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Sandeep Jyoti’s 47 and a stalwart’s innings from Geoff Barnett nearly took Canada to an impressive and unlikely win on the third day against Scotland at Aberdeen, but Callum MacLeod and the rest of his side held their nerve to record a 29-run win

Cricinfo staff04-Jul-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentarySandeep Jyoti tucks to leg during his 47•ICCSandeep Jyoti’s 47 and a stalwart’s innings from Geoff Barnett nearly took Canada to an impressive and unlikely win on the third day against Scotland at Aberdeen, but Callum MacLeod and the rest of his side held their nerve to record a 29-run win in the first match of the 2009-10 ICC Intercontinental Cup.Canada were set 243 to win after Scotland’s innings ended on 199 yesterday evening, and the home side continued their dominance of the match by picking up four early wickets. Jan Stander, whose 64 yesterday was so crucial, had Trevor Bastiampillai caught in the slips, as was Qaiser Ali who edged Callum MacLeod for just 3. When Sunil Dhaniram offered a simple return catch to the economical Richie Berrington, Canada had stumbled to 60 for 4.But a renaissance took place between Jyoti and Khurram Chohan, the pair putting on 64 for the fifth wicket. With plenty of time left to reach their target, caution was the watchword for both players, but Jyoti did seize on anything too full, driving Berrington for a handsome four through the covers and hammering MacLeod through the same region, this time off the back foot.Jyoti was much less assured against Mo Iqbal, however, edging a classical legspinner’s delivery straight to first slip to hand Scotland back the momentum. Barnett found support from Ashif Mulla (27) with a stand of 42, and put on a ninth-wicket stand of 23 with Shaheed Keshvani as Canada’s dressing room all began to cheer in support, anticipating an unlikely victory.With the excitement came tail-end nerves, however, and a horrible mix-up between the pair cost Keshvani his wicket, run out by a combination of Berrington, Haq and Ryan Watson. Forty-five runs were required; one wicket remained. Henry Osinde did what he does best, smashing Haq for a six, but MacLeod returned with the old ball and produced a pearler that left Barnett late, clipping his off stump, to record a very tense Scotland win.

Aston Villa must finally land Manchester United and England star Jesse Lingard amid his recent comments.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months had suggested that Dean Smith’s side were ready to rival fellow West Ham in a move for the 28-year-old.

The Times then delivered an update on Lingard’s situation, name-checking Villa as one of the teams who have registered their interest in luring Lingard away from Old Trafford, and that the attacking midfielder had turned down a contract offer from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

And now, Lingard has admitted that regular first-team football is what he is interested in as he looks to force himself into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next year’s World Cup.

He said: “Obviously, the World Cup is a long way away but… you need regular football. I was so close to going to the Euros and I think obviously it plays a huge part and it’s a big factor. If you’re playing over 20 or 25 games, of course you know you’re knocking on the door so I think it does play a big part in that.

“You want to start games. When I’m a sub I’m always ready to play. I’m always ready to be needed when I’m called up. It’s one of those things I’m going through at the moment but I think on recent performances hopefully we’ll see a change in the next few weeks.”

Goals from midfield

After joining West Ham back in the January transfer window on a short-term loan, Lingard racked up an incredible nine goals and four assists in just his first ten Premier League games for the club – it was no surprise then that he was lauded as being “absolutely phenomenal”.

His ability to score goals from midfield is exactly what Villa could do with going forward, with John McGinn their top scorer last season from a central area with just three.

What marks Lingard out as a real threat is his timing of his runs, and it’s something Michael Carrick has previously raved about.

The United coach said: “He senses where the space is and how to use it. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a dribbler with skills and tricks but he’s dynamic. How he plays, he is unique in some ways. You don’t see so much of that now as everyone wants to get on the ball. Off the ball, he’s very effective.”

His performances with the Hammers showcased the kind of impact the £75k-a-week earning star can have when he’s on song and the confidence is flowing through his veins.

If he isn’t getting enough first-team football at United, then Smith and Villa must absolutely be all over a move for him in the January transfer window.

It would seal a dream midfield for the Villa boss.

Meanwhile, Villa could have another academy breakout in this star…

Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips believes Raphinha will want to leave Leeds United now that he has made his debut for Brazil.

The Lowdown: Raphinha makes Brazil debut

£28.8m-valued Raphinha (Transfermarkt) was included in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers this past week against Venezuela and Colombia.

He made his debut from the bench against the former and produced an impressive display, providing two assists as La Selecao won 3-1. He also featured in the 0-0 draw with Colombia (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Phillips questions Raphinha future

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips believes Raphinha may now be looking to depart Elland Road if the Whites cannot invest heavily to push for European football. He said:

“I think it’s going to be very hard.

“Leeds need more investment in their squad, they need to start buying players that can keep them fighting even further up the table.

“Over the next year, year and a half, people like Raphinha will leave, his head will get turned by other clubs.

“Raphinha is getting into Brazil squads, he’s playing for Brazil now. He’s not going to want to play for Leeds, he’s going to want to move and play for a bigger club that’s playing in the Champions League. Someone of Raphinha’s quality should be playing in the Champions League.

“It’s just the reality of football. If Leeds can’t invest and get a better squad that’s challenging to get into Europe he will want to leave. That’s just normal.”

The Verdict: Top quality

Since making the move to Yorkshire from Rennes in France, the winger has slowly but surely evolved into one of Leeds’ most important players. Last term, he found the back of the net six times and provided nine assists in 30 Premier League games, and has already scored three times in seven outings in this term’s competition.

Now he has embarked on an international career, and with Leeds not in or looking close to European competition, it will unfortunately be difficult to hold on to Raphinha in the long term.

While he is still 24 and has plenty of time ahead of him, it may not be long before he gets restless, but the silver lining is that Victor Orta and co will be in line to scoop a massive profit when he does.

In other news, Noel Whelan is excited by these Leeds plans.

Justin Langer has told Cricinfo that he bitterly regrets the fact that a dossier he compiled on the England team has been leaked to the press

Alex Brown at Headingley09-Aug-2009Justin Langer bitterly regrets the fact that a dossier he compiled on the England team has been leaked to the press. The document, originally emailed to Australia’s coach Tim Nielsen and distributed among the team, was published in the Sunday Telegraph and contained a number of critical insights into England’s players and the county system.”I’m shattered and really upset,” Langer told Cricinfo. “That was an email meant only for Tim Nielsen. It was private correspondence and has now found its way into the public domain. It’s a joke. Everyone who knows me knows it’s not my go to bag anyone. But behind closed doors everyone is going to have an opinion and this was a message that was meant for behind closed doors. It’s disappointing.”In the document, Langer wrote that James Anderson was “a bit of a pussy” when placed under pressure, and described the captaincy of Andrew Strauss as “conservative”. He also claimed England’s players “rarely believe in themselves,” variously describing them as “flat”, “shallow” and “lazy”. Michael Vaughan, also writing in the , concurred with many of Langer’s conclusions.”If I had have known that this would end up in the public domain I would have put things differently,” Langer said. “I definitely wouldn’t have used a word like pussy, but it was only to describe James Anderson’s body language. If you read it all the way through, you would see that a lot of what I said about guys like Anderson, Strauss and Bopara was complimentary. They’re excellent players, and I was just trying to offer up a few ideas as to how Australia might get under their skins.”Although Langer did state that Anderson was “hugely improved” as a cricketer, and that Strauss was “a very solid character and good bloke”, he also said that he expected a negative reaction from some quarters after the publication of his comments, particularly seeing as he currently lives in England while acting as Somerset’s captain. “I guess it will [make life harder in England],” he said. “I just spoke to Tim and he was disappointed that it came out like this. But I’m the one who has got to live here. What backlash there is, I guess time will tell.”Both Strauss and Ricky Ponting downplayed the significance of the dossier. “We’re not in the habit of reading the press as a general rule, so I don’t think we’re going to change that right now,” Strauss said. “As a team you’re always looking for outside people to give you a view on the players you’re playing against. The Aussies have obviously got him to do that. It’s not of great interest to do that. When you cross that white line anything that’s written on paper is pretty irrelevant.”If you look at the cricket we’ve played over the last nine months or so I would [dispute Langer’s dossier] and it’s certainly not something we want to see from an England team. If that’s something that’s happened in the past it’s something we intend to iron out. I think there’s a lot of strength or character in the side and we’re going to need it next week. It’s as simple as that.”Ponting confirmed his squad had read Langer’s email, but denied it had been a central element to their plan-making ahead of the Ashes series. “I’ve played as much against these guys as Justin has so I pretty much knew a lot of the personalities and the way a lot of the guys play,” Ponting said.”I’ll admit I got given a copy of it and I had a brief read through it all, but I knew most of it anyway. It was probably more for the younger guys in the group to get a bit of a feel for some of their players. I’m sure they all read every single word of the document, but that was it. We haven’t sat down in meetings after that and talked about it.”

Crystal Palace have learned the price tag of Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo after being strongly linked with a move for the Nigeria international in recent weeks.

What’s the story?

The Eagles were reportedly monitoring the situation of the 25-year-old amid speculation he was keen to depart Ibrox over the coming months, with new manager Patrick Vieira keen to add further reinforcements to his first-team squad.

And now, according to Football Insider, the Glasgow giants will demand £10m-plus for Aribo over the winter window as they attempt to keep hold of one of their star performers.

The report states that: “Rangers will demand a £10million-plus transfer fee for Joe Aribo in the January window, Football Insider understands. The versatile midfielder, 25, is on the radar of clubs south of the border going into next year and amid growing doubts over his long-term Ibrox future.

“A Rangers source has told Football Insider that the club have no intention of letting Aribo go easily, and it would take an eight-figure fee to get a deal done.”

Crystal Palace fans will be buzzing

Palace supporters will surely be buzzing at the prospect of signing a highly-rated player such as Aribo given his previous exploits north of the border, especially at a relatively cheap price.

The former Charlton Athletic ace was a pivotal part of the side that ended Rangers’ 10-year wait for a Scottish Premiership title last term, cementing his place in the Gers’ history as a result.

However, after scoring 19 goals and laying on a further 17 assists in 107 appearances for Steven Gerrard’s charges, it appears as though the 6-foot maestro is ready for a new challenge.

The 25-year-old’s current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2023, meaning the upcoming window may be the last chance for Rangers to secure a price that’s truly reflective of Aribo’s value.

And he could be the ideal signing for Palace as they look to continue their development under former Nice boss Vieira.

The likes of Conor Gallagher and Will Hughes were brought in by the French tactician over the summer as the overhaul of the capital club’s engine room began, and the former has already made a big impression in south London.

However, Gallagher is only on a season-long loan from Premier League rivals Chelsea, so it seems as though Vieira is already putting plans in place for the 21-year-old’s inevitable exit.

During his time north of the border, Aribo has become renowned for his dribbling skills and ability to pick out a pass, as well as being comfortable sticking a foot in and dispossessing opponents, all traits in which Gallagher excels.

And, in other news…“They probably want a…”: Journalist drops exciting Palace claim, fans will be buzzing 

After the conclusion of a topsy-turvy series, Cricinfo looks back at the pivotal moments of the Ashes which England eventually won 2-1

Peter English24-Aug-20098.5Michael Clarke
Australia’s best player, even with two slips at The Oval, collected 448 runs at 64.00. He showed he could perform in any situation, delaying England at Lord’s and saving the game at Edgbaston with centuries, and picking up 93 in tough conditions in Leeds. Still doesn’t know what it’s like to win the Ashes over here, but will probably be leading the team when it returns in 2013.8Ben Hilfenhaus
The most challenging bowler of the series, consistently swinging and upsetting the batsmen, and the most successful with 22 victims. Was tipped for success on this trip a couple of years ago and exceeded the expectations, having started the tour as the fifth choice. His next test is to prove he can work on surfaces not offering seaming benefits.7.5Marcus North
A great find, he gave steel to the middle order in three Tests, but missed out in the other two. So far in his seven games he either fails or goes big. Centuries in Cardiff and Leeds showed maturity and class while his offspin was also useful at times. Could develop into a leader of the team.6.5Peter Siddle
A slight disappointment and not as good as he was in South Africa. Started with speed and inconsistency and finished with a better line and more success. Ran through 20 wickets at 30.80, but wasn’t the promised dominator, although his 5 for 21 at Headingley set up Australia’s innings win.6Ricky Ponting
A below-average series for Ponting, but a pretty good one by anyone else’s standards, with 385 at 48.12. Opened with a beautiful 150 but then failed to cash in his starts. His half-centuries in Leeds and The Oval were the most fluent of the matches, but he was powerless to stop his revenge mission, and leaves with an unwanted record of losing two Ashes series in England in a row.Nathan Hauritz
A big success of the tour – even though he played only three games. Was expected to be outclassed, but hung in and returned 10 wickets at 32.10, more than anybody’s wildest dreams. Showed control, brains and courage, particularly after dislocating his finger on the opening day at Lord’s. Left out in Leeds in a correct move, but was a costly omission at The Oval.5.5Shane Watson
A surprise success story as opener, with three consecutive half-centuries and two more starts after coming in for Phillip Hughes at Edgbaston. Not a natural at the top of the order, he will be better suited when a position arrives in the team’s middle. If he can fix his lbw problems with balls coming back at him, he will become a long-term player whether he bowls or not.Brad Haddin
Brilliant batting early in the series, registering a hundred and a half-century in the first two Tests, before it tailed off after his broken finger on the morning of the game in Birmingham. Showed courage to come back in Leeds, but there is little good to say about his keeping. Gave up 76 byes in the series (Matt Prior allowed 44 in the same number of innings) and was far inferior glovewise to his understudy Graham Manou.5Simon Katich
Opened the series with a fine hundred in Cardiff, but didn’t match that again, with his second-best score coming with 50 in the final innings at The Oval. Wasn’t able to prevent a second defeat in England but leaves this contest in much better shape than in 2005. Was also a strong presence in the field, particularly in south London.4.5Michael Hussey
A brilliant final innings at The Oval could not save the game for Australia, but eased the pressure on his struggling career. Before the final day there were only two half-centuries and a lot of confused early dismissals. More action in the Sheffield Shield should help him rediscover his extreme focus and the position of his off stump.Mitchell Johnson
A shadow of the man who dominated South Africa as he couldn’t deal with the expectation of being the attack leader in such an important series. Began to improve at Edgbaston, following his horror at Lord’s and some off-field problems, and finished the fourth Test with a five-for. There were glimpses of spark at The Oval along with more short and wide offerings. Through it all he still managed to finish with 20 wickets.4Stuart Clark
Called for the final two matches and peaked in his opening spell with three wickets before lunch at Headingley. Life was harder after that, but his accuracy remains even if his speed has dropped following elbow surgery. May still have a role back home, but will no longer be an automatic pick in the attack’s top three.3Graham Manou
Received an unpredictable debut thanks to Haddin’s last-minute broken finger and put in an old-school wicketkeeping performance that was almost flawless. Captured three tidy catches but is unlikely to see any more action unless Haddin is hurt again. It’s a shame.2.5Phillip Hughes
Started the series as Australia’s gun young batsman but his participation stopped after two Tests of being roughed up by Andrew Flintoff. In three innings he scrapped 57 runs but was too loose to be depended on and was replaced by Watson. Will come back once he’s polished his agricultural method.

Ireland crushed Scotland by a massive 96-run margin in a low-scoring contest at Mannofield Park

Cricinfo staff22-Aug-2009
ScorecardTwo days after rain dashed Ireland’s hopes of a final-day push for victory in the ICC Intercontinental Cup in Aberdeen, the visitors crushed Scotland by a massive 96-run margin in a low-scoring contest at Mannofield Park. William Porterfield, the Ireland captain, continued his excellent form on the tour, anchoring his side’s innings with 50, before Regan West picked up four wickets to help dismiss Scotland for 109.The wet weather in Aberdeen produced good conditions for bowling and so it was no surprise that the hosts put Ireland in. Gordon Goudie struck early, forcing an edge from Gary Wilson to the wicketkeeper, and Paul Stirling fell in similar fashion a few overs later to Dewald Nel. Ireland were 32 for 2 and in need of a solid partnership, and it was provided by Porterfield and Andre Botha.Porterfield had begun his innings with two fours over square leg and midwicket in the first over of the match, and he continued to play confidently despite the fall of early wickets. Botha too drove Goudie and pulled Gordon Drummond to the boundary before launching Goudie over the square leg boundary.The pair added 69 before Porterfield’s fluent innings was cut short by a run out. His dismissal triggered a collapse: Majid Haq got Botha to mistime a drive to cover and then bowled Kevin O’Brien with a well-flighted delivery. Ireland had suddenly slipped from 101 for 2 to 103 for 5. Andrew White and West provided some resistance, scoring 32 and 24, but Ryan Watson and Drummond struck twice each to dismiss Ireland for 205.Chasing a moderate target, Scotland found runs extremely hard to come by; they had scored only 8 in the seventh over. And then they began to lose wickets. Alex Cusack bowled an outstanding spell, conceding only three runs off five overs, but it was Trent Johnston who provided the breakthrough for Ireland when Fraser Watts top-edged a pull that was held by O’Brien.A brace of run outs – Navdeep Poonia and Watson were the batsmen dismissed – left the hosts struggling at 49 for 3. The decisive blow, though, came when Gavin Hamilton, who had scored a patient 36, slapped a full toss from West straight to mid-off. Scotland collapsed thereafter, losing their last five wickets for 27 runs.

Micah Richards has picked out Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira as a ‘potential successor to Pep Guardiola’. 

The lowdown

Vieira only took charge at Palace this summer, replacing Roy Hodgson in the Selhurst Park dugout.

They’ve won only one of their first nine matches, but equally their only defeats have come away to league leaders Chelsea and second-place Liverpool.

Having racked up a Premier League-high six draws, they find themselves 15th in the table.

While the team is still ‘a work in progress’, Vieira has won plaudits for making the Eagles ‘entertaining to watch’ (via London Evening Standard).

Meanwhile, current City boss Guardiola suggested in August that he would leave The Etihad when his contract expires at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Vieira played for the Cityzens shortly before his retirement, helping them win the FA Cup in 2011 (via BBC Sport).

The latest

Writing in his column for The Daily Mail, Richards expressed excitement at the trajectory of his former team-mate’s career.

He thinks the five-time Premier League champions may consider Vieira when Guardiola decides to move on.

“Should his managerial career continue to progress the way I hope it will, I see no reason why his name wouldn’t at least be in the conversation as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola,” he wrote.

The verdict

Clearly, Vieira is winning appreciation for his work at Palace in spite of his team’s mediocre league position. It’s good to see observers looking beyond the results at this early stage of his tenure.

There have been some impressive performances against quality opposition. They put three past Spurs and restricted them to two shots, they edged the ‘expected goals’ in their draw with Leicester City and they were only denied three points at The Emirates by a 95th-minute Arsenal goal.

But could the City job, and the opportunity to compete for titles at his former club, persuade him to abandon his Palace project? Potentially.

In other news, fans reacted to this major development for the club.

Mitchell Johnson became the sixth player to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Johannesburg

Cricinfo staff01-Oct-2009Mitchell Johnson became the sixth player to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Johannesburg.Johnson fought off stiff competition to take the award from fellow short-list nominees Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, as well as England captain Andrew Strauss.Johnson follows in the footsteps of India’s Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff of England and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005), Ricky Ponting of Australia (2006 and 2007) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2008) to take the top award.”I’m really blown away,” he said after receiving the honour. “I am just surprised to be up here. It has been a great 12 months for our side. We have lost some wonderful players in recent years and we have been rebuilding with some young guys in the team and we have played together well.”I’m enjoying the game at the moment – that makes all the difference. The highlight for me was actually my first century in a Test match. I would be quite happy to wear the tag of allrounder so I have been pleased with how my batting has come on. Also, winning in South Africa was a huge high for us.”I’d like to thank my team-mates, friends and family and my fiancée for putting up with the ups and downs over the last year or so.”ICC President David Morgan congratulated Johnson on his victory: “Mitchell has worked extremely hard over the past year to be an integral part of Australia’s bowling line-up and his effective batting style has turned him into one of the top all-round cricketers,” Morgan said. “His statistics for the last 12 months show how worthy a winner of this title he is.”I would like to extend my congratulations to Mitchell on winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. He had some tough competition to overcome, the likes of Gautam, Mahendra and Andrew but no one can deny he has been a stand-out player over the past 12 months.”During the voting period, Johnson played 17 Test matches, taking 80 wickets, which was easily the highest number by any Test bowler in the voting period. His best match bowling figures were 11-159 against South Africa in Perth in December of last year and Johnson’s economy-rate over the whole period was a mere 3.12.His batting skills shouldn’t be forgotten either for in the last year he has managed to score a total of 632 runs for Australia, including a century and three half-centuries, to register an average of 30.09.Johnson also played 16 ODI matches in this time taking 28 wickets at an average of 24.25 and an economy rate of 5.06, his best haul being 4-34 against South Africa in April of this year. He is currently ranked third in the ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers and is 11th in the ODI rankings.The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy was one of eight individual prizes given at this year’s ICC Awards. Johnson also featured in the ICC Test Team of the Year as picked by the ICC selection panel.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are plotting a swoop to bring Guilherme Arana to Molineux in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by transfer expert Ekrem Konur, with the journalist revealing on Twitter that Jeff Shi is planning to open negotiations with Atletico Mineiro regarding a deal for the left-back this winter.

Previous reports had claimed that Wolves were scouting the player following his highly impressive performances for Brazil at this summer’s Olympics, while Everton are also believed to be monitoring the 24-year-old ahead of a potential January move.

In his tweet, Konur said: “Wolves have added Guilherme Arana to their transfer list. They plan to talk with Atletico MG in January.”

Lage would love him

It is easy to see why Shi would be keen to open negotiations regarding a deal for Arana in the coming months, as the left-back impressed for Brazil this summer, as well for Atletico Mineiro so far this season.

Indeed, over his six appearances in the Olympics, the £7.2m-rated defender helped his side to keep three clean sheets, registered one assist and created one big chance for his teammates, as well as making 1.2 key passes, 0.7 interceptions and 2.3 tackles and winning 5.5 duels per game.

These returns saw the 24-year-old average a SofaScore match rating of 7.17, ranking him as Brazil’s fourth-best performer on the way to winning the Olympic gold medal.

Furthermore, the player who Andre Jardine dubbed a “spectacular” talent has also impressed over his 17 Serie A appearances this season, helping Atletico Mineiro to keep seven clean sheets, providing five assists and creating three big chances – returns which have seen the left-back average a SofaScore match rating of 7.15.

As such, being a player who is equally adept in a creative capacity as he is solid at the back, Arana seems like someone who Lage would love to have as a left wing-back option in his Wolves squad, as well as being a player who could help inspire the Midlanders to a top 10 finish in the league this season.

In other news: Lage could save Fosun millions with “outstanding” 23 y/o, he’s just what Wolves need