Liverpool's Curtis Jones has sent a message to England boss Gareth Southgate as he believes that he is doing well enough to warrant a call up.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Jones believes he deserves England call-upStill uncapped by SouthgateReveals Klopp shock after announcement(C)GettyImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
With Euro 2024 coming up fast, Southgate has only two more games to finalise his squad for the tournament. The 53-year-old's future post the tournament is up in the air and a positive result this summer could see him extend till the 2026 World Cup. Jones has been flirting around the edge of the selection, but has never been capped despite featuring prominently for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Later on in the same interview, Jones also discussed the shocking departure of the German from the Merseyside club.
AdvertisementWHAT JONES SAID
Talking to the BBC, Jones said: "It’s not easy. The lads I’m against are doing well. Gareth and the staff have got a choice, but I think I’m doing enough. Everything around me is going well, so we’ll see."
On Klopp's announcement: "We were in the changing room, actually in the gym, and everyone was told we needed to come in at half 10. It was a bit of a strange one. We didn’t know what was going to be said, but I could feel it amongst the lads it was a little bit strange. He broke the news, it was tough to take. He’s his own man. You've got to respect he’s got his own things he wants to do with his family. He turned me from a boy to a man. I’m grateful for him, so are the teams, the fans, the city."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Jones was handed his professional debut for Liverpool by the German coach in 2019 when the midfielder played against Wolves in the FA Cup third-round clash. Since then, the 23-year-old has become a mainstay in the Liverpool squad, however, the same has not been the case for him with his nation as he hasn't got a single cap for the Three Lions' senior team.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT FOR JONES?
If Southgate has any intention of integrating Jones in the England squad, he will only have two games to do so before the tournament. Before Euro 2024, the Three Lions have friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in late March, before facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in early June ahead of the tournament.
The New York/New Jersey's MetLife Stadium was picked over Dallas to host the 2026 World Cup final with Kim Kardashian set to play a key role.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
AT&T & MetLife were locked in an intense battle
Opportunities for commercial activations played a major role in the pick
Kardashian to continue playing a major role in collaboration with FIFA
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to the intense competition to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final narrowed down to Dallas and New York City, with stadiums in Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium), and East Rutherford, New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), respectively, being the focal points. Dallas seemed poised for victory, but after FIFA president, Giani Infantino revealed that the city would host nine matches, the most among all host cities, it was obvious that their rivals had checkmated in the race to host the title decider of the showpiece event in 2026.
However, the unexpected decision to award the final to New York/New Jersey took many by surprise, indicating how close Dallas was to clinching the prestigious event. This choice underscored the intricate dynamics of FIFA politics, where apparent frontrunners may not always secure the bid.
Advertisement
(C)Getty Images
THE BIGGER PICTURE
New York City presented compelling advantages from the outset, including its extensive public transportation network, a comparatively less controversial political climate than Texas, and a lucrative media market in a favourable time zone. The potential for commercial engagements around iconic landmarks further enhanced its appeal. MetLife Stadium's successful hosting of the Copa America Centenario final in 2016 also bolstered confidence in its capability to stage high-profile matches.
WHAT JERRY JONES, OWNER DALLAS COWBOYS, SAID
Speaking to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, said: "It was a hell of a battle. We almost got there.”
Although New Jersey did bag the biggest prize New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was uncertain until the last moment.
“I started a war game in my mind that that probably meant that they weren’t going to get the final,” Murphy said.
"I felt at that point that it was, more likely than not, that it would be us.”
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
DID YOU KNOW?
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian announced on a FIFA live stream that the USMNT will host their first game at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. Infantino also posted an Instagram collaboration with the pop celebrity as part of the promotion of the launch event. It is reported that it is just the beginning and her presence was not a one-off appearance as several other superstars and legends of the sport have been lined up for similar activities.
Afghanistan gave West Indies a hint of the struggle that could be in store for them in their bid to reach the 2019 World Cup, after battling back from the brink of a crushing defeat
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-2018Afghanistan 163 for 9 (Gulbadin 48, Shenwari 42) beat West Indies 110 (Dawlat 4-26) by 23 runs (DLS) ScorecardGulbadin Naib appeals for a runout after deflecting a drive onto the stumps•ICC
Afghanistan gave West Indies a hint of the struggle that could be in store for them in their bid to reach the 2019 World Cup, after battling back from the brink of a crushing defeat to pull off a remarkable victory in their warm-up encounter in Harare, ahead of next week’s ICC World Cup Qualifiers.The two teams are among the favourites to claim the final two spots for next year’s tournament in England, but for West Indies, two-time world champions in 1975 and 1979, failure to progress would be a particularly ignominious moment in their history.And the manner in which they capitulated in this contest, first with ball and then bat, will have given them few reasons for optimism going into their opening fixture against UAE next week, even though they have welcomed back into their ranks the likes of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, who played key roles in their triumphs at the World T20 in 2012 and 2016.After winning the toss and choosing to field first, West Indies appeared to have the contest in their pocket after reducing Afghanistan to 71 for 8 in 23 overs. Without their captain, Asghar Stanikzai, who has been hospitalised with appendicitis, Afghanistan appeared rudderless as the left-arm seamer, Sheldon Cottrell, set the tone with two wickets in the first five overs of the match.But Afghanistan’s spirit is redoubtable at the best of times, and when Samiullah Shenwari and Gulbadin Naib came together in a ninth-wicket stand of 91 in 11.5 overs, Afghanistan found themselves back in the contest.With bad weather reducing the match to a 35-over affair, West Indies lost Gayle and Shai Hope early as they chased a revised total of 140, but Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels appeared to have steadied the pursuit with a stand of 44.However, Sharafuddin Ashraf bagged Lewis and Jason Mohammed for a duck in the space of four balls to leave West Indies teetering on 80 for 4, and when Shapoor Zadran added Samuels for 34 three overs later, the writing was on the wall.Dawlat Zadran returned to rip through the tail with final figures of 4 for 26, which included a hat-trick that saw the end of Shimron Hetmyer (caught at gully by Najibullah Zadran), Rovman Powell (caught by Mohammad Shahzad) and Carlos Brathwaite (lbw) off successive deliveries of his fifth over. Captain Rashid Khan – the newly crowned No.1 bowler in ODI and T20I cricket – subsequently sniped out the final two West Indies wickets with his legspin.
Negotiations are "ongoing" over a contract extension for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to an encouraging update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
How good is Bruno Guimaraes?
The Brazilian moved to St James' Park back in January 2022, and it's fair to say that he has made an enormous impact since arriving at the club. He has added a huge amount of quality in the middle of the park, but also brought fight and team spirit to the team, immediately becoming one of the most popular players among the fanbase.
Last season, Bruno scored four goals and registered five assists in the Premier League, with his influential box-to-box performances playing a huge role in Newcastle finishing fourth in the table and securing a return to the Champions League.
Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…
The 25-year-old's importance is going to be just as great in 2023/24, and he goes into the campaign as arguably one of the standout midfielders in the country. That means that there is always going to be potential interest in him from big clubs around the world, and while his current Magpies deal doesn't expire until 2026, those high up at the club will want to retain his services for as long as possible into the future.
Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes
Will Bruno Guimaraes sign new Newcastle deal?
Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano claimed that talks over a new deal for Bruno are progressing well, with an extension looking likely currently:
"Negotiations are ongoing at Newcastle over the new contract of star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The club are confident of reaching an agreement with the player, as their first proposal in terms of salary was not at the level Bruno expected, but talks continue.
"For Newcastle, the Brazilian’s contract is a priority; therefore, they are not currently searching the market for replacements should Guimaraes decide not to sign a new deal."
This is great news for Newcastle, with Bruno's long-term future being tied down arguably as important as any new signing through the door this summer, whether it be Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes or a potential new arrival between now and the end of the transfer window.
The Brazil international has been such a fantastic addition to Eddie Howe's side – Alan Shearer has hailed him as "superb" – proving to be a footballer who shines in all facets of his games, and he has been a major reason for the Magpies' recent resurgence and top-four finish last season.
Bruno certainly appears to be happy at Newcastle, and there is no reason why any player would want to leave at the moment, given their upward trajectory as a club, but a new contract would just give the club that extra security when it comes to the bargaining position they are in, should a club like Real Madrid tempt him in the future.
At this point, though, it would be a major surprise if Bruno moved away from St James' Park any time soon, as he continues to be one of the poster boys for this exciting new era, preparing for what will hopefully be his best season yet in a Magpies shirt.
AFC Bournemouth will host West Ham United on Saturday 12th August as the two teams kick off their Premier League campaigns. Here's everything you need to know about the history of this fixture.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who has the best head-to-head record?
These two clubs haven't typically been playing at the same level throughout their respective histories. There aren't too many fixtures to go on, then – only 17 competitive meetings, in fact.
The majority of those have come since the Cherries made it to the Premier League, of course. This will be their seventh season in the top flight.
The Hammers have been a better side and there were a couple of seasons in that span where they were much better. Overall, though, their records when going head-to-head are quite similar.
West Ham have won eight of the 17 games, with Bournemouth winning four. That leaves five as draws, for those keeping count.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who has the best record at the Vitality Stadium?
Eight of the 17 fixtures have come at Bournemouth – where the 12th August meeting will also take place. The record there is perfectly split, though, suggesting there's no great advantage for either side.
West Ham have won two, Bournemouth have won two, and the other four have all been draws. The latter feels like a relatively safe choice for anyone predicting a result on the opening weekend.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who has the best record at the London Stadium?
Premier League, Everton, Everton news, Everton update, Everton transfers, Everton transfer news, Michail Antonio
However, unlike at Bournemouth, there is a clear advantage to the Hammers when the fixture takes place in east London. Nine of the games have taken place there and the home side have won six of them.
Bournemouth have managed two wins, to their credit, but this one typically sees West Ham claim the victory. 2018 saw the single draw in that particular fixture, and the return game is currently stapled in for 30th January as the Cherries seek to improve their record.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: When did the sides first meet?
Despite recent fixtures dominating the history of this fixture, you do have to go back nearly a century for the first meeting between the two. It came in the FA Cup back in 1929.
It was the Round of 16 and the two sides were pitted against one another at Bournemouth. That game finished 1-1, however, meaning they returned to West Ham for a replay shortly afterwards. West Ham saw the Cherries off in that one, winning 4-1 at home to progress to the quarter-finals.
Portsmouth would then knock them out, if anyone was wondering, with the south coast outfit eventually losing to Bolton Wanderers in the final.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: How many competitions have they met in?
While there have only been 17 fixtures between the two, they've managed to spread them across several competitions, with the sides meeting in four tournaments.
The Premier League has seen 12 clashes, all coming since Bournemouth's 2015 promotion. But as mentioned earlier, West Ham and Bournemouth did first meet in the FA Cup nearly a century ago.
It would be 60 years before they'd come across one another again, though. They were both in the old Second Division for the 1989/90 season, playing each other twice in their first league meetings. They'd draw at Bournemouth before West Ham won 4-1 at home.
Another 10-year break followed, as the next fixture between the two didn't come until 1999 as they were drawn against one another in the League Cup 3rd round. Again, West Ham would win 2-0 at home to progress in that one.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: What is their Premier League record?
We've now had six seasons of Bournemouth vs West Ham and things have been very even so far. Of the 12 games, West Ham have won the most with five, while Bournemouth have picked up four wins, with only the three draws so far.
But breaking this down further, Bournemouth things are literally even – two wins each, two draws from the six games. That changes a little when the fixture is at West Ham as the Hammers have won three to their opponent's two (one draw).
This one has been pretty difficult to predict, then. The two clubs are about as even as you can expect over 12 games of football.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: Which team has the most goals?
17 fixtures doesn't exactly allow for a mountain of goals in this fixture, of course. We've seen 59 in total, spread in favour of West Ham.
And that's perhaps the biggest revelation here. Despite results being quite even, West Ham have managed 37 goals to Bournemouth's 22. When the Hammers win, they tend to win big.
In the Premier League alone, the 12 top-flight games have seen West Ham net 26 times to Bournemouth's 18. Funnily enough, they've scored fewer in east London than they have away from home – 12 to 14. Bournemouth, though, do tend to score more at home, with 11 to their 7 away strikes.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: What is Bournemouth's biggest win?
Bournemouth's biggest win in this fixture is fairly modest. It came in January 2019 as they beat West Ham 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Callum Wilson and Joshua King.
Other than that, the Cherries' wins have always been by the odd goal. Thus, their biggest away win is just a 2-1 victory, with Steve Cook scoring the winner after Wilson cancelled out Marko Arnautovic's opener.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: What is West Ham's biggest win?
West Ham's biggest win in this one is 4-0 – a feat they've achieved twice. The first came in January 2020 at home. This was a season that would eventually see Bournemouth suffer relegation and this result set them well on their way.
Mark Noble scored twice, Sebastien Hallér grabbed one and Felipe Anderson rounded off the scoring.
The other 4-0 thrashing came at Bournemouth, meaning West Ham's biggest away win is the same as their biggest home win. This one happened in the most recent clash between the two teams, too.
Michail Antonio opened the scoring back in April, with Lucas Paquetá, Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals also finding the net – a dominant display that will carry West Ham into the season opener with confidence.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: What were the recent results?
Bournemouth's relegation in 2020 means the last few games between the two have seen a big gap between them. Only the last two feel particularly relevant, as a result.
And last season was West Ham's without a doubt. They won 2-0 at home before smashing the Cherries 4-0 away; 6-0 across two games, six points – you can't really ask for much more.
The last game before that relegation – the third-most recent fixture – was also a dominant 4-0 West Ham win.
But things were brighter for Bournemouth up to that game. In fact, the first of those 4-0 wins was West Ham's first victory in the fixture in seven attempts. They drew 2-2 in late 2019 after Bournemouth beat the Hammers 2-0 earlier that year.
Those results had followed two more draws and a Bournemouth win dating back to early 2017. The Cherries do have a period of success in this fixture, then.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: How did the Cherries do last season?
Man United's Victor Lindelof
Bournemouth would eventually finish five points clear of the relegation zone but things were incredibly dicey for a while. A 9-0 defeat to Liverpool early in the season saw manager Scott Parker depart, reportedly over transfer plans.
Gary O'Neil stepped into his shoes and did very well, all things considered, even getting a Manager of the Month nod. It wasn't quite enough to keep him in the job this season, however, as he left the club in June to make way for Andoni Iraola.
Bournemouth vs West Ham: How did the Hammers do last season?
West Ham boss David Moyes.
In the Premier League, West Ham were massively disappointing. Their previous seasons suggested they'd compete for European football. Instead, they finished 14th – six points above relegation and just a single point ahead of Bournemouth.
But that isn't the whole story, of course. David Moyes would guide West Ham to the second-ever Europa Conference League title, bringing home a European trophy for the first time since 1965 (not counting the Intertoto Cup, sorry).
Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who are the favourites?
History suggests this one could be close, given it's at Bournemouth. At the same time, West Ham won there 4-0 last season and they'll be entering the new season with plenty of confidence.
Though, at the same time, the influx of cash from selling Declan Rice means no one can be sure what West Ham's team will even look like come the opener. They'll surely make a few signings between then and now – who knows what effect that will have?
Bournemouth, on the other hand, will certainly be an unknown quantity. They've appointed Iraola as their new manager, on top of a few first-team signings that could change the squad quite significantly.
And so, as with most season openers, this one has a lot of questions around it. We likely won't really know what the two teams are like until the game is over.
When is Bournemouth vs West Ham?
Bournemouth will host West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday 12th August at 3pm UK time. It'll be the 18th competitive meeting between the two sides.
This is the season opener for both sides, with each undergoing big changes over the summer transfer window.
Both will surely feel they have points to prove this coming term, with West Ham looking to return to prominence following their European glory and the Cherries hoping to consolidate themselves as a solid top-flight outfit once again under new management.
One of Australia’s most familiar cricket curators, Kevin Mitchell Jr, will retire after this year’s Ashes Test in November.
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2017One of Australia’s most familiar cricket curators, Kevin Mitchell Jr, will retire after this year’s Ashes Test in November.Mitchell’s departure marks the second retirement of an Australian Test curator this winter, after Tom Parker announced in June that he was stepping down after 20 years of preparing the SCG’s pitches.Mitchell has been in charge of the Gabba playing surface for 27 years, having started as assistant curator under his father and predecessor, Kevin Mitchell Sr, in 1984.”In the ’80s we had the really good West Indies teams touring with the likes of Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards and the big four fast bowlers and that was an eye-opener for me, I thought what a great place to work,” Mitchell told the . “Then in 1995 we won our first Sheffield Shield final and that was really game-changing for Queensland cricket.”The Gabba pitch has typically been regarded as one of the best in Australia, offering seam movement and spin, but also opportunities for big totals. The ground has been nicknamed the “Gabbatoir” for Australia’s dominance in Test cricket at the venue in recent decades: the last team to beat Australia in a Gabba Test was West Indies in 1988. Only two of the past 13 Tests at the ground have been drawn.”Kevvie Mitchell has meant so much to the Gabba and his work on the playing surface has really been instrumental in a lot of our success as a venue,” Gabba manager Blair Conaghan said.”It’s been a fantastic journey for him, from the days when it included the old greyhound track to its transformation into the more modern facility it is today and to consistently deliver over such a long period of time is an incredible achievement.”
The senior bowler said Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah will have to lead the way against the first Australian Test side to visit Bangladesh in 11 years
Mohammad Isam14-Aug-2017
Mashrafe Mortaza believes Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan will be key to Bangladesh’s bowling threat against Australia•Getty Images
The role of Bangladesh’s most-experienced Test quartet will be vital to their chances of success against Australia. Mashrafe Mortaza, former Test and current ODI captain, who was part of a training camp in Dhaka over the last five weeks, believes Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah will have to lead the way against the first Australian Test side to visit Bangladesh in 11 years.”I expect our four senior players to put a price on their wicket,” Mashrafe told ESPNcricinfo. “They must put up a statement in the middle that the young players can follow. Tamim is in the best form of his career. He and Imrul can provide a good start. We have Shakib and [Mehidy Hasan] in our spin department. If one of the fast bowlers have a good spell of three or four wickets, there will be a possibility for us. These will be expected when the situation arises in the match.”Mashrafe said that Bangladesh’s improved mindset has put them in a position of strength ahead of the Test series. The confidence, he believes, has soared after they convincingly beat England and Sri Lanka in the last ten months. Although the losses in Christchurch [against New Zealand], Hyderabad [against India] and Galle [against Sri Lanka] were largely due to poor performances their valiance in the Chittagong [against England] and Wellington defeats didn’t go unnoticed.”More important than winning or losing is their mentality. I am witnessing in the dressing room that their mindset is setting them apart from previous teams, and they are in the making of bigger things in the next two years.”It is encouraging enough to think that they will fight, which is a better expectation than only hoping for a result. This has also been their best preparation ahead of any Test series,” he said.Mashrafe said that the batsmen have to continue to be hungry and not be complacent with a milestone but go on to make a bigger score each time they are settled at the crease.”I think they have been working on their mentality, which has been an area of concern for the last 15 years. We never had the patience. After scoring a century, a batsman has to think of coming back the next day and converting it into a big score. Why not a double-hundred? It doesn’t happen every day but utilising an opportunity properly is vital.”Say someone scored a double-hundred but the others haven’t contributed as much. The team score comes to 400-450, so it becomes important for the set batsman to make it count. Someone who gets out in the forties has to think of playing a long innings, not just be happy with a fifty,” said Mashrafe.Mashrafe believes Bangladesh will have to raise their game against Australia more than what they did against England at home last year. He said that tackling Australia’s bowling attack, even without Mitchell Starc, will be critical to doing well in the two Tests.”I don’t want to create unnecessary pressure on the players but I am expecting a good Test series,” he said. “Australia is the most passionate Test team in the world and their best possible team is coming to Bangladesh. They have Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon in the bowling line-up.”The work for our team isn’t going to be easy but if we play one level better than what we did against England, it would be possible to win, but I am not going to put any pressure on them in terms of results.”
Sikandar Raza’s adventurous 97 not out helped Zimbabwe recover from 59 for 5 on the third day at Khettarama
The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo16-Jul-2017 Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Sikandar Raza stalled Sri Lanka’s charge with a selection of cross-batted strokes•AFP
All through the tour, Sri Lanka have had Zimbabwe cornered, and games have threatened to follow a familiar, one-sided form. Yet all through the tour, Zimbabwe have found ways of resisting, of stubbornly holding out, and eventually fighting back.Day three at Khettarama saw perhaps their most impressive turnaround yet. Having eked out a 10-run first-innings lead in the morning, Zimbabwe found themselves 23 for 4, then 59 for 5. But for the remainder of the day, the middle order would rally around an adventurous Sikandar Raza, and turn the match in dramatic fashion. Having played definitive hands in Zimbabwe’s ODI series, Raza stood on the verge of a vital maiden Test ton, finishing the day on 97 off 158 balls. Peter Moor struck 40 and joined him for a sixth-wicket stand of 86. Malcolm Waller did even better, cracking 57 off 76 deliveries in an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership worth 107.All this means that Zimbabwe now control the Test, and may even have put themselves in a position to pull off the unexpected result of the year. Overturning Sri Lanka in ODIs was surprising enough, but in Tests, the hosts may not have dreamed they would be challenged by the lowest ranked team – one they have consistently thrashed over the past two decades. But with Zimbabwe’s lead at 262 their target is already a challenging one. If the score grows by another 100 runs, could become a near-impossible pursuit.Unusually, Sri Lanka have caught well in this Test, but the bowling has been consistently menace-free. Of the 16 Zimbabwe wickets to have fallen, Rangana Herath has claimed nine. For the second half of day three, he seemed the only bowler capable of beating the Zimbabwe batsmen, and had he not run riot in the first session, Sri Lanka’s position would have been even bleaker. Dilruwan Perera was not miserly enough for a bowler who isn’t taking wickets, Lahiru Kumara’s lines have been too wayward, and Suranga Lakmal has been modest in unhelpful conditions. Sri Lanka are also missing the bowling of Asela Gunaratne, whose tweaked hamstring had substantially hampered his running between the wickets, and now has kept him off the field in the second innings.The first 10 balls of Raza’s innings defined his approach. First ball, he had picked a single to fine leg. After three further singles off the next five balls, he punched a ball out to the cover sweeper and took two. Though his team was threatening to be all out for 120, Raza took seven off the first 10 balls, and batted as if they were 300 for 5. He favoured the lap sweep and the drive off the spinners, and rarely failed to find gaps when he was looking for them.Rangana Herath claimed three wickets in four overs before lunch•AFP
Perhaps the only real chance in his innings came when he was 31, when he attempted to reverse sweep Herath, but only ended up top-edging the ball. Slip fielder Dimuth Karunaratne – who had already taken two excellent catches in the innings – might have been in a position to make a third take, had he not begun moving squarer in anticipation of where he felt the ball may travel. As it happened, the ball bisected the keeper and slip before skimming away to the third man fence. Raza would hit two more fours in that over to make it Herath’s most expensive of the innings. Outside that over, Raza only struck four fours and a six.Waller was more openly aggressive – but only by a little bit – as he hit eight fours, and repeatedly put bowlers under pressure by scoring singles and twos freely as well. His fourth Test fifty had come off just 54 deliveries, before the final overs of the day prompted a slowdown from both batsmen. Beyond Waller, Zimbabwe also have Graeme Cremer and Donald Tiripano, both of whom have first-class centuries to their names.Before Raza came to the crease, Herath had knocked out Zimbabwe’s top three in his first four overs, before Perera also took a wicket. By lunch, Sri Lanka had had them by the collar, at 23 for 4. Taking the new ball, Herath needed an over to settle, but the first delivery of his second over was of a higher quality than Regis Chakabva had the ability to handle. Breaking more sharply than any of his deliveries in the first over, the ball missed Chakabva’s defensive shot, and hit the top of the off stump. That over would go on to be a wicket-maiden, which Herath’s next would be as well. This time, having beaten Tarisai Musakanda’s inside edge with a slider, Herath tossed the ball up slightly wider, tempted Musakanda into an expansive drive, and then had him caught sharply by Karunaratne at slip.Herath’s next dismissal – in his following over – was perhaps the most controversial wicket of the wicket-filled session. Attempting a big sweep, Hamilton Masakadza was struck in front. There was no doubt the ball would go on to hit the stumps, but perhaps feeling it brushed his glove on the way, Masakadza reviewed the out decision, and there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field call.All this followed a milestone for Cremer who became the first Zimbabwe captain to take a five-wicket haul. He had taken two of the last three Sri Lanka wickets in the morning, and had helped eke out a 10-run first innings lead. Cremer now will have plenty to defend as Zimbabwe set their sights on a rare victory against a top-eight team.
Middlesex pushed on to a second declaration after Steven Finn’s four-wicket haul and set Essex 452 or a day to survive at Lord’s
Tim Wigmore at Lord's23-Apr-2017 ScorecardIf it is the start of the English season, it must be time to talk about Steven Finn. Every summer it is a source of fascination whether Finn can channel his palpable gifts – pace, bounce from his 6ft 7in frame and the outswing that he has honed in recent years – and become the bowler England supporters have long seen in their mind’s eye. A man not flitting between squads but one who is, instead, a persistent menace in international cricket.It remains far too soon to tell whether this is the summer when Finn makes that transition, rather than just tantalisingly hinting at it, but on a docile Lord’s pitch, he produced a performance of hostility and great skill. It was not so much the four wickets he took – a quick, short ball that Simon Harmer pulled to midwicket; Dan Lawrence deceived with a ball that held its line, rather than swinging away; and a ball that slanted into Neil Wagner and uprooted off stump, to add to the wicket of Tom Westley on the second evening – as his parsimony and immaculate control.Even when bowling loosely, he has always been able to produce brilliant deliveries. But seldom can he have bowled so few poor balls. In 22.1 overs, he conceded just 51 runs; yielding 2.30 an over, Finn was the most frugal of Middlesex’s bowling quintet.”It’s as good as I’ve felt for a while,” Finn said. “Across my career it’s the one side of my game that has not been my best, my economy rate. It’s about keeping it simple, it doesn’t just happen. Without chasing wickets you get your rewards later in the day.”I felt in good rhythm at Hampshire without getting too many rewards and yesterday as well. Today I bowled two long spells and then came back to get wickets at the end.”Few cricketers are aware of the vagaries of professional sport like Finn. The 46 Test wickets at 26.23 apiece he took in 2010, his first year of international cricket, remains his best annual haul for England; last year, he took just 17 Test wickets at 46.64 apiece. Yet his talents are so seductive that England’s interest has never gone away, and here he produced a performance to gladden the selectors’ hearts. If he does it again on the final day, Middlesex will record their first Championship victory of the season, and the case for including Finn in the Champions Trophy squad will become even stronger.”There’s enough eyes around, and people in the know realise when you’re in good rhythm and bowling well,” he said, with the sense of a man who has been here before. “I don’t think everything depends on tomorrow but if you have another good day it furthers your claims even more.”The rest of Middlesex’s bowlers were impressive, too, as they needed to be to restrict Essex to 295 on a picturesque Lord’s day. Toby Roland-Jones generated persistent swing, Ollie Rayner showed his nous, James Franklin embraced bowling with the older ball and Tim Murtagh bowled an expert spell up the slope with the second new ball to account for Ryan ten Doeschate.Against such a well-balanced attack, Lawrence and Adam Wheater needed to summon all of their resolve after Ravi Bopara’s early dismissal, driving indolently at Roland-Jones.Lawrence has won rightful acclaim as one of English cricket’s most promising talents. Perhaps his defining quality is how quickly he judges length, as revealed by a sumptuous push through midwicket for four when Franklin slightly overpitched; a shot to savour. And, just as in a match-saving 141 not out against Lancashire a fortnight ago, Lawrence married such strokeplay with technical fortitude and equanimity rarely spotted in a 19-year-old.Wheater’s contribution was particularly welcome. Having helped to end the career of the brilliant wicketkeeper Michael Bates at Hampshire, his return to Essex has dislodged James Foster, widely acclaimed as the finest of his generation. And Wheater was not even able to score the runs needed to justify the decision, mustering only six in his first three innings of the season.His jittery start betrayed a man woefully short of form, and one badly in need of fortune. That he got, and in bountiful quantity, when he was dropped three times over three consecutive overs off Roland-Jones – by Rayner at second slip, by John Simpson, diving to his right in front of first slip, and by Sam Robson at third slip. In between times Wheater drove with class and swept dexterously, as befitting a man with a first-class average not far shy of 40.Yet Wheater’s dismissal, rather irresponsibly caught at square leg sweeping Ollie Rayner just before the second new ball, triggered the loss of Essex’s last five wickets for 42 runs. A lead of 212, though, was not enough to entice James Franklin to make Essex follow on. It was a “50-50 decision,” Finn said, and cautious, especially with the threat of rain on the final afternoon. Still, Middlesex ought to have claimed the first of the ten wickets needed, only for Nick Browne to be reprieved by Rayner when he edged Roland-Jones to second slip.After Middlesex decided to bat again, what came next was utterly predictable. With the intensity seeping out of the game, their top three all made breezy half-centuries; all squandered the chance to score twin hundreds in the match, Sam Robson coming closest with 77. The only puzzle was why they felt the need to bat on past a target of 420, which Essex’s openers doubtless appreciated.Only one passage of play is worth recalling. In the 33rd over, Stevie Eskinazi scooped Jamie Porter for six, then went down on his front knee to launch him over midwicket, just as Mal Loye once did to Glenn McGrath, before clipping the next delivery over square leg for another six. After launching Harmer over midwicket next ball, Eskinazi was then caught on the extra cover boundary attempting a fifth six in five deliveries. Most remarkable of all was the notion that Eskinazi is normally regarded as relatively sedate, so much so that he has only played a single white-ball game for Middlesex. That will surely change soon.
The batsman, who also contributed with his medium-pace bowling, last played an international match for West Indies in March 2015 at the World Cup
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2017West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith has announced his retirement from all international cricket. Smith, 33, who is playing for Islamabad United in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, confirmed the decision before the start of the second qualifying final against Karachi Kings in Sharjah. His last West Indies appearance came at the 2015 World Cup.Smith made his international debut on West Indies’ tour of South Africa 2003-04, beginning with the New Year’s Test in Cape Town in January 2004, after Marlon Samuels flew home with a knee injury. He made an impression straightaway, scoring a century on debut – a run-a-ball unbeaten 105, his only international century – in the second innings of the game, to help West Indies draw the match and end their streak of seven successive Test losses in South Africa. The team, however, did lose the series 3-1. Smith played only nine more Tests, scoring a total of 320 runs in the format. His last Test appearance for West Indies was in March 2006, against New Zealand in Napier.Smith had a far more substantial run in the limited-overs sides, where he also made useful contributions with his medium-pace, although his batting returns remained modest. Having begun in the lower order, Smith was promoted to the top order, including as an opener, after 2014 and did better there. Six of his eight ODI fifties came when he batted in the top three, and his average of 25.27 was better than his overall career average of 18.57. Overall, he played 105 ODIs scoring 1560 runs at a strike rate of 92.69. He also took 61 wickets in ODIs, with a career-best of 5 for 45 and three four-fors.Smith was part of two World Cup squads for West Indies in 2007 and in 2015, where his final appearance came against UAE in Napier. Following West Indies’ early exit from the 2007 World Cup, Smith spent close to three years out of the ODI and T20I squads before making his return in 2010.He was part of three World T20 squads – in 2007, 2012 and 2014. While he played only one match during West Indies’ title run in the 2012 World T20, he was picked in the next edition as the side’s designated opener and scored 125 runs in five matches. In 33 T20 internationals, he scored 582 runs at 18.18 with a strike rate of 122.78, although he only made three fifties.Smith has been a popular cricketer on the T20 circuit, over the last few years, turning out to play for franchises in the Indian Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Pakistan Super League, as well as the NatWest Blast in England.