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The terms ‘striker’ and ‘West Ham’ have been thrown together a lot of late, particularly last month whilst the transfer window was open. It’s the key area the Hammers need reinforcements in with Michail Antonio the East London outfit’s only senior centre-forward.

The Jamaica international started the campaign in red-hot form, scoring four goals in his first three Premier League matches. However, the 31-year-old has only scored five goals since, having not found the back of the net since New Year’s Day.

It’s an area that David Moyes’ side have had little luck with in terms of recruitment, with the Hammers failing to sign a striker once again last month. There will certainly be a desperate need to add at least one in the summer, however, failed endeavours in the past have, in the long-term, favoured the Irons. Particularly the case of Maxi Gomez.

After Marko Arnautovic left The London Stadium for Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai SIPG for a fee believed to be around €25m (£21m), the Hammers targeted then-Celta Vigo star Gomez.

The Irons were willing to break their transfer record at the time to pay Gomez’s €50m (£42m) release clause, however, the Uruguayan remained in La Liga, joining Valencia instead.

Instead, Manuel Pellegrini signed Sebastien Haller from Frankfurt for a club-record £45m fee, a deal that didn’t pay off with the 14-goal Ivorian now at Eredivisie side Ajax.

Now 25, Gomez is still at Valencia, but the striker certainly hasn’t lived up to the significant transfer fee paid for his services almost three years ago.

Having scored 31 goals and registered ten assists in 75 appearances for Celta Vigo, the striker has netted just 19 times in 97 appearances for the La Liga outfit, assisting a further ten goals.

The Uruguayan is yet to reach double figures in the league since his move to the Mestalla, having scored 13 goals in the Spanish top-flight the season before his move.

This campaign, in particular, has been an issue for the 25-year-old, who has scored just twice in 23 appearances across all competitions, starting 17 of them which makes Antonio’s tally this term look prolific.

Although Valencia didn’t pay the €50m that West Ham would have as Santi Mina was included in the deal, with the Spanish forward joining Celta Vigo alongside an initial €14m fee, Gomez certainly hasn’t lived up to expectations.

According to Transfermarkt, the striker’s market value was at £36m when he joined Valencia in 2019 and has failed to recover ever since.

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After almost a season with the Spanish giants, the Uruguayan’s value dropped by £7.2m to £28.8m, but soon increased slightly in October 2020 to £31.5m.

However, from there Gomez’s value has continued to drop, with the latest valuation coming in December last year, with the striker reportedly worth £18m, with West Ham preparing to pay almost triple that just two-and-a-half years ago.

In hindsight, missing out on the forward was a blessing in disguise for the Hammers’ hierarchy, although their striker recruitment that summer didn’t go to plan with each Haller goal worth £3.21m.

Regardless, it is vital that GSB sign at least one striker in the upcoming summer transfer window, as a lack of depth up front could prove majorly costly with the East London outfit still competing in three competitions as we enter March.

In other news: Sold for £23m, now worth 5x less: West Ham played a blinder with “heated” 32 y/o flop

The final of Sri Lanka’s Inter-Provincial Limited-Overs Tournament will be a repeat of the last qualifying match between Kandurata and Wayamba after the final day of the qualifying stage was affected by bad weather.At the Welagedera Stadium, in a match reduced to 31 overs, table-leaders Kandurata, captained by Kumar Sangakkara, beat Wayamba by eight wickets to finish with a 100% record in the qualifying round.However, despite the defeat, Wayamba, who were captained by Mahela Jayawardene, were tied on 10 points with Basnahira North and went through to the final on superior net run rate.For Kandurate, only Jehan Mubarak, the tall Sri Lanka left-handed middle-order batsman, gotinto double figures after they were asked to bat first in seamers-friendly condition and were eventually bowled out for for 79 in only 21 overs. Mubarak, pushing for a place in the Sri Lanka side for the ODI series in Australia, top-scored with 36 with extras taking the second spot (10). The damage to the Wayamba batting was done by the fast bowlers; Akalanka Ganegama, Kaushal Weeraratne, Thilan Thushara and Chintaka Jayasinghe who captured all ten wickets to fall.Faced with the target of only 80 in 31 overs, Kandurata knocked the runs off in 19 overs to move into the final on Sunday with a great deal of confidence.The bottom of the table clash between Basnahira South and Ruhuna at the Galle International Stadium ended without a ball bowled due to rain.

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Kandurata	4	4	0	0	0	18	+1.778	931/164.2	692/178.0
Wayamba	4	2	2	0	0	10	+0.087	673/153.0	608/141.0
Basnahira North	4	2	2	0	0	10	-0.194	680/164.2	771/178.0
Basnahira South	4	1	2	0	1	7	-0.750	572/128.0	701/134.2
Ruhuna	4	0	3	0	1	2	-1.694	444/119.0	528/97.2

Veterans Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana have been named in Sri Lanka’s preliminary 30-man World Cup squad but there is no place for the batsman Thilan Samaraweera.Arnold and Chandana have played over 200 ODIs between them and are joined in the squad, which will be trimmed to 15 by February 13, by Marvan Atapattu, the former Sri Lankan captain who is continuing his comeback after injury.Sri Lanka, who have just returned from a tour of New Zealand, continue their World Cup build-up with a four-match series against India.Squad Mahela Jayawardena, Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Avishka Gunawardena, Mahela Udawatta, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Malinda Warnapura, Russel Arnold, Prasanna Jayawardena, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Ruchira Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Ishara Amarasinghe, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Nuwan Zoysa, Akalanka Ganegama, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Gayan Wijekoon, Upul Chandana and Dhammika Prasad.

Scorecard

Gerald Dros was an early victim for Roger Telemachus © Keith Lane

The Eagles have retained the Standard Bank Cup after beating the Titansby two wickets in an exciting low-scoring final, played in front of a nearfull-house at Centurion Park.Having won the toss and put the Titans in to bat it was the seam attackof Johan van der Wath, Cliff Deacon and Roger Telemachus who laid thefoundation for what turned out to be a close win. Havinggot the best of the conditions the bowlers put the Titans under pressurefrom the first over. After two rain delays, and at 37 for 4, the writingwas almost on the wall for the Titans and it was left to the spin duo ofNicky Boje and Thami Tshabalala to wrap up the tail. A disappointingbatting display from the Titans saw them bowled out for 142 in 42.3overs with 54 from Pierre de Bruyn and 44 from Johan Myburgh helpingto make a slight contest out of the final.With a target of 143 to defend the discipline of the Titans bowlers letthem down as 19 wides and six no-balls were bowled with extras topscoring for the Eagles with 36. Albie Morkel and Ethy Mbhalati kept theTitans in the game with three wickets each but, with a 38-run partnershipbetween van der Wath, who had a fine match, and Ryan McLaren for the seventh wicket, the Eagles were almost home. However, two further wickets left then at 123 for 8 and the outcome was far from certain. With the excitement mounting a few lusty blows from Telemachus, and the composure of McLaren, guided the Eagles through with five overs to spare.

Inzamam-ul-Haq: what does the future hold?© AFP

Inzamam-ul-Haq has revealed his doubt over leading Pakistan, a mindset that doubtless has a great deal to do with the rigours of the current tour. Inzamam’s comments came in the wake of a tumultuous week for Pakistan, in which a rape allegation was levelled against one of their players.”I am uncertain about it,” Inzamam told when asked about his future as captain. “There’s been a lot of criticism in Pakistan about me. I am not feeling good on the inside and I am not sure whether it is something I want to keep doing.”After Pakistan were crushed in the three-Test series, where he missed two Tests due to injury, Inzamam had to contend with scathing remarks from various quarters. Inzamam admitted that it was the “hardest tour” that he had been on. “The Australian tour is always hard,” he said. “The conditions are different and Australia is the best team in the world. But this tour has been harder than normal, especially for me.”Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, had termed Pakistan’s performance “spineless” and suggested that Younis Khan be given the captaincy. Pakistan are scheduled to tour West Indies in May and Inzamam said he would consider the future of his captaincy at the end of that tour. “I don’t know why he [Imran] is doing this and saying these things,” Inzamam said. “It is disappointing. It’s not good for me and not good for the young boys in the team. Criticism is OK. But I don’t think the performances have been that bad.”Inzamam found some form in the last two games of the VB Series with a composed 68 in the four-wicket loss to Australia at Hobart and a rapid 62 from 51 deliveries that took his side to victory against West Indies at the Gabba.

The pre-season friendly between Nashua WP and Boland is heading for an exciting finish at Brackenfell on Thursday.WP sportingly declared their first innings closed on 221 for the loss of five wickets, 67 runs behind the Boland first innings total of 288. Boland reached 89 for the loss of two wickets at the close giving them an overall lead of 156 runs with eight wickets in hand.Earlier Darren Bassage and JP Duminy posted a 127 run partnership for the second wicket.

Somerset Chief Executive was relieved at the news that the problems surrounding to the forthcoming Test series against India had been resloved and the first Test match will get underway as planned on Monday December 3rd.Earlier this morning Mr Anderson had expressed his concerns over the retaliatory action that would inevitably follow any decision by England to pull out of the tour should the Indians select Virender Sehwag.The Chief told me, “the Somerset finances rely on 53% of what we need to run the club coming from the proceeds of international cricket. If there was to be no international cricket in England in 2002 the financial implications for the club would be serious.”Mr Anderson went on, “We are also waiting to see whether or not Richard Johnson has overtaken Jimmy Ormond and is selected for the first Test.”He continued,”Player availability and putting a competitive team into the field are issues that could arise should Richard Johnson establish himself in the England team. If he does then all to his credit, and we wouldn’t want to prevent that, but if it means Johnson and Caddick missing regularly then on paper our opening attack could look threadbare.”He went on, “that said it provides opportunity for Matt Bulbeck, Joe Tucker, Peter Trego and Simon Francis to stake a claim for a place which they must grab with both hands. Youngsters are always complaining about the lack of opportunity, now here is there chance.”The Chief Executive concluded, “if Ormond suddenly says that he is joining Somerset that will be a bonus, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.”

They have had a tough time on this tour but Kenya has finally won agame. In an all- African clash they defeated Namibia by 54 runs at theBOI ground in Negombo. It wasn’t all plain sailing though for theKenyans, who had let the Namibians back into the game after reducingthem to 74-6.Kenya who batted first after their captain, Muhamad Sheikh, won thetoss for only the second time in this tournament, were all out for 220and then bowled out the Namibian’s for 166.Despite scoring their highest score of the tournament, the Kenyanswill have still been disappointed with the score. A good battingpitch, a fast outfield and some pretty ordinary bowling by theNamibians should have resulted n a final total in excess of250. However, as they have throughout the tournament, some of the mainbatsmen were guilty of throwing their wickets away cheaply.Anitkumar Bhudia (30) started the innings well for the Kenyans and inpartnership with Shiekh (26) had taken the score to 64-1. When Sheikhthen threw his prized wicket away with a lazy drive at a wide ballfrom Ludick Kenya began a now familiar collapse.Reduced to 106-5 it looked as if the Kenyan’s were in for anotherdepressing day. However Collins Omondi (42) and the young MauriceOuma (44) rescued the innings with some sensible batting. Althoughguilty of not putting all the bad balls away they both milked thespinners well in a stand of 91. When they were dismissed the Kenyaninnings went into a spectacular free-fall and were bowled out for 220.In reply the Namibians started confidently and appeared to berelatively untroubled by the Kenyan bowlers. However the replacementof Vijay Kalyan with the medium pace of Bhudia in the seventh over gotKenya the breakthrough, albeit in a rather unexpected way with totalconfusion breaking down into a victorious sprint by Bhudia to thevacant batsmen’s end. Swanepoel (12) immediately followed hisopening partner when he was caught behind off the same bowler.In direct contrast to the indifferent body language that the Kenyansthat have displayed throughout most of this tournament, they were nowbuzzing. Sensing victory, they vocally goaded one another on. Everygood delivery was greeted with excited clapping and shouts ofencouragement as Namibia collapsed to 74-6.However the Kenyans relaxed and expected the Namibians to give inmeekly. They had underestimated the talents of Pieter Burger (69). Atall batsman, who strokes the ball in a relaxed fashion and with goodbalance, played himself in and then started to attack the Kenyanbowling.The fielders became very quiet as Burger carried his team to within 60runs of the Kenyan total. A good piece of fielding on the third manboundary by Halai dismissed his partner, Tobie Verwey (14).The dismissal marked the end for the Namibian’s as the final fourwickets fell for just five runs.

The Professional Football Association (PFA) has announced that racist abuse will become a sackable offence for professional footballers next season. Racist abuse will now be classed as gross misconduct within football.

Both the Premier League and Football League is expected to back this campaign. Although no actions will be enforced by the PFA, it will be down to the club to terminate a players contract if found committing the abuse. If a club chooses to refuse, it will signify the club condones the act of racism. It will be taken into affect by introducing the penalty into a player’s contract with a club.

Gordon Taylor the Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association is behind the proposal and hopes it will send out a powerful message to all players in the game. However this completely contradicts a statement made by Gordon Taylor regarding the Suarez incident when he “was surprised at the severity of the punishment” at the time of the case, which was only last season. Taylor also reiterates that it will remove any ambiguity about the possible consequences for anyone found guilty of the offence.

Racism has previously been attempted to remove from football with the Kick It Out campaign which challenges discrimination and encourages inclusive practices and work towards a possible change which is supported and funded by all the games governing bodies. Yet recently this has been evidently unsuccessful due to the two high profile incidents in the Premier League last season.

The Chelsea captain will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 9 July after he was charged with a ‘racially aggravated public order offence’ against Anton Ferdinand in October. Conveniently after the UEFA Euro’s where Terry plays is part in Hodgson’s squad representing England.

Football should not be different to any other profession and footballers should not get treated any differently to other professionals. If there was racist abuse witnessed in any other profession it would definitely not be tolerated and the culprit will be sacked with immediate affect.

The PFA will present the proposal to the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee, which includes the Premier League and the Football League, and Taylor is confident that it will be approved.

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Mahela Jayawardene: “[Sanath] [Jayasuriya] has been a batsman, a senior player, and a bowler, and his loss is going to be huge, especially in the dressing room” © AFP

Sri Lanka’s captain and vice-captain, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, paid tribute to their team-mate and former leader, Sanath Jayasuriya, who bowed out of Test cricket at the age of 38 following his side’s 88-run win over England in the first Test in Kandy.After weeks of speculation in the local media, Jayasuriya made his announcement after scoring 78 in Sri Lanka’s second innings to help put his side on course for victory. He later chipped in with one final wicket, that of Ravi Bopara, to finish his career with 6973 runs at 40.07 and 98 wickets at 34.34 from 110 Tests.Jayasuriya made his ODI debut against Australia in Melbourne in December 1989, and his Test debut 14 monrths later in Hamilton. “It is a tremendous loss when you lose someone who’s played for 18 years,” said Jayawardene after the match. “He’s been a batsman, a senior player, and a bowler, and his loss is going to be huge, especially in the dressing room.”Jayasuriya’s form in Test cricket has been on the wane for the past three years, and it is widely believed that the selectors had been looking to blood a younger opener in his place. But Jayawardene praised his team-mate for going out on his own terms. “I think he’s pretty happy with that decision”, he said. “We just need to make sure that with the youngsters coming through, [that] we build another team and improve ourselves.”Sangakkara was even more flowing in his praise of a man he first saw as a spectator at the Asgiriya Stadium during the 1996 World Cup. “That World Cup win probably inspired not just me, but a whole generation of young cricketers to try and play for Sri Lanka,” said Sangakkara. “He changed the face of world cricket, especially in the one-day arena. He’s a wonderful cricketer, a wonderful man and he’s had a wonderful career.”I think for me personally he’s been a pillar of support,” added Sangakkara. “He was my first captain and when I was struggling to make the side there was always positive re-enforcement from him, and never a negative word. We have the best memories of him in the dressing room. We’ll miss him, but life and cricket moves on, and we’ll look ahead with a new side.”