Roddy Estwick, the West Indies Under-19 coach, has said his team are looking forward to their short tour of Pakistan, which starts tomorrow with a one-day match at Karachi. The trip acts as preparation for the squad ahead of the World Cup, in Sri Lanka next month.”We have got good team spirit and good ethics and five one-dayers against the Pakistan Under-19 side would provide us with good preparations for the World Cup,” he told Pakistan newspaper the .Estwick said his team was picked on the basis of the player’s performances in the inter-island U-19 competition, adding that they had some talented players in their line-up. Commenting on the decline of the West Indies senior team, he maintained that “all the teams of the world go through this kind of periods.”West Indies squad Leon Johnson (capt), Jason Mohammed, Richard Ramdeen, Gajanand Singh, Andre Fletcher, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Javon Searles, Sharmarh Brooks, Andre McCarthy, William Perkins, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Richie Bachan.
Ian Harvey has been named in Victoria’s 13-man squad for the Pura Cup match against Western Australia at the Junction Oval from December 1. Harvey, who has recovered from his groin strain, is one of four inclusions to the side which thrashed New South Wales last week – Jason Arnberger, Bryce McGain and Shane Harwood are the other three. Andrew McDonald, who will undergo a surgery for a finger injury, Brendan Joseland and Brad Knowles have been omitted.Squad Cameron White (capt), Jason Arnberger, Matthew Elliott, Shane Harwood, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Mathew Inness, Bryce Mcgain, Jonathan Moss, Peter Roach, Graeme Rummans, Allan Wise.
Sanwar Hossain was cleared to play for Bangladesh against Australia in the three-match ODI series despite being reported to the International Cricket Council for having a suspect bowling action. However, he runs the risk of being no-balled if the umpires feel that he is throwing the ball.Hossain was reported by David Shepherd, Rudi Koertzen and SteveDavis, the three umpires at the second Test at Cairns, after they reviewed tape of his bowling action. The issue is now under the ICC’s jurisdiction and over the next six weeks Hossain and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will have the opportunity to work on any areas of concern.”Hossain will be able to continue to play during this time,” the ICC said yesterday. “But the bowler remains subject to being called on the field by an umpire in accordance with the laws of the game”. With Shepherd to officiate in all three one-dayers, and Davies to stand in the second match, Hossain will be under scrutiny. The on-field umpires can no-ball him for chucking and repeated offences could see him taken out of the attack.Hossain’s questionable delivery is a back-hander similar to one used by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Muralitharan, whose action has repeatedly been questioned, has been cleared on a number of occasionsbecause of his flexible elbow. But Hossain’s copycat delivery looks as if it involves a straightening of the arm as he flicks the ball out of his hand.Hossain is at stage one of the ICC’s process for dealing with suspect actions, which allows him to continue to play while working withadvisers to be appointed by his home board and a human movement specialist from an ICC panel. This stage will last up to six weeks.At that point a detailed report will be submitted to the ICC.If Hossain’s action is not remedied in the next six weeks and he isreported again, he could risk a formal hearing and could be banned for 12 months under the ICC guidelines.
Victoria faces a big test of character if it is to save its Pura Cup cricket match after Tasmania batted itself into an almost impregnable position in Hobart today.At stumps on day two, Tasmania was 6-435 with a first innings lead of 296.Its overwhelming position was built on a Michael Dighton century and big half centuries by Daniel Marsh, Shaun Young and wicketkeeper Sean Clingeleffer.The Victorian attack, minus the injured Damien Fleming, laboured long and hard to keep the Tasmanian scoring rate under control on a sullen first day of summerwhen a cold and swirling wind dislodged bails and sent rubbish skidding across the ground.Dighton and Marsh laid the foundation, batting through the rain-shortened morning session and well into the afternoon.Dighton, who had scored only 23 runs in four previous innings after being recruited from Western Australia, hit 126 in 319 minutes with 18 fours and a six.He was marooned on 90 for 37 minutes in an innings punctuated by elegant drives and sweetly timed flicks off his pads.With regular No.3 Michael Di Venuto due to return from injury, Dighton’s form gives Tasmania some needed competition in the top order.Marsh, who was once regarded as a spinner who could bat but now holds his position almost entirely through his batting, deserved his century.But he fell, from his first seriously false stroke, for 97 – an innings built largely on his powerful cutting.After Marsh and Dighton, having put on 184 runs, went in successive overs to the second new ball, Young and Clingeleffer continued the Victorian torture.They batted until deep into the evening, adding a further 119 runs before Young lofted a drive off part-time spinner Brad Hodge and went for 70.Clingeleffer batted on, steadily blossoming after a scratchy start, to finish on 73.In his last three first class innings he’s amassed 242 runs without being dismissed and has given Tasmania a batsman of quality at No.7.He’ll resume in the morning with Damien Wright on 16.
November 14-18, 2015 Start time 0930 local (0400GMT)4:01
Manjrekar: India may leave out a seamer to pick Rohit Sharma
Big Picture
While Bangalore is set to break a 100-year-old rain record for the month of November, South Africa are facing their worst drought in more than two decades. What an apt metaphor that is for the status of the ongoing series. The hosts are swimming through calm waters, after their success in the first Test while the visitors are negotiating choppy seas of spin even as they are parched for players.This is only the second Test but already South Africa have a fourth injury on their books. After JP Duminy and Morne Morkel had to sit out in Mohali with a hand and quad problem respectively, and Dale Steyn suffered a groin injury mid-Test, now Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the series with torn ankle ligaments. That the majority of the wounded are South Africa’s premier pacemen tells you the seriousness of the predicament they find themselves in. Their team balance has been thrown as they grapple with how to accommodate enough batsmen and enough spinners while still maintaining their firepower.India do not have the same concerns. Although their batting underwhelmed in Mohali, it came good when it needed to and their bowlers drowned out any concerns by overpowering the opposition. They made full use of the home advantage India are using as their 12th man, which allows them more flexibility in team composition terms. They may still relook at the length of their batting line-up, especially as the remaining matches may not all be as low-scoring as the first one was, but will still feel they have the upper hand in the series. All South Africa are hoping is that it will rain sometime soon.
Form guide
(last five completed games, most recent first) India WWWLD South Africa LDDWD
In the spotlight
It can be lonely being a seamer in a spinner’s game but Ishant Sharma has found a way. He plucked 13 wickets at 23.23 in Sri Lanka in August – which included his 200th Test wicket – to usher India to a series win and he will be back to lead the attack at home. Ishant was suspended for one match after having too much too say too often to the Sri Lankan batsmen which will only add to the spice of the contest against South Africa, a team he would want to improve his record against. Ishant has 20 South African wickets from eight previous Tests against them at an average of 47.95 – his worst against any opposition.On the occasion of his 100th Test, all eyes would be trained on AB de Villiers who is also South Africa’s most in-form batsman. De Villiers was their only player who had some measure of the slow Mohali surface, where he showed composure and class even as the spinners ran riot. He has already scored more than 1000 runs in ODIs this year and is in fine form across formats. Coupled with his intention to do “whatever it takes” to get South Africa back into the game, all indications are that we can expect something big from de Villiers at his adopted home ground.
Team news
Ishant has served his suspension and should slot straight back into the XI, probably at Varun Aaron’s expense. India’s insistence on five bowlers will mean Umesh Yadav operates as the other seamer alongside three specialist spinners, and the net sessions also suggested so. Captain Virat Kohli said on Friday “don’t be surprised if Gurkeerat plays very soon.”India: (probable) 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 M Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Wriddihiman Saha (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Ishant SharmaWith Vernon Philander ruled out of the series and Dale Steyn out of the match, South Africa will be down to just one of their premier pacers in the fit again Morne Morkel, who will lead the attack. Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott, who flew in as Philander’s replacement on Thursday “will be ready” according to Hashim Amla, are the only other two seam-bowling options. That will leave them with space for only one specialist spinner because JP Duminy is certain to be back after recovering from a cut on his hand. Duminy will ensure the batting line-up is lengthened with seven specialist batsmen in the team and will have to bowl offspin to provide South Africa with another slower-bowling option.South Africa: (probable) 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Stiaan van Zyl, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Hashim Amla (capt), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Dane Vilas (wk), 8 Simon Harmer/Kyle Abbott, 9 Kagiso Rabada 10 Morne Morkel,11 Imran Tahir
Pitch and conditions
Rain over the last week has meant the pitch has not had an opportunity to bake but K Sriram, the curator, has calmed concerns of an undercooked surface. He began preparation on November 1 from under a tent. The grass covering is set to disappear before the match starts but it could be the overhead conditions which may have more of an impact. Dense cloud cover and high humidity could mean swing through the air. Wet weather is predicted for the middle three days of the match with the first and last day forecast as dry.
Stats and Trivia
India have won their last seven home Tests, three behind their longest winning streak of 10 triumphs on the trot at home between December 1988 and November 1994.
South Africa have never won an away series after being 1-0 down, but they have managed three series victories after falling behind at home: against West Indies in 2007-08; against India in 2006-07 and against NZ in 1994-95.
Quotes
“As a team, we’ve all enjoyed the fact that AB is playing his 100th game. We’ve celebrated that and hopefully AB gets onto the park tomorrow and has a wonderful game for us and we win the Test match. That would be an ideal game for him and for us. It’s great to have him playing his 100th game and for us to have something to celebrate but in terms of it taking our focus off the game, I dont think it has.
Newcastle welcome Chelsea to St James’ Park looking to build on their 1-1 draw at Manchester United last week by securing three points that will keep them above the West London side in fourth place.
Despite being written off before the game following their defeat in the blue half of Manchester seven days prior Alan Pardew’s side displayed the kind of resilience and passion that has become synonymous with the black and white stripes over the years. The Magpies dominated the first forty five minutes at Old Trafford with a resolute back line quelling the threat of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. The midfield duo of Yohan Cabaye and Danny Guthrie ran the show whilst Gabriel Obertan put in an accomplished display on his return from a toe injury at his old stomping ground. However it was the stunning performances of Steven Taylor and goalkeeper Tim Krul that shone through as the Geordies hung on for dear life after Jonas Gutierrez was sent off with 12 minutes to go. Everything United threw at Newcastle was repelled with Taylor putting numerous blocks and when the ball did find a way past the defender Krul was there to prevent it from finding the net. It’s a measure of just how far the club has come in the last year or so with Pardew deserving a huge amount of credit for retaining the togetherness in the dressing room and getting his team organised and working for each other. Chelsea will once again prove to be another massive test and they know that a win will give them a four point cushion over the Blues going into the festive period. A run of one win in six against Andre Villas-Boas’ side at St James’ Park puts the omens firmly in the visitors lap but this is a new Newcastle United and one that isn’t to be taken lightly.
That is something Chelsea certainly won’t do despite their poor run of form coming to an end with a 3-0 win against Wolves at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. Pressure was starting to seriously build on the shoulders of Villas-Boas going into the game after two late defeats in the space of a week and a win was the only thing that was going to bring some relief. Luckily his side blew away Wanderer’s in the first period scoring three goals and rolling back the years with a display of attacking intensity. The performance of Juan Mata was a particular highlight with the Spaniard laying on two goals and scoring the third and supporters will be expecting more of the same on the trip to Tyneside. Daniel Sturridge was another player to impress with the young striker bagging yet another goal and giving credence to his calls to be the clubs first choice centre forward. His link up play with Mata and Didier Drogba highlights an intelligent footballer whilst his effort and commitment bring an extra edge to the Chelsea attack. The 22-year-old has scored his seventh goal of the season last weekend which is more than Drogba, Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka combined. Defensively Villas-Boas will have been delighted to see his side keep only their third clean sheet of the season and they’ll need build on that going into the game against Newcastle who the hungry Demba Ba searching for his 10th goal of the season. Their record at St James’ Park should stand them in good stead though having won five and drawn the same amount in 17 Premier League meetings.
Newcastle – 4th
Last Five: Drew 1-1 v Manchester United (A), Lost 3-1 v Manchester City (A), Won Everton 2-1 (H), Won 3-1 Stoke (A), Won 1-0 v Wigan (H
Potential Starting X11: 26. T. Krul 5. D. Simpson 2. F. Coloccini [C] 27. S. Taylor* 16. R. Taylor 8. D. Guthrie 4. Yohan Cabaye 24. C. Tiote 25. G. Obertan 10. H. Ben Arfa 19.D. Ba
Injury News: Leon Best and Sylvain Marveaux remain out and don’t look like returning to action in 2011. Cheick Tiote could finally make his return after missing the last four games with a knee injury.
Key Player: Tim Krul
What a season it has been for the Dutch goalkeeper so far with his stunning performance at Old Trafford last weekend earning him a legion of plaudits once again. Krul pulled off save after remarkable save to deny Manchester United a win with his point blank save from Nemanja Vidic’s header simply astounding. He’ll need to continue the form that has seen him keep four clean sheets this season when Chelsea come to town.
Match Fact: The Magpies have been formidable at St James’ Park so far during the campaign and have yet to taste defeat. They’ll need to maintain that if they are to beat Chelsea at home for the first time since the final day of the 2005/06 season with a Titus Bramble goal gave securing a 1-0 win, seventh position and a place in the Intertoto Cup.
Chelsea – 5th
Last Five: Won 3-0 v Wolves (H), Lost 2-1 v Liverpool (H), Won 1-0 v Blackburn (A), Lost 5-3 v Arsenal (H), Lost 1-0 v QPR (A)
Potential Starting X11: 1. P. Cech 2. B. Ivanovic 26. J. Terry [C] 4. D. Luiz 3. A. Cole 6. O. Romeu 7. Ramires 8. F. Lampard 10. J. Mata 11. D. Drogba 23. D. Sturridge*
Injury News: Villas-Boas has no new injury worries with Michael Essien the only player currently in the Stamford Bridge treatment room.
Key Player: Daniel Sturridge
For the second consecutive week the newly capped England striker proved his worth to the team with another industrious display. Sturridge was a constant menace on Saturday with his desire to run at the Wolves defence and create space for his teammates a joy to watch. Goals are also a big part of his game and he stabbed home a crucial second in West London to effectively kill the game off for Chelsea. He’ll need to keep that up on Saturday against an uncompromising Newcastle back line.
Match Fact: Chelsea enjoy their trips to the North East and have only been beaten once in their last six visits to St James Park. That run includes one win and four draws with their last defeat on Tyneside coming just over five years ago.
Last Time at St James’ Park
Premier League 28 November 2010
Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea
Carroll, 6
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Kalou, 45
Attendance: 46,469
Referee: Andre Marriner
PREDICTION
Newcastle bounced back from their first loss of the season at Manchester City with a superb performance against rivals United at Old Trafford. Despite their goal being firmly in the realms of controversial the Magpies displayed the never say die attitude that has become the cornerstone of their season to date. They’ll face another stiff test against Chelsea at St James Park who will hoping their win against Wolves will prove to be a turning point in what has been a period of unsettling transition. Manager Villas-Boas has come in for some criticism after his sides insipid displays over the last few weeks with a trip to Tyneside proving to be a potential banana skin. It’s likely the Toon Army will be in full voice and with Newcastle yet to lose at St James’ Park so far it will prove to be a tight encounter.
The modern day footballer doesn’t want for much; they have expensive cars, travel all over the globe and earn vast amounts of money doing what they love. Having fame, glamour and superstardom is something most of us can only dream about. World Cup winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has been candidly shedding some light on his experience with some of the superstars of Chelsea in the Brazilian media. So I want to share my thoughts on how this may, or may not, have contributed towards Chelsea’s managerial turnover.
Scolari doesn’t have fond memories of his time at Chelsea, in fact he considered walking away from football altogether after he was relieved from his post in West London. Scolari exposed problems he faced in the dressing room with Didier Drogba and the untenable relationship between midfielders Michael Ballack and Deco. It appears that his ongoing feud with Drogba was one of the key ingredients that led to his untimely demise. This became apparent after Roman Abramovich’s refusal to sanction a swap deal for Inter Milan’s Adriano involving Drogba. The Russian owner had made it evident his loyalties lay with Drogba which was later supported by Scolari’s sacking. Abramovich also failed to back Scolari in his attempts to sign Robinho from Real Madrid, the flamboyant Brazilian went on to agree a deal with Manchester City.
I personally do not believe dressing room politics are the reason behind the high managerial turnover at Chelsea. I think the situation with Scolari was an isolated incident, Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink had no problems in working with and getting the best out of Didier Drogba. This doesn’t mean dressing room politics didn’t come into play during these managers’ residence at the Bridge, but I don’t think it has impacted on the coming and going of managers, with the exception of Scolari. It’s also worth mentioning that Scolari himself is no shrinking violet, in his time with Palmerias, Scolari had numerous run-ins with players. The stand out unsavoury incident from his time with Palmerias was when he attacked a reporter after being asked a question he judged to be offensive.
There are discrepancies at all football clubs, at every level, and I don’t see how the events that unveiled under Scolari’s management can be associated with Chelsea’s turnover of managers. Football is a results business and sure enough most managerial casualties fall as a consequence of failing to adhere to the expectations of the owners. Chelsea have one of the richest men in the world at the helm, and Abramovich expects Chelsea to be challenging for honours on all fronts, so if the team are falling short he will wield his axe.
Despite the views expressed so far, it doesn’t shy away from the fact Chelsea do have the likes of Ashley Cole and John Terry who seem to spend as much time on the front pages as the back. This of course transmits to the dressing room and with so many big egos in there it can lead to confrontation and power struggles. I firmly believe a good manager can get the best out of his players and this was proven by Mourinho, Hiddink and currently Ancelotti. There were no implications surrounding Mourinho’s and Hiddink’s departures from Chelsea and any dressing room politics, which further verifies the point.
In summary, Scolari was the wrong man for Chelsea and he failed in a high profile job. Rregardless of the situations he encountered, his seven month stint will be remembered as a blip in Chelsea’s history.
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Central defender Ricardo Carvalho has put the finishing touches to his move to Real Madrid from Chelsea by passing a medical at the Bernabeu.
The 32-year-old Portugal international had already agreed a two-year contract with the Spanish giants, with the two clubs involved having already agreed a fee in excess of £6million.
Carvalho joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 from FC Porto and went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club in all competitions, but has now been allowed to move on to rejoin former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Real.
The centre-back recently spoke of his desire to head to Madrid, telling the Spanish press:"If there was a possibility to sign with Real Madrid, I would go there right now swimming or running.
"It would be a dream to be able to play for Madrid, which I consider to be the best club in the world and follow the orders of the best coach in the history of football.
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"With Jose Mourinho I experienced two marvellous stages at Porto and Chelsea. To have the opportunity to win another Champions League with him at Real Madrid would be tremendous."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not likely to be seen in the Premier League in the near future but the rest of Europe is certainly open to trading for the big guns in the English game and whether it be in January or the summer, there could be some more big names on the plane to the best league in the world.
The likes of Ronaldo, Robinho, David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres have graced the Premier League in recent years and that has turned the English game into the best in the world. Here is a list of players in Europe that are targets for Premier League clubs and could be seen here in the near future. Who would you like at your club?
Click on Ricardo Montolivo to unveil the top 10
[divider]
List compiled by Brad Pinard
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Lyon leapt back to third on the Ligue 1 table with a 2-0 win at Sochaux on Saturday, while Saint-Etienne and Toulouse broke losing runs.Lyon, who were temporarily displaced from the Champions League places by Marseille on Friday, saw off the French champions’ challenge through goals to Lisandro Lopez and Miralem Pjanic.The result ensures the enthralling battle for the league title is set to continue with just one point separating the top four on the Ligue 1 table, while Paris Saint-Germain are also still in the running a further four points back.Lopez needed just 22 minutes to find his 12th goal of the season for Lyon on Saturday, the prolific Argentinean side-footing a neat finish past Sochaux goalkeeper Pierrick Cros after being played through by Bafetimbi Gomis’ clever back-heel.Pjanic doubled Lyon’s lead in the 63rd minute, the Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder powering a left-footed shot beyond Cros from Jeremy Pied’s pass. The win gives Lyon some welcome momentum ahead of their midweek Champions League trip to Spain to face Real Madrid, with the tie evenly poised at 1-1 after the first leg in France.Elsewhere, Saint-Etienne ended their four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win at home to lowly Brest, while Toulouse defeated Lens 1-0 to snap their own run of four straight losses.Bakary Sako put Saint-Etienne ahead from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, before Dimitri Payet ended a league goal drought stretching back to October with an 88th-minute strike.Paraguayan striker Federico Santander was the hero for Toulouse, finding the net in the 74th minute for his first league goal since late December.In other results, Lorient were held 3-3 at bottom-placed Arles, who fought back from a 3-1 deficit through goals to Yann Kermorgant (63) and Remy Cabella (80).Camel Meriem had put Arles up in the sixth minute, before Morgan Amalfitano (19), Sigamary Diarra (45) and Kevin Gameiro (52) piled on goals for the visitors.Nice triumphed 1-0 over Auxerre Eric Mouloungui’s 61st-minute winner, and Nancy defeated 10-man Caen 2-0 on goals to Landry N’Guemo (38) and Bakaye Traore (84).Caen’s Malines striker Sambou Yatabare was sent marching for a second caution in the 72nd minute.