Neil McKenzie, ignored by the national selectors for the first three games againstNew Zealand, waved his bat under the noses of Rushdie Magiet and colleagueswith a stylish century to help Northerns Titans beat North West Dragons by29 runs at Supersport Park on Wednesday night.Not one of the national selectors in the Gauteng region turned up to watchMcKenzie in a Standard Bank Cup game where he put together the sort ofperformance which revived a struggling innings, his 103 coming off 109balls and including 12 fours.McKenzie learned only hours before the side left Nairobi on Sunday that hehad been left out of the national squad for the opening matches of thelimited overs international season against the competitive New Zealanders.This after the selectors had earlier indicated they were grooming the Titansbatsman for a middle-order place.McKenzie and the Northerns Titans captain, Gerald Dros, posteda national domestic record of 181 runs for the fourth wicket as Northerns puttogether a total of 239 for seven in their 45 overs.Dros scored an impressive 86 off 99 balls and, with his threewickets for 52 earned man of the match award.Greg Smith’s left-arm pace (3-24) ripped through the North West top-order asthe Dragons ran out of steam, scoring 210 for seven. Mark Lavine made 63 off 56 balls with three fours and six sixes, two of them among the biggestseen at the venue in a long time.
ScorecardFile photo: Usman Ghani’s 69 steered Afghanistan to 159 for 8•AFP
Usman Ghani’s 69 set up Afghanistan’s 27-run win over Oman in the first T20 fixture in Abu Dhabi. Ghani’s innings helped Afghanistan post 159 for 8 after they were asked to bat first, following which Afghanistan’s bowlers dismissed Oman for 132 in 18.1 overs.Ghani anchored Afghanistan’s innings, striking nine fours and one six, before he was dismissed in the 18th over. Karim Sadiq (26) and Samiullah Shenwari(17) contributed with handy scores in the middle order, after which Gulbadin Naib 8-ball 14 helped Afghanistan cross 150 in the death overs.Afghanistan’s bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets in the chase, reducing Oman to 98 for 7 at the end of the 15th over. Sayed Shirzad was the pick of the bowlers with returns of 3 for 16 in just three overs, while Yamin Ahmadzai, Rokhan Barakzai and Shenwari claimed two wickets apiece. Adnan Ilyas’ 34 was the top score for Oman, but it was not enough as Oman struggled to build partnerships from the start.
Sri Lanka will go for a 3-0 whitewash of the Test series against Bangladesh in the third and final Test starting on July 11 at Kandy’s Asgiriya International Stadium.”That’s the only way to look at it. We’ve played some really good cricket the last two weeks or so and we are 2-0 up in the series. We don’t want to have any hiccups at this stage,” said Mahela Jayawardene.”We want to make sure that we concentrate and play the same brand of cricket and have the result going our way so that it will be good for us going into the one-day series as well as for the season which is coming up for us.”If Sri Lanka win at Kandy, it will be their 50th victory in 170 Test matches. With Chaminda Vaas having returned to England to see out his contract with Middlesex, Jayawardene stated that young all-rounder Farveez Maharoof would fill his vacancy in the team.”Maharoof is our next best in the line up. He deserves his place. He’s one guy who’sperformed really well,” said Jayawardene. “We are also floating with the idea of giving Sujeewa de Silva an opportunity as well since we have wrapped up the series. He deserves an opportunity having performed well. If we take a decision to play him then either Lasith [Malinga] or Dilhara [Fernando] will be rested depending on the amount of cricket they have played and which of them we feel needs a break.”Also set to return for his first Test of the series is opener Upul Tharanga, who has recovered from a fractured left heel. “Upul has been our No.1 choice going into the Test series,” said Jayawardene. “Injury kept him away. Everybody who has been given the opportunity has done well. What we have to realise is we cannot think right now but look to the future. The next six months there is a lot of cricket coming up and Upul’s definitely going to be part of that. He needs to come in as quickly as possible and start playing good cricket and get into the stride. He will definitely play in this Test. We have to make a toughdecision on Michael [Vandort] and Malinda [Warnapura].”Jayawardene said he expected the pitch to be slower than that at the SSC and theSara Stadium but added: “There would probably be a bit of movement as well as carry.I am not sure whether it has the same pace as the Sara Stadium but it will definitely have a little bit more movement given the fact that the conditions here are usually moist.”Mohammad Ashraful, the Bangladesh captain, said he hoped his bad luck with the toss would change in Kandy. “Luck has not gone my way and I am expecting it to change here.”On both occasions he lost the toss, Bangladesh failed to top 100 in their first innings and this had led to the team being defeated by an innings in three days. Bangladesh have made two changes to their side with middle-order batsman Tushar Imran replacing Mehrab Hossain and fast bowler Syed Rasel replacing Mohammad Sharif.Ashraful said that Mehrab was dropped after just one Test because he was not a middle-order batsman but a specialist opener. “Tushar has been scoring runs for the A team as well as in domestic cricket that’s why we got him down early for the final Test.”Bangladesh will hope to avoid their second 3-0 whitewash in history. In their only previous three-Test series they lost to Pakistan.Teams:Sri Lanka from: Upul Tharanga, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, KumarSangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan,Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, MuttiahMuralitharan, Sujeewa de Silva.Bangladesh from: Javed Omar, Nafees Ahmed, Rajin Saleh, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Tushar Imran, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Syed Rasel, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Shahadat Hossain.
Cricket Australia has admitted that it is powerless to prevent scalpers from selling Ashes tickets on eBay, attacking the online auction site for refusing to take action off its own back.James Sutherland, the board’s under-fire CEO, lambasted people selling tickets, accusing them of “exploiting the public’s passion for the game,” and adding that he was “disgusted”. He said that while eBay had been asked to help, “their response has been, ‘It’s not our problem'”.But while Cricket Australia was powerless to act, it seems that punters have taken matters into their own hands, deliberately sabotaging auctions for tickets. A quick check of the site showed that many of the sales had receiving grossly inflated bids from newly-registered members, a surefire sign that people were bidding with no intention other than to scupper genuine bidders.A spokesman of eBay defended the company’s position, saying: “We don’t actually sell the tickets. We provide a marketplace where the buyers and sellers can transact.”Sutherland called for all sports to consider uniting to press for national anti-scalping legislation.But while Cricket Australia has been slammed for the way it handled the ticket sales, it is laughing all the way to the bank. On the first day of sales, more than $13.5 million was handed over by supporters, and CA will take about 30% of that, with the balance going to the individual states.
Sourav Ganguly, India’s captain, has stoked the rivalry between his team and the touring Australians ahead of the first Test, which starts at Bangalore on October 6.”The Aussies know that we are the only side that comes hard at them, and that will be a huge psychological advantage for us,” Ganguly told AFP. “I am certain they are worried about playing us. We are always formidable at home and they know it. I am not saying we will certainly win the series – you can’t predict that – but it will be a very, very close contest.”The Aussies bring out the best in us,” Ganguly continued, “and I am confident the same will happen again despite a very ordinary start to the season, where we played poor cricket.”Australia, who last won a Test series on Indian soil in 1969 under Bill Lawry, have lost five of the last seven Tests they have played there since 1996. In 2001, India fought back from a drubbing in the first Test to win the next two and grab a stunning 2-1 series victory in the final match. When they toured Australia last year, India managed to hold them to a 1-1 draw.”Maybe you are only as good as the team you lead, but I have never shirked away from the responsibility given to me,” he added. “It’s my job to lead from the front. There will always be a lot said when we are not doing well, but in the end what matters is that the captain and the team are willing to stand up and be counted.”When asked whether Sachin Tendulkar’s likely absence from the first Test due to a tennis elbow injury would give Australia the edge, Ganguly countered: “I think the Aussies will be hurt more by the absence of captain Ricky Ponting. It affects the team when the captain is not around, and the Australians are no exception. It will put them under a lot of pressure.”Ponting has been ruled out of the first two Tests of the four-match series with a broken thumb. He suffered the injury while fielding during Australia’s defeat to England in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy last month. Adam Gilchrist has been named as the stand-in captain during his absence.
ScorecardUganda beat Namibia by five wickets with nine overs of the match remaining, to take the honours in their opening match of the ICC Intercontinental Cup. Namibia began the day on 130 for 2 – a lead of 21 – and batted sensibly to secure a lead of 181, despite the best efforts of Kenneth Kamyuka, who finished with 5 for 83.Uganda’s run-chase began badly, when M Naiko was caught-behind for a duck off the medium-pace of Bernie Berger (2 for 0). But their other opener, Benjamin Musoke, provided the solid foundations with a well-crafted 72. He added 136 for the fourth wicket with Frank Nsubuga, who made 41, and by the time they both fell within two runs of each other, the task was all but complete. Junior Kwebiha and Uganda’s first-innings hero, Nand Kishar, wrapped up the match.Uganda’s next fixture is on July 23, on their home turf in Kampala, when they take on the group favourites, Kenya. The African pool concludes on October 3, when Namibia and Kenya complete their match in Nairobi.
Playing with a gusto suggesting that their lives were on the line, India "A" staged a dramatic post-tea fightback against West Indies "B" at Kensington Oval yesterday to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the Carib Beer International Challenge.After suffering a collapse in the first half of the day to concede a first innings lead of 92, India "A" sent the West Indies Under-23s tumbling to 115 for seven on a day in which they had to endure the disappointment of their senior side receiving a mauling in the World Cup final.At the close, the West Indies "B" led by 207 to set the stage for an exciting finish today, the final day, when there will be no admission charge to the ground.On a pitch with some low bounce, the enthusiastic Indians consistently bowled between wicket and wicket, repeatedly bellowed raucous appeals and were also helped by aggressive strokes from the West Indies "B" team’s three leading batsmen this season.Hometown boys Patrick Browne and Martin Nurse both went by the lbw route for 16 when they were pinned onto the back foot.The dismissal of Nurse to the accurate medium-pacer Jai Yadav left the West Indies "B" 65 for three at the refreshment break at 4 p.m. and triggered the drama that followed in the next 40 minutes.Five wickets fell for 24, among them the in-form trio of Narsingh Deonarine, Aneil Kanhai and Carlton Baugh, to strokes that might have earned them a harsh word from team management.Deonarine, the impressive century-maker of the first innings, attempted to lift leg-spinner Amit Mishra over mid-wicket, but Connor Williams made tremendous ground in running back to haul in the catch a few feet in front of the Eric Inniss Stand.Baugh, who has attracted attention this season with a century and five half-centuries, attacked the bowling from the time he came out. He smashed two fours, but then edged a big drive to the keeper off Mishra.Kanhai’s dismissal was simply atrocious. The big left-hander, one of nine batsman in the tournament with 500 runs, missed an inexcusable cross-batted shot against Yadav and was bowled.It was now 89 for seven, but Lorenzo Ingram and Jason Bennett survived the next 50 minutes to prevent a complete collapse.Earlier, Bennett achieved another five-wicket haul to help West Indies "B" dismiss India "A" for 296 after they resumed on 210 for three in response to 388.After eight minutes, the 20-year-old Barbadian fast bowler removed Gautam Ghambir, who added only one to his overnight 107, and bowled captain Ajay Ratra for 38.Fellow fast bowler Andrew Richardson grabbed three wickets and off-spinner Deonarine claimed two as India "A" laboured in adding only 41 runs in the first session.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday rejected Pakistan’sobjection and retained controversial New Zealander John Reid as matchreferee for the first half of the Asian Test Championship.Pakistan host Bangladesh between Aug 29 and Sept 2 at Multan and thenplay against India at Lahore between Sept 12 and 16, pending New Delhiclearance. The remaining matches are between Sri Lanka and Bangladeshat Colombo and India and Bangladesh at Bangalore.In a press statement, the ICC said its policies don’t permit anymember country to veto the appointment of independent referees orumpires.The ICC statement added that the policy was reconfirmed at the ICCexecutive board meeting at Nairobi in October 2000. However, thetoothless and ineffective ICC forgot that it had removed Darrell Hairfrom the 1999 World Cup matches involving Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka hadrefused to play the games if supervized by Hair. The Australian hadcalled Muttiah Muralitharan seven times in an over during the 1995-96Melbourne Test.The statement, quoting ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, said: “Ihave spoken personally to the PCB and John Reid about this matter andexplained the ICC’s position.”The PCB has assured me that John Reid will receive the samecourtesies that are extended to all ICC officials visiting thecountry, and for his part Mr Reid remains keen to fulfil hisappointment covering the (four) Test matches.”Pakistan, last week, had registered its protest against theappointment of Reid after the former New Zealand captain madecontroversial decisions which left cricket in a spin.Reid, in 1999, forwarded Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s case to theICC after he was reported for throwing during the Perth Test byumpires Darrell Hair and Peter Willey. Ironically, Reid had not raisedany eye-brows against the pacer despite being the match referee in atleast two World Cup games involving Pakistan. However, the mostdebatable Reid’s decision was against current Pakistan captain WaqarYounis whom he handed a 50 per cent fine and one-match suspension onthe charges of ball tampering. Azhar Mahmood was also fined on thesame offence in the tri-nation one-day series in Sri Lanka last year.Reid’s cruel decision, which left a black spot on Waqar’s glitteringcareer, was an unilateral one as none of the umpires had reported theincident to the New Zealand.The ICC further said if India crossed borders for the icebreakingTest, South African Rudi Koertzen will be the third country umpire.
While they’ve received stick for the way they’ve gone about it, Chelsea have built a seriously talented squad over the last few years.
While it’s most certainly not the finished product, Enzo Maresca has several genuinely world-class players he can pick from every week, be that Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo or Reece James.
However, while the Blues have got plenty right with their squad building, they’ve also made unnecessary or downright pointless signings.
One summer arrival who is unfortunately veering more towards that camp this year is Jamie Gittens, although another in the squad is now looking even more perplexing.
Gittens' form this season
When Chelsea announced the signing of Gittens in the summer, there was some genuine excitement in the fanbase, and understandably so.
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After all, here was a young, dynamic winger who ended last season with an impressive haul of 17 goal involvements in 49 games for one of Germany’s biggest clubs.
Moreover, with goals away against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the 21-year-old looked like the sort of fearless attacker the Blues needed in their squad.
Unfortunately, since arriving in West London, the Reading-born ace has looked a shadow of the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why the youngster has been in such poor form, but when watching him, his ability to beat players on the ball has disappeared, as has his ability to make the right decision in dangerous areas.
Gittens’ recent league form
Season
24/25
25/26
Appearances
32
12
Minutes
1784′
426′
Goals
8
0
Assists
4
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.37
0.16
Minutes per Goal Involvement
148.66′
213′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
This combination has seen him score just once and provide five assists in 20 appearances.
That might not sound too bad, but it’s important to note that three of his goal involvements have come in the League Cup and the other three have come against Ajax, Burnley and Leeds United.
The most worrying performance of his short Blues career came on Tuesday night, when, against League One Cardiff, he failed to create anything of note, ending the game without a successful dribble or shot on target.
In all, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue with one analyst’s claim that he’s been a “pointless signing.”
However, and worryingly for Chelsea, there is another player they signed in the summer who has arguably been even more pointless.
The Chelsea signing more pointless than Gittens
Of all the signings Chelsea made in the summer, the one that is increasingly feeling the most pointless is Facundo Buonanotte.
Now, to be clear, the youngster is a talented footballer and someone who could have a bright future ahead of him.
After all, he produced nine goal involvements in 35 appearances for Leicester City last season and has been described as having a “left foot made of gold” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
However, he was signed on a season-long loan with no option or obligation to buy him at the end of the campaign, and, simply put, the few minutes he’s getting would surely be better given to the club’s many impressive academy talents.
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Moreover, Ecuadorian wonderkid Kendry Paez was sent out on loan to Strasbourg in the summer, so why not just keep him and forget about bringing the Argentine in altogether?
Furthermore, even when he’s played for the team, he hasn’t been all that impressive.
Yes, he did pick up an assist against Cardiff – only his second goal involvement in seven games for the club – but he was really relatively poor in the first half.
For example, he failed in 66% of his dribbles, took just one shot on target, lost the ball 12 times, lost eight of 11 ground duels and was generally deserving of the 6/10 match rating football.london’s Bobby Vincent gave him at full-time.
Ultimately, while Buonanotte is not a terrible player, bringing him in on loan with no option feels even more pointless today than it did in the summer, especially when some of Chelsea’s best academy players surely could have done a job against third-tier Cardiff.
Dream for Estevao: Chelsea want to sign "one of the best wing-backs in the PL"
The Premier League star would be an incredible signing for Chelsea and would help get even more out of Estevao.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was taken to hospital during the final session of the second day against Essex after injuring the index finger on his left hand while backing-up in the field. He required two stitches for a soft tissue injury and is almost certainly out of the final warm-up match against the England Lions next week, although should be fit for the first Test at Lord’s on May 15.He immediately ran off to the dressing room after backing up a wild throw from Brendon McCullum and was soon being driven to A&E for treatment. “There was a bit of blood, but we thought maybe he might have done some other damage – so we wanted to get it x-rayed to see maybe whether there was a problem with the tendon or bone,” said Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager.”Daniel looked at it straight away and ran off the field straight away and feared the worst for a little while. But the worst would have been some injury to the bone, and that is not the case. It’s just a soft-tissue split – and he’s had two stitches,” Crocker added. “He should have the stitches out in about a week and should be fine, which will leave him short of a gallop before the Test. He wanted to play both these two games to get quite a few overs in. He’s not going to get that opportunity now but should be right to play in the first Test.”Vettori only arrived in the country two days ago after his stint in the IPL. He made 22 on the opening day then produced a tidy spell of bowling which included the wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate, caught at short leg. However, that 11-over spell is now likely to be his only first-class bowling before the Test series starts. Being his major spinning finger, Vettori won’t be allowed to wear any protection that touches the ball when he bowls.”They [the doctors] did a very thorough job on him. We explained very carefully the importance of Daniel to us – and particularly that left forefinger,” Crocker said. “They took that on board. The doctor went to great lengths, cleaned it out really well and did a microscopic job.”New Zealand do have spin-bowling cover on the tour with Jeetan Patel, the offspinner, part of the squad. He played two Tests during the recent series against England and impressed with his control and character.Vettori’s injury comes the day after Alastair Cook suffered a dislocated little finger, but he was able to open the batting as normal for Essex.