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Victoria dominated Tasmania’s bowlers as they turned what should have been a difficult day into an impressive total of 5 for 366 at Bellerive Oval

Cricinfo staff26-Feb-2009Victoria 5 for 366 (Jewell 83, Rogers 82, Hodge 79) v Tasmania
Scorecard
Points table

Nick Jewell top scored for Victoria with 83 on a day meant to help the bowlers © Getty Images
The leaders Victoria dominated Tasmania’s bowlers as they turned what should have been a difficult day into an impressive total of 5 for 366 at Bellerive Oval. Sent in on a pitch expected to suit the fast men, the Bushrangers negotiated all of the early problems and the top three of Chris Rogers, Nick Jewell and Brad Hodge registered half-centuries.There were no rewards for the second-placed home side, which holds a two-point lead over Queensland, until after lunch as Rogers and Jewell put on 165 to eliminate Tasmania’s advantage at the toss. Jewell had a stumping reprieve on 32 off Jason Krejza, who was brought on before the break in an effort to make something happen after the quicks failed.The numbers of the openers were similar: both faced 143 deliveries, Rogers scored 82 with 13 boundaries and Jewell gathered 83 with 15 fours. Rogers nicked Brett Geeves to Tim Paine a couple of overs before Jewell was run-out by Jonathan Wells’ throw from square leg.David Hussey, who was caught short at the bowler’s end on 44, was also a victim of a run-out with Hodge as his partner. Hodge was undeterred by the setbacks and made his way to 79 before giving Paine one of his three catches. Cameron White had 23 when Geeves got his second breakthrough, but by stumps there were still some problems for the hosts, with Rob Quiney on 34 and Matthew Wade 11 not out.

AS Roma may reignite their interest in Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz in the future, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

The Serie A side were linked with a move for Luiz during the summer transfer window, with Calciomercato claiming that the 23-year-old was a target for Jose Mourinho.

Nothing materialised, though, with Luiz remaining at Villa Park. The £31.5m-rated Brazilian is an important player for Dean Smith, starting two of Villa’s first three Premier League fixtures in that holding midfield role.

Hatfield, however, would not be surprised if Roma showed interest again in the future and tried to make a move for Luiz.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if Roma kept tabs on him over the next couple months and see how he’s doing at Villa and then maybe reignite their interest,” Hatfield told TT.

“Of course it depends on his performances as well because if he steps up his level, obviously Villa will be expecting more money for him.”

Luiz was not the only Villa player who was linked with a move to the Stadio Olimpico. According to Football Insider, Roma were also keen on Anwar El Ghazi and tried to sign the 26-year-old.

An ex-Premier League manager, it is not a shock to see Mourinho trying to tap into the English market.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Andrew Strauss to lead England during the Ashes this year

Cricinfo staff26-Mar-2009Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Andrew Strauss to lead England during the Ashes this year despite the team’s lack of success since he took over from Kevin Pietersen. England lost the five-Test series against West Indies 1-0, were beaten in the Twenty20 international, and are currently level at 1-1 in the five ODI series.”I believe Strauss is the right man and a very, very good leader,” Vaughan told . “I hope he is going to be captain for the Ashes and well beyond that, because he creates stability about the team. We just have to get that winning momentum back to the team. It will just happen, as long as they keep doing the right things.” Vaughan stepped down as England captain during the home series against South Africa in 2008 and has since been out of the Test team.Strauss also found a supporter in Andrew Flintoff, who said the captain was probably England’s “best player”. “Straussy has just scored a hundred in his last one-day international and probably was our best player,” Flintoff said. “Straussy is our captain – he is the one that tosses the coin and leads the team out on the field and long may that continue.”Flintoff also backed Andy Flower, who stepped in as England coach on a temporary basis after Peter Moores was removed following the row with Pietersen. Flintoff said Flower should not be blamed for England’s poor results in the West Indies.”He’s doing a good job. It has been tough, I am sure, for him,” Flintoff said. “When you have had the winter that we have as a side I think everyone has felt it,” Flintoff said. “When you are not winning games there is a certain amount of pressure which is put on us as a team and probably on the coaching staff as well, but Andy is a solid bloke and he wants the best for the team. I think every day he gives his best he can try and improve the side each time.”

Flocking to Twitter, many Manchester City supporters have been raving over news on their star player Kevin De Bruyne as he returns to the Etihad Campus training pitches (mancity.com).

The Belgian, who stood out as a key player yet again for Pep Guardiola’s title-winners last season, has barely been able to feature so far this campaign due to injury.

Indeed, De Bruyne has played just 11 minutes of Premier League action so far but City have coped well without his creative influence in midfield alongside starlet Phil Foden.

After a regrettable opening day defeat to Spurs, the Sky Blues have managed to score ten in total over their last two English top flight matches without the 30-year-old – banking two resounding 5-0 home victories on the trot.

However, given De Bruyne has notched an incredible 19 goals and 32 assists in the league alone since the beginning of 2019/2020, there’s little wonder many City supporters are raving over his return to training.

Find all of their best verdicts on this boost for Guardiola, in response to popular news account City Xtra, down below.

Man City fans rave over De Bruyne news…

“made my week”

Credit: @ge0rgiiia_

“what a day”

Credit: @xojatin

“Perfect”

Credit: @Foden_Is_Clear

“best day ever”

Credit: @relatablememe2

“YESSSSSSS”

Credit: @MCFCHag

“We’re winning it all”

Credit: @SxrgioSZN

“premier league truly ain’t ready”

Credit: @prashamsenpai

“WE’RE BACK”

Credit: @AarxnMCFC

In other news: ‘Outrageous’ – Man City fans flock to Foden contract development, find out more here.

The battle for a place at the 2015 World Cup is about to get underway

Cricinfo staff22-Apr-2009Less than a week after the qualification for the 2011 World Cup was sorted at the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa, the battle for a place at the 2015 tournament is about to get underway.The ICC World Cricket League Division 7 competition will take place in Guernsey between May 17 and 24 with the top two sides earning promotion to Division 6. The countries involved are Bahrain, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Japan, Nigeria and Suriname.They will all be heartened by the example of Afghanistan who this time last year were preparing to take part in the ICC WCL Division 5 event in Jersey. Promotion from there was followed by similar success in Divisions 4 and 3, and last week they secured full ODI status for themselves, and only missed out on a World Cup place by one win.May 2009 Sun 17
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Bahrain v Gibraltar
King George V Sports Ground, Castel
Sun 17
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Guernsey v Japan
College Field, St Peter Port
Sun 17
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Suriname v Nigeria
Guernsey Rovers Athletic Club, Port Soif
Mon 18
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Bahrain v Suriname
College Field, St Peter Port
Mon 18
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Guernsey v Gibraltar
Guernsey Rovers Athletic Club, Port Soif
Mon 18
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Japan v Nigeria
King George V Sports Ground, Castel
Wed 20
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Gibraltar v Nigeria
College Field, St Peter Port
Wed 20
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Guernsey v Bahrain
King George V Sports Ground, Castel
Wed 20
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Japan v Suriname
Guernsey Rovers Athletic Club, Port Soif
Thu 21
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Bahrain v Japan
Guernsey Rovers Athletic Club, Port Soif
Thu 21
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Gibraltar v Suriname
King George V Sports Ground, Castel
Thu 21
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Guernsey v Nigeria
College Field, St Peter Port
Sat 23
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Bahrain v Nigeria
Guernsey Rovers Athletic Club, Port Soif
Sat 23
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Gibraltar v Japan
College Field, St Peter Port
Sat 23
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Guernsey v Suriname
King George V Sports Ground, Castel
Sun 24
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT 3rd Place Play-off – TBC v TBC
Guernsey Rovers Athletic Club, Port Soif
Sun 24
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT 5th Place Play-off – TBC v TBC
College Field, St Peter Port
Sun 24
10:45 local, 09:45 GMT Final – TBC v TBC
King George V Sports Ground, Castel

Leeds United added a ‘significant’ sell-on clause in Niall Huggins’ contract when he moved to Sunderland, according to recent reports.

The Lowdown: Huggins joins Sunderland

The 20-year-old moved to the Stadium of Light during the summer transfer window, bringing an end to his time as a Whites player.

Huggins couldn’t see a path into the first team at Elland Road, deciding that a switch elsewhere would benefit him moving forward, and he started his Black Cats career off with an entertaining 3-2 win at Blackpool.

The Latest: Leeds included sell-on clause

According to Elland Road sources at Football Insider, despite not earning an initial fee from the move, Leeds included a sell-on clause which will allow them to receive a ‘significant’ chunk from Sunderland if he ever moves on from Wearside.

It means the Whites could actually have done some very clever business and end up getting an even larger amount than if they had requested an immediate profit, unless he never leaves the Black Cats of course.

The Verdict: Blow to future profits

Huggins is still waiting for his Sunderland career to fully ignite – he has only made one League One appearance to date – but he is an exciting signing with lots of potential.

The right-back has one Premier League appearance to his name from his Leeds days and has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by former Whites hero Ian Harte.

The hope is that he stays at Sunderland for many years to come, but based on that praise and the fact he managed to force his way into a top flight side even briefly, one would have to assume the Black Cats may be looking to cash in for profit at some point in the future.

News of such a ‘significant’ portion of that profit going to Yorkshire is certainly a blow.

In other news, Lee Johnson has set an appearance target for one Sunderland player. Find out who it is here.

The news that Eoin Morgan was today selected by England in their Twenty20 and one-day squads was met with pragmatic disappointment by Ireland, his birth-country. However inevitable it may have been, Cricket Ireland’s chief executive, Warren Deutrom, used

Will Luke01-May-2009The news that Eoin Morgan was today selected by England in their Twenty20 and one-day squads was met with pragmatic disappointment by Ireland, his birth-country. However inevitable it may have been, Cricket Ireland’s chief executive, Warren Deutrom, used Morgan’s case as a rallying cry to the ICC that more must be done to help Associate nations if they are to avoid losing their best players to England.Morgan was short-listed in England’s preliminary Twenty20 squad while he was representing Ireland in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers, held two weeks ago in South Africa. At the time, Ireland were understandably disappointed, but nevertheless realised that Morgan – like Ed Joyce before him – had always made his intentions clear to play a higher level of cricket.For now, Ireland remain an Associate one-day nation, and that higher level of professional cricket is in England. But as Ireland showed in the tournament in South Africa, which they won, their standing as an Associate continues to improve; elevation to Full Member status, and Test cricket, is no longer a 20-year pipedream but a realistic ambition.”We are sad to lose Eoin to England, and we sincerely wish him all the very best in his future career,” Deutrom said. “However, it shows that Irish cricket can produce players who are capable of competing on the world stage in the game’s ultimate format. This only strengthens our argument to push ICC to let our best players realise their ambition of playing Test cricket with the green shamrock of the Ireland on their chest, rather than the three Lions of England.”Eoin’s departure, and Ed Joyce’s before him, underlines the fact that Associate countries like Ireland will always lose our very best players until such time as we are shown a pathway to Test cricket by ICC. At the very time that ICC is investing in us to be better, this anomaly highlights where the real change needs to come in the world game.”For Ireland to become one of ICC’s Full Members requires more than just money, however. Until recently, Ireland’s board was effectively run by a handful of full-time staff, relying instead on the loyalty and passion of voluntaries, which demonstrates just how far they have come in a short space of time. In addition, Ireland would have to prove to the ICC not only that its national squad can challenge the best nations, but also that they are adequately prepared to host a variety of international fixtures.Their development programme – which in Ireland is certainly more mature than, for example, Namibia or Netherlands – must also meet ICC’s requirements. For now, all Ireland can do is continue to improve and distance themselves from other Associates at the top of the table.”We’ve known for a long time that Eoin was destined to play for England, and the squad is happy for him that he’s got there and realised his ambition,” said Phil Simmons, Ireland’s coach. “We wish him all the best in the Twenty 20 tournament and also for his one-day international career. While it’s disappointing to lose a player of his undoubted calibre, we’ve contingency plans in place, as his selection hasn’t come a shock to us.”A shock it is not, but despite their pragmatism, Ireland remain frustrated at the ease with which the ECB can pluck their best players. Morgan is one of several Irishmen to have crossed over the water to play county cricket. Boyd Rankin represents Warwickshire while Niall O’Brien has played for Nothamptonshire, and the current Ireland captain, William Porterfield, plays for Gloucestershire.The situation was best summed up by Ireland’s manager, Roy Torrens, two weeks ago. “As a cricketing country, we don’t hold anything against the players,” he told Cricinfo. “If you have the ability and the chance is given to you, then go for it. We don’t like it, but we have to put up with it.”

Lee Johnson’s Sunderland head into Saturday’s League One fixture at the Stadium of Light in fine form, having picked up 16 points from their opening seven fixtures of the season, as well as securing their passage to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup in midweek.

In this cup fixture, despite ringing the changes to his starting XI, Johnson saw his team put in a dominant performance in a 2-0 victory over League One leaders Wigan Athletic, with a number of the Black Cats’ fringe players turning in very impressive displays.

One such man was 23-year-old Everton loanee Nathan Broadhead, with the centre-forward scoring one goal, making two key passes, winning two tackles, completing two dribbles and winning five duels over the course of his 90 minutes on the pitch.

These returns saw the £1.9k-per-week man receive a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.4, ranking him as the third-best player to feature in the match.

The performance of the player who David Unsworth dubbed a “terrific” talent is sure to have given Johnson something of a selection headache ahead of the visit of Bolton Wanderers this afternoon, as Broadhead’s fellow centre-forward Ross Stewart has also been in remarkable form so far this season.

Indeed, over his seven League One appearances this term, the 25-year-old has scored five goals and averaged a SofaScore match rating of 7.36, ranking him as the Black Cats’ best performer in the third tier.

As such, it would appear unlikely that Broadhead will replace Stewart as the Mackems’ lone striker against the Trotters. However, with the £450k-rated youngster stating that he is more than capable of operating from the left wing, there would appear to be a way for Johnson to unleash the 23-year-old alongside Stewart in Sunderland’s attacking line up – a move which would likely strike fear into the Bolton defence.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops fresh claim on “excellent” 21 y/o gem, it’s good news for Sunderland

Ralph Hasenhuttl has provided an injury update on Southampton winger Theo Walcott… 

What’s the latest?

The Saints manager has revealed that the 32-year-old has returned to fitness ahead of the clash with Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Austrian told the Daily Echo: “Theo Walcott was back in training today for first time in a long time, and the rest yeah so far fit, Stuey (Armstrong) still unavailable and that’s it.

“Stuey has not been training with the group, and yes Theo was this week starting with the team sessions so it will take time until he’s on the level but it’s good to have him back, and important to give him training sessions with the team.”

Fans will be delighted

Southampton fans will be delighted with this news as it means that Hasenhuttl has one more option to call upon in the wide areas. The Saints have struggled with the two wide positions in the team this season, with Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Redmond and Mohamed Elyounoussi all flattering to deceive.

Djenepo and Redmond have started six Premier League games between them and have produced zero goals and zero assists. Elyounoussi, meanwhile, has started three games and provided one goal and zero assists in the league for Hasenhuttl.

This suggests that Southampton’s wide players have struggled with their end product in the top flight. Therefore, having another player coming into the mix could bring a welcome boost, as it offers an alternative option in the team whilst also providing competition for the players currently occupying the wide berths in the starting XI.

Last year, Hasenhuttl lauded the forward’s work ethic on the pitch, saying: “I’m happy to work with Theo, he definitely showed it means something to him to play for this club. You can feel how much he invests working for the team.”

This highlights one of the qualities Walcott could bring to the side. His pressing from the front could open up opportunities for others by forcing mistakes from opposition defenders and causing turnovers, allowing his teammates to pick up the ball and cause damage in the final third.

Therefore, fans may well be delighted to see the 32-year-old back involved in some capacity against Wolves. They know that he will give 110% on the pitch by working hard out wide, which illustrates why his return could be a boost to Hasenhuttl’s squad.

AND in other news, Ralph provides update on “hard-working” £48k-p/w beast which will frustrate Saints fans…

Andrew Miller’s plays of the day from Lord’s

Andrew Miller at Lord's06-May-2009Decision of the dayTwenty-two centuries have been scored in the six consecutive drawn Tests at Lord’s since 2006 – a tally that suggests that winning the toss and batting is the only route to take. Chris Gayle, however, had other ideas. Perhaps he was seduced by the tinge of green in the track, perhaps he felt an extra day’s acclimatisation might be in order after his late arrival from South Africa. Or perhaps he simply fancied continuing the pattern that served his team so well in the Caribbean, by letting England bat first and take time out of the game on a flat and featureless wicket. That looked like the policy during an inauspicious first session, but by tea, a fourth possibility had galloped into view. Perhaps he was going for the win after all.Spell of the dayOne of the many features of England’s winter in the Caribbean was the appalling bad luck suffered by Fidel Edwards, the quickest and most hostile bowler on either side. In all he managed nine wickets at 54.88, stats that did no justice whatsoever to the threat he posed on some of the most lifeless wickets imaginable. Today, he resumed much where he had left off. His opening spell touched 92mph but barely reached the keeper at shin height, while three dropped catches in the final session were further unwarranted injustices. Thankfully for his peace of mind, he got his rewards in the first hour after lunch by pitching it up and letting it swing, and produced a magnificent and momentum-grabbing spell of 6-2-15-3.Catch of the dayTwo of those Edwards wickets came from consecutive deliveries, but there’s no question which was the pick. First he squeezed through Alastair Cook’s defences via an inside-edge, and then followed up with the best ball of the day – a full-length, late-zipping outswinger to the “under-prepared” Kevin Pietersen. It zipped so late, in fact, that the keeper Denesh Ramdin was already heading down the leg-side when Pietersen’s flustered edge flew away to his right. With impressive poise, he changed direction in a split-second, stuck out his mitt, and seized the catch that transformed West Indies’ prospects.Innings of the dayRavi Bopara was chosen at No. 3 for a variety of reasons – the shortcomings of his competitors, the backing of his coach and former Essex team-mate Andy Flower, and the poise of his maiden Test century in Barbados among them. But above all, he was chosen for the strength of his character. In the words of his captain, Andrew Strauss, he is someone “who when the going gets tough will come out and perform”, and that is exactly what was required as England somehow squandered their morning dominance to slump to 109 for 4. Right at the start of his innings, he had been greeted with a superb late outswinger that beat him all ends up, but he wasn’t remotely fazed, and knuckled down to produce an adhesive and unbeaten 118 that may yet make the difference in the final analysis of this contest.Indifference of the dayThose vital five minutes before the end of any given session are often the most crucial for a bowling side – a chance to turn the screw with the batsman tensing up and contemplating survival through to the break. Gayle, as is his wont, never allows himself to be fussed by such opportunities. With England one-down as the morning session drew to a close, he might have wanted to pile the pressure onto Bopara and Cook. Instead he flicked the autopilot switch, and sauntered off the field for an early lunch.Let-off of the dayLuck plays a major factor in even the best Test innings, and Bopara’s was no exception. On 40, he propped forward to Sulieman Benn and was struck so flush on the knee roll there might have been a chain and cistern attached. Umpire Steve Davis was unmoved, however, and while Benn fumed, England’s mainstay was given an opportunity to bed down while the post-lunch collapse continued around him.Drop of the day No. 1Brendan Nash is a tidy allround cricketer – tidy enough, in fact, to open the bowling straight after lunch. But it was his aberration straight after tea that proved his most notable contribution to the day. With Bopara still finding his feet after the break, he clipped the fifth ball of the session, from Edwards, firmly to square leg, but the regulation opportunity went straight into Nash’s midriff and out again. And on 100, he offered another simple chance to Devon Smith at second slip, but this was Bopara’s day, not West Indies’.Drop of the day No. 2If Sulieman Benn’s slip-up in the gully was forgivable – it went high and hard as Stuart Broad flashed hard outside off – Gayle’s subsequent lapse at slip was less so. Doubtless it’ll be suggested he was catching up on his sleep as the chance came to him at waist height, but Devon Smith at second slip was hardly less culpable as he dived across to take a looping rebound, and muffed the second attempt as well.