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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THE BIGGER PICTURE
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.
Glasgow Rangers have received a response from a primary managerial target that they have identified to replace Michael Beale in the Scottish Premiership, as a fresh report has shared.
Is Michael Beale getting sacked?
At Ibrox, Beale’s side have had a mixed start to the new campaign where they find themselves fourth in the table after securing three wins and suffering two defeats from their opening five games, via Sky Sports, but after being knocked out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion, some supporters have been calling for the manager to be sacked.
The Light Blues have therefore been linked with the likes of Graham Potter, who has already rejected the opportunity, and Kevin Muscat, although reporter Andy Newport was quick to confirm that rumours surrounding the latter were wide of the mark.
Another candidate to have entered the frame is Birmingham City’s John Eustace, who The Daily Mail claim has emerged as a serious contender having caught the eye not only with his CV, but the fact that he’s an up-and-coming coach which meets the profile wanted.
According to journalist Alex Dicken, it would take an irresistible offer for the 43-year-old to leave St. Andrews and make the move north of the border, but regardless of how much the hierarchy try and tempt him, it doesn’t sound like anything they do will work.
Are Rangers appointing John Eustace?
Speaking to BBC West Midlands, Eustace was asked to comment on the rumours linking him with the job at Rangers.
As quoted by the Football League Paper (via Ibrox News), he said: “It’s all speculation. I’m not interested in any other job than Birmingham City. I’m very, very happy here. I came here 14 months ago and I signed a three-year deal to try to help grow the club, to build this fantastic football club to back where it should be. We’re coming up to halfway in doing that.
"I think there’s been great progress and I want to continue with that progress and see this club fly. There have been some ups and downs but I think everyone can see that we’re going in the right direction, and I want to be here for as long as the club want me.”
Birmingham City manager John Eustace.
What is John Eustace's record at Birmingham?
In the Championship this season, Eustace has helped his side to secure three wins, two draws and just one defeat, where having taken 11 points from a possible 18, Birmingham find themselves sixth in the play-off places in the table, as per the BBC.
The Solihull-born coach, who has a preferred formation of a 3-5-2 flat midfield, was also nominated for August's Manager of the Month award as a result of his impressive efforts from the dugout, so it’s fantastic that he’s receiving individual recognition for his work from the sidelines.
According to journalist Josh Bunting, Eustace has got the Blues playing “easy on the eye” football, and having previously beaten Beale on the one occasion that he’s faced him throughout his career, he’d clearly be an upgrade on the current boss in Glasgow.
Real Madrid have been warned they must be cautious about signing a big name like Kylian Mbappe as the forward's arrival will not guarantee success.
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Madrid expected to sign MbappeWould be monumental transferClub warned to learn from 'mistakes'WHAT HAPPENED?
The Spanish giants are said to be closing in on a deal to land the French forward after he informed Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. His signing could mark a new Galactico era for Madrid, recreating the time they signed Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham together. However, ex-Madrid star Ivan Helguera has warned they could end up failing to live up to their potential.
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Helguera said at a La Liga and DAZN event: "It could be, what happens is that you have to see the mistakes that were made , there were many figures and very good players… but nothing was won. In Madrid it is important to win every year. It is wonderful to have all those players, but you have to know how to balance with a good squad. For Mbappe to come to Real Madrid would be an impressive signing and upwards it would be difficult to beat."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Mbappe would be joining a a squad that already boasts the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni, as well as veteran stars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Despite the quality at Carlo Ancelotti's disposal, the Santiago Bernabeu side failed to win La Liga or the Champions League last season.
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The capital club are expected to seal the Spanish league title this season, and may also go on to claim their 15th European crown, while they work out a deal to bring Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window.
Manchester City are set to bring in City Group winger Savinho at the end of the season, after he has impressed in Girona's unlikely title challenge.
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Have agreed undisclosed fee to bring in Savinho
Moved to Troyes in 2022 and sent out on loan to Girona
Winger has scored five, assisted seven this season
WHAT HAPPENED?
After being linked with a move to Manchester City for months, Savinho, or Savio as he is also known, has finally secured his high-profile deal. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian winger is set to join Girona's parent club at the end of the season, ending speculation that he could move elsewhere.
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WHAT SAVINHO SAID
The winger has made clear his ambition to play for the Cityzens in the past: "I have the goal of playing for City, yes. I think that when I was hired my goal was always to get to City and I'm working towards that. But I have to keep my focus on Girona and do things well to get there. If one day I arrive at City, you can be sure that I did things well at Girona, as I am doing. I want to continue working here so that one day I can reach City, which is my reference point."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The transfer doesn't appear to be so simple. Although he plays for Girona, Savinho's parent club is Ligue 2 side Troyes, who will presumably receive any financial compensation for completing the signing. The Brazilian winger hasn't made a single appearance for his parent club.
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WHAT NEXT FOR SAVINHO?
Manchester City's newcomer will play the rest of the season for Girona, before completing his move this summer. City already have extensive depth at his preferred left-wing position, with Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden all able to play there.