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Nathan Coulter-Nile has been squeezed out of the Western Australia XI for the Sheffield Shield opener because Mitchell Johnson cannot be relied upon to bowl in an economical fashion

Daniel Brettig11-Oct-2011One of the more promising young fast bowlers in Australia, Nathan Coulter-Nile, has been squeezed out of the Western Australia XI for the opening round of the Sheffield Shield because Mitchell Johnson cannot be relied upon to bowl in an economical fashion.Coulter-Nile, widely expected to push for higher honours in coming seasons, has been handed drinks duties for Western Australia in the match against Tasmania at the WACA ground, as Cricket Australia encourages its international players to take part in as much state cricket as possible.He was not chosen primarily because Johnson, playing at home for his state for the first time since moving from Queensland three years ago, is considered an attacking bowler too likely to concede runs in the search for wickets, despite his international pedigree and considerable experience.This is understood to have ruled a line through Coulter-Nile’s name because his own bowling is also geared towards aggression, and WA team management considered the risk of leaking runs was too great. Another factor was the absence of the young allrounder Mitchell Marsh on Australia duty, meaning the Warriors picked only four bowlers in the team to face the Tigers.Michael Hogan, Matt Dixon and the left-arm spinner Michael Beer were considered better options to support Johnson at the WACA ground, in an episode that recalled numerous selection dilemmas in the Australian team over the past four years.The inconsistencies of Johnson’s bowling have influenced Australia’s team balance for quite some time, forcing the selection of steadier pace bowlers around him and also piling pressure on a succession of spinners to be parsimonious in their methods despite lacking international experience.Johnson was available for the fixture because he has been dropped from the Australian Twenty20 team, having conceded too many runs during his most recent T20 appearances in Sri Lanka. He will depart for the ODI leg of the South Africa tour at the conclusion of the Shield match.At the age of 24, Coulter-Nile has played seven first-class matches for his state, claiming 32 wickets at 23.71 and also showing potential with the bat.He has been described by Mickey Arthur, the WA coach, as “the one player in this group who will definitely go on and play higher”, and bears more than a passing resemblance in method and physique to Ryan Harris, Australia’s outstanding bowler on the recently completed tour of Sri Lanka.

Leicestershire tightened their grip on second place in the Friends Life t20North Group by beating closest challengers Worcestershire by six wickets at NewRoad

01-Jul-2011
ScorecardLeicestershire tightened their grip on second place in the Friends Life t20North Group by beating closest challengers Worcestershire by six wickets at NewRoad.The Royals did well to reach 130 for 7 after their top batsmen misfired,but it was not enough to stretch the Foxes as Andrew McDonald topped 50 for thefifth time in the competition this season.McDonald shrugged off the loss of two partners in the openingpowerplay and lifted the tempo with Will Jefferson (16) in a stand of 45.McDonald was particularly hard on young paceman Aneesh Kapil, the 17-year-oldconceding 16 runs in his only over, and the game was running away fromWorcestershire before their international spinners could make an impact.Jefferson was caught behind off Saeed Ajmal and McDonald drilled Shakib AlHasan to cover after hitting five fours and a six in his 53, but James Taylor,unbeaten with 22, and Abdul Razzaq (16 not out) saw Leicestershire home with 15balls to spare.Worcestershire lost their top five batsmen for 42 – four of the wickets sharedby new-ball pair Harry Gurney and Matthew Hoggard – and only nudged past 100thanks to Gareth Andrew’s third unbeaten fifty in Twenty20 matches this year.Although restricted to five boundaries, Andrew again used his long-handled,short-bladed bat to good effect in making 54 from 42 balls, mostly in aseventh-wicket stand of 60 in nine overs with Ben Scott.Scott was run out for 22 in the final over, a sacrifice that put Andrew back onstrike to complete his 50.The manner of Worcestershire’s early collapse was a surprise to those whoexpected a used pitch to be low and slow.Instead there was pace and unreliable bounce as Hoggard and Gurney roughed upWorcestershire’s strokemakers.Vikram Solanki edged a near-unplayable lifter from Gurney and Hoggard, afterbeing shovelled over fine leg for six by Alexei Kervezee, claimed the wickets ofMoeen Ali, caught at mid-on, and Shakib, cutting to backward point.In between those dismissals Gurney removed Kervezee with a well-judged catch byClaude Henderson at fine leg, while Josh Cobb ran out James Cameron from mid-offafter a mix-up with Shakib.

Mike Hesson, the former Otago Volts and New Zealand A coach, has been appointed as the new coach of the Kenyan national team

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-2011Mike Hesson, the former Otago Volts and New Zealand A coach, has been appointed the new coach of the Kenyan team for a two-year term. Hesson, 36, will fill the position vacated by Eldine Baptiste, who had stepped down after Kenya’s poor 2011 World Cup campaign.Cricket Kenya had conducted a performance review after the World Cup and chief executive Tom Sears had said there would be an extensive recruitment process to find a new coach. The result of that search was Hesson, who has been involved with coaching in Otago since 1996.Kenya lost all six group matches during the World Cup and a complete shake-up of the team followed, with captain Jimmy Kamande being sacked and several senior players missing out on central contracts, in addition to Baptiste’s resignation. They then lost six out of nine matches in the ICC Africa Region Division One Twenty20, albeit with a very young side.Hesson joins Kenya after a six-year spell as coach of Otago Volts, during which the team won the State Shield, the domestic 50-over competition in 2007-08 and the State Twenty20 in 2008-09. Hesson also coached New Zealand A, the New Zealand Emerging Players squad and spent time with Gloucestershire as an assistant coach.His first assignment with Kenya will be to prepare the side for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup matches against United Arab Emirates that start on July 25 in Nairobi. Kenya will play UAE in two one-day matches and a four-day game.”Mike has an excellent record of developing players and successful teams, and throughout the selection process [he] demonstrated a real desire and clear vision to take our national team forward,” Sears said. “As well as being a highly-skilled technical coach, he is an excellent communicator, something crucial to the role.”Hesson said he was attracted to the job by the clear drive Cricket Kenya had to revive the national team after recent disappointments. “Having spoken with Cricket Kenya’s key stakeholders during the selection process I was stimulated by the passion shown to drive Kenyan cricket forward. I am very much looking forward to this exciting new opportunity and working with the undoubted talent there is within Kenya.”

A first win at Hove in 28 years seemed a distant prospect for Nottinghamshire as they were forced to follow against Sussex

11-May-2011
Scorecard
James Anyon bowled superbly in Nottinghamshire’s first innings•Getty ImagesA first win at Hove in 28 years seemed a distant prospect for Nottinghamshireas they were forced to follow on in their County Championship match againstSussex after losing their last six first-innings wickets for 13 runs.The reigning champions slipped from 132 for 4 to 145 all out and had tofollow on 159 behind on day two, with James Anyon taking four wickets and MontyPanesar and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan claiming three apiece.A rare bright spot for Nottinghamshire was the form of Samit Patel, who markedhis return to the England set-up by scoring 63 in the first innings and anunbeaten 49 in the second as Nottinghamshire finished the day on 135 for 2,still 24 behind.The champions, who resumed on 5 for 1, lost three early wickets but werethinking of a first-innings lead when they were 132 for 4 in the 48th over,just 23 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. Samit Patel and Adam Voges were together at that point, having put on 87, but the Australian went down the wicket to Panesar, missed the ball and was stumped by Matt Prior for 41.Samit Patel, having played well for his 63 after being named in the EnglandLions squad earlier in the day, aimed a wild stroke to cow corner as he advanceddown the wicket and was also stumped by Prior off Panesar. It did not get any better as three wickets tumbled on 140.Chris Read threw his bat at one from the impressive Anyon and was caughtbehind, England’s Stuart Broad was bowled by the seamer for a duck by a goodball that came into him, and Steven Mullaney chipped one from Panesar to MurrayGoodwin at midwicket.Mullaney still looked dazed after being hit on the head by a short one fromAnyon just four balls earlier. Finally, Luke Fletcher was bowled by one that kept low from Anyon. Panesar took three wickets for four runs in 14 balls, finishing with figures of3 for 11 off 10 overs, while Anyon claimed three for five in nine deliveriesfor figures of four for 52, his best for Sussex.Following on, Nottinghamshire immediately lost Neil Edwards, who was hit on hisright wrist by Amjad Khan and had to retire hurt before he had scored. Akhil Patel was lbw to Naved-ul-Hasan soon after, before Mark Wagh settled in for a partnership with Samit Patel worth 92.Wagh fell for 48, caught at slip off Panesar. For the second time in the match Samit Patel held up Sussex but was dropped on 15 and 24 by Prior and Ed Joyce, could have been run out on 28 by Andrew Hodd and was missed again by Joyce – a half-chance – on 29. He finished the day a run short of his second half-century of the match, with Graeme Swann beside him on 11.

ESPNcricinfo previews the one-off Twenty20 international between West Indies and Pakistan in St Lucia

The Preview by Liam Brickhill20-Apr-2011Match FactsApril 21, Gros Islet
Start time 1400 (1800 GMT)Darren Sammy and Shahid Afridi are used to dealing with controversies surrounding their teams•AFPThe Big PictureA meeting between Pakistan and West Indies should be just the sort of combination of volatile elements that makes for an absorbing contest. One simply can’t know what to expect from two teams famous for displays of talent and inconsistency in equal measure. Off-field disturbances can add to the soap opera, but there haven’t been many occasions in the recent past when Pakistan have entered a series as the more stable, settled side. The current turbulence in West Indies cricket ahead of the tour opener at Gros Islet means the spotlight has been firmly on the hosts in the build-up.Just five members of the team that played the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan last month are in the squad for the opening Twenty20. Though Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were not eligible for selection because they did not play in the Caribbean T20 earlier this year, there is no place either for Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan or Sulieman Benn, though Darren Sammy retains his place as captain.The possibility of this sort of purge arose after coach Ottis Gibson’s ominous reproach of the “senior players” after the quarter-final exit from the World Cup, but few would have expected the changes to be quite so extensive. Gayle’s exit could prove the most troublesome. The only constant at the top of the order in the last decade, he was in the middle of a rehabilitation programme for an injury picked up during the World Cup, but would have been eligible to play in the final three ODIs and the Tests that followed. Instead, he will play for the Royal Challengers in the IPL, and an inexperienced team will have to do without his experience and confident swagger at the crease.The situation was not quite as bad the last time Pakistan toured the Caribbean, back in 2005, but the warning signs were there. West Indies were in the throes of internal turmoil caused by the long-running contractual wrangles with their sponsors, and though Pakistan were not without their own backroom troubles they breezed to a 3-0 win in the ODIs before drawing the Test series.They have every chance of pulling off a similar result this time – and could well end their record of never having won a Test series in the West Indies. The news of Zulqarnain Haider’s impending return to Pakistan and the potential pot-stirring from the announcement of stringent new guidelines for player agents following Mazhar Majeed’s alleged misdeeds in England last summer were absorbed without missing a beat and a convincing win over a West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI in their first practice match will only have bolstered Pakistan’s preparations.With West Indies’ big guns gone and Pakistan starting as firm favourites, the Twenty20 match on Thursday could well set the tone for the tour. How long will Pakistan’s stability last? Does this latest twist represent a tangible change of direction for West Indies, or will it be yet another phase in the re-building exercise that has been going on for the best part of two decades?Form guide(most recent first)
West Indies LLLWL
Pakistan WLLLL
Watch out for…Marlon Samuels was a bullish, confident presence in West Indies’ middle order before his two-year ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers. In a side shorn of its senior players, his comeback is certainly timely. He’s played twice as many ODIs as his captain, Sammy, and though he hasn’t played for West Indies since 2008 he’ll have some idea of the intensity of international competition and will also lend some grit to the middle order. His sparkling performance during the Caribbean T20 in January, in which he was the leading run-getter with 253 runs at 63.25, will only add to his confidence in this format.Mohammad Hafeez has been around the Pakistan team for almost eight years now, but it’s only recently that he’s really blossomed in his role as opening batsman and more-than-handy offspinner. He certainly played that part to perfection the last time Pakistan and West Indies met, nipping out two early wickets after being asked to open the bowling and then rocketing along to a run-a-ball 61 to complete a 10-wicket trouncing.Team newsWest Indies’ squad has a bowler-heavy look to it, with a string of allrounders filling the lower-middle order. As such, the top order picks itself, and the main questions surround the composition of the bowling attack. Given the number of seamers in the squad, offspinner Ashley Nurse may find himself in line for a West Indies debut to add some variation, especially considering his good performances in the recent Twenty20s against Pakistan A. Likewise, left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie was the leading West Indian wicket-taker in this year’s Caribbean T20 and this could be the perfect time for him to step up to the next level.West Indies (probable) 1 Andre Fletcher (wk), 2 Lendl Simmons, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Christopher Barnwell, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Darren Sammy (capt), 8 Devendra Bishoo, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Ashley Nurse, 11 Krishmar SantokiePakistan’s squad has a fairly settled look to it, but there are a number of youngsters waiting in the wings and several of them could be in for some game time. Mohammad Salman is the squad’s only specialist keeper, while Hammad Azam could be tested in the allrounder slot vacated by Abdul Razzaq.Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Asad Shafiq, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Mohammad Salman (wk), 7 Hammad Azam, 8 Shahid Afridi (capt), 9 Junaid Khan, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Saeed AjmalPitch and conditionsThe Beausejour Stadium hosted several matches during last year’s World Twenty20 and the pitch generally generated a good contest between bat and ball. Four games saw totals over 170, but Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Amir picked up 17 wickets between themselves at this ground during the course of Pakistan’s campaign. The weather could well play a role on Thursday, as it’ll be warm but partly cloudy, with a chance of rain.Stats and trivia Surprisingly, this will be the first ever Twenty20 international between these two teams. Umar Akmal scored 125 runs at 62.50, including two half-centuries, in the course of four games at this ground during the World Twenty20 last year. The only Pakistan cricketer to have scored more runs here in Twenty20 internationals is his brother, Kamran. Saeed Ajmal picked up nine wickets at this ground during that campaign, at an average of 13.77, but won’t have particularly fond memories of it as it was here that he received a mauling from Mike Hussey, who blasted 18 from his final over to secure a breathtaking victory.Quotes”It’s easier for us to do well with our home crowd and their support, and it gives an opportunity to bring ourselves back up the ladder – to dig deep, work hard, prove ourselves, and give back to our fans.”
“This is my first series at home and my first match happens to be in St Lucia, my homeland. We are rebuilding now and the slogan for the series is ‘Wi [we] all in’ so it’s all all-out effort from everyone involved.”

Rangers defender Borna Barisic came under fire during his side’s 1-1 draw in the Old Firm derby on Sunday afternoon. 

The lowdown

The Gers fell behind after 21 minutes at Parkhead when Jota found the net for the home side, with the Portuguese forward able to steal a march on the Croatian full-back to convert Daizen Maeda’s low cross.

Fashion Sakala later equalised midway through the second half to earn a point which keeps the Light Blues six adrift of the Hoops with just three league matches remaining.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst had selected Barisic at left-back in his 4-2-3-1 formation for the third Premiership match in succession, and the 20th overall.

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The latest

Barisic’s lapse in concentration in the lead-up to Celtic’s goal drew plenty of scorn from the watching media.

Heart & Hand, one of Rangers’ official media partners, accused the 29-year-old of ‘sleeping at the back post’, while The 4th Official tweeted that it was a ‘really bad’ error from the Croatian.

On Sky Sports’ live coverage of the game (via Ibrox News), Andy Walker noted that Barisic had been ‘caught on his heels’. Fellow commentator Ally McCoist agreed with that assessment, with the club’s all-time record goalscorer fuming: “Once again, Barisic switches off”.

The verdict

Was Barisic able to redeem himself for his error?

On the one hand, he did win four out of his five ground duels and both aerial battles that he contested (via SofaScore). On the other, the statistics suggest that he offered little when on the ball.

The 29-year-old misplaced nine of the 10 crosses that he attempted and all three of his long passes. In all, he lost possession a whopping 26 times – second only to James Tavernier among all 29 players who were involved in the match.

Barisic certainly can’t afford any more lapses in concentration when Rangers take on RB Leipzig on Thursday, needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit to reach the Europa League final.

In other news, Jordan Campbell was critical of another Rangers player on Sunday

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Mattias Svanberg to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet 1000 Cuori Rossoblu (via Sport Witness), who claim that, with the 23-year-old’s current contract with Bologna set to expire in June of 2023 and the central midfielder having no interest in extending his stay at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, the Serie A side will look to cash in on the Sweden international this summer.

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The report goes on to state that the likes of Tottenham, Everton, West Ham United, Napoli and Fiorentina are all interested in a deal for the former Malmo FF starlet, who looks as if he will be available for a figure of around €20m (£17m) at the end of the current campaign.

Conte would love Svanberg

With it being reported that Antonio Conte is looking to bring in additions to bolster his current options in the middle of the park at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, it is unsurprising to learn that the 52-year-old is interested in a deal for Svanberg.

Indeed, the 23-year-old has highly impressed over his 35 Serie A appearances this season, scoring three goals, registering three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 1.0 key passes, 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, taking 1.1 shots and winning 4.3 duels per game.

These returns have seen the £13.5m-rated talent average a SofaScore match rating of 6.87, ranking him as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s eighth-best performer in the Italian top-flight – an impressive feat considering the Rossoblu’s struggles in the league this term.

Furthermore, FBref also rank the £14k-per-week Swede in the top 16% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for shots taken per 90, in addition to the top 28% for non-penalty goals, the top 30% for assists, the top 22% for xA, the top 34% for progressive passes received and the top 33% for blocks over the last 365 days.

These are all metrics that would appear to make the versatile midfielder a perfect fit for Conte’s Spurs, an opinion which an unnamed source in Italy also clearly believes, with the insider stating in comments cited by football.london:

“Svanberg is probably one of the top four or five No 8’s in Europe – that’s how good he is. He’s a very talented young man. He’s playing for a very defensive Bologna side but he can bring a spark to whichever team he plays in.

“Spurs already know him very, very well because of the Italians involved in the club now. Anyone who has seen him play for Bologna will tell you that he’s the sort of player that Conte would enjoy working with.”

As such, considering his particular skill-set, impressive versatility and potential for further growth – not to mention a very reasonable asking price – it would indeed appear a wise for Fabio Paratici to launch a £17m bid for Svanberg this summer, as the 23-year-old would undoubtedly be a player Conte would love to work with at Spurs.

AND in other news: “Consequences for his future”: Gold drops Spurs exit claim, supporters will be buzzing

Aston Villa transfer target Geoffrey Kondogbia looks likely to stay at Atletico Madrid this summer, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.  

The Lowdown: Gerrard scouting trip

Steven Gerrard is making preparations ahead of his first full season in charge in the Midlands, with midfield reinforcements seemingly high on his wish list.

The Villa manager personally made the trip to the Wanda Metropolitano earlier this month to watch Kondogbia in action against Manchester City.

Villa view the 29-year-old as a serious target and the club are thought to be confident of getting a deal over the line, but a worrying update has now emerged.

The Latest: Talbot’s post on Kondogbia

Talbot took to Twitter on Monday to share an update on Kondogbia for TEAMtalk, revealing that it seems probable that the midfielder will stay in Spain unless Villa were to come forward with ‘a massive offer’.

The reporter tweeted: “Have been told Geoffrey Kondogbia will likely remain at Atletico Madrid unless Aston Villa come in with a massive offer.”

The Verdict: Kamara is an alternative

Kondogbia isn’t the only midfielder Gerrard has recently watched live, with the Villa manager, Johan Lange and Christian Purslow all looking at Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara.

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end of June, so Villa may well look to secure his services on a pre-contract agreement after this update on Kondogbia.

Kamara is primarily a defensive midfielder who can also line out at centre-back and is valued at £22.5m, so a free transfer to Villa Park could be a shrewd move given the concerning update from Talbot on Kondogbia.

In other news: Gerrard and Villa chiefs eyeing move for new defender with same agent as four AVFC players

Raina remains confident of turning in a strong performance in the tough series against South Africa coming up next month

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2010Indian batsman Suresh Raina’s hold on the No. 6 spot in the Test side has become less secure after managing only 26 runs in four innings against New Zealand, but he remains confident of turning in a strong performance on the tough tour of South Africa, beginning next month.”It is a very important series, and a big challenge, for me,” he told the . “Though I have played there before, it has been only in the ODIs and Twenty20.”South Africa have a formidable record over the past four years, losing only one series since the reverse in Sri Lanka in July 2006, and Raina wasn’t expecting an easy tour. “Self-belief, confidence and mental discipline will be the key to success in South Africa,” he said. “I am looking forward to the challenge because when you do well against good teams, you get appreciated for having done well. This is also why you want to play international sport.”His Test career got off to a dream start with a debut century against Sri Lanka in July, though he has found the format to be more challenging in the two home series that followed. “To succeed in Tests, your temperament is more important than your technique,” he said. “How you handle pressure situations and how you work your way out of trouble through grit and courage is also important.”

Now that they are seemingly out of trouble, Newcastle United can look to level up their squad in a bid to achieve a higher Premier League finish next season.

And, according to reports, the Magpies could look to kickstart this gradual rebuild with the acquisition of the 110-goal machine that is Christian Eriksen.

What’s the word?

Indeed, the Northern Echo claim Eddie Howe’s side have identified the Danish midfield maestro as one of their primary targets in the summer transfer window.

Having returned to action in what has been one of the greatest feel-good stories in recent football history, Eriksen signed a short-term deal when he agreed to join Brentford in January.

And whilst Bees boss Thomas Frank would like Eriksen to join on a permanent basis, Brentford face a tough challenge to hold onto him.

A positive return

With one goal and one assist in five Premier League appearances, Eriksen’s return to England’s top-flight has been a success thus far.

The 30-year-old has also been in goalscoring form following his return to the international stage, having scored in back-to-back games for Denmark.

His performances this season have cast doubters – who thought he was too fragile for top-flight football – aside – with his four consecutive 90-minute appearances demonstrating his emerging return back to his best.

And, despite Newcastle’s rise to presumed safety, they do need to work on their assertiveness in midfield, as well as their goal-scoring acumen, which has only seen the Magpies net 34 goals this season.

Eriksen – who has been described by Thomas Frank as “unbelievable” – can offer experience in both of those aspects, with his veteran footballing status sure to help Newcastle reach that next level.

With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Newcastle should do everything they can to sign a player who is valued at £13.5m in today’s market, for free.

Indeed, Eriksen would surely provide Newcastle United with a huge boost of creativity in the middle of the park, and, if he continues his impressive run of form since his return to the professional game, could even go on to become the Magpies’ new Chris Waddle – the legendary attacking midfielder who scored 46 goals over 170 appearances for the Toon.

In other news: NUFC eye £25m bid for £140k-p/w ace who “makes things happen”, it could be bye-bye ASM