however, win an England debut over the next few days. Atkinson helped Oval Invincibles to the Hundred title at the weekend, having caught Jos Buttler’s eye during a head-to-head contest earlier in the campaign, and the Surrey man has shot up the pecking order to the extent that he is also in the provisional World Cup squad – despite having only played two List A games in his career.There should also be chances for the likes of Rehan Ahmed, Luke Wood and Will Jacks, while Jonny Bairstow is set to play his first T20I in over a year, having missed England’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in Australia. Bairstow may be the immediate beneficiary of Alex Hales’ recent retirement, having only opened sporadically over the course of his international T20 career.Gus Atkinson is expected to make his England debut against New Zealand•Getty ImagesSuch is the sense of dislocation around the schedule, England haven’t actually played a limited-overs international since mid-March, when their world champion status was knocked by a 3-0 T20I defeat in Bangladesh. But Buttler, coming in off the back of a tournament-leading run haul in the Hundred, and Matthew Mott now have an intensive programme with which to fine-tune preparations for the subcontinent.As it happens, the tournament opener on October 5 will pit England against, yes, New Zealand, in a rematch of the 2019 final (with Player of the Match at Lord’s, Ben Stokes, back out of retirement, although he won’t be involved in the T20Is). Tim Southee, New Zealand’s T20I captain, acknowledged that all roads currently lead to Ahmedabad, and there is plenty for the tourists to get straightened out over while in England.They arrived on the back of a 2-1 win in the UAE with an experimental side – but saw a remarkable record of 39 games without defeat against non-Test nations ended in the second match of the series. The squad to face England will be significantly stronger, however, with several already in rhythm after plying their trade in the Hundred.For New Zealand’s World Cup hopes, the most-important element of this tour might be how Kane Williamson goes in his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. Williamson is not expected to be involved against England, while Trent Boult will only play the ODIs as he returns to the fold after opting out of a central contract last year – but after several months in which the global T20 franchise circuit has dominated conversations, a different narrative is starting to build.Kyle Jamieson made his comeback to international cricket in the UAE last week•Emirates Cricket BoardForm guide
England LLLWW
New Zealand WLWWWIn the spotlight: Harry Brook and Kyle JamiesonJos Buttler last week described Harry Brook as unfortunate to miss out on selection for the World Cup, sentiments which he repeated before the game at Chester-le-Street. Brook is a T20 World Cup winner who averages 62.15 with a strike rate of 91.76 in Tests – and therefore perfectly suited to the 50-over game – but Stokes’ return has nixed his hopes of being in India (at least for now). Having responded to his omission by scoring the fastest century in the short history of the Hundred, off 41 balls, he will doubtless be keen to nudge the selectors again.Kyle Jamieson suffered a back injury on New Zealand’s tour of England in 2022 that subsequently ruled him out of action for much of the next 14 months. His phenomenal start to life as a Test cricketer led to a US$2.5m IPL deal in 2021, although life has not always run smoothly as he attempted to juggle his workload across formats. Jamieson has only featured eight ODIs and 11 T20Is for New Zealand but played his first cricket since February in the UAE and could yet be a key weapon at the 50-over World Cup, with his imposing height and ability as a lower-order hitter.Team news: England test bench, NZ welcome big gunsEngland’s intention for this series had been to blood their next tier of white-ball quicks, ahead of next year’s defence of their T20 World Cup title, but two of those uncapped prospects, John Turner and Josh Tongue, have already been withdrawn through injury, with Brydon Carse and the old-stager Chris Jordan slotting in in their stead. The third of that trio of new boys, Atkinson, is sure to play at some stage as England seek to fast-track his international experience ahead of his prospective World Cup call-up, although having featured in Oval Invincibles’ victory in the men’s Hundred final on Sunday night, his involvement may yet be deferred. On the batting side, Brook is the squad’s cause celebre, although Ben Duckett and Jacks have plenty of incentive to impress as well, with Buttler having admitted last week that nothing is yet set in stone for the World Cup.England: 1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Chris Jordan/Brydon Carse, 10 Luke Wood, 11 Gus AtkinsonMatthew Mott and Jos Buttler were reunited after a long break in the white-ball schedule•Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s squad is assembling Avengers-style from myriad corners of the cricketing universe. A scratch squad contested a brace of warm-up games against Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, but now a host of Hundred combatants are returning to the fray – among them Southee, Daryl Mitchell and Adam Milne, who provided three touches of Kiwi class in an otherwise dead-rubber clash between Birmingham Phoenix and London Spirit last week. In a rather more high-profile outing, Devon Conway and Finn Allen formed a potent alliance for Southern Brave in Saturday’s Eliminator at The Oval, and will slot back in at the top of the NZ order, after Tim Seifert and Chad Bowes stood in against UAE. Jamieson made his comeback in that series after a long-standing back injury, and will continue his progress over the coming games. Jimmy Neesham, a hero of the Hundred final for Oval Invincibles, is heading home for the birth of his child.New Zealand: 1 Devon Conway (wk), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Mark Chapman/Tim Seifert, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Rachin Ravindra/Cole McConchie, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Lockie Ferguson/Adam Milne, 11 Ish SodhiPitch and conditionsChester-le-Street last hosted a T20 international in 2017, and is not known as a batter-friendly venue – in this year’s Vitality Blast, it was the third-lowest scoring of the major grounds, with runs coming at 8.27 an over. There is a chance of some rain to freshen conditions further on Wednesday, although the forecast for the evening is clear.Stats and trivia New Zealand have won eight and lost 14 of their previous 22 completed T20Is against England, including a tie in Auckland in November 2019 that Chris Jordan duly sealed in the Super Over, to claim a 3-2 series win in the two teams’ most recent bilateral outing. Since then, England and New Zealand have played twice more, at consecutive T20 World Cups. At the former event in 2021, Daryl Mitchell propelled his side to the final where they fell short against Australia; then, 12 months later, England exacted revenge in the group stage, en route to their victory in the final. New Zealand’s four-match series is set to match their previous tally of T20I fixtures against England in England. They’ve won one and lost two of their previous three completed matches in 2008, 2013 and 2015, with a two-ball wash-out at The Oval in 2013 completing the set.Quotes
“I don’t think he has a point to prove. We all know what a fantastic player he is. He’s unfortunate to miss out on selection at this stage. We’ve said it for a long time in English white-ball cricket we’ve got a lot of depth and talent, and young players coming through pushing [for selection] has been a hallmark of the team. It’s natural that good players miss out.”
“Any cricket now in the lead-up to the World Cup is good cricket. For the guys that go on to that tournament, you’re playing against quality white-ball opposition. I know it’s a different format but I think any cricket leading into the World Cup is good cricket.”

Mujeeb Ur Rahman could have picked up a major injury when his knee seemed to go into the surface when he put in a dive in the outfield

Matt Roller07-Oct-2023Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan’s head coach, feels Mujeeb Ur Rahman was lucky to escape without a serious injury after his left knee went into the sandy Dharamsala outfield when he put in a dive during Afghanistan’s six-wicket defeat to Bangladesh on Saturday.The grass on the outfield was patchy and mossy, and several players on both sides lost their footing in the deep. Mujeeb appeared to jar his knee while diving to stop a Shakib Al Hasan sweep, and Azmat Omarzai tumbled over when attempting to save a boundary off what turned out to be the penultimate ball of the match.India’s third Test against Australia was moved from Dharamsala to Indore at short notice earlier this year following concerns about the condition of the outfield – which the BCCI blamed the “harsh winter conditions in the region” for – while Indian media outlets reported last month that an ICC inspection team had identified a fungal infection at the ground.Related

Buttler slams 'poor' Dharamsala outfield, urges players to be careful in the deep

Trott warns England of Dharamsala outfield concerns ahead of Bangladesh fixture

Mehidy is the impact allrounder Bangladesh didn't know they had

Afghanistan's moments of brilliance underpinned by shoddy basics

Mehidy, with a little help from Shakib and Shanto, takes Bangladesh past Afghanistan

Trott made clear that he did not blame Afghanistan’s heavy defeat on the condition of the outfield, and said it was not his place to “make an assessment” on whether the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium was fit to host games at the World Cup. But he said that it had not helped the spectacle, and suggested that the ICC should look at the quality of outfields across the country.”If you’ve got players unsure of whether they can dive… we see the product of cricket all around the world where players are taught, encouraged to improve their fielding,” he said. “And when you’ve got players worried about getting injured… I mean, we are lucky Mujeeb hasn’t got a serious knee injury towards the end.”Yes, he probably shouldn’t have dived with his knee. But we saw the other night [in Ahmedabad], Devon Conway from New Zealand early on as well, so it’s something for them [the organisers] to look at. I’m definitely not putting any blame on that, but that’s something to keep an eye on for the future.”Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was named Player of the Match for his 3 for 25 and 57 in 73, said that the outfield had been on the slow side. “The outfield was a little heavy,” he said. “The ball wasn’t travelling a lot. But you can’t blame the outfield… you have to perform in every situation.”The state of the outfield will be a concern for both Bangladesh and England ahead of their fixture at the same venue on Tuesday. Both sides will be wary of the possibility of losing players to injury, particularly so early in the competition, while Jonny Bairstow and Reece Topley are among the England players who have suffered freak injuries after slipping in the past 18 months.That said, Dharamsala holds fond memories for some England players – not least Liam Livingstone, who hit 94 off 48 balls in a narrow IPL defeat for Punjab Kings at the ground earlier this year, an innings that included nine sixes.”It’s an incredible ground and an incredible place to bat if it’s anything like it was that day,” Livingstone said on Saturday. “It’s a very good place to play cricket and it’s always nice to go back somewhere you’ve got good memories. Hopefully it stands me in good stead.”Conditions here should suit us and the boys are really excited. We want to get over what happened the other day [against New Zealand] and almost go twice as hard.”The stadium is nearly 1500 metres above sea level. “Because of the altitude, the ball just flies really well,” Livingstone said. “It makes you more confident to take on the boundaries: they aren’t that big here anyway, and the altitude just makes it better with the power we’ve got in our line-up. It certainly helps as a batter, standing there knowing you can take the fielders on.”

Joao Felix could be on the verge of a homecoming as Benfica reportedly weigh a £25.6 million offer for the forward, whose form has declined significantly since he left Portuguese shores in 2019. The Chelsea attacker, currently under contract until 2031, endured an uninspiring loan spell at AC Milan last season, and now finds himself at a crossroads once again.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Felix's future under the scannerMight retrace his steps to BenficaChelsea willing to cut their losses Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After a permanent switch to Chelsea for £45m ($61.75m) following a short stint on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2023, the Portuguese forward managed just one goal in 12 appearances. His performances at Chelsea failed to justify the investment, prompting a loan move to AC Milan. Unfortunately for Felix, his fortunes did not turn around in Italy and was criticised for his attitude and commitment.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to Portuguese outlet despite the struggles, Benfica are considering bringing Felix back to the Estadio da Luz, the club where his professional journey began. They are preparing a £25.6m ($35m) bid for the 25-year-old, hoping a return to familiar surroundings can revive the spark that once made him one of the most exciting talents in world football.

DID YOU KNOW?

Though Benfica may be keen to facilitate a reunion, reaching a deal will be complicated. Felix is still tied to Chelsea on a lengthy and lucrative contract reportedly worth £130,000 per week until 2031. However, Chelsea and Benfica are scheduled to meet in the Club World Cup Round of 16 this weekend, creating a convenient opportunity for both clubs to hold in-person talks regarding a potential agreement.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR FELIX & CHELSEA?

Félix's fading relevance in Chelsea’s plans is underscored by the club’s aggressive pursuit of new attackers. Liam Delap has already been brought in for £30 million, while players like Hugo Ekitike, Jamie Gittens, and Malick Fofana are being closely linked with Stamford Bridge moves. Whereas, for Felix, a return to Benfica could represent the chance to reset his turbulent career. Familiar surroundings, a supportive fanbase, and a system tailored to his strengths could offer him the platform he’s lacked since leaving Lisbon.

Veteran allrounder vacates role after six seasons in charge

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2023Steven Mullaney has announced his decision to step down as club captain of Nottinghamshire after six years in the role.Mullaney, 36, was in charge when Notts won promotion to Division One last year, and oversaw a sixth place finish on their return to the top tier – although his returns with the bat this season were limited to 485 runs from 12 matches, with one half-century.”I’m honoured, proud and privileged to have had this opportunity,” he said. “My main aim in the job was to make a difference – and while the big goal was to win Division One, and we weren’t quite able to do that, I’m proud of the foundations we’ve been able to put down for us to challenge in the next few years.”As captain, I wanted to have an influence on the culture at the club, and the way we went about things. It took us a couple of years, and we had to have some tough conversations along the way, but I really think we got somewhere.”I’ve put my heart and soul into this job, but I think it’s time for someone else to enjoy the ride. Whoever that is, they’ll have my complete support.”Mullaney took over as captain of Nottinghamshire’s Championship and One-Day Cup teams after the retirement of Chris Read in 2017, before picking up responsibility for the T20 side following Dan Christian’s departure. His involvement with Trent Rockets in the Hundred curtailed Mullaney’s time as 50-over captain, with the job going to Haseeb Hameed – a likely candidate for the red-ball leadership – in 2022.The veteran allrounder, who joined Nottinghamshire in 2010, still has a year left on his most-recent contract with the club and can expect to be a sounding board for whoever succeeds him.”Firstly I’d like to say a huge well done to Steve on his six years as captain,” Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s head coach, said. “He took over at a time when we needed to rebuild, having lost several senior players the year before, and when we needed to find a new direction as a group.”He led us superbly through that period, and made sure the players never lost sight of their goals by staying consistent with the messages he got across to them.”Our results in red-ball cricket in recent years, and our retaining of first-division status this summer, are testament to the improvements he helped to bring about. The squad is definitely in a better place now than when he took over, which is ultimately the goal of any captain.”It feels like an exciting time for someone to take over, and I know Steve will be the first to offer his support, with that same goal of bringing further success to the club.”

Alexandre Lacazette is set to begin a new chapter in his career with a move to the Saudi Pro League now on the verge of completion.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Lacazette agrees two-year deal with Saudi club NeomHas passed medical after leaving relegated LyonFinal minor detail remains before move is confirmedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Lacazette has reached a full agreement with Saudi Pro League side Neom, according to . The 34-year-old former Arsenal and Lyon striker has signed a two-year deal and has already completed his medical with the newly promoted club. Before the move can be officially finalised, a minor detail in the contract needs to be worked out.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lacazette became a free agent after his contract with Lyon expired following the club’s relegation from Ligue 1. Despite Lyon’s poor campaign, the forward remained a consistent performer, scoring 43 goals across two seasons since returning to the French side from Arsenal in 2022. His transfer to Neom is part of a larger trend of experienced European players choosing the Saudi Pro League.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lacazette leaves Lyon with a total of 184 goals in 326 appearances over two spells. He was also club captain and top scorer during the 2023–25 period, despite their relegation.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR LACAZETTE?

Lacazette is expected to finalise his transfer to Neom once the last contractual detail is settled. He will play in the Saudi Pro League for the 2025–26 season. The club could make him public within days, as long as both parties confirm it officially.

A broken helmet strap led to the SL batter being dismissed in unusual fashion

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Nov-20233:41

Harmison: ‘I’m disappointed that Mathews was given out in that way’

Angelo Mathews became the first player ever to be timed out in international cricket after a helmet malfunction in Sri Lanka’s World Cup group match against Bangladesh in Delhi, adding further drama to a rivalry not short of it.Mathews was already on the pitch and in his final preparations before taking strike against Shakib Al Hasan. His helmet strap broke just as he was tightening it around his chin. He called for a replacement helmet, which was run out to him by Chamika Karunaratne. Shakib then appeared to initiate a discussion with umpire Marais Erasmus, after which Mathews, as he was not ready to face his first ball within the two minutes to do so as allowed in the ICC playing conditions, was informed he was timed out.During the innings break, reserve umpire Adrian Holdstock explained the process behind the dismissal to broadcaster : “The fielding captain initiated the appeal to Marais Erasmus, who was the standing umpire, that he wanted to appeal for timed out.”Mathews was yet to put on the new helmet and Karunaratne was still standing near the pitch when the news of his dismissal was relayed to Mathews. At this stage, at least three minutes and twenty seconds had elapsed since previous batter Sadeera Samarawickrama’s dismissal.Mathews initially seemed to think the umpire was not serious, but quickly wore a worried expression, and engaged in a long discussion with both Erasmus and square-leg umpire Richard Illingworth.

Angelo made his crease then his helmet strap broke. How is that timed out? I'm all for timed out if he doesn't make his crease but this is ridic. No different then a batsman getting to the crease then taking 3 minutes to face up #cricketworldcup

— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) November 6, 2023