All posts by h716a5.icu

Imran Tahir and Colin Ingram have both been added to the list of contracted South Africa players, while Albie Morkel was also given a one-year contract till May 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2011A day after he produced the best bowling performance by a South Africa player on debut in a World Cup, Imran Tahir has been awarded a national contract by Cricket South Africa. Also joining the list of contracted players was Colin Ingram, the left-hand batsman who is part of South Africa’s World Cup squad but did not feature in Thursday’s game against West IndiesThe two players are part of a list of 20 who have been given one-year contracts starting from May 1. Only two players in South Africa’s current World Cup fifteen have not been given contracts: allrounder Faf du Plessis and wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk. Loots Bosman, Albie Morkel, Rusty Theron and Ryan McLaren were given contracts despite not having made the cut for the fifteen.The CSA can contract up to 22 players so there is the possibility of another couple of players being offered contracts at any point during the twelve-month period.du Plessis has played just one ODI for South Africa, while van Wyk has only played two in the last three years. The Pakistani-born legspinner Tahir was only granted South African citizenship in January, and giving him a contract underlines South Africa’s aim to make him an important part of their squad in all formats.Ingram is a highly-rated hard-hitting 25-year-old batsman, and though his one-day career so far has been up and down – some of which may be due to the fact that he has not batted in a settled position – a contract should give him some assurance of his place in South Africa’s setup. Overlooked for a contract was David Miller, another left-hand batsman who was given an ODI cap before Ingram, and made an impressive start to his international career only to fade away in the last few months, leading to his exclusion from the World Cup squad.In another announcement, the CSA chief Gerald Majola said the board was in well-advanced negotiations with the BCCI to grant icon status to future Test series between South Africa and India with the likelihood of either four or five Tests being played when the sides next meet.The India tour of South Africa in 2010-11, which included three Tests, a one-off Twenty20 international and five one-dayers, brought in record gate takings for the country. There are also plans, according to CSA, to stage an annual Twenty20 match between the two countries with a mix of cricket and entertainment. The venue for this match will alternate between South Africa and India.CSA’s contracted players from May 2011 to May 2012: Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Robbie Peterson, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

India have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their defeat to Sri Lanka in the tri-series final in Dambulla on Saturday

Cricinfo staff29-Aug-2010India have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their defeat to Sri Lanka in the tri-series final in Dambulla on Saturday. The match referee, Alan Hurst, found the team to be two overs short of its target at the end of the Sri Lankan innings after taking the time allowances into consideration.The captain MS Dhoni was fined 40% of his match fee while the remaining players were docked 20% each. Batting first, Sri Lanka compiled 299, with big contributions from Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara. India, in reply, managed 225.Last December, Dhoni was slapped with a more severe penalty for a slow over-rate, when he was banned for two ODIs during Sri Lanka’s tour of India. He was found guilty during the Nagpur ODI and Virender Sehwag led the side in his absence. Back then, India were three overs short, which came under the “serious over-rate offence” category. Falling short by up to two overs in an ODI, and five in a Test day, is considered a “minor offence”, and merits a ban only if the offence is repeated twice in 12 months.

Jurgen Klopp is looking to add to the Liverpool squad with a bid for Portuguese forward Rafael Leao this summer.

What’s the word?

FSG are plotting a bid for the 22-year-old AC Milan maestro and, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica (via Milan News), Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in signing him.

Although Newcastle are believed the frontrunners due to their recent takeover and the ability to splash the cash, the Reds could offer much more in terms of potential success.

The £60m-rated gem wont come cheap, and Liverpool will have to spend big in order to secure his signature.

Liverpool’s Thierry Henry

The “extraordinary” player, as described by San Siro legend Zvonimir Boban, has been in wonderful form for AC Milan this season as they are aiming to end an 11-year wait to win the Serie A title.

The left winger has played 39 times so far this term and scored 13 goals whilst supplying seven assists in all competitions, a solid return from the youngster.

Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi believes that Leao is in a similar mould to ex-Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, and those comparisons are accurate, with the 22-year-old sharing the Frenchman’s explosive pace and ability to score and set up goals in almost equal measure.

Henry gradually shifted from the left wing into a more central role, especially when he joined the Gunners, and Klopp may have similar thoughts for Leao, especially when January signing Luis Diaz is performing exceptionally well out wide for the Reds.

The prospective signing of the Portuguese gem could be a masterstroke for Klopp and Liverpool. Also, with Roberto Firmino slowly getting on a bit and his goal return dropping this season, a change could be mooted in the centre of the attacking three.

FSG could be on to something special once more if they seriously pursue a mooted bid for the precocious Leao, who can take great heart from being compared to a Premier League legend in Henry.

AND in other news, Liverpool potting bid to sign “dangerous” £19.8m-rated weapon, he’s Klopp’s new Firmino

West Ham United have been handed a big boost in their bid to secure a deal to bring Boubacar Kamara to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), who claim in a rather big twist that Olympique de Marseille have now lowered their asking price for the defensive midfielder from €20m (£17m) to between €6m-€7m (£5m-£6m).

The Ligue 1 side are not believed to be against sanctioning the January sale of a player whose current deal at the Stade Velodrome expires at the end of the season.

The report goes on to state that West Ham are joined by Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma in the race to land the 22-year-old, with the Serie A side believed to be keen on a deal for the France U21 international in the current transfer window – something that could well force David Moyes’ hand in a move for the Marseille starlet.

Moyes must move

Considering just how impressive Kamara has been in France since breaking into the Marseille first-team, in addition to the fact that the defensive midfielder would appear to be available for an extremely reasonable fee this month, it would appear highly advisable for Moyes to make a move for the 22-year-old as soon as possible.

Indeed, over his 17 Ligue 1 appearances this season, the £22.5m-rated man has been in exceptional form for Jorge Sampaoli’s side, making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 1.6 tackles, 0.9 clearances, 57.2 passes and winning 56% of his duels per game.

The £46k-per-week Frenchman has also chipped in going forwards for Les Phoceens, scoring one goal and creating two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 0.8 shots and making 0.9 key passes per fixture.

These returns have seen the player who Rolando dubbed a “phenomenon” average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.04, ranking him as Marseille’s seventh-best performer in the top flight of French football.

Furthermore, with the 22-year-old also being more than capable of operating at centre-back – a position which Moyes has explicitly stated he is looking to strengthen this winter – Kamara’s impressive versatility will undoubtedly be a huge plus in the 58-year-old Hammers manager’s books.

As such, considering his fit to West Ham’s needs, his sheer amount of potential and his extremely reasonable asking price, a move for the defensive midfielder this month would indeed appear an extremely wise one for Moyes to make – as the youngster’s signing would appear to solve a number of issues in the Irons’ first-team squad.

In other news: “A deal is there…”: Ex drops teasing transfer claim that will have WHU fans sweating

According to Graeme Smith what really separates top sides from those in the tier below is whether they can know their game and play it

Firdose Moonda at Newlands04-Jan-2013The differences between South Africa and New Zealand were far greater than the ability of one attack to take 20 wickets and the struggle of the other to do half of that or that one batting line-up could score over 300 and the other just over that in both innings combined. According to Graeme Smith what really separates top sides from those in the tier below is whether they can know their game and play it.”The biggest thing is an understanding of what needs to be done and then going and doing it,” Smith said. And for that, it takes experience. South Africa, although not to the same depths as New Zealand, have been through years of what was considered underachievement when they could not reach the top ranking and hovered below.What they learnt in those years was the ability to withstand, what they learnt after that was how to push on. “There is resilience in the squad. We’ve been under big pressure. We’ve fought back from tough positions and we’ve worked our backsides off to get back into games. Then, when we’ve had that opportunity, we’ve driven a bus through the door,” Smith said.At the moment, New Zealand are still on level one but only barely. Sometimes, like in the first innings, they cannot withstand. On other occasions, such as the second, they can for a little while. On every instance over the last 12 months when South Africa have been under that kind of pressure, they have survived.The Oval, where they came back after a sorry day one; Headingley, where Kevin Pietersen’s innings could have blown them away; Lord’s, where Matt Prior may have derailed them; Adelaide, where Faf du Plessis rearguard action was epic; and Perth, where Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn played Australia out of the match, all stand out as examples of that. Those performances have shaped the character of the South African squad that exists now.”There is a good degree of confidence within the squad, which enables you to play that way going forward. If guys have got good performances behind them and come off with some good wins … it’s a lot easier to play that way when you haven’t got that kind of confidence,” Smith said.New Zealand are side that does not have it. Hobart and Colombo aside they have not had a good last year. It’s obvious even to their opposition where their faults lie. “They are struggling to find who fits in where and how can perform in certain role,” Smith said. “It’s more than who bats at No. 4, it’s about behind the scenes and the environment. They are growing there.”South Africa have leaders other than Smith in the dressing-room, a solid top six and a bowling attack that is the envy of the cricketing world. They look a perfectly balanced unit whose only worry is to drive home their No. 1 ranking as hard as they can. “It’s just about winning really, that is what you are defined by in modern-day sport,” Smith said. “If you play games like this and you are dominant and you take the game forward, it’s very nice.”They have been in control before but rarely as much as they were against New Zealand at Newlands, when Smith looked at the scoreboard and saw New Zealand were 26 for 9. “I couldn’t quite believe we were in that situation,” he said. “We bowled superbly in our new spells. We didn’t start sluggish and we asked questions early on.”What was as important as the emphatic nature of the bowling for Smith was the calmness of the batting that followed. “After bowling them out for 45, the attitude we had as a batting unit was so important. It would be easy to go out there and think: ‘What’s happening out here?'” he said. “It was great to see Alviro push through those little sessions where he has found it tough in the past, because his potential is huge.”Petersen’s hundred could end up as the least talked about but most telling act in the match. That would not matter to Smith, even if he doesn’t get his due, because it’s not as much about the individual as it is about the collective. “There’s honesty in the group. I see us as mature team. We’ve grown up now.” New Zealand will hope they can do the same.

Taking to Twitter before Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Leeds United this lunchtime, journalist Alasdair Gold has shared some bad injury news for Lilywhites supporters.

The Lowdown: Conte seeks to bounce back…

Following his emotional outburst after Spurs’ regrettable 1-0 defeat to Burnley in mid-week, a result which takes their run to four losses out of their last five Premier League games, manager Antonio Conte will be aiming to bounce back at Elland Road today.

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The Italian openly hinted at a north London exit to the media but later backtracked on his comments and was quick to reassure Tottenham fans that he is in fact ‘committed’ to the club.

A victory away to Leeds would do wonders to bring back the positivity but football.london reporter Gold, sharing an injury update, has more bad news for fans after a fresh injury blow for January signing Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Latest: Gold reveals Spurs blow…

Indeed, after confirmed blows for Bentancur, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga, the reporter says Spurs will also be without Lucas Moura.

“Understand Lucas Moura picked up a knock in training yesterday and did not travel with Conte’s squad. Teenager Alfie Devine did travel though and will be hoping to get named in the matchday squad.” he explained on Twitter.

The Verdict: Blow for Tottenham…

Missing Lucas for today’s bout comes as a real blow for Spurs.

According to WhoScored, the Brazilian has averaged more completes dribbles per 90 than any Lilywhites player – proving to be a constant threat this campaign.

Coupled with Bentancur being unavailable for the Leeds clash, it appears Conte is growing rather short of options going by this latest injury update.

In other news: ‘One to watch’ – Media blown away by ‘stunning’ development at Tottenham, find out more here.

West Ham United have been dealt a setback in their bid to bring Lucas Digne to the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, who stated in a recent post on Twitter that, despite the left-back appearing to be close to leaving Everton this month, the 28-year-old’s wage demands are believed to be an issue in West Ham’s move for the defender.

In his tweet, Crook said: “Digne edging closer to EFC exit… wage demands are an issue for WHUFC.”

Fans will be fuming

Considering just how impressive Digne has been since his £18m move to Everton back in 2018, the news that West Ham could be set to miss out on a deal for the left-back as a result of his wage demands is sure to leave the London Stadium faithful fuming.

Indeed, the £27m-rated Frenchman has been a continual threat for the Toffees since joining the club, scoring four goals, registering four assists and creating a whopping 13 big chances over his 35 Premier League appearances back in 2018/19. Those returns earned him an excellent seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.33 in his debut campaign with the Blues.

The £110k-per-week defender has subsequently followed up these returns by providing seven assists, creating eight big chances and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.15 over his 35 league outings in 2019/20; before registering seven assists, creating 11 big chances and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.13 over his 30 Premier League fixtures last term.

As such, it is clear to see that the 28-year-old would make a fantastic addition to David Moyes’ options on the left-hand side of his defence at the London Stadium, especially for a reported transfer fee of just £30m.

Also, when taking into account that the Hammers are currently paying the ineffective Andriy Yarmolenko a princely £115k-per-week, surely it would be well worth affording the Frenchman parity with this salary considering his remarkable returns from left-back so far in his Premier League career.

In other news: “Negotiations have been ongoing”: ExWHUEmployee drops January update which will leave Hammers fans buzzing

According to GiveMeSport, there has been another big update in Tottenham Hotspur’s hunt to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Adama Traore.

The Lowdown: Spurs talks ongoing…

Over the last fortnight, Spurs and transfer chief Fabio Paratici have been in talks to sign the 25-year-old as Antonio Conte seeks a new makeshift right wing-back for his system.

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Tottenham have even attempted to negotiate a loan with an obligation to buy for Traore as this transfer saga seemingly drags on through to the last few days of the January window.

This comes amid Paratici’s efforts to complete other deals as they also reportedly close in on the signing of Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and continue talks to offload club record signing Tanguy Ndombele.

The Latest: Personal terms completed…

Sharing an update on Traore, GiveMeSport have a promising development. According to their sources, Tottenham and the Spain international have now agreed personal terms to make him the fourth-highest paid player in Conte’s squad.

It is believed that the Lilywhites will pay Traore a bumper £120,000-per-week salary if they can agree a deal with Wolves as the north London club edge that little bit closer to his arrival, with the report describing this as a ‘significant breakthrough’.

All that’s left now is for Spurs to make a formal bid for the winger, as GiveMeSport claim they are eyeing an initial loan move ahead of a permanent transfer in the summer.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Signing Traore would undoubtedly boost Conte’s options at N17 and provide a much larger threat down the right flank.

As he seeks a carbon copy of Victor Moses, who the Italian re-moulded into a top- class right wing-back at Chelsea, the Molineux ace could certainly do a similar job across London.

Traore has averaged a hugely threatening 4.2 successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League this season, a far greater return than any of Conte’s current options at Tottenham (WhoScored).

Described as a ‘world-beater’ by Wolves legend Steve Bull, agreeing personal terms with the 25-year-old certainly seems like one large step towards a potentially exciting addition as Spurs aim to finish the January transfer window on a high.

In other news: Club chiefs set for crunch board meeting today as Spurs table bid for their ‘special’ player, find out more here

Everton manager Frank Lampard has revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be missing for the club’s FA Cup clash against Brentford.

What’s the story?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the Bees in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, the new Toffees boss revealed: “DCL picked up a small knock so he won’t be available. We hope he can be back for the games coming up.”

Lampard will be gutted

The striker has only managed just six appearances in the Premier League all season, scoring three goals, with all three of those strikes coming in his opening three matches back in August.

In fact, even despite those injury troubles seeing him miss such a large chunk of the season, Calvert-Lewin actually somehow remains fourth-top scorer, and only three behind the men in first, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend.

Back in May, former Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti waxed lyrical about the striker after watching him score the winner away against West Ham, saying: “The goal he scored today is a goal of a top striker.

“It’s a goal where the striker prepares his movement and moves at the right time with a lot of speed and then he was cold in front of the goalkeeper. He hasn’t scored a lot of goals like this. He’s scored most of his goals from crosses or with one touch in the box. This is a goal of a top striker.”

Lampard no doubt would have been desperate to see Everton’s most potent goal-scorer and leader up front to be available for his first game in charge, not least for a cup match that could eventually see the new Toffees boss lift his first trophy.

It’s exactly why the update on Calvert-Lewin is likely to leave him absolutely gutted.

Meanwhile, Everton facing a Rafa Benitez-esque howler…

A big Rangers transfer development has emerged over their interest in signing a young Scottish prospect…

What’s the talk?

According to the Scottish Daily Express, Gio van Bronckhorst is plotting a six-figure bid to sign Aberdeen diamond Lancelot Pollard this summer.

The report claims that they want to get a deal done quickly to avoid missing out on him as he is attracting interest from south of the border.

Liverpool and Manchester United are both said to be keen on the young talent, with Jurgen Klopp’s side holding an ‘active’ interest in him. It remains to be seen whether either side are willing to join Rangers in making a bid for his services.

Supporters will be excited

The supporters will surely be excited by this news as it shows that the club are attempting to snap up future stars to improve their academy.

Fans will be delighted that Ross Wilson and the head coach have an eye on developing the youth ranks at Ibrox as well as making additions to strengthen the first team. They will want to see a blend of experience and youth come through the door in the summer to bolster van Bronckhorst’s team now and in the years to come.

The likes of Leon King and Alex Lowry have made their way through to the senior side this season after impressing in the academy, whilst Nathan Patterson was sold for a club-record fee in January to Premier League side Everton.

This highlights the value in maximising the potential of the B team. Not only can Rangers develop players, like Lowry, who can break into the team to make an impact for the Gers but they can also find gems who they can sell on for a huge profit in the future.

Therefore, attempting to sign Pollard will excite the fans as he could be a player who goes on to be a huge success at Ibrox in the years to come. Although, there is very little data available on him so it is difficult to judge whether or not he will be able to make it in Glasgow.

However, the youngster must be catching the eye for Aberdeen as he is now a sought-after talent, which suggests that he has shown great potential with his performances this season in the youth ranks.

AND in other news, Body blow: Van Bronckhorst now set for huge Rangers disaster over £27k-p/w “rock”…