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News filtering up from Old Trafford and Headingley that there will be negotiations to try and conjure results won’t have pleased Somerset as they struggled to break the back of Durham’s second innings

Andrew McGlashan at Chester-le-Street15-Sep-2010
ScorecardJames Hildreth’s hundred built a good lead for Somerset, but they struggled to break through with the ball•Getty ImagesNews filtering up from Old Trafford and Headingley that there will be negotiations to try and conjure results won’t have pleased Somerset as they struggled to break the back of Durham’s second innings. At the close the home side fought hard to reach 171 for 2, a lead of 31, and Somerset will have to work hard for the victory that would assure them the Championship pennant for the first time.Somerset’s batsmen did their job, led by James Hildreth’s seventh hundred of the season, as they became the first team to collect a full hand of batting bonus points at Chester-le-Street this summer. They built a lead of 140 and victory here would make any arrangements in Manchester and Leeds pointless, but Michael Di Venuto ensured Durham, for one more day the reigning champions, weren’t going down without a fight.Something else to throw into the equation is that the final day is 84 overs instead of the usual 96 because the side’s agreed to play four extra on each of the first three days so that Somerset can leave in time to catch a flight to London. They could be in the situation of leaving the ground without knowing whether the title is theirs or not. The ECB plan to present the trophy wherever it is won, too, so a helicopter could be useful.Any target at Old Trafford would have to heavily favour Lancashire, but crucially Nottinghamshire would be in with a chance, while Anthony McGrath has confirmed there will be a game at Headingly weather permitting. If Durham continue to bat stubbornly towards a draw it will come down to whether Marcus Trescothick can agree to a run-chase with Phil Mustard, the home captain. It would make for a gripping final few hours of the campaign.For much of the day Somerset continued to work their way into pole position. They kept up a brisk scoring rate throughout, initially with Peter Trego and then Hildreth took over with a mature innings with highlighted the strides he has made this season. His hundred came from 175 deliveries with 13 boundaries, with his pull shot proving especially powerful.Somerset could provide quite a few England Lions tourists this winter and Hildreth will top that list. He moved ahead of Marcus Trescothick as the team’s leading Championship run-scorer and when he clipped a three through midwicket it took Somerset to 400.Trego had carried on where he left off the previous evening as he rattled to a 46-ball half-century. He had one fortunate moment on 54 when a top-edged pull wasn’t gathered by Phil Mustard. When Ian Blackwell’s left-arm spin was introduced the batsmen began cautiously, but it didn’t take long for Trego to slog-sweep him over deep midwicket for six.The hundred partnership with Hildreth came off 22 overs but ended shortly afterwards when Trego was beaten by a ball from Liam Plunkett that kept a fraction low and got dragged onto leg stump. The onus then switched to Hildreth as the bonus points were notched up. Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire could do nothing about it.James Buttler, who has enjoyed a prolific second half to the season and could well have caught the eye of England’s selectors, lived a slightly fortunate life alongside Hildreth. On 19 he was dropped at slip off Blackwell and the same bowler suffered again when Ruel Brathwaite dropped a sitter at mid-on after Buttler miscued a pull. Brathwaite is trying to impress the coaching staff at Durham during his two-week spell. His fielding won’t have helped.Durham, while trying to maintain their professionalism, started to wear the look of a team ready for the season to end. Buttler continued to play his shots and twice dispatched Blackwell through the leg side then edged Ben Harmison wide of the lone slip. Harmison, though, struck back shortly before lunch when he nipped one in to Buttler’s pads – although there was a hint it was missing leg – before Ben Phillips also fell lbw first ball to bring lunch.Hildreth, though, found a solid partner in Alfonso Thomas as the pair added 58 for the eighth wicket to secure all the batting points. Hildreth, looking to keep the scoring rate high, missed a swing at Brathwaite who then wrapped up the innings to finish with 3 for 93 to put the match back in the hands of Somerset’s bowlers.Phillips removed Mark Stoneman early when the left hander was plumb lbw, but the second-wicket stand proved tough to break as Di Venuto, who passed 1000 runs for the season, and Gordon Muchall added 113 in 30 overs. There was little in the pitch for the quicks and although Murali Kartik found a hint of turn it wasn’t alarming. Again, though, Trego showed his skill of taking vital wickets when he removed Muchall with one that kept low.Di Venuto and Harmison survived the final nine overs to close, albeit with a few alarms against Kartik who almost bowled Harmison. It all comes down to the final day.

This has been a quite staggering transfer window for Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa side with the Midlands outfit bringing some of Europe’s top talent to the club.

Lucas Digne was signed from a top-flight rival while the addition of a certain Philippe Coutinho, who has already bagged his first Villa Park goal, has really made the supporters stand up and take notice.

What’s the word?

Villa have added two further players to their ranks and on Tuesday confirmed the signing of Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen until the end of the campaign.

However, Johan Lange and the club’s recruitment team aren’t done yet.

They could raid another of their Premier League rivals before the window closes with the club still very much holding an interest in Brighton’s Yves Bissouma.

That’s the word of Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth who was speaking live during the broadcaster’s Transfer Show earlier this week.

He said: “They remain interested in the Brighton midfielder, Yves Bissouma. I mean, if they were to get a signing like that over the line in addition to the ones they’ve already got, what a window that would be.”

Fans surely buzzing

As the reporter alludes to, this would cap off a quite wonderful window for Villa where they will have strengthened in a number of hugely important areas.

Signing Digne has added international experience to their full-back positions while it really feels as though Coutinho’s arrival, even if it does end up being for just six months, has finally replaced Jack Grealish.

Watching the attacking midfielder walk away for £100m last summer was a bitter pill to swallow for those associated with Villa but it feels as though Christian Purslow and Lange have now made up for that judgement call.

Coutinho opened his account for the club on his debut last weekend, rescuing a point at home to Manchester United and although Bissouma doesn’t offer the same attacking threat, he could also help the club replace one of their lost stars.

That happens to be Idrissa Gueye, somebody who left Villa to join Everton and is now starring for French giants, PSG.

A tough-tackling machine, the now 32-year-old won a mind-boggling 4.1 tackles per game in the 2015/16 campaign at Villa Park and has carried that form on throughout his career, winning 2.7 in Ligue 1 this term.

Bissouma offers up similar characteristics, battling to 3.6 successful tackles per match in 2021/22, showing all the fight and aggression needed to succeed at the top level. That’s a remarkable tally and with that in mind, Gerrard would be adding another proven Premier League performer to his armoury.

Combine that with his ability to finally replace Gueye in the middle of the park and it’s a potential acquisition this winter that would leave supporters buzzing with excitement.

AND in other news, NSWE heading for disaster on “outstanding” £27m-rated dynamo, AVFC fans will be fuming…

Leicestershire crashed to their seventh home defeat after losing by eight runs to Warwickshire in the final Friends Provident t20 North Group match at Grace Road

Cricinfo staff18-Jul-2010
Scorecard
Leicestershire crashed to their seventh home defeat after losing by eight runs to Warwickshire in the final Friends Provident t20 North Group match at Grace Road. Having restricted the Bears to 137 for 7 with a fine bowling and fielding performance, the Foxes were unable to match that with their batting, failing to chase down what looked a comfortable victory target and closing on 129 for 6.Former Foxes player Darren Maddy top scored for the Bears with a blistering 41 off 29 balls, hitting three sixes, while Chris Woakes and Keith Barker each claimed two wickets to help clinch victory.On a slow pitch, the home side were never up with the rate needed after the early loss of opener Jacques Du Toit, who was trapped lbw by Woakes. Brad Hodge tried in vain to keep the chase afloat, cracking four boundaries in a belligerent 22 before becoming Woakes’ second victim with the total on 31.The innings then crawled along with no boundary for 10 overs. That finally arrived when James Taylor produced a reverse sweep for a four off the bowling of Stef Piolet. Taylor went on to top score with 29, but by then it was all too little too late for the Foxes, with the asking rate having climbed to more than 11 an over.Barker ended their slim hopes of reaching the target by taking two wickets in an over, dismissing first Taylor and then clean bowling Wayne White. Despite Claude Henderson hitting Barker for the only six of the innings, the Foxes were still left needing 17 off the last over, and Neil Carter bowled well enough to ensure that did not happen.In the field the Foxes fared much better, with Hodge taking the early wicket of England batsman Jonathan Trott who was trapped lbw, and the big-hitting Carter bowled by Matthew Hoggard for 21.But Barker, Jim Troughton and then Maddy kept the scoreboard moving, with the latter in impressive form. After a slow start, he found his timing despite the slowness of the surface, smashing superb sixes off Henderson, James Benning and Nadeem Malik.A brisk innings from Woakes took the Bears to 137 and although the total hardly seemed enough, it proved more than adequate as the Foxes once again disappointed in front of their home fans.The only point gained they gained at home in the competition was because of a no-result for a washed-out game against Durham. Away from home the Foxes won six out of eight. As it turned out, even had they won for the first time at Grace Road, it would not have been enough, with Northamptonshire clinching a quarter-final place with a victory at Durham.

Cricket Australia are set to appoint their first full-time national selector in a move to professionalise the four-man panel

Cricinfo staff17-Jun-2010Cricket Australia are set to appoint their first full-time national selector in a move to professionalise the four-man panel. The successful applicant will double as a national talent manger, while the role will also include being a spokesman and a touring selector.The structure of Australia’s selection panel has been debated for some time with a feeling that it demands a full-time role, although this latest development doesn’t go as far as to impact the chairman’s position. Andrew Hilditch, the current chairman, has faced some difficult situations when trying to perform his cricket role along with his career as a lawyer.The selection panel will remain at four so if one of the current members – Hilditch, Jamie Cox, Merv Hughes or David Boon – doesn’t get the new job then someone will have to move aside. Michael Brown, CA’s general manager, said the change would help the relationship between state sides and the international set-up”The creation of the position is a wonderful step for the professionalism of Australian cricket,” Brown said. “[He] will lead the national talent management system and ensure efficient and effective talent identification systems that also embrace national selection philosophies.”History shows the tremendous job all states have done in identifying cricket talent. This position allows a strengthening of these relationships while at the same time helping player progression plans in conjunction with national and state high performance staff. We expect this person to play a key role in managing senior Australian teams and being available to communicate with current players and those who have been identified as potential Australian players.”

Makhaya Ntini, the South Africa fast bowler, has said the existing structure to identify black cricketers in the country’s rural areas is not yielding the desired results

Cricinfo staff06-Jun-2010Makhaya Ntini, the South Africa fast bowler, believes the existing structure to identify black cricketers in the country’s rural areas is not yielding the desired results. Ntini, among his country’s most renowned sporting personalities and himself a product of that structure, is raising funds to build an academy in the Eastern Cape and hopes it will help in the development of more black cricketers.”We do have a structure in South Africa where they are looking for black cricketers outside the usual areas, the cities. They go to the rural areas to try and find promising youngsters,” Ntini told . “But when you are talking about whether it’s developing, or it’s still going down a bit, it’s a very rare person who will answer in the first way. I would say cricket from the point of view of the black community is not the same as when Khaya Majola or Dr Ali Bacher were around, when it was booming, we had all the schools getting together to play some games.”Then it was easier to see who was a very good cricketer, who could go to the high schools and develop their cricket. Now it’s not so easy. I would like that to change.”Ntini is South Africa’s ambassador for the FIFA World Cup which begins in the country in less than a week. For a cricketer to represent his country in that capacity at a global event, Ntini said, was very special. “As a cricketer for me to be there, and part and parcel of what’s going on in our country, it’s a huge thing, something I’m proud of as a country, as a person and as an individual.”Ntini acknowledged cricket in South Africa was still a sport dominated by whites, and for black cricketers to compete and succeed, they had to work that much harder. “Cricket in South Africa is not exclusively white, but it is more white-dominant. The football is more black-dominant, so they are two different ball games in every respect,” Ntini said. “For those of us who don’t play football, we have to make sure we are 10% ahead of anything else, regarding fitness, regarding preparation, everything, for us to compete with the other players. In a white-dominant sport, to stay there for longer, those kind of things we have to go through.”Earlier in the year, in the Test series against England, Ntini became the fifth South African cricketer to play 100 Tests. His performance, however, had been on a decline and he was dropped after his 101st. He is currently representing Kent in the English domestic season but remains hopeful of a return to international cricket. “I have enjoyed my time [with Kent] and I would definitely love to come back, but first I must sort out my cricket life back home and see if I am still involved with the national team. If not, playing county cricket will be my second option,” he said.”I only need 10 [Test] wickets to get to 400, and I am crossing my fingers I will be given that opportunity. If it was not me, if it was anyone else, only 32 and still needing 10 wickets for 400, he would definitely [get the chance]. You know, ‘We’ll try and get him those wickets’.” Ntini had expressed his disappointment at not having heard from the selectors since being dropped. Andrew Hudson, Cricket South Africa’s chief selector, responded saying Ntini will be considered for selection for the national side’s upcoming series, following his encouraging stint with Kent.

Aston Villa and Leicester City have approached Rangers over midfielder Joe Aribo, according to Fichajes.net, with the clubs hoping to complete a deal before he plays another game at Ibrox.

The lowdown

25-year-old Aribo is in the final 18 months of his £14,000-per-week contract at Ibrox.

The midfield maestro, who can also play on the right, joined Rangers on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic in 2019 and has gone to make 123 appearances for the club.

He’s now valued at £5.85million by Transfermarkt, a figure that’s soared since the summer of 2020.

The latest

The report claims Steven Gerrard has ‘expressly requested’ the signing of Aribo as he looks to reunite with the player in the Midlands.

Leicester are at a ‘disadvantage’, but their midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is a ‘great friend’ of Aribo and will try and convince his countryman to pick The Foxes.

Both clubs have ‘already contacted’ Rangers but if they’re to do a deal in January, it’ll most likely have to be before Aribo ‘concentrates’ on the Africa Cup of Nations.

UK-based players are expected to link up with the Nigeria squad on Monday, January 3, meaning Aribo has played his last game for the Light Blues if one of the buyers get their wish.

The verdict

Could Aribo have played his last game for Rangers? Well, if Villa and Leicester are wary of losing out to each other, they may well try to fast-track the deal in the next week.

While they would be furnished with the funds to replace him, losing Aribo would undoubtedly be a big blow to Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

He’s started 19 out of a possible 20 Premiership matches and ranks as their second-highest performer according to WhoScored metrics, behind only James Tavernier.

Aribo, who’s scored six goals and provided three assists in the SPFL, has been hailed as a ‘gem’ and the ‘best player in the league’ by sports journalist Josh Bunting, so the club must ensure they bank a huge profit if they opt to cash in.

In other news, Rangers have been linked with this Spanish sensation.

Jamal Lewis now looks set to miss Newcastle United’s game at home to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Starter under Howe

Since Eddie Howe’s appointment, Lewis has become a regular in the St. James’ Park faithful’s team.

The Northern Ireland international has started their last four games in the Premier League, where he was barely getting a look-in under Steve Bruce (Transfermarkt).

However, he was forced to come off early in their 3-1 loss away at Liverpool last time out, and now is an injury doubt ahead of their match at home to Man City.

The Latest: Not looking good

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the clash against Pep Guardiola’s men, Howe has now claimed that Lewis’ injury ‘looks bad’, and could be a ‘hamstring problem’.

The former AFC Bournemouth manager was ‘surprised’ because of how ‘athletic’ Lewis is, and added that he has been ‘excellent’ in his athletic work.

The Verdict: No problem

While losing Lewis could be a blow to the North East club’s hopes of getting anything from the reigning Premier League champions, they have a capable replacement in Matt Ritchie.

Howe thought that the Scotland international was ‘fantastic’ in replacing Lewis, emphasised by his high pass accuracy (76%), accurate long balls (three) and minimal possession losses (six) compared to the rest of his teammates on the night (SofaScore).

Nonetheless, Ritchie has two assists and has averaged more shots (0.7), key passes (1.9), dribbles (0.3). crosses (1.8) and long balls (2.6) than Lewis in the top flight so far this season (WhoScored), and so would pose more of an attacking threat if the Magpies do take their rare chances to get forward against the reigning champions.

In other news, find out which ‘sensational’ ace NUFC are now ‘closing in’ on signing here!

Everton are on a dire run of form and Rafa Benitez has been not been dealt any favours when it comes to injuries at Goodison Park.

According to The Athletic, Richarlison is set to be out for a number of weeks with a calf tear after he was substituted in the second half of the defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Toffees have lost seven of their last nine Premier League matches, having won just five of their 16 matches in the division this season.

Revival

They are in desperate need of something to kickstart their revival under the Spaniard and Richarlison’s injury could open up the door for the spark they need to come in. Ellis Simms could be called up from the academy to come in and make his senior bow.

The 20-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut for Everton but his record in the youth teams and out on loan suggests that he has the potential to be a difference-maker for the Blues.

He scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 24 League One games for Blackpool last term and has scored 55 goals for the Toffees across the U18’s and U23’s, meaning he has 65 career strikes to his name at senior and youth level combined.

In the 2018/19 campaign, he scored a sensational 32 goals in 21 under-18 Premier League matches – scoring 41 times in 44 games at that age bracket overall. Since moving up to the 23’s, he has scored 17 in 37 outings – with his loan spell with the Tangerines coming last season.

Everton U23s Assistant John Ebbrell previously heaped praise on the young attacker, saying:

“What I do know with Ellis, if he ends up one-vs-one with the goalkeeper, he’s scoring.

“From experience, I know if you have time to think for that finish it can be difficult but Ellis is really calm and composed in those situations. He very rarely misses.”

His goalscoring statistics and Ebbrell’s comments on his finishing suggest that he could be able to make the grade in the first-team if he is given a chance by Benitez in the coming weeks. Richarlison’s injury could be the perfect opportunity to throw him in at the deep end to see if he is able to swim or not.

If Simms is able to come in and score goals at Premier League level then it could kickstart Everton’s revival and see them begin to move up to the part of the table where they want to be, rather than struggling in the bottom half.

AND in other news, “What I’m hearing…”: Greg O’Keeffe drops big Everton update, fans surely buzzing…

James Hopes and Lee Carseldine will return for Queensland to provide a much-needed dose of experience for the Sheffield Shield final

Cricinfo staff14-Mar-2010James Hopes and Lee Carseldine will return for Queensland to provide a much-needed dose of experience for the Sheffield Shield final against Victoria starting on Wednesday. Hopes is back after playing in Australia’s 3-2 win over New Zealand while Carseldine has been passed fit following a broken toe that ruled him out of the Bulls’ last regular-season game.While Western Australia won that match by three wickets, the Bulls were outplayed for most of the contest and their batting was a major worry as they were dismissed for 106 and 285. Craig Philipson, Nathan Reardon and Nathan Rimmington have been dropped from the 13-man outfit while the uncapped duo of Ben Dunk and Jason Floros have been selected.Dunk, a wicketkeeper-batsman, was outstanding in the Twenty20 competition and the allrounder Floros was part of Australia’s Under-19 World Cup win. “We’ll have a good look at the conditions and make our decision [on the XI] from there,” Queensland’s chairman of selectors Ray Phillips said.”There are a few things we’re considering so we’ll take our time to finalise things.” The squad will arrive in Melbourne on Monday and some of the players will attend the state cricket media awards.Queensland squad Ryan Broad, Wade Townsend, Lee Carseldine, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Chris Hartley (wk), Ben Dunk, Jason Floros, Chris Simpson (capt), Cameron Boyce, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Chris Swan.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Glasgow Rangers head into Thursday evening’s Europa League tie safe in the knowledge that they have already secured a place for the Ibrox side in the knockout stages of the competition.

As such, with nothing at stake aside from pride, the fixture against Olympique Lyonnais presents the 46-year-old Gers manager with a perfect opportunity to heavily rotate his side, allowing a number of his peripheral squad members some much-needed game time.

Subsequently, this means that a plethora of Rangers’ regular starters must make way, with centre-forward Alfredo Morelos appearing to be a prime candidate for the chop on Thursday evening.

Van Bronckhorst must axe Morelos

Since making the move to Ibrox back in 2017, Morelos has gone on to become an incredibly important part of the Rangers first-team setup, scoring a highly impressive 104 goals and registering 46 assists over his 207 appearances for the club.

This season has been no different, with the £10.8m-rated striker having already bagged five goals, provided three assists and created two big chances over his 14 Premiership appearances, as well as taking an average of 4.1 shots – the highest number of any player in the top flight – and making 1.6 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the 25-year-old who Willy Irwin dubbed an “incredible” talent average a SofaScore match rating of 7.14, ranking him as Gers’ sixth-best performer in the league.

It has been a similar case over the Colombia international’s five outings in the Europa League this term, with the £33k-per-week hitman notching two goals and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.16, ranking him as his side’s second-best player in Europe.

However, it is exactly because of Morelos’ fine form that Van Bronckhorst must ruthlessly axe the centre-forward against Lyon.

With the striker being just one yellow card away from suspension in the Europa League, it is not worth running the risk of fielding the player who the Dutch manager claimed can always “create danger” in the dead rubber on Thursday, as he could subsequently miss the much more important first-leg of Rangers’ knockout tie next February.

In other news: GVB must unleash Rangers’ “powerful” £17k-p/w “big talent” v Lyon, he’s a game-changer