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South Australia were given a huge fright by Western Australia before they escaped with a two-wicket victory at the WACA

Cricinfo staff11-Feb-2010
ScorecardBrad Knowles scared South Australia with 4 for 32, but South Australia sneaked to victory•Getty ImagesSouth Australia were given a huge fright by Western Australia before they escaped with a two-wicket victory at the WACA. Needing only 94 and starting the final day at 1 for 6, the Redbacks relied on two tail-enders to get them home in a nail-biting chase that regularly threatened to go wrong.Western Australia began the morning seemingly without hope, but Brad Knowles’ 4 for 32 kept them excited as the visitors slipped to 5 for 53 and kept losing wickets before Tim Ludeman (12) helped decide the contest with Jake Haberfield. Ludeman and Gary Putland were together at 7 for 76 and Ludeman briefly decided attack was the best option. He hooked a six and slashed a four in consecutive Knowles deliveries to cut the target, but there was still a twist when Putland edged Steve Magoffin behind with three to win.Haberfield ran a bye and then pushed a two over the bowler Michael Hogan’s head to secure the result. The victory lifted South Australia to outright third on the Shield table with 16 points while the Warriors are fourth on 12.After James Smith went late on the third evening, the Redbacks lost Michael Klinger shortly after the resumption as he became Hogan’s seventh victim of the game. Knowles then stepped in to be on a hat-trick after picking up Cameron Borgas (7) and Daniel Harris (17) as the visitors slipped to 4 for 39.Fourteen runs later Knowles struck again to remove Tom Cooper and half the side was gone with 41 still needed. Aaron O’Brien and Dan Christian, the last of the capable batsmen, put on 15 before O’Brien was caught behind off Magoffin and the Warriors roared hopefully again in the next over when Christian became Knowles’ fourth victim.

Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo will be available to face Tottenham this weekend, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Ayling and Shackleton to be fit?

Firpo might not be the only Leeds player returning from injury this weekend. LeedsLive shared a story on Tuesday, hinting right-back Luke Ayling and youngster Jamie Shackleton could both be in line to return from their respective injuries.

Ayling has been out for the last eight matches with a knee injury, whereas Shackleton missed the 1-1 draw with an unknown problem, which isn’t thought to be serious.

Firpo has been absent in the Whites’ last five games in all competitions, but he’s now been given the all clear.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story on Wednesday morning regarding Firpo’s condition.

They were informed by a Leeds source that the Spaniard is now fully recovered from his recent injury issues and is in contention to take on Spurs on Sunday.

Firpo suffered his muscle injury in Marcelo Bielsa’s ‘murderball’ session, but it seems as if he could follow Ayling and Shackleton in returning to the matchday squad.

The Verdict: Good news…

The versatile Stuart Dallas has filled in for Firpo, with Pascal Struijk even featuring at left-back against Leicester City prior to the international break.

However, with Firpo now ready to go, that will give Bielsa the flexibility to use Dallas back in midfield and Struijk at centre-back in a three-man defence, with Spurs likely to use two centre-forwards given Antonio Conte’s preference for a 3-5-2 system.

That could allow Firpo to come straight back in at left wing-back, with one of Ayling or Shackleton potentially on the opposite flank – Bielsa will surely be relieved to have natural full-backs filling the position rather than shifting his utility men out there.

In other news: ‘Someone Bielsa quietly admires’ – Phil Hay hints at Leeds move for ‘fantastic’ player. 

Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq has injured his hand and will be unavailable for the limited-overs leg of the tour of Australia

Cricinfo staff10-Jan-2010Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq has injured his hand and will be unavailable for the limited-overs leg of the tour of Australia. “I’ve sustained a fracture while batting” Razzaq told . “It was one of those out-of-the-blue injuries, where I was batting and the ball smashed into my hand. The hand has been plastered and I’ve been advised rest for one month by the medical staff. It’s very unfortunate, as I was really looking forward to playing in Australia for Pakistan if selected.”Pakistan have already surrendered the Test series, with the third and final Test in Hobart still to be played, and they were hoping to make amends in the five one-dayers and lone Twenty20 international that follow.Having played a key role in Pakistan’s 2009 World Twenty20 triumph on his return from the unofficial ICL, Razzaq’s all-round ability, especially his big hitting lower down the order will, no doubt, be missed by the visitors.The 30-year-old last featured for Pakistan against New Zealand in November last year. Pakistan lost the three-match ODI series in Abu Dhabi 2-1, but swept the Twenty20 internationals in Dubai 2-0.

New Zealand batsmen admit to breaking a team curfew which subsequently led to them being detained by the police

Cricinfo staff22-Nov-2009New Zealand batsmen Neil Broom and Aaron Redmond have admitted to breaking a team curfew in Chennai while on tour with the A team in August, which subsequently led to them being detained by the police. New Zealand Cricket said it chose not to go public with the incident and decided to deal with the matter internally.The players, who were participating in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, breached security protocol when they stepped out of their team hotel and headed to an ATM. In an act of benevolence, they tried distributing money to the poor living in the streets, before which a crowd started to gather.According to the , the crowd got unruly and a riot started to develop. The police intervened, detained the pair at the police station and arranged for a taxi to take them back to the hotel, on realising they were New Zealand players.”Unfortunately when we decided to leave the night spot we were picked up by police following another poor decision to hand out money to people living on the street, whereupon a crowd developed,” Redmond told NZPA. “The police initially took us back to the station and then arranged for a taxi to take us back to the hotel.”Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, did not revel any details of the punishment meted out to the pair. “The incident was dealt with thoroughly and appropriately at the time,” he said. “It was a confidential process, and New Zealand Cricket considers the matter closed.”The pair regretted the incident and apologised to NZC for not seeking permission to step out. “We also wish to apologise to other stakeholders in the game including the fans for our inappropriate behaviour while on tour,” Redmond said.

Sussex have announced the development of new floodlights after the embarrassment of last season when they failed and forced a premature end to a Twenty20 Cup match against Kent.

Cricinfo staff10-Nov-2009Sussex have announced the development of new floodlights after the embarrassment of last season when they failed and forced a premature end to a Twenty20 Cup match against Kent .Brighton and Hove Council gave permission for the erection of two new pylons – one behind the members pavilion and a second just north of the main scoreboard – to add to the existing eight, which will also be revamped.Chief executive Dave Brooks said: “The original lights erected in 1998 were unable to offer the light required to meet ECB guidelines. They had become obsolete and rather unreliable. After our issues in 2009, I am delighted that the Council have accepted this application and the understanding and input from local residents has been a real help in achieving this.”The new lights will run by a different system to the troublesome generator of last year, when floodlight failure meant a Twenty20 match had to be shortened. Visitors Kent were 66 without loss from 11 overs chasing a modest 131 when bad light stopped play. Unable to continue, Sussex – eventual winners of the tournament – won by two runs through Duckworth/Lewis.Brooks is understandably be keen to avoid any further mishaps next season. “With funding partly supplied by the ECB, I am looking forward to this significant improvement in the staging of floodlit cricket at Hove from 2010.”

Graham Manou is putting off that chat with the Australia selectors over what might happen next

Peter English07-Oct-2009Graham Manou is putting off that chat with the Australia selectors over what might happen next. He knows the answer: everything depends on Brad Haddin’s fingers and fitness.Manou was the last-minute replacement for Haddin in the third Ashes Test, had the best five days of his playing life, but ended the match with what would eventually be diagnosed as a fractured hand after being hit by Stuart Broad. In the next game Haddin came back and will have the spot as long as his bones stop breaking, which is a shame for Manou, who is by far the better keeper.Tasmania’s Tim Paine went over to England for the one-day series and has fitted in with bat and gloves ever since, leaving Manou in a tricky place. Being the understudy is always a worrying position, but Manou can avoid thinking about his international future by concentrating on the plight of South Australia, the unpredictable outfit he captains.”It’s nice to be home amongst family and friends, and to get back in the swing of things with the Redbacks,” he said. “An experience like the Test has certainly allowed my eyes to be opened even wider. More so to the realms of possibility of what our squad can achieve, not necessarily just this year, but over the next four years. This group certainly has the potential over the next little while to play some exciting and good cricket and hopefully in that next bracket of four years there’s a Shield victory in there somewhere.”The aim is as big as Manou hoping for a full series under the baggy green for South Australia haven’t reached a final since they won in 1995-96. One thing they have had during the off-season is a stable playing roster and the only major changes are the exit of Mike Deare, the SACA’s chief executive, and the batting coach Kim Harris, who was a strong ally for the top seven.”It certainly is nice,” Manou said of the lack of movement. “That’s what gives the group a bit of comfort in some ways. We always talk about playing our best cricket when we’re in a calm state, you certainly feel more in control of what you’re able to do individually and collectively.”Even in England Manou was thinking about what the squad needed to do when he came back. Only in the first week of October did he trust his hand enough to go on to the field, playing some practice games in Queensland. He knows that if the team has a strong season it will also help his claims.The misdiagnosis after the Test at Birmingham allowed him to stay with the squad for the entire tour, although he was unavailable for the final game when the fracture was finally revealed. “There obviously was always a break there,” he said. “It wasn’t until we went to Canterbury for the tour game [before the final Test] and I put my hand through a jumper and spread my fingers apart and it was quite painful. So then I had some scans and they eventually confirmed that there was a break in there. I was just wondering whether the English were trying to play some funny buggers with me.”He smiles as he says it, but after a Test taste he is desperate for more action, even though the road is going to be blocked by Haddin. Jamie Cox is the state’s high performance manager and doubles as a national selector. Manou will chat with him at some stage, but doesn’t want the answer to diminish his Ashes experience.”I haven’t really broached the subject, to be honest,” he said. “Just the emotion of the series as a group, and myself, being the first time I was away with the Australian guys, I just wanted to get away and let all that sink in.”It’s probably a subject I might get to sit down with Coxy or one of the selectors before the start of the season and just ask how I should continue to develop my cricket. To do that would be nice, but it’s still important that I continue to play the same role that I have over the past couple of years anyway.”

A round-up of matches from the sixth day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Cricinfo staff25-Oct-2009West ZoneMahrashtra ensured their qualification for the knockout stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Baroda at the Poona Club Ground. Shatrunjay Gaekwad’s 31-ball 45 along with a blistering 33 from Ketan Panchal took Baroda to a competitive score of 152 but it proved highly inadequate, as Maharashtra chased it down with little difficulty. Kedar Jadhav and Rohan Bhosale struck half-centuries, adding an unbeaten 94 for the third wicket, to seal victory with three overs to spare. Maharashtra take on Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final.Saurashtra prevailed by two runs in a thrilling game against Gujarat at the Deccan Gymkhana Ground. Chasing 149 for victory, Gujarat faltered at the start but were propped up by the middle order, Bhavik Thaker (34) and Jay Desai (32) leading the recovery. But in a see-saw game, three wickets fell for five runs before Sunny Patel (29) and last man Siddharth Trivedi added 18 to bring their team within two runs of Saurashtra’s score. Earlier, wicketkeeper Sagar Jogiyani had smacked 55 to take Saurashtra to a total they just about managed to defend.North ZoneDelhi qualified for the second stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy following their eight-run win over Services at the Palam B Ground. After being put into bat, Delhi were off to a sound start with their openers adding 51. Aakash Chopra and Rajat Bhatia then came together for a stand of 50 for the third wicket. Bhatia was the top scorer with 44 off 37 balls and Delhi eventually posted 153. Sachin Nadkarni, the offspinner, took three middle order wickets. Services were progressing steadily till the 11th over, when they were 70 for 1. However, Delhi fought back to pick three wickets for three runs. Services had lost the well-set duo of Yashpal Singh and Imran Khan and two further strikes by the offspinner Yogesh Nagar helped Delhi maintain the momentum. Nadkarni took Services close to the target in the final over but Delhi prevailed after he was dismissed.Three early strikes by Haryana’s Joginder Sharma hurt Jammu and Kashmir early in their chase of 164 and it turned out to be a one-sided affair at the Palam A Ground. Haryana posted a strong 163 thanks to contributions by Rahul Dewan and Sunny Singh. Joginder’s early burst reduced J&K to 22 for 3 and the situation got worse when half the side departed by the eighth over. Manvinder Bisla top scored with 37 but had no support as his team folded up for 105.Himachal Pradesh booked a spot in the pre-quarter finals with a 12-run win over Punjab at the Palam A Ground in New Delhi. Himachal overcame a shaky start to post 165 for 6 thanks to Paras Dogra’s unbeaten 58 and Mukesh Sharma’s 41. The pair added 72 for the fifth wicket to lift the team from 53 for 4. The Punjab openers began briskly, adding 53 in 5.5 overs before Sarandeep Singh broke the stand. Punjab lost wickets at regular intervals and the pressure was right back on them. Vikramjeet Malik leaked runs but finished with three wickets to stem Punjab’s resistance. Himachal will now face Jharkand in the second round.Central ZoneMadhya Pradesh recorded their third successive win, beating Railways by four wickets in Indore. Both teams have qualified for the knockout stage. MP captain Jalaj Saxena (38) and Abbas Ali (33) added 64 for the third wicket to set up a successful chase of 140, while Rahul Bakshi, unbeaten in 19, sealed victory with two balls to spare. Asad Pathan (35) and Jai P Yadav (33 not out) had enabled Railways reach a competitive score, but it didn’t prove enough. Railways take on Assam in the Pre quarter-finals.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered a potential setback in his recovery from injury, posing further selection headaches for manager Rafa Benitez.

What’s the word?

The England international hasn’t featured since the 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion on 28 August due to a broken toe and thigh problem.

Although the Toffees are yet to name an exact date for Calvert-Lewin’s expected comeback, there are growing concerns over a setback in his recovery.

A recent report in the Liverpool ECHO expressed such worries, claiming the versatile attacker could be on the treatment table for up to three months.

The report states that: “Rafa Benitez had hoped to be in a position to recall Calvert-Lewin to the squad in the coming weeks, but it is believed the 24-year-old may have suffered complications in his rehabilitation.

“Everton were asked about Calvert-Lewin’s fitness by the ECHO, but the club have yet to respond. There are some fears that the No9 could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks, but there is hope his absence will not be as long as that.”

Rafa Benitez surely devastated

News that Calvert-Lewin could face an extended spell on the sidelines will surely leave Benitez feeling absolutely devastated.

He has been their star man for a considerable period of time now, bagging 21 times last season and scoring three goals in his opening three outings this term. That was sandwiched by a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad as he played second fiddle to Harry Kane in the Three Lions side that reached the final a few months ago.

A fast start to the season from Everton is threatening to be unravelled due to a series of injuries to several key players, with midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure the latest to pick up a fresh problem.

The Goodison Park outfit suffered their first home defeat of the campaign last time out against West Ham United, and Benitez must fear more underwhelming results are inevitable as the list of absentees continues to grow.

And, in other news…Everton could be hit with a hammer blow after concerning report, fans surely worried 

Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash has ‘officially’ received his Polish passport and is expected to be called up by the national team for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.

Reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano has kept on top of Cash’s process to switch nationalities in recent months, and a number of Villa fans have been reacting to his Twitter post.

The 24-year-old, who has been a regular in Dean Smith’s side this season, stayed in London over the weekend following the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal on Friday.

He visited the Polish embassy to begin the process of switching nationalities, which has now been completed.

It has been a long time coming for Cash, who was looking into representing Poland back in 2019.

Poland take on Andorra and Hungary next month in crucial qualifiers, and it appears as if Paulo Sousa will name the Villa full-back in his squad.

Villa fans react

Romano shared the news regarding Cash to his 5.6m Twitter followers. This is what some Villa fans had to say in reply…

“YESSSSSSSSS CASHKOWSKIIIIIIII”

Credit: @AvfcLuka

“Surely he will be the best player in the team?”

Credit: @AvfcTalkTime

“MATEUSZ CASHOWSKI”

Credit: @ryanmccarthy688

“International caps confirmed for Cash”

Credit: @branvilladon

“The polish Alan Hutton”

Credit: @WazeUTV

“The Polish Cafu, the Polish Cafu, MATTY CASH, THE POLISH CAFU.”

Credit: @ItsJuliobnave

In other news: ‘2-0 West Ham’ – Lots of AVFC fans unleash at ‘unbelievable’ report on Villa striker. 

David Moyes could be without one of his key West Ham stars as they return to Europa League action this evening…

What’s the latest?

The Irons welcome Austrian outfit Rapid Wien to the London Stadium as they host their first-ever group stage game but the 58-year-old may rue the absence of right-back Vladimir Coufal, who is “doubtful” ahead of kick-off.

That’s according to the Evening Standard’s Jack Rosser, who delivered a fresh update on the shape of the Hammers’ squad this week.

“David Moyes and Declan Rice speaking ahead of Rapid Vienna tomorrow night. Confirms Fredericks is out, Coufal doubtful too so a little short at right-back,” he tweeted.

Big blow

If the Czech Republic international is missing tonight, then it will certainly leave the Hammers looking a little weaker and given recent upsets in Europe like Sheriff’s stunning win over Real Madrid, no opposition should be taken lightly.

What makes Coufal’s potential absence even worse is the fact that his back-up, Ryan Fredericks, has been ruled out, meaning academy graduate Ben Johnson is the only other option available.

The 29-year-old is a crucial cog to Moyes’ system, having registered seven assists in the Premier League last season. A feat only bettered by his full-back counterpart Aaron Cresswell (eight).

He is just as influential defensively, too.

As per WhoScored, Coufal ended the season with a squad-high average of 2.6 tackles per game, whilst he also managed an average of 2.6 clearances and 1.2 interceptions per game.

His form led to some high acclaim after Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher touted him to be in the conversation for one of the signings of the season.

He told Monday Night Football [4th May, 22:24pm]:

“I think he’s been one of the signings of the season. We talk about [Tomas] Soucek, but Coufal whether it’s right wing-back or right full-back at different times, he’s just one of those players that’s 7/10 minimum every time you watch him play,” claimed the ex-Liverpool defender.

“He’s the type of player you’d love to play with him. A manager’s dream, never injured, he’s there, week in week out.”

On the above evidence, Moyes could really miss Coufal’s presence this evening and that should leave him hugely concerned heading into the encounter.

The Hammers will be looking to extend their fine form this campaign but without such a key cog, it makes it a little harder, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Newman can end West Ham striker hunt with £18m-rated “goal king” scoring every 83 mins…