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Last man Ziaur Rahman scored a blazing 16-ball 35 as Bangladesh Cricket Academy pulled off a one-wicket win over their Sri Lankan counterparts

Cricinfo staff21-Sep-2008
ScorecardLast man Ziaur Rahman scored a blazing 16-ball 35 as Bangladesh Cricket Academy pulled off a one-wicket win over their Sri Lankan counterparts in the first one-dayer in Colombo. Ziaur, who took three wickets as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 127, came out with Bangladesh tottering at 85 for 9 but steered his team to victory with 43-run stand with Arafat Sunny, who made 14 off 32 balls.Only four batsmen made it to double figures during Bangladesh’s chase. Opener Imrul Kayes top scored with 45, but the rest stuttered as spin was introduced within the first five overs of their innings. Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna had the visiting batsmen in a tizzy, reducing Bangladesh to 19 for 4 and completing his five-for to make it 39 for 5.At the other end, Kayes patiently worked his way to 45, but was the seventh man to fall, out to Jeewan Mendis with Bangladesh on 66. Mendis and offspinner Sachithra Serasinghe took two wickets apiece – Serasinghe struck twice in the 34th over and finished his allotted ten overs with economical figures of 2 for 18. The hosts, though, failed to take the crucial final wicket as Sunny and Ziaur shared an unbroken 27-ball stand. Sri Lanka only gave six overs to their opening bowlers.Bangladesh’s bowlers had earlier fought back to restrict Sri Lanka to 127, taking nine wickets for 51 runs, after opener Serasinghe and captain Mendis shared a 62-run partnership for the second wicket. Three wickets fell with the score on 76 and the other batsmen failed to revive the innings. Offspinner Nasir Hossain took 4 for 13 in his ten overs. Ziaur, a medium-pacer, scalped three in 3.4 overs, while left-arm spinner Sunny bagged two, trapping Serasinghe leg-before.

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, has said he is ready for the challenge of leading the bowling attack on the spin-friendly Chittagong track

Cricinfo staff15-Oct-2008
Daniel Vettori: “It will be our first Test in a long time so it is an exciting challenge and we are geared up for that” © AFP
Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, has said he is ready for the challenge of leading the bowling attack on the spin-friendly Chittagong track when his side takes on Bangladesh in the first Test starting Friday.On New Zealand’s 2004-05 tour of Bangladesh, Vettori picked up 20 wickets in two Tests, including 12 at Chittagong’s MA Aziz Stadium. However, this tour’s first Test will be played at the Divisional Stadium, which took over hosting duties from 2006.”That was a different ground, but we know spinners would bowl more overs in such conditions, so Jeetan [Patel] and I will be ready,” Vettori said. New Zealand have had a chance to get familiar with the pitch at the Divisional Stadium when they clinched the one-day series 2-1 with a 79-run win in third match.Vettori was disappointed to lose the first ODI but said there had been “gradual improvement” since then. “It will be our first Test in a long time so it is an exciting challenge and we are geared up for that.” New Zealand last played a Test four months ago in England.Allrounder Jacob Oram said the defeat was not entirely unexpected. “We always knew Bangladesh have been good in their conditions but we did not panic,” Oram said.If New Zealand had won the ODI series 3-0 they would have displaced South Africa as No. 2 in the ICC ODI team rankings. “It would have been nice but we are not going to lose sleep on not being No. 2,” said Oram, whose performance in the ODIs launched him to No. 1 in the allrounder rankings.

Crystal Palace have reportedly entered the race to sign Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong this summer.

What’s the story?

According to LancsLive, the Eagles are the latest Premier League side interested in signing the highly-rated 24-year-old, with Southampton and Norwich City also credited with an interest.

The report states that Rovers have placed a £20 million price tag on their prized asset, but with less than one year remaining on his current contract, the Championship outfit have so far struggled to find a buyer willing to meet their valuation.

Patrick Vieira would love him

Armstrong enjoyed a fabulous 2020/21 campaign, bagging 29 goals and providing five assists in 43 appearances for Tony Mowbray’s charges.

His outstanding displays earned several plaudits from impressed onlookers last season, including his manager at Ewood Park.

“Adam does (make a difference) as he has done all season. I think Adam has matured, and he’s only 23,” Mowbray told FourFourTwo last term.

“He’s a boy really, but his explosive pace at the top end of the pitch allows you to play both ways, to not be overly concerned if you’re pinned back around the edge of your box because one pass releases pressure to someone like (Harvey) Elliott to play the pass that he can hit just leaving it in the space for the speed and dynamic movement of Armstrong – it’s a devastating effect for the team.”

After failing to break into the first-team setup at boyhood club Newcastle United, Armstrong has revitalised his career in the second tier of English football.

The former England U21-international has proven himself to be a devastating finisher blessed with electric pace, and new Palace boss Patrick Vieira would surely love to be able to call upon his services next season.

Vieira currently has the likes of Christian Benteke and Jean-Philippe Mateta to call upon at the top end of the pitch, but Armstrong would offer something different to the current options available at Selhurst Park.

His profile and style certainly fit in with the other recent additions for the capital club, meaning chairman Steve Parish must swoop for the Blackburn ace, adding another impressive acquisition to Palace’s ranks.

And, in other news…Vieira provides an exciting Crystal Palace update that’ll have fans absolutely delighted 

Crystal Palace announced the arrival of John Textor on Wednesday afternoon, which, as to be expected, had a lot of Eagles fans talking on social media.

Textor joins the club as an investor and director, becoming the club’s fourth partner alongside Steve Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer.

Palace have already spent over £45m on three new signings this summer in Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Joachim Andresen, and it appears as if Textor may have helped the club facilitate those moves.

Parish admitted on the club’s website following Textor’s announcement that the American ‘has invested significant sums’ which has helped ‘the rejuvenation of the squad’.

The Guardian stated after Textor’s arrival that he has bought a stake worth £87.5m at Selhurst Park, almost 18% of the club.

He initially wanted to buy Palace outright but will now work alongside fellow Americans Harris and Blitzer as well as Parish.

Palace fans react

The Eagles shared the news regarding Textor on their official Twitter page. These supporters were quick to give their positive thoughts to the update, with one labelling it as ‘massive’.

“Oh boy”Credit: @b4ldheed”Wow”Credit: @cpfc_sean”Massive.”Credit: @ZG3II”So excited by this”Credit: @rickyj555″Bring us some more money!”Credit: @KB_EAGLES”Great news we needed a bit of a boost”Credit: @Ukhilal1957

In other news: Palace name-checked with an interest in 85-goal forward after Armstrong snub. 

Cricinfo staff11-Oct-2008
James Franklin: “It’s only been in recent times that I’ve been able to do multiple tasks on my knee on the same day like bowling and doing weights” © Getty Images
James Franklin, the New Zealand fast bowler, believes his three-week stint in Australia will help his bid to make a comeback to first-class cricket. Franklin underwent surgery for a patella tendon injury in his right knee last November and he is hopeful of being passed fit for Wellington’s State Championship opener against Canterbury, on November 17, following his rehabilitation in Canberra.Franklin last played a Test for New Zealand in December 2006 and he hasn’t appeared in ODIs since the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. He returned to New Zealand last month after playing Twenty20 and one-day games for Australian Capital Territory and represented New Zealand in the Emerging Players tour of Queensland.”I played eight games and in the last one I bowled off my full run for five overs and felt good,” Franklin told the . “In hindsight my expectations may have been higher than reality.”I got told at the outset by the surgeon the recovery would be six to eight months and being the athlete you only really hear the number six. Then I thought if it goes really well it might only be four months. I’ve been closer to 11 [months] now and it’s only been in recent times that I’ve been able to do multiple tasks on my knee on the same day like bowling and doing weights.”Despite being out of action for so long, New Zealand Cricket kept its faith in Franklin by naming him in the list of contracted players in April. “I’m just thankful New Zealand Cricket gave me a contract and are still behind me.”

Liverpool continue to be linked with a move for Lille midfielder Renato Sanches this summer.

What’s the story?

Following Gini Wijnaldum’s decision to depart Anfield and join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, the Reds have been credited with an interest in several stars, including Sanches.

And now, well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reiterated those claims on the latest installment of his ‘Here We Go’ podcast.

“I would keep an eye again on Renato Sanches for midfield,” said Romano (as relayed by the Liverpool ECHO).

“Also, Barcelona are looking at his situation. So it’s Barcelona and Liverpool interested in Renato Sanches, but the price tag is around €40m (£34m). So we will see in the coming days.”

Liverpool fans will be buzzing

News that Liverpool are still firmly in the race for Sanches’ signature will surely leave a large section of the club’s supporters buzzing.

So far, former RB Leipzig centre-back Ibrahima Konate has been the Anfield outfit’s only summer signing, leaving manager Jurgen Klopp short on strength in depth in certain areas of his squad.

Wijnaldum’s exit has left a sizeable void for the German tactician to fill in the centre of the park, and his previous importance to the 19-time English champions cannot be downplayed.

The Dutch international featured in all 38 Premier League games last term, starting on 34 occasions. And although he never grabbed the headlines through goals or assists, he was the heartbeat of the team and kept Liverpool ticking over.

As a result, they’re big shoes to fill, but Sanches has shown he has the ability and potential to do just that over the last couple of campaigns.

He’s rebuilt his career with Lille in northern France following a tricky spell with Bayern Munich and a tough 12-month loan stint at Swansea City, playing a pivotal part as Les Dogues claimed their first Ligue 1 title in 10 years.

As per WhoScored, the Portugal international completed 1.7 dribbles per league game last term and 0.8 key passes while recorded a passing accuracy of 85.8%, highlighting his effective use of the ball.

Therefore, Liverpool’s fanbase will surely be urging director of football Michael Edwards to get this deal over the line, providing Klopp with the players he needs to return the club back to the top-flight summit.

And, in other news…Neil Jones drops new Liverpool transfer update, Reds fans would love this player

Adam Gilchrist has said he believes Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan offspinner, has a suspect action, but blamed the ICC for allowing him bowl in international cricket

Cricinfo staff04-Nov-2008
Adam Gilchrist: “As much as I like Murali, my sympathies lay more with those batsmen, from every other nation, whose careers suffered because of a bowler who was in technical breach of the rules” © Getty Images
Adam Gilchrist has said he believes Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan offspinner, has a suspect action, but blamed the ICC for allowing him bowl in international cricket. Gilchrist wrote in his autobiography that there was no doubt in his mind that as per the laws of the game, Murali and many others have been guilty of chucking.”I don’t think he’s personally to blame: he bowled the way he bowled, and it was not up to him to do any more than he was asked,” Gilchrist wrote in his newly published book . He said though the argument that Murali’s suspect action was an optical illusion was legally correct, it was a “direct attack to the spirit of the game”.”As much as I like Murali, my sympathies lay more with those batsmen, from every other nation, whose careers suffered because of a bowler who was in technical breach of the rules and seemed to enjoy a kind of political protection.”Murali was first no-balled for his action during his first tour of Australia in 1995-96 and though he was cleared after a biomechanical analysis, the controversy didn’t die out. He was called again on the 1998-99 tour to Australia and sent for further tests in Perth and England only to be cleared again.In 2004 the ICC stopped Murali from bowling the doosra, because his arm bent by an average of 10 degrees when bowling the delivery, which was double the permitted level for spinners. But next year, the ICC tweaked the the bowling laws to allow all bowlers “to straighten their bowling arm up to 15 degrees, which was established as the point at which any straightening will become visible to the naked eye”.Gilchrist called the rule change “horse crap” and said the situation had reached an absurd point where the laws were changed to accommodate Murali. “When I heard that the rules would now allow degree of straightening – 15 degrees to be exact, a fraction more than Murali’s straightening had been measured at – I thought ‘That’s a load of horse crap. That’s rubbish.”Gilchrist said Murali’s doosra seemed to pass scrutiny without rigorous examination. “Often Australian players, having seen him bowl yet another suspect doosra past the outside edge, would look at each other in changing room and say: ‘Wasn’t that one meant to have been sorted out?'”

Aston Villa announced on Saturday morning that Tyrone Mings is the new club captain, and unsurprisingly a number of Villa fans were quick to share their thoughts on the news via social media.

Villa had an opening for a new permanent club captain after Jack Grealish sealed a £100m move to Manchester City earlier this month.

Mings skippered Villa in 12 successive Premier League games last season when his England team-mate was out injured, and he has now taken the armband on a full-time basis under Dean Smith. The 28-year-old still has three years remaining on his Midlands deal and is eight appearances shy of reaching 100 for Villa.

His first game as permanent captain came against Watford on Saturday, with Villa slipping to an opening weekend defeat at Vicarage Road, but the defender still gave a decent performance as he won six duels against the Hornets.

Villa fans react

Villa shared the news on Mings on their official Twitter page. Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with one labelling the update as ‘excellent’.

“Things we love to see”Credit: @JoshBuzzard”ahh finally they announced it!! so happy”Credit: @kacey04661760″Excellent choice.”Credit: @yellowmarlin”It would be impossible for someone to deserve it more than Mings does. Everything a captain should be, one of the best leaders the club has had in years. Excellent news, this.”Credit: @rad_nauseam”BOOM!!!!!!”Credit: @IanMcGr42738303″Filed under: things you love to see”Credit: @SheldonLT

In other news: ‘I’m actually done’ – Many AVFC fans react as ‘worrying’ news is confirmed.

Andrew Symonds believes his lack of form for Queensland will not stop him contributing to the Test team if he makes the starting line-up for next week’s first Test against New Zealand

Cricinfo staff14-Nov-2008
Andrew Symonds is a great player with nothing to prove, according to Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors © Getty Images
Andrew Symonds believes his lack of form for Queensland will not stop him contributing to the Test team if he makes the starting line-up for next week’s first Test against New Zealand. Symonds has been named in a 13-man squad for the Gabba Test and if he plays it will be his first time back in the baggy green since the tour of the West Indies this year.He has completed a two-month Cricket Australia rehabilitation programme, which followed his axing from the squad in Darwin when he went fishing instead of attending a team meeting. The selectors have shown faith in Symonds despite his disappointing Sheffield Shield efforts in the past month, when he has scored 80 runs at 13.33 in three games.”I earned the right to wear my baggy green cap, and I lost that through my own stupidity, so now hopefully I can regain it and wear it with distinction,” Symonds told . “Bear in mind, I wasn’t dropped from the side for form but I’ll be doing my best to get myself back into batting form. Some of the wickets we’ve played on have been very difficult.”Symonds was an automatic selection in the No. 6 spot in Tests until his fishing trip and Shane Watson took the role for the recent tour of India. Both men have been named in the 13-man Gabba squad and the chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said Symonds’ lack of domestic runs would not be held against him.”We’re selecting a great player, we don’t think he had anything to prove,” Hilditch told the . “We picked the side on the basis that we were really happy with Shane Watson in India. He’s got to cement a spot in the top six.”Shane we see as a top-six batter doing some very valuable bowling for us, which he did in India. [He] exceeded our expectations really; he bowled really well, so we are very happy with his performance. He deserves to be in the squad, whether they both play together we’ll decide up there.”One member of the group will be released from the squad on Tuesday although that is more likely to be one of the fast bowlers, probably Peter Siddle. The exact makeup of the starting 11 might not be decided until the morning of the Test, which begins on Thursday, and Symonds knows he is no certainty to play.”I’m only in the 13 at this point, too, though, that’s still playing on my mind a little bit,” Symonds said. “I don’t know what the balance of the team will be, so I suppose closer to the day and maybe even the morning of the game, depending on the weather and what the balance of the team will be. I’ve got a nervous wait to go yet.”Symonds has averaged 72.40 in Test matches in the past 12 months and Australia could have used his consistency in India, where they went down 2-0 and lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Symonds said it was tough being at home in Queensland, where he could do nothing to help his colleagues.”It did hurt, watching the boys go through what they went through in India, and there were a couple of times where I was sitting there and I wanted to be the next in to bat,” Symonds said. “Hopefully, to be back will be a great feeling because it did hurt me deep down inside to be out of it for a while there.”

Mitchell Johnson ruined South Africa’s brave pushes for safety with a dramatic seven-wicket haul as the visitors spluttered to 8 for 243

The Bulletin by Peter English18-Dec-2008South Africa 8 for 243 (de Villiers 63, Kallis 63, Johnson 7-42) trail Australia 375 (Katich 83, Clarke 62, Symonds 57, Ntini 4-72) by 132 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Mitchell Johnson troubled South Africa throughout the day and grabbed seven wickets in an awesome display © AFP
Mitchell Johnson ruined South Africa’s brave pushes for safety with a dramatic seven-wicket haul that included five late breakthroughs as the visitors spluttered to 8 for 243 at stumps. Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers had almost put South Africa in a comfortable position when Johnson surged to career-best figures and put Australia, who posted 375, on top during another fascinating arm-wrestle for ascendency.In an incredible finish to the day Johnson grabbed 5 for 2 in 20 balls to wow his new home crowd and stun the visitors, who were happy until he arrived to deliver five venomous overs. de Villiers and Kallis had both raised half-centuries and thoughts had turned to the size of South Africa’s lead. Johnson stopped all that with 7 for 42 off 18 overs and ensured it was Australia who finished the second day of a gripping contest on top.South Africa were 3 for 234, following a 124-run stand between de Villiers and Kallis, but they both departed to edges to Brad Haddin in consecutive overs to start the nail biting in the visiting dressing room. Soon there were uncontrollable shakes as the debutant JP Duminy was unlucky to be ruled caught behind off his arm and Morne Morkel and Paul Harris fell to takes by Jason Krejza. This is a game that changes as quickly as a child’s mind.The South Africans have had dreams like this before, where they walk into gardens of success and don’t notice the only cliff. How they recover from these brutal blows will determine how successful they are for the remainder of the series. They were not the only ones who were shocked.Perth is a fitting venue for a performance like this. It was Dennis Lillee, the WACA hero and association president, who spotted Johnson as a teenager in Townsville and started his representative journey. They spoke before the match about how to bowl on the surface and Johnson listened. In the off-season Johnson, a Queenslander, moved to Western Australia so he could be closer to his girlfriend. Now the ground has another hero of speed.He was operating well above 140kph, gaining bounce and tricking the right-handers with his subtle arc away. de Villiers and Kallis both fell for that, while the fending Duminy was undone by speed. Showing he wasn’t all brawn, Johnson used a slower ball to Morkel that was popped to Krejza and then forced Harris to clip to leg gully. Exhausted by his effort, he needed the trainer for some muscle problems, but his body was probably overwhelmed by such instant success.Once again the day swayed like a swing, with Australia starting and finishing with whoops of joy. In between South Africa were the ones having most fun, especially with de Villiers and Kallis combining so well. Following the loss of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla in nine deliveries, which cut South Africa to 3 for 110, the middle-order pair first hit back before tea, and then consolidated after the break.Johnson’s first dismissal, of Neil McKenzie, relied on a horrible error and an ugly pull, but South Africa moved forward with confidence. Smith and Amla seemed to be setting the perfect platform until the trend of the opening day repeated when Australia hit back with two wickets before lunch. Krejza provided the speed bump to the 90-run partnership when Amla tried to turn a well-flighted, spinning delivery to the legside and was bowled for a breezy 47 from 67 balls.In the next over Smith, who was battling a nagging left elbow problem, was attempting to continue his acceleration by driving at a wider delivery from Johnson, but he played on to his leg stump for 48. Both settled batsmen departed in quick succession, something that de Villiers and Kallis copied.The pair went in the same way for the same score of 63. Separating de Villiers and Kallis was difficult as they played similar innings, mixing solid defence with punishment of loose balls. While they appeared subdued at times, they were always managing to switch the strike in a combination that looked unbreakable until Johnson intervened.de Villiers flexed early by swiping Krejza, playing his first Test at home, for six to midwicket and in the period before tea Kallis was also more expansive than Australian audiences were used to seeing him. Kallis lofted Krejza over his head and after tea welcomed Andrew Symonds’ medium pace with back-to-back cover drives. He also belted Krejza over the rope and was responsible for some of the treatment that led to the offspinner’s 1 for 102 off 25 overs.Following a burst of boundaries, the batsmen would switch back into a more cautious mode and it was an effective ploy. Krejza was loose at times and occasionally severely threatening, but mostly the Australians were thankful for the regular sprints provided by the tireless and enthusiastic Johnson. Using sliding deliveries and benefiting from the surface, Johnson provided the danger that neither Brett Lee nor Peter Siddle could produce. He will remain a crucial man throughout the series.