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Leicestershire, who finished bottom of Division Two last season, are on thebrink of victory in their first County Championship game of the new campaign atGrace Road

11-Apr-2010
ScorecardLeicestershire, who finished bottom of Division Two last season, are on thebrink of victory in their first County Championship game of the new campaign atGrace Road.They need just 51 more runs on the final day to beat Northamptonshire afterenforcing the follow-on and bowling the visitors out for 269, leaving a victorytarget of 65.Leicestershire closed on 14 for one as new captain Matthew Hoggard decidedagainst claiming the extra 30 minutes. But with good weather forecast again tomorrow, victory should be a formality when play resumes. It was Hoggard who wrapped up Northamptonshire’s first innings when he had Lee Daggett caught behind by Tom New in the fifth over of the day.The visitors had added just 11 runs to their overnight total of 179, givingLeicestershire a lead of 205 and Hoggard had no hesitation in asking them to batagain. Left-arm spinner Claude Henderson finished with splendid figures of six for 21off 20 overs and Hoggard, in his first game for his new club, took two for 35.But Northants put up much sterner resistance second time around with RobertWhite hitting a brisk 68 and David Lucas an unbeaten 40. Lucas led some excellent late resistance to frustrate the Leicestershire attack, sharing a last-wicket stand of 52 with Daggett. It was a strange innings from the visitors. Despite losing wickets at regularintervals, they also scored at a rapid rate, with 170 out of their total of 269coming in boundaries with 41 fours and a six.After Henderson’s heroics in the first innings it was Leicestershire’s batteryof seamers that did the bulk of the damage this time with Wayne White takingfour for 58, his best Championship figures since he joined Leicestershire. Nathan Buck also impressed with a return of three for 36, while Henderson took two more wickets to finish with a match haul of eight for 68.White, although often erratic, produced some excellent deliveries to remove Paul Harrison, Mal Loye, Robert White and Northants captain Nicky Boje.They were vital scalps and at one stage it looked as though the home side wouldsnatch victory with a day to spare. But Lucas and Daggett kept them at bay and when Matt Boyce fell to Lucas for three at the start of Leicestershire’s innings, Hoggard decided to delay the victory charge until the final day.

Wolves have had an impressive start to the season, with new attackers Francisco Trincao and Hee Chan Hwang, joining the squad in the summer, they have managed to maintain a comfortable position in the top half of the table where they currently sit eighth after eighteen games played.

Hwang has been one of the notable performers in the team making an instant impact on the side since his arrival 4 months ago, with four goals in 14 Premier League appearances, making him the highest scoring player in the side so far this season.

Unfortunately for Wolves, the South Korean forward sustained a hamstring injury in the early stages of the clash against Brighton earlier this month, and it has now been confirmed that he will be out until at least February.

The club officially confirmed the news on the Wolverhampton Wanderers website stating;

“Hee Chan Hwang sustained a hamstring injury in the win over Brighton and is expected to return to play in February.”

Bruno Lage has had to get through the first half of the season with key players missing for large chunks of the campaign, with injury hits over the last few months to not only Hwang, but Willy Boly, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Pedro Neto and many more, with some still out of action.

The Wolves boss will be looking to the upcoming transfer window, which opens in the next few days, to add quality, fitness and availability to his squad as they challenge for a spot in Europe next season, but he may be able to save money by making a bold decision.

Morgan Gibbs White is currently on loan with Sheffield United, and is thoroughly enjoying the first team football he is experiencing with the side after making 16 appearances, scoring five goals and bagging four assists in the Championship already.

The Blades team mate, David McGoldrick, heaped praise on the youngster claiming he has “the world at his feet” after he opened the scoring against Cardiff in a 3-2 win;

“Yeah he’s got the world at his feet. You know, great kid, great player. He’s got all the ability in the world”, McGoldrick said after the win at Cardiff.

Gibbs White also weighed in on his season so far;

“Going to Sheffield United was the right move because I didn’t want to be sat on the bench at a Premier League team. I’m enjoying every minute of it.”

Lage’s big decision

Despite the fact he is clearly thriving with the Championship side, Lage is plagued with virus outbreaks and particularly, an injury to an important goal-scorer in his team.

Which begs the dilemma as to whether the Wolves manager leaves the 21-year-old to continue to build confidence and experience, or recalls him from loan, bringing him back to the West Midlands club to make up for lost goal scoring opportunities in the absence of Hwang.

If Wolves were to bring back Gibbs-White it would free up funds for Lage to spend in other key areas that could use depth like their defensive and wing back positions, so it could be quite a positive move for the club.

But could also really disrupt the progression the forward is having away on loan if the manager can’t offer him enough first team football when Hwang returns.

In the end, Wolves’ need right now is far more pressing, so Lage must seriously consider making that bold call.

In other news: Ruben Neves squashes rumours of a move away

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has claimed that Aston Villa could well complete a swoop for Bologna’s Aaron Hickey in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

During a Q&A for the Birmingham Mail, the journalist indicated that he expects Steven Gerrard’s side to go in for Hickey, adding that a deal could be done.

He said: “Aaron Hickey is one that continues to stick, mate. He’s well-known to a few at Villa and one I expect the club to go in for. It makes a lot of sense. I’ve got to stress this and Johan Lange is a man that hates transfer targets being leaked to the press so expect a couple of surprise names mate.”

Preece later added: “Villa are interested, and it’s one that makes a lot of sense. I’ve loved what he’s done; gone to Bologna and developed. He’s scored goals this season, provided assists. What is it with Scotland producing good, solid left-backs?

“I can seriously see that one being done.”

Fans would be buzzing

Able to play anywhere across the back-line at just 19, the £11.7m-rated Hickey has already shown incredible versatility, and it’s something that Gerrard would surely embrace.

Craig Levein, the man who gave the teenager his senior debut, pointed out: “He’s got really good defensive qualities but I don’t know if he’ll end up being a full-back, he might end up going back into midfield. He could be a fantastic holding midfielder with his great awareness of danger and his ability to get out of tight situations with the ball at his feet.”

Given how Hickey has shown his ability to adapt to a new environment by making the move from Scotland to Italy, a switch to the Premier League may not be something to faze the young defender.

Add to that Preece’s teasing claim that Villa fans should “expect a couple of surprise names”, and it’s sure to have them even more excited at the prospect of seeing some new arrivals in the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Villa are also eyeing this Brazilian striker…

West Indies A continued their unbeaten the tri-series and sealed a place in the final, after beating South Africa A convincingly by 81 runs in Mirpur

Cricinfo staff11-May-2010
ScorecardDarren Bravo remained unbeaten on 107•Bangladesh Cricket BoardWest Indies A continued their unbeaten the tri-series and sealed a place in the final, after beating South Africa A convincingly by 81 runs in Mirpur. Darren Bravo’s unbeaten 107, and half-centuries by Brendon Nash and Kirk Edwards carried West Indies to a tall 295, but the target was too much for the South Africans who stumbled to the pace duo of Gavin Tonge and Lionel Baker.The West Indies innings was built around a stand of 133 between Bravo and Nash. They came together at the fall of the third wicket at 67 in the 15th over and carried on till the 39th. Nash made a run-a-ball 71 before he was caught by David Miller off Thandi Tshabalala. Bravo added another 86 with Edwards, who made a 31-ball 50. Bravo reached his century off 113 balls and stayed till the end to pose a stiff challenge to South Africa.The South African openers got off to a rollicking start, adding 50 in just seven overs. But it all started to go downhill from there as Baker and Tonge reduced them to 60 for 4. David Miller and Dean Elgar made 30s but couldn’t carry on, as West Indies made further inroads. Baker finished with 4 for 32 while Tonge was expensive but finished with 3 for 47.

Leicestershire spinners Claude Henderson and Jigar Naik combined superbly toinflict an innings and 60-run defeat on Surrey in their County ChampionshipDivision Two match at The Brit Oval

06-Jun-2010
ScorecardUsman Afzaal batted well in the first innings but fell for a duck second time around•PA PhotosLeicestershire spinners Claude Henderson and Jigar Naik combined superbly toinflict an innings and 60-run defeat on Surrey in their County ChampionshipDivision Two match at The Brit Oval.Left-armer Henderson was the star performer in Surrey’s first innings, taking6 for 84, and after they had followed on off-spinner Jigar Naikrecorded figures of 7 for 96, the first five-wicket return of his career. Surrey were bowled out for 183 which, even allowing for a pitch offering considerable help to the spinners, was a poor effort.The defeat, Surrey’s first at Leicestershire’s hands in the competition since1998, would have been even more clear-cut but for an entertaining last-wicketstand. Last pair Younis Khan, who hit three leg-side sixes off Naik as he made anunbeaten 77 off 110 balls, and Jade Dernbach put on 46.Fittingly, Naik had the final word, 20 minutes from the scheduled close, whenhe bypassed a wild thrash from Dernbach. Surrey, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table, were already deep in trouble on 160 for 6 at the start of the day, but at least Usman Afzaal andChris Schofield resisted for almost an hour before, with the score on 202, before Schofield was leg before wicket to Henderson offering no shot.Afzaal reached a valuable 91-ball half-century with a cover-driven four offHenderson. He repeated the shot, but in Henderson’s next over he edged anotherattempted drive to Tom New behind the stumps. The last thing Surrey needed was a run out, but when Chris Tremlett failed to answer Stuart Meaker’s call for a quick single to extra cover Meaker failed to regain his ground as Jacques du Toit scored a direct hit. The following ball brought Henderson his sixth wicket, a sharply turning ball finding the edge of Dernbach’s bat.Surrey followed on 243 behind and had already lost Steven Davies before lunch.Davies, a model of consistency with the bat since joining Surrey at the start ofthe season, was lbw to the eighth ball of the innings when Nathan Buck swung oneinto the left-hander.A gritty stand of 41 in 23 overs between Arun Harinath and Mark Ramprakash atleast suggested that Surrey might be capable of taking the match into the finalday, but Naik claimed the wickets of Harinath, Ramprakash and Afzaal in quicksuccession.Harinath edged to slip, Ramprakash’s defensive stroke cannoned into the groundand back onto the stumps and Afzaal was leg before without scoring. At thatstage Naik had figures of 3 for 6.Surrey’s plight worsened five balls after tea when captain Rory Hamilton-Brown,was bowled trying to work Henderson against the turn. Gareth Batty was lbw to aball from Naik which kept low and Schofield was taken at silly mid-off.

Rangers have fielded an approach from Newcastle United for striker Alfredo Morelos, according to 90min. 

The lowdown

The Gers have already lost one player to an English Premier League club this month, with Nathan Patterson sealing a £16m move to Everton; while Morelos said publicly back in September that he hoped he would ‘soon’ be given the ‘opportunity’ to take the next step in his career.

The Colombian is into the final 18 months of his £33,000-per-week contract and is valued at £11.7m by Transfermarkt.

The latest

The report from 90min states that Morelos is one of the names Newcastle who have ‘asked about’, with Magpies manager Eddie Howe potentially looking to bring in two forwards this month.

Other targets include Liverpool’s Divock Origi, Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa.

The verdict

Rangers might not want to part with Morelos midway through the campaign. If they sell him in the summer, they would at least have more time to find a replacement for him, and the new man would also have more time to bed in during the off-season.

Cashing in at the end of the campaign could be wise, though. Based on those comments from September, the 25-year-old is unlikely to sign a new contract at Ibrox, and as the expiry date of his current deal draws nearer, Rangers’ negotiating position becomes weaker.

Moreover, across his Ibrox career, Morelos has scored once every 1.97 games, but this season that has dropped to one goal every 2.2 matches.

He has been dubbed a ‘genius’ by the Heart & Hand podcast, but you can understand why Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge argued that he’s not the ‘ultimate must-stay’ anymore, given the Colombian’s decline in form this season.

In other news, Rangers have received a boost in this transfer chase

West Ham United will not look to secure a deal to bring Alex Kral to the London Stadium on a permanent basis.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by Claret & Hugh, with the club insider revealing that David Moyes will not look to take up the £12m option-to-buy clause for the defensive midfielder. Indeed, they may even look to terminate the 23-year-old’s loan deal before the end of the January transfer window.

In the update, Claret & Hugh said: “West Ham look likely to allow Alex Kral back to Spartak Moscow after the midfielder has been found himself unable to make any impact at the London Stadium so far this season.”

They later added: “The Hammers organised a loan with a permanent deal option at around £12m but given his shortage of any real action, one wonders why the boss agreed to such a move in the first place. Now it looks likely that he could even be back in Russia before the current season comes to an end.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering how little impact Kral has made at West Ham since making his temporary switch from Spartak Moscow last year, the news that Moyes is not planning to sign him on a permanent basis is sure to have left the London Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, so far this season, the £7.2m-rated Czech international has made just one Premier League appearance – coming on for the final minute of the 4-1 win over Watford – in the current campaign, as well as making three appearances in the Europa League and one in the Carabao Cup.

It is not difficult to see why Moyes is so reluctant to afford the 23-year-old more regularly game-time, as, over his three European outings, the £24k-per-week midfielder has averaged a disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.63 – ranking him as the Hammers’ joint fifth-worst performer in the competition.

As such, it is clear to see that the player who Moyes claimed has “bags of energy” is simply not of the standard required to be a first-team regular at the London Stadium. That leads us to believe that the 58-year-old simply must send the Czech Republic midfielder back to his parent club this month.

In other news: Moyes could finally replace Haller as West Ham plot bid for “complete” £13.5m-rated machine

Matthew Wade blasted 80 off 50 balls to set up Australia A’s 27-run victory over Sri Lanka A in the one-off Twenty20 in Townsville

Cricinfo staff02-Jul-2010Australia A 4 for 176 (Wade 80) beat Sri Lanka A 7 for 149 (Udawatte 28) by 27 runs
ScorecardVictoria’s Matthew Wade top scored for Australia A•Getty ImagesMatthew Wade, the Victoria wicketkeeper, blasted 80 off 50 balls to set up Australia A’s 27-run victory over Sri Lanka A in the one-off Twenty20 in Townsville. Wade opened for the hosts and crunched nine fours and two sixes in his half-century, which raced them to a challenging 4 for 176.The captain George Bailey provided a late surge as he finished unbeaten on 35 off 24 balls, while Aaron Finch (29) and Adam Voges (17) also chipped in. James Pattinson struck twice in the first five overs to build on Australia’s strong position and have Sri Lanka 2 for 32.Mahela Udawatte started well with 28 off 22 but the assignment quickly became difficult and there was no way back after Dinesh Chandima (23) and Chamara Kapugedera (26) were dismissed. Brendan Drew (2 for 19), Moises Henriques and Andrew McDonald ensured there would be no escape by the visitors, who finished at 7 for 149.Despite today’s success, Wade said he wasn’t going to push for an opening spot in Twenty20s at Victoria in place of 35-year-old Brad Hodge. “Hodgie called me last night actually, I won’t be asking him to hang them up just yet,” Wade said after the match. “He’s a great player and has done so well for us. I try and model my game a little on Hodgie, who strokes the ball around a bit and gets into the innings later on, since I’m not a natural hitter.”Sri Lanka have already lost a couple of first-class matches as well, but Wade expected them to put up a better show in the one-dayers coming up. “I think their game suits one-day cricket more,” he said. “They play a lot of shots, good strikers of the ball, if they can get the ball to reverse late in the 50-over game, it’s going to be a good challenge.”

As per reliable reporter Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard, an encouraging update has come to light as Tottenham Hotspur eye a move for Middlesborough defender Djed Spence.

The Lowdown: Spurs join race…

Sky Sports first broke the news that Spurs had joined the race to sign Boro’s in-demand youngster who is currently shining on loan at fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest.

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London World add that Spurs boss Antonio Conte is actually ‘edging closer’ to the 21-year-old’s capture as he eyes new-right back additions in north London.

In another update, Rosser has come out with an equally encouraging claim.

The Latest: Spurs agreement possible this month…

Taking to Twitter, he explains that a deal to sign Spence ‘could happen’ in January as Tottenham and north London rivals Arsenal tussle for his signature.

He does however add that the player won’t actually make the move until the summer.

“Arsenal and Tottenham target Djed Spence valued at up to £12m by Middlesbrough,” he explained.

“Deal could happen in January but Spence won’t move until the summer.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

Already attracting plenty of praise for his performances at the City Ground over 2021/2022, we believe £12m would be a snip for the homegrown ace with both pace and delivery on the right-hand side.

Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff called Spence a ‘massive player’ for Forest this season whilst Boro’s manager Chris Wilder heaped praise on the ‘outstanding’ starlet for his temporary spell so far.

With plenty of years ahead in what could be a promising career, signing the defender should be a no-brainer.

In other news: Offer ready: Conte could soon sign ‘game-changer’ for Spurs after recent Levy meeting…find out more here.

Board secretary, N Srinivasan, has been asked to present the financial details of the IPL to the income tax department in Mumbai today

Cricinfo staff21-Jul-2010The BCCI secretary, N Srinivasan, has been asked to present the financial details of the IPL to the income tax department in Mumbai today.According to , Srinivasan has been asked to appear at the office of the assistant director of income tax with information on all the bids for IPL franchises, successful or otherwise, and to specify in what currency payments have been made for all three seasons of the league.He will have to lay out the details of the BCCI’s income and expenses for IPL 2010, with the income being broken up into its various sources, from ticket sales to media rights. The department was particularly interested in the funding and shareholding pattern of the various teams.”There have been some changes in shareholding patterns of some teams, whether such changes were envisaged and permissible as per the bid documents and BCCI-IPL rules?” the letter read. “Further whether such changes are permissible as per the various laws of India?”The particulars of the various unsuccessful bids were also asked for. “Details of franchisee bids made since 2008, which were not successful. The amounts of bids that were made, the composition of entities who had bid, the sources of funds indicated by them including bank guarantees. Whether the bidding process was transparent or not?”Other details to be provided by Srinivasan include a list of expenses from the second edition of the tournament held in South Africa, and whether those expenses were paid for by the board. Finally, the department would like him to clarify whether the BCCI has any bank guarantees in foreign currency, and to lay out the chronology of events that led to the awarding of media rights.