Persistent rain ruled out any chance of play on the third day of the second Test at Hagley Oval
The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy22-Jan-2017 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSteady rain kept the square and the bowlers’ run-ups under covers right through the third day•AFPPersistent rain ruled out any chance of play on the third day of the second Test at Hagley Oval. Having begun at around 6am, the rain never really let up through the morning and afternoon, eventually forcing the umpires to call off play at 4 pm, two hours before the scheduled close.With 17 wickets falling over the first two days, there was still a fair chance of the Test match ending in a decisive result, given better weather on days four and five. At stumps on day two, New Zealand were trailing Bangladesh’s first-innings total of 289 by 29 runs, with three wickets in hand, having lost three quick wickets to Shakib Al Hasan’s left-arm spin.
Chelsea are reportedly ready to give up on their protracted pursuit of Moises Caicedo, with Leandro Paredes emerging as an alternative target.
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Blues looking for midfield reinforcements
Seagulls proving difficult to deal with
World Cup winner may be lined up
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Blues remain in the market for midfield reinforcements after parting company with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic. They had been hoping that long-standing interest in Brighton star Caicedo would reach a positive conclusion in the summer transfer window.
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That has not been the case, with the Seagulls knocking back several bids as they refuse to budge in their £100 million ($127m) valuation of the highly-rated Ecuador international. Chelsea are now turning their attention elsewhere, with claiming that Paris Saint-Germain ace Paredes is in their sights.
AND WHAT'S MORE
Mauricio Pochettino previously worked with the Argentina international at PSG and – with the 2022 World Cup winner into the final year of his contract in France – he is considered to be a cut-price option at Stamford Bridge. He does not fit the profile of player usually targeted by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake ownership team, but the 29-year-old’s experience could prove invaluable.
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
There remains a chance that Conor Gallagher will also leave Chelsea before the next deadline passes, with the Blues still keeping an eye on Edson Alvarez of Ajax, USMNT star Tyler Adams of Leeds, Everton’s Amadou Onana and Celta Vigo star Gabri Veiga.
Alviro Petersen, the former South Africa opener, has been banned for two years by CSA after admitting to 13 breaches of the anti-corruption code in relation to the 2015-16 domestic T20 match-fixing scandal
Firdose Moonda21-Dec-2016
Alviro Petersen has been banned from cricket for two years•Getty Images
Alviro Petersen, the former South Africa opener, has been banned for two years by CSA after admitting to 13 breaches of the anti-corruption code in relation to the 2015-16 domestic T20 match-fixing scandal.’Unusual and pressured circumstances’ – Petersen
Alviro Petersen said on Thursday that the events which gave rise to the charges to which he pleaded guilty took place under “pressured and unusual circumstances”. In a statement through his lawyer Robin Twaddle, Petersen said that he had “reported his knowledge of the corruption before the events that led to the charges against him took place and that he assisted the anti-corruption officer during the investigation, to the point that he gave him information and details of a possible fix that was going to happen hours before a game”. He also said that he had approached a player who had received money from the fixers to try and convince him to report his involvement, under instructions from the CSA’s anti-corruption officer. The statement said that, “Whilst he took part in discussions that were initiated by Gulam Bodi and certain fixers, these discussions took place at a time when Alviro knew that the fixing scandal was under investigation and he (Alviro) was convinced that the fixing operation would be shut down imminently. Knowing that match fixing is controlled by criminal gangs, Alviro feared for his and his family’s safety at the time, to the point where he engaged a bodyguard while playing for the Lions last season.”
Among Petersen’s transgressions are four counts of failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct; four of failing to disclose evidence of another participant breaching the code; four of failing to cooperate with the investigators by not providing accurate and complete information; and one of concealing and destroying information relevant to the investigation. CSA has withdrawn charges relating to fixing or contriving to fix any matches and accepting or offering any bribes.Petersen apologised for his actions and vowed he had no intention of fixing matches. “I would like to apologise to my family, friends, the public who are fans of the game of cricket, my team mates, Gauteng cricket, Lions cricket and especially to Cricket South Africa for my actions. At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened, I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money,” he said.”I now deeply regret having participated in these meetings and not to have immediately reported them to the authorities as I am obliged to do. I understand that I need to take personal responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment that CSA has imposed on me. I hope that other players will learn from my experience and be better prepared if they find themselves in the situation that I was in, and that my punishment will serve as a deterrent. I also want to thank my family, friends and my legal team for their unwavering support and guidance during the last few months.”Petersen is the sixth player and third international to be sanctioned after Gulam Bodi, Thami Tsolekile, Ethy Mbhalati, Pumi Matshikwe and Jean Symes were banned for between seven and 20 years for their roles in the saga. The investigation remains ongoing.Petersen’s ban prevents him from being involved in any capacity for any international or domestic match, or having any other kind of function in cricket organised by CSA, the ICC or any other national federation. Most recently, Petersen has played for South African franchise Lions, for Lancashire in county cricket, was employed as a commentator for the public broadcaster, SABC, and ran a charitable foundation. He will be unable to do any of the first three of those until November 12, 2018, two years from the date he was charged.Petersen was formally charged after rejecting a plea bargain from CSA and gearing up to play for Lions in the domestic T20. He issued a statement through his lawyer, Robin Twaddle, in which he admitted to “playing along” with those involved in the scandal but denied any wrongdoing. Petersen claimed the ACSU was aware of his discussions and meeting with the players.Although Petersen’s exact involvement has not been disclosed, CSA indicated his most serious breach was not reporting approaches in full.”He is obliged under the code to have disclosed various approaches that were made to him to engage in corrupt activities,” Haroon Lorgat, CSA CEO, said in a statement. “While having provided certain information to the investigators he had also withheld and concealed certain material information, such as the meetings with Bodi and certain fixers.”CSA has confirmed that Bodi acted as the intermediary for international betting syndicates and approached certain players “with a view engaging in fixing activities”, according to the statement. CSA has maintained no actual fixing was carried out in the 2015-16 Ram Slam.However, it has not been able to declare its inquiry complete. Petersen, in his statement after the charges were made public, said he knew of at least one other player who had not been charged. The independent chairperson of CSA’s ACU, Bernard Ngoepe, a former judge, said the body will continue working to conclude the matter. “We are still finalising certain aspects of the investigation and we will not stop until we are fully satisfied that we have exhausted every lead and scrutinised every aspect relating to this matter. As we have stated previously, any form of corruption in the game will be dealt with severely. We will leave no stone unturned in this investigation.”
Aston Villa are currently seventh in the Premier League and vying for a place in Europe next season with four games left to play this month.
Unai Emery has his side competing at the top end of the table and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been a key cog in the team's resurgence.
The World Cup winner has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02, the second-highest in the squad, and has proven his worth to the Villans with his consistently excellent performances between the sticks.
Whilst not a major issue, Villa have encountered issues when they have been forced to play their second choice, Robin Olsen, when Martinez has been unavailable.
The Swede has averaged a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.53 across four Premier League appearances, conceding 1.8 more goals than the post-shot xG expects the average goalkeeper to ship, and recorded an abysmal score of 5.8 in the EFL Cup defeat to Manchester United.
Robin Olsen warming up for Aston Villa.
However, Villa may not have needed to bring in Olsen had they kept faith in one of their former youth prospects who is now thriving at senior level in the Championship; Viktor Johansson.
Who is Viktor Johansson?
The 6 foot 1 talent is a 24-year-old goalkeeper who currently plays in the second tier of English football for Rotherham United and was at Villa Park between 2014 and 2018.
He arrived at U18 level in 2014 and went on to play for the club's U21s before departing in the summer of 2018, when Steve Bruce was in charge of the first team, to join Leicester.
The titan kept 11 clean sheets in 35 youth team games for the Villans but Bruce seemingly decided that the goalkeeper did not have a long-term future at the club and allowed him to leave on a free transfer.
What is Viktor Johansson doing now?
Johansson has gone on to play 96 matches for Rotherham since his move to Yorkshire in 2020, keeping 28 clean sheets, and has caught the eye with his stunning performances this season.
The giant is young in goalkeeping terms but has saved his side 5.1 goals based on post-shot xG, which shows that the stopper has been an above-average performer at that level.
Olsen, who is nine years older than Johansson, conceded 4.3 more goals than expected in his 11 appearances for Sheffield United in the Championship last term, suggesting that the Rotherham man has a significant advantage in the shot-stopping department.
The 24-year-old, who reporter Leon Wobschall described as "one of the best" in the second divison, is proving himself to be an excellent young talent and one that Villa should now regret allowing to leave for nothing.
Johansson could have either been an exceptional deputy to Martinez, given his superior statistics in comparison to Olsen, or the club could have loaned him out to boost his value before selling him on for a profit.
Instead, Bruce allowed the £2.5k-per-week gloveman to depart for nothing and, as things stand, it appears as though the English boss made a mistake with that decision back in 2018.
The Dhaka Premier League match between Abahani Limited and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club was called off after the umpires walked off the BKSP-3 stadium. The match was not played on the reserve day as the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis, the BCB standing committee that runs the league, had not announced its decision.* The umpires had reportedly walked out citing “illness”.The incident that triggered them leaving the field occurred in the 16th over of Prime Doleshwar’s chase when Raqibul Hasan was given not out by umpire Tanvir Ahmed off a stumping appeal from left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib. The Abahani players protested and their fans began to hurl abuse at the umpires, at which point they left the field after consulting with match referee Montu Datta.Eventually, Prime Doleshwar were asked to chase a revised target according to the D/L method, but they refused saying the weather wasn’t a factor and the interruption wasn’t their fault.”Why should we go by the Duckworth/Lewis method? Our club officials are not going to abide by it today. The match didn’t stop because of us. What happened was quite unfortunate,” Prime Doleshwar coach Mizanur Rahman Babul said.Khaled Mahmud, the Abahani coach, thought it was a case of the umpires overreacting. “There was no threat or any situation created that the umpires had to leave the field,” he said. “They could have handled the situation much better. It is quite natural that [Prime] Doleshwar didn’t want to play according to the D/L method when the situation didn’t demand of such a thing.”* 0515am, June 13, 2016. The news article was updated with the information that the match was not played on the reserve day
Sri Lanka Women defended 129 to register a crucial win – their first of the tournament – against Ireland Women in Mohali
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2016 ScorecardCaptain Chamari Atapattu set the tone for Sri Lanka’s win with a 22-ball 34•International Cricket Council
Sri Lanka Women defended 129 to register a crucial win – their first of the tournament – against Ireland Women in Mohali. Three run-outs and three wickets from Sugandika Kumari helped keep Ireland to 115 in the chase, thereby completing a 14-run win.Left-arm spinner Kumari, who returned career-best figures, removed Clare Shillington and Cath Dalton early before solid cameos from Cecelia Joyce (29), Isobel Joyce (24) and Laura Delany (29) took Ireland closer. With 43 required off the last five overs, a succession of wickets took the game away from Ireland. Kumari finished with 3 for 24.Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start after opting to bat. The openers – Chamari Atapattu (34 off 22) and Yasoda Mendis – added 45 in just 32 balls, of which Mendis contributed 9.Legspinner Ciara Metcalfe then dismissed both openers in the space of four balls to bring Ireland back into the contest. Metcalfe produced another double-strike in the 10th over to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 59 for 5. A 49-run stand between Prasadani Weerakkody and Eshani Lokusuriyage, who struck a 28-ball 35, resurrected Sri Lanka and helped them post a total of 129 for 7. Metcalfe also produced career-best figures to finish with 4 for 15.
Dan Cook believes a heavy defeat midweek could be huge for Patrick Vieira’s future as Crystal Palace manager.
The Lowdown: Palace slipping into a relegation battle
Palace now have the unwelcomed record of becoming the first side since Opta started collecting data in the Premier League to have gone three league games without registering a single shot on target.
Prior to the Manchester City, Vieira was asked about any pressure he may be starting to feel given the Eagles are still winless in 2023, although he insisted he’s always been under pressure at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles’ fixture run of late hasn’t been very kind and it doesn’t get any easier in the immediate future as they travel to face their local rivals and Premier League high-flyers Brighton on Wednesday evening.
The Latest: Heavy defeat could cost Vieira
Cook has insisted on the HLTCO podcast that any sort of heavy defeat at the hands of Brighton could do significant damage to Vieira and his hopes of staying in the dugout at Palace.
He said: (9:30) “I do think regardless of Brighton’s upwardly mobile position a heavy beating by them on Wednesday night at the Amex could do significant damage to Patrick Vieira, regardless of the fact we are in a very difficult run of games and the hope is that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“Because regardless of the Seagull’s upward momentum in their European aspirations, the emotional attachment for our fans to this fixture is such that if we do go to the Amex and get beat3/4/5-0 – heaven forbid – then it could really put the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of the fan reaction.”
The Verdict: Vieira now under pressure
The Eagles will know that going away to Brighton isn’t the easiest for any team in the league as they’ve lost just once on their home turf all season, but they’ve defied the odds in the past against the Seagulls.
In recent times, Palace have gone to the Amex, had two touches in the opposition’s box and managed to score two goals, claiming an extremely unlikely victory, but Roberto De Zerbi has unlocked a ruthless side.
While the game will be very difficult for Palace, Vieira will know that his team need to at least have a shot on target and show the fans that the players are still indeed fighting for him and believe in what he’s doing, otherwise it could be a long and tough road back.
Leeds United could look at more than one signing in the January window, according to an exciting claim made by a journalist.
Leeds eyeing left-back move
The Whites are currently short of left-back options under Daniel Farke ahead of a busy period in the Championship after Sam Byram suffered a hamstring injury at Blackburn Rovers that is expected to keep him out for three weeks. Junior Firpo is already sidelined with another injury of his own, and reports have suggested that he is a target for former side Real Betis heading into 2024.
Farke has recently hinted at bringing in a new left-back, with Phil Hay saying the manager “was thinking about that even before Byram/Firpo got injured”. However, adding to the club’s full-back ranks may not be the only idea for the 49ers Enterprises and co, with more than one loan spot available at Elland Road.
Talking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones was speaking about the possibility of two loan moves being made by Leeds in January that could help them get promoted. Jones said that alongside a left-back, “there's always going to be the tendency to go for an attacker”.
“If there is space for Leeds to do two loans, then it is something they should be looking to do. You probably feel that if Firpo, for example, does end up moving on, one of the best ways to replace him in that squad, for now, is to bring in a loan signing and then look at it again in the summer and see where you are.
“There are a couple of spots available to bring loans in, and when you think about how well somebody like Joe Rodon’s done, that's what you have to strive for again. The loan market is a fantastic opportunity for a team in Leeds' current position. The January market is always better for loans than for permanent deals. If Leeds can get this right, they’ll be right in the promotion mix, and they can get themselves up. So, there’s probably going to be a Firpo-type replacement, and then there's always going to be the tendency to go for an attacker that can somehow add some goals into the mix.”
Leeds' attacking options
Goals haven’t been a major problem for Leeds this season, with Crysencio Summerville, Dan James, Jol Piroe and Georginio Rutter establishing themselves as Farke’s preferred front four. Alongside the quartet, the Whites also have the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Jaidon Anthony to call upon, as well as youngsters Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph.
However, if the right opportunity presents itself, adding two new faces in January could be just what is needed for the second half of the season as Leeds continue to chase down Leicester City and Ipswich Town. It may prove to be a busy start to 2024, and hopefully, by the end of the year, Farke and Leeds will be back in the Premier League, going from strength to strength.
Nottingham Forest could be set to table a bid for an exciting player, but a new report has revealed that they aren’t the only club looking to bring him to the Premier League.
What's the latest transfer news at Nottingham Forest?
Over the summer, Steve Cooper was extremely busy in the window, bringing in a total of 14 fresh faces which included the likes of Ibrahim Sangare, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Divock Origi just to name a few, but whilst there were plenty of new recruits entering the building, a big number of players also completed departures.
In terms of outgoings, Brennan Johnson led the big-name permanent exits, whilst the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Emmanuel Dennis and Lewis O’Brien were all sent out on loan, as per Transfermarkt, and with a bit more space in the squad having been freed up, this will allow the boss to bolster his ranks further in January.
One of the players he could turn his attention to is Benfica’s defensive midfielder Florentino Luis, who despite still having another four years remaining on his contract, could find himself on the move having previously been linked with a switch to The City Ground.
The Reds reportedly joined the race to sign the 24-year-old back in August, and whilst the same outlet claimed that they were preparing an approach, a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline, though if the following update is to be believed, the hierarchy are now considering taking a second bite of the cherry.
Are Nottingham Forest signing Florentino Luis?
According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Nottingham Forest could make an “irrefutable” offer for Luis, alongside Fulham, Barcelona and Bayern Munich who are also named as interested parties.
Benfica’s central talisman, who is sponsored by Adidas, has a €120m (£103m) release clause included in his contract, but his current market value is only €20m (£17m), meaning that a cheaper deal could be available.
The Eagles are already looking for a replacement as they know their star is likely to be on his way out in the new year, and with his list of admirers growing, it “isn’t known” how much longer they will be able to hold onto their prized asset.
Getafe's former midfielderFlorentino Luis.
Is Florentino Luis a good player?
Previously, Luis has been dubbed a “Portuguese Octopus” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and the way that he protects his backline when sitting in front of them is remarkable, so it comes as no surprise to learn that Cooper and Nottingham Forest have reignited their interest in their former target.
The Team of Future client currently ranks in the 99th percentile for interceptions and the 96th percentile for tackles, via FBRef, displaying his ability to win back possession for his team and get stuck into challenges, but he’s also capable of having a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch.
Since the start of his career, Luis, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his usual role, has posted 13 contributions (ten assists and three goals), so being such a well-rounded player, it would be a massive coup if he was to put pen to paper in the Midlands in January.
USMNT fullback Kristoffer Lund scored a long-range missile for Palermo in their clash against Ternana.
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Lund scores missile for Palermo
USMNT fullback's first Serie B goal
Ternana win 3-2 in disappointing loss
WHAT HAPPENED?
The leftback opened the scoring for the Italian side in their match on Tuesday, scoring a brilliant top-bins effort in the left corner of the net to level things 1-1 in the 19th minute. However, his stupendous goal was not enough for Palermo on the day, with Ternana scoring two more in the second half to claim a 3-2 victory.
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With no true backup to starting fullback Antonee Robinson on the left side of the pitch, Lund emerged in 2023 as one of the latest dual-national commits for the USMNT. He impressed during his three international appearances toward the end the calendar year, and is now being considered for a first-team roster spot heading into major tournaments in 2024.
The Concacaf Nations League semifinals this March will see the USMNT take on Jamaica, while this summer will see them compete in both the Copa America and the Paris Olympic Games.
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WHAT NEXT FOR LUND AND PALERMO?
In their push for promotion to Serie A, they took a step backward on Tuesday, but Palermo have had a brilliant campaign so far regardless. They sit 5th in Serie B, four points outside an automatic promotion spot – with the likes of Cremonese and Venezia in spots 1 and 2.