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After the record-breaking exploits of Aneurin Donald, the second day in Cardiff belonged to Glamorgan’s bowlers as Derbyshire were dismissed for 177 and asked to follow on

ECB Reporters Network18-Jul-2016
ScorecardCraig Meschede followed his 66 not out with three wickets•Getty ImagesAfter the record-breaking exploits of Aneurin Donald, the second day in Cardiff belonged to Glamorgan’s bowlers as Derbyshire were dismissed for 177 and asked to follow on. They reached the close on 78 for 1, still trailing by 263.Craig Meschede took three wickets, and Graham Wagg and Andrew Salter picked up two apiece, as Derbyshire conceded a 341-run deficit on first innings. Wagg then claimed another – Harvey Hosein, having been promoted to open after top-scoring with 27 not out – but Derbyshire made a stronger start to their second attempt.Glamorgan had added a further 37 runs to their overnight score and were all out for 518, with Meschede undefeated on 60. Derbyshire seamer Will Davis, in only his fourth first-class game, returned career-best figures of 7 for 146.Hamish Rutherford and Billy Godleman made a rapid start to the Derbyshire reply, striking nine boundaries in the first five overs, and had reached 52 for 0 in ten overs before losing 4 for 19 runs before lunch.Rutherford nicked Meschede to the wicketkeeper and Chesney Hughes was bowled off his pads by the same bowler, before Salter’s offspin deceived Godleman, who was trapped leg-before. The Derbyshire captain was clearly not in agreement with the decision, and kicked the ground in anger, before trudging off to the pavilion. In the final over before lunch, Meschede took his third wicket, when Wayne Madsen tamely chipped a catch to square leg as Derbyshire slipped to 71 for 4.There was no respite from the Glamorgan bowlers, as Graham Wagg bowled an excellent spell, with the ball swinging under cloud cover. Wagg dismissed Neil Broom and Shiv Thakor, both edging through to Mark Wallace, and the Glamorgan wicketkeeper claimed his fourth victim of the innings when Matt Critchley skied a catch, attempting to pull David Lloyd to the boundary. There was little resistance, apart from Hosein, and Derbyshire were soon batting again after the tea interval.Hosein opened the second innings instead of Godleman, who had returned to the team hotel after feeling unwell, and with Rutherford playing every ball on its merit. The openers put on 59 in 27 overs, before Hosein was caught down the leg side by Wallace for 26 from Owen Morgan’s left-arm spin.

Declan Rice has already spoken to England teammate Bukayo Saka about a potential move to Arsenal this summer, journalist Chris Wheatley has revealed.

What's the latest on Declan Rice and Arsenal?

The West Ham United captain looks set to depart East London this summer with a number of top clubs interested in a move, and Arsenal are believed to be the frontrunners for his signature.

Mikel Arteta reportedly sees the £60k-per-week ace as an ideal fit to help his team compete with Manchester City again at the top of the table next season.

The England international is reportedly keen on a move to the Emirates, and Wheatley claimed on his YouTube channel that conversations have taken place between him and Saka about a potential move.

"Declan Rice, we know that he is keen on joining Arsenal. He's already spoken with his England teammate Bukayo Saka about the move, asking questions about the club," he stated.

"I do feel that this is a move that Arsenal really want to get done this summer."

Should Arsenal pursue Rice?

Given that there is a high-reported asking price of £120m, as well as interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, this would be a huge transfer for Arsenal if they can pull it off.

Arteta reportedly wants to add more physicality to his midfield, and as Granit Xhaka has been linked with Bayer Leverkusen, additional quality in the area will be worth paying a premium for.

Rice would arrive with plenty of Premier League experience as West Ham's talisman and captain, and at just 24, he could be a key member of the Arsenal side for years to come.

He is well acquainted with Saka, Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White from their time together as England internationals, and he could slot straight into the Arsenal midfield in two positions.

He could either play as the deepest midfielder instead of Thomas Partey or Jorginho, with Martin Odegaard and even Xhaka or another more advanced option ahead of him, or he could replace Xhaka as a number eight ahead of Partey.

Arsenal are reportedly keen on a deal for Moises Caicedo in addition to Rice, and the two could line up together to form a robust and young midfield to help the side raise their level yet again.

Arteta has transformed his team from finishing in fifth place to challenging for the league within a year, and a statement signing like Rice could help them further as they return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

Anil Kumble remained coy about Ravi Shastri being overlooked, but was more comfortable talking about his own role in his first press conference as India’s head coach

Sidharth Monga in Bangalore29-Jun-2016The last time Anil Kumble was part of an India camp was at his home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, in 2008. Two men were under immense pressure to keep their places in the side: Captain Kumble and former captain Sourav Ganguly. Just before the series both had struggled in Sri Lanka: Ganguly had scored 96 runs in six innings, and Kumble had taken eight wickets for 400 runs in three Tests. Just before the home series against Australia, Kumble answered in the negative when asked about retirements. A few days later, Ganguly announced this series was to be his last, and an injured Kumble ended his career even before Ganguly.Eight years later, Kumble and Ganguly have emerged as an unlikely duo shepherding the Indian team from the management perspective. Unlike Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, Ganguly has turned out to be pretty hands-on as a state association president and a member of the cricket advisory committee. Kumble, too, has had a stint as a state association president, actually winning an election, willing to put his reputation on the line by entering the contest. Now Ganguly is believed to have played a key role in getting Kumble as the coach of Indian team.Sitting in the same spot that Ganguly had been in when he uttered words that still resonate – “just one last thing lads, before I leave, I just want to say that this is going to be my last series,” Kumble was asked for his opinion on the way Shastri had been overlooked. Shastri had alleged Ganguly was not even present to interview him when he made his presentation. The underlying suggestion being that the decision had already been made before the interview process.Kumble was a relentless bowler, always at the batsman, but here he did a good impression of leaving this swinging ball alone outside off. “I was the first one to call Ravi after I was chosen as head coach,” Kumble said. “He did a wonderful job with the Indian team. It is not about Anil or Ravi, it is not about the head coach. It is about the players, it is about the team. And from my point of view, whether it is me or Ravi or any Indian, we all want the Indian team to do well. We all want the Indian team to perform at its best. We all believe that there is potential for the Indian team to be the best in all three formats.”And If I’m part of the journey, that’s all I have to say. He congratulated me. I told him it’s a fantastic team, a young team that we have. It could be someone else tomorrow [in place of me]. I’m not permanent in this role. I have an opportunity to make a difference. I have an opportunity to be part of the journey and if I can be part of the journey where we see Indian cricket rise to where we all want it to be, then I think it’s wonderful. I feel privileged, like I already mentioned. And an honour again to be a part of the team.”Kumble was more comfortable and open talking about his own role. At the outset he repeated that he and his support staff were going to be in the background, that his legendary status as a cricketer himself was not going to overpower his team. About his preferred support staff – Sanjay Bangar and Abhay Sharma as batting and fielding coach are temporary appointments for the upcoming West Indies tour – Kumble didn’t reveal much except that he was keen to work with the bowlers himself. A fast-bowling coach couldn’t be ruled out, though.”At this point in time, I thought I can get close to the bowlers, for a start,” Kumble said. “Yes, we are considering options, I don’t want to say what because this is my first trip as coach with the team and I’d like to observe and try and see how the team is shaping up. At this point in time, I thought that with the bowlers, it is the strategy that I can certainly play a part of and that’s something which I am looking at, trying to get closer to the bowlers, understanding what their needs are and then looking at probably bringing in, if you are looking at a fast bowling coach I think is what you are trying to say. There are considerations that I am thinking of but at this point, I don’t know if it will be possible to take someone to the West Indies. If that doesn’t happen, then certainly I am keen to look at the bowlers. I feel that that is certainly an area where I can contribute a lot more.”Kumble was asked what he, as a player, used to look for in a coach. The answer to this was the most definitive in his 20-minute press conference. “As a coach, all I sought was organised preparations for the team and informed inputs to the captain and the team to strategise better. Inclusive of every player. You have to include every player. It’s not about just the 11 who are to play. Also abut the six or seven who are not going to play.”That’s something I sought as a player because it was not always that I played in every team that played for India during my time. I was dropped, I was not chosen for tours. So I understand [what it means to] be the most important member in the team to being dropped. I understand all of that, I understand that communication at such times is very critical. For the coach to pick up the phone and send the message, ‘Don’t worry you are still part of the team.’ That’s what I will look to do. Hopefully I will be able to succeed in telling people who are part of the system that they will always be part of it.”Kumble had earlier remarked it felt a little odd being interviewed by three of his long-time team-mates. Having stepped into the team atmosphere, though, Kumble doesn’t feel odd at all. “Obviously you know the roles and boundaries as a coach,” Kumble said. “Other than that it’s no different. All of us want Indian cricket to be doing really well, and these are exciting times. I feel privileged to be a part of that journey, and in whatever way I can help Indian cricket achieve that. It was no different walking into a meeting room with the entire team, although the faces were different. I’ve played with some of them; I’ve mentored a couple of them in various capacities. To be back in the changing room is always special.”

Liverpool are set to reignite their pursuit of Real Madrid prodigy Aurelien Tchouameni, following recent reports, after Los Blancos beat Jurgen Klopp's side to his signature last summer.

What's the latest on Aurelien Tchouameni's future?

According to a report from 90min, the Reds are interested in signing former target Tchouameni this summer even if a loan deal is the only possibility.

The industrious midfielder was of a vested interest to the club last season and vigorously pursued while he plied his trade for Monaco, before Carlo Ancelotti's Spanish giants secured his signature for €100m (£85m).

The defensive engine has not quite alighted La Liga as might have been hoped and with the thronged Madrid midfield only set to be more brimful with a seismic deal for Jude Bellingham edging towards completion, a short-term move could suit all parties.

Why should Liverpool sign Tchouameni?

With James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain all set to depart from Anfield upon the expiry of their contracts this summer, a score of transfer rumours have been flung across the transfer market like a fusillade of missiles this season.

The script might have been very different if Klopp and co had succeeded in their pursuit for Tchouameni last year, instead reluctant to make an unrehearsed swoop for another midfielder in the latter phases of the summer window and ultimately panicking and signing Arthur from Juventus on a one-year loan deal, a move which, to put it lightly, has not worked out.

Since signing for the Spanish giants, the 23-year-old has played 44 matches across all competitions and has registered four assists, though he is still yet to strike the back of the net himself.

The 22-cap France international, who scored against England in the World Cup quarter-finals, ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion and interceptions per 90, also among the top 11% for total shots and the top 16% for rate of assists per 90, as per FBref.

Hailed as "incredible" by Rio Ferdinand, the £212k-per-week machine could emulate Manchester City phenom Rodri's impact on the Premier League, perhaps closing the gulf between Klopp and Pep Guardiola's teams once more.

Tchouameni and the 26-year-old Spaniard are listed the most comparable players to each by FBref, and with the Cityzen gem comfortably inside the pantheon of contemporary holding midfielders after making 201 appearances for his side and winning the whole gamut of domestic honours under his sagely manager's wing, he's not a bad pro to attempt to emulate.

Indeed, Rodri, himself lauded as "incredible" by Gary Neville, ranks among the top 2% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 14% for total shots and the top 19% for rate of assists; with an interesting semblance between the pair, Klopp could indeed find the perfect midfield rock to rekindle the former verve on Merseyside.

It's worth noting that a loan deal for a midfielder who could swiftly cement his name as one of the first on the team sheet, not only fortifies the ranks but creates space to spend freely on further targets, offering the perfect formula for a resurgence back to silver-laden success.

Will Bragg made his second hundred of the season for Glamorgan has his team built a sizable lead against Essex in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network24-May-2016
ScorecardWill Bragg gave Glamorgan a chance of pushing for victory•Getty ImagesWill Bragg made his second hundred of the season for Glamorgan has his team built a sizable lead against Essex in Cardiff. Glamorgan closed the day on 295 for 3, an advantage of 242 runs, with the game is nicely poised going into the last day with run scoring a struggle on this pitch; the lead Glamorgan have could well be decisive.Having picked up the last Essex wicket after a further 13 runs had been added to their overnight total Glamorgan got off to a poor start with the bat when Jacques Rudolph was dismissed for a 12-ball duck, edging a delivery from David Masters through to the keeper with just two runs on the board.From there it was Glamorgan’s day as Bragg put on 107 for the second wicket with Mark Wallace and 106 for the third wicket with Chris Cooke. Wallace was dismissed for 40 when he attempted to drive Ravi Bopara and only succeeded in edging the ball through to James Foster. Cooke completed his second half-century of the match before he was pinned lbw by a fuller ball from David Masters for 59.Masters was the pick of the Essex bowlers and was the only one who consistently threatened to claim wickets. He gave a particularly torrid time to 19-year-old Aneurin Donald who did well to survive. As it was Donald, the 19-year-old, shared the third significant partnership of the day for Glamorgan with Bragg as the pair put on 80 he was still undefeated at the close on 44.While all of that was happening Bragg remained undefeated and becalmed, finishing the day on 119. With the troubles that Glamorgan have had all season with their top order under-performing this was a vitally important innings that has gone a long way toward putting the home side in a winning position.With self-confessed lack of confidence a problem for Glamorgan how they go about setting up a chase for Essex on the final morning will be interesting. They are unlikely to want to give Essex a sniff of a win and may choose to bat on a while longer than they might otherwise. While scoring has never been straight forward on this surface it doesn’t appear to be deteriorating rapidly. It could be a fascinating finish on the final day.

Liverpool's pursuit of Alexis Mac Allister is advancing as Jurgen Klopp edges closer to ending his midfield nightmare.

Are Liverpool close to signing Alexis Mac Allister?

According to TyC Sports, who cite Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are "increasingly closer" to finalising a move for Mac Allister.

The Argentine World Cup champion has been identified by Klopp and his data analysts as the ideal player to start his midfield rebuild.

Talks are underway over a contract that will run until 2028 if all goes to plan for Liverpool.

The plan is to wrap up negotiations and sign all paperwork with the view to completing the deal by "the formal start of the transfer market in mid-June."

Brighton are said to be understanding of Mac Allister's ambition and will "not put up much resistance". The player could cost as little as £50m.

In December, Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi said Mac Allister is a "big, big player" and his performance against Manchester United was nothing short of classy.

Does Mac Allister make up for missing out on Jude Bellingham?

If Liverpool were to only sign Mac Allister, it would still improve the current options available to Jurgen Klopp but it would not be enough.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will all leave this summer which should mean Liverpool sign three midfielders. That might not turn out to be the case but anything less than three new midfield signings could place Klopp in a similar predicament to the one he has face this season.

While FSG have neglected midfield signings in recent summer transfer windows, the main issue at hand is ageing personnel in the engine room.

Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are perhaps all older than Klopp would like.

Adding Mac Allister to the engine room is a fantastic signing but for Liverpool to bounce back immediately, he cannot be the only midfielder to move to Anfield in the summer.

If the report is accurate and the 24-year-old will only cost Liverpool £50m, the Reds will have enough money to work with to further invest into the engine room.

Fabrizio Romano has also reported that Mason Mount remains a priority in the summer alongside Mac Allister. If true, that would represent an exciting new look in midfield.

The most jarring aspect of Liverpool's midfield demise is that it appears as though they struggle in a technical aspect when more talented Premier League sides take the game to them.

With the technical expertise of Mount and Mac Allister, Liverpool fans could again see their side challenge for top honours next season.

Manchester United are "pushing" to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani this summer, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Is Kolo Muani playing well this season?

The Frenchman is having a superb campaign for his current club, scoring 13 goals and registering ten assists in the Bundesliga and proving to be one of the most effective attackers in the division. He has also netted twice in the Champions League for good measure.

Kolo Muani made a name for himself at the 2022 World Cup, too, scoring once for France but also missing an incredible chance in the dying seconds of the final against Argentina. He was thwarted by a stunning save by Emiliano Martinez, in what could have been a career-defining moment for the Frankfurt man, if he had scored.

The 24-year-old may not be out of contract in Germany until the summer of 2027, but there is set to be plenty of interest in him come the end of the season. United are in need of a new centre forward, with Wout Weghorst not cutting the mustard, and it could be that they turn to the Frankfurt man, following a new update.

Could Man United snap up Kolo Muani?

Taking to Twitter, Sky Germany's Plettenberg claimed that the Red Devils are eyeing up a move for Kolo Muani this summer:

"News Kolo Muani: Understand #MUFC is the club who is pushing the most at this stage! More than #FCBayern! Player has not taken any decision yet. No verbal agreement with any club. His management is sounding out the market. It’s up to Bayern now in order to make the next step after talks between Tuchel & the bosses."

Kolo Muani could be a really astute summer signing by United, although much may depend on whether they manage to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham or not. At 24, he is still a relatively young player with years ahead of him in his career, while journalist Zach Lowy has hailed him as a "top-class talent" in the recent past.

The fact that he is already a key squad player in a star-studded France squad further outlines his quality, and his all-round game could go up another gear by playing alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Antony. He would provide pace and power down the middle, but also reliable end product, helping make United are more formidable attacking prospect in the process.

Everton have been handed a boost after learning that Lyon striker and Toffees transfer target Moussa Dembele is set to become a free agent in the summer, according to reports.

What's the latest on Dembele to Everton?

The Toffees failed to sign a single new player in January, and despite any deals failing to materialise, they were credited with a strong interest in 26-year-old Dembele. They reportedly made an enquiry about the former Celtic goalscorer at the start of the New Year, and Sean Dyche has now been given the perfect second chance to bring him to the Premier League.

The Frenchman will be out of contract at the end of the season and his future is uncertain having fallen significantly out of favour under Laurent Blanc, making just eight starts in Ligue 1 this season, meaning that both parties could be tempted to go their separate ways.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that the forward would be a “real option” for the Merseyside outfit should they be able to retain their top-flight status, and should that be the case, they might now be able to acquire his services for nothing.

According to Olympique et Lyonnais (via Sport Witness), Dembele will “no longer” be at Lyon beyond the summer as there is “no renewal in sight”, in which case he would become a free agent on the market. Everton, alongside Aston Villa, were both “trying to sign” the £52k-per-week gem in January, as the two clubs “came for information”, but whether they would be successful in their second attempt should they come forward again yet remains to be seen.

Would Dembele be a good signing for Everton?

Dembele will already be used to playing in England having previously had a spell at Fulham so could quickly adapt to life, and having been hailed “exceptional” by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, it would be a massive coup for the board should they be able to convince him to join Everton.

The Adidas-sponsored star has a remarkable 199 goal contributions (152 goals and 47 assists) to his name in 352 appearances throughout his career and despite receiving limited game time this season, has recorded 28 shots which, is the fifth-highest in his squad.

The Champions and Europa League participant, who is naturally a centre-forward but has also once operated as a second striker, additionally knows what it takes to be successful having won ten senior trophies since bursting onto the scene, so could bring a much-needed winning mentality to the squad at Goodison Park.

Tottenham Hotspur have made progress in their talks with Julian Nagelsmann, and he is now ready to accept the manager's job, according to recent reports from Germany.

What's the latest Julian Nagelsmann news?

Having left his role as Bayern Munich manager, Nagelsmann has been linked with a move to the Premier League, being named as Tottenham's preferred choice, however at one stage a move did not look likely.

The German is said to have rejected a move to north London earlier this month, having been in favour of waiting until the summer before making a decision regarding his future, with Chelsea also lurking.

Now, the 35-year-old is said to have pulled out of the race to take over at Stamford Bridge, with Fabrizio Romano detailing that will be his "final decision", in what could be a major boost to Spurs' chances.

According to a report from BILD (via Sport Witness), the young manager has previously turned down the opportunity to take over at Tottenham, but he may now have changed his mind.

Spurs showed an interest in appointing the former Bayern Munich boss immediately after he was sacked by the Bundesliga club, but he rebuffed their advances, insisting that he wanted some time out of the game.

The Lilywhites are now said to have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race for the Landsberg Am Lech-born tactician, and he would now be ready to accept the job, although complex negotiations would need to take place beforehand.

Should Tottenham appoint Julian Nagelsmann?

Former manager Antonio Conte was much-maligned by the media for a "boring" brand of football during his time with Spurs, and there are plenty of indications that Nagelsmann would bring a more entertaining style of play to N17.

Journalist Raj Chohan has hailed the former RB Leipzig boss as an "unreal attacking coach", while Zach Lowy has described him as "progressive", which will no doubt come as exciting news to a significant number of fans.

There are some doubts about appointing the up-and-coming manager, with journalist Valentina Maceri explaining his lack of experience meant it was sometimes hard to deal with big-name players at Bayern, while his tactics were considered overly-complicated.

That said, Nagelsmann now has experience of managing a top club, which will stand him in good stead, and he did manage to win three trophies during his time at the Allianz Arena, so Tottenham should definitely look to bring him in.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is said to 'really like' former Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter as the search for the 12th permanent manager of his 22-year reign.

Tottenham manager news – What's the latest news on Graham Potter?

The 47-year-old was sacked by Blues owner Todd Boehly after a string of disappointing results. He left Stamford Bridge with a win rate of just 38.7% and is thought to have already rejected a job at Leicester City, who themselves departed from Brendan Rodgers.

Antonio Conte left Spurs last month, with his assistant Cristian Stellini being named as interim until the end of the season, where Levy will no doubt find the Italian's successor and Potter could emerge as a candidate, given his availability and past success on the south coast.

According to journalist Paul Brown, the former Ostersunds FK tactician is admired at Hotspur Way, however, he has rejected the chance to manage the club before. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

"They really like Potter and they went for him in quite a big way when he was at Brighton. But, he basically turned them down and felt he could do better."

Would Potter be a good appointment for Spurs?

Levy has had mixed success when it comes to the dugout, with the likes of Harry Redknapp and Mauricio Pochettino his best hires to date.

Surprisingly, the more trophy-laden appointments have disappointed in recent times as Jose Mourinho and Conte have won accolades at every team they've managed – apart from at Spurs.

They also share a tricky past with London rivals Chelsea, where the pair have both won the Premier League title. Levy has also taken on other coaches such as Andre Villas-Boas and Glenn Hoddle, without much success, so surely he has learnt his lesson when it comes to appointing those that come with a Blues past.

Often, they are fighting a losing battle before they even take the stage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time.

Potter would likely be no different, especially considering how poorly his tenure played out at Stamford Bridge. Under Boehly, Chelsea have spent a whopping £600m in transfer spending, yet the Blues find themselves in 11th place, behind teams like Fulham, Aston Villa and even his former club, Brighton.

The 47-year-old wouldn't get that luxury at Tottenham but it would be another high-pressure environment, one where success would be measured by qualification to Europe's elite competition, the Champions League.

Back in November, the Englishman was branded as "clueless" by BBC Sport broadcaster George Addo Jnr because of just how badly Chelsea struggled against their typical top-six rivals, which should raise further doubt over his appointment.

Potter would be better suited to rebuilding a team such as Southampton or West Ham, rather than Spurs, who need a stern leader and a total transformation in playing staff.