All posts by h716a5.icu

Ray Torrens, Ireland’s manager, has been appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to cricket

Cricinfo staff13-Jun-2009Ray Torrens, Ireland’s manager, has been appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to cricket. It is due recognition for Torrens’ work with Irish cricket, first as an opening bowler in an era when the sport had yet to flourish in Ireland and then as cricket administrator, selector and manager, trying to inspire a new generation of youngsters to take up the sport.”It’s a great thrill and honour for not only me personally, but also Irish cricket,” said Torrens, 61. “I’d like to thank them for putting up with me all these years. I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s been a quite remarkable journey.”After retiring from the game Torrens served as a national selector, president of the Irish Cricket Union and manager of the Ireland team that upset Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup and progressed to the Super Eights. More trophies followed, including three Intercontinental Cups, and earlier this year, the ICC World Cup Qualifying Trophy.Torrens has been congratulated on his Cricket Ireland’s president, Arthur Vincent, who said: “I’m delighted that his hard work for Irish cricket has been recognised with this prestigious honour. It’s fully deserved, and I’m thrilled not only for Roy, but his wife Joan and their family, who have been wonderful supporters of Irish cricket over the years.”A former fast bowler, Torrens represented Ireland in 30 matches between 1966-1984, taking 77 wickets at an average of 25.66. Domestically, Torrens played in a very successful Brigade side which won many NW trophies, before finishing his career with Coleraine. A good footballer, he won three amateur caps for Northern Ireland.

Buoyant after their win yesterday, Bangladesh Under-19 continued strongly to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match encounter. A quick fifty from Saikat Ali coupled with another superb bowling display from Sabbir Rahman saw them assert their supremacy yet agai

Cricinfo staff05-May-2009
Scorecard
Buoyant after their win yesterday, Bangladesh Under-19 continued strongly to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match encounter. A quick fifty from Saikat Ali coupled with another superb bowling display from Sabbir Rahman saw them assert their supremacy yet again at the Shamsul Huda Stadium.Choosing to bat first, Bangladesh U-19 were lifted by Saikat’s confident strokeplay. His 76-ball innings comprised nine fours and three sixes, and the fourth-wicket stand of 50 with captain Mahmudul Hasan set a solid platform for the hosts. Chathura Peiris took three wickets to keep Bangladesh U-19 in check but Tasamul Haque (42) and Noor Hossain took the hosts past 250.Even as Sri Lanka U-19 lost wickets regularly, captain Dinesh Chandimal led from the front with a well-compiled half-century. Together with Kushal Janith Perera, they added 88 for the fourth wicket as the visitors looked to be well on course. But Sabbir had other plans, dismissing both batsmen, triggering off a panic that resulted the tail surrendering meekly by the 43rd over.

A number of Liverpool supporters are hugely excited after Mohamed Salah seemingly committed his future to the Reds on social media.

Jurgen Klopp’s side won 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, going top of the Premier League in the process.

It wasn’t always perfect from Liverpool, but they got the job done thanks to goals from Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

Salah was again the Reds’ best attacking player on the day, netting his 99th league goal for the club and outlining his status as one of the world’s leading players currently.

There is concern that the 29-year-old still hasn’t signed a new Liverpool deal, but his tweet after Saturday’s game suggests he is more than happy at Anfield, as he showed his love for the fans:

“You, the fans, keep me going. You give me more strength than I think you’ll ever know.”

This comes after Micah Richards, former teammates with the Egypt superstar at Fiorentina, claimed the winger had always wanted to play at Anfield.

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Liverpool fans react to Salah post

These Reds supporters took to Twitter to show their love in return, with many of the opinion that it suggests Salah will extend his stay on Merseyside.

“He loves this club he wants to win trophies with the club. Give him whatever he wants”

Credit: @Radiantlux23

“There’s no way he’s leaving. With that I’ll be allowing myself to become completely emotionally attached to him like a nine-year-old”

Credit: @SeanDOlfc

“Oh my god I would die for you Mo”

Credit: @lauraw97_

“What a man. Iconic”

Credit: @just_adam_30

“Maybe a hint at a new deal”

Credit: @Akki_SwagMan

“The amount of love I have for him, the amount of love all our fanbase have for him… this is his home and he should retire here”

Credit: @LFCPierre

In other news, some Liverpool fans slammed one player’s performance against Crystal Palace. Find out who it is here.

Charlotte Edwards has at last won a World Cup by leading England to their third overall title following a very successful year

Jenny Roesler in Sydney22-Mar-2009At the fourth time of asking, a tearful Charlotte Edwards has at last won a World Cup by leading England to their third overall title following a very successful year. And this might be the most important victory yet, with the triumph sending a message to the other boards that backing the women financially helps.”Now looking back on my sleepless nights there was an expectation for us to do well this tournament,” said Edwards after the match. “There has been a huge amount of money pumped in to develop our girls. We knew we were up against a really good team today. We’ve repaid a lot of people that have shown a lot of faith in the girls.”The maternal Edwards’ brand of leadership is full of tough love and it has paid off handsomely, with her charges playing consistent – if not quite perfect – cricket, and wanting to do well for their captain and themselves.”Unbelievable, really,” said Edwards of the win, although she might be the only one to think so. England’s victory has not come as a surprise. They always had the potential to win the trophy and, ominously, they do not feel they played their best cricket despite lifting the $35,000 trophy. “We’ve not played a perfect game of cricket in the tournament and there are a few areas we need to work on.”This is certainly true, but they were still the best side in the tournament and just winners. England will now regroup with several warm-up matches before the World Twenty20 at home.”I suppose it won’t sink in for a couple of days,” Edwards concluded. “It’s an amazing feeling and a day I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m loving cricket, it’s my life.”A disconsolate Haidee Tiffen admitted that England had outplayed them, but still thought her side “had a sniff.” Tiffen was appearing in her second World Cup final, but had to experience the pain of losing for the first time. “It was just another day for us at the office,” said Tiffen. “Unfortunately it was a bad day for us, but I can’t take anything away from England.”And she can hold her head up high. Like Edwards, she has been a positive influence on her team who fully deserved their place in the final. They just could not do it on the day as the pressure told.England showed nerves too, but rose to the occasion just when it mattered. Their victory is not just one for themselves. As bizarre as it sounds, it could ultimately be a win for New Zealand, too, if their board can take note of how England won the final and what resources they could use in the future.That will be of little comfort to New Zealand right now as their players come to terms with the loss, but England have proven how to win the World Cup and just what a little faith can do.

An embattled Pakistan board will be at the centre of crucial discussions during a two-day ICC board meeting, which starts on Friday

Ajay S Shankar and Osman Samiuddin16-Apr-2009An embattled Pakistan board will be at the centre of crucial discussions during a two-day ICC board meeting, which starts on Friday. The governing body’s 10 full members will, among other issues, weigh Pakistan’s chances of co-hosting the 2011 World Cup after the Lahore attack and decide on the ICL’s request for recognition.Strictly speaking, the agenda does not include the World Cup – the board is scheduled to discuss only “the implications of the [Lahore] incident, including any potential impact on plans for the World Cup” – yet talk is expected to swiftly veer round to Pakistan’s viability as a host. Especially since early indications are that Pakistan’s chances of co-hosting the event have significantly lessened, with some of the ICC’s board members admitting that their players are not keen to play in that country after the attack on the Sri Lankan team in March.According to sources, one of the possible solutions that could be discussed – at least unofficially – in Dubai is to shift Pakistan’s matches to India and compensate the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) financially.”If the current political tension between India and Pakistan doesn’t allow the Pakistani team to play in India, those matches can be held in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (the other co-hosts),” a senior ICC official said. “It’s too early to say whether a decision on the World Cup will be taken this week, but there is a clear sense of urgency in this matter because time is running out.”Pakistan, along with New Zealand, is also one of the countries most affected by the ICL; nearly 20 of its cricketers, a number of whom could still conceivably represent Pakistan, are involved in the unofficial league. “Most of the member boards are not in favour of granting recognition to ICL,” the sources said. “But the ICC would like to ensure the welfare of the players who have signed up for ICL, especially because some board members have been told that many of them have not been paid their salaries for a while now.”The board may consider the option of asking these players to cut all ties with the ICL before June 1, when the ICC’s new and stringent rules on unofficial cricket come into force, and be eligible for international cricket after a year’s “cooling period”. It’s not as easy as it sounds though because the PCB’s legal cell has vetted some of the ICL player contracts and found them “heavily one-sided” – apparently, it would be very difficult for the players to pull out of the contract without the active consent of ICL.What is crucial, of course, in all these discussions is the BCCI’s stand on both issues. The Indian board has clearly adopted a hardline stance on the ICL but is likely to present a more nuanced approach to the 2011 World Cup issue. Almost immediately after the Lahore attack, Shashank Manohar and N Srinivasan, the BCCI president and secretary, had said that the World Cup matches scheduled in Pakistan should be moved to India.Now, though, India would like to be seen as supporting Pakistan, at least in public. “We are fully behind Pakistan,” a senior BCCI official said. “But if the other ICC board members are keen that those matches should be shifted to India, we are ready to host them.”Alongside India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Pakistan is due to host 14 World Cup matches, and PCB officials remain “reasonably optimistic” that the arrangement will stay. “There is precedent in past jointly-held World Cups where security issues in one country haven’t meant the end of the tournament,” Salim Altaf, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told Cricinfo. “In 1996 and 2003, there were problems but the tournament went ahead without hitches. And there are still two years to go in which the situation might improve so we are still reasonably optimistic.”But India’s support, another PCB official admits, will be crucial. “If the subcontinent is united – and only if – the World Cup will not be affected. We have to remain firm otherwise there is no chance (of Pakistan co-hosting the World Cup),” the official said. Lying in wait are Australia and New Zealand, the alternate hosts, who have already written to the ICC confirming their capability to host the 2011 tournament should security concerns escalate in the subcontinent.

Flocking to Twitter, many Tottenham Hotspur fans have been blown away by training footage of unseen talent Joshua Oluwayemi, with some pleading that he gets game-time this season.

The goalkeeper, yet to make a senior competitive appearance for Spurs in all competitions (Transfermarkt), spent part of last campaign on loan at Maidenhead United in the National League.

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Appearing in just one match for the non-league outfit, Oluwayemi conceded two goals in 44 minutes before he returned to Spurs and their under-23s side midway through the 2020/21 season.

The 20-year-old went on to feature 12 times for Tottenham in Premier League 2 before finishing up the campaign, but it’s safe to say that he has now turned heads on social media for what he has done at Hotspur Way.

Dropping footage on Twitter, Spurs’ official channel released a clip of Oluwayemi making a fantastic acrobatic save and immediately recovering the ball upon spilling.

As a result, many Lilywhites supporters have been left excited, with some hoping that he gets a chance under first team manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Check out some of their best verdicts on his “mad” heroics below.

Spurs fans wowed by Oluwayemi footage…

“Needs some game time this season, we’re blessed with good young keepers, Whiteman, Austin and Oluwayemi…”

Credit: @oculyss

“The future”

Credit: @DeleSZN_

“Generational”

Credit: @denchie20

“Jeeeeeez”

Credit: @N17_James

“This boy”

Credit: @thfc_MK

“Mad”

Credit: @Sampear21981307

“I might have to invest in some Oluwayemi stocks huh”

Credit: @evlogia_7

In other news: ‘Useless’, ‘Sell’, ‘Giving me a migraine’…Spurs fans blast ‘awful, awful’ ace vs Palace, it’s not Davies or Tanganga – find out more here.

Martin Love left a memorable display in his farewell to the Gabba as his 118 not out was responsible for handing Queensland a 97-run lead

Cricinfo staff27-Feb-2009Queensland 5 for 366 (Love 118*, Hartley 82*, Hopes 55, Symonds 52) lead New South Wales 269 (Khawaja 112, Hopes 4-80) by 97 runs
Scorecard
Points table

Martin Love’s 30th century for Queensland came at a cruical time © Getty Images
Martin Love left a memorable display in his farewell to the Gabba as his 118 not out was responsible for handing Queensland a 97-run advantage over New South Wales. Love, the state’s leading run-scorer, will retire at the end of the season and his 30th century drove the Bulls to the confident position of 5 for 366.The innings was crucial in gaining two points that moved the Bulls to 24, equal with the second-placed Tasmania, who are struggling in Hobart. Both teams are jostling to face Victoria in the final on March 13. Love, the No. 3, held the order together after the hosts were 3 for 81 and shared vital stands with Andrew Symonds, James Hopes and Chris Hartley, who raised half-centuries.Love stayed for 219 balls and struck 15 fours while his partners operated at a quicker rate. Symonds slammed 52 from 45 deliveries, with 10 boundaries, to provide a timely surge to the innings and show he was still capable of producing an important performance. When Symonds, who is playing his 100th first-class game for Queensland, left after hooking at Grant Lambert (2 for 92) he had scored all but eight runs of his partnership with Love.Hopes followed his 4 for 80 with 55 to settle any fears of a collapse and Hartley continued his strong finish to the summer. After taking six catches, Hartley moved to 82 not out and on the third morning will aim for consecutive centuries.Queensland suffered their first loss with Ryan Broad edging behind on 0 while Shane Watson, who is returning from back stress fractures as a specialist batsman, also failed to score. The opener Nick Kruger (44) played on to Greg Mail before Love settled the situation.Usman Khawaja added three to his overnight 109 and was last man out as the Blues reached 269. Ben Cutting picked up the final wicket to have 3 for 51.

Preview of the 2nd Test between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Chittagong

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran02-Jan-2009
Ajantha Mendis was a late inclusion to the Test squad after recovering from an ankle injury © AFP
Match facts January 3-7, 2009
Start time 09.30am (03.30 GMT)Big PictureBangladesh’s brave attempt at pulling off a record-breaking chase of 521 in Mirpur rounded off one of the most memorable months of Test cricket in recent memory. It also dispelled the notion that anything over 450 is unattainable in the fourth innings, even if it involves the weakest Test nation. Though the result didn’t go their way, Bangladesh’s effort has sparked some life and anticipation into the short series, which Sri Lanka were overwhelming favourites to sweep.Now, though, Bangladesh find the bar raised much higher. The talking point in Chittagong has been the return of Ajantha Mendis to the Sri Lankan squad from an ankle injury. Should he play, the home side will find it that much harder to square the series. Mendis left the Indians clueless in the home series last year and, if he has his way on a slow turner here, Bangladesh could suffer equally. The two-day gap between Tests wouldn’t have given Bangladesh enough time to prepare for Mendis. They may have handled Muttiah Muralitharan creditably on a fifth day pitch in Mirpur but Mendis, as recent history will tell you, is a different proposition.Bangladesh’s failure in the first innings in Mirpur – falling for 178 – proved decisive to the result and Mohammad Ashraful wasn’t afraid to point that out. “We need to bat at least four sessions in the first innings,” Ashraful said. “If we do that then we’ll have a decent score on the board. That’s the prerequisite for us getting a positive result in Test matches.”The Chittagong Test marks a personal milestone for Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene who plays his 100th Test. Since his debut in 1997, Jayawardene has scored 7926 runs at 52.84 and is Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in Tests. He is also 74 away from the 8000-run mark.”I can’t say that I’m not emotional,” Jayawardene said. “I’m not thinking about the personal milestone. It has been an honour to play for Sri lanka and I have said this before that I never expected to play 100 Test matches when I started off.”Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)Sri Lanka WWLWL
Bangladesh LLLDLWatch out forMohammad Ashraful:
Bangladesh’s captain was in dire need of runs in Mirpur to lift not only his sagging form but the hopes of his team and he didn’t disappoint. He scored a face-saving century but his dismissal, for 101, was one of the most important breakthroughs of the Test. He shed extravagance for patience, negated the effect of Murali and, for a change, seemed intent on building an innings. Five hundreds in 47 Tests highlights his inconsistent career but having made a start, he’ll be looking to carry on. What remains to be seen is how much inspiration he – let alone the rest of the team – takes from his own effort.The carrom ball from Ajantha Mendis, which he releases with an unusual snap of his fingers. His variations have flummoxed even the most experienced players of spin. India’s Gautam Gambhir said recently that the trick is to read the spin off his hand rather than wait for it to pitch. Bangladesh haven’t been afraid to charge the spinners so the battle with Mendis should make for compelling viewing.Team newsWith Mendis in the frame, the axe will most certainly fall on Rangana Herath, who managed just one wicket in 38 overs in Mirpur. Jayawardene said a final decision would be taken after the practice session.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Michael Vandort, 2 Malinda Warnapura, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dishan, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dammika Prasad, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Muttiah MuraliatharanBangladesh have retained the same twelve from the first game, though Ashraful hinted at bringing in an extra spinner for a seamer. He felt Enamul Haque jnr, the left-armer, could come in to the equation at the expense of Mahbubul Alam, who picked up only one wicket in Mirpur.Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes, 3 Junaid Siddique, 4 Mohammad Ashraful (capt), 5 Raqibul Hasan, 6 Mehrab Hossain jnr, 7 Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk) ,9 Mashrafe Mortaza, 10 Enamul Haque jnr/Mahbubul Alam, 11 Shahadat HossainPitch and conditionsThe surface at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium is similar to the one used for the Test against New Zealand, dry and devoid of grass. The Mirpur track held firm for all five days and gave some assistance to the seamers. However, the spinners from both sides are likely to do the bulk of the bowling here. This venue was where Shakib Al Hasan picked up 7 for 36 against New Zealand, the best innings figures by a Bangladesh bowler in Tests.Stats and TriviaAshraful has never managed to score back-to-back centuries or half-centuries. In fact, the highest he has ever scored after scoring a hundred or a fifty, is 26.Having scored four of his five hundreds against Sri Lanka, his average against them stands at 42.42 as opposed to his career average of 23.82.Since scoring an exact 400 in their debut Test in 2000, Bangladesh have passed the 400-mark on just three occasions since then in the first innings. The previous instance was in 2005.Quotes”We have seen him bowling against India on television. We also have footages but it is important not to think of him or Muralitharan too much and just try to play ball by ball. He has done very well in recent times and has taken heaps of wickets but our focus will be on playing each ball on its merit because this is a Test match.”
.”Last year we beat India in a Test series, drew England and beat the West Indies in the West Indies for the first time in our history. This is a new year and we have a lot of cricket in front of us.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gary Kirsten believe that the balance of their team will ensure that it remains competitive regardless of the conditions in New Zealand

Nagraj Gollapudi in Mumbai18-Feb-2009
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: “We would rather go as underdogs instead of putting undue pressure on ourselves” © AFP
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the India captain, and coach Gary Kirsten believe the team’s balance will ensure it remains competitive on the tour of New Zealand, regardless of the conditions. India’s batsmen failed to adapt to the wet, seamer-friendly conditions on the last tour in 2002-03 and lost the Tests 2-0 and the ODIs 5-2 – the biggest blip on their overseas record since the turn of the century.”We are going there with the mindset that we are going to win. The great thing about this Indian team is that we have the right balance,” Kirsten said in Mumbai before the team’s departure for New Zealand. “We feel we can go and play in any conditions, on any surface, and be a competitive force. It is important to understand the weather there [New Zealand], which is very different to what it is here.”India’s first Test tour to New Zealand was in 1967-68, a series which they won 3-1 – their first overseas series win. They have toured New Zealand six times since then, losing four Test series and drawing two. The current tour comprises three Tests, two Twenty20 internationals and five ODIs.Only five players in India’s ODI squad – Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan – have prior experience of touring New Zealand and Dhoni wanted to focus on adapting to the conditions as soon as possible. “Every place has its own challenge,” Dhoni said. “The best [we can do] is to create an environment where we execute the plans and give our best during practice without thinking much about the results. It will be tough. It is a big tour for us.”Kirsten said conditions had changed over the years and it would be important to work out a game plan. “I have seen two very different types of conditions in the last two series I watched there [New Zealand]. When India were last there, the pitches were seaming around a lot, but when West Indies toured New Zealand, the pitches looked really good and pretty flat. So it is a question of finding out what we are going to be confronted with. I know this time of year the weather gets a bit colder, there might be some rain, which will assist the seamers in terms of the moisture.”India are a notch above New Zealand at No. 3 in the ICC’s ODI rankings, and several positions above them in the Test standings, but Kirsten said they would not be taking their hosts lightly. “New Zealand have always been competitive,” he said. “They are fighters who always give their best and it is worth being wary of them at home. We certainly won’t be taking them for granted.”Dhoni, for his part, refused to lay claim to being favourites for the tour. “We would rather go as underdogs instead of putting undue pressure on ourselves,” he saidHe also played down Daniel Vettori’s comments on him and Virender Sehwag thriving on the small grounds in New Zealand. “We know there are people in the side for whom any ground is small,” Dhoni said. “It is not the size of the ground, it is about form and the adaptability. We have individuals who can score big shots, rotate strike and change their gameplans as and when needed.”

Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield has told Football FanCast that he would not be surprised if Aston Villa listened to offers for Anwar El Ghazi this summer.

El Ghazi started in Villa’s 3-2 defeat to Watford last weekend, but his future at Villa Park looks far from certain if reports are to be believed.

According to Football Insider, the Midlands club would accept a bid of £15-17m for the 26-year-old winger, with Jose Mourinho and AS Roma thought to be interested in his services.

Hatfield does not believe Villa are desperate to get rid of El Ghazi, though he can imagine a scenario where they accept an offer for the Dutchman before the transfer window closes. He told FFC:

“There are reports that Villa are open to selling El Ghazi. He’s been a really good servant for Villa.

“But in terms of a move, it wouldn’t surprise me if Villa were happy to listen to offers. But in the same respect, I don’t think they’re desperate to get rid of him. He offers cover that they need in the wide positions.”

El Ghazi certainly is a player worth keeping around the squad. Last season, the former Lille and Ajax star scored 10 goals in the Premier League, playing on both flanks under manager Dean Smith.