Tag Futebol

Akash Chopra: will he go the Devang Gandhi way? © AFP

When the Indian selectors sit down tomorrow to draw up a list of 16 people who will make a trip that could as easily end their careers as make them, people will be holding their breath across the country. Cricketers will wait by the telephone and fans by the television. After much deliberation, Syed Kirmani, Kiran More, Pranab Roy, Sanjay Jagdale and Kirti Azad have to decide whether they want an extra medium pacer or a third spinner, a reserve opener or a reserve wicketkeeper.The composition of this selection committee, with two former keepers, will most likely cause them to bend in favour of an extra wicketkeeper. And they will not be wrong in doing so, for there is no way Parthiv Patel can keep wicket in three tour matches and four Tests virtually on the trot. One can only hope that the selectors resist the temptation to make an uneasy compromise.It is believed that Deep Dasgupta is the first name they are considering. If only he was in better batting form, this might not have been a bad idea. But to pick him as the reserve wicketkeeper cum opening batsman will be playing into Australia’s hands. If India are serious about their long-term search for a keeper they must take Ajay Ratra on this tour. While he does not possess the natural glovework of Patel, he has shown a keenness to work hard and is by no means unreliable behind the stumps.The last time India toured Australia the fast bowlers interrogated Devang Gandhi like high-handed policemen would an unfortunate victim. His every deficiency was exposed and his confidence shattered almost irreparably. That’s perhaps the reason why the opening slot is the biggest cause for worry.Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra have done enough and more to pick themselves. When the team looks for a reserve opener, and one may very well be needed after a couple of Tests, they should plump for someone who is not intimidated and looks to score at every opportunity. Sadagoppan Ramesh answers to that name, but serious doubts still exist over his footwork and his tendency to throw it away after making a start. While these concerns are real, they do not quite cut ice in the face of over 1300 Test runs from 16 Tests.The selectors, though, did not think enough of Ramesh’s century against New Zealand at Rajkot to pick him for the home Tests. With that being as it is, they could well choose Sanjay Bangar. As a batsman who has done little wrong, and averages over two hours at the crease as an opener in Tests, only a cruel man would grudge his selection. His usefulness as a medium pacer will come to the fore in Australia, where seam, rather than spin, will rule the day. And, as if things were not confused enough already, Wasim Jaffer has thrown his hat in the ring with a string of good scores in domestic cricket.India need five seamers on the tour and the retirement of Javagal Srinath could well pave the way for one extra youngster on tour. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar are automatic selections, and Aavishkar Salvi puts his hand up as the next in queue. L Balaji would dearly swap the two home Tests he played against New Zealand for an opportunity on a wicket that has a bit more for his style of bowling. But that will, in all likelihood, have to wait.The one settled thing in this Indian team is the middle order. Despite the talk about matchwinning potential, flaws against short-pitched bowling and the like, you simply cannot think about any changes in the middle order. Yuvraj Singh, who had an unspectacular debut at Mohali against New Zealand, will be persisted with. And that is only fair.Beyond this, there may still be surprises. Who knows, Vijay Dahiya’s career could be revived or Sairaj Bahutule given a chance to sample the outdoor lifestyle of Australia. To be fair to the selectors, if they can resist the temptation to pull such a rabbit out of the hat, they would have made a good fist of a difficult selection.Probable squad
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, Sanjay Bangar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel (wk), Deep Dasgupta (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Aavishkar Salvi.

Australia won the battle but lost the war at the WACA on Sunday, beating South Africa by 33 runs, but failing to bag the bonus point that would have earned them a place in the VB Series finals.South Africa reached 250 for five in their 50 overs in reply to Australia’s 283 for seven, but much more importantly in the context of the competition, they got past 226, the score to which Australia had to restrict their opposition in order to claim the extra point.It is probably fair to say that while the South Africans would have preferred to beat Australia, keeping the hosts out of the finals was a perfectly adequate consolation prize. There is no doubt that South Africa fancy their chances against New Zealand and although they have beaten Australia only once in all games this summer, they will have found some satisfaction in thwarting their fiercest rivals.Australia, it must be said, gave themselves every chance of qualifying for the finals with a batting display that took wing in the closing overs of their innings. They would probably have aimed at around 280 when they set out and contributions from Adam Gilchrist (31), Mark Waugh (34), Ricky Ponting (26) and Damien Martyn laid a platform for a later charge.The opening stages of the match were no without incident. On 22 Gilchrist appeared to be caught at the wicket off an inside edge, Mark Boucher diving low to his right to take the chance off Pollock one-handed. Gilchrist, it seemed, was prepared to walk if Boucher confirmed the catch, but the South African wicketkeeper indicated that he, too, was not entirely sure that he had taken it cleanly.And so off it went to the third umpire and yet another instance of this particular use of technology causing more problems than it solves. In the crucial angle, Boucher’s glove was offscreen at the critical moment for all except those with expensive widescreen television sets. Whatever Darrell Hair’s faults as an umpire, he could hardly be faulted for giving this one not out. If television is so keen to involve itself in the game, it would seem the least the broadcaster could do would be to supply the third umpire with adequate equipment.Gilchrist did not last a great deal longer, though, getting out in bizarre fashion when a ball from Makhaya Ntini went off his thigh pad and helmet, by way of his shoulder, before looping up, over him and onto his leg stump.For all that the Australians were getting starts, Steve Waugh’s 42 was the highest score from the top and middle order (Michael Bevan lasting only four balls for 1 on this occasion) before Darren Lehmann and Brett Lee produced the best batting of the match. Lehmann, in the Australian team for the first time in the series, played an immaculate one-day innings, knocking the ball about for 49 off 46 balls, but it was Lee’s thunderous hitting that lifted the score to its impressive proportions.He hit the great South African fast bowler Allan Donald for six, four, six, four and six as the 48th over gave up 27 (the same amount scored by Shaun Pollock off James Franklin on Friday) and ended unbeaten on 51 off 36 balls as Australia gave themselves, at the very least, a fighting chance of reaching the finals.Pollock said afterwards that his side intended to wait until the final 10 overs before deciding whether to push for the outright win or settling for going past 226. Thus the innings tended to be watchful without being overly cautious as Jacques Kallis took up the anchor role and allowed his team-mates to bat around him.It was understandable, though, that the lesser score was South Africa’s primary aim and although Herschelle Gibbs (34), Boeta Dippenaar (33) and Jonty Rhodes (20) all got in, they all got out before capitalising on their starts.And so on went Kallis, at the end partnered by Lance Klusener, to take South Africa past 226, reaching his century off 117 balls and finish the match unbeaten on 104.In choosing Lehmann Australia sacrificed a bowler and in the end it may well have been their lack of a genuine fifth bowler that left them short of penetration. Certainly, Lehmann justified his selection with his batting, besides picking up two wickets, but Bevan and Steve Waugh cost Australia 43 from the six overs they bowled between them. The hosts played well, but they had not play well to start the tournament and in the end the two most consistent sides – in an inconsistent competition – have qualified for the finals.

Andhra bundled out Goa for 139 in their second innings to complete a facile innings and 67 run victory over the hosts in the South Zone Cooch Behar Trophy (Under-19) tournament match at the Rajendra Prasad Stadium in Margao on Sunday.The final day’s play started 25 minutes after lunch due to early morning rain and the Goan innings, resuming at 100 for 6, lasted only 75 minutes. Abdul Kadar (4 overnight) was the first to be dismissed at 104, giving a catch to Ayappaswamy off Shankar Rao. Redkar (9 overnight) also did not last long. He departed after offering a return catch to Shankar Rao. SK Suraj (5) departed in much the similar fashion but the bowler this time was Mohd Faiq. Left with last man Mithun Naik Govekar, KK Sagun then tried some heroics but after hitting five boundaries, he was the last batsman to be dismissed for 24 when he offered a catch to Varma off Shankar Rao.Shankar Rao was easily the best among the bowlers. The left arm spinner, who took four wickets in the second innings, ended the match with figures of 9 for 45 while the off spinner Mohd Faiq ended with 7 for 69. Andhra earned eight points from this outright win.

Frank Lampard’s difficult start to life with the Toffees continued after his side were smashed 5-0 away from home last night at the hands of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham.

Going in at half-time, the Blues were already 3-0 down. The former Chelsea boss tried to turn things around with a substitution ready for the second half, before being humbled 41 second after the restart, with Sergio Reguilon sweeping home Dejan Kulusevski’s cross.

Harry Kane finalised the embarrassing result for the Toffees, who remain just one point above the relegation zone.

The Transfer Tavern have now used statistical experts SofaScore to analyse who Everton’s three worst performers were on the day (to have played 45 minutes), with Lampard perhaps looking at these three players for possible changes ahead of a difficult clash against Wolves this weekend…

Michael Keane (5.8)

Keane was ranked as the third worst Toffees player with a 5.8 overall rating from SofaScore.

The defender scored an own goal before being shipped off at half-time, as Lampard tried desperately to provide more solidity at the back.

The former Burnley man failed to register a single one in any of the key four defensive statistics – clearances, blocks, tackles and interceptions – while he was also dribbled past and lost the ball once apiece and won just a single duel.

Seamus Coleman (5.8)

Admittedly tied with Keane in terms of rating (5.8), Coleman played the full 90 minutes compared to the centre-back’s one half – so the Irishman ranks second worst for the day.

The Everton captain also failed to make a single tackle or interception during the game.

More damagingly though, he lost the ball 16 times and failed to make a single key pass or accurate cross, offering just as little going forward as both he and Keane did defensively.

Jordan Pickford (4.9)

With a poor 4.9 rating, Pickford was ranked as the Toffees’ worst performer against Tottenham.

This comes as little to no surprise, having conceded five goals within the first 55 minutes.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The goalkeeper lost the ball on 11 occasions, with a 54% pass accuracy affecting Everton’s play right from the very back.

He failed to make a single punch or high claim throughout the match, and even made an error which led to a goal – topping off a performance which he would have been disappointed with, regardless of the score-line.

In other news: Everton: Lampard gives injury update ahead of Wolves

Scorecard

	David Hussey contributed 38 for Victoria and then picked up two wickets to help secure the title © Getty Images

Victoria remained the Twenty20 kings with a third consecutive title as Western Australia were hit by a Blizzard and a Cyclone at the WACA. Aiden Blizzard’s blitz of 47 from 20 balls helped the Bushrangers reach 203 and despite an exciting 86 from Shaun Marsh, the Warriors fell 32 short in their chase.The major problem for Western Australia, apart from the hefty target, was the fast, accurate bowling from Dirk Nannes. The nickname on his back read “Cyclone” and he lived up to the moniker, sweeping up four wickets and pushing into the high 140kph region as the Warriors spiralled to defeat.He struck two early blows to derail the chase and returned at the end for two more, including Marsh, who had combined with Theo Doropoulos to give the Warriors a sniff after they had crashed to 5 for 59. Marsh belted four sixes in his 55-ball innings but was running out of time when he cracked a Nannes full toss to Cameron White at midwicket.He had already lost his key partner, Doropoulos, who was on 43 when he chipped back to the bowler David Hussey. Victoria’s spinners Hussey and Bryce McGain troubled the middle order but it was Nannes’ early strikes that set the scene.In what Perth fans will hope is not an omen for the WACA Test, which starts on Wednesday, the home side’s reply began with a contentious catch first ball. Luke Ronchi tried to evade a shortish Nannes delivery that flicked his gloves and might have fallen just short of the wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite, who claimed the take.It was a disappointing start to a challenging chase after Victoria worked their way to 8 for 203. They started brilliantly, reaching 0 for 65 from five overs, an effort that was largely thanks to Blizzard, who took 28 off one Danny McLauchlan over. Four sixes featured in those six balls, and one was flat-batted wide of midwicket so lethally that it ended up in the practice nets adjacent to the ground.Twice in their innings Victoria lost 3 for 5 but around those mini-collapses they were able to build a healthy score. Hussey added 38 and finished the tournament as the second leading run scorer behind only Marsh. One of the few Victorians who did not contribute was Rob Quiney, who fell to one of the most remarkable catches in recent memory.Quiney pulled Ben Edmondson to deep midwicket and David Bandy, hard up on the rope and with the sun in his eyes, jumped, stretched his right-hand above his head and pulled in the grab with both feet off the ground, baseball-style. He then had the challenge of landing back in the field of play and managed the feat with the grace of an Olympic gymnast, finishing with a pivot and swivel to acknowledge the crowd’s cheers.But his team-mates could not match his perfect ten and the title slipped away from Western Australia. Victoria, who have lost only one match in the three seasons of the domestic Twenty20 tournament, will head to the Champions Twenty20 league in October as arguably the world’s most in-form side in the shortest format.

Scorecard

Brad Hodge was a central figure in Victoria’s chase with a vital 84 © Getty Images

Brad Hodge justified his bold day-three declaration by setting up another chasing win for Victoria as they moved to the top of the Pura Cup table. Hodge closed the Bushrangers’ innings 117 runs behind South Australia on Sunday and his gamble paid off as he and Michael Klinger were the key contributors in running down the target of 322 for a three-wicket win.Klinger was unbeaten on 87 after steering the final stages of the chase and the home side ended the game with three overs to spare. While Klinger applied the finishing touches, Hodge kept the Bushrangers in sight of the result with 84 from 124 balls, including 11 fours and a six.The dismissal of Nick Jewell, who crawled to 36 off 111 deliveries, allowed Hodge and David Hussey, the first-innings century-makers, to accelerate and they produced a crucial stand of 79 in 71 balls. Hussey fell to a reflex take by Tom Plant at short leg and Hodge left with his side at 4 for 225, edging to first slip off Cullen Bailey.Bailey, the legspinner, was the most successful of South Australia’s bowlers with 4 for 103, but he was unable to stop Klinger. The Redbacks, who kept their two points, reached 5 for 204 before their first-session declaration, with Ben Cameron unbeaten on 51.

Johan Botha’s action has been reported after his debut Test © Getty Images

Johan Botha, the South African offspinner, has been reported for having a suspect action following his Test debut at Sydney.Chris Broad, the ICC match referee, said: “Concerns have been raised by the match officials over the general legality of his bowling action and, in particular, his ‘doosra’ and quicker deliveries when viewed with the naked eye. We are therefore requesting the ICC to commission a biomechanical report into the bowler’s action in accordance with the process introduced last year.”Botha will be allowed to bowl for South Africa in this month’s triangular one-day series against Australia and Sri Lanka and until the biomechanical report has been completed. He took 1 for 26 and 1 for 77 at the SCG as Australia won by eight wickets.The report will be handled under the ICC’s standard bowling review process. Botha will now undergo independent analysis of his action by a member of the ICC’s panel of human movement specialists.Gerald Majola, chief executive officer of Cricket South Africa, expressed his disappointment at the decision to report Botha. “He has bowled at first class domestic professional level for two seasons without once being reported for an unfair action by our leading umpires, match referees and players. We hope that Johan’s promising career will continue to progress at a time when everybody in world cricket is trying to encourage the art of spin bowling in South Africa and elsewhere.”Meanwhile a South Africa team spokesman said Jacques Kallis would remain with the squad in Australia for the one-day series after checks on his elbow injury, while Nicky Boje, the left-arm spinner, and AB de Villiers, the opening batsman, will return home.The South African team was also fined by Broad for a slow over-rate on the final day of the Sydney Test, with the players docked five percent of their match fees and Graeme Smith 10 percent.

Shoaib’s hamstring gave way early in the VB Series© Getty Images

Imran Khan has admitted that he talked Shoaib Akhtar out of making himself available for the Indian tour. Shoaib pulled out with a hamstring injury, and Imran said that he had been consulted before the decision was taken.Speaking to Times News Network, Imran said, “Shoaib was willing to make himself available for the selection but I advised him against doing so. He was confused whether to tour or not. He was in two minds when he came to me for advice. He didn’t know how to respond to the hamstring niggle. I told him if it’s a hamstring rupture then he shouldn’t tour at all. As it turned out, Shoaib had a big rupture.”Shoaib performed exceptionally in the first Test against Australia at Perth, and also bowled with real zeal in the first innings of the second Test before losing his zip and fitness. Thereafter, he was a convenient whipping-boy for Pakistan’s poor displays on tour – but Imran suggested that others were just as much to blame. “Shoaib is slightly difficult to handle and the PCB likes to pass the buck,” he said. “They all need soul-searching.”Imran edded: “It’s sad that in Pakistan everyone, even President Musharraf, is unwilling to accept his mistakes. I say that because it is President Musharraf who formed the PCB which in turn appointed Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain. None of them realise that our poor performance is due to them also.”According to Imran, there was little point in Shoaib rushing back into the fray. “Realistically, I don’t see him playing the Test series, but if he stretches himself too far then maybe he can play the third Test,” he said. “But for me, he shouldn’t play before the third or the fourth one-dayer. He should first play a first-class game and then think of international cricket. Shoaib also realises that if he plays and fails then he’ll again be made a scapegoat.”Shoaib himself ruled out any half-baked comeback bid. “I don’t want to rush back,” he said, perhaps aware of how poorly he had performed under the weight of expectation against India last year. “I want to be away from media attention. It’s a question of my career and I don’t want to compromise on it. But yes, I don’t rule myself out from coming back for the one-day series.”

Brett Lee will undergo surgery to his left ankle at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney on Thursday afternoon in an attempt to relieve him from pain in the back of his ankle. He will also use the enforced break to correct an ongoing posterior impingement problem.Errol Alcott, Australia’s physiotherapist, explained Lee had been troubled by the condition for some time. "Due to the increased workload during the first 3 Test match against Zimbabwe in Perth, Brett felt pain in his ankle that he has had on and off during the past season," he said. "With the injury to his stomach muscle we were presented with a window of opportunity to also correct this problem while Brett takes a break from competition."Brett will be reviewed again towards the end of November following an intensive rehabilitation program."

Bangladesh’s frontline bowlers may not match Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie or Glenn McGrath in speed and experience, but New Zealand opener Mark Richardson found he was more nervous in the first Test today against Bangladesh, than he ever was in Australia.He finished the day on his highest Test score of 124 not out, with New Zealand 306/5, but said the first hour, in which New Zealand plummeted to 51/4, was very hard.”It doesn’t matter that they were not the Australians, they all hit the seam, they had very good wrists and they all swung the ball.”They bowled pretty well and their tails were up,” he said.Richardson was battling the ‘flu all day and he felt the innings wasn’t one of his better ones.Last summer’s maiden Test century in the final Test against Pakistan and today’s century completed a turnaround of fortunes for Richardson here.”I was desperate to get a total. I went about my work okay in Australia, I just didn’t get a century,” he said.Meanwhile, Craig McMillan said he had been conscious of his dismissal for 98 in the Pakistan Test last year, when he got into the 90s.”I was very determined to push through. From a personal point of view I just love playing here because it is one of only two pure cricket grounds in New Zealand, the other is the Basin Reserve.”It was a sign of the confidence in the batsmen in the team now that despite getting into a tricky position they were able to extricate themselves.”There wasn’t any panic,” he said.The frustrations with the weather and the limited chances for cricket had been a concern.”But I’m really happy today. I played my natural game.”We are in a very satisfying position and we are very happy with the day’s play. It was a good day’s cricket,” he said.The accident he had on Tuesday had also caused him to reflect and realise how lucky he was to be able to play cricket, and that had made the innings all the more satisfying, he said.