The BCB intends to extend Thilan Samaraweera’s spell as Bangladesh batting consultant until next year’s Champions Trophy
Mohammad Isam01-Nov-20161:02
Samaraweera to stay on as batting coach
The BCB intends to extend Thilan Samaraweera’s spell as Bangladesh batting consultant until next year’s Champions Trophy. Cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan said that Samaraweera is prepared to stay on in his role.”We are keeping him,” Akram told BDnews24.com. “Everyone is positive about him. The coach wants him to stay back, and so does everyone else. He also doesn’t have any reservations about it.”Samaraweera joined Bangladesh ahead of the Afghanistan series for a stint that was initially to run until the end of the England series. But now he will be part of the coaching staff for the tours to New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Ireland and England in the upcoming seven months.Bangladesh’s coaching staff has been revamped after Heath Streak and Ruwan Kalpage quit as bowling and assistant coach respectively earlier this year. Courtney Walsh replaced Streak while Samaraweera also joined as batting coach, though the BCB has said it is still looking for a spin bowling coach. Richard Halsall, previously the fielding coach, has been promoted to the assistant coach’s position.
England women will conclude their busiest-ever year of international cricket by taking on Sri Lanka in the final round of ICC Women’s Championship in November.The three-match ODI series was today confirmed by the England & Wales Cricket Board, and will take place at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on November 12, 15 and 17.England are currently third on 19 points in the Championship standings, which serve as the qualification tournament for the 2017 World Cup, with Sri Lanka lying in eighth, having won just twice in their first five rounds of the competition.
England women in West Indies and Sri Lanka
1st ODI, Florence Hall, October 8 2nd ODI, Florence Hall, October 10
3rd ODI, Kingston, October 14 4th ODI, Kingston, October 16 5th ODI, Kingston, October 19 Training camp, Abu Dhabi, November 1-7 1st ODI, Colombo, November 12 2nd ODI, Colombo, November 15
3rd ODI, Colombo, November 17
Arguably the bigger test of England’s credentials will come when they travel to Jamaica next month to play West Indies in the penultimate round of the ICC WC. Stafanie Taylor’s team are one point ahead of England in second place on the table, meaning that the result from that series will have a significant bearing on the final qualification standings.”The tour to Sri Lanka will mark the end of the busiest ever year for the England women’s team and the conclusion of the ICC Women’s Championship,” said Mark Robinson, England Women’s Head Coach. “It will be another good test to mark how we are progressing as a squad, as we bid to overcome a passionate home team in the heat and humidity of Sri Lanka.”As always, it will be a challenge that we will relish, as we keep building for the future and look ahead to the ICC Women’s World Cup on home soil next year.”Prior to arriving in Colombo, the squad will take part in a six-day training camp in Abu Dhabi from November 1-7.
Journalist Craig Hope has claimed that Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron could be on the bench this weekend.
What's the latest injury news for Newcastle and Miguel Almiron?
The 29-year-old winger has been out injured for a little while now and has not actually played in any of the club's last four Premier League games.
However, with Aston Villa to face away from home, it looks as though he could be in contention to make a return to the bench.
Indeed, while speaking to the press ahead of this game, manager Eddie Howe provided an interesting update on the winger.
He said (via Shields Gazette) “He’s done really well. He’s ahead of schedule at the moment. Fingers crossed, he gets through training, and could be available very soon.”
He was then asked if Almiron could play against Villa, and remained vague with his answer but admitted it was a “possibility".
While talking about this on his own YouTube channel, Hope claimed that Howe's words were enough to confirm that the Paraguay international will definitely make the bench.
He explained: “We've learned to read Eddie when it comes to fitness and otherwise.
"But for him to say that Miguel Almiron is back and training, and see how he come through today's session, that tells us that he will be on the bench down at Aston Villa tomorrow, which is two weeks ahead of schedule, which is a huge boost for them."
How many Premier League goals has Almiron scored this season?
Before the break for the winter World Cup, Almiron was in the form of his life, scoring eight goals and providing one assist in the Premier League.
Since then, however, the £60k-per-week star has lost a little bit of momentum and form, adding just three more league goals to his tally (for a total of 11 in 25).
Perhaps this little time on the sidelines will have done him so good then, just to let him reset before the final run-in.
Miguel Almiron celebrates with the Newcastle United fans after his goal in their Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
At the very least, he certainly seems raring to go if he is indeed ready to get back on the bench to play Aston Villa ahead of schedule.
Indeed, while Howe wasn't prepared to confirm Almiron would play any part, journalist Hope seems to be sure that the winger be involved in some capacity as part of the matchday squad for the first time since 12th March.
Everton have been offered the chance to sign Boca Juniors striker Mateo Retegui this summer, according to reports.
What's the latest on Retegui's future?
The Toffees failed to sign a single player during the January window and having not replaced Anthony Gordon or recruited another senior forward to help Ellis Simms whilst Dominic Calvert-Lewin is on the sidelines, these could be just some of the reasons why Sean Dyche finds his outfit in this dangerous position.
The Argentinian’s contract with Hugo Ibarra’s side isn’t set to expire until the end of next year, but having fallen out of favour, is currently on a season-long loan at Club Atletico Tigre, as per Transfermarkt. Despite them having the option to buy included though, the 23-year-old has been attracting interest from the Premier League.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the forward admitted that he’ll be on the move at the end of the season and is ideally looking to secure a switch to Europe. He said “Melarana [Tigre's president] said that in July it could be likely that I'll be sold. I really like the idea, it is a dream for everyone who plays football, the greatest teams are in Europe. In Italy there are great clubs, I like them all.”
Now, according to 90min, Retegui has been “offered” to Everton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Leicester and newly-promoted Burnley, who have all been “made aware” of his potential availability in the summer. AC Milan, Inter Milan, Lazio and Udinese are also “keen” to secure his services, whilst Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Eintracht Frankfurt and Union Berlin are among others “weighing up” an approach.
Italy striker Mateo Retegui.
Should Everton splash the cash on Retegui?
Journalist Josh Bunting has claimed that Retegui is a centre-forward who has a natural “instinct in the box” and so Everton should certainly consider tabling an offer should they be in an affordable position to do so.
The Adidas-sponsored star has posted 33 goal contributions (30 goals and three assists) in 53 appearances for Tigre where he’s currently averaging 3.9 shots per league game, showcasing how prolific he is at not only taking his chances but creating them.
The 6 foot 1 striker also poses a physical presence and threat up top with his height where he’s recording 2.7 aerial wins every 90 minutes, making him the ideal target man when it comes to long balls, crosses and set pieces being whipped into the area.
Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, has called for the team to play smarter cricket following the poor end to their tour of South Africa as they turn attentions to the World T20 in India. However, he does not want the players to go into their shells after a difficult couple of weeks, saying that the winner in India will be the “boldest” team on show.England ended their stay in South Africa with a crushing nine-wicket defeat at the Wanderers to lose the T20 series 2-0. From a promising position of 157 for 3 – with Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler finding their range – they were well placed for 200, but conspired to lose 7 for 14 and not even play out their overs.They were then belted around the Bullring by AB de Villiers who cartwheeled to 71 off 29 balls as South Africa raced to their target with more than five overs to spare.It led to Bayliss saying it was like “men against boys” and meant that England finished with five defeats on the bounce having been 2-0 up in the one-day series before being let down by poor fielding when they could have sealed it in the Johannesburg ODI. Although the Test series was secured on that heady day at the Wanderers when Stuart Broad blew South Africa away the tour ended on a downbeat note.There is little time to ponder with just a short break at home before departing for India where they will face group matches against West Indies, Sri Lanka, a qualifier and, potentially significantly given recent results, South Africa again in Mumbai on March 18. Faf du Plessis, the South Africa T20 captain, was not shy at suggesting his side could have struck some psychological blows.”I can guarantee you one thing, the team that wins the World Twenty20 will be the boldest team there,” Bayliss said.”If we go out and try to be too nice, or if we give that advantage away or are not as positive and aggressive as we have been when we have played well and won, then we will still not win – because there will be teams out there with the confidence, players and ability to go out and play that way.”The two series defeats in South Africa have zapped some of the feel-good factor that had developed around England’s white-ball teams since their post-World Cup rebuilding which has been forged on an almost breakable desire to be positive and for players to be encouraged to push their own boundaries.Both Bayliss and Morgan have cited the inexperience in the side as a factor as to why the wheels came off somewhat in South Africa and cautioned that more such days cannot be ruled out as players continue to find their feet at international level. But the straight-talking Bayliss knows that platitudes about how good a team could be does not help in the present.”We’ve had some good results, but it’s a reminder to people back home in England that this team is still a developing one,” he said. “We’ve had some good performances, and there’s a lot of potential there.”But potential never won anything … we’ve got some hard work to do. I think the expectation the players have put on themselves is why they are so disappointed when they play badly. It may be that extra pressure they put on themselves that they’ve got to get over.”In the final ODI at Newlands and the first T20 at the same ground, England were criticised for not adjusting quickly enough to conditions and reassessing what a defendable total could be.”We spoke the other night, it is a case of going with the flow of the game,” Bayliss said. “If we get off to a good start, you have to recognise that flow [and think] ‘can we continue to do this’?”If we do happen to lose a few wickets … well, has the flow of the game changed, and do we have to play a little bit differently? I think that will be playing smart cricket, and that is what the good teams will do.”Still, despite the setback, Bayliss believes that England can put on a good show in India which will conclude a long period overseas for the team this winter.”If we play well … we’ll be hard to beat. In the last two games, we haven’t played all that well – and in this game, we’ve been beaten easily. We’re going to have to play a lot better than that.””It’s small margins,” he added. “One catch, and we’d have only lost the last four – and we’d have won the one-day series. That’s as simple as it can get. You win that fourth match, who knows … it might have given the boys enough confidence to go on and win the fifth one. We’ve got to learn from that, and work out how we can get better.”
Journalist Ben Jacobs has insisted that the Qatari group interested in buying Manchester United are not worried about other bidders – but won’t get involved in any bidding war.
The Lowdown: Takeover still dragging on
The Raine Group are said to have fast-tracked the Qatari group and Sir Jim Ratcliffe – of the known bidders, at least – through to the second phase of a potential Man United takeover, which is a positive sign for fans.
While there is a level of uncertainty surrounding the Glazers and whether or not they are willing sellers, this step forward should be a sign of them at least exploring the possibility of a full sale.
It has been reported that the interested Qatari group are only looking for a 100% takeover of the Red Devils, which may not be too difficult for them given the financial clout they will have behind them.
The Latest: Qatar not here to play games
Jacobs has insisted on the UnitedPeoplesTV YouTube channel that while they won’t know what other parties are in the running, the Qataris are confident in their own bid and valuation of Man United.
He said: “People talk and there’ll be whispers, but nothing will be formally shared. And this is where the gamesmanship comes back in again, because, of course, the Glazers – particularly with mystery groups or bidders – will drum up the fact that they’ve got interest to a higher number to try and provoke competitive tension.
“Qatar have made it abundantly clear – certainly, sources that I’ve spoken to – that they’re not going to be tricked or forced into some kind of mystery bidding war. And I think what gives Qatar confidence is that they know that their valuation already is, in all likelihood, higher than Sir Jim Ratcliffe.”
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The Verdict: A long way still to go
As shown by the Newcastle United takeover, these things can indeed be dragged on for a prolonged period of time, especially when sovereign wealth states begin to get involved, as that attracts interest from all over the country, including human rights groups.
However, the fact that a Qatari group have been passed through to the next stage on behalf of Man United’s owners shows that progress is being made, albeit at a slow and steady pace at present.
While steps are being taken by The Raine Group to get a takeover passed through so a new owner can flex their muscles in the summer transfer window, any deal would need to be ratified by the Premier League, which will have its own measures and tests for potential buyers to go through.
England’s bowlers and Mohammad Kaif reaped the rewards of keeping it tight
On the Ball by S Rajesh03-Mar-2006When play began on the third day, with Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid well-entrenched at the crease and many stars to follow, few would have thought that India might at one stage be in danger of following on. That they were in such a position was largely due to outstanding efforts by Matthew Hoggard and Monty Panesar.As the graphic below shows, both had impeccable control over the lengths they bowled. On a slow track, it was imperative to pitch the ball up to the bat, and cut the short deliveries to a minimum. Both Hoggard and Panesar managed that superbly. When they did err – and it wasn’t often – it was on the fuller side.Not only was Hoggard’s length spot on, his line was exceptional too – out of 180 deliveries, 170 pitched around middle-and-off or further off side. To make it even worse for the batsmen, he moved the ball both ways – 58 deliveries came back into the batsmen, while 40 moved away. It was the perfect combination of accuracy and seam and swing, and the Indians had no answer.They still managed to end the day in a comfortable position, thanks to Mohammad Kaif and Anil Kumble. Struggling to cement his place in the side, Kaif was understandably watchful for much of his innings – after 104 balls he had scored just 20, before he found a higher gear. His strokes chart indicates he played the percentages well – he eschewed the horizontal-bat shots and was well on his way to a century before Panesar produced a peach to sour the day.
After finishing the 2024/25 campaign on a high, Newcastle United approached the summer transfer window with excitement. But as is becoming habitual on Tyneside, there have been challenges and setbacks.
However, one of Eddie Howe’s superpowers is his ability to weather adversity and rally his club, and so in spite of missing out on Bryan Mbeumo and Joao Pedro and Mohammed Kudus and maybe Matheus Cunha too, the Magpies are beginning to take shape.
Mbeumo
A deal with Nottingham Forest has been agreed for Anthony Elanga, worth £52m. A bid for Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford is also ongoing, and that one looks like it will end positively.
Alexander Isak, moreover, is set to remain at St. James’ Park. Even so, Howe wants a new centre-forward, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike confirmed to be on the radar.
However, it’s going to be a difficult deal to pull off, and an alternative option has been earmarked.
Newcastle chasing a new striker
Any interest in a centre-forward on Tyneside is laced with a measure of trepidation. Newcastle fans would love to see a new number nine welcomed to the fold, but not at the expense of Isak’s place in the team.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Luckily, PIF have no plans to sell their £200m-valued talisman. With Callum Wilson having departed St. James’ Park at the end of his contract, securing a new nine is a necessity, not a luxury.
Ekitike might be at the top of the shopping list right now, but he’s simply too expensive at £85m, a valuation Eintracht Frankfurt aren’t willing to budge on.
That’s why Newcastle are setting their sights on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. According to Caught Offside, the Magpies have joined the growing list of clubs – also containing Arsenal and Manchester United – who are interested in the England star.
Naturally, Villa don’t want to sell, but they have priced the 29-year-old at £50m, and if Newcastle were to table such an offer, they might just find themselves in an interesting position.
Why Newcastle want Ollie Watkins
Consistently one of the Premier League’s most dangerous forwards over the past few years, Watkins would bring experience and dynamism to a Newcastle side in need of just his profile.
Principally a central striker, Watkins’ high-energy running and ability to play through the lines have seen him deployed on the left flank in Unai Emery’s Villan system. This is perfect for Howe, who likes to shuffle his offensive pack.
The 22-year-old Ekitike scored 22 goals and assisted 12 more across all competitions last season, but he’s still an uncut gem, only really having displayed the full extent of his quality across one campaign at the highest level.
Watkins, conversely, is proven across five years in ostensibly the toughest league in the world.
24/25
38 (31)
16
8
23/24
37 (37)
19
13
22/23
37 (36)
15
6
21/22
35 (33)
11
2
20/21
37 (37)
14
5
The Three Lions star has even been described by podcaster Rohan Jivan as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe”, with his completeness and experience at the highest level exactly what Newcastle need to one-up their previous campaign.
It’s not going to be easy, for sure, but the Toon are now shaping into one of the recognised big hitters in the Premier League, fixed at the top end of the table.
Ekitike is undoubtedly one of the biggest talents in the business, but given his extortionate pricing and indeed the chances that he might not immediately acclimatise to the English game, bagging Watkins to provide instantaneous results might be the best course of action for Howe’s ambitious plans.
Dream Scalvini alternative: Newcastle make approach for "dominant" £25m CB
Newcastle are looking to strengthen at the back this summer
Sean Dyche has clearly been focusing on bolstering Everton's attack in the transfer market this summer after the club finished 17th in the Premier League last season as the division's second-lowest scorers.
Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma have both been signed on loan, whilst 19-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti has completed a £15m move to Merseyside; Che Adams and Udinese forward Beto have also been linked to accentuate the focus on the offensive third.
Despite this, defenders Conor Coady and Yerry Mina have both left the club this summer, while Mason Holgate is heading to Southampton on loan – as such, a new centre-half is surely required to bolster the club's seasonal hopes.
What's the latest on Japhet Tanganga to Everton?
According to Inter Live, the Toffees are in the mix for Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, and while they will face competition from Luton Town, Inter Milan have withdrawn their attention as they close on Benjamin Pavard.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
Reporter Ben Jacobs has since stated that the reason movement has stagnated regarding Tanganga's possible transfer is that suitors are more inclined to offer a loan move than a permanent deal, which could work in Everton's favour.
How good is Japhet Tanganga?
The Spurs defensive titan has not enjoyed the most auspicious of years with his club since graduating from the youth academy; now 24-years-old and having never played for another outfit, Tanganga holds just 50 senior appearances to his name.
Last season, the £25k-per-week gem played just seven times across all competitions last term, starting just twice in the Premier League, and, unequivocally, the best path for Tanganga is to push for a move away.
Everton could offer the player, who has been labelled "outstanding" by pundit Gabby Agbonlahor in the past, a clean slate and the opportunity to cement a regular starting berth for himself for the first time in his career.
The fact that Premier League outfits and Inter Milan are all interested in the ace is a testament to his skill set; despite his perpetual bit-part role with Tottenham, Tanganga is considered a viable and competent option, having been described as "really special" by Gary Neville after nullifying Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish one time.
During the 2021/22 league term, he did start ten matches and exhibited his solid qualities through an average passing accuracy of 84%, making 1.3 tackles and 2.7 clearances per outing, as per Sofascore.
He could be the man to partner James Tarkowski at the heart of Dyche's defence, with the 6 foot 1 gem playing 42 games since joining the Goodison Park side on a free transfer last summer after his contract expired with Burnley.
The 30-year-old ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for blocks, the top 8% for clearances and the top 13% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref, hailed as a “really strong leader” by former Toffees boss Frank Lampard.
Tanganga could absorb the fruits of the £100k-per-week man's labours and grow into his skin on Merseyside, and it could prove to be a "fantastic" – as he has been dubbed by Jose Mourinho – and astute investment to combat the loss of the recent departees.
Matches on alternate days and little downtime between games against Australia and India have hampered Zimbabwe’s preparation, according to their Under-19 coach
Shashank Kishore in Mount Manganui19-Jan-2018Contrasting travel schedules, matches on alternate days and little downtime between games against Australia and India have hampered Zimbabwe’s preparation at the Under-19 World Cup, according to their coach. In the only rest day they had between “two of our biggest games in the tournament”, the team had to fly out from Christchurch to Tauranga and then watch their only training session called off because of rain.India, meanwhile, have had the luxury of being based in Tauranga for the group stages. Having taken little more than three hours to beat Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, the side has enjoyed plenty of rest. They have had an opportunity to climb the Mount, indulge in shopping, watch the Indian hockey team beat Japan in a four-nation tournament, have light pool sessions and even enjoy a day out at the cricket: they were at Bay Oval to watch South Africa take on West Indies.Zimbabwe Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo felt this contrasting schedule of the two sides was hard on his team. Zimbabwe aside, only Namibia and Canada have had games scheduled on alternate days in different cities. “It is a very tough scenario,” he said. “We play a game, we recover, we travel, we have team meetings and before you know it, we are at a game next day.”Terming the situation “unfair”, Mangongo called for a level playing field in such a world tournament. “No team is bigger than the other, they’re all youth cricketers at the end of the day,” Mangongo said. “Definitely, we believe that in a tournament of this nature, there should be an even playing field. If it’s a two-day break, it should be a two-day break for everyone. If it’s a three-day break, it should be a three-day break for everyone. In our instance, we played yesterday, we traveled the next day, the same traveling day is the training day, and the next day is the match.”We believe it’s unfair, absolutely unfair. India have been resting, they’re ready. We would definitely raise that with our MD (managing director), our board, and when they go back to ICC, these anomalies have to be sorted out. There’s no team that is bigger than the other. We’re all Under-19 youth cricketers and we must be treated equally.”India aren’t the only team to enjoy the luxury of training and playing at one single venue in the group stages. England, Kenya, Ireland, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka too have had all their group matches scheduled at a single venue.