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MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo treinou nesta quinta-feira no Espaço Lonier com muita leveza e descontração. Sob comando de Luís Castro, os jogadores alvinegros se preparam para semifinal da Taça Rio e para os próximos compromissos da temporada.

O treino desta quinta-feira ficou marcado pelos aniversários do lateral-direito Daniel Borges e do zagueiro Adryelson. Ambos foram festejados pelos companheiros e precisaram passar por um “corredor polonês” no término da atividade.

+São Paulo pode dar chapéu no Santos por ponta, Flamengo tem concorrência por Uribe… O Dia do Mercado!

RelacionadasBotafogoEm busca de redenção, Botafogo treina com enfoque em movimentação e ocupação de espaçosBotafogo22/03/2023BotafogoLucas Fernandes luta para reconquistar espaço no Botafogo após lesãoBotafogo22/03/2023BotafogoLuís Castro aposta na evolução do Botafogo: ‘Temos capacidade’Botafogo22/03/2023

+Confira os possíveis adversários do Botafogo na terceira fase da Copa do Brasil

O Glorioso contará com desfalques importantes para os próximos jogos da temporada. Em virtude das expulsões no clássico diante do Flamengo no dia 25 de fevereiro em Brasília, Tiquinho Soares e Marçal foram suspensos por oito e cinco jogos, respectivamente.

+Como titular, Tiquinho Soares tem média de quase um gol por jogo pelo Botafogo em 2023

Apesar das suspensões, os dirigentes alvinegros tentam buscar um efeito suspensivo para contar com os jogadores na Taça Rio. Caso não consigam reverter este cenário, Matheus Nascimento e Hugo deverão ser utilizados nas próximas partidas.

+Portuguesa x Botafogo: ingressos disponíveis para semifinal da Taça Rio

O Botafogo entra em campo na próxima segunda-feira, diante da Portuguesa, às 20h, no Raulino de Oliveira, pelo segundo jogo da semifinal da Taça Rio. Depois do empate sem gols no Luso Brasileiro, os alvinegros vão com tudo em busca da vitória em Volta Redonda.

MatériaMais Notícias

Neste sábado (8), às 16h (de Brasília), Grêmio e Caxias fazem o capítulo final da disputa do Campeonato Gaúcho 2023 na Arena. Com o empate em 1 a 1 no confronto de ida, quem vencer no tempo normal fica com a taça enquanto um novo resultado de igualdade levará a disputa para as penalidades.

E, para o torcedor do clube grená, a oportunidade certamente remete a chance de repetir o feito histórico do ano 2000, oportunidade onde o Caxias conquistou seu único estadual justamente contra o mesmo Grêmio.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoGoiás x Atlético-GO: horário e onde assistir ao vivo à final do GoianoFora de Campo08/04/2023Fora de CampoCeará x Fortaleza: onde assistir ao vivo à decisão do Campeonato CearenseFora de Campo08/04/2023Futebol LatinoRestando dois jogos, Sul-Americano Sub-17 tem hexagonal definidoFutebol Latino08/04/2023

>Na mira da Seleção, Carlo Ancelotti é alvo de clube da Premier League

Na ocasião, no primeiro jogo da final, que aconteceu no Estádio Centenário, o na época goleiro e hoje técnico Gilmar Dal Pozzo fez grandes defesas e ajudou o time a segurar os ataques do adversário em meio ao imponente placar de 3 a 0.

No duelo da volta, apesar da pressão do Tricolor, o ex-goleiro e sua equipe suportaram mais uma vez o adversário e, no antigo Olímpico, empataram por 0 a 0, garantindo o título inédito. Com direito, aliás, a penalidade defendida pelo então arqueiro que foi cobrada por Ronaldinho Gaúcho, nome que já era considerado como um dos mais promissores de sua geração.

– É um jogo que me traz a lembrança de como era bom fazer parte de um grupo com uma torcida apaixonada, e um grupo de verdadeiros campeões. O Caxias construiu e consagrou a minha carreira como atleta, sinto falta da vibração das arquibancadas e do que o futebol me proporcionou nos tempos de goleiro – disse.

No ano do título, o time de Dal Pozzo era comandado por Tite, ex-treinador da Seleção Brasileira. O atual comandante do Ituano falou a respeito de sua admiração por ele e de como sua trajetória o inspira:

– É como um professor, uma inspiração, desde os tempos de jogador. Eu o observava e, de lá pra cá, sempre respeitei a maneira como trabalhava com grupos, como os tornou vitoriosos e utilizou da boa marcação pra conquistar seus objetivos.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após sair com 2 a 0 no placar, o Palmeiras sofreu o empate do Athletico-PR e voltará de Curitiba com 2 a 2 na bagagem. A partida, realizada na Ligga Arena, neste domingo (2), pelo Brasileirão, teve direito a um pênalti de cada lado, Endrick desperdiçando cobrança e expulsão de Garcia pelo lado palmeirense. Os gols do jogo foram marcados por Endrick e Gabriel Menino pelo Alviverde, e Vitor Bueno e Vitor Roque, pelo Furacão.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Pênalti logo de cara para o Verdão, e Endrick desperdiça

Nem bem o jogo começou e o Palmeiras levou perigo para o Athletico-PR. Em uma jogada que parecia perdida, Zé Ivaldo acabou dando uma cotovelada em Endrick dentro da área. O VAR solicitou ao árbitro que revisse a jogada e o pênalti foi marcado, mas apenas o cartão amarelo foi mostrado ao zagueiro paranaense. O próprio Endrick foi para a cobrança, mas bateu mal, nas mãos do goleiro Léo Linck.

Palmeiras continua melhor, e Endrick se redime

Apesar da penalidade desperdiçada, o Verdão continuava melhor. Em uma cobrança de falta de longe, Endrick levou perigo batendo forte, mas a bola foi para fora. O Athletico-PR levava certo perigo quando Vitor Roque conseguia ter a posse, nada muito mais do que isso. Dessa forma, o Alviverde aproveitava para ser eficiente no ataque. Foi quando Breno Lopes cruzou da direita, Endrick foi mais esperto do que a zaga e cabeceou no contrapé do goleiro para abrir o placar. 1 a 0 Palmeiras.

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Athletico-PR melhora, leva perigo, e Palmeiras quase faz golaço

Depois de o Verdão abrir o placar, o Furacão passou a intensificar os ataques e teve duas boas chegadas com Christian e Canobbio, que não tiveram êxito. Enquanto isso, o Alviverde seguia tentando aproveitar as jogadas em velocidade. Já no fim do primeiro tempo, Luis Guilherme lançou Endrick, que pegou de primeira na área e quase marcou um golaço, mas a bola bateu na trave. Pouco depois, o Athletico-PR quase empate com Erick, que desperdiçou ótima chance em passe de Canobbio.

Palmeiras volta melhor do intervalo e amplia o marcador

Assim como no primeiro tempo, o Verdão aproveitou os espaços dados pelo adversário para buscar os ataques. Na segunda etapa, com os donos da casa precisando empatar, a velocidade acabou sendo a grande arma palmeirense. Em cum contra-ataque, Breno Lopes teve duas chances para fazer o segundo, mas desperdiçou. Alguns minutos depois, porém Vanderlan foi esperto para recuperar a posse, Gabriel Menino buscou um chute colocado, a bola desviou em Thiago Heleno e acabou enganando o goleiro. 2 a 0 Alviverde.

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Athletico-PR consegue um pênalti, fica com um a mais e diminui

O Palmeiras já estava na fase de dosar o ritmo e fazer alterações para administrar o jogo. Até que Vitor Roque arriscou um chute dentro da área, a bola bateu na mão de Garcia e o VAR indicou pênalti para o Furacão. O lateral-direito do Verdão, que já tinha amarelo, acabou sendo expulso. Na cobrança, Vitor Bueno converteu e diminuiu o placar para 2 a 1.

Vitor Roque deixa sua marca e empata a partida

Com a expulsão de Garcia, a partida mudou completamente e o Athletico-PR passou a ser dono do jogo. Bastou uma pressão maior no ataque que o time da casa aproveitou a desorganização palmeirense para a empatar. Vitor Bueno lançou Madson por trás da zaga, que cabeceou para o meio da área onde Vitor Roque estava sozinho fazer 2 a 2. Depois disso, a partida acabou tendo poucas oportunidades de mudança no marcador e terminou em igualdade.

E agora?

Com o empate, o Palmeiras vai a 23 pontos e fica na quarta posição na tabela do Brasileirão. Já o Athletico-PR vai a 20 pontos e está na nona posição na classificação. O Verdão volta a campo na quarta-feira (5), para enfrentar o São Paulo, às 19h30, no Morumbi, pelas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. O Furacão também joga pela Copa do Brasil na quarta-feira (5), contra o Flamengo, no Maracanã, às 21h30.

FICHA TÉCNICA
ATHLETICO-PR 2 x 2 PALMEIRAS
Local: Ligga Arena, Curitiba (PR)
Data e hora: 2/7/2023, às 16h (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima (RS)
Assistentes: Bruno Raphael Pires (Fifa/GO) e Mauricio Coelho Silva Penna (RS)
VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (VAR-Fifa-RS)
Público e Renda: Não disponíveis
Cartões amarelos: Madson, Vitor Roque e Zé Ivaldo (APR)
Cartões vermelhos: Garcia, aos 21’/2ºT (PAL)
Gols: Endrick (21’/1ºT) (0-1), Gabriel Menino (11’/2ºT) (0-2), Vitor Bueno (21’/2ºT) (1-2), Vitor Roque (27’/2ºT) (2-2)

ATHLETICO-PR: Léo Linck; Pedro Henrique, Thiago Heleno e Zé Ivaldo (Marcelo Cirino, aos 51’/2ºT); Khellven (Madson, aos 25’/2ºT), Erick, Hugo Moura (Alex Santana, no intervalo) e Christian (Cuello, aos 25’/2ºT); Vitor Bueno, Canobbio (Terans, aos 33’/2ºT) e Vitor Roque. Técnico: Wesley Carvalho.

PALMEIRAS: Weverton; Garcia, Gustavo Gómez, Murilo e Vanderlan; Naves (Luan, aos 24’/2ºT), Richard Ríos (Gabriel Menino, no intervalo) e Jhon Jhon; Luis Guilherme (Fabinho, aos 13’/2ºT), Breno Lopes (Mayke, aos 24’/2ºT) e Endrick (Rony, aos 24’/2ºT). Técnico: João Martins.

South African batter to play county cricket for the first time

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2023

Durham have pulled off a major transfer coup, signing South African batter Tristan Stubbs for the T20 Blast.Stubbs will be available for the majority of the competition following his commitments with Mumbai Indians in the IPL.He was part of the Manchester Originals squad that reached the final of the Hundred last summer, but this will be his first experience playing county cricket.”We are extremely pleased to have secured the signing of Tristan Stubbs,” Marcus North, the club’s director of cricket, said.”At 22, he already has experience playing for South Africa and in major T20 franchise leagues around the world where he has produced some world-class performances.”Related

De Leede signs two-year contract with Durham

Sowter signs one-year Durham deal

Campbell named Durham coach on three-year deal

SA20 auction: Stubbs the biggest buy

Stubbs was the most expensive player signed at the inaugural SA20 auction last year and was part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad that won the title earlier this month, despite an underwhelming season with the bat.There, he played alongside his new Durham team-mate Brydon Carse. “He’s only had good things to say about the club,” Stubbs said.”I can’t wait to get over to Durham and meet up with my new team-mates,” he added. “Having played in England last summer I know how much the fans love their cricket so it should be a really fun and successful summer.”Durham are one of five counties who have never won the Blast, and last reached Finals Day in 2016. Last season, they won only three games as they finished second-bottom of the North Group.They have also brought in Ollie Robinson, Nathan Sowter, Brandon Glover and Bas de Leede over the winter and will expect a better showing under new coach Ryan Campbell.

He has led Delhi in 12 T20s in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament, and has been with KKR since 2018

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2023

Nitish Rana has been appointed interim captain by Kolkata Knight Riders, while their regular leader Shreyas Iyer recovers from a back injury that is likely to sideline him for at least the first half of IPL 2023.Rana was one of two candidates for the interim captaincy along with Sunil Narine, who joined the franchise in 2012 and has been with them ever since. Narine had recently led Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the inaugural edition of the International League T20, where they finished last among six teams with one win and eight losses.Rana has led his state team Delhi in 12 T20s in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with eight wins and four defeats. A 29-year old middle-order batter, he was bought by KKR ahead of the 2018 season and has been retained by the franchise ever since. He’s played 74 matches for them, scoring 1744 runs at a strike rate of 135.61.”While we are hopeful that Shreyas will recover and participate at some stage in the IPL 2023 edition, we feel fortunate that Nitish, with the captaincy experience of having led his state side in white-ball cricket and the IPL experience he has had with KKR since 2018, will do a great job,” KKR said in a statement. “We are also confident that under head coach Chandrakant Pandit and the support staff, he will get all the support needed off the field, and the highly experienced leaders in the squad will provide all support that Nitish may need on the field. We wish him the best in his new role and Shreyas a full and speedy recovery.”Rana was KKR’s second highest run-scorer last season, behind Shreyas, with 361 runs at a strike rate of 143.82. It was a disappointing year for the team, as they finished seventh in the league with six wins and eight losses.With Rana taking over as captain, KKR will be under whole new leadership this season, with Chandrakant Pandit replacing Brendon McCullum as head coach and Bharat Arun appointed bowling coach.

A year after cardiac arrest that left him in a coma, coach embraces Championship challenge

Alan Gardner11-Apr-2023

“For a Perth boy, the facts are everywhere else is cold.” Ryan Campbell has been taking a tour around the boundary at Hove, with his Durham side striving for breakthroughs in their Championship match against Sussex. It is, by recent standards, a beautifully sunny spring day, but Campbell is well wrapped up as he leans on an advertising board and discusses how he ended up at English cricket’s most northerly outpost.A Western Australian, capped twice by his country, who represented Hong Kong at the age of 44 before going on to coach Netherlands for more than five years, Campbell is one of cricket’s great nomads. He is also a great survivor, in the most literal sense – 12 months ago, while in the UK with his family, he suffered a cardiac arrest that left him in an induced coma with a 7% chance of pulling through.Remarkably, Campbell recovered in time to play a role in Netherlands’ T20 World Cup campaign in Australia late last year – a point he had previously identified as the “perfect way to finish” his Dutch adventure. It wasn’t long before he was on the move again, taking on the job of Durham head coach and pronouncing himself fit for the stresses and strains of life on the county beat.”My health is really good,” he tells ESPNcricinfo with a smile. “It’s quite bizarre really, next Sunday is the anniversary of it, one year, which has gone pretty fast to be honest. Few changes, left the Netherlands, coming here. But the main thing is I’m still here to tell the tale. My health is good, my family – the kids are going well, my wife obviously. So really looking forward to this next challenge.”Related

Ryan Campbell reflects on 'humbling' recovery: 'It does put your life in perspective'

'Great to be back, almost a bit surreal' – Campbell on his Perth homecoming after near-death experience

Ryan Campbell named as Durham head coach on three-year deal

Oli Carter steers nervy run chase as Sussex defeat Durham

The challenge in question, that of resurrecting Durham, was offered to Campbell by another Australian and former WA team-mate, Marcus North, who is now the club’s director of cricket. Durham have been stuck in Division Two since their summary demotion by the ECB in 2016, as punishment for requiring a financial bailout; although there have been signs of improvement, they finished a disappointing sixth in 2022, leading to James Franklin’s departure after three seasons in charge.”I’ve always loved county cricket,” Campbell says. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of county cricket. The opportunity arose, Durham came a-knocking so to speak, and I just thought it was gonna be a great challenge. Looking at the squad, I think there’s lots of talent and, of course, I played most of my career with Marcus North, so we have a good relationship. And I felt we’re on the same page with where we want to take this team so there wasn’t a lot of hesitation.”Campbell had been due to work with Durham during the Royal London Cup in 2020, taking some time away from Netherlands, before Covid threw the world off course – but he kept an eye on their fortunes. “I felt that they were going in a really good direction and last year, obviously they didn’t play as well as they could have – but in saying that they didn’t lose a lot of games in the Championship, they drew a lot [eight out of 14 games]. So what do you do? Okay, you change a few things. Can I bring a bit of more my style to the team and give them a bit of freedom?”Coincidentally, “freedom” is the new zeitgeist for red-ball cricket in England – and so it was that Durham began the LV= Insurance Championship season by barrelling along to a score of 352 for 7 from 70 overs on a rain-affected opening day on the south coast. It seems a neat fit that Campbell’s Durham embrace Bazball – “people are going to call it whatever they want to call it” – so wholeheartedly given that they are also the home of Ben Stokes, the man who alongside Brendon McCullum has overseen England’s dramatic Test reboot.Like Stokes and McCullum, Campbell says the thinking behind such an aggressive approach is simple: how to best take 20 wickets in order to win the game. “That takes time,” he says. “So I reckon the batters need to get on with it and give our bowlers enough time.”In the end, Durham’s second-innings collapse proved more significant in determining the result at Hove, but the logic remains the same.”We need to create an opportunity for our bowlers to get those wickets and I think [day one] was a bit of a reflection of that. We lost 20 overs of the game but we felt by stumps, we’d kind of made those up with the way we played. Even looking at the way Sussex’s openers went about it to start, you can see there’s a clear way people want to go. I think county cricket is going to be in for some great viewing this year. If I was a spectator I think it’d be well worth watching because it sounds like there’s a few teams pretty keen to get on with it.”Campbell had even floated the idea in the dressing room of declaring on the first evening, in order to steal a march on Sussex – a move reminiscent of Stokes engineering the day-night Test against New Zealand in Mount Mauganui to England’s advantage by ensuring the home side twice had to bat under lights.”All I keep saying to the guys is what do we have to do to win this game? So if that means we break the mould and declare before stumps on the first day because we feel that their openers don’t want to bat for those last three or four overs. We weigh that up with 20 or 30 [extra runs]. Is that important? That’s the only thing I’m asking the players, to ask questions. Don’t just accept that’s the way everyone does it.”I watch lots of county cricket and you look at these massive scores and you think to yourself, well, that’s great, but that’s only one way you can win the game now. And if it doesn’t go your way, then it’s a draw. I’m not convinced that’s the way forward. At the end of the day 16 points [for a win] is a lot, five for a draw isn’t. I know there’s bonus points and all that sort of stuff, but for me 16 points is the most important thing and how can we go about it?”Campbell was involved on the Zoom call during the offseason on which Stokes and McCullum put across their blueprint for the game to the counties and, as a similarly attacking batter during his playing days, needed little convincing. Despite his background, learning the trade at a time in when Australia were at their domineering best, he is happy to credit England with providing the “spark” that the first-class game needed.Campbell, an explosive batter in his playing days, leads a Netherlands training session•Peter Della Penna

“It was refreshing to hear, but it wasn’t any rocket science,” he says. “I think my job as a coach is to give players a good environment and the freedom to be them. But at the end of day, especially the longer form of game has been crying out for a spark. And I think that’s what England have done and it hurts me to say, because obviously I’m a proud Aussie, but I think what England have done is made it to a point where people are interested in the game again. Just look around here. There’s people coming in to watch, to have a look. And I think there’s a real feeling and buzz of excitement about what’s going on.”That buzz extends to the anticipation of this summer’s Ashes, with Campbell uncertain for the first time about whether he should back his countrymen. “I know Australia will be sitting there going, they cannot bat like that against our bowling attack,” he says. “But I know England will be sitting there going, ‘Yes, we can, and we’re gonna try.’ That’s gonna be the interesting factor, can they stand up to one of the best attacks in the world.”Back with Durham, and despite defeat in the opening round, the season lies ahead waiting to be discovered. North may have brought in Campbell with the goal of achieving promotion in the Championship but, fittingly for a man who has seen a fair bit of the world, his ambitions are more far-reaching.”I’ll be honest, I want to us to be the best team in England. And to do that, it might take a while, but to be the best team in England, along the way I think you’re gonna win a few things. I hate to say ‘We’ve gotta get promoted’, because you’re fixated on the wrong things. I know I’m sounding a bit like a coach, with the old cliches, but if we can get the right things in place, players playing the right way our academy producing the players – and our academy’s been brilliant – then I think we’re on the right track.”We’ll get to where we get to – and if we just fall a bit short, we’re still going to be a bloody good club. And to me that’s the important part. Durham is a massive part of England, the northeast are craving for it to be a really good team. Hopefully that’s what I can produce.”

Hosts well-placed in chase through Buttler, Croft only to stumble short of finishing line

ECB Reporters Network07-Jul-2023

Inaugural T20 champions Surrey are through to Finals Day a week on Saturday having just about defended a target of 188 to win a high-scoring thriller against Lancashire by 13 runs at Emirates Old Trafford.The 2003 winners inflicted a first home T20 defeat upon the Lightning in 22 games dating back to late 2020, and they did it as the hosts slipped from 124 for 2 in the 14th over of their chase to finish on 174 for 6.Captain and England white-ball seamer Chris Jordan excelled with two for 28 from four overs, leaving Australian seamer Sean Abbott defending 19 off the last over to seal a semi-final meeting with Somerset at Edgbaston.Surrey’s 187 for 5 having elected to bat was underpinned by 70 off 41 balls for opener Laurie Evans and 50 off 34 for Jason Roy from No. 3. But they didn’t get as many as they should have on a used pitch, opening the door for England white-ball captain Jos Buttler to put the game in Lightning’s favour with an opening 42. Veteran Steven Croft also made 55, but it wasn’t enough.At 119 for 2 after 13 overs, 200 was likely for Surrey. However, Lancashire squeezed well, and wicketless Luke Wells conceded only 26 from four overs of legspin.Sunil Narine only facing two balls from No. 7 and fellow overseas bowler Abbott not batting at all for Surrey was a surprise. The latter, for example, crashed a 34-ball century earlier in the competition.Evans hit three sixes as 58 for one came off the powerplay, two of them scooped over fine-leg in the same over from two-wicket seamer Tom Bailey and the other smashed over midwicket. Evans reached his fifty off 28 balls shortly afterwards and helped his side to 93 for 1 after 10 overs, by which stage Roy was settling.Phil Salt and Croft both let boundaries slip through their legs in the outfield, though the latter ironically led to the wicket of Evans, who was bowled by Liam Livingstone as the score fell to 104 for 2 in the 12th over. Had Croft not misfielded, it would have only been one and Roy on strike.Roy pulled Livingstone for a big six on the way to a 33-ball fifty. But he fell to a smart catch from Croft at cover off Luke Wood, with Surrey 140 for 3 after 15 overs.Despite their ground fielding been sketchy – Surrey’s was worse – Lancashire caught well. Dane Vilas took a superb low catch at long-off to help Bailey remove Sam Curran late on.Buttler started Lancashire’s pursuit by lofting his second ball for six over long-on off Will Jacks’ offspin, and they got going well at 31 without loss after three overs.Salt holed out to mid-off against Abbott as Lancashire, like Surrey had done, reached 50 for one after five overs. Salt’s wicket brought Croft to the crease, and he hit four of his first 10 balls to the boundary, outshining Buttler.Having that said, the England captain then launched Narine’s first two balls for six over long-on to blow that theory to pieces, more importantly taking Lightning to 69 for 1 in the seventh over.That became 94 for 1 after 10 with Buttler 41. That Buttler only added one more run before slicing Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin to gully – 97 for 2 in the 11th over – boosted Surrey’s chances of a revival. And it proved a big moment.Having shared 62 with Buttler, Croft remained but Jordan led a squeeze in the rate just as the home bowlers had done earlier. Narine had Livingstone miscuing cheaply to deep midwicket, and Lancashire needed 64 off six overs at 124 for 3.Croft reached 50 off 32 balls shortly afterwards and while Daryl Mitchell was dropped on 4 in the deep, the target became 47 off four overs and later 29 off two.Jordan yorked Croft and had Vilas caught at long-leg in the penultimate, also running out Wells – 168 for 6 – leaving Abbott with room for manoeuvre. He finished with 1 for 22 from four overs.

England make two changes for must-win fourth Test in wake of 434-run loss in Rajkot

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Feb-20241:36

Harmison: Bashir’s height will come in handy on this surface

Ollie Robinson and Shoaib Bashir will play the fourth Test against India as England roll the dice in this must-win game on a cracked Ranchi pitch. The pair, who will replace Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed, are the only changes from the 434-run defeat against India in Rajkot, which leaves England 2-1 down, desperate to keep this five-match series alive.Robinson will play his first Test in India, returning to the side for the first time since suffering a back spasm in the first innings of the third Ashes Test last July, which was also his last competitive match. He will line up alongside James Anderson, who pulled up well after bowling 38 overs in the third Test at Rajkot, with match figures of 1 for 139.Somerset offspinner Bashir has also been chosen ahead of Rehan, who is the team’s second-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets at 44 from three matches. The 19-year-old Rehan has bowled valiantly, but found himself targeted by India’s batters – primarily Yashasvi Jaiswal – in the second innings at Rajkot, returning 1 for 108 from 25 overs.The decision to opt for the high-actioned finger-spin of Bashir rather than stick with Rehan’s wrist-spin reflects England’s impression of what Stokes described as an “interesting” surface, which they believe will contribute to a fast-moving, spin-friendly game. Surrey’s Dan Lawrence was also considered for Bashir’s spot, offering part-time off-spin while reinforcing the batting.Instead, Bashir will join Tom Hartley and Joe Root as a slow-bowling trio. Bashir made his debut in the second Test at Visakhapatnam, taking 3 for 138 and 1 for 58 in the match, after visa issues forced him to miss the series opener in Hyderabad.”We do like to look at the pitch two days out and one day out, because that’s how we like to pick our XIs,” Stokes explained of Bashir’s selection. “You want to give yourself some idea or some indication about what XI you think is going to give you the best chance. Looking at that, I think there is going to be assistance for spin, but I think also it looks like someone like Bash, who releases the ball from such a high release point, the extra bounce that he gets we feel is going to bring us more into the game.”Ollie Robinson has been recalled as Rehan Ahmed sits out the fourth Test•Gareth Copley / Getty

This will be Robinson’s 20th cap, and his selection is a show of faith in the 30-year-old. Despite 76 dismissals at an average of 22.21, he has constantly faced questions about his fitness and ability to bowl multiple spells across the full duration of a Test match, at a consistently challenging pace. Having worked hard to improve his fitness over the last nine months, he has the chance to restate his worth as a Test bowler when England need him most.”I’m really excited for him to get his go,” Stokes said. “He’s been an incredible professional, the way in which he’s operated. Not playing the first three games is extremely disappointing, especially for someone who has played such a vital role over the past two years. The way he kept everything going, going and going through the obvious disappointment of not playing is a great way to operate. Now the chance is here. He has done everything he has needed to and I’m really looking forward to seeing him out on the park again.”He will play alongside the veteran Anderson, who had been considered as one of the likelier bowlers to make way, following his heavy workload in Rajkot and the short turnaround between matches. He currently has six wickets at 35.83 in his two appearances to date. But Stokes has backed the 41-year-old, who is currently sitting on 696 career dismissals, to lead the line once more.”If you’re a young fast bowler, Jimmy Anderson is the one person who you want as your role model. Not only the amount of wickets he’s got but the fact he can keep going at his age. Backing a very high-workload Test match in five days, being fit and raring to go, and feeling as fresh as a fiddle. Jimmy’s wickets, his longevity and his age, he’s an unbelievable role model to all young kids out there who want to be a fast bowler when they grow up.”The way in which over the last two years he’s introduced new ways of operating; you’ve seen him commit to bowling bouncers, bowling around the wicket to right-handers, use his skills when the conditions need that. Even saying he’s approaching 700 Test wickets as a fast bowler is incredible. I think he’ll know that, but I don’t think that will be at the top of his mind for this week, just because of where we’re at in the series.”England: 1⁠ Zak ⁠Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Tom Hartley, 9 Ollie Robinson, 10 James Anderson, 11 Shoaib Bashir

Middlesex bowlers put through the mill again but Nathan Fernandes shines with bat in reply

ECB Reporters Network13-Apr-2024

Emilio Gay and James Sales both set new landmarks as Northamptonshire continued to dominate on day two of their Vitality County Championship clash with Middlesex at Wantage Road.First-day centurion Gay forged on to post 261 – the highest-ever individual Championship score for the county against Middlesex – while Sales, brought back into the side for this game, made his maiden first-class hundred with his father David and mum Abigail in attendance to mark the moment. The pair set a new fifth-wicket record against the Seaxes of 181 before the hosts declared on 552 for 6.For Middlesex, who conceded 620 in the first innings against Glamorgan last week, it was another case of much leather chasing, Toby-Roland-Jones their only bowler to take more than one wicket (2 for 81).There was still time in the evening session for two young debutants to make an impression, Raphael Weatherall capturing his maiden first-class wicket, while Middlesex teenager Nathan Fernandes reached an impressive half-century before stumps were drawn with the visitors 128 for 1, still 424 in arrears.As they did on the opening day, Middlesex made an early breakthrough, Roland-Jones trapping Rob Keogh, the batter risking censure by taking his time to drag himself away from the crease, shaking his head as he went, a point noted by the two umpires. However, as on day one, the wicket proved a false dawn for Middlesex as Gay and Sales embarked on their record stand.Gay timed the ball exquisitely, straight driving first Ethan Bamber, then Roland-Jones to the fence as he eclipsed Stephen Peters’ record score against Middlesex at Wantage Road, 183 set in 2010.It wasn’t long before he flicked a loose one from Tom Helm to the fine leg fence to reach his first double-hundred and take Peters’ record of the highest-ever score against Middlesex of 199 made in that same summer 14 years ago.Josh De Caires would give him a reprieve almost immediately afterwards, failing to hold onto a tough caught and bowled opportunity. In De Caires’ defence he probably saved four not to mention himself being decapitated by the blow.Sales meanwhile got underway with a four through midwicket and later took heavy toll of a De Caires over, clubbing one just beyond the grasp of mid-on before driving a better shot straight in the same over on his way to 50 from 109 balls. The hundred stand was raised by lunch as Middlesex rattled through 22 overs in the second hour’s play to rectify a previously negative over rate.Gay was granted a second life soon after the resumption when Bamber failed to hold an even tougher caught-and-bowled close to the ground and celebrated the reprieve by hoisting De Caires back over his head for the day’s first six on route to 250.The record fifth wicket stand against Middlesex of 131 between David Capel and Nigel Felton set at Lord’s in 1989 was soon eclipsed and it was a surprise when Gay’s innings was ended via a run-out.Saif Zaib sparkled briefly, striking one six out of the ground, before all eyes fell on Sales. Already having surpassed his career-best, the 21-year-old right-hander banished any thoughts of the nervous 90s with a huge six of his own before a scampered single took him to the century to a great reception from an albeit sparse crowd.The declaration came soon afterwards and while Middlesex openers Mark Stoneman and Fernandes survived a testing 35 minutes before tea, Weatherall’s golden moment came soon afterwards. The youngster, who played in the England U19 Test on this ground last September took just eight balls to find the edge of Stoneman’s bat, the tickle carrying comfortably through to McManus.That one stuck for McManus but he grassed another when Fernandes was on 24, so denying Weatherall a second victim from his opening burst.The left-hander made the most of the reprieve, to reach a 50 including seven fours, while Max Holden survived a drop at short leg on 35 to be 40 not out at the close.

With promotion and League One title glory well within their grasp, Birmingham City have now reportedly turned their focus towards securing a bargain deal to sign a defensive addition this summer.

Birmingham strolling towards promotion

With games in hand on second place Wrexham, Birmingham sit clear at the top of League One and look unlikely to ease their hold on the top of the tree anytime soon. With just a handful of games left to play, the Blues are also on course to secure early promotion above third place Wycombe and could even seal their Championship spot as early as April 18 when they square off against the struggling Crawley Town.

Left delighted with his side’s most recent victory against Barnsley, watching on as they soared to a 6-2 win, manager Chris Davies told reporters: “It was a big three points. To score six goals at home and win 6-2 is a wonderful day for us.

“I thought were good throughout, we had to be patient when they went down to ten men but to score six in front of the home fans is brilliant. Against ten men, it’s a mental game. You can think it’s going to be easy, but it doesn’t work like that.

“To get a sucker punch after we score, with a long throw, that frustration can build so it was really important for me at half-time that I calmed the players down and made them see the game quite clearly and what we needed to do, the positions we needed to get into and how to attack them relentlessly. If we did that, we would score the goals to win the match and we did.”

That victory only strengthened their stride towards promotion and securing an early place should only benefit Birmingham as they go in pursuit of one particular summer bargain.

Birmingham plotting bargain Harry Darling deal

According ton Wales Online, Birmingham are now plotting a move to sign Harry Darling on a free deal once his current contract comes to an end at Swansea City this summer. The defender does reportedly have an offer on the table from the Championship side but is yet to put pen to paper on an extension – opening the door for his exit in the coming months.

That said, the Blues aren’t the only side reportedly interested, with Premier League hopefuls Sheffield United also linked to the Swansea contract rebel as the summer transfer window approaches.

The interest in the 25-year-old centre-back should come as no surprise either. Former Swansea manager Luke Williams is just one of few to praise Darling in recent months, telling reporters following a hard-fought draw against West Bromwich Albion in January: “Harry was outstanding, and it is impossible to question his commitment to the football club because that an heroic performance from him.

“He is fantastic at defending the goal, competing for everything with the opposition. But he also had plenty of brilliant actions in helping us to build-up to try and score. He was brilliant, he’s an excellent player.”