With Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City separated by just three points in the Championship, Steven Schumacher made the controversial decision to leave Home Park in favour of a move to the Potters. The former Plymouth boss will hope to turn things around for Stoke, who have dropped within three points of the dropzone in what has been a disastrous spell. Plymouth, meanwhile, have been left without a manager and just six points away from the dreaded drop, making their next appointment all the more important.
After Schumacher's success, the Pilgrims must ensure that they get their next appointment right. The last thing they'll want to see is their former manager's good work become undone by one wrong decision. With that said, reports suggest that Plymouth could turn to experience when it comes to filling their managerial vacancy.
Plymouth manager update
After Schumacher's disappointing exit, Plymouth chairman Simon Hallett told the club's official website: “We are naturally sorry to lose a manager of Steven’s potential, but he has decided to take a new role that he sees as the next step in his career. Work is already under way to find a suitable replacement to lead this great football club forward.
“We have made great strides over the last few years in ensuring that we have an organisation and a football philosophy that can withstand a change in personnel. The result has been a style of football that I and all fans have enjoyed watching, and which will continue. We are intent on Argyle becoming synonymous for exciting football and for continuity. We will ensure that whomever we appoint continues these principles moving forward. I would like to thank Steven for his hard work, dedication, and success during his time with Argyle and I’m sorry that he won’t be with us as we work to deliver our new mission.”
With their attention turned towards replacements, a report from Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider claims Plymouth are considering a move for Chesterfield boss Paul Cook, who is on course to secure the National League title with his current club in what will be the fourth promotion of his career. It remains to be seen whether Cook would leave Chesterfield, but given his previous experience in the Championship, he could be the man for the job at Plymouth.
"Fantastic" Cook could pick up where Schumacher left off
Whilst Cook wouldn't be the exciting long-term appointment that some Plymouth fans may be hoping for, he would instantly add some experience and likely ensure that the Pilgirms continued to steer clear of relegation. It speaks volumes that Chesterfield captain Jamie Grimes has had nothing but good things to say about Cook.
Paul Cook for Chesterfield.
Grimes told the Derbyshire Times: "To work with a manager like Paul Cook is fantastic. I feel like if I had had that guidance when I was younger I could have played at a higher level but I feel blessed to have that privilege now. He has shown such belief in me. I think he has brought my game on a lot while I have been here so I would like to thank him for that.”
The veteran batsman had asked to be excused on compassionate grounds as his father is ‘critically ill’
Liam Brickhill12-Mar-2019
Hashim Amla clobbers one away•AFP/Getty
Hashim Amla will miss the two remaining ODIs against Sri Lanka after CSA granted him compassionate leave following an illness in his family.SA squad for last two ODIs (updated)
Faf du Plessis (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen
Reeza Hendricks, who had been dropped for the last two games, has been recalled and will join up with the national side ahead of the fourth ODI in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.After being left out for the first three ODIs, Amla, Aiden Markram and JP Duminy were added to the squad for the last two games, leaving Reeza Hendricks and Wiaan Mulder out.”Hashim has asked to be excused from the last two ODI’s of the current series against Sri Lanka on compassionate grounds since his dad is currently critically ill,” Mohammed Moosajee, the South Africa team manager, said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Hashim and his family during this difficult time and we understand that family obligations always come first.”The selectors have decided to add Reeza Hendricks to the squad. He arrived yesterday evening. It was always the intention of the selectors to rotate Hashim and Reeza during this Sri Lanka ODI series.”
O Flamengo confirmou o lançamento do pay-per-view para transmissão do Carioca 2021 em sua plataforma própria de streaming, a FlaTV+. Além da transmissão dos jogos de todos os clubes, o serviço oferecerá uma cobertura segmentada do pré e do pós-jogo do clube no Campeonato Estadual.
O LANCE! já havia noticiado o desejo do clube em lançar a plataforma própria de streaming em janeiro, em entrevista com Gustavo Oliveira, VP de Marketing.
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– A FlaTv+ é um passo importante para fortalecer nosso relacionamento direto com a espetacular Nação Rubro-Negra. É mais uma prova de que o Flamengo está na vanguarda do mercado esportivo. Com o lançamento da plataforma, vamos dinamizar ainda mais a nossa produção de conteúdos relevantes para os torcedores, aumentando tanto o engajamento com a torcida quanto as receitas para o clube. Temos certeza de que será mais um enorme sucesso – afirmou o VP de Comunicação e Marketing, Gustavo Oliveira, ao site do clube.
+ Simule os jogos da última rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro
O valor do pay-per-view será de R$ 129,90, o qual pode ser parcelado em até 4x de R$ 32,48. A comercialização do serviço começará nesta quarta-feira, quando o Flamengo dará mais informações sobre o pacote. Segundo a publicação do clube, todo o dinheiro arrecadado será revertido para o futebol rubro-negro.
Manchester United's season has been far from ideal, with pressure increasing on the players and the boss.
Erik ten Hag’s side are eighth in the Premier League after 20 games, but they have already lost the same number as they did last season (9) and have only scored 22 goals.
Premier League Top Scorers
Club
Nationality
Goals
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
Norway
14
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
Egypt
14
Dominic Solanke
Bournemouth
England
12
Son Heung-min
Tottenham
South Korea
12
Jarrod Bowen
West Ham
England
11
Hwang Hee-chan
Wolves
South Korea
10
Alexander Isak
Newcastle
Sweden
9
Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa
England
9
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
England
8
Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea
Senegal
7
With that in mind, United will look to improve their side in January in an attempt to secure European football next year.
Man Utd transfers latest – Jarrad Branthwaite
According to the Daily Mail, Man United have taken note of Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite.
However, they may have to battle against Spanish giant Real Madrid for the signature of the young defender, who has caught the eye a great deal in the Premier League this term.
According to prior reports, Everton have set a £100m asking price for their young centre-back; not great news for Ten Hag and Sir Jim Ratcliffe at all.
Indeed, this will likely price the Red Devils out of his signature this January due to financial fair play guidelines.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 What this move would mean for Raphael Varane
There’s no doubt that when Raphael Varane is fit, he is the first-choice defender at right centre-back, however, availability has been his biggest issue since moving to Manchester.
The World Cup winner has been plagued by injuries over the last few years, and he has already missed five games this campaign.
With that in mind and his contract running out in the summer, United could look to cash in on the former Real Madrid man to fund future transfers, with the potential signing of Branthwaite ultimately ending Varane’s United career.
Nonetheless, what does Branthwaite’s profile look like based on statistics from the 2023/24 Premier League campaign and the 2022/23 Eredivisie season? Well, pretty impressive.
Branthwaite's Stats
Stats (per 90)
Everton
PSV
Tackles
2.00
1.04
Dribblers Tackled
1.29
0.63
Interceptions
1.76
1.63
Ball recoveries
6.76
6.64
Touches
50.53
68.45
Passes completed
30.76
50.87
Pass completion % (long)
79.1% (46.9%)
86.9% (71.2%)
Stats via FBref
Despite being left-footed, during his time at PSV, Branthwaite showed his ability to play as the right centre half with complete ease.
The England U21 star is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet, as evidenced by an 86.9% pass success in the Netherlands, and he possesses a vast passing range too, which often makes him press-resistant and allows the team to retain the ball.
However, he is capable of playing long, accurate passes, which would allow Marcus Rashford to thrive in particular. All the above has been mainly displayed at PSV, due to Everton being a side that rarely dominates possession.
On the other hand, this campaign at Everton has allowed Branthwaite to showcase his defensive quality, where he has been praised for being an “absolute wall” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.
The 21-year-old has a unique profile that allows him to get tight to defenders using his physicality while also being comfortable defending 1v1 situations in the channels. This is highlighted by the defender's tackling statistics, which coincidentally is where Varane struggles, as he ranks in the bottom 98% for dribblers tackled and the bottom 91% among centre-backs for tackles based on statistics from the last year throughout Europe.
jake-o'brien-jarrad-branthwaite-everton-opinion
Importantly, Branthwaite is a proactive defender who reads the game well and is always one step ahead of the attacker, as shown by the interceptions and ball recoveries statistics. The United number 19 also ranks low for the above, at 0.77 and 5.77, respectively.
It is clear that signing the Everton star would not only be an instant upgrade on Varane, but he would be at the heart of the United defence for years to come. Despite being just 21, he has the maturity of an experienced professional, and the Red Devils must look to beat the competition to his signature.
Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement will be looking to add to the solitary signing of Fabio Silva in the coming weeks, especially with three trophies to aim for during the second half of the season.
With the League Cup already residing in the Ibrox trophy room, Clement has the opportunity to add the Scottish Cup and a Premiership crown to that – even the Europa League also represents a chance for further glory.
The Gers reached the final in 2022 and if Clement gets his team really firing in the coming months, anything can happen.
He will need to make a couple more signings, however, in order to add some depth to his first-team squad, which was decimated by an injury crisis prior to Christmas.
While Clement is rather thin with regard to his attacking options, adding another midfielder to the squad could be a shrewd move this month and the club have been linked with a South American gem recently…
Rangers transfer news – Steven Alzate
According to Belgian outlet DH Les Sports, at the start of January, the Light Blues were monitoring Colombian midfielder Steven Alzate ahead of making a potential move for the player this month.
Alzate’s contract at Brighton and Hove Albion expires at the end of the current season, and he is currently out on loan at Belgian side Standard Liege.
Steven Alzate for Brighton
A recent update on his situation has seen several clubs emerge as contenders to sign the 25-year-old during the transfer window.
Club Brugge are one of the teams showing interest in the player, while there is also a Premier League side keeping tabs on Alzate, and it is evident that Clement faces some competition to lure him to Scotland this month.
The 49-year-old won't just be looking to strengthen his team for the second half of the season, but also for the foreseeable future, especially due to several of his senior players entering the final months of their current deals.
Indeed, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe and Borna Barisic, Leon Balogun and Jon McLaughlin could all depart in the summer for nothing.
Clement could land an ideal Jack replacement in Rangers move for 25 y/o gem
Rangers are eyeing up a South American midfielder who can replace Ryan Jack.
ByRoss Kilvington Jan 6, 2024
It remains to be seen who will be kept, as several of these players have barely featured this term and Clement could free up a big chunk of the wage bill by allowing them to leave.
Lundstram is perhaps the player who has the best case for staying, mainly with his recent form under the Belgian, yet might he be moved on for someone younger? Especially if he demands a high wage.
John Lundstram has shone under Clement
The former Sheffield United midfielder has endured a rather Jekyll and Hyde stint at Rangers since joining in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer.
His first few months were marred with inconsistency, as he started just four times for the club prior to the first international break of the season, and it culminated with him being sent off against Alashkert in the Europa League qualifying round.
Rangers'JohnLundstramduring training.
The £22k-per-week brute eventually settled into a role in the heart of the midfield and began to show his class, especially in Europe.
Lundstram was one of the stars as the Light Blues reached the final of the Europa League, with the Englishman netting against Borussia Dortmund and scoring the winner in the semifinal against RB Leipzig.
This led Ally McCoist to dub him a “cult hero” prior to the final, although they didn’t win the competition. A trophyless season in 2022/23 wasn’t great, but Lundstram has looked back to his best under Clement over the previous few months.
The 29-year-old started 17 of the first 18 matches Clement took charge of and in the league this term, Lundstram has an average pass success rate of 89% per game, along with recovering 6.9 balls per game and averaging 1.1 key passes each match as he showcases his class.
Clement will be looking to bring the average age of his squad down and Lundstram will turn 30 next month, which should deter the manager from offering him a long-term deal.
Could Alzate come in and replace the former Blades' midfielder this month? Time will tell.
Steven Alzate’s season in numbers
The Colombian international does have Premier League experience, featuring in the English top flight 43 times during his career.
He fell out of favour at Brighton during the last couple of years and his loan spell at Standard Liege has enabled him to return to the form which saw him be a key member of the Brighton team between 2019 and 2021.
Steven Alzate
Despite playing just 11 league matches this term, the 25-year-old has scored once and grabbed two assists while he has shone among his teammates across a range of metrics.
Alzate currently ranks third in the squad for big chances created (two) in the Belgian Pro League this term, along with ranking second for accurate passes per game (43.7) and first for tackles per game (2.4), indicating that he has been impressive in both an attacking and defensive sense.
The 5 foot 11 dynamo was hailed by journalist Bunting during his spell at Brighton, who said: “Steven Alzate superb again for Brighton, he is so creative, brings so much energy into the game.”
His form this season looks as though he is returning to this creative midfielder who not only can push forward and create chances when possible but can dictate the play from deep and provide a reliable defensive option in the middle of the pitch.
Lundstram, in all likelihood, will receive an extension to his contract, but it should only be a one-year deal as Clement looks to add some fresh blood to this area of the senior side.
Domestic statistics this season
Steven Alzate
John Lundstram
Accurate passes per game
43.7
61.8
Big chances created
2
2
Key passes per game
0.6
1.1
Tackles per game
2.4
1.7
Total duels won per game
5
3.8
Alzate is four years younger than the Englishman and if given regular game time by Clement, he could soon take his place in the starting XI.
It is unclear whether Rangers will make an official approach this month, or simply secure his services on a pre-contract, but a move for the South American is imperative if the former Club Brugge manager wishes to add some steel to his midfield.
دخل إيرلينج هالاند، نجم فريق مانشستر سيتي، تاريخ بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعدما سجل هدفين في المباراة الجارية حاليًا ضد برينتفورد.
ويستضيف ملعب “الاتحاد” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ونجح إيرلينج هالاند في تسجيل هدفين لفريق مانشستر سيتي، في الدقيقتين 19 و32 من عمر الشوط الأول.
وارتفع رصيد هالاند من الأهداف في الموسم الحالي من الدوري الإنجليزي إلى 9، في الصدارة.
اقرأ أيضًا | ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هدفي هالاند في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبرينتفورد
وحسبما ذكرت شبكة “سكواكا” العالمية، فإن هالاند أول لاعب في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي يسجل 9 أهداف في أول 4 مباريات في موسم واحد من البطولة.
كان هالاند قد سجل هدفًا أمام تشيلسي في الجولة الأولى، ثم هاتريك ضد إيبسويتش تاون في الثانية، وكرر الأمر نفسه أمام وست هام في الثالثة، قبل هدفيه اليوم في الرابعة.
Bopara scores 89 and takes three wickets as Ryan ten Doeschate chimes in with 89 as well
ECB Reporters Network28-Apr-2019
Ravi Bopara of Essex in batting action against Hampshire•Getty Images
Ravi Bopara produced an all-round extravaganza to condemn Hampshire to their first defeat in this season’s Royal London One Day Cup while also giving Essex Eagles hope of reaching the knockout stage.Former England star Bopara smashed an almost flawless 89 with the bat before he celebrated figures of 3 for 39 with his medium pacers. Bopara had put on 150 with Ryan ten Doeschate, who also scored 89, to send Essex to a good total of 341 for six.Former Hampshire fast bowler Matt Coles also chipped in with four wickets, a best for Essex, as Hampshire lost wickets at regular intervals, despite Rilee Rossouw’s high quality 93 – with Essex prevailing by 111 runs.Essex, who had only tasted victory once in their opening three fixtures, won the toss and elected to bat on a belting wicket under heavy clouds, having lost the last three matches deciding to bowl first.Debutant Rishi Patel added 60 for the first wicket with Alastair Cook. Patel, who scored a record-equalling five centuries for the Second XI last season, aggressively reached a quick-fire 35 before he and Cook departed within two overs of each other. Cook, who has only managed to average 20 in this format this season, edged Brad Wheal behind, Patel picked out Wheal at long on and then Dan Lawrence was bowled by Liam Dawson.A below-par score looked on for Essex when Tom Westley tickled a delivery that rose on him behind to hand James Fuller his maiden Hampshire wicket – and left the hosts on 147 for 4.But Bopara and ten Doeschate joined together in the 29th over to rebuild and accelerate. Both reached half centuries, Bopara from 57 ball and ten Doeschate off 39 deliveries, including seven boundaries.The century stand came up in 81 balls but Bopara was given a life, the ball after dispatching Kyle Abbott into the River Can, when Mason Crane downed a chance at deep point.The partnership reached 150, an Essex high for the fifth wicket against Hampshire, but without another run being added Bopara departed for 89 when he heaved Abbott to Sam Northeast at deep square leg.Paul Walter arrived at the crease and clobbered a maximum off his first balled faced, before ten Doeschate tanked Fuller over the ropes three balls later. Ten Doeschate fell for 89, having passed 6,000 List A runs, when he was run out by Crane but Walter crashed another six to end on 22 from 14 balls as Essex reached a par 341 for 6.Hampshire’s reply started slowly as they lost both openers and Sam Northeast within the first 13 overs.Peter Siddle had Tom Alsop lbw while swinging across the line before Aiden Markram skied to Jamie Porter at mid-on and ex-Kent skipper Northeast handed keeper Robbie White a steepling catch, the latter two to Coles, leaving Hampshire 37 for 3.Vince and Rossouw guided Hampshire back on track with a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket, but they couldn’t catch up with the required run-rate. Vince, on the back of a career-best 190 against Gloucestershire on Friday, eased through the gears and reached 47 before slog sweeping Lawrence to Walter at cow corner.Dawson fell soon after when he slashed Bopara to point, but Rossouw continued his swashbuckling innings with a six into the pavilion.Rossouw and new man Gareth Berg gave Hampshire hope again with a useful 79-run partnership but the latter steered to short third man before Fuller was bowled by Bopara.Rossouw departed when he chased a ball down leg side to top edge to short leg before the result was secured when Abbott scythed to Porter at third man, for a record-equalling four catches in an innings for an outfielder for Essex, and Wheal was bowled.
Com dores em um dos joelhos, fruto de um trauma sofrido no empate em 0 a 0 do Corinthians contra o Vasco, no dia 21 de fevereiro, pela 37ª rodada do Brasileirão, o atacante Gustavo Mosquito segue como dúvida no Timão.
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O jogador ficou de fora dos últimos três compromissos corintianos, inclusive o clássico contra o Palmeiras, nesta quarta-feira (3), pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Paulista, na Neo Química Arena. Na reapresentação do elenco, na manhã desta quinta-feira (4), no CT Joaquim Grava, ele foi a campo, mas não treinou com bola, assim como os reservas do Dérbi fizeram.
Com o fisioterapeuta Luciano Rosa e o zagueiro Léo Santos, que trata de uma lesão no adutor, Mosquito fez um trabalho de recuperação específica no gramado do Centro de Treinamentos corintiano.
Existe a expectativa de que Gustavo esteja disponível neste domingo (7), às 11h, quando o Timão encara a Ponte Preta, em Itaquera, pela terceira rodada do Estadual, mas a sua participação dependerá da evolução que apresentará nos próximos treinamentos.
O elenco corintiano voltará aos treinamentos na manhã desta sexta-feira (5). Será a primeira oportunidade que o técnico Vagner Mancini terá todo o elenco que está disponível para projetar o time que enfrentará a Macaca.
No stranger to the big stage, former South Africa bowler believes defending champions Hampshire have the edge on Royal London Cup rivals Somerset
Paul Edwards23-May-2019
Kyle Abbott of Hampshire bowls•Getty Images
The last domestic final played at Lord’s will not take place in September. There will be no sense of summer’s farewell, a last hurrah for careless heat before football recolonises sport. Such occasions belong to distant seasons, when Lancashire or Kent always seemed to be playing and St John’s Wood was packed with supporters making a weekend of it in what was still the big city.But if, as most neutrals hope, Saturday’s Royal London game goes the distance in the manner of those fondly remembered BBC Saturdays, at least one player should know how to cope with the tension that became almost routine in the heyday of Jack Bond and Asif Iqbal.Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott is used to the big occasion and having missed the whole of Hampshire’s triumphant Royal London Cup campaign last year because of an ankle problem he will be delighted to do more in 2019 than offer his support from cricket’s most famous balcony.”Obviously I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Having missed out last year with a pretty silly injury, I was motivated a bit more towards helping the team to get to Lord’s this season. So yes, I’m pretty excited. I know the boys are up for it and the club certainly have a decent reputation when it comes to Lord’s finals.”But things have changed at the Ageas Bowl since Hampshire beat Kent last June. Former head coach Craig White left in October and has been replaced by Adi Birrell, an appointment Abbott sees as vital in the club’s development.”There’s been a big mindset change and it’s one that’s been driven by the coach,” he said. “The players have begged to be challenged and so Adi’s been telling us at the start of every session: ‘Right you guys have asked to be challenged. Well, we need wickets, we need to do this or do that.'”I don’t think it’s been a question of the lack of talent Hampshire have had over the years, I think there’s sometimes been a lack of direction. People say we’re professionals and we should know what to do but sometimes you get so involved and mentally tired that you need these reminders.”Fair enough, of course, but Hampshire’s players have been challenged in a way they almost certainly did not welcome this week following Liam Dawson’s selection in England’s World Cup squad. Despite representations being made to the ICC on the club’s behalf by the ECB both Dawson and James Vince will now be unavailable for the final.”James and Liam have been huge in getting us to the final but so was Aiden Markram,” said Abbott. “It’s quite strange that some players’ first games in this year’s Royal London will be in the final but that provides an opportunity for those guys and I always feel that it’s a question of who holds their nerves on the day. I’d say it’s a 50-50 contest in finals.”I think where Hampshire have the edge over Somerset is that we have been to a Lord’s final and to T20 Finals Day a lot more regularly than they have. That will help us on Saturday because suddenly for somebody the occasion will become bigger than it should be. Instead of Taunton they will be at Lord’s on a bigger stage and nerves show.”No one could accuse Abbott of being a spear carrier on the big stage – or, indeed, of being timid when it comes to the big decision. Although he has never played anything more than T20 cricket at Lord’s, he has represented South Africa in even bigger matches than that he will play on Saturday.”When you are two-all against India in India and you have to go out to perform, that’s as big as it gets,” he pointed out. “I’ve played in the quarter-final of the World Cup. That sort of occasion doesn’t bother me. It will make Lord’s a little bit more comfortable for me.”Kyle Abbott appeals for lbw•Getty Images
Abbott’s reference to his career with South Africa and his obvious pride in his achievements when doing so only reinforces the magnitude of the choice he made in 2017 when he turned his back on international cricket and signed a Kolpak deal with Hampshire. Making that call was all the more difficult given that after a stuttering start his Test career appeared to be flourishing.But Abbott was convinced his place was secure only because Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were unfit and he had already been omitted from a World Cup semi-final, some suggested for partly political reasons, in favour of Vernon Philander. Many cricketers might claim that having made such the decision to step away from the international game, they had filed the matter as “case closed”, but Abbott is too honest for such self-deluding escapes.”I do sometimes think what might have been and from the outset I’ve always said I made the decision six months too early,” he said. “But I’d rather have been six months too early than six months too late. Had I waited, I would have played in the Champions Trophy and I would have played in the England Test series in 2017.”But things became very clear straight after that series when South Africa toured Bangladesh. Dale Steyn was straight back in the side and then Morne Morkel was straight back in. That’s what I kept telling people. They said, ‘You’re going to have a run now,’ but I replied, ‘No, you don’t understand how this works.'”The convenor of selectors said Steyn and Morkel would have to prove themselves in first-class cricket but I said: ‘They won’t. They are world-class bowlers and they’ll come straight back in.’ And they did come in. I knew international cricket and I could read their minds from a mile off. I do miss international cricket. Even a Lord’s final is not going to replicate an international match but I’m proud of the cricket I played for South Africa in those four years, the games I played in, the wickets I took.”