HD Ackerman, the captain of Gauteng, and Easterns’ allrounder Pierre de Bruyn have both been banned for one domestic limited-overs match, after an incident in their Standard Bank Cup one-day game at the weekend.They appeared before the United Cricket Board of South Africa’s adjudicating officer, Advocate Michael Kuper SC, in a hearing in Johannesburg today. He found them guilty of contravening Clauses 1.3 and 1.4 of the Rules and Code of Conduct of the UCBSA, after they “engaged in acts of misconduct and used crude and abusive language during the match”.A similar case against Garnett Kruger was dropped because of lack of evidence. The fast bowler Andre Nel, who was also cited, was unable to attend the hearing due to time constraints. He will appear before a separate disciplinary hearing on charges relating to the same incident on Thursday.Meanwhile the Easterns B player Renato Almeida also faced charges arising from an incident in the UCB Bowl match between Easterns B and Northerns B at Benoni (Nov 28-30). Almeida was found guilty of contravening Clauses 1.2 and 1.3 of the Rules and Code of Conduct, for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision. He has been suspended for one UCB Bowl match.
Central Districts are to honour the memory of Taranaki cricket stalwart Laurie Denton at the State Championship match between CD and Canterbury at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth from December 28-31.Denton, who was regarded affectionately as the voice of Taranaki sport for his work on radio in the province, died earlier this year.A Laurie Denton Memorial Trust has been set up and the gate charge for the game will be a gold coin donation with the proceeds going to the Memorial Trust.Apart from his radio work Denton was also a cricket selector, administrator and general supporter of the game.Taranaki sports enthusiasts have set up the Trust to raise funds to help young sports people from Taranaki.Central Districts is delighted that the game at Pukekura Park will help boost the Trust’s coffers.”Eccles”, as Laurie was affectionately known, will be sadly missed by Central Districts in the first match at his beloved Park since his passing.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation pipped New Zealand Cricket Academy atthe post in their MRF-Buchi Babu tournament semifinal at the MAChidambaram Stadium in Chepauk today. Chasing NZCA’s first inningstotal of 329, ONGC looked to be home and dry at 310/6 but leg spinnerAaron Redmond led a fierce counterattack, grabbing three wickets inthree overs to leave the oilmen on the verge of elimination at 318/9.That they finally made it was due to a generous slice of luck, threechances offered by the last wicket pair just eluding the fieldsmen.ONGC closed at 344 and the game was called off at tea by which timeNZCA had blasted 50 from six overs, losing three wickets in thebargain.Resuming at their overnight score of 171/4, ONGC lost Rizwan Shamshad(47) in the ninth over of the day, after the addition of 18 runs.Rahul Sanghvi joined Mithun Minhas and over the next two and a halfhours they resuscitated the cause with some adventurous play. Minhasgave left arm spinner Bruce Martin some rough treatment, hitting himfor a six and a four straight down the ground. Sanghvi was playing agood foil to Minhas, now and then playing a pull shot with flourishthat thudded into the pickets. The partnership had swelled to 71 whenMinhas (43) was enticed into slashing a short of length delivery fromChris Martin to James Marshall at gully. The batsman was rooted to thecrease in palpable disappointment.It was anybody’s call now with ONGC needing another 69 to seize thelead but Sanghvi and Mohammed Saif managed to whittle down therequirement to 47 by lunch and the oilmen appeared to hold thewhiphand as both teams adjourned for refreshments. Although Jacob Oramwas officially leading the NZCA and was on the field, wicketkeeperMartin Sigley had taken over the skipper’s duties in midstream. Sigleypersisted with the double spin attack after lunch and for a while itlooked to have misfired. Soon enough, Saif square drove Bruce Martinthrough the covers for back to back boundaries to herald the 300.At 310, Redmond won a bat-pad decision against Sanghvi, although thebatsman was clearly miffed at the verdict, gesticulating in annoyance.In the same over, the visitors appealed for another catch againstSandeep Dogra by the same fielder, Michael Papps, but this time a waryumpire Murali turned it down. Dogra however didn’t last much longer;in trying to cut Redmond he got an edge which travelled to JamesMarshall at slip off the wicketkeeper’s gloves. Feroze Ghyas was inand out in the same over, going for an ambitious drive which waspouched by Lou Vincent at short gully.It was Redmond’s fifth wicket, leaving ONGC twelve runs short and thegame had undergone one more somersault. Saif lived dangerously, edgingBruce Martin just wide of the lone slip for a couple. The scoremounted to 325/9 when Redmond began what transpired to be the decisiveover. Saif took a single off the first ball to expose last man AmitBhandari who heaved the next delivery high into the onside and, as itturned out, into no man’s land at square leg. Several figuresincluding the wicketkeeper scurried in the direction of the ball butwere foiled by the effects of gravity. At 327, Redmond was called fora wide. The batsman, Saif chanced his arm off the next ball, drivinguppishly through the covers. The fielder thrust one arm up in adespairing attempt but failed to make contact. The ball found its wayto the boundary. It was all over for the NZCA.Saif and Bhandari hit a six each to celebrate the occasion before theinnings came to a halt at 344 in the 110th over. The New Zealandersstarted their second knock in a frenzy of activity. Bhandari’s firstover went for 15 and he promptly disappeared into the comfortingreaches of the dressing room. Ghyas was slapped around for 22 in twoovers. Sanghvi had the intriguing analysis of 2-0-3-3 as NZCA reached50/3 at tea when the contest was consigned to the pages of history.
New Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch could potentially use Patrick Bamford in a front two when he returns from injury, according to journalist Phil Hay.
The Lowdown: Marsch replaces Bielsa at Leeds
The 48-year-old was confirmed as the Whites’ new boss on Monday following the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa 24 hours earlier.
The former RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg manager is tasked with staving off the threat of relegation, with Leeds now very much finding themselves in a battle to remain in the Premier League.
The return of key players such as Bamford could go a long way to succeeding in that mission, and a new update suggests that a tactical change could be on the cards with Marsch at the helm.
[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]
The Latest: Hay predicts possible formation change
Writing in a Q&A for The Athletic on Monday, Hay claimed that the returning Bamford could be used in a two-man strike partnership alongside either Rodrigo or Joe Gelhardt.
When asked about what formation the new Leeds manager could potentially deploy, the journalist replied: “Marsch has used a front two before. When Bamford is back, does that create and opportunity to pair Bamford with Rodrigo? Or Gelhardt? Fascinated to see what he does formation wise. It surely won’t be 4-1-4-1.”
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-35/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]
The Verdict: More attacking threat?
This could be an intriguing move by Marsch and it may even bring the best out of Rodrigo, whose time at Leeds has certainly been underwhelming so far.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
He has scored just three times in 12appearances as a centre-forward this season, but with Bamford alongside him once the latter is back from injury, the Spaniard could benefit from his team-mate’s link-up play and selflessness, becoming more of a force in the process.
Gelhardt could also thrive in attack with the 28-year-old, using his colleague as a perfect foil to do the dirty work while the youngster looks to produce the firepower which has seen him score 18 goals in just 27 appearances for Leeds’ under-23s.
In other news, Leeds could sign one player this summer, according to a journalist. Find out who it is here.
Former Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga has added his voice to those calling for the British government to ban Zimbabwe from touring in 2009.Speculation has been growing in the last week that the British government would tell Zimbabwe that their side would not be given visa to tour in May and June next year when they are scheduled to play one-day internationals and possibly two Tests. In the past, the government has stopped short of taking any direct action, preferring to leave the decision to the ECB, but since Gordon Brown became prime minister, the official line has hardened.Olonga was reacting to comments made by Peter Chingoka, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman, to the effect that it was for the ICC to step in to force countries to meet their obligations under the Future Tours Programme.”Banning tours brought South Africa’s dreadful apartheid regime into the public consciousness around the world,” he told the Mail on Sunday. “It was the right thing to do then, and it is as valid now in Zimbabwe. I would rather inconvenience a small group of Zimbabwe cricketers for the greater good of millions who could ultimately benefit.”Olonga’s comments were backed by Kate Hoey, the former sports minister and the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Zimbabwe. “Cricket is the way that Mugabe has shown that Zimbabwe is a normal country, and his relationship with the ZC chairman, who the British government quite rightly refused to give a visa to come to this country to, is close.”The money that has gone into cricket has not gone to grassroots in Zimbabwe, it’s gone into the pockets of those running the game and indirectly into the pockets of Zanu PF [Mugabe’s party].”It would send out a message, and the opposition would love to see a ban of the kind which worked in South Africa,” she told the BBC. “We should not allow them to come here and swan around the boardrooms of our clubs.”
Before New Zealand became a regular Test opponent Australia rewarded fringe players with a Trans-Tasman tour and the current selectors have taken a modern slant on B-sides by picking an under-manned squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. While New Zealand will field their first choices during the three games, Australia have left their captain and vice-captain at home and Andrew Symonds is recovering from a serious arm injury.Adding to the visitors’ lack of power is a Brett Lee ankle injury and a hip problem to Michael Clarke, who is second-in-charge after Ricky Ponting decided to have treatment on his back and Adam Gilchrist rested. The changes mean Australia have picked a raw squad, including Adam Voges, Cameron White, Brad Haddin and the on-standby Phil Jaques, and the competition that has been wedged into a crammed itinerary has become an inconvenience, even though they were upended in the CB Series finals.If Clarke is ruled out, Matthew Hayden will be the only one of Australia’s top four who is batting in his usual position while Brad Hodge, the No. 5, is keeping Symonds’ spot warm. The third-year series that the organisers pipe-dreamed would develop into an All Blacks-Wallabies rivalry is achieving the credibility of a pre-season warm-up.In the New Zealand corner there is no danger of the trophy being tarnished by a low-key attitude. The matches, starting in Wellington on Friday, are a crucial chance to fine-tune after the disappointment of missing the CB Series finals when bundled out by England.
Stephen Fleming returned to face severe scrutiny following the early exit, but New Zealand were boosted by strong performances from Jacob Oram, Shane Bond and Lou Vincent. Bond, who collected 11 wickets in six games, and Oram (261 runs at 87) proved their fitness in style while Vincent’s three half-centuries made sure the spot of the retired Nathan Astle could be covered. Peter Fulton and Michael Mason were dropped from the touring squad for this series and the only extra is Daryl Tuffey, who has returned for the first time in two years after recovering from a shoulder problem.Apart from an experimental batting line-up, Australia’s main area to improve is the fast bowling, which struggled under pressure over the past month and was unable to threaten England during three consecutive losses. In a take on naughty-boy nets, the selectors refused to rest any of the fast men from the week-long trip and they will try to spend the time honing yorkers and closing-over tactics.The at-the-death problem was also exposed during the previous Chappell-Hadlee Trophy when Australia, who won the 2005 series 2-1, gave up totals of 320 and 332. In the six games played for the trophy recognising the two families, Australia have been successful three times and the deciding match of the inaugural series was washed out in Brisbane.Michael Hussey has been handed the captaincy in Ponting’s absence and he will look to improve on his one loss against West Indies in Malaysia last September. The opening day-night game will be followed by fixtures at Auckland on Sunday and Hamilton on Tuesday. By then New Zealand should have an idea of their World Cup prospects and Australia will be able to pass judgement on some of the next-generation batsmen.Australia squad Matthew Hayden, Shane Watson, Phil Jaques, Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey (capt), Adam Voges, Brad Haddin (wk), Cameron White, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath.New Zealand squad Stephen Fleming (capt), Shane Bond, James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Brendon McCullum (wk), Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.
It’s been just two days since they suffered their second-heaviest defeatin Tests, but India’s chance for redemption isn’t too far away. Victoryin the five-match one-day series, starting in Peshawar on February 6,would go a long way in soothing the wounds but India will know that theybegin the contest as underdogs, against a buoyant side that has won 10 oftheir last 12 games.The upbeat Pakistan squad, almost identical to their Test side, trainedfor around two hours at the Arbab Niaz Stadium this afternoon, withInzamam-ul-Haq having a long batting session. Inzamam had missed theKarachi Test owing to a long-term back injury but was expected to don thepyjamas for the opening game here.There was already a buzz outside the ground, with the public lookingforward to the first one-dayer in the city for more then 16 months. Theauthorities at the Arbab Niaz Stadium indicated that tickets were all soldout and close to 15000 were expected to turn up. Recently England hadrefused to play in Peshawar citing security fears and the city has alwaysbeen in the spotlight owing to its proximity to Afghanistan.Ten members of the Indian squad had a net session this morning beforeheading off to visit the Khyber Pass. India’s spirit received a boost withthe addition of four new players to the squad, with Mohammad Kaif, SureshRaina, Murali Kartik and S Sreesanth having a net session in theafternoon.Having been part of the Uttar Pradesh side that recently triumphed in theRanji Trophy triumph, Kaif and Raina would be expected to provide a liftwith their acrobatic fielding along with some handy middle-order runs.Kartik will provide the team with the left-arm spin option and,considering Harbhajan Singh’s indifferent form so far, he might turn outto be a crucial addition.Despite winning eight of their last 12 games, India, as Rahul Dravid hasadmitted, are yet to completely come to terms with the new ODI rules(Supersubs and Powerplays). They will be up against a side that havethrived under the innovations – with multi-dimensional players oozing outof every pore – and can easily have the momentum stolen from under theirnoses.As expected, security arrangements were beefed up for the game, with thefull knowledge that even a minor occurrence could be a black mark. Twodays ago, the local police were forced to -charge angry fans whoprotested against the non-availability of tickets but they will hope thatthe next two days pass without incident.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa is expected to reduce its current number of centrally contracted players from 20 to a figure nearer 13, when the current deals expire at the end of South Africa’s tour of the Caribbean in May.According to a report in the Johannesburg-based Star newspaper, 13 players have already been recommended for new deals, although AB de Villiers and Justin Kemp, who currently fall outside that list, are expected to be added, if their performances against West Indies are up to the anticipated standard.But there will be no new deal for Lance Klusener, while Paul Adams and Neil McKenzie are two other veterans whose hopes of a contract have faded. The only other new face currently in the mix is Charl Langeveldt, who made an instant impact on his Test debut in January, bowling South Africa to victory in the Newlands Test despite the pain of a broken hand.South Africa has been suffering from a steady drain of white talent to England county cricket in recent years, with Martin van Jaarsveld – who played in the Durban Test against England – becoming the latest to take advantage of the Kolpak ruling by joining Kent for the 2005 season. But this news should at least prevent further losses from the squad, by safeguarding the incomes of their leading players for another 12 months.The UCB has set a target of seven black cricketers in the squad for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, and this quota looks set to be handsomely filled. In addition to Langeveldt, there are three more senior squad members in Herschelle Gibbs, Makhaya Ntini and Ashwell Prince, plus JP Duminy, Monde Zondeki – who has been selected for the third one-day international against Zimbabwe – and the up-and-coming spinner, Thandi Tshabalala.
Ross Taylor’s innings of 138 dominated the New Zealand Academy Selection’s innings in their drawn two-day game with Wellington at Lincoln Green at New Zealand Cricket’s High Performance Centre at Lincoln University yesterday.The Central Districts-based batsman overcame injury problems suffered in an earlier match against his CD team for the Academy side and blasted the Wellington attack. The side had been given a solid start by Jesse Ryder and Mark Richardson. They put on 64 runs before Richardson’s concentration cracked and his 111-minute innings for 14 ended when he was caught from Iain O’Brien’s bowling.Ryder was very patient, by his standards and faced 155 balls in his innings of 52. He and Mark Orchard took the side to lunch at 128 for 1. However, within an over of each other the pair were dismissed after the lunch break and when James Hill was leg before wicket to a Jeetan Patel arm ball, the Academy had slumped to 153 for 4.Taylor and Ross Allen then set about recovering the situation. They added 62 runs before Allen was trapped leg before wicket to Matthew Walker. Taylor carried on, scoring his 50 off 73 balls and with Peter Fulton with him, they took their side to tea at 225 for 5. Fulton had been recovering from illness suffered the day before and was eventually out to Andrew Penn, after adding 49 with Taylor.There was no nervousness from Taylor as his three-figure milestone neared. Mark Gillespie was on the receiving end as 24 runs came from an over, the second ball going for six which registered his century, off 123 balls, his second 50 coming off only 32 balls. Taylor kept the pressure on and by the time he was dismissed for 138, he had faced 140 balls. The only bowler to really look like containing him was Jeetan Patel, the offspinner whose flight and control yielded him 3 for 48 off 16 overs.Brief scoreboard: Wellington 259-8 (S Mills 74*, A Penn 67, M Bell 37, A Redmond 3-70, M Orchard 2-26, R Sherlock 2-51) drew with New Zealand Academy Selection 344-8 (R Taylor 138, J Ryder 52, M Orchard 34, J Patel 3-48, I O’Brien 2-50)
Hyderabad held on for a draw on Day Four of their Ranji Trophy league match against Andhra Pradesh at Secunderabad on Friday, giving their rivals five points from the match.Resuming on their overnight score of 68/2, Hyderabad lost Vanka Pratap with the score on 91. A Nand Kishore, the only batsman from his side who has looked comfortable in this match, made 70 off 234 balls before becoming the fourth wicket to fall.Hyderabad’s middle order, however, performed more solidly than in the first innings. D Vinay Kumar, in particular, showed tremendous grit to make an unbeaten 37 off 238 balls. He, along with Venkatapathy Raju (32 off 103 balls), took his side through to stumps in safety.Ending the day on 237/6, Hyderabad gained three points from this drawn encounter. The result put Andhra Pradesh at the top of the South Zone league points table and Hyderabad at third place, with Tamil Nadu finishing second.Ramesh, Sharath score centuriesCenturies from Sadagoppan Ramesh and Sridharan Sharath gave Tamil Nadu the vital first-innings lead, giving them five points from their drawn Ranji Trophy league match against Kerala at Chennai.Opener Ramesh, unbeaten on an uncharacteristically slow 41 overnight, resumed in similar vein on Friday. Hitting just three fours in his knock, Ramesh made 126 off 391 balls and 62 minutes. He lost Hemang Badani soon after play resumed, but Sharath have him enough support for the pair to post 176 runs for the fourth wicket.Sharath fell with the score on 336, having made 102 off 226 balls, hitting nine boundaries. Ramesh remained unbeaten at the close of play on Day Four, accompanied at the end by Ashish Kapoor, who made 32 not out. Tamil Nadu ended the day on 407/5, attaining second place in the South Zone league points table.