All posts by h716a5.icu

After taking an early lunch the umpires led the players out at twenty past one and Ryan Sidebottom got off the mark in fine style with a full swing of the bat to a ball from Martin Bicknell

Ed Green26-Apr-2002After taking an early lunch the umpires led the players out at twenty past one and Ryan Sidebottom got off the mark in fine style with a full swing of the bat to a ball from Martin Bicknell. For the next half dozen overs he and Lumb resisted some excellent bowling in conditions that did nothing for the batsmen using the only appropriate tactics in the circumstances – leave, dab, whack. There was never any air of permanence about the partnership though and it came as no surprise when bowled Sidebottom with the score on 20 for an enjoyable 14.There was more misery in store for the home team though as in Bicknell’s next over he accepted a return catch from Darren Lehmann for just one run, with him any hope of forcing Surrey to bat again disappeared. Bicknell’s secure hands were involved again soon afterwards as he took his fourth catch of the game to dismiss first innings top scorer Lumb for 15 and give Tudor his second wicket of the innings.Taylor and Fellows then set about the nigh impossible task of salvaging some dignity from this game, Taylor batting in the same defensive style that Yorkshire had sought to survive in on the first day while Fellows played his shots against both bowlers, taking advantage of the hugely attacking fields set by Butcher. In steadily improving weather both players enjoyed more luck than many of their colleagues as they succeeded in seeing off the new ball bowlers.Fellows lock ran out however in Ormonds first over and well directed ball staying low resulting in the kind of LBW that no batsman can do much about and no umpire hesitates much about either, just one more wicket was to fall before the rain returned to delay the inevitable further, Azhar trapping Hamilton leg before.Day 3 eveningAfter tea Yorkshire’s Chris Taylor continued to battle on well against insurmountable odds on the pleasant early evening sunshine, ably assisted by first Blakey and then Silverwood, who appeared to enjoy his 38 from thirty five balls hitting some lusty blows in defeat. It couldn’t last for ever and Azhar and Jimmy Ormond wrapped up the innings Steve Kirby being last man out, lbw to Azhar, having just brought up the 200, it was a fair achievement for the Yorks lower order despite the massive scale of Surrey’s victory – at one point it didn’t look as though Yorkshire would pass the seventy runs they needed to avoid being beaten by and innings and three hundred.Surrey will now head south for a well earned day off, while the Yorkshire team will likely be expected to turn up early for practice in the morning, their supporters can be certain that they’ll play much better than this on most occasions this season, and do so against less formidable opposition.The champions will be grateful of the break provided by the group stage of the Benson and Hedges Cup before they head to Taunton for their second game the Championship is a marathon not a sprint and Yorkshire, despite this one defeat are still well equipped to challenge. The omens are not good though for Surrey’s rivals, in recent years they have been slow starters failing to win either or their opening games since 1998.

It’s been a truly bizarre, indeed almost nightmarish, season for Matty Longstaff at Newcastle United.

Described as “talented” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, the 21-year-old showed in that stunning goalscoring performance against Manchester United in October 2019 that he has the ability to be a top-drawer player for the Magpies.

Speaking after that game, Arsenal icon Martin Keown declared: “The young lad should be knocking on Steve Bruce’s door and saying ‘Why didn’t you play me sooner?’ It was almost to say to the boss, ‘Hey, look at me, you have overlooked me for too long.’

“It was like a Paul Scholes…I know that’s big praise and they are big boots for him to copy, but him and his brother – Carrick, Scholes…you know, they did very well. And this is an important ingredient now in this Newcastle team, yes they were more disciplined but those two definitely won them the game.”

However, after putting pen to paper on a new deal last summer, things have gone horribly south for the younger Longstaff, playing just five games in the Premier League all season and not featuring at all since mid-January.

It has raised a few eyebrows to put it mildly, not least from the rest of the Newcastle squad apparently. The Athletic’s Chris Waugh revealed: “Steve Bruce, the head coach, has simply opted to exclude the academy graduate, much to the bemusement of team-mates and the player himself.

“There have been some suggestions that his naivety at Premier League level is part of the reason, yet that does not tally with the decision to field Longstaff against three of the very best sides in the division over the Christmas period.

“This season really needed to be one during which Longstaff was given opportunities. The club, Bruce and the player all recognised that. So, if those chances were not going to arrive on Tyneside, then surely a loan deal would have been in the player’s best interests.”

However, with the final day of the Premier League season now here, surely Bruce has no excuse but to give the £4.5m-rated Longstaff the chance to shine.

After being promised genuine first-team opportunities this term, there’s no questioning that the 21-year-old will be frustrated, maybe even livid, at being cast aside for the majority of the season – not least considering how badly the Magpies were struggling prior to the March international break.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-steve-bruce-premier-league-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-joelinton-shelvey-max-aarons” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]

The clash against Fulham later this afternoon should offer him an overdue chance to taste first team football.

Meanwhile, Luke Edwards has dropped an exciting Newcastle United update…

Chronicle Live journalist Mark Douglas says he could still see Dwight Gayle leaving Newcastle United this summer.

The lowdown

The Athletic reported at the end of March that Newcastle had committed Gayle to a new three-year contract.

Gayle has a prolific track record, with 103 career goals to his name, but his involvement has been limited this season.

The Englishman has played only 503 Premier League minutes, albeit having missed the first 10 matches of the season with an MCL injury (via Transfermarkt).

His one and only goal in 2020/21 came against former club West Bromwich Albion as he came off the bench to net an 82nd-minute winner at St James’ Park.

Manager Steve Bruce nonetheless regards Gayle as a ‘natural goalscorer’ and says he is ‘invaluable’ to the squad.

The latest

Douglas was asked in a fan Q&A what areas Newcastle need to target this summer.

He said that a player of Joe Willock’s ilk is clearly necessary, as well as ‘defensive reinforcements’.

But he also thinks that proper back-up for Callum Wilson will be required, revealing that he believes Gayle will depart despite signing that new deal.

The verdict

This is a surprising comment from Douglas, given that Newcastle had seemingly tied Gayle down for the exact purpose of providing support for Wilson.

One has to wonder if the new deal was a means of protecting his transfer value with a view to a summer sale.

There would likely be plentiful interest in the 30-year-old from the Championship given his devastating record in the second tier, so perhaps cashing in to reinvest in a more top-flight proven player was always the plan.

In other news, Lee Ryder has an issued an update on the future of another striker.

New Zealand will play its limited overs tri-series games in Australia next summer in one block in the New Year meaning the home domestic series is unlikely to see any international one-day players

Lynn McConnell13-Jun-2001New Zealand will play its limited overs tri-series games in Australia next summer in one block in the New Year meaning the home domestic series is unlikely to see any international one-day players.The Victoria Bitter Series was announced yesterday and starts on January 11 with New Zealand playing Australia in Melbourne.That will follow New Zealand’s expected home one-day series with Bangladesh and a warm-up game in Australia before the VB series.While the New Zealand domestic season programme has still to be announced, it is unlikely to allow the country’s top players to be included.New Zealand is touring Australia for the Test match leg of the tour before Christmas and has two Tests against Bangladesh on either side of Christmas.Meanwhile, New Zealand has not yet received an invitation to take part in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in November this year.The tournament will be played on November 10-11 after being off the international scene for four years.Eight top international countries will be taking part, although the final eight have yet to be named.While New Zealand’s leading Test players will be in Australia, several one-day specialists may be available for selection if, as is expected, an invitation is issued to New Zealand during the International Cricket Council’s meeting next week.Meanwhile, New Zealand has agreed to play an Australian Country XI during what would have been a seven day break in its VB programme. The match will be played at Bowral, the home of the Sir Donald Bradman Museum.

Marc Kavanagh and Roger Miller cracked centuries as Andover rattled up a massive 329-4 against beleaguered Gosport Borough in the ECB Club Championship second round at London Road

Mike Vimpany15-May-2001Marc Kavanagh and Roger Miller cracked centuries as Andover rattled up a massive 329-4 against beleaguered Gosport Borough in the ECB Club Championship second round at London Road.The pair shared a 174-run partnership, with Kavanagh hitting a career-best 125 and Miller 100.Wyvern sports master Stuart Magee, the former Burridge player, was hit for 61 runs off only five overs.Lee Wateridge made 109 as Gosport reached 210-5 in reply.But Andover’s total failed to make the record books – Birmingham club Old Hill scored 422-4 in another second round tie in the Midlands, with Midlands CCC captain David Banks scoring a double-century.Burridge came within two wickets of springing a massive shock against powerful Basingstoke & North Hants at May’s Bounty.The Southern Electric Premier League club appeared to have little chance of winning after three-wicket pair Chris Chandler and Ray Pavesi helped bowl them out for 97.But a four-wicket spree by Nick Creal (4-22) had Basingstoke wobbling at 24-5 and later 59-6 before Johnny Govett and Keith Harris came to the rescue and snatched a two-wicket win for the Home Counties League club at 98-8.Paul Draper hit an undefeated century as Calmore Sports clincheda second round trip to Farnham Royal on Sunday week, May 26, with a seven-wicket win over Cove at Loperwood Park.Paul Cass and James Hibberd each took a brace of wickets as Cove were dismissed for 136 (Joe Ashton 31) – a total Calmore polished off with Tom Pegler, Clive Surry and Hibberd in support.Farnham surprised off-colour Bashley (Rydal), beating the New Forest club by six wickets.Neil Thurgood hit 66 as Bashley crashed to 126 all out and an unexpected defeat.An unbroken century partnership between Rob Wade (65) and Jamie Glasson (41) ended any hopes Ventnor had of causing an upset at South Wilts.Ventnor made 203-8, but after Russell Rowe (33) and Tim Lamb (25) had provided a brisk start, South Wilts were always favourites to win.BAT Sports conceded against Havant, while Winchester KS forgot to get a pitch and will host Portsmouth at River Park on Sunday.Local third round pairings on May 27 : Andover v Portsmouth or Winchester KS, Basingstoke & North Hants v Hungerford, Farnham Royal v Calmore Sports, South Wilts v Havant.

After the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce must unleash Joe Willock in tonight’s Premier League clash against Leicester.

The midfielder was ineligible to play against his parent club as per the terms of his loan agreement, and the Magpies missed his industry and athleticism in the middle of the park.

But, with him now back in the fold, Bruce must now finally trust him with a place in the starting line-up after seeing him star in some second-half cameos that have rescued some big results for the Magpies in recent weeks.

And, writing for The Shields Gazette, Liam Kennedy insisted that it would be “daft” not to bring Willock straight into the team, and said that his ability to break into the box is “unparalleled”.

He said: “Of course Willock is now available for United – and I think looking at the balance of the midfield against Arsenal it would be daft not to bring him back into the starting XI.

“Willock is a player whose running with the ball at feet, ability to break the play up, energy and well-timed runs into the box are unparalleled in United’s ranks. United have not seen those late timely darts and finishes since Gini Wijnaldum and the ability to move across the floor to close down since Mo Diame.”Who does he come in for is another question that needs answered? For me, I’d bring him in for Jonjo Shelvey, but without a system tweak it will likely be Sean Longstaff. “And after seeing him score on his Newcastle debut against Southampton earlier in the season, Bruce admitted that Willock has a the style of play from which the Magpies could really benefit.He said: “It was a classic midfield player’s goal from the ability to arrive in the box, and that’s what he’s brought us. He can go box-to-box, he’s a terrific athlete, the kid, a typical modern-day midfield player who has the ability to get up and down the pitch quickly and has that added ability to score a goal.”[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/newcastle-steve-bruce-premier-league-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-st-james-park-joelinton-shelvey-max-aarons” title=”Read the latest Newcastle transfer rumours and news!”]With a trip to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester, Willock’s energy and knack for goals is something Newcastle could desperately do with.It’s time the £26m-rated star gets a chance to start.Meanwhile, Newcastle are interested in this Dutch starlet…

Sacked Sri Lankan cricket board President, Thilanga Sumathipala, has demanded a public apology from the Sports Minister and threatened legal action for defamatory comments made in the aftermatch of the cricket boards dissolution

CricInfo27-Apr-2001Thilanga Sumathipala, the head of the recently sacked Sri Lankan cricket board, has demanded a public apology from the Sports Minister, Lakshman Kiriella, for comments made in the aftermath of the cricket board’s dissolution. He has also threatened a US $5 million defamatory suit if no apology is forthcoming within two weeks.Speaking to the media at the Jaic Hilton last night Sumathipala said that the Minister had, “repeatedly made several knowingly false and misleading statements, which have caused grave embarrassment and defamed the integrity of myself and my Executive Committee. I expect a public apology to clear my name.”With the cricket board crisis scheduled to return to the Court of Appeal on the 4th May, a public apology is unlikely to be forthcoming. The board was dissolved on the basis of a procedural technicality and, to date, there is no evidence of serious financial wrongdoing by the Sumathipala-led board. An apology would represent a tacit admission that the board was wound up without due reason.Sumathipala, who claimed that he would not stand in the next AGM because of the, “politicisation of the board was not going to help me or Sri Lankan cricket,” was in a bullish mood last night, claiming that “no one is above the law and the cricket board belongs to the membership, not the to the Ministry. Moreover, he believes that Lakshmann Kiriella has made some legal blunders in the past few weeks.According to Sumathipala the board was not wound up in the proper manner, making those involved liable for prosecution. More seriously, he argued that its dissolution means that it can no longer function as an organisation.”The Honourable Minister has made a mistake that jeopardises Sri Lanka’s membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC),” he explained. “The board was dissolved, not suspended, as was the case last time. This means the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka no longer exists as a legal entity.”If the legal system agrees with Sumathipala’s interpretation, then the consequences are far-reaching. All contracts with the BCCSL, including the record television deal, would logically all cease to exist, bank accounts would have to be frozen, and board employees are out of a job. Moreover, Sri Lankan cricket would no longer be represented within the ICC and full membership could be revoked.Whilst the possible consequences of the board’s dissolution are grave according to Sumathipala, a common sense solution is surely likely to prevail, especially with such strong political support for the board’s dissolution. Sports Ministry lawyers will be trying to work through the quagmire to identify a legally acceptable solution and the ICC could be requested to recognise the Interim Committee, as Sri Lanka’s sole governing body of cricket.Nevertheless, the way forward is complicated. What, for example, is to be done about the fact that despite the board’s dissolution Sumathipala remains an Executive Director of the ICC? As David Richards, the Chief Executive of the ICC, said in a recent letter to Anura Tennekoon: “As I understand corporate law, a person once nominated as a director remains in that position until he either resigns or is formally replaced by the organisation which appointed him.”His formal replacement is impossible if the BCCSL no longer exists, but Vijaya Malalsekera, the Chairman of the Interim Committee, has been nominated as Sri Lanka’s representative in the ICC’s Annual General Meeting in June. It is unclear as to whether the ICC, which is corporate body now and therefore has to abide by its own Memorandum and Articles of Association, will accept Malalsekera as the official Sri Lankan representative.The Interim Committee will meet the media tonight for the first time since their appointment and the legal status of the board will be high on the agenda of the journalists present. But they are likely to be tightlipped on this issue, as next Thursday the Sumathipala team will challenge both the dissolution and the appointment of an Interim Committee in the Court of Appeal. The lawyers, it seems, will be the greatest beneficiaries of the latest controversy to rock Sri Lankan cricket.

Graham Roberts has told Football FanCast that Ryan Mason does not have any chance of winning the Tottenham Hotspur job permanently despite taking over as interim coach.

The former Spurs captain, who won the UEFA Cup with the club, does not believe that the former midfielder will be in the running to replace Jose Mourinho permanently, following the sacking of the Portuguese earlier this week.

Mason has been appointed on an interim basis, the club confirmed last Tuesday, and will be assisted by Chris Powell and Nigel Gibbs, along with Michel Vorm and Ledley King. King is the only member of Mourinho’s coaching staff to survive his sacking.

There have been numerous reports linking Spurs with various managers, foremost of all being RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Mason, though, will be out to make an impression, having won his first game in charge – a 2-1 home win against Southampton – before narrowly losing the Carabao Cup Final to Man City.

Mason only returned to the club in 2018 and was previously the manager of the club’s Under-18s.

And Roberts, though he believes Mason will enjoy the experience, does not think he will be in the conversation to replace Mourinho permanently.

He told FFC: “No. He’s only been a coach for eight months, nine months? He asked to go back in there and they took him in, he’s been with the youth.

“Running a football club is totally different to youth. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy it, I’m sure Tim Sherwood enjoyed it when he did it but for him to get the job full-time, no, I don’t see it at all.”

Marcelo Bielsa has provided an injury update on Leeds United forward Raphinha, admitting that he will continue to be assessed in the coming days.

The Whites battled their way to a deserved 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool on Monday evening as they again showed they can hold their own against the Premier League’s best teams. Sadio Mane’s first half effort appeared to have inflicted defeat on Leeds, but Diego Llorente’s late header earned Bielsa’s men a share of the spoils.

The hosts had to make do without Raphinha, who failed to recover from a knock picked up in the 2-1 win away to Manchester City recently.

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Bielsa gives update on injured Raphinha

Speaking to the press after the Liverpool game, Bielsa confirmed that Raphinha will keep being assessed ahead of Sunday’s visit of Manchester United. The Leeds manager said: “He is in the process of recovery. We will have to continue evaluating him on a daily basis.”

Transfer Tavern take

Leeds may have done well without Raphinha but his return to the side could prove vital, with the Brazilian vbeing described as ‘incredible’ by The Times columnist Tony Cascarino.

The 24-year-old’s dribbling ability, unpredictability and goal threat will be key against Manchester United on Sunday if he is fit – he has six goals and assists apiece in the Premier League this season – with Luke Shaw perhaps made to think twice about attacking at every opportunity.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly interested in signing a ‘big six’ player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Paul Robinson has been left pleasantly stunned by reports of Everton being linked with a move for Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer transfer window.

The Daily Mail had previously reported that Napoli valued their prize asset at a whopping £89m amid interest in signing him from Manchester United, but Transfermarkt now value him at £45m.

Nonetheless, for the Goodison Park faithful to be linked with a player who was once valued at that amount and had interest from one of if not the biggest club in world football, is certainly credit to the Merseyside club.

Koulibaly is about to enter the final two years of his current deal in Italy, and so may be available for a reduced price, meaning that Carlo Ancelotti’s team could look to pounce on his signature.

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has been left stunned by the transfer link:

“Wow, if Everton could attract a player like that it could transform them.

“It has been a slow progression under Ancelotti but they are moving in the right direction. He has moved very well in the transfer market so far and you can see his influence.

“It would be fantastic for Everton if they could add a player like Koulibaly to their ranks.” 

Everton should sign Koulibaly

The Toffees should look to sign Koulibaly if possible, given that they may not get a better opportunity to sign one of the world’s best in his position.

Ancelotti has also worked with the Senegal international before, and so will know how to get the best out of his former player, which can only benefit the Blues further.

Nonetheless, EFC should look to sign the 29-year-old central defender this summer in order to try and take them to the next level.

In other news, find out which Everton ace’s international display has been lauded by fans here!