All posts by h716a5.icu

Graham Manou, the South Australia wicketkeeper, will spend part of the winter in England even if he misses a spot in the Ashes squad

Cricinfo staff08-May-2009Graham Manou, the South Australia wicketkeeper, will spend part of the winter in England even if he misses a spot in the Ashes squad. Manou is one of a group of glovemen, including Matthew Wade and Chris Hartley, who performed strongly towards the end of last season as they fought for the right to be Brad Haddin’s understudy.Luke Ronchi had held that role, but he was dropped by Western Australia during the summer and there was strong competition for his spot. The Test squad for England will be named before Australia’s camp in Queensland on May 24.Wade led the first-class dismissals in 2008-09 with 57, three ahead of Hartley and well in front of Tim Paine (42), another candidate, and Manou (33). However, Manou was the most productive batsman with 647 runs at 46.21 while Wade made 545 at 49.54 and Hartley 524 at 34.93.”If the selections don’t go my way, processes are being put into place by myself and my management company to get me over there,” Manou told AAP. “Ideally county cricket would be fantastic, but those opportunities are very limited, especially for a wicketkeeper. There’s been talk about some second XI cricket and then any cricket I can get my hands on while I’m over there.”Manou said he wanted to be in England in case something happened to Haddin and there was an opening in the Test team. “You’d kick yourself if you weren’t there,” he said.

Former Crystal Palace striker Marcus Bent is confident Odsonne Edouard can progress further at his old club.

Edouard joined Palace from Celtic on deadline day in a £14m deal after a prolific spell in Glasgow.

In 179 appearances for the Scottish giants, the French forward scored an impressive 86 goals, making it no surprise his new side were willing to take a punt on him and offer him a £70,000-a-week deal.

Ultimately, for Bent, it is a good move for Edouard and he is now expecting the 23-year-old to take his game to the next level.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about his move to Selhurst Park, the ex-Palace star said:

“I know Palace haven’t got the money and the finances that, you know, the big teams have. But bringing him in – and he’s done well at Celtic – I think it will be good bringing him in for him to progress and score some goals for Palace.”

With the likes of Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher also joining the club, you would have to say that it was a positive transfer window for Palace.

The Eagles were able to strengthen in defence, midfield and attack, so Patrick Vieira can be pleased with his side’s business.

A round-up of matches from the fourth day of the World Cup Qualifiers tournament in South Africa

Cricinfo staff06-Apr-2009Group BBermuda’s loss to Kenya at Potchefstroom, coupled with UAE’s win over Denmark, has left them on the brink of elimination from the competition and the loss of their ODI status. They need to beat the in-form Dutch in their final game and hope Afghanistan lose to UAE to remain in the tournament.David Hemp’s unbeaten century carried them to 259 for 5 but it was no match for Kenya, who won by seven wickets with five overs remaining. Maurice Ouma (57) and Kennedy Otieno (63) put on 98 for the first wicket, after which the captain Steve Tikolo hit an unbeaten 60 and added 88 with Collins Obuya, who made 43 not out. Kenya faced few difficulties in their chase and sit at the top of their group with three wins from four games.At Potchefstroom, the UAE completed a 112-run win over Denmark, who suffered their fourth straight loss. The opener Amjad Javed hit a blistering 164 from 117 balls, laced with 17 fours and eight sixes, and there were handy contributions from Khurram Khan (56 from 37 balls) and Nithin Gopal (35) to go with a clutch of smaller scores. From 233 for 4 in the 37th over – thanks to Michael Pedersen (60), his older brother Carsten (58), and Freddie Klokker (77) – Denmark were all out for 267 in 44.4 overs. It was a dramatic collapse and Denmark had only themselves to blame for there were four run-outs along the way.Netherlands won their third match by defeating Afghanistan by five wickets at Vanderbijlpark. Having chosen to field Netherlands kept Afghanistan to 204 for 9, with Ryan ten Doeschate and Mudassar Bukhari sharing six wickets. Only one Afghanistan batsman crossed fifty, the opener Karim Khan with 72. Netherlands stumbled a bit at the top of the order before Daan van Bunge took them home with an unbeaten 65 from 87 balls, aided by two key stands for the fifth and sixth wickets.Group AScotland registered their third win of the tournament, beating Uganda by 45 runs in Johannesburg, and booked a spot in the Super Eights. They were boosted by a collective bowling display – five of their bowlers took two wickets each – as they managed to defend a competitive, yet chaseable, score of 209. Uganda faltered in their run-chase from the outset as John Blain and Dewald Nel provided their team the early breakthroughs, restricting the opposition to 56 for 4. The Uganda batsmen failed to measure up to the Namibian bowling – only their captain Junior Kwebiha offered any resistance. After Blain and Nel had their done their job the others stepped in to complete the formalities and skittle Uganda out for 164. Scotland had earlier squandered a dominant position at 164 for 3 to lose their last seven wickets for just 46. Neil McCallum, however, held one end together with a defiant 101 to help his team salvage a defendable score, which, as his bowlers proved, was adequate.Namibia picked up their first win after beating last-placed Oman at Krugersdorp. Put in to bat, Namibia made 291 with Craig Williams, Gerrie Snyman and Nicholaas Scholtz posting fifties. Oman’s chase faltered from the start when they slipped to 6 for 3, and there were hardly any notable stands thereafter. Awal Khan’s 62 was the only half-century as Oman struggled to counter Sarel Burger’s tidy medium-pace. Burger finished with figures of 10-1-44-5 and Oman were bowled out for 172 in 43.4 overs.

Fulham failed with a deadline day move to bring Jonjoe Kenny to Craven Cottage.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Liverpool Echo, who claim that Marco Silva made a last-minute enquiry regarding the possibility of signing the Everton right-back.

However, the report continues to state that, despite the 24-year-old having been available for loan and transfer for the past three seasons, Rafael Benitez rejected Fulham’s approach for the defender as the Spaniard could not find a replacement for the former England U21 international.

Silva surely fuming

While Silva is not particularly short of options at right-back, with Steven Sessegnon, Cyrus Christie and Denis Odoi all currently available for selection in the position, the injury to Kenny Tete has left the 44-year-old manager without an out and out first-choice on the right-hand side of his defence.

And, considering how highly Kenny impressed while on loan at Celtic last season, it is clear to see why the Fulham boss was keen on a move for the 24-year-old, and why missing out on his signing would have left the Portuguese manager fuming.

Indeed, over his 14 Scottish Premiership appearances for the Bhoys last season, the £5.22m-rated man helped his side keep eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.9 tackles, 1.3 clearances and winning 4.2 duels per game.

The defender also impressed for Celtic in a creative capacity, registering two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.4 key passes per league fixture.

These returns saw the man Everton insiders dubbed a “reliable” player earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.14, ranking him as the club’s eighth-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, it is clear to see that Kenny would have made a fine addition to the Fulham squad, as the Everton full-back would have provided Silva with further depth to an already impressive Cottagers backline – which has played a major role in helping their side sit atop the Championship table after five games played.

In other news: Report sheds light on Fulham deadline day disaster, Silva could’ve made a big mistake

Steve Harmison is set to discuss his international future with captain Andrew Strauss after being omitted from the side for the fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados

Cricinfo staff01-Mar-2009
Steve Harmison on his captain: “We go back a long way, have played a lot of cricket together and have a good relationship” © Getty Images
England fast bowler Steve Harmison is set to discuss his international future with captain Andrew Strauss after being omitted from the side for the fourth Test against West Indies in Barbados. Harmison was dropped in favour of Ryan Sidebottom after a disappointing performance in the drawn third Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground last week.Harmison, 30, said he was told by England’s interim coach Andy Flower, shortly before the toss, that he would not be playing. “‘Andy Flower told me I was being left out because I was not bowling quick enough nor was I hostile enough for what they wanted. I was bitterly disappointed,” he told the . “It was not the right time to take it up with Andrew Strauss as he was about to start a massive match and the last thing he needed was talking to me.”There is absolutely no animosity between Straussy and me. We are not at loggerheads. We go back a long way, have played a lot of cricket together and have a good relationship. I know I can talk honestly and openly with him.”Harmison said it was important that he and Strauss had a proper conversation because he was desperate to play for England. “I need to know what I have to do to win back my place,” he said. “When we get to Trinidad I want to sit down with him over a beer or take him out for a meal and see where we stand.”Harmison has played two Tests on the tour and bagged four wickets at 36.75, but he was still hopeful of featuring in the fifth and final Test in Trindad which begins from Friday. “I’m going to put my heart and soul into bowling fast and hostile enough in the nets at Trinidad next week to give them something to think about,” said Harmison.

West Bromwich Albion have been dealt a major blow in their bid to bring Liam Delap to The Hawthorns this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Alan Nixon, with The Sun journalist revealing in a post on Twitter that Stoke City look to be the centre-forward’s most likely destination if he is to leave Manchester City on a temporary deal in the summer transfer window.

In his tweet, Nixon said: “Everybody interested thinks he goes to Stoke.”

Previous reports have suggested that West Brom manager Valerien Ismael is also extremely keen on a move for the 18-year-old, as the Frenchman believes that his Albion squad is lacking depth in the number nine role.

Fans will be gutted

While it may seem that West Brom are not in desperate need of attacking reinforcements at present, as the Baggies have scored a league-high 11 Championship goals over their opening four fixtures of the season, Ismael’s concerns regarding his lack of depth up front do seem well-founded.

Indeed, while it is true that both Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson are more than capable of operating in the middle of a front three, both players are perhaps more suited to cutting in from the wing rather than being the focal point of the attack – with Kenneth Zohore being Ismael’s only real option as an out and out centre-forward.

And, considering the 27-year-old was loaned out to Millwall last season, where he scored a mere two Championship goals over 17 appearances, it would certainly appear as if the Denmark international could be upgraded on.

As such, a move for Delap would have seemed to make a great deal of sense for West Brom, with the Man City starlet appearing to boast a substantial amount of potential, having scored a whopping 30 goals across his 27 appearances for City’s U23 side and first-team last season.

However, if Nixon is to be believed, it looks as if Ismael’s apparent hesitation in sanctioning a swoop for the 18-year-old has presented Stoke with something of a clear run at the striker, which will be gutting news for Albion fans to read.

And, with the Potters highly impressing over their opening fixtures of the new Championship season, only sitting behind Albion in the league on goal difference, should Michael O’Neill’s side indeed go on to land Delap this summer, his potential goals for Stoke could well directly impact the Baggies’ chances of securing a top-two finish in the league.

In other news: Journalist drops West Brom transfer claim on “surprising” £6m beast, Ismael would love him

Tottenham Hotspur are set to be frustrated in their efforts to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore on an initial loan deal, according to Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Spurs head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is keen to be reunited with Traore after managing the £27m-rated Spain international before leaving Wolves at the end of last season.

With the transfer deadline looming, reports suggest Nuno is keen to negotiate a deal which would see Traore head to north London on loan until the end of the season with a view to making the move permanent for £40million.

Traore, 25, has terrorised defences with his strength and pace since joining Wolves from Middlesbrough in an £18million deal three years ago.

Despite links with a move away from Molineux, Traore has been involved in all three of his current side’s fixtures so far this season.

Hatfield insists Wolves would not entertain allowing Traore to leave without recouping a hefty fee.

He told Football FanCast: “I don’t think Wolves would be willing to accept any kind of loan move with a view or obligation to buy. I don’t think it would make sense for them to do that, especially considering he has been one of their most exciting players at the start of the season.

“I think, for Wolves, there is probably an acceptance that Traore could be sold if an offer they can’t refuse comes in.

“But, for Spurs, I think it would require them to put a large fee down or a lower fee with add-ons. Wolves would want money up front so they could reinvest it straight away.” 

Sajid Mahmood and Amjad Khan have been called in as cover for Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad for the remaining two one-day internationals against India

Cricinfo staff26-Nov-2008
Amjad Khan has earned an England call-up after the squad was hit by injuries © Getty Images
England have called up Sajid Mahmood and Amjad Khan as cover for Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff for the remaining two one-day internationals against India.Broad limped off four balls into his ninth over with a hamstring strain and is a doubt for the sixth ODI in Guwahati, while Flintoff turned his left ankle in the footholes for the second match running. However, the England management said Flintoff’s problem was not associated with the four ankle operations he has had, the most recent of which was in October, keeping him out of the game for six months.Kevin Pietersen, who received treatment on his side during the Cuttack ODI, said injuries were a huge concern for England. “I will be fine. Broad and Flintoff, we will have a look at. There are a few niggles that are knocking about but I don’t want to go in to them.”Both Mahmood and Amjad are with the Performance Squad in Bangalore and will join up with the main party as they head north to Guwahati. Mahmood, 26, last played a one-day international at the 2007 World Cup and has been out of the international scene since Peter Moores took over as coach. However, he enjoyed a solid season for Lancashire, taking 35 wickets in 12 Championship matches, before injury ruled him out of the final six weeks.For Amjad, who has born in Denmark, his call-up represents a fine recovery from a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the entire 2007 season, after he had forced his way into the England Academy set-up the previous winter. He returned to action last season and impressed with his pace and swing.Amjad has leapfrogged Liam Plunkett and Tim Bresnan, who played an ODI against Scotland in August, in the pecking order. Both he and Mahmood are known for their ability to produce reverse swing, something that has been a key part of India’s attack but that England haven’t been able to match.England’s fast-bowling resources were already stretched before the lasted injury problems with Ryan Sidebottom ruled out of the one-day series with a side strain.

David Morgan, Sharad Pawar and Haroon Lorgat met Subhash Chandra, the owner of the unauthorised league, in a New Delhi hotel on Monday

Cricinfo staff23-Dec-2008
The presence of Sharad Pawar, the previous BCCI president, at Monday’s meeting is an indication that a resolution is possible © AFP
In what could be a significant step towards the resolution of the ICL situation, the ICC’s three top officials – David Morgan, the president, Sharad Pawar, the vice-president and Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive – met Subhash Chandra, the owner of the unauthorised league, in a New Delhi hotel on Monday.The official cricket establishment has been working for a while on resolving the problem, which affects more than a hundred banned players; one solution, it was learnt, involves accommodating the league within an exhibition framework. At the same time, in a delicate balancing act, the ICC has distributed for feedback a set of draft regulations on official and unofficial cricket to various stakeholders that contains tougher norms to prevent another ICL-like situation in the future.The ICC is clear that the ICL situation is a domestic issue for the Indian board to deal with directly; it is also keen on a “logical and common sense approach” to protect those cricketers already associated with the ICL and banned from all forms of official cricket. Against this background, the presence of Pawar, the previous BCCI president, at Monday’s meeting – first reported by the Hindustan Times newspaper – is an indication that a resolution is possible.In fact, Pawar’s presence within the ICC – the Indian minister became its vice-president this year and still has the final say over Indian cricket affairs – has provided the world body with the perfect platform for a resolution after being inundated with requests from the ICL, its cricketers, and other respected voices in international cricket to lift the ban. Incidentally, Chandra, the industrialist who heads the Zee media group, is known to have been close to Pawar, a veteran politician.The BCCI had initially adopted a hard-line approach against the ICL, barring Indian cricketers associated with the league from accessing even their local college grounds. It also used its significant influence within the ICC to ensure other national boards imposed similar bans on ICL cricketers and officials. Subsequently, two senior BCCI officials – Shashank Manohar, the president, and Lalit Modi, a vice-president and the man behind the IPL – were invited by the ICC to be part of a five-member working group to discuss new rules for official and unofficial cricket. During these discussions, the BCCI officially held talks with ICL – talks that were ended abruptly without any headway reported.Now, with the working group preparing a new set of draft regulations to prevent future unofficial leagues, it appears that Indian officials and the ICC are working to accommodate the ICL in some form and bring the curtains down on a controversy that split the cricketing world over the last year.The ICC is now expected to discuss the draft regulations and the ICL issue at its board meeting in Perth on January 31. Incidentally, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have already softened their stance on ICL and Sri Lanka cleared six ICL cricketers to play in a domestic tournament.However, there are still some knots to be untangled before a resolution is reached on both the ICL and the new draft regulations. For instance, the Federation of International Cricketers (FICA) has raised queries regarding player welfare under the new draft regulations. Tim May, the FICA chief executive, told Cricinfo the organisation had received the draft regulations and discussed them during its recent meeting in Kuala Lumpur. “We do have some queries, though I would not describe them as major,” May said. “They are basically a few clarifications we have sought.”The ICL was launched in 2007 as a private venture and officials associated with the Twenty20 league have subsequently applied for recognition from the ICC under rules that allow the world body to sanction exhibition/testimonial matches. But the request is pending with the ICC, which has pointed out it does not have the home board’s endorsement.

West Brom may have been handed a boost in their rumoured pursuit of Manchester City youngster Liam Delap, with the youngster admitting he’s keen to get regular game time under his belt.

What’s the story?

Delap has caught the eye with some strong performances for Manchester City’s Under-23s team in recent seasons, which has seen him feature in Pep Guardiola’s senior side in recent months.

The 18-year-old signed for Manchester City back in 2019 and will be looking to go from strength to strength with the Premier League champions moving forwards.

Speaking in a recent interview with Sky Sports (via Football Daily), Delap has revealed that he trusts the club to make the right decision on his future, when quizzed on West Brom’s rumoured interest in landing his signature.

“Every minute that I get, it’s just an added bonus. As a footballer, you just want to play as much as you can, and that’ll be my target this season. 

“Obviously it’s up to the club. What’s happened at the club so far has been amazing for me, and I trust them to make the right decision, as I’ve been extremely happy with everything that’s happened at City, and I’m really happy here. I’ll see what the club want me to do from here.”

The Express and Star have previously revealed that West Brom are interested in a deal to sign Delap on a season-long loan deal, and the forward’s recent comments on his short-term future could heighten the Baggies’ interest in landing his signature this summer.

‘Phenomenal’

Delap has scored 40 goals in 54 appearances across all age groups so far in his career in professional football, but now could be the ideal time to send him out on loan.

He’s unlikely to be a regular starter in the City first-team, so a temporary move away from the Etihad Stadium could be the best possible move for all parties involved, as he looks to further his experience in senior football.

A move to West Brom could be the ideal destination for Delap as well, with Valerien Ismael looking to strengthen his attacking options this summer as he targets promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

The former Barnsley boss already has some strong and proven options in a similar position in his squad, with the likes of Callum Robinson, Kenneth Zohore and Karlan Grant being on the club’s books.

But Delap could provide West Brom with something different, as he’ll be eager to make a name for himself in first-team football.

You don’t feature for City’s first-team by chance, and that’s a credit to the quality that Delap has managed to get gam time so early into his professional career.

The youngster was labelled as ‘phenomenal’ by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, and it’ll be interesting to see where the City talent ends up this season.

But his recent admission on wanting regular game time could be a real boost in West Brom’s hopes of signing him, as the Baggies are much more likely to be able to offer Delap minutes this term, especially compared to City.

West Brom supporters would love to see a young, quality player like Delap arrive this summer to give their club a boost as they look to get promoted at the first time of asking.

AND in other news, West Brom have seemingly made a decision about the future of this player…