The former wicketkeeper has alleged that there was racial discrimination in the investigation
Firdose Moonda08-Aug-2020
Vaughn van Jaarsveld has played two ODIs and three T20Is for South Africa•Gallo Images/Getty Images
Cricket South Africa will consider reviewing aspects of the 2015-16 domestic T20 match-fixing saga if evidence emerges that any of the seven players who admitted guilt were coerced or that the investigating process was compromised. CSA indicated its willingness to relook at the probe less than 24 hours after it defended the integrity of the investigation, following one of the players – Thami Tsolekile – claiming that there was racial discrimination in the investigation and that he was under duress when he accepted his ban.”If there is credible evidence that players who signed admission of guilt documents did so under duress or coercion, without full due process, or if the process was compromised in any way, CSA will ensure that the relevant bodies give these issues appropriate attention, and will review the cases as appropriate,” a board statement said.Tsolekile, who is serving a 12-year ban for his role in fixing matches during the 2015 Ram Slam competition, spoke on and named two other players – Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Robbie Frylinck – as also being involved in match-fixing, who had gone unpunished. Van Jaarsveld and Frylinck are both white.Yesterday, CSA revealed that van Jaarsveld was one of two whistleblowers, while no evidence was found to tie Frylinck to wrongdoing. Judge Bernard Ngoepe, who chaired the investigation, strongly denied any racial bias.Since then, former Test opener Alviro Petersen, who was banned for two years, tweeted that he had given CSA an ultimatum to respond to him by 10am on Saturday or he would go public with evidence of bias in the match-fixing investigation.Petersen subsequently posted that CSA heavyweights had been in touch with him. CSA has been contacted for comment but has, in the meanwhile, issued a statement indicating that all allegations of improper process are being taken seriously.
With the Arne Slot era set to get underway, Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign a midfielder who would take the Reds up another level in the middle of the park.
Liverpool transfer news
Whether it's links to Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni or Johan Bakayoko, it seems as though Michael Edwards is keen to make some statement signings this summer, having returned to take a bigger role than ever at Anfield. He, alongside Richard Hughes, will be looking to hand Slot the best possible start to his Liverpool career.
Those behind the scenes at the club proved their willingness to spend last summer when welcoming the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister and it could be the midfield that takes the focus once again in the coming months.
Liverpool now want "talented" £42m history-maker in long-term VVD solution
The Reds are planning well ahead.
ByTom Cunningham May 29, 2024
As well as Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have done to settle into life at Liverpool, the Reds are arguably one star away from handing Slot a title-winning midfield. And that's where Bruno Guimaraes could come in.
According to AS, Liverpool are eyeing a move to sign Guimaraes this summer in a move that would be worth a reported €80m (£68m) with the Brazilian's €115m (£98m) release clause coming to an end on June 24.
kalvin-phillips-bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-opinion
That said, Liverpool aren't the only side interested, with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal also eyeing moves to lure the Newcastle star away from St James' Park this summer. Given that the Magpies may need to raise funds to comply with PSR too, all three clubs could be primed and ready to take full advantage and offer a helping hand.
For Liverpool, Guimaraes represents the chance to complete their midfield rebuild once and for all ahead of an important first season under Slot.
"Magnificent" Guimaraes could replace Endo
Despite just how much of a pleasant surprise Endo has been for Liverpool since arriving, it remains to be seen just how long he can keep progressing at 31 years old and competing in one of the most intense leagues that world football has to offer. The arrival of Guimaraes would ease any of those concerns and likely result in a squad role for the Japan international. Guimaraes, meanwhile, would form quite the partnership with Mac Allister.
Premier League stats 23/24 (via FBref)
Bruno Guimaraes
Alexis Mac Allister
Goals
7
5
Assists
8
5
Progressive Passes
283
209
Ball Recoveries
236
195
With more assists than Trent Alexander-Arnold's four in the Premier League this season, Guimaraes' creativity is an underrated aspect of his game but a part that can get the Liverpool attack finally firing on all cylinders again following a poor end to the campaign.
Eddie Howe won't be keen to part ways with his star man, however, despite his reported £160k-a-week wage, having previously said via Football365: "Yes, they love him and rightly so after today’s performance. He was magnificent in every discipline of the game."
O conflito Flamengo e CBF está prestes a ganhar um novo capítulo.Após o STJD aceitar o pedido do clube rubro-negro de ter público em seus jogos como mandante no Brasileiro e na Copa do Brasil, a entidade se pronunciou na noite desta quarta-feira e disseque vai recorrer da decisão.
+ABC x Flamengo: prováveis times, desfalques, onde assistir e palpites
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Em nota oficial, a CBF cita uma possível quebra do equilíbrio técnico das competições e relembra um acordofechado entre os clubes em março deste ano, o qual veda a presença de público nos estádios até nova reunião entre as partes.
+ Fla na cola do G-4: veja a tabela completa do Brasileiro
Leia a nota da CBF na íntegra: A respeito da liberação de público autorizada, em caráter liminar, pelo STJD do Futebol nas partidas de mando do Clube de Regatas do Flamengo no Campeonato Brasileiro da Série A 2021, a CBF esclarece que:
1. O pedido do C.R. Flamengo e a decisão proferida contrariam deliberação tomada pelos Clubes em reunião do Conselho Técnico da Série A, ocorrida em 24 de março de 2021 que, dentre outras questões, vedou a presença de público nos estádios até nova apreciação do assunto pelos Clubes. Tal vedação é objeto de Diretriz Técnica que integra expressamente o Regulamento Especifico da Competição.
2. Resolveram os Clubes, também, que nova apreciação da matéria somente ocorreria com a melhora dos índices epidemiológicos nas cidades-sede dos clubes participantes e desde que aprovado pelas autoridades sanitárias locais, em quantidade que garantisse a manutenção do equilíbrio técnico da competição.
3. Desde a temporada 2020, a Comissão Médica Especial da CBF implementou e vem aperfeiçoando continuamente seu protocolo sanitário para garantir a segurança de todos os envolvidos nas partidas de futebol.
4. A partir da melhora dos índices da pandemia e da liberação de várias atividades nos municípios, referida Comissão desenvolveu protocolo específico para o retorno do público aos estádios, com projeto piloto a ser implantado a partir das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, conforme amplamente divulgado pela imprensa,
5. A CBF apresentará os esclarecimentos necessários ao STJD do Futebol e confia que o Pleno do Tribunal garantirá a manutenção do equilíbrio técnico da competição e a segurança dos torcedores.
West Ham United will surely be frustrated that their momentum from the past two seasons did not materialise into anything further in the 2023/24 campaign. It was a season that ended trophyless and proved to be the final year in charge for David Moyes.
He will be replaced by Julen Lopetegui, with the Spaniard hoping to improve on West Ham’s ninth-place Premier League finish this campaign. They were some way off Europa Conference League qualification, eventually finishing 11 points behind sixth-place Chelsea.
Mohammed Kudus scores for West Ham
In Europe, West Ham were eliminated by arguably the best team in European football this season, Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bundesliga winners were runners-up in the Europa League this season, their defeat to Atalanta in the final their only loss of the campaign in any competition. However, they did manage to beat West Ham on their way to the final, eventually overcoming the Hammers 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
With no European fixture congestion for Lopetegui to contend with, it means West Ham could climb the table and potentially go on a domestic cup run. However, there is no doubt they will need to strengthen the squad to help with their goals for next season, and they have already been linked with one transfer target.
West Ham’s winger shortlist
The player in question here is exciting 19-year-old Corinthians winger Wesley Gassova, who has had an impressive season in Brazil. He could be rewarded with a big move to Europe this summer as a result.
According to a report from The Standard, West Ham are targeting the 19-year-old and hope to make him their second signing of the summer. The first seems set to be Flamengo’s Fabricio Bruno – who looks likely to join the Hammers for around £15m in the coming days – albeit with new concerns emerging regarding a breakdown over personal terms.
Wesley for Corinthians.
Reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed West Ham’s interest in Gassova. He explained to CaughtOffisde that the winger is “attracting plenty of interest at the moment”, although West Ham are not thought to be the only club interested in acquiring his services.
Romano explained that “West Ham have been scouting him for sure, but there are like five or six clubs interested” in recruiting the winger.
Specifically, Romano name-dropped the Hammers’ Premier League rivals Liverpool as one club. A price for Gassova has not yet been named, and at this stage, it remains unclear as to how much the teenager would cost interested parties.
How Gassova compares to Jarrod Bowen
The young winger is highly thought of amongst fans of Brazilian football, and football analysts alike.
Football analyst Ben Mattinson described Gassova as “explosive” over on X, explaining that he can “play the goal as a creator or killer in front of goal”, highlighting his versatility. Mattinson also claimed that Gassova, along with hot prospect Lorran, are the two best youngsters in Brazil who have not signed for a major European club yet.
Should Gassova join West Ham next season, he will likely be playing on the left wing, with Jarrod Bowen claiming the other starting spot on the right flank. Bowen has been superb for the Hammers this season, scoring 16 goals and registering six assists in 34 games in the Premier League.
In contrast to that, Gassova’s numbers don’t quite stack up as well, but it is important to bear in mind he is just 19 years old and still very inexperienced. He has scored five goals and registered three assists in 25 games in all competitions in 2024 so far.
Gassova's 2024 by numbers
Competition
Games
Goals
Assists
Paulistão A1 – Primeira Fase
11
1
0
Série A
6
2
0
Copa Sudamericana
6
1
1
Copa do Brasil
4
1
2
Stats from Transfermarkt
Although Gassova’s goal involvement numbers do not seem impressive on the face of things, his Fbref stats speak volumes about the quality of dribbler he is. He is a fast, direct winger – much like Bowen – yet right-footed. He averages 9.63 attempted take-ons per 90 minutes, and 4.49 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% of wingers in similar leagues.
Gassova is also an explosive progressive carrier and does not just dribble for the sake of it, but with a purpose. To demonstrate this, his 4.56 carries into the final third per 90 minutes also places him in the top 1%.
A key thing to point out is Gassova’s crossing ability. It was already alluded to above by Mattinson, yet his stats also reflect how good he is at crossing. Gassova averages 0.65 crosses per 90 minutes, which ranks him in the top 9%.
West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen
This would pair well with Bowen, who is good in the air despite his short frame and likes to get on the end of balls into the box. As per Fbref, he averaged 0.43 goals per 90 minutes last season, which ranks him in the top 10% of wingers across Europe. He would certainly enjoy getting on the end of those crosses into the box from Gassova.
Bringing in a tricky, dynamic two-way winger for the left-hand side next season would help West Ham become an even better team. It certainly feels like one part of their side that leaves a little to be desired, and the Brazilian gem could add the missing piece to the Hammers’ puzzle next season, to help them strive for domestic cup success and a higher Premier League finish.
A 11ª rodada da Série C teve sequência neste sábado e cinco jogos foram disputados. Confira abaixo um resumo do que rolou dentro das quatro linhas.
+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada
Grupo A
Tombense x Jacupiense
Em Tombos, a Tombense confirmou a sua excelente fase e venceu a Jacupiense por 3 a 0. Com o placar, a equipe mineira fica na liderança da chave, com 17 pontos. O time baiano é o 9º, com 10.
Floresta x Santa Cruz
O Santinha respira. No Raimundão, o Tricolor venceu com gols de Pipico e Rafael Castro. Mesmo com o triunfo, o Santa é o lanterna, com 6 pontos. O Floresta é o 8º, com 11 pontos.
Grupo B
Ypiranga-RS x Mirassol
No Colosso da Lagoa, o Ypiranga cumpriu o seu dever de mandante e venceu por 1 a 0. Com o placar, o time gaúcho fica na liderança, com 23 pontos. O Mirassol é o 6º, com 13 pontos.
Novorizontino x Ituano
No interior de São Paulo, Novorizontino e Ituano bem que tentaram, mas ficaram no empate sem gols. Com o placar, os dois ficam com 20 pontos. O Tigre é o vice-líder e o Galo é o 3º.
Botafogo-SP x Paraná
No Santa Cruz, o Botafogo-SP se aproveitou do momento ruim do Paraná e venceu por 1 a 0. Com o resultado, a Pantera fica na 4ª colocação, com 19 pontos. O Tricolor é o 9º, com 9 pontos.
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The legspinner has settled into a key role in both Australia’s ODI and T20I teams
Andrew McGlashan28-Aug-2020Adam Zampa has arrived in England eager to pick up where he left off before the Covid-19 pandemic brought sport to a halt in March. In Australia’s last outing, against New Zealand at the SCG, Zampa produced a stunning googly to remove Kane Williamson to continue a strong run of form since regaining the spot he lost during the World Cup.It had been expected that spin would play a key role in last year’s tournament in England but things did not quite play out that way with pace bowlers largely hold sway. Zampa, who came into the competition in good form after impressive returns against India and Pakistan, only ended up play four matches which brought five wickets at more than seven runs an over.ALSO READ: Aaron Finch eyes Australia tour of England to try out 2023 ODI World Cup plansWhen Australia resumed ODI cricket in January with a tour to India Zampa was back in the XI and claimed five wickets in three matches, including 3 for 50 in Rajkot which came out of an India total of 340 for 6. Steady performances followed in South Africa, where the hosts won 3-0, before he helped Australia back to winning ways with 2 for 50 against New Zealand in the final international match played before lockdowns.”I’ve come with experience, bit more confident in my action and technical things I’ve been working on,” Zampa said from Australia’s base in Derby. “The amount we were playing helped as well. Coming off a break has been interesting, doing a pre-season which a lot of us haven’t had the opportunity to do in a long while.”
“[The ball to Kane] is something I’d love to repeat, it feels like such a long time ago. It was an important ball for me, I’d had a strong series in South Africa where I played a different role…so to be bowl that ball to Kane was a real confidence-booster. It was one of the better ones.”The tour will begin with three T20Is at the Ageas Bowl early next month, a format where Australia hit their stride last season with convincing series victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa and where Zampa has formed an effective partnership with Ashton Agar.Australia had been building towards a home T20 World Cup in October this year, but that tournament will now take place in 2022 with India hosting the next event in 2021 although Zampa was phlegmatic about the change in order of venues.”The momentum that we had is that something we can fight to gain back in England,” Zampa said. “Adaptability is really important, especially where you are playing. We’ve had a lot of experience in India recently, been there two or three times in last couple of years. I think it changes [planning] a little but thinking about conditions here in England is probably more important than worrying about the T20 World Cup in a year’s time.”Australia will be prepare to face England with a series if intersquad matches, the first of which will take place on Friday and has been cut to a 20-over contest because of a poor forecast.The 21 players have been split into two teams, captained by Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins, and will be supplemented by a local playerFinch XI Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Philippe (wk), Daniel Sams, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Riley Meredith, Nathan Lyon, TBC local player(s)Cummins XI Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (capt), Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
تحدث هشام آيت منا رئيس نادي الوداد المغربي، عن مجموعة فريقه في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية، مؤكدا أنهم يستطيعون تحقيق مفاجأة في البطولة.
ويتواجد من قارة إفريقيا بجوار الأهلي كل من الترجي التونسي والوداد المغربي وماميلودي صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي.
وقال هشام آيت في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “مجموعتنا صعبة وقوية لكن بالإرادة نستطيع تحقيق مفاجأة من طرف الوداد في كأس العالم للأندية، توجد 4 فرق عربية في البطولة ونتمنى يكون هناك فريق أو فريقان يتأهلان للدور الثاني”.
طالع أيضاً.. مواعيد مباريات الوداد المغربي في كأس العالم للأندية 2025
وتابع: “لم يتوقع أحد وصول منتخب المغرب لثالث العالم في مونديال قطر، وبالتالي في كرة القدم تستطيع تحقيق أي شيء”.
وأفاد: “حتى الآن لا يوجد رقم مؤكد بشأن المكاسب المادية التي تحصل عليها الفرق في البطولة، الناس كلها يتحدثون عن المكاسب المالية، وأنا أستغرب، أهم شيء المشاركة والأداء”.
وبسؤاله، إلى أي مدى ترى قدرة الفرق العربية على تحقيق نتائج طيبة في البطولة؟ أجاب: “الأهلي لديه حظوظ كبيرة في البطولة، والوداد يستطيع تحقيق مفاجأة”.
وأشار: “لدينا جمهور مغربي كبير في أمريكا وكندا وأوروبا، سيساند الوداد في كأس العالم للأندية”.
وأتم: “اللاعبون كلهم بعد قرعة المونديال تحمسوا لكي يلعبوا هذه النسخة أمام منافسين مرشحين للتتويج باللقب، ونتمنى كل الحظ للفرق العربية”.
ويقع الوداد في مجموعة صعبة ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية، تضم إلى جواره مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي ويوفنتوس الإيطالي والعين الإماراتي.
O São Paulo venceu o Sport por 1 a 0, na Ilha do Retiro, pela 17ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Apesar do triunfo, o atacante Emiliano Rigoni, um dos principais jogadores da equipe na temporada, não ficou contente com a sua atuação.
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Em postagem nas redes sociais, o jogador fez uma autocrítica e admitiu que não conseguiu produzir o esperado em Recife. No entanto, o camisa 77 comemorou a importante vitória do Tricolor, que se afastou da zona de rebaixamento da competição nacional.
– Boa vitória e mais ainda em momentos difíceis onde não é possível jogar bem (sou autocrítico e não joguei bem hoje). É muito valioso levar o resultado para a frente, e hoje conseguimos. Três pontos superimportantes! Vamos, São Paulo. Para frente, sempre – escreveu Rigoni.
Buena victoria y más aún en momentos difíciles donde no se logra jugar bien (soy autocritico y no jugué bien hoy) es muy valioso sacar el resultado adelante y hoy lo hicimos. Tres puntos súper importantes! Vamos @SaoPauloFC para el frente siempre 👊🏽 ❤️🤍🖤
— Emi Rigoni (@Emirigoniok) August 23, 2021
Com atuação pela ponta direita, fazendo companhia para Pablo e Rojas, o argentino não conseguiu desempenhar o seu bom futebol, até se apresentando bem, mas pecando nas tomadas de decisões.
Vice-artilheiro do São Paulo na temporada com sete gols, Rigoni é um dos jogadores mais efetivos da equipe. No entanto, seu último gol aconteceu no dia 4 de agosto, na vitória sobre o Vasco, pelas oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil.
ATUAÇÕES: Volpi, Nestor e Pablo levam as maiores notas na vitória do São Paulo diante do Sport
VEJA A TABELA E SIMULE A CLASSIFICAÇÃO DO BRASILEIRÃO
Celtic ended their 2023/24 campaign last month with a 1-0 win over their closest rivals in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park to secure a domestic double.
Adam Idah's late winner with the final touch of his loan spell from Norwich City won the tournament for the Hoops, shortly after they had won and lifted the Scottish Premiership double.
Brendan Rodgers won two trophies in his first year back in the dugout at Parkhead, having replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer, and will now be aiming for more silverware next term.
The Northern Irish head coach could look to utilise the upcoming summer transfer window, which opens for business this month, to bolster his squad for the new campaign.
A goalkeeper is on the agenda for the Scottish giants after Joe Hart's retirement and exit from Paradise, with Liverpool's Caoimhin Keller having recently been linked with a move to the club.
However, Celtic are also looking to add to their playing squad in other areas of the pitch, and are reportedly looking at a central defender from the Premier League.
Celtic's interest in £8m colossus
According to the Daily Mail, Rodgers is lining up a possible swoop to add Bournemouth centre-back Chris Mepham to the club's defensive set-up this summer.
The report claims that the Scottish giants have added that Wales international to their list of targets, as they look to bolster their defence over the coming weeks and months.
It states that the Cherries are looking for a fee within the region of £8m in order to allow the right-footed titan to depart the Vitality Stadium ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Leeds United transfer target Chris Mepham in action for Wales.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops are prepared to meet their demands at this moment in time. Mepham has one year left to run on his current contract with the Premier League outfit, which is why Bournemouth may look to cash in now in order to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.
The Daily Mail adds that Sheffield United, who are now in the Championship, and Leeds United were both keen on a deal for the Cherries ace during the January transfer window.
There is no mention of any current interest from those two sides and it is unclear as to how much competition Celtic are facing to land the brute's signature.
The report also claims that Rodgers is looking to add more quality to his side at goalkeeper, left-back, centre-back, midfield, and in the attacking areas, which suggests that there could be plenty of inwards business before September's deadline.
Going back to Mepham, Rodgers and Celtic could find the club's next version of Cameron Carter-Vickers by securing a deal to sign the defender this summer.
Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers masterclass
The Hoops initially signed the USA international on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021, before they made the deal permanent the following year.
They brought him to Parkhead on loan after he had enjoyed an impressive spell on loan with Bournemouth in the Championship during the 2020/21 campaign.
Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The Spurs loanee won 60% of his duels, including 66% of his battles on the deck, across 21 outings in the second tier for the Cherries that term.
This shows that he had the quality and the physicality to consistently dominate opposition attackers in physical contests, which Celtic may have noticed and hoped would translate over to football in Scotland.
Postecoglou took a gamble on the American colossus and it has paid off big time for the Bhoys as his dominant defensive work has translated over to the Premiership over the last three seasons.
Cameron Carter-Vickers' defensive dominance
Scottish Premiership
21/22
22/23
23/24
Duel success rate
68%
69%
68%
Ground duel success rate
59%
59%
62%
Aerial duel success rate
73%
74%
71%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Carter-Vickers has consistently dominated opposition defenders in duels on the deck and in the air to help his side win the last three league titles.
The 26-year-old titan has been a brickwall at the back at times for Celtic and Mepham has the potential to arrive and provide a similar presence at the heart of the defence for Rodgers, should the Hoops decide to strike a deal for his services this summer.
Why Chris Mepham could be Cameron Carter-Vickers 2.0
Just like Carter-Vickers was not getting a sniff of the first-team at Spurs, the Welsh colossus has not been a regular in the Bournemouth team of late.
The 26-year-old ace only started six Premier League games and made ten appearances in the division this season, which illustrates how far down the pecking order he has been.
Mepham did, however, start 24 matches in the top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign and showcased his potential to be a dominant force at the back for Celtic.
He won 63% of his duels on the ground and 62% of his aerial contests across 26 appearances in the Premier League for Bournemouth, which shows that the Hoops target has the physicality to dominate opposition attackers at the top level of English football.
The Cherries outcast has recently showcased his quality in that respect whilst playing for Wales during their qualifiers for the European Championships this season, with an aerial duel success rate of 71% across nine appearances during the qualification campaign.
Championship
Chris Mepham (21/22)
Cameron Carter-Vickers (20/21)
Minutes played
1,095
1,845
Tackles + interceptions per 90
2.88
2.19
Blocks per 90
1.15
1.22
Aerial duels won per 90
4.03
2.93
Progressive passes per 90
3.78
1.90
Progressive carries per 90
1.23
0.44
Stats via FBRef
As you can see in the table above, Mepham, who was hailed as "aggressive" by manager Scott Parker, also outperformed Carter-Vickers in their last Championship seasons respectively, with his work in and out of possession.
He made significantly more progressive carries and passes to help his side on the ball whilst also winning more aerial duels, tackles, and interceptions combined per 90.
This suggests that the Bournemouth defender has the potential to replicate Carter-Vickers' success in Scotland as his statistics in the Premier League, at international level, and in the Championship suggest that the quality is there for him to be an excellent player for Celtic.
Celtic could save millions by unleashing "exceptional" 6 ft 2 colossus
The Hoops could avoid splashing out cash on a new signing by bringing through this young talent.
ByDan Emery Jun 6, 2024
Therefore, Rodgers could land his next version of the American titan by securing a deal to sign the £8m-rated star, who could resurrect his career by moving to Scotland to showcase his dominant defending and progressive passing.
Essex and Somerset prepare to do battle for the one-off Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord’s
Andrew Miller22-Sep-2020
Jack Brooks celebrates with his Somerset team-mates•Getty Images
Big PictureThere’s an unmissable irony in the ECB’s decision to name their emergency first-class competition after the late, great Bob Willis. For Willis was not exactly the most enthusiastic defender of the ancient county system. As a player in his international heyday, he was renowned for phoning in the occasional Warwickshire performance to save his best for England, while in 2003, he was at the forefront of the Cricket Reform Group, a body which argued for the abolition of under-performing counties, and a subsequent reallocation of the game’s limited resources.And yet, when the trophy bearing his name, and adapted from a cubist painting by his widow Lauren, is presented – at a suitably social distance – to the winning captain at Lord’s later this week, you can be pretty certain that Willis would be looking down on the occasion with approval.For this has been a competition to savour in spite of the invidious circumstances. A short, sharp shock of first-class intensity that has satisfied the cravings of county cricket’s die-hards, while giving a platform for the sort of conference system that Willis himself might have advocated. Certainly the notion of less-is-more is one that has traditionally been associated with Australia’s Sheffield Shield (six teams, ten matches, one final) – not least during Australia’s years of Ashes dominance in the 1990s and early 2000s – and while it would knee-jerk to suggest that the Bob Willis Trophy has provided a clear vision for the future of county first-class cricket, it would be remiss to ignore the buzz of interest that the format has created among those who find the marathon nature of the traditional league structure a touch too archaic for the 2020s.Yes, it’s been an imperfect competition, devised to fit a limited timeframe and featuring a messy qualification process in which three into two didn’t go very easily, especially once the Covid-influenced cancellation of Northamptonshire’s match with Gloucestershire had complicated the permutations. And yet, there was a pleasingly meritocratic thread to the available results – with a defiant upending of preconceptions in the first instance, as just one Test-hosting county, Yorkshire, finished in the top two of any of the three groups, followed by a worthy progression of the era’s two outstanding teams to the showpiece final at Lord’s.Essex and Somerset, the cream of the crop, were involved in last summer’s de facto showpiece too – a Championship final-round arm-wrestle on a Ciderabad special in Taunton, in which Essex did just enough to prevent their hosts from leapfrogging them to the title, with Alastair Cook reprising the dour survival methods honed at Ahmedabad and Mumbai to close out the contest with 83 preciously hewn runs in two innings.Somerset’s subsequent penalisation for a substandard pitch may have rendered that performance moot, but even that slap on the wrist – and their 12-point penalty, deferred to 2021 – comes with a curious footnote. Despite attracting opprobrium for tailoring their tracks to turn square (and in the process producing England’s two frontline Test spinners – yes, you are welcome), their path to this year’s glory-shot has been carved by their outstanding battery of fast bowlers – which suggests they may just be a quality outfit, irrespective of conditions.More’s the pity, therefore, that in a summer which was meant to offer a reconnection of cricket to its ostracised fans, it has not been possible to find a place for this contest in the TV schedules. The fact that Lord’s is a building site, amid the reconstruction of the Compton and Edrich Stands is a further factor. Sky Sports’ YouTube channel will have to suffice.For Essex in particular, this week offers their squad a shot at county immortality, a chance to confirm a dynasty to rival the heyday of their Gooch-Fletcher era in the 1980s, and to take its place in the recent county pantheon, alongside Jason Gillespie’s Yorkshire squad of the mid 2010s, and the Durham and Sussex outfits that won three Championships in quick succession since the turn of the Millennium.And at a time when the ECB is casting an understandably beady eye on its counties’ connections with their grass-roots, there can be no quibbling with the quality of Essex’s homegrown credentials. Seven members of the first-team squad were born in the same Whipps Cross hospital as the club grandee, Gooch, while 70 percent were educated at state school too. Their two key imports, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Simon Harmer, have rapidly assumed legend status in and around Chelmsford. They are advocates for a system that works, no matter what the naysayers may believe.As for Somerset, there would be few feats more typical of the county than finally claiming that elusive first-class crown in the one season that is destined to carry an asterisk.Every year that goes by, it seems less and less likely that Somerset will be able to land the prize that torments them the most – especially given the quality of the players they have lost since they first rose to become true contenders ten years ago. Marcus Trescothick and Peter Trego, local legends both, have moved on, to retirement and to Nottinghamshire respectively, while next season their bowling stocks will be shorn of both Jamie Overton and Dom Bess.And yet, Somerset too draw a strong local thread through their playing XI – the captain, Tom Abell and senior spinner, Jack Leach, are Taunton born-and-bred, while one of the brightest stars of the current campaign, the young opener Tom Lammonby, has been rustled over the border from Devon. They’ve got a West Country catchment area that promises recruitment and renewal for as long as their standards remain as high as they have been. But there’s little doubt that some silverware wouldn’t go amiss.Aaron Beard gets a celebratory foot bump•Getty Images
Form guide(last five completed matches) Essex WDWWW Somerset WWDWWIn the spotlightSimon Harmer’s impact at Essex has been nothing short of talismanic in the four years since he arrived at Chelmsford. He’s amassed 251 first-class wickets at 19.32 in that time, with 20 five-wicket hauls and five ten-fors, to provide the final stamp of class in the county’s two Championship-winning seasons in three years. And that’s excluding his starring role as captain of last season’s T20 Blast-winning outfit. In this truncated BWT campaign, however, he’s been more incisive than ever, his 34 wickets including a best of 8 for 64 against Surrey that was completed in spite of an abductor strain. In another era he would surely be a fixture in South Africa’s Test team – and at the age of 31, he claims not to have given up hope of adding to his five Test caps, in spite of several smouldering bridges in his wake – but this opportunity to play a high-stakes five-day match at Lord’s will stoke his competitive fires like few other challenges.His brother Jamie is reputed to be the fastest bowler in the family, but there’s something about Craig Overton’s spirit for a scrap that has nudged him ahead in the pecking order – both at county level, where Jamie has been forced to seek pastures new at Surrey, and for England, who value the tenacity he has shown in four under-rewarded Test appearances to date, and clearly have him earmarked for a spear-carrier’s role in next year’s Ashes. But in Somerset’s romp to the BWT final, Overton has shown himself to be more than just a willing toiler. His 28 wickets at 10.71 have provided the pointy tip of a spear that has conceded more than 200 just once in five games.Team newsEssex’s squad is broadly settled, with ten of the first-choice XI having played four or more of the five group-stage games. This includes the bolter in this season’s campaign, Paul Walter at the top of the order, who took his initial chance when ten Doeschate succumbed to injury, and has latterly cemented his role as Alastair Cook’s partner in the absence of Nick Browne. Browne’s experience may count for something come Lord’s, but so do Walter’s numbers – an average of 49.00 and a top-score of 46 point to admirable consistency, especially against a seam attack of Somerset’s quality.Essex (possible) 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Paul Walter, 3 Tom Westley (capt), 4 Dan Lawrence, 5 Feroze Khushi, 6 Ryan ten Doeschate, 7 Adam Wheater (wk), 8 Simon Harmer, 9 Aaron Beard, 10 Sam Cook, 11 Jamie Porter.James Hildreth’s absence with a hamstring injury is a grievous loss to his county, not to mention a cruel turn of events for one of English cricket’s great forgotten batsmen. At the age of 36, this might have been the closest to a Lord’s Test that he was ever going to come. Jack Leach’s availability post-England bubble means that, of the 13 players named in their squad, Roelof van der Merwe is liable to be squeezed out despite featuring in four of Somerset’s group-stage games. Dom Bess, England’s No.1 spinner but Somerset’s No.2, may also miss the chance to say an on-field farewell to his club, ahead of his permanent move to Yorkshire next season.Somerset (possible) 1 Ben Green, 2 Tom Lammonby, 3 Tom Abell (capt), 4 George Bartlett, 5 Eddie Byrom, 6 Steven Davies (wk), 7 Lewis Gregory, 8 Craig Overton, 9 Josh Davey, 10 Jack Brooks, 11 Jack LeachPitch and conditionsAs the ground’s first and only first-class fixture for 2020, there will be an inevitable sense of the unknown to this surface, even if Lord’s wickets have tended to be predictably flat in recent seasons, influenced no doubt by the extraordinary moisture mainlining of the under-soil drainage system. The central strip, reserved for last summer’s Ashes Test, has been allocated, and Somerset’s captain, Tom Abell, was excited about what it would offer. Either way, it is a venue where teams have traditionally looked up, rather than down, when assessing their prospects. On that score, the first two days of the match promise typically autumnal mixtures of sun and showers, although the weekend outlook is more settled.Stats and Trivia Essex are aiming for their fourth first-class trophy in five seasons, after winning the second division title in 2016, followed by County Championships in 2017 and 2019.Somerset are one of three counties, along with Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire, never to have won the County Championship. They have finished as runners-up five times since 2010, including in three of the last four seasons. Somerset were the victors on the previous occasion that a trophy was at stake at Lord’s – the 2019 Royal London Cup, in which they beat Hampshire by six wickets in the tournament’s final staging.Sam Cook is one wicket short of 100 first-class scalps.The final will be staged in association with Prostate Cancer UK. Willis died of the disease, aged 70, in December last year.Quotes””The best two teams in the country have reached the final. As things stand, Essex are the number one red-ball team and we are number two. It would be great to reverse those standings and that is the aim.” “We believe if we play the way we know we can, we can beat any team in the country. I think the statistics have shown that over the last few years we have been the best red-ball team. And hopefully that can continue into this week.” Tom Westley, Essex’s captain, is ready to defend his team’s status as top dogs.