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England have received another setback after a shoulder injury ruled Stuart Broad out of tomorrow’s game against South Africa A.

Cricinfo staff16-Nov-2009

Stuart Broad is a doubt for the first ODI against South Africa at the Wanderers on Friday, after he was ruled out of Tuesday’s warm-up game against South Africa A with a shoulder injury.Broad already missed the Twenty20 series and has still not recovered, 11 days after incurring the damage in a practice match. England’s coach, Andy Flower, believes he could yet be fit enough to reinforce a thinly stretched bowling attack, but admits it could be touch and go.”He’s had a number of injections in the past few days and we are waiting to see the reaction to those injections, to see whether it settles,” Flower told reporters in Johannesburg. “The medics reckon it’s possible that those injections will settle things pretty quickly, so we’ve got to monitor it day by day.”He won’t play tomorrow, but if he did show significant improvement and then bowled Wednesday and Thursday, it’s possible that he would play on Friday.”Broad is one of four England players struggling for fitness at present. Paul Collingwood missed England’s mauling in the second Twenty20 match with a recurrence of his long-standing back problem, which Flower thinks will rule him out of Tuesday’s game as well.”Unless it loosens up a lot today I don’t think he will play in tomorrow’s game either,” said Flower.To compound England’s problems, Graeme Swann has a problem with an intercostal muscle and James Anderson, England’s senior paceman, has a knee injury. Both are unavailable for the warm-up match and England’s growing injury list could mean call up an extra pace bowler.”We’ve had it quite a lot, being such an early part of a tour,” said Flower. “We reckon they aren’t going to be medium-term injuries, and we’re hopeful they’ll clear up by Friday. Swann will be out of tomorrow’s game and so will Anderson, he’s got a little problem with his knee. He played with it yesterday but he wasn’t 100 percent fit.Graham Onions, who has only just recovered from injury himself, is now certain to have an opportunity to impress ahead of the opening one-day international on November 20, but the glut of injuries has led Flower to raise the possibility of squad rotation for future contests.”We had a very heavy summer, then three weeks off and then we started again with gusto in Bloemfontein,” he said. “I think in the future we are going to have to target certain periods for strengthening, conditioning programmes for some of these fast bowlers especially and for them to miss the odd international because of it.”

Steven Gerrard has identified the number one priority for his Aston Villa squad ahead of the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun’s Alan Nixon, who claims that the 41-year-old will be targeting a leading left-back in the winter market, as the manager believes that the current first choice in the position, Matt Targett, is not of the standard required at Villa Park.

The report goes on to state that, although Gerrard’s left-back at Rangers, Borna Barisic, has been linked with a move to the Premier League side, Villa’s scouts are looking at targets in the Premier League and in Europe.

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how poor Targett has been for Villa so far this season, the news that Gerrard has already identified a new left-back as his priority target in the January transfer window is sure to have left Aston Villa fans buzzing.

Indeed, over his 11 Premier League appearances this term, the £15.3m-rated man has helped his side keep just two clean sheets, as well as being dribbled past by an opponent an average of one time per game and losing possession of the ball an average of 16.2 times per fixture.

These returns have seen the defender average a disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.72, ranking him as Villa’s 12th-best performer in the top flight of English football.

As such, it is clear to see that, should Gerrard wish to mount a charge towards the top half of the Premier League table this season, the 26-year-old is undoubtedly a player that he will need to upgrade upon in the January transfer window – something that, following the latest reports, it would seem as if the former Liverpool captain is more than prepared to do this winter.

In other news: Grealish 2.0: Gerrard could save AVFC millions with 18 y/o sensation dubbed “the best”

Murali Kartik, the Indian left-arm spinner, has signed up with Somerset as their overseas player for the 2010 season. Currently playing for Middlesex, whom he joined them 2007, Kartik has signed a one-year contract with Somerset.Kartik, 33, said it was a fantastic opportunity for him. “It’s a new challenge for a player like me who has been playing first class cricket in England for the last five seasons,” Kartik told the Somerset website. “I know it is not an Old Trafford or Lord’s wicket, because I’ve played here before and it is a different challenge to me. As an international spinner when you have been playing for a long time you like to challenge yourself on wickets like that.””Somerset have been vying for honours for the last two years [and] I think I probably add a new dimension to their attack. I love the challenge of playing county cricket and coming out and playing on different sorts of wickets.”Brian Rose, Somerset’s director of cricket, said Kartik’s inclusion would bolster their bid to win the Championship. “The key for me has been looking at the way our cricket has gone over the last two to three years,” he said. “We have come up from the second division into the first and been very competitive but in terms of winning the Championship we need to have really good all-round bowlers.”We have got two bowlers who can potentially get 50 wickets each and with Kartik we have got another who can get 50-60 plus, and to win championships you have to have the depth of bowling. Particularly bowling at Taunton you must have variety and several times over the last couple of years we have reached the end game in two and a half days and spent the rest of the time trying to bowl sides out purely with seam.”Kartik has picked up 475 first-class wickets at 26.16, including 33 this season. He also has 24 wickets at 34.16 in eight Tests and 37 wickets at 43.56 in 37 ODIs.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إيطالية، أن نادي ليفربول عرض لاعبه كوستاس تسيميكاس، ضمن صفقة التعاقد مع آرثر ميلو من يوفنتوس.

آرثر ميلو يقترب من الرحيل عن يوفنتوس إلى ليفربول، ويتواجد الآن في ميرسيسايد لإجراء الكشف الطبي والتوقيع رسميًا.

طالع أيضًا.. ليفربول يستعيد رباعي الفريق في مواجهة إيفرتون

موقع “جول” النسخة الإيطالية، أكد أن ليفربول عرض كوستاس تسيميكاس الدولي اليوناني، لاعب فريق الريدز، ضمن الصفقة التي ستشهد انتقال آرثر ميلو إلى إنجلترا.

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن اسم اليوناني ظهر في المفاوضات، وعرض ليفربول اللاعب على يوفنتوس، لكن النادي الإيطالي طلب التفكير في الأمر.

ويحتاج يوفنتوس لظهير أيسر في ظل عدم وجود بديل لـ أليكس ساندرو، وكان قد دخل البيانكونيري في مفاوضات مع أندية أوروبيه للبحث عن تدعيم ذلك المركز.

جدير بالذكر أن سوق الانتقالات الصيفية سينتهي في إنجلترا وإيطاليا مساء اليوم، ولن يتمكن أي فريق بعد ذلك من تسجيل أي لاعب.

يتمنى الدولي البرازيلي كاسيميرو، لاعب وسط فريق مانشستر يونايتد، بقاء الدولي البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو في صفوف الشياطين الحمُر، الموسم الجديد.

وانضم كاسيميرو إلى مانشستر يونايتد هذا الصيف قادمًا من ريال مدريد مقابل 70 مليون يورو، ليتزامل كاسيميرو مع كريستيانو من جديد في نفس الفريق بعدما لعبا سويًا لسبع سنوات.

وقال كاسيميرو في تصريحات لـ شبكة “ESPN” العالمية في نسختها البرازيلية: “كريستيانو؟ نحن نتحدث عن لاعب، في رأيي من بين الأفضل في التاريخ، أحلم باللعب معه مرة أخرى”.

وأضاف: “رونالدو يعرف الاحترام الذي أكنه له، أتمنى أن يبقى، لأنه لاعب يمنحك القيادة، والكثير من الأهداف، وهو فائز ومهم للغاية بالنسبة لنا”.

وشدد: “رونالدو يعرف المودة والاحترام اللذين أكنّهما له، نظرًا لأننا نتحدث باللغة البرتغالية أيضًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا – كاسيميرو: مانشستر يونايتد أكبر نادٍ في إنجلترا.. ولا أطيق الانتظار للمشاركة الأولى

وأكمل: “لقد كان رجلاً منذ اليوم الأول الذي وصلت فيه إلى ريال مدريد، وساعدني كثيرًا، وقدم لي النصيحة، وآمل أن يظل معنا، لأنه لاعب رائع، ومن أفضل اللاعبين على الإطلاق، لا شك أنّ بقاءه مهم للغاية بالنسبة لنا”.

وحول الحديث مع فريد وفاران قبل الانتقال إلى يونايتد وهل تبادلا الكثير من الرسائل؟، أوضح: “لا، ولكن لاحقًا تحدثنا كثيرًا، حول بعض الأشياء والجميع قالوا لي أشياء لطيفة”.

واختتم تصريحاته قائلًا: “عندما أصبحت قريبًا للغاية من مانشستر يونايتد أرسلت العديد من الرسائل، وعرفت أشياء كثيرة، نحن نتحدث عن مانشستر يونايتد، وهو نادٍ كبير وقوي في إنجلترا وأنا أردت حقًا أن أكون هُنا”.

A number of Everton fans have been left gushing over some news involving Rafael Benitez.

As per The Northern Echo, the Spaniard has now ruled out walking from his job at Goodison Park to go and manage one of his former clubs in Newcastle United, believing that it would be wrong to turn his back on the Toffees even though he retains a strong affinity to the Magpies.

This comes after a report emerged that the new owners at St James’ Park were plotting a move to get him back in charge after the takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium was completed.

Benitez only took charge of the Toffees in the summer after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid and has started off well, with Everton currently sitting fifth in the Premier League.

Reports that he has now ruled himself out of joining a top-flight rival have unsurprisingly been met with delight by many Blues supporters.

Everton fans on Benitez news

These Everton fans gushed as the news was shared on Twitter:

“Was never worried as Rafa has always been an honourable man and has never broken a contract.”

Credit: @toffeecrunch25

“Rafa the gaffer, up the Toffees”

Credit: @AJGardensEFC

“Great news, now we need to back him properly”

Credit: @jaysmith1878

“That’s great news!!”

Credit: @ALANBRO32378008

“Happy days”

Credit: @CalumGahan

“In other words Rafa has principles and his word is his bond unlike a few previous managers I bet you could name!”

Credit: @JimFromWoodburn

In other news, find out what club announcement has left these Evertonians buzzing

The three Ranji players will get to train in Australia’s Centre of Excellence

Cricinfo staff29-May-2009

Tamil Nadu opening batsman Abhinav Mukund is one of three Indian players heading to Brisbane’s Centre of Excellence after being selected for the prestigious Border-Gavaskar annual scholarship program. Abhinav will be joined by Maharashtra left-arm seamer Jitendra Patil and Uttar Pradesh allrounder Bhuvneshwar Kumar.Abhinav and Bhuvneshwar were especially successful in the Ranji Trophy last season. Abhinav finished the tournament with 856 runs at an average of 85.60, striking four centuries including an unbeaten 300. Bhuvneshwar starred in the final against Mumbai, bagging a five-for in the first innings. He owns the distinction of being the only bowler to have dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for a duck in the Ranji Trophy. He also chipped in with useful contributions with the bat, making 41 and 80, though his team ended up losing by a massive margin. Patil is yet to play first-class cricket.”Winning the Border-Gavaskar scholarship and getting a chance to train in Australia is a tremendous opportunity for us,” Abhinav told reporters at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. “Personally, I am looking forward to training under coach Greg Chappell and I am keen to learn about playing in different conditions.”For instance, in Australia, they use the kookaburra ball and I want to cope with the extra swing and also work on my early minutes of play. I enjoy the game and I want to keep playing well rather than worry about issues like selection.”

A number of Leeds United supporters have been critical of Stuart Dallas’ first half performance at home to West Ham.

The Whites play host the Hammers in the Premier League this afternoon, with Marcelo Bielsa’s side still looking for their first league win of the season, having drawn three and lost two of their opening five matches.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

Meanwhile, West Ham have started well, sitting eighth in the table and looking a strong outfit with David Moyes at the helm.

However, it was Leeds who broke the deadlock, with Raphinha opening the scoring in the 19th minute at Elland Road.

One player who struggled in the opening 45 minutes was Dallas, however. The 30-year-old had a quiet first half, his main contributing being a wayward shot just after the half-hour mark.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-17/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Leeds fans react to Dallas’ performance against West Ham

These Leeds fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts on Dallas’ showing.

“There’s something up with Stuart Dallas”

Credit: @allan_howe

“Dallas needs to massively wake his ideas up. A ghost of himself at the moment”

Credit: @C1919W

“What’s happened to Dallas? He’s just not the same guy as last season?”

Credit: @Varneyshairline

“I wonder if the personal issue he suffered a few weeks ago is ongoing?”

Credit: @wasreallynowt

“Does Dallas need a break?”

Credit: @MichaeLukeMusic

“31 – A really nice Leeds move goes right to left then back into the middle for Dallas to shoot. We’ll never mention the shot again. 1-0”

Credit: @GrahamSmyth

In other news, Leeds have been tipped to make a move for an exciting player. Find out who it is here.

The impact of Twenty20 cricket is being acutely felt in Australia. A survey conducted by the Australian Cricketers’ Association has found the majority of centrally contracted players are not convinced that representing Australia will be the pinnacle of th

Alex Brown02-Mar-2009
Shane Watson hopes international cricket will remain the priority for Australian players © Getty Images
The impact of Twenty20 cricket is being acutely felt in Australia. A survey conducted by the Australian Cricketers’ Association has found the majority of centrally contracted players are not convinced that representing Australia will be the pinnacle of their sport in a decade’s time.A surprising 20 percent of Cricket Australia’s 25-man contract list said that the baggy green cap would not be Australian cricket’s ultimate accolade in ten years, while another 33 percent were unsure. Additionally, 47 percent of Australia’s elite cricketers rated “balancing playing for your country and competing in the new T20 competitions” as the most urgent issue facing world cricket.That topic came comfortably ahead of “volume of cricket for your country” (33 percent), “playing conditions” (13 percent) and “ICC governance” (7 percent). Sixty percent also said they would have consciously tailored their games “to the demands of Twenty20 to take advantage of future earning potential”, were they still at the beginning of their careers.The survey results appear to confirm what has long been touted: the financial rewards of the twenty-over game will, for many players, prove more enticing than the prospect of national selection. But Shane Watson, the Australia and Rajasthan allrounder who was voted the most valuable player of the inaugural IPL tournament, remains hopeful that future generations will still view Australian selection as the pinnacle of their careers.”The way I see it, the only little threat as it stands is for legends of world cricket maybe retiring a little bit earlier than they otherwise would have to take full advantage of the financial rewards of the IPL,” Watson said. “I don’t think you will see young players leaving Australia to pursue IPL careers on a full-time basis. For me, the dream has always been to play for Australia, and I would hope that would be the same for the next generation of players.”John Buchanan, the former Australia and current Kolkata coach, believes the IPL has already changed the face of cricket forever. “I joined the IPL in 2008 because I believe it has the capacity to change cricket, more so than any other single event in cricket’s history,” he told Cricinfo. “Potentially more so than the advent of Kerry Packer with World Series Cricket, more so than Bodyline, and more so than Bradman or WG Grace. I believe cricket needs change, and I want to help IPL achieve that change.”Click here to read the ACA player survey in full.

Giles Clarke has been elected unopposed for a second two-year term as ECB chairman

Cricinfo staff09-Feb-2009Giles Clarke has been elected unopposed for a second two-year term as ECB chairman.Clarke’s only challenger, former Conservative party treasurer Lord Marland, withdrew ten days ago after it became clear he would not be able to muster sufficient support among the counties to mount a serious campaign.”I would like to thank Lord Marland, who is after all a very experienced election campaigner, and also all the counties that voted for me,” Clarke said. “I believe that the overriding message from this election is that there is no division of purpose within first-class cricket in England and Wales.”Indeed, this election has demonstrated quite categorically that, if anything, cricket is more agreed on a common direction that at any time in the last few years.”