Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa’s CEO, has criticised the team’s mental strength and inability to build on recent successes following their seven-wicket thrashing by Australia in the World Cup semi-final. A statement issued by him less than 24 hours after South Africa exited the tournament pulled few punches, saying the board was “deeply disappointed in the performance in the semi-final and at the World Cup in general.”South Africa, he pointed out, had failed to reach the final despite being offered assistance of every conceivable kind. “No stone was left unturned over the past two years in preparing them for this World Cup. In addition, they were given a professional support staff of 12 for the World Cup. So against this preparation and support background, we have to find out why they were so inconsistent and put remedial measures in place.”Majola outlined where he felt the team fell down. “Other general weaknesses facing South African cricket lie with mental strength, swing and spin bowling,” he said. “We must remember that this is virtually the same squad that won 13 matches on the trot and established themselves as the world’s best ODI exponents over the last two years. We have to find a way of taking this consistency into tournaments because this World Cup has shown an alarming inconsistency in the performances.”Plans are already in place, he said, to try and solve the problems. “We are dealing with these issues at the High Performance Centre. In addition, CSA and the boards of Pakistan and India have agreed to an academy exchange programme.”This will enable us to send a squad of spinners to the subcontinent for specialist coaching and for selected batsmen to learn to play spin in those conditions. Pakistan and India will then be able to use their bowlers and batsmen to train in our quicker conditions.”
Shahid Afridi has announced a temporary ‘retirement’ from Test cricket. In an announcement that caught many in Pakistan by complete surprise, Afridi said that he was planning to concentrate only on ODI cricket to ready himself for the World Cup in 2007. But, in a typically Pakistani twist, Afridi said that he would reconsider his ‘retirement’ from Tests after the World Cup.Speaking to Cricinfo, Afridi played down the news: “It’s not such a big decision. I want to concentrate on one form of cricket till the World Cup and that is ODIs. I will reconsider the decision to play Tests after the World Cup. As it is there aren’t too many Tests till the World Cup so it isn’t such a big deal.” Pakistan are due to play at least nine Tests between now and next March.Afridi cited a variety of reasons for his decision, though foremost among them, he blamed the increasing workload on the modern international player. “There’s just too much cricket happening at the moment. The international schedules are completely packed and there is hardly any time off. It’s all good that we earn good money but there is just too much cricket.” Afridi added he wanted to spend more time with his two daughters and his family, something “I haven’t been able to do for some time.”Pakistan has just finished a full, cramped home season with two full series against England and India, followed almost immediately by the tour to Sri Lanka. In between, many of the national team’s players were contracted to appear in the domestic Twenty20 tournament and though there is a break in the schedule till June, when they fly out to England, they are due to play two ODI matches later this month in Abu Dhabi against India. Afridi missed part of the ODI series against India with a side strain.He had been thinking about the decision for a few months and is thought to have decided finally, only after consultations with some close friends earlier this evening. “I have been thinking about it seriously since the series against England. I was thinking of doing it then, but with India coming over so soon after, I decided to hold back until that series was over.Typically, given the situation, there has been speculation that he had taken the decision after having been dropped from the last Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy, a Test Pakistan ultimately won. One senior journalist told Cricinfo that Afridi had been angry with the team management over his axing and decided, in the heat of the moment, to `retire.’ Television commentators had also expressed considerable surprise over the decision and given how valuable a Test player he had been since his recall, the reaction wasn’t a surprise. Afridi though was quick to deny this: “No, absolutely not. There was no pressure, no spat. It is just too much cricket and that is it. It is not a permanent thing anyway.” Afridi earlier told a local television channel that he hadn’t yet informed the PCB of his decision although he had discussed it with Inzamam-ul-Haq, who told him he would respect any decision taken. Inzamam told “I would not like to create any pressure on him to do something he does not want to do at this stage.”The format he has chosen to take retirement from is particularly surprising given that in the last year, Afridi has become one of Pakistan’s most valuable Test players. In fact, since his recall to the Test squad in January last year against Australia, in ten Tests, he has averaged 47.44 with four hundreds and three fifties. Some of his innings, such as the 58 against India in Bangalore last March, have changed the course of the Test and with 23 wickets, he finally appeared settled in the Test side. In contrast, in 43 ODIs since Bob Woolmer’s arrival as coach – when Afridi was recalled to the ODI side – he averages just under 23 with the bat, with only three fifties. His solitary century of course was the 45-ball special against India. But with the ball he has been a revelation and his bag of leggies, offies, wrong `uns and quicker ones has resulted in 51 wickets.Afridi was adamant, however, that he had no regrets over his decision to leave the Test side just when he seemed settled. “I have no regrets, I mean it’s only a temporary decision, but I just want to concentrate on one form of cricket for the moment.” Given the sudden timing of his announcement, however, and the fierce speculation now surrounding the circumstances of his axing from the last Test, it is unlikely that we have heard the last of this.
Wiltshire came closest to causing an upset, pushing Kent all the way at Salisbury. The minor county dismissed Kent for 160 inside their 50 overs but the Kent bowlers showed their experience as they squeezed home by nine runs. Simon Cook took four wickets, including the top-scorer, Michael Coles, for 32. A fighting 24 from Richard Bedbrook got Wiltshire close, but he could not quite do enough. Michael Carberry (41) lifted Kent after they slumped to 72 for 5. But they had the bowlers to thank for not joining that unenviable list of first-class counties who have fallen to their less illustrious colleagues.Northamptonshire thrashed Denmark by eight wickets at Brondby – click here for match report.Gloucestershire are still favourites to overcome Berkshire despite a fighting performance from the minor county. Gloucestershire failed to completely capitalise on a second-wicket stand of 118 between Phil Weston (80) and Chris Taylor (57) that took them to 164 for 2. Nick Denning, the former Essex player, took three wickets to limit the damage in the final overs. After an early strike from James Averis, Berkshire progressed steadily but Gloucestershire have plenty of one-day experience in their attack.
Holland face a stiff task on their reserve day against Warwickshire, requiring 137 more runs in 23 overs. They do, at least, still have Daan van Bunge, their talented young batsman, at the crease with 37. Warwickshire’s innings was built around Nick Knight’s 108 from 145 balls and was boosted by Trevor Penney who cracked 51 from 50 deliveries.Ireland were struggling on 33 for 3 when the rain ended play against Yorkshire in Belfast. Matthew Hoggard claimed two wickets in an incisive opening burst with Tim Bresnan claiming the other wicket.Andrew Crook led the Lancashire run-scoring spree against Buckinghamshire at Sir Paul Getty’s ground in Wormsley, with an unbeaten 162 from 155 balls on his C&G Trophy debut. But it was Glen Chapple who produced the real fireworks, blasting 55 from just 16 balls as Lancashire amassed 370 for 4. James Anderson then struck twice before bad light and rain, which had also delayed the start, forced the match into a second day.
Day Date Duration Home Team Away Team Venue CompThe 22 Apr 2 Days Hampshire Sussex Rose Bowl FriendlyWed 28 Apr 2 Days Somerset Hampshire Taunton FriendlyTue 4 May 3 Days Hants & Sussex Essex & Kent Hove FriendlyTue 11 May 3 Days Hampshire Surrey Rose Bowl SECMon 17 May 1 Day Hampshire Wiltshire Rose Bowl FriendlyMon 24 May 1 Day Hampshire Glamorgan Rose Bowl SETWed 26 May 3 Days Hampshire Sussex Rose Bowl SECTue 1 Jun 1 Day Hampshire Royal Navy Rose Bowl FriendlyFri 4 Jun 1 Day Somerset Hampshire Away SETMon 7 Jun 1 Day Gloucestershire Hampshire Away SETWed 9 Jun 1 Day Hampshire Club Cricket Conf Rose Bowl FriendlyTue 15 Jun 3 Days Gloucestershire Hampshire Bristol Univ SETMon 21 Jun 1 Day The Army Hampshire Aldershot FriendlyWed 23 Jun 3 Days Hampshire Sussex Hove SECMon 28 June 1 Day Hampshire Gloucestershire Rose Bowl SET(12 noon start)Wed 30 Jun 1 Day Hampshire Somerset Rose Bowl SETFri 2 Jul 1 Day Hampshire Worcestershire Rose Bowl SETMon 5 Jul 1 Day Worcestershire Hampshire Barnt Green SETTue 6 Jul 1 Day Glamorgan Hampshire Usk SETFri 9 Jul 1 Day RAF Hampshire Vine Lane FriendlyTue 20 Jul 3 Days Essex Hampshire Coggleshall SECWed 28 Jul 2 Days Sussex Hampshire Hove FriendlyTue 3 Aug 3 Days Glamorgan Hampshire Cardiff SECWed 11 Aug 3 Days Surrey Hampshire Guildford SECTue 17 Aug 3 Days Hampshire Kent Basingstoke SECTue 24 Aug 3 Days Hampshire MCC YC Rose Bowl FriendlyTue 31 Aug 3 Days Hampshire Middlesex Home SECKEY: SEC – Second Eleven ChampionshipSET – Second Eleven Trophy
During the press conference at the close of play of the first day of the Sydney Test, it emerged that England wicket-keeper Alec Stewart went into this match with suspected chicken-pox. He underwent tests before the start of play and it was then confirmed that he had contracted the infection.Surrey team-mate Mark Butcher said: "We heard just before we got on the coach this morning that he thinks he’s got chicken pox and he actually has got chicken pox.”Stewart was 20 not out at stumps and is expected to continue his innings when play resumes on the second day of what is widely expected to be his last Test. He missed out on the Melbourne match because of a bursa on his finger and his deputy, James Foster, put on a very competent display behind the stumps.Stewart will be 40 in April and, despite being in possession of a 12-month central contact, he could bid farewell to international cricket in the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa.On the 1994/95 tour of Australia, Stewart missed three Tests with a broken finger, while his county colleague Joey Benjamin contracted chicken pox and played in only four first-class matches on the entire tour. The same illness also struck the England A tour of New Zealand in 1999 when Ronnie Irani – now in the one-day squad in Australia – and Durham’s Michael Gough were confined to bed in Christchurch when the touring party moved on to the North Island.
Pune Club, Pune saw Madhya Pradesh take on Punjab in the Cooch BeharTrophy quarterfinal. Batting first Punjab were bowled out for 245 inthe 82nd over thanks to a classy bowling display by Ambalal Patidarwho claimed the wickets of seven Punjab batsmen. Gaganinder Singh(47) and Rajan Singh (43) were the batsmen to impress for Punjab.Madhya Pradesh were 26 without loss by the close of play on Tuesday .
The WACA Ground will no longer host international matches featuring England, India or South Africa from 2018-19, with all major internationals set to move to the new Perth Stadium. Under a plan announced by the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) on Thursday, the WACA Ground will become a boutique venue that will host only the countries that draw smaller crowds.Sheffield Shield cricket and domestic limited-overs games will also stay at the WACA Ground, but Big Bash League matches will shift to the Perth Stadium at Burswood, which is expected to be completed by early 2018. The proposed timeline means that 2017-18 might be the last time an Ashes Test is held at the WACA.Since the ground debuted as a Test venue in 1970, Australia have won 24 of 41 Tests at the WACA, which has been famous for the pace of its pitches. Drop-in pitches will be used at the new stadium, with the aim to replicate as closely as possible the pace and bounce characteristic of the WACA Ground.The announcement of the new plans comes just two days after former fast-bowling great Dennis Lillee quit his role as president of the WACA. It is believed Lillee wanted all major international matches to remain at the WACA Ground.The future of the WACA Ground has been the source of great concern for some years. Unlike the MCG, SCG, Gabba and Adelaide Oval, the WACA Ground does not host any sports besides cricket, which has made it difficult to remain financially viable. A plan to generate income by constructing commercial and residential buildings on site at the WACA Ground was abandoned in 2013 due to poor sales.The WACA Ground has also been in need of an upgrade to its facilities, one of the reasons it was not chosen to host a Test match last summer when only four Tests were played against India. The WACA is hopeful of receiving state funding for an upgrade given its agreement to become a complementary venue to the Perth Stadium, rather than a competitor.”The recommendations will see growth of cricket at all levels from grassroots to the elite,” WACA chairman Sam Gannon said. “We now have the opportunity to showcase the best of world and domestic cricket at two modern stadiums, providing players and spectators with facilities expected for modern sport.”Cricket patrons in Western Australia acknowledge that the WACA Ground facilities need improving and the WACA board has committed to a clear framework to invest in upgrades and ensure the ongoing viability of the WACA Ground and cricket in Western Australia.”By adopting the recommendations, the board and management have a clear direction for taking cricket forward. The next stage will be about bringing that vision to reality by refining the structural requirements of the ground, developing a staged building program and securing the funding.”Under the plan, the WACA Ground will become a boutique stadium with a capacity of 10,000 to 15,000, while the Perth Stadium will hold 55,000 to 60,000 spectators. Four drop-in pitches will be used at the new Perth Stadium.”Prototypes of the drop-ins are being developed with the same soil, clay and grass profile as the existing wickets at the WACA Ground,” the WACA’s report said. “The prototype wickets will be placed in the ground at the centre of Gloucester Park and the WACA turf team will be responsible for developing them.”In addition, at the appropriate time in the maturation process, Warriors players will bowl and bat on them to provide player feedback before the actual wickets are developed. To assist with the development of the wickets Cricket Australia has engaged the former curator at the MCG who is the most experienced in the country in drop-in wicket technology.”Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the new structure for cricket in Western Australia had the support of CA.”The strategy for Australian cricket is all about putting fans first and that’s exactly what this move will do,” Sutherland said. “It will provide cricket with world-class facilities for patrons and players and further strengthen our position as Australia’s favourite sport.”
Liverpool are now in “talks” to sign an alternative to Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, according to recent reports.
Liverpool set to miss out on Semenyo
With Mohamed Salah at AFCON, and Alexander Isak now with Cody Gakpo on the sidelines, Liverpool have been left scrambling for attacking options heading into the new year. And in a campaign full of defensive issues, the last thing Arne Slot needed was attacking injuries to emerge.
Liverpool keen on signing £100m "warrior" to upgrade on Mac Allister
Liverpool are getting ready to make a series of changes in the transfer market in 2026.
ByAngus Sinclair
Nonetheless, it’s something that the Dutchman must solve together with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards. The Premier League champions aren’t afraid to splash the cash, breaking their record twice in the summer to sign Isak and Florian Wirtz, but look unlikely to welcome Antoine Semenyo next month.
Despite chasing the winger’s signature, it now looks as though Manchester City are in pole position to secure his arrival in frustrating blow for the rest of the Premier League’s chasing clubs.
That leaves Liverpool back to square one, with concern over Salah’s long-term future not exactly helping those at Anfield in that regard. The Egyptian’s left for AFCON in a calmed state after being restored to the squad, but those at Anfield won’t be forgetting his bombshell interview anytime soon.
So the Reds should aim to kill two birds with one stone next month and that’s where Karim Adeyemi could come in. According to Anfield Index, Liverpool are now in “talks” to sign Adeyemi with his representatives and could secure his arrival for as little as £20m next month.
Liverpool in "talks" to sign Adeyemi
The Borussia Dortmund star seems to be a candidate to arrive instead of Semenyo and one who could replace Salah in the long run. At just 22 years old, it’s easy to see why he’s caught the eye of those at Anfield, especially if he is to cost just £20m when the winter window swings open.
League stats 25/26
Adeyemi
Semenyo
Minutes
735
1,439
Goals
4
8
Assists
1
3
Key Passes
9
23
Replacing Salah is a lot easier said than done, however. Both Semenyo and Adeyemi struggle to match the incredibly high numbers that the Liverpool star has produced over the years – particularly the Dortmund star.
But rumours that Adeyemi is on their radar could suggest that the Reds are heading into another direction in the post-Salah era. The Dortmund star represents a classic winger, rather than the inside forward type and that would free up room for Isak to take centre-stage.
What’s more, his £85,000-a-week salary demands wouldn’t exactly break the bank at Liverpool, once again making him an ideal option when 2026 arrives.
Adam Gilchrist has jumped to the defence of his Indian wicketkeeping counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was found to have worn illegal gloves during the match against Australia on Sunday. Gilchrist said there were no hard feelings after he fell to a diving catch from Dhoni, whose gloves had webbing that did not meet the ICC regulations.”I don’t think they were glaringly obvious to be different to what I use or anyone else at the moment or what is legal at the moment,” Gilchrist said. “But they were just a bit too big. And it was an outstanding catch.”A new regulation was brought in within the past decade which altered the amount of webbing that was allowable. Dhoni’s supplier also provides Gilchrist with his gloves, and Gilchrist said he liked to have match referees check the legality of his equipment at least once a season.”The guy that makes [Dhoni’s] gloves makes my gloves as well,” he said. “Not for a moment am I insinuating that MS Dhoni intentionally wore them out there. Whether it’s a manufacturing error I’m not sure. I know the gentleman that makes them and he’s the best in the world, they’re brilliant. Maybe just in the manufacturing process – they’re all hand-made and hand-stitched – so they may have just used a little bit too much leather in that area.”Dhoni’s gloves were found to have extra webbing between the thumb and the forefinger and the match referee Jeff Crowe asked him during Sunday’s game to switch to a different pair. Dhoni was not given a penalty by the ICC and Gilchrist said that was the appropriate result.”They’re nothing like what we were wearing when I first started my career,” he said. “We were wearing gloves that were almost like a baseball mitt. They were getting out of hand and the ones that Dhoni used the other day were nothing like that. I have absolutely no doubt that he hasn’t intentionally done that.”
England have done what neither India nor South Africa could manage: they have beaten Bangladesh. That they succeeded with more than five overs remaining belies the mess their batsmen got themselves into in chasing a mere 144, and fails to hide the basic errors which have blotted their pithy World Cup journey. Despite the loss, Bangladesh very nearly notched their third felling of a giant, further polishing a reputation which continues to gleam with every match.On a pitch more suited to pace than spin – or so we thought – England approached their target with inexplicable trepidation. In fairness, both Andrew Strauss and their captain, Michael Vaughan, are in varying stages of rediscovering their form, but their top-order continues to creep along without conviction. Strauss did show glimpses of aggression form in his bullish 23, though, cracking a huge six over midwicket and at last unleashing his favourite cut stroke with pleasantly crisp timing.Vaughan was mercurial as ever. He scratched, he poked and he prodded, occasionally cover driving with his trademark panache, before top-edging Abdur Razzaq to short fine leg, 70 short of his maiden one-day hundred. And there went another chance to assert himself on this tournament, and on one-day cricket as a whole. Kevin Pietersen soon followed before Mohammad Rafique sent England into a blind, nervous panic with two quick wickets. Andrew Flintoff was first, bowled by a beautiful arm ball before Ravi Bopara – inexperienced against such high class spin – chopped him onto his stumps via his boot. At 110 for 6 with 34 still needed, Bangladesh believed they would win.England did not, judging by the hapless running between the wickets that Paul Collingwood and Paul Nixon showed. But, somehow, they hauled themselves over the line with a great deal of huffing and puffing. The batsmen’s feeble effort, albeit against a useful bowling attack, was at complete odds with the excellent, disciplined bowling performance England produced earlier in the day.Where Bangladesh’s spinners enjoyed the bounce, it was England’s seamers who made the most of a lively Bridgetown pitch – in particular Sajid Mahmood. He continues to blow hot and cold, but continues to show tantalising glimpses of rare star quality. Against batsman of small stature desperate to get onto the front foot, he was more than a handful. Tamim Iqbal was first to go, fending a lifter straight to Paul Collingwood at point. It was a classic fast bowler’s dismissal, short of a length and threatening Iqbal’s throat; with it, Mahmood and James Anderson adjusted their lengths accordingly. Bangladesh’s batsmen couldn’t cope.
As pleasingly accurate Anderson and Mahmood were, it was left to Vaughan to highlight Bangladesh’s inexperience, not to mention England’s own misgivings in the shorter game. A lazy, careless flick from Shahriar Nafees spooned a simple catch to Vaughan at mid-on who jogged back a couple of yards to spill the simplest of chances. Furious with himself, and unaware of the batsmen taking a single, the ball was flung in disgust to Nixon who whipped off the bails, leaving Habibal Bashar – unaware of the dropped catch – short.It was shoddy cricket all round, but at least spared Vaughan’s blushes for a pantomime performance at mid-on. More sloppiness from England followed, though, with Paul Nixon iron-gloving a simple catch to Andrew Strauss at second slip to remove Nafees. The wickets were falling, if not in the most conventional fashion.There was some hope for Bangladesh in Saqibal’s counterattacking 57, shining like a beacon in the foggy chaos. Cracking Flintoff flat for a powerful six over backward point, before smacking him for successive fours, he was joined by Mashrafe Mortaza in a pressure-relieving stand of 47 spanning more than 13 overs. Mortaza couldn’t last forever – bowled by a beautiful Monty Panesar delivery – but Bangladesh’s tail resisted the inevitable long enough for Saqibul to raise his bat for his fourth one-day fifty. His was a lone effort though, and Bangladesh were left wondering what might have been had they managed to reach 200. In four years time, especially on subcontinent wickets, they could be a serious handful.England’s class with the ball won them the game, but their meekness with the bat raises questions as to how far they believe, as a team, they can realistically progress. South Africa, England’s next opponents, will not be so forgiving.