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Andrew White cracked an unbeaten 109 as Ireland set about making up for lost time against Canada following the opening-day wash-out

Cricinfo staff08-Aug-2008
ScorecardAndrew White cracked an unbeaten 109 as Ireland set about making up for lost time against Canada following the opening-day wash-out. The home side further advanced their position with three late wickets as Canada struggled to 31 for 3 at the close.Ireland had won the toss on the opening day before rain prevented play, so they were presented with the challenge of battling some early moisture in the surface. At 142 for 4 the day was in the balance, but it was turned completely in favour of Ireland as White and Kevin O’Brien added 154 for the fifth wicket.White struck 14 boundaries in his 141-ball effort, while O’Brien hit four sixes in his 65 before lofting a catch to long-on off Steve Welsh. Canada’s fielding deteriorated as the day went on although the bowlers stuck to their task when the pitch flattened out under the sunshine.It was Kyle McCallan, Ireland’s captain, who capped their impressive performance by having a hand in all three Canada wickets to fall. He ran out opener Ruvindu Gunasekara and then, with ball in hand, dismissed Mohammed Iqbal, caught at silly point, and bowled Sami Faridi through the gate in consecutive balls during his fourth over.

Celtic are set to sign Royal Antwerp right-back Aurelio Buta for around £3 million, according to respected Belgian reporter Florian Holsbeek on Twitter.

The Lowdown: Celtic gear up for vital 2021/22 campaign

Moving towards a pivotal campaign at Parkhead, newly appointed manager Ange Postecoglou will be desperate to address problem positions in order to raise the bar in quality within the Hoops squad.

Right-back has been a particular problem position for the Celts in recent years. Currently, Anthony Ralston is the only right-sided defender with senior experience on the books at Celtic Park.

Now, the Hoops could be set to address this issue following recent developments.

The Latest: Buta could join Celtic TODAY

Communicating to his following on Twitter, Holsbeek issued an update on the situation which translates roughly to:

“Aurélio Buta will leave Antwerp for the Celtic FC against a check for 3.5 million. Formalization during the day.”

Previously, it had been relayed by news outlet Voetbal24 that Celtic had made an offer of €2.5 million for the Angola-born defender, however would be willing to raise the fee to Antwerp’s desired €3.5 million price-tag in order to seal the deal.

With the domestic season set to get underway on Saturday for the Hoops away to Heart of Midlothian, the Celtic hierarchy seem to have met that fee, which comes out at about £3m.

He will become Postecoglou’s sixth summer signing.

The Verdict: Buta signing would be a much-needed boost for everyone at Celtic

Coming as a massive relief to the Bhoys support, Buta looks like a player who could slot nicely into Postecoglou’s high-octane style of football.

Pacey, adept on the overlap and an intelligent crosser of the ball, he represents a significant upgrade on limited current options in that area of the pitch for Celtic.

In 2020/21, the former Benfica B man registered five assists within 34 appearances for Royal Antwerp [Transfermarkt].

Capable of linking the play effectively, Buta managed to record a commendable passing accuracy of 80.9% last year across the campaign [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘one of the best full-backs in the Belgium league’ by journalist Aster Nzeyimana, he looks to be a much-needed addition to the Celtic ranks which will surely provoke some excitement amongst supporters [Birmingham Live].

In other news, Celtic face a blow in a reported transfer pursuit.

The Transfer Tavern’s EFL insider reckons Philip Billing could be a good option for West Brom to explore this window.

New Baggies manager Valerien Ismael has already made three additions to his squad in the shape of Matt Clarke, Quevin and Alex Mowatt from Barnsley.

However, the Frenchman is having to deal with losing more than 10 first-team players, meaning plenty more business can be expected to take place at the Hawthorns.

And whilst the signing of Mowatt was an impressive coup by Ismael on a free transfer, he’s currently one of just three central midfielders in his squad.

According to The Sun, West Brom were interested in signing 6 ft 6 colossus Billing some five years back, and following his impressive season for Bournemouth, that could well remain the case.

He scored eight goals and added four assists in just 34 Championship outings, but his heroics from midfield couldn’t lead the Cherries back to the Premier League following their semi-final defeat to Brentford.

The Baggies themselves are expected to challenge for promotion this season and signing Billing would only improve their chances of achieving an instant return.

The EFL spy exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“This year, these guys will have so many names thrown at them by agents, but I think it will be quality over quantity. 

“And with West Brom needing a left central midfielder, you can see the cost going up because it’s a left-footer.

“Phil Billing is a top Championship player and is a lefty, so he’s a very good option.”

Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan spinner, has said he will need to find ways to beat the Indians after they managed to play him reasonably well during the recently-concluded one-day series

Cricinfo staff08-Sep-2008Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan spinner, has said he will need to find ways to beat the Indians after they managed to play him reasonably well during the recently-concluded one-day series. India won the series 3-2 and Mendis took 13 wickets at 11.69 but he said the Indians played him cautiously.”Talented batsmen learn quickly and correct their mistakes,” Mendis told the , a Sri Lanka-based weekly. “It should be like that. I didn’t expect it to be so successful. But I should say this – I’ve a long way to go.”Mendis also said English counties Sussex, Surrey and Kent had expressed interest in him but he decided to take a month off to rest. He also planned to work on his batting during the period.He asked fans and the media not to expect too much from him for that put him under a lot of pressure. “I’m still new to this field. Don’t worry. I know how to use my head. I don’t run after money. My first place is for cricket. I’ll get everything if only I play well.”

Wolves may no longer be actively looking to sell some of their most important players but after a dismal pre-season, it’s clear that new recruits are needed.

Just how the Old Gold manages that remains to be seen. After all, we were told at the beginning of the window that they lacked financial power.

What’s the word?

One player Wolves have been interested in since the winter months is Divock Origi.

Reports emerged again this week detailing the club’s attraction to the Liverpool forward but they’ve not taken their interest a step further.

According to Ekrem Konur on Twitter, they have now submitted a bid to sign Origi in the final weeks of the market.

That said, it’s an offer that falls short of the Reds’ valuation.

Konur commented: “Wolverhampton have made a £10m bid for Divock Origi to Liverpool. Liverpool are demanding £20m.”

Howler on the cards

Fans should be thankful that Wolves’ bid falls short of Liverpool’s estimations because he would be a questionable signing.

After a horrendous campaign in 2020/21 from an offensive perspective, there’s no denying that Bruno Lage needs to strengthen his options in attack.

Raul Jimenez was missing with a fractured skull from November onwards and those who stepped in for him didn’t exactly set the world alight.

Pedro Neto had an excellent season but finished as their top scorer on just five goals. Fabio Silva only found the net on four occasions after his club-record move while the less said about Willian Jose the better.

The big Brazilian scored once following a loan move back in January. Throw Patrick Cutrone into the mix and their options in the final third look rather shoddy.

Origi, however, would not improve their options. The Belgian was once dubbed a “monster” by Vincent Kompany but his 35 Liverpool goals have come in a less than impressive 156 outings.

Furthermore, the 26-year-old only scored one goal in the entire of the 2020/21 campaign, starting twice in the Premier League.

If Wolves are going to find an able back-up to Jimenez, they should look closer to home. Rafa Mir anyone?

AND in other news, Wolves can find a new Traore by signing “elegant” 13-goal gem with “something special”…

Though Cameron White took only one wicket in the Test, Ricky Ponting spotted plenty of promising signs

Ali Cook13-Oct-2008
Cameron White becomes emotional after getting the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar © AFP
While Zaheer Khan does not rate Australia’s spinners, Ricky Ponting believes Cameron White exceeded expectations in his debut Test. White’s only wicket in 31 overs was the prize of Sachin Tendulkar, who drove to Michael Clarke at cover, but Ponting spotted plenty of promising signs.”He’s come along in leaps and bounds in his bowling,” Ponting said. “He’s probably exceeded my expectations with what he’s done, although he didn’t take the wickets.”From what I’ve seen in this game, Cameron has got a lot more confidence in his bowling. Someone stepping up in a Test in his first game and being able to bowl as well as he did, is a real positive for us.”While he did not make regular breakthroughs, White showed he could contain Test batsmen. “To experience bowling against world-class players on foreign soil, it will do him the world of good,” Ponting said. “He could be a really good player for us in years to come.”Ponting said White, who is the understudy to the injured Bryce McGain in Victoria, should now use himself more for his state to develop his bowling. And he said White was not the only one to benefit from the competitive contest against one of the world’s best sides.The allrounder Shane Watson had useful contributions with bat and ball while the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin struck 33 and 35 not out. “With players like Watson and Haddin, the more exposure they get at Test level the better they are going to be,” Ponting said. “There’s been a lot of talk about inexperienced guys coming here, but the inexperienced guys have done well in this game.”Haddin struggled with the gloves, giving away a total of 39 byes, but Ponting said he did not wish the retired Adam Gilchrist was still in the side. “On that wicket it was really difficult with so many balls bouncing in front of him,” he said.

Ragheb Aga and Will Beer have agreed new two-year contracts with Sussex

Cricinfo staff09-Oct-2008Ragheb Aga and Will Beer have agreed new two-year contracts with Sussex.Former Kenya captain Aga, 24, played five first-class matches and two one-dayers for the county this summer. Beer, 20, also had a successful first season and impressed with his controlled legspin. He also represented England Under-19s when New Zealand toured in July and August and was the leading wicket taker in the Test series, taking 10 wickets at 17.60.”Ragheb, as a bowling allrounder, and Will, as a legspinner, are two exciting commodities to have at the club,” Mark Robinson, Sussex’s professional cricket manager, said. “If they both continue to progress as they have this season, they should have big futures within the team.”

Crystal Palace have reportedly joined the race for Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira as the club continue their revolution under new manager Patrick Vieira.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Transfermarketweb, the 23-year-old is attracting interest from several English clubs, with Palace the latest to join the queue.

The report claimed that Watford are keen to secure Vieira’s signature, while Championship outfit Sheffield United are also credited with an interest in the Englishman.

Imagine him and Conor Gallagher

After rising up through the ranks at boyhood club Leeds United, Vieira swapped Elland Road for Sampdoria back in 2018, joining the Italian side in a £6.2m deal.

However, things have not gone to plan for the former England under-21 international during his time in Serie A. Vieira struggled to establish himself in the starting XI during his first couple of years at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, starting just 26 top-flight matches before being sent out on loan last term.

The youngster joined Hellas Verona for 2020/21 in search of regular game-time, but serious injuries to his hamstring and then his bicep limited the tough-tackling midfielder to just five outings in all competitions.

As a result, Sampdoria are now reportedly willing to cut their losses with the £4.5m-rated Vieira and are said to be open to his departure this summer.

Despite his struggles in Italian football, Vieira has shown his quality during 71 outings for Leeds, and his underlying numbers for the 2019/20 campaign highlight his vast potential. As per fbref.com, he recorded a passing completion rate of 83.2% and won 1.35 tackles and recorded 2.23 shot-creating actions per game.

Vieira’s physical presence and ability to keep things simple on the ball could nicely complement the energy and natural attacking instincts of new Palace loan signing Conor Gallagher as Selhurst Park.

The Chelsea ace has joined the Eagles on loan after impressing for West Bromwich Albion last season, and the two youthful midfielders could make for a formidable duo should chairman Steve Parish make a move for the 23-year-old.

With James McCarthy joining Scottish giants Celtic and Cheikhou Kouyate reportedly the subject of interest from Trabzonspor, Parish must swoop for Vieira over the coming weeks, adding another exciting prospect to Palace’s midfield ranks.

In other news… Parish eyes Crystal Palace move for “top class” 14-cap dynamo, Vieira needs him 

Sachin Tendulkar is likely to return for the seven-ODI series against England starting November 14 in Rajkot

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Nov-2008
Sachin Tendulkar is likely to make the squad for the first three ODIs against England and will partner Gautam Gambhir at the top of the batting order © AFP
Having missed out on the last ODI series in Sri Lanka with an elbow injury, Sachin Tendulkar is likely to return for the seven-ODI series against England starting November 14 in Rajkot. His availability will be one of the key issues of discussion when the selectors meet in Nagpur on Wednesday to announce the squad for the first three one-dayers.Tendulkar had last featured in an ODI during the CB Series in Australia. A groin injury picked up during the tournament kept him away from the Kitply Cup held in Dhaka and the Asia Cup in Pakistan that followed.”We haven’t heard anything from him yet so we expect him to play,” one of the selectors told Cricinfo. This will also be the first time the selectors, headed by Kris Srikkanth, will be appointing an ODI squad; they had picked the Test squad to face Australia.From the squad that featured in Sri Lanka, Irfan Pathan is likely to be dropped given his lean form this season. As an allrounder, he doesn’t have a strong case, scoring 105 at 17 in his last seven innings and picking up 10 wickets at almost 47 in the nine games he has played since the Kitply Cup. Though he was the third-highest wicket-taker in the Challenger Trophy, the selectors will be hard-pressed to pick him unless captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni supports his case.S Badrinath, who was Tendulkar’s replacement in Sri Lanka, is expected to retain his place in the squad. While Tendulkar is likely to partner Gautam Gambhir at the top, the others to follow include Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Dhoni and Virender Sehwag (not necessarily in that order) which leaves a place for another batsman.Virat Kohli, who played in Sri Lanka, is expected to fill that slot, over Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan. Kohli proved his mettle when he adapted well as an opener in Sri Lanka and has impressed both Dhoni and the new selection committee.Though Uthappa has been in solid form since the start of this season he might have to show a bit more patience. He was dropped after scoring 37 in three games during the Asia Cup but topped the run charts in the Challenger Trophy and followed that with a century on his first day as Karnataka captain in the Ranji Trophy against Railways.In the bowling department, the selectors may rest either Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma considering the packed international calendar. Ishant was rested from the ODIs in Sri Lanka after he picked up an injury during the third Test. Munaf Patel will be the third seamer and Praveen Kumar’s ability to swing on the Indian pitches might help him retain his position in the squad. RP Singh, who played in Sri Lanka, is likely to be left out after his disappointing figures in the last three series – 11 wickets at 30 .Amit Mishra is favoured over Pragyan Ojha to be Harbhajan Singh’s support act. The selectors’ confidence might come from Mishra’s decent outing during the IPL for Delhi Daredevils and, of course, his form in the current Test series.India ODI squad (probable): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, S Badrinath, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra/Pragyan Ojha.

Danny Mills reckons that the injury-enforced absence of Diego Llorente will hurt Leeds United at the start of the 2021/22 season. 

Mills, who played for the Whites between 1999 and 2004, was speaking to Football Insider about the 27-year-old.

The lowdown

Llorente was forced off midway through the first half of a friendly against Real Betis at the end of July, and a source close to the player has said that he faces two to three weeks out with a leg muscle injury.

While the problem is ‘not major’, it could rule Llorente out of Leeds’ clashes with Manchester United and Everton later this month.

The Spaniard struggled with injuries during his maiden season in Yorkshire, missing 13 games with groin issues and a further month with a hamstring problem (via Transfermarkt). He was limited to 14 Premier League starts, averaging 2.2 successful aerial duels, 2.3 tackles and 2.5 clearances per game (via WhoScored).

The latest

Mills is not only fearful of the immediate impact of Llorente’s absence, but also of the long-term repercussions of an early lay-off.

“It is a big blow,” he said to Football Insider. “He’s a real quality player that holds that team together.

“It looks like he’s going to miss the start of the season which is a strange situation.

“He needs to get fit and play in a run of games. We’ve seen before once the season gets underway and you’re playing catch up trying to play your way fit without a proper pre-season it’s tough and really difficult to do.”

The verdict

When Llorente’s injuries abated in the latter part of last season, he enjoyed a fine run of form and grew in stature. The 27-year-old even earned a spot in WhoScored’s Team of the Month for April.

However, availability is just as important as ability and this is a stinging setback for the Whites. It’s a small problem, yes, but it doesn’t bode particularly well for the season ahead, and as Mills notes, it has interrupted the process of ramping up to full fitness.

In the short term, it could well make Leeds’ tough early assignments even trickier.

In other news, Leeds have tabled a offer for this centre-forward target.