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Marcos Alonso is reportedly set to choose between a Premier League return or a move to Saudi Arabia when leaving Barcelona in 2024.

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Experienced defender seeing deal run downJanuary move being speculated onSeveral options to considerWHAT HAPPENED?

The experienced full-back will see his contract at Camp Nou expire next summer. No extension has been discussed, with the expectation being that Barca will look to get another wage off their books. There are murmurs of a switch being sanctioned in January.

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Former Bolton and Chelsea star Alonso was linked with Manchester United over the summer, and the Red Devils may choose to rekindle their interest. According to , the 32-year-old defender is also attracting admiring glances from the Middle East.

DID YOU KNOW?

Alonso could be presented with an opportunity to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia, with several sides in that region prepared to do a deal. It is, however, reported that the Spain international wants to see out the 2023-24 campaign in Catalunya first.

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He intends to compete for minutes with Alejandro Balde and Joao Cancelo. Another big decision on his future will be made at the end of the season, with interest from England and Saudi Arabia not going away.

Michael Clarke has admitted that Australia will have to adapt quickly if the pitches produced for the Investec Ashes series are similar in character to that in Cardiff

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jul-2015Michael Clarke has admitted that Australia will have to adapt quickly if the pitches produced for the Investec Ashes series are similar in character to that in Cardiff, where his side was heavily beaten as England took a 1-0 lead. Clarke was hopeful of seeing a more lively surface at Lord’s, just as he hoped to have a fit Mitchell Starc to call on in the second Test.On a slow, dry Cardiff pitch, Australia were bundled out twice in 154.2 overs, after England had won the toss and posted 430. England’s attack showed the discipline and patience required as they completed victory inside four days. Clarke said his team needed to improve if they were to win a first Ashes series in England since 2001.”That’s part of playing international cricket, you got to have success away from home as well and a big part of that is adapting to conditions,” Clarke told Sky Sports. “Let’s wait and see what the wicket’s like at Lord’s, I look forward to hopefully seeing a little bit more grass, but if we get similar conditions we’ve got to play better than we did here.”We know what’s expected of us as individual players, we know the conditions, all the guys have been able to see that now. I think the guys have prepared really well, we just haven’t played our best cricket against a good opposition. If you don’t play your best you lose.”Starc was Australia’s most successful bowler, although he was intermittently erratic in taking 7 for 174, but he visibly struggled with an ankle injury during the second innings. He was able to bat on the final day, lasting almost an hour during a 72-run stand with Mitchell Johnson, and Clarke was positive about his chances of appearing at Lord’s, with the second Test starting on Thursday. His loss, after the sudden retirement of Ryan Harris, would be another blow.”He walked out and batted, which was a positive, he was still able to bowl and took a couple of wickets in the second innings, so hopefully he’ll be fit and available for the second Test,” Clarke said. “The real positive for us was that he was able to bowl and get through it.”Despite having had England 43 for 3 on the first morning, Australia let the advantage slip – chiefly through Joe Root, who was dropped by Brad Haddin on nought, scoring a century. Australia then slipped from 180 for 2 to 308 all out, as a succession of batsmen got in and got out, conceding a 122-run deficit that they never recovered from. Clarke did not wish to dwell on specific moments, concluding instead that England had been the better team.”To cut a long story short I think we were outplayed in all three facets of the game. I think England’s batting in the first innings, their bowling throughout the whole game and their catching was exceptional. We’ve got some work to do before the second Test.”That’s the difference, when you’re playing against a very good team, when you get in you’ve got to cash in. If you get opportunities as a bowling and fielding unit, you’ve got to hang on to those chances.”

A round-up of all the games played in Group B of the World Twenty20 Qualifiers on November 18, 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2013
ScorecardFile photo: Steve Tikolo has been consistent since his recall to the Kenyan squad•AFPKenya cruised to their first win of the tournament with an eight-wicket victory over Denmark in Dubai. Denmark batted first and simply couldn’t muster meaningful partnerships as Kenya’s seamers kept the top and middle-order in check. Only three batsmen crossed double digits as Denmark stumbled to 84 for 8 by the end of their quota of overs. Nehemiah Odhiambo took best figures of 3 for 15.Kenya’s opening pair effectively ended any notion of a contest as they put on 71 runs in 7.1 overs. Alex Obanda fell on 30 off 21 to Kamran Mahmood, and despite Nehemiah being run out for just 3, Collins Obuya and Steve Tikolo did the needful to see Kenya home with 10.5 overs to spare. Tikolo himself finished on an unbeaten 48, continuing on his run of consistency with the bat ever since he was recalled to the national squad.
ScorecardCalum MacLeod struck an unbeaten 82 to lead Scotland to an eight-wicket win – their first of the tournament – over Nepal.Nepal batted first, losing opener Subash Khakurel for just six. Despite being reduced to 35 for 3, Captain Paras Khadka and Binod Bhandari put on 47 runs for the fourth wicket to help steady the innings somewhat. Nepal finally scraped to 137 for 7, with Scotland seamers Safyaan Sharif and Gordon Goudie taking three wickets each.Scotland’s innings started inauspiciously, with opener Richie Berrington falling with the score on 17. MacLeod and Matt Machan added 48 for the second wicket, before Machan fell caught and bowled to Khadka. This brought Kyle Coetzer to the crease, and MacLeod found a suitable ally as together they knocked off the remaining 73 runs in 9.4 overs to give Scotland an eight-wicket victory. MacLeod finished on 82 not out.

Virender Sehwag could be a doubt for the Champions League T20 after he strained a ligament in his left ankle during India’s final Super Eights match in the World Twenty20

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2012Virender Sehwag could be a doubt for the Champions League T20 after he strained a ligament in his left ankle during India’s final Super Eights match in the World Twenty20 against South Africa in Colombo.Sehwag went off the field during South Africa’s innings and did not return. It was reported that he would need two weeks of rest. Sehwag had given up the Delhi Daredevils captaincy for the Champions League, which begins on October 9, but remained a key member of their squad. Delhi are scheduled to open their campaign on October 13 in Centurion.Sehwag had a poor World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, scoring only 54 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 112 and was left out of the group game against England. India failed to qualify for the semi-finals despite winning four out of five matches, exiting the Super Eights on net run-rate.

Shaminda Eranga, the fast-bowling allrounder, has been picked to replace the injured Angelo Mathews in the Sri Lanka squad currently playing in the Asia Cup.

Sa'adi Thawfeeq14-Mar-2012Shaminda Eranga, the fast-bowling allrounder, has been picked to replace the injured Angelo Mathews in the Sri Lanka squad currently playing in the Asia Cup.Ashantha de Mel, Sri Lanka’s chairman of selectors, said that Eranga was picked because the team needed to bolster its rank of fast bowlers for the rest of the tournament. “Lasith Malinga is nursing a groin strain and he was left out of the first match against India,” De Mel said. “He will most probably play in tomorrow’s game against Pakistan, We thought Eranga, who has recovered from his shoulder injury, would be useful because he can bat as well.”Eranga made his Test debut against Australia at the SSC last year, taking 4 for 65. He has scored a first-class hundred and four half-centuries in his 41-match career. Eranga was originally named in Sri Lanka’s Test squad to play Pakistan in the UAE last year, but had to withdraw with a shoulder injury to his right arm.Apart from Mathews, who has been ruled out with a calf muscle injury, Sri Lanka have also lost the services of another fast bowling all-rounder, Thisara Perera, who picked up a back injury during the triangular one-day series in Australia that also featured India.Edited by Tariq Engineer

Defending champions Australia moved within one more victory of retaining the Under-19 World Cup by beating South Africa in the first semi-final

The Report by George Binoy in Townsville21-Aug-2012
Scorecard and ball by ball detailsMark Steketee was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3 for 35•Getty ImagesDefending champions Australia moved within one more victory of retaining the Under-19 World Cup by beating South Africa in the first semi-final at Tony Ireland Stadium. Their bowlers made best use of winning the toss, keeping South Africa on a leash by striking regularly on an overcast morning, and their batsmen overcame a difficult start to complete the chase in the 49th over.The decisive period in the game was the batting Powerplay in South Africa’s innings, taken in the 36th over soon after the drinks break. They had reached 124 for 3, after Chad Bowes and Murray Coetzee had repaired the damage caused by three early wickets. With the field up, Bowes went down on one knee and tried to paddle Mark Steketee past short fine leg. He was smashed on the grille of his helmet and needed it changed. The next ball, he edged to the wicketkeeper. In the last over of the Powerplay, Shaylin Pillay spooned a catch to mid-off, also off Steketee, and two balls later Coetzee dropped his bat while trying to ground it and was run out. South Africa had lost 3 for 10 in five overs and were able to make only 191.Australia also took their batting Powerplay in the 36th over and they too were 124 for 3, having repaired the damage of two early wickets. Cameron Bancroft and William Bosisto scored only 27 runs off those five overs but Australia lost no wickets and they didn’t need too many more runs. There was a stumble in the 44th over, when Bancroft was run out and Travis Head bowled off the inside edge, but the immoveable object Bosisto and Ashton Turner took Australia very close, like they had in the quarterfinal against Bangladesh. Bosisto was run out for 40, minutes before the winning runs were hit, the first time he’s been dismissed in five innings during this World Cup.The South Africans had several chances in the field but didn’t take them. Kurtis Patterson, who took the attack to South Africa and hit in the air a lot, was on 28 when he cut the ball high in the air towards deep cover point. Prenelan Subrayen covered good ground and dived but only got fingertips to it. Patterson was on 37 when he cut again, but a flatter, relatively easier chance was put down by Pillay at point. Both were tough chances, though, and Patterson eventually fell for 49. The chance Bancroft gave on 23 was much easier, an edge to slips that Theunis de Bruyn put down. Calvin Savage was the angry bowler all three times and he wore his disappointment on his sleeve.Amid those chances, Patterson and Bancroft batted in contrasting styles. Patterson was counterattacking, successfully wresting the advantage from South Africa after Jimmy Peirson and Meyrick Buchanan made ducks, by lofting the ball over the infield. Bancroft was steady and happy to turn over the strike. Their 95-run partnership pushed South Africa to the brink of elimination, and Bosisto nudged them over it.South Africa, however, were unlucky to lose the toss for the second time in two knockout matches and had to bat when the conditions were toughest. And for the second time, Quinton de Kock didn’t last long, hooking a short ball from Steketee straight to Joel Paris at fine leg. Gihahn Cloete went edging a full ball from Paris that seamed away to second slip, where Turner caught it on the second attempt. South Africa were 4 for 2 after 2.2 overs and never really recovered.

Ramnaresh Sarwan scored his second century for Leicestershire as they made the most of winning the toss, despite David Masters’ efforts

16-May-2012
ScorecardRamnaresh Sarwan gave the West Indies selectors a timely reminder of his Test credentials with a second century of the season for Leicestershire on the first day of their Championship match against Essex at Grace Road.The 31-year-old was the star of the show as Leicestershire fought back after a nightmare start to reach 323 for 5 by the close. Sarwan, who shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 216 with Josh Cobb, batted for just over five hours for his 117. It added up to a fine recovery by Leicestershire, who slumped to 29 for 3 in the 10th over with Will Jefferson out to the first ball of the day in his first game of the season following a back injury.David Masters found the edge of Jefferson’s bat with his first delivery and Tom Westley took the catch at slip. When Matthew Boyce was then bowled by Masters, and Greg Smith had his stumps spread-eagled by Charl Willoughby, it began to look as though the home side had made a big mistake deciding to bat after winning the toss.But Sarwan and Cobb turned the game on its head with their magnificent stand. It was a record for the fourth wicket for Leicestershire against Essex, beating the previous best of 127 set back in 1900. They were helped by some erratic bowling from the Essex attack that saw 48 extras pile up. Tymal Mills, the highly rated England Under-19 fast bowler, twice bowled no-balls that went to the boundary over the head of wicketkeeper James Foster.There was also some superb strokeplay from Sarwan and Cobb, who both combined enterprising attack with disciplined defence. The impressive Sarwan completed his century just before tea. It came off 154 balls and contained 14 boundaries. The stand was finally broken by Masters, who lured Cobb into skying a catch to deep midwicket.Masters, by far the best of the Essex bowlers, then trapped Sarwan lbw with the second new ball to finish the day with figures of 4 for 57 off 25 overs. Wayne White was still there at the close on 41 not out to leave Leicestershire in a strong position.

Sri Lanka will play two practice matches in preparation for the ODI series against New Zealand, at the Sinhalese Sports Club

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2013Sri Lanka will play two 50-over practice matches in preparation for the ODI series against New Zealand, at the Sinhalese Sports Club. A side consisting of most of Sri Lanka’s top players will take on a virtual A team on November 5 and 7, before the Sri Lanka squad travels to Hambantota for the first ODI.Dinesh Chandimal will lead the second-string team, which also features Lahiru Thirimanne. Fast bowler Shaminda Eranga, who was omitted from the Sri Lanka squad for the series, and fellow seam bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Thisara Perera will also play for the second side. Middle-order batsman Ashan Priyanjan will play for the top team.Sri Lanka have not played any international cricket since the home series against South Africa ended in early August, but have in that time played a first-class tri-series. The A team, which featured several Sri Lanka players, has also played a home tour of New Zealand A, and a Twenty20 series against Kenya, during the hiatus.The limited-overs series against New Zealand features three ODIs, starting November 10, and two T20s.Team 1: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews (capt), Ashan Priyanjan, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis
Reserves: Angelo Perera, Ramith Rambukwella, Isuru UdanaTeam 2: Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal (capt & wk), Kithuruwan Vithanage, Chaturanga de Silva, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dilruwan Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal
Reserves: Nuwan Pradeep, Ishan Jayaratne, Milinda Siriwardene

A dominant bowling display from Sui Gas handed them an eight-wicket victory over Habib Bank Limited in the President’s Cup semi-final in Karachi

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Apr-2013
ScorecardA dominant bowling display from Sui Gas handed them an eight-wicket victory over Habib Bank Limited in the President’s Cup semi-final in Karachi. HBL were put into bat and lost wickets from the outset, reduced to 22 for 4 in the 10th over. Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi led a temporary revival, until Afridi was ousted on 26. Bilawal Bhatti took the best figures in the innings with 3 for 31, and was ably supported by the other bowlers, who all took at least one wicket. Only Abdur Rehman matched Afridi’s score as HBL were bundled out for 111 in the 36th over.Sui Gas’s openers started well, putting up 70 for the first wicket. Mohammad Hafeez led the way, scoring a timely 62 off 70 balls to ensure he stuck around and rotated the strike accordingly. Fellow opener Taufeeq fell for 23, before Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal helped them romp home in the 24th over with an eight-victory win. They’ll contest the final on April 19.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has said his side is undaunted by the return of Australia’s captain and several of their other key players for the third ODI in Brisbane

Andrew Fernando17-Jan-2013Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has said his side is undaunted by the return of Australia’s captain and several of their other key players for the third ODI in Brisbane, and is confident Sri Lanka can maintain the momentum earned with their eight-wicket victory in Adelaide on Sunday.Michael Clarke sat out the first two games as he recovered from a hamstring strain, while David Warner was also rested for the first two ODIs. Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson were also left out for the second ODI in Adelaide, and will likely return for Friday’s match at the Gabba.Sri Lanka suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of what was held by some to be an Australia ‘B’ team in Melbourne, before they rebounded to level the series comfortably. But Jayawardene said it would be his side’s good form in Australia in recent years that has Sri Lanka believing they can achieve a series win. The teams have played each other in 12 ODIs in Australia since 2010, and Sri Lanka have won on seven of those occasions.”It’s good to have Davy [Warner] and Michael back, but we’ll prepare the same way,” Jayawardene said. “When we played them last year, we had a good outing against them. We just need to change our game plan a little bit and execute those plans to those guys.”Jayawardene said a turnaround from the bowlers had been key to his side’s impressive second performance, where they dismissed Australia for 170 on a seam-friendly pitch. Sri Lanka have three allrounders in their preferred XI in addition to three frontline bowlers, and also have the offspin of Tillakaratne Dilshan at their disposal, giving Jayawardene seven reliable bowling options in all.”In Melbourne, we were not up to standard. Especially with the ball – we bowled too many four balls. In Adelaide we had a bit more help from the surface and we bowled good areas and created opportunities. If we can keep up that pressure with the spinners we have and the allrounders, we have a well-balanced side. Even though we are missing players through injury, and are fiddling around a little with our line-up, we’re pretty comfortable.”Sri Lanka are unsure about the fitness of Dinesh Chandimal, who sustained a hamstring strain in the course of making a half-century in the first ODI. Chandimal missed the Adelaide match, with reserve keeper Kushal Janith Perera stepping in, and had not yet returned to full fitness on the eve of the Brisbane match.”We haven’t decided on an XI because we want to give Dinesh another 24 hours to see how he pulls up. He did bat yesterday and had a few run-throughs, and he pulled up pretty well. We just wanted to give him a little more time. Kushal kept wickets pretty well and batted pretty well, but we’ll make the final call when we see the pitch, and we can decide if we need to change our combination with the bowling attack.”Jayawardene has also been a vocal critic of the new ODI rule that only allows four fielders outside the 30-yard circle at any time in the match, and his opinion on the issue had not changed since his side played the first match under the new regulations in October last year.”I’m not a big fan of the new rule. I thought the last product we had was pretty decent. The two new balls gives the quicks a bit more venom – which is great, but the downside with the field restrictions is that the spinners are taken away from the game. It’s challenging, but I think it’s restricting the bowlers more and the batsmen are having a free hand.”