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Australia eased to a seven-wicket victory with five overs to spare in the opening match of the VB Series in Sydney

Ralph Dellor13-Dec-2002Australia eased to a seven-wicket victory with five overs to spare in the opening match of the VB Series in Sydney. Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist set the tone with a blistering opening partnership to destroy the notion that England’s 251 for eight might be competitive. An unbeaten hundred for Nick Knight and fifties for Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain had raised English hopes before a collapse initiated by Brett Lee with four wickets and Darren Lehmann with three, and the tourists are still looking for their first win on Australian soil after 12 matches.After Hussain had won the toss and batted, there was a welcome return to form from the England openers. Trescothick, with one fifty in 15 innings on tour, could have gone to the first ball when he edged Glenn McGrath through the slips, and he was far from chanceless thereafter.Nevertheless, he stayed to compile a much-needed hundred opening partnership with Knight who played the sort of innings that many critics suggested might be behind him in his international career. Despite the fact that he was suffering from cramp and required a runner, he was quite superb.The left-handed openers had put on 101 in 17 overs when Trescothick’s innings of 60 from 57 balls came to an end as he attempted to cut Lee and only succeeded in finding Shane Warne at slip.Ronnie Irani fell lbw to Warne’s second ball, but Nasser Hussain steadied things when he joined Knight. He was not able to press on at the sort of rate he might have wanted, but he constructed an innings of 52 from 81 balls, at which point England were 205 for two in the 41st over and looking at a total at the thick end of 270 or so. Then came the collapse.Lehmann had been introduced to the attack with his left-arm spin and Hussain, trying to take the initiative, was well held at long-off by Jason Gillespie. Ian Blackwell was caught behind off Lehmann first ball, Owais Shah, in the circumstances, was too eager and lifted Lehmann straight to Michael Bevan at long-on, and Alec Stewart followed, given out lbw to Lee despite an impression that the ball was going down the leg side.Craig White kept Knight company with good effect until moving across his stumps to be bowled by Lee in the last over, and Gareth Batty’s first ball in international cricket was a 95 mph straight yorker that might have beaten anybody.The fall of wickets took the momentum out of the last ten overs, despite the fact that Knight kept runs flowing from one end with some clubbing strokes of total authority. They gave England hope, but were soon eclipsed by a savage Australian response.Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden took the England attack apart in the early overs. James Kirtley began with an encouraging maiden, but there was little else to please the bowlers or their captain. Hussain applied some innovative field placings, but nothing could contain the batsmen in the sort of form they displayed.Gilchrist went to his fifty from 44 balls and Hayden was even quicker as he reached the mark in 38 balls. It looked as if the bowlers were there simply to serve up balls for the batsmen to despatch. Despite opening with a maiden, Kirtley went for 33 from his other three in his opening spell. Andrew Caddick conceded 32 from his first four. White pegged it back slightly, while Irani at least had the satisfaction of a wicket.Gilchrist had been going at better than a run a ball with seven boundaries when he tried to lift Irani over the mid-wicket boundary but fell a little short and Shah took a comfortable catch. He would have been disappointed not to go on, but he had done a first-rate job for his side as England’s fragile confidence was battered once again.Hayden went on, employing a wide array of sweeps to counter the introduction of England’s young spinners – Batty and Blackwell. Some were frustratingly just out of reach of fielders, a few were thumped, others worked into gaps while one, off Batty, was deposited deep into the stand over square leg with a minimum of effort.Ricky Ponting had an enjoyable task at the other end, being able to watch Hayden on the attack while playing himself in. He had done that when he pushed forward to a ball from Blackwell that turned enough to find the outside edge and Irani tumbled and juggled and held the catch at slip.A hundred from Hayden was writ large on all the cards, but it was not to be. He had excited the crowd by sweeping at Blackwell on 98 and taking two, but those were signalled as leg byes. Still on 98, he drove the 92nd ball he faced over mid-off where Trescothick judged his leap to perfection to pluck the ball out of the air. A fine catch to end a splendid innings.It left Damien Martyn and Lehmann to take Australia home with clinical efficiency. No risks were necessary and none taken. They saw off Blackwell, who finished with the most respectable of the bowling figures, and ran with supreme understanding as they stroked the ball into gaps with consummate ease.Australia failed to win in time to pick up a bonus point, but they were totally in command in every other respect. It only remains to be seen whether England have the reserves of will power to come back and remain as contenders in the series.

Reliable reporter Alan Nixon has revealed just how much Aston Villa offered Leeds United for Kalvin Phillips back in 2019.

The Lowdown: 2019 links

Villa were heavily linked with a move for the midfielder after they won promotion to the Premier League two years ago. The Whites had to wait another season for their top-flight return, and Villa tried their best to land the holding midfielder the previous summer.

Dean Smith eventually brought in Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba to bolster his holding midfield ranks, with reports suggesting that Villa bid £25m for the now England international.

However, Nixon revealed on Thursday that this was not the case.

The Latest: Nixon’s claim

Nixon, who writes for The Sun, was talking about Burnley’s interest in Phillips two years ago. He claimed that the Clarets offered £17m for the midfielder, whereas Villa’s bid was worth £15m.

As we know, Phillips stayed at Elland Road and signed a new long-term deal a few months after the links, with Leeds wanting £30m that summer.

The Verdict: If only Villa paid double…

It’s easy to say now in hindsight, but you’d expect that Villa will be kicking themselves by not signing Phillips two years ago.

He has gone on to star under Marcelo Bielsa in the Premier League and is currently impressing at Euro 2020 under Gareth Southgate, playing more minutes than almost every other England outfield player.

Yes, he would’ve been a club-record signing at the time for a player who then had no top-flight or international experience, but as we now know, it would’ve probably been a deal worthy of the fee in the long run.

In other news: ‘We making moves’ – Many AVFC fans buzzing as ‘great news’ is confirmed, find out more here. 

A composed 12th Test hundred from Andrew Strauss guided England to a comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand on the fourth day at Old Trafford, chasing down 294 – the highest fourth-innings run-chase at the ground – to take a 1-0 lead in the series

The Bulletin by Will Luke26-May-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
Andrew Strauss provided the bedrock behind England’s successful run-chase with a superbly controlled hundred © Getty Images
A composed 12th Test hundred from Andrew Strauss guided England to a comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand on the fourth day at Old Trafford, chasing down 294 – the highest fourth-innings run-chase at the ground – to take a 1-0 lead in the series. It marked a remarkable turnaround for England, overturning a 179-run first-innings deficit, which was the fifth highest by any team, while New Zealand have much to ponder, most notably their dismal collapse of 114 all out yesterday.In truth, New Zealand didn’t help themselves. Catches were spilled, overthrows gifted and the fielding was not nearly as alert as it should have been for a side who, at the start of the day, were marginal favourites. Remarkably, Daniel Vettori, who was such a threat yesterday when he ripped through England, went wicketless today on a pitch which lacked any of yesterday’s demons. New Zealand did pick up three wickets – and should have had more, had Iain O’Brien not shelled two dollies – but England were always on course.Strauss was the key. Solid and composed yesterday evening, he was compact and similarly collected today. Neat nudges square of the wicket were combined with a solid defence – though he did edge O’Brien down to third man after New Zealand had changed the ball after 31.2 overs. Vettori was disappointingly ineffective, not helped by his fielders. A tuck off his hip by Strauss should only have allowed one, had Kyle Mills been aware, and Vettori hinted that the pressure was beginning to take its toll on him too when, the next ball, he overstepped and Michael Vaughan clattered him through extra cover.Vettori himself let through another Strauss drive at mid-off, audibly venting his disgust, before Brendon McCullum attempted to throw down the stumps in the next over to hand England an extra five. New Zealand were beginning to flap and Strauss brought up a fine fifty from 105 balls, his third in succession, and England’s target crept below 150.Vaughan, meanwhile, was less assured than Strauss and struggled against Jacob Oram, who recovered sufficiently from his sore shoulder – though he barely reached 70mph for much of the morning. Nevertheless, his medium-pace wobblers held up on the pitch to Vaughan who drove just short of Jamie How at cover, following it up with a crunching cover drive before a lifter was again squirted short of the cover fielder. Nothing was going New Zealand’s way, until Martin was introduced half-an-hour before lunch.Bowling at good pace and a much tighter line than O’Brien had earlier, Martin repeatedly found the outside edge of Vaughan’s bat – one of which flew infuriatingly down to third man for four – but, on 48, Vaughan drove at a good-length ball to hand New Zealand their much-needed breakthrough. Enter England’s crumbly middle-order, and Kevin Pietersen somehow survived a fizzing delivery from Vettori which brushed his pad and span over the stumps. It was that sort of morning for New Zealand, but England had made their own luck with the aggressive style of batting that they have so failed to demonstrate thus far in the series.On several occasions Vettori has made Pietersen look hapless in this series, and his natural aggressive instincts again nearly cost him his wicket. Just after lunch, he skipped down the pitch to flick one through midwicket, the ball bobbling to short-leg who then shied at the stumps – only narrowly missing. However, a superbly timed off-drive in the next over got his feet moving before he thumped Vettori over the top for England’s first six of the series.Strauss marched on, approaching somewhere near his best with a free-flowing drive off Martin through the covers and a beautiful pick-up off Vettori as England’s target sneaked to under 100. Befitting of such a calm, steadying innings, Strauss brought up his 12th Test hundred with a tuck off his hip for an easy single as New Zealand desperately sought inspiration. And they found it, at last, when Strauss edged O’Brien to Ross Taylor who grasped a superb catch low to his left at second slip.Pietersen broke free briefly, flicking O’Brien through midwicket for four, but an ambitious call for two underestimated O’Brien’s rocket throw from fine-leg. New Zealand had the faintest of sniffs, England still needing 46 with their two out-of-form batsmen, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, at the crease. Both should have been caught by O’Brien off his own bowling – especially Bell, who misread an excellent slower ball – and the fumbles summed up New Zealand’s day rather aptly.Nevertheless, the pair saw England home and Collingwood – who was completely at sea against Vettori – battled his way out of form with a couple of late fours to wrap things up just before tea. New Zealand resembled a side still in shock over yesterday’s batting capitulation, and they have only a week to plot their revenge for Trent Bridge.

Five players have received penalty points or reprimands under the ECB’s discipline code for recent on field events

Cricinfo staff20-Jun-2008Six players have received penalty points under the ECB’s discipline code for recent on field events. David Nash, Mal Loye, Anthony Ireland and Mehraj Ahmed were all handed three-point penalties, while David Wheeldon was given a reprimand.Loye fell foul of the officials for his send-off of Phil Mustard during Lancashire’s Twenty20 match against Durham on June 17. Ahmed, Ireland and Arafat were all pulled up for bowling an accidental high full toss, which resulted in them being removed from the attack.Ireland’s and Arafat’s came during recent Twenty20 matches while Ahmed’s occurred during Worcestershire’s 2nd XI match against Surrey. Wheeldon was also reported for showing dissent in the same game.For Ireland it’s his second three-point penalty of the season and the accumulation of nine or more points in any two-year period will result in automatic suspension.Meanwhile, Nash was reported by umpires Andy Hicks and Charlie Puckett for showing dissent following an incident in Middlesex’s 2nd XI Championship game against Kent.

Southampton moving for Atalanta and Denmark star Joakim Maehle is unlikely to happen, says former Saints midfielder Carlton Palmer.

Maehle impressed at the Euros for Denmark, with the full-back managing to score a couple of goals as his country made it to the semi-finals of the competition.

He is now being linked with a move away from the Gewiss Stadium and Southampton are one side who are thought to be interested in his services.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Saints have already made an approach to sign the player, who Atalanta value at €28m (£24m).

Based on the 24-year-old’s performances at the Euros, he looks like he could be a good signing. However, at that price, it is a deal Palmer cannot see happening.

“I think it’s very unlikely,” the ex-Southampton player told FFC in an exclusive interview. “History says that they’re not spending that type of money.

“Southampton have relied heavily over the years on the fact that they’ve got a fantastic youth set-up and the conveyor belt of bringing players through, because they’ve just not been in the market to spend that type of money.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has made it clear in the past that he is likely to target players around the £10m mark this summer, so a move for Maehle does look unlikely.

According to a report in the paper edition of Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, Barcelona goalkeeper Neto is open to joining Tottenham this summer and the Lilywhites are ‘interested’ – coming amid strong reports of talks to sign shot stopper Pierluigi Gollini.

The Lowdown: Paratici eyeing Spurs overhaul…

It has been a hectic few days on Tottenham with the transfer market now well and truly in full flow.

The Lilywhites’ activity was delayed for long periods after the end of 2020/2021, largely due to their search for a new manager, but now managing director of football Fabio Paratici has his sights set on a major Spurs overhaul.

Spurs appear to be prioritising their defensive issues with advanced talks to sign both Gollini and centre-half Cristian Romero (Alasdair Gold).

Meanwhile, a swap deal for Bryan Gil of Sevilla, with Erik Lamela going the other way, is also in the pipeline (Sky Sports via Football Daily).

The Latest: Neto open to joining Spurs…

Despite Spurs’ negotiations for Gollini, Mundo Deportivo have come out with a claim detailing Tottenham’s interest in Catalans keeper Neto.

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The 6 foot 3 powerhouse, who started just seven La Liga matches over 20/21, is apparently eyeing an exit from the Camp Nou this summer and is now open to joining either Spurs or north London rivals Arsenal.

Tottenham reciprocate his fondness, with Mundo Deportivo claiming they are ‘interested’ in signing the Brazilian and England looks like his ‘only possible destination’.

As well as this, Spurs have already made enquiries over signing Neto, having approached Barcelona some months back and being told to pay €14 million (£12.09m).

Tottenham found the fee too expensive and looked at the possibility of taking him on loan, with the conditions slowing down any type of agreement.

The Verdict: Move on…

Coming amid news of Tottenham’s advanced talks for Gollini, this is quite the bizarre update to come from Spain.

While Neto is open to a north London move, signing Atalanta’s goalkeeping alternative arguably makes for a far better deal considering the 26-year-old’s superior amount of game time and great form since leaving Aston Villa.

Signing both players would also be a fruitless endeavour given Tottenham have a limited amount of money to spend this summer and other positions to bolster.

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘This can’t be true’, ‘No way’…Tottenham fans erupt as Harry Kane news emerges, find out more here.

Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, has urged his country’s cricket board to take a stance on touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September, instead of leaving individual players to decide

Cricinfo staff31-Jul-2008
Stephen Fleming: “It’s only going to demean the tournament as a spectacle if three or four of the leading nations send second-string sides, which is why the national body needs to step in and make the decision” © Getty Images
Stephen Fleming, the former New Zealand captain, has urged his country’s cricket board to take a stance on touring Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September, instead of leaving individual players to decide. It is understood that several high-profile players are likely to opt out of the tournament owing to security fears, after the ICC last week confirmed Pakistan as hosts.New Zealand are also scheduled to tour the country for a three-ODI series in August but that too looks in doubt.”I know I’d be reluctant if I was still there, although it’s tough to say categorically without being privy to the security reports circulated,” Fleming told .”But it’s only going to demean the tournament as a spectacle if three or four of the leading nations send second-string sides, which is why the national body needs to step in and make the decision.”Besides New Zealand, players from other leading teams like England, Australia and South Africa have expressed reservations over touring. The respective cricket boards are likely to take a final decision when the ICC-appointed task force carries out its security inspection after August 14th, when Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day.Fleming felt that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) was fortunate to have the backing of other leading teams on this issue.”It’s an unenviable position for New Zealand Cricket to be in, definitely,” Fleming said. “It’s a situation we’ve been in before, when we refused to play in Kenya [at the 2003 World Cup], although back then New Zealand was on its own standing up to the ICC.”This time we have some fairly hefty weight behind us in the form of Australia and England, which significantly changes the landscape and any potential repercussions.”He did however sympathise with Pakistan, which has experienced several bomb blasts in major cities over the last few months. India, too, was affected by blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad but there have been no reports yet of Australia or England cancelling or postponing their respective tours of the country later this year.”I know the situation might not be 100% there, but there’s constant bomb blasts in India, and Sri Lanka’s reputation [when it comes to terrorism] is hardly squeaky-clean,” he said. “You’ve got to wonder if Pakistan aren’t questioning why they’re the only ones being singled out.”The Champions Trophy is scheduled between September 11 and 28 in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

Dean Windass is confident that Tammy Abraham has played for final game for Chelsea.

The 23-year-old, a product of the Blues academy, was first-choice striker under Frank Lampard, but quickly fell out of favour under Thomas Tuchel – starting just twice in the Premier League following the German’s January appointment.

Abraham played just 1,533 minutes across all competitions, but still scored 12 times and chipped in with six assists.

However, when Chelsea reached the latter stages of both the FA Cup and Champions League, Abraham was made to watch from the bench and even the stands on several occasions.

The former Swansea and Aston Villa loanee was made cruelly left out of both final squads for the defeat to Leicester and historic victory over Manchester City in late-May.

Despite his frustrations, Abraham remains a Chelsea player and is currently preparing for the new campaign with the rest of Tuchel’s first-team squad.

However, Abraham, who’s valued at £40m by the Blues, is attracting attention from many Premier League outfits, and looks on course to end his 17-year affiliation with the Stamford Bridge side this summer.

Windass exclusively told Football FanCast:

“I think it’s the end for Tammy Abraham, his days were numbered when the new manager came in.

“Tammy will be doing pre-season now, thinking, what club I am going to be at next year? You know as a footballer if a manager fancies you.

“You’re not daft. His days are numbered, and if he stays there he’s just going to be a squad player, and he won’t want that as a young kid.”

Danielle Hazell spun the England Development side to a 33-run win over Ireland at Crowthorne on Sunday

Cricinfo staff04-Aug-2008
Scorecard

Danielle Hazell appeals successfully against Nicki Coffey © Rob O’Connor
Danielle Hazell spun the England Development side to a 33-run win over Ireland at Crowthorne on Sunday. Hazell, the England-contracted player, picked up 3 for 16 to including the wicket of topscorer Nicki Coffey to help them to victory after Georgia Elwiss and Jasmine Titmuss had dismissed the top order.Coffey ended with 47 but her efforts went unrewarded as Ireland were all out for 131, chasing the England side’s 164. Wicketkeeper Sophie Le Marchand was the home side’s leading scorer but she too fell just short of her fifty, with 46 before becoming one of Suzanne Kenealy’s three victims.The development side went on to meet England as part of the seniors’ warm-up for their one-day series against South Africa which begins this week, but the match was eventually abandoned.

Celtic have made an approach for former Chelsea striker Diego Costa, according to French football website Homme du Match. 

And, as to be expected, a number of Hoops supporters have been giving their thoughts to the links on social media.

Homme du Match claim that both Celtic and Crystal Palace have approached the Spanish forward, who is still a free agent after having his Atletico Madrid contract terminated last December.

Costa, who will turn 33 in October, is sponsored by Adidas, as are Celtic following a five-year agreement last March.

The striker has been on more than £150,000-a-week since 2015, so from the outside looking in, a move appears to be an ambitious one, especially with the Hoops’ top earner on just £20,000-a-week.

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Celtic fans react

Homme du Match posted the news on Twitter on Friday evening. Plenty of Celtic fans were quick to reply to the post, with many all for a potential move and one describing a possible deal as ‘brilliant’.

“Make it happen Dom Mckay”Credit: @mickmccorriston”Oh my”Credit: @90MinuteCynic”Brilliant hahahaha”Credit: @Aid4n_w”I’m on my knees Celtic”Credit: @mikeyreilly10″Fully onboard with this, purely for the absolute carnage that would follow.”Credit: @1p9a8u6l”100x yes.”Credit: @ltreidy67

In other news: Reporter reveals Celtic ‘talks’ for 6ft ace on Thursday evening; he wants Parkhead move.