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WI's last chance to stay alive in series

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

If the hosts lose on Friday, they will go 0-2 down with only two matches left

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu29-Jun-20171:52

Can change of scenery do West Indies good?

Match FactsFriday, June 30, 2017
Start time 0900 local (1300 GMT)Big PictureIndia came to the Caribbean after yielding their Champions Trophy crown but they haven’t taken long to find their happy place again. They scored 300-plus in less than 50 overs in their first completed match since the defeat to Pakistan, bringing the cricket world back to the status quo.If West Indies are to shake things up and more importantly stay alive in the series, they’ll have to find a way past India’s strongest suit: a top order that, by now, must be making runs as they sleepwalk. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli are racking them up with such greed that their team-mates from Nos 4 might have forgotten how it feels to be out in the middle. Over the last six games, only twice has a middle-order batsman been needed to face even 40 balls. Both came in losing causes.If this trend is to be exploited though, West Indies have to do something India have, recently, been excellent at: maximising their strength. Jason Holder has under his charge a set of bowlers who are not typically threatening, but at this level, they should at least maintain a constricting line and length for as much as the 50 overs as possible. The two uncapped players they have added to the squad – Kyle Hope and Sunil Ambris – are batsmen so clearly this is the best bowling attack they have and perhaps Antigua will bring them better luck.2:37

I learn from my failures – Dhawan

Form guideWest Indies LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WLWWLIn the spotlightSkill-wise, there is very little going against Devendra Bishoo. He is a wristspinner – an essential commodity in ODIs now – but his consistency remains a problem. Good batsmen almost mark him down for approximately one short ball an over and milk him without too much trouble. If Bishoo can rectify this, he could be what West Indies need – a wicket-taker.He has always been a very good cutter of the ball, but now, when he plays the pull, and the hook, the change in Shikhar Dhawan is striking. He is no longer hurried into the shot, the swivel on the back foot is smooth, and the shot itself appears effortless – signs that he is picking the length early and trusting his technique, which he says has been calibrated to play the ball a little later and therefore a lot closer to his body. With 500 runs in his last nine innings, the adjustments are bringing rewards.Team newsConsidering West Indies dropped Kieran Powell and Jonathan Carter, who have played both ODIs of this series, and replaced them with Kyle Hope and Sunil Ambris, the two uncapped batsmen might just be looking at instant debuts.West Indies (probable): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Kyle Hope, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Jason Mohammed, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jason Holder (capt), 7 Rovman Powell/ Sunil Ambris, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Miguel Cummins,India tend to avoid experimenting in ODIs, but considering the potential of Rishabh Pant, who has hit a first-class triple-hundred at nearly run-a-ball, they may make an exception.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsIn 15 matches at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in North Sound, the average run-rate batting first has been 5.05. That roughly translates to an average total of 252. And barring the odd brief shower, the weather is expected to hold up well.Stats and trivia The last time West Indies won an ODI series against a top-eight team was in 2012, when they beat New Zealand 4-1. Since then, they’ve been beaten 16 times. India’s top-three have averaged 61.5 over the last two years. That’s 15 points higher than their nearest rivals South Africa

Faulkner, Marsh, O'Keefe, Siddle cut amid pay talks

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

James Faulkner, Shaun Marsh, Steve O’Keefe and Peter Siddle have all been jettisoned from Cricket Australia’s proposed list of centrally contracted players

Daniel Brettig24-Apr-2017James Faulkner, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle and Steve O’Keefe have all been jettisoned from Cricket Australia’s proposed list of centrally contracted players for the 2017-18 season, amid pay negotiations that show few signs of a swift resolution.The Australian board named 33 male and female players on the list on Monday, and offered contracts for the first time to the left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, the tall fast bowler Billy Stanlake and the batting allrounder Hilton Cartwright, who made his Test debut at the SCG in January. The young batsmen Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, who impressed on the tour of India, have also been offered their first full contracts, having earned incremental deals over the 2016-17 season.Cricket Australia’s contract offers for 2017-18

Male cricketers: Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Matthew Renshaw, Steven Smith, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Female cricketers: Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Apart from Faulkner, O’Keefe, Siddle and Marsh, the wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and batsmen Joe Burns and George Bailey were also not on the list this season. Faulkner, incidentally, was left out of the team for the Champions Trophy, his first omission from an Australia squad for an ICC event since 2012. All the above players are now cast as domestic cricketers who, according to CA’s pay offer to the players, do not contribute to the game’s financial returns. The chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association, Alistair Nicholson, emphasised that much still needed to be done before the current MOU expires at the end of June.”It is important to remember that the in the absence of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) agreement beyond 30 June, all the terms and conditions that underpin any contract have not been finalised,” he said. “The ACA has expressed a commitment to working with CA to reach a new agreement before the end of June, but in reality we are still a long way apart on a number of issues.”The uncertainty created for a number of key stakeholders is not ideal as we know that alongside the players, it is their families, state associations, corporate partners and broadcasters all wanting to understand what lies ahead for the game.”The absence of a Revenue Sharing Model in CA’s proposal is the number one element that drives a wedge between the players and the administrators at this point in time. The Revenue Share Model has underpinned a very successful period in Australian cricket for the past 20 years, and we consider it vital that all playing groups are afforded the opportunity to be partners in the game going forward.”Trevor Hohns, chairman of Australia’s selection panel, said players had been picked on their potential to play for Australia in all three formats over the next 12 months, with assignments like the Ashes in the home summer and an away Test series in South Africa in March next year.”We have selected 20 players for this year’s contract list with a focus on players who we believe could play a part in an exciting 12 months of cricket, which includes the Ashes and an important away Test Series against South Africa,” Hohns said. “Consideration has also been given to some players who we believe could potentially play in all three formats for Australia.”Cartwright, the second-highest run-getter in the 2016-17 Sheffield Shield, Renshaw and Peter Handscomb all made their Test debuts over the home summer as Australia sought to revamp their side following a stunning defeat against South Africa in Hobart, where they were dismissed for totals of 85 and 161.Agar, who has not played a Test since his debut in the Ashes in 2013, last played an international for Australia in March last year but was one of the four spinners the team picked for the India tour. He has effectively taken the place of O’Keefe, recently fined and suspended for offensive behaviour at the New South Wales end of season awards night following a strong performance on the India tour.Stanlake, meanwhile, was given a debut in the limited-overs matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka and Hohns said the selectors wanted to monitor his progress, similar to what they had done with Pat Cummins, who has held a national contract continuously since 2011 despite a raft of injuries that have only recently shown signs of abating.”Hilton has thoroughly earned his spot in the list this year,” Hohns said. “He was the second-highest runs scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season and, when given his opportunity with the Test side last summer, he impressed. He is an exciting prospect for Australian cricket and we look forward to seeing him perform for Australia in the coming 12 months, if given his opportunity.”Ashton is a talented young player who we consider offers a fantastic package with his batting, bowling and fielding, and someone who is capable of playing all forms of the game.”Billy has picked up the last spot on the contract list for the coming season. We see him as a player of immense talent and a great option for Australia in the future. We want to be able to monitor his progress in the coming 12 months, not dissimilar to what we have done with Pat Cummins in the past.”Among the women’s cricketers, the 19-year-old legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington was offered a contract for the first time, while Rachael Haynes was given a contract for the first time in four years. Wellington impressed over the summer, snaffling 17 wickets in eight limited-overs appearances, while Haynes recently made a comeback to the ODI side after three years.

Rain diminishes New Zealand advantage

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

New Zealand’s discipline gave them four South African wickets on a pitch that was rather seamer-friendly on a day marred by rain

The Report by Alagappan Muthu24-Mar-2017
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:30

Moonda: New Zealand let South Africa off the hook again

Two sessions is often too little time to divine where a Test match would go and such was the case in the decider in Hamilton. New Zealand took the early lead when they took two wickets in the first three overs. South Africa would still have felt comfortable with Hashim Amla sticking around and making his 32nd half-century. So enthralling was the action that rain came by no less than three times in five hours and eventually just didn’t leave. So a score of 123 for 4, achieved an hour after lunch, remained until stumps.It was typical that a day when the bowlers were having more fun than the batsmen had to be cut short. Helping them was a pitch that bore a strange look, with tufts of grass in some areas – 11 to 12 mm long according to the host broadcaster’s pitch report – and completely bare patches right alongside them. That meant the same delivery, off a similar pace and length, behaved in different ways after pitching. It sped up when it hit the green bits and slowed down off the bald areas.Amla negotiated the challenge well, batting outside his crease, and playing as late as he could. His 50 included a couple of scorching straight drives, and a picture perfect back-foot punch through the covers that indicated he was settling in for the long haul. But then came the most dramatic ball of the day, not because it did anything extravagant, simply that it made a set batsman play all around it and then shattered the middle stump.At that time South Africa were 97 for 4, with Faf du Plessis forced to sit through a disdainful examination of technique by Neil Wagner. Again, there was nothing spectacular happening. The left-arm quick was simply testing the South African captain’s judgment of off stump, and occasionally sneaking in the bouncer to catch him off guard.New Zealand’s entire day was built around bowling like that, within themselves. The line was wicket-to-wicket to exploit the swing in the air and the surface ensured there was that little bit of seam movement. The batsmen knew they were high atop a bed of nails. They also knew it could be avoided. Easily, if they had enough balls to leave. If only Matt Henry and Colin de Grandhomme didn’t take such despicable delight in pushing people over the edge.The first to go was debutant Theunis de Bruyn. For most of his 36 first-class matches, he had been a middle-order player. On Test debut he was thrust up to open and couldn’t quite deal with the challenge. Fishing at a back of a length delivery from Henry, far enough outside off to be left, he nicked off to second slip.Hashim Amla was bowled playing around a straight ball•AFP

Then de Grandhomme managed the inverse sucker ball from around the wicket. It pitched on a length and was wide enough to make Dean Elgar think of no reason to play it. Moments later, he was staring at a flattened off stump. The batsman who had spent 772 minutes canoodling the crease in Dunedin was gone inside 15 in Hamilton.Henry, charging in for his second spell, toppled JP Duminy for 20 with a bouncer just before lunch. The batsman went for an ill-advised hook – what with the ball climing up towards his badge and its line on middle stump not affording him any chance to put power on the shot – and was caught on the long leg boundary. It was an awkward dismissal – both in terms of timing and for the fact that a batsman at No. 4 in a Test side had fallen to the short ball on what has largely been a slow pitch.So barring the weather, Kane Williamson did not have too many reasons to feel displeased. Things did begin in a fashion that might make him question if his fairy godmother was shirking her duties. He had lost Tim Southee and Trent Boult on the eve of the match and so had to lead a New Zealand side without both its spearheads for the first time in five years. On the day of the match, he lost his eighth toss in a row – so long were those odds that du Plessis buckled over in laughter when he had called tails and the coin came down as he had bid. But it appeared Williamson’s bad luck had reached a limit right there, meaning not much of it could seep into the actual Test, one they have to win to level the series. He could use some DRS tips though.In the 11th over, Wagner’s first, Duminy was pinned in front of middle stump. Umpire Bruce Oxenford thought it would have slipped down leg, but replays indicated it would have crashed into the target. In the 18th, they opted to review another lbw appeal that was struck down on the field and were told umpire Rod Tucker had good reason to because it had pitched outside leg. The worst, though, was yet to come. In the 29th over, Williamson was persuaded to tee it up for another lbw only to find the ball had smashed into the middle of the bat. Predictably, when DRS was no longer an option, Wagner produced a peach that took du Plessis’ outside edge through to the wicketkeeper and the umpire didn’t notice.With rain forecast on all five days of the Test – Sunday shapes as the worst to be affected – South Africa have not fallen too far behind. They have a 1-0 lead and could pocket another trophy on the road with even a drawn result.

Man Utd Hold Advantage Over "Exceptional" £50m Gem

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Manchester United appear to hold an advantage in their pursuit of Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana as Erik ten Hag eyes his first summer signing.

What’s the latest on Andre Onana to Manchester United?

According to The Guardian, Onana would favour a move to United this summer over joining Chelsea, who are also keen on the Cameroonian.

Inter are demanding a fee in the region of £50m, and with the added benefit of playing in the Champions League group stages next term, it’s no wonder that the Old Trafford side appear to be his preferred choice.

Could Manchester United sign Andre Onana?

Signing a new ‘keeper is certainly at the forefront of Ten Hag’s mind, especially with the uncertainty surrounding David De Gea and his future.

The Spaniard may find himself on the bench more often next season as Ten Hag appears to be searching for a new No 1, and if he does sign an extended contract, the 32-year-old may have to reduce his staggering £375k-per-week salary that he currently earns.

Onana enjoyed an excellent season for the Serie A side, helping them reach a first Champions League final since 2010 while claiming the Coppa Italia for a second year in succession.

During the stunning run to the final of Europe’s premier club competition, the 27-year-old conceded only 0.8 goals per game, keeping eight clean sheets from 13 matches and making 3.6 saves per game – a success rate of 81%.

These performances meant he ranked first out of the Inter squad in terms of overall rating (7.41/10) via Sofascore, and although his side were defeated in the final by Manchester City, it took a solitary Rodri goal to settle the tie.

Pep Guardiola even lavished praise upon the former Ajax star before the game, describing the player as “exceptional with his feet” – and his distribution abilities could make him fit into Ten Hag’s side with ease.

Inter's Andre Onana

Indeed, over the past year, Onana ranks in the top 11% across Europe’s big five leagues for touches per 90 (43.81) while also ranking in the top 10% for passes attempted per 90 (35.46), suggesting that not only is he comfortable in possession of the ball, he can also pass out often from the back to generate attacks.

He may cost around £50m, but Ten Hag must make his move for the shot-stopper as soon as possible. With the Red Devils facing stiffer competition next term due to the Champions League gracing the Old Trafford pitch once more, it’s evident that improving their goalkeeping options could be vital, and Onana could be a wonderful acquisition.

Karunaratne explains run-out mishap

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Sri Lanka’s loss of five wickets in what is now an unlikely run chase was sparked by a run out involving two players fropm the same club who would normally trust their understanding

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Dec-2016From early on in the innings the intent was clear: Sri Lanka were chasing 488 for victory, rather than drawing shutters and playing for the draw. But as play ended on 240 for 5 on day four, at least four batsmen were left rueing dismissals that might have been avoided.Dimuth Karunaratne, perhaps was chief among them, having been run out for 43, after seeming comfortable at the crease. He and Kaushal Silva had also put on 87 for the first wicket – Sri Lanka’s best opening stand in the country – before Silva called Karunaratne through for a quick single to cover. Karunaratne would have made his ground had he not initially hesitated, but was eventually found to be a few centimetres short at the striker’s end, despite having dived.”It was all my mistake I think,” Karunaratne said of his run out. “Kaushal and I both play for the SSC, so we bat together and there’s no misunderstanding. But I tweaked a muscle playing a reverse sweep earlier, and that was playing on my mind a bit. I stopped and tried to start again, and that’s why I was run out.”Karunaratne has been short of runs in 2016, averaging 29.29 for the year, and only 16.77 if his 280 runs against Zimbabwe are removed. His failure to progress to a big score at Port Elizabeth has stung.”I did the hardest part in the earlier overs. I was beginning to see the ball well and then got run out and things were getting easier. The worst thing to do in a Test match is getting run out in a situation like that. I will have to start again in the next matches and survive the early overs again. But it’s part and parcel of the game and there’s nothing you can do.”Three other batsmen were out playing expansive strokes, and from those, Dinesh Chandimal’s dismissal shortly before the second new ball was due perhaps hurt Sri Lanka the most. Chandimal had been fenced in by South Africa’s tight fields and Keshav Maharaj’s tight lines – kept scoreless for a Maharaj over before he attempted a lofted on drive and sent the ball into the hands of mid on. He was out for 8 off 38 deliveries.”Chandimal will be disappointed but he will learn,” Karunaratne said. “These are mistakes and we need to play better cricket. The wicket is good. We don’t have to play risky shots. We have to spend enough time in the middle and see how it goes.”Sri Lanka’s last recognised batting pair of Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva were at the crease at stumps, a highly improbable victory still 248 runs away. Karunaratne said Sri Lanka stood a chance if those batsmen could remain unbeaten in the first session of day five.”If we can get through the morning session, who knows – we could win this match,” Karunaratne said. “For me, Kyle Abbott was the toughest bowler. He is quick and he moves the ball both ways. Vernon Philander also moves the ball both ways, but because he’s a bit slower, he can be managed. But Abbott and Kagiso Rabada will be tough. If the batsmen can play them well, we have a chance.”

Aziz 90 leads HBL recovery after rickety start

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Habib Bank Limited rode on Rameez Aziz’s 90 to recover from early bursts from Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Irfan to put up 236 against Water and Power Development Authority on the opening day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Mohammad Asif snared three early wickets, before Habib Bank Limited staged a recovery•Getty Images

Habib Bank Limited recovered from early bursts from Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Irfan to put up 236 against Water and Power Development Authority on the opening day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final at the National Stadium in Karachi.HBL were tottering at 21 for 6 after being asked to bat, but were lifted by Rameez Aziz and the lower order. Aziz struck 90 and went past 4000 runs in first-class cricket in the process before he was the last man dismissed. In reply, WAPDA’s openers Adnan Raees and Salman Butt, the captain, saw off five overs to take them to 23 for no loss.Asif set the tone for HBL’s early wobble with a wicket in his very first over by having Fakhar Zaman bowled, getting the ball to cut back in to the left-hander and go through the gate before crashing into middle stump. Asif then got one to move the other way when Imam-ul-Haq edged an awayswinger on a length to second slip. Two deliveries later, Imran Farhat was trapped in front of middle and leg and HBL’s score read 19 for 3.By then, Butt had already taken out opening bowler Waqas Maqsood after just three overs and replaced him with Irfan, who struck in his third over when Ahmed Shehzad top-edged a pull shot to mid-on. Irfan then got a double-strike in his next over, getting Jamal Anwar to edge to first slip before trapping Mohammad Waqas lbw. Aziz then joined hands with Fahim Ashraf to begin the repair job.Aziz made a slow start, scoring just 4 off the first 31 balls he faced before unleashing a cover drive off Maqsood. Aziz and Ashraf shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 84 that pushed the score past 100. The two batted out 26.5 overs before Ashraf lobbed a return catch to Khalid Usman, the left-arm spinner. Usman appeared to have hastened the slide by ending Amad Butt’s entertaining 21 when the batsman gave the charge and lost his stumps trying to force the ball across the line.Aziz, however, hung around and forged the second decisive partnership of the innings, putting on 99 for the ninth wicket with Abdur Rehman, the HBL captain. Rehman hit six fours en route to his 53 off 92 balls before Maqsood bowled him for his only wicket. One over later, Aziz miscued a pull shot to mid-on to fall 10 short of a century and give Asif his fourth wicket.While Asif and Irfan inflicted the bulk of the damage, they found support from Usman (2 for 40) and Maqsood (1 for 56).Butt got off to a brisk start in WAPDA’s reply, cracking three boundaries in his unbeaten 16 (17 balls). Raees was more sedate, playing out 15 balls and giving him company on 3.

Chelsea Could Still Move For "Spectacular" £184k-A-Week Ace

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Chelsea could potentially make a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez in June, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Martinez enjoying a good season?

The Argentine has enjoyed as 2022/23 season to treasure to date, enjoying plenty of memorable moments for both club and country. Firstly, he has helped Inter reach the Champions League final against Manchester City next month, scoring in last week's semi-final second leg triumph over rivals AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Martinez also became a World Cup winner with Argentine back in December, in what was surely the crowning moment of his career to date. The £184,000-a-week attacker's future is up in the air, however, and Chelsea have been linked with a move for him in the recent past.

The Blues are badly in need of signing an elite striker once the summer transfer window arrives and it looks as though he could be a leading candidate to come in. His current deal expires in the summer of 2026, though, so it could take a huge bid to be able to sign him.

Inter Milan'sLautaroMartinezcelebrates scoring their second goal

Is Martinez off to Chelsea this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano admitted that there are no strong links between Chelsea and Martinez yet, but that a move is still far from out of the question:

"At the moment, with Martinez, it is not concrete because we know Inter are busy with the Champions League. At the moment, they have no intention of negotiating for any player. This will be something for June.

"Honestly, at the moment, I'm not aware of any concrete discussion between Martinez’s camp and Chelsea. So, we have to wait and see on that one. I think this is a very normal link because he’s Argentinian. But it's not something concrete at this stage."

Martinez could be exactly what Chelsea are after this season, having been hailed as "spectacular" by compatriot Lionel Messi in the past. At 25, he is at a brilliant age to come in and be a key figure for five or six years at least, leading the line and adding more of a goal threat in that position than someone like Kai Havertz.

His tally of 99 strikes in 223 appearances for Inter highlights his attacking prowess, while a total of 34 assists also shows that he can create for teammates. Whether he opts to join the Blues remains to be seen – a lack of Champions League football could be a drawback – but he ticks all the boxes when it comes to summer additions.

Rob Walter appointed Otago coach for two seasons

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Otago Volts have appointed Rob Walter, the former South African conditioning coach, as their head coach for the next two seasons

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2016Rob Walter has quit his job as coach of the Titans in South Africa to move to New Zealand and coach the Otago Volts instead. Walter, who was also a conditioning coach with the South African national team previously, will begin his two-year term with the New Zealand domestic side in September. He will take over from Nathan King, who had also been a member of South Africa’s support staff between 2009 and 2012.Walter is the third person South African cricket has lost to New Zealand since June. Pete de Wet, chief executive officer of the Dolphins, is going to head Central Districts, and the South African national team logistics manager Riaan Muller took the same job with the New Zealand team.”It was a very tough decision because I have had immense joy,” Walter told ESPNcricinfo. “I felt for my growth as a coach it would be good for me to experience coaching in a different environment. Like any coach, I aspire to coaching a national team and through conversations with various people I could see that in the short-term coaching the Proteas was not going to happen for me. By coaching in New Zealand maybe I can put myself in a better position to do that in the long-term. I can’t say I am leaving for lack of opportunity because I got the Titans job early in my career.”Jacques Faul, the Titans’ chief executive officer, paid glowing tribute to Walter’s work with the South African franchise. “Rob pioneered a new spirit in the Titans cricketing family,” he said. “He has transformed the franchise in many ways. It was evident in the way the franchise batting improved the past two seasons, as our top- and middle-order produced 22 centuries in two seasons. We also improved our consistency in the bowling department.”It is indeed a dark day for Titans cricket to lose a coach of Rob’s stature. We want to pay tribute to his enormous contribution. We wish him and his family well when they embark on a new chapter of his cricketing odyssey in Otago, New Zealand.”Mike Coggan, Otago Cricket’s chief executive, welcomed Walter’s appointment. “We’re thrilled to secure the services of Rob for at least the next two years,” Coggan said. “Rob is highly respected and will certainly add a competitive edge and an entirely new learning environment for the Otago Volts group and our wider staff. His experience and desire is first class.”

Pochettino Could Unleash Frightening Chelsea Phenom

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Mauricio Pochettino is now seemingly the favourite to take over as Chelsea's new manager after both Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann were ruled out of a move to Stamford Bridge recently.

What's the latest on Chelsea's manager search?

According to The Guardian, the former PSG boss is now the front-runner to take over in west London after holding positive talks with the club in recent weeks.

Competitors Nagelsmann and Enrique are both said to be out of the running, although no official approach has been made for the 51-year-old, with Chelsea seemingly happy to take their time as Frank Lampard continues as interim manager.

Chelsea may face competition from Pochettino's former club, Tottenham Hotspur, who are also on the lookout for a new boss after sacking Antonio Conte, but it seems as if the Argentine has been on Todd Boehly's radar for some time, as he was considered as the replacement for Thomas Tuchel before Graham Potter took over.

It would not be a surprise if the former Southampton boss is the man in the dugout for Chelsea next term, and he could be the man to finally get the best out of £88.5m signing Mykhailo Mudryk, who has struggled immensely since his January switch from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Could Pochettino unleash Mudryk?

While some Chelsea fans may have already written off Mudryk after a disappointing start to life in England, he is still only 22 and had fewer than 100 senior appearances to his name in Ukraine before moving to Stamford Bridge.

There is clearly a talented player there, as he had contributed an incredible ten goals and eight assists in just 18 appearances in the first half of the season for Shakhtar, including three goals and two assists in six Champions League outings, which saw him labelled as "frightening" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Nearly every player at Chelsea has been guilty of underperforming this season, with Lampard clearly also unable to get the best out of his squad, and under Pochettino next season, every player would surely be afforded a fresh chance to prove themselves.

MauricioPochettino linked with Chelsea

The Argentinian manager certainly has history with some of the top wingers in Europe, having worked with Heung-min Son at Spurs and Kylian Mbappe at PSG, with those two players trailing only Harry Kane in terms of goals scored under Pochettino.

Son would join Spurs in the summer of 2015 under the Argentine but, like Mudryk, struggled immensely in his first season at the club, managing just four goals and one assist in 28 Premier League appearances. Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as one of the best in the league over the past seven years.

Mudryk is at Chelsea for the long term, having signed a contract until 2031, and if he is given regular game time under a world-class coach, then perhaps he could go on to become one of the best in the league, as we saw from Son in his time working with Pochettino at Spurs.

Rangers Expecting £5.6k-p/w Star To Leave This Summer

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Rangers now expect to lose Scott Wright in the summer transfer window, amid interest in the winger from English Championship sides, according to a report from Football Insider.

Which Rangers players could leave this summer?

Michael Beale may have a bit of a rebuilding job on his hands this summer, as some long-serving players are being linked with moves away from the club, most notably Alfredo Morelos, with the Colombian's contract set to expire at the end of the season.

The chances of the striker leaving are ever-increasing, as he is still yet to enter talks with the club about a new deal, with Beale set to wait until the end of the campaign before making his mind up.

41-year-old goalkeeper Allan McGregor could also call time on his Rangers career in the summer, when his current deal expires, but he will make a definite decision at the end of the campaign, depending on whether he feels he can still perform at a good level.

Another Light Blues player that may be on the move at the end of the campaign is Wright, with Football Insider reporting English Championship sides are circling, as well as teams from the Scottish top flight.

The winger is now expected to leave the club, despite having two years left on his contract, with Beale already starting his plans for the off-season, as he vies to close the gap on rivals Celtic.

The Rangers boss was unwilling to part with the 25-year-old in January, but his future will be re-assessed in the summer, at which point he is likely to sanction his departure.

Should Rangers let Scott Wright leave?

The £5.6k-per-week earner has stepped up to the plate in some big moments for the Light Blues, most notably scoring the second in the 2-0 win against Hearts in the Scottish Cup final last season.

However, the former Aberdeen man is clearly unfavoured by Beale, regularly being limited to cameo appearances off the bench, meaning he has amassed just one assist in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Soccer Football – Scottish Cup – Final – Rangers v Heart of Midlothian – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – May 21, 2022 Rangers’ Scott Wright scores their second goal REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Despite being hailed as having "so much talent" by journalist Josh Bunting, the Scot has been unable to display his quality often enough in a Rangers shirt, and it is probably the right decision to allow him to move on in the summer.

Given his contract situation, the Gers may be able to receive a decent fee for Wright, which they can then reinvest into other areas of the squad.