All posts by h716a5.icu

The Chelsea star has confirmed that she will miss the tournament, so who are the contenders to make an impact for the Lionesses in her place?

It's not been a great few months for England on the injury front and, on Tuesday, Chelsea star Fran Kirby added her name to a growing list of absentees and concerns. In a statement, Kirby confirmed she will miss the 2023 Women's World Cup as she undergoes knee surgery to solve an issue that has plagued her since she limped off against West Ham in early February.

That news followed an ACL rupture for Lionesses captain Leah Williamson late last month, the same fate that Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead suffered before Christmas. Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are also currently on the sidelines due to their own knee surgeries, though neither player is expected to be ruled out of this summer's tournament.

England have, at least, been without Kirby for the last two international windows, and have therefore been able to take a closer look at other options in the advanced midfield role that she often holds in the team.

The Lionesses are not exactly blessed with depth in the centre of the park, but there are a number of candidates for head coach Sarina Wiegman to consider in Kirby's absence – not only for her starting line up, but also as substitutes who could have an impact in the freer midfielder role.

GOAL runs the rule over the contenders:

Getty ImagesElla Toone

The obvious candidate to replace Kirby is the player who did so off the bench so often during the Euros last summer and who has assumed her spot in the starting XI while she's been out. That player is Ella Toone.

Wiegman has started Toone in nine of England's 11 games since they became European champions last summer and the Manchester United star has fit in seamlessly, scoring the Lionesses' goal in the Women's Finalissima triumph in April.

However, there have inevitably been comparisons between the impact the 23-year-old is having on games from the start and the impact she had on them from the bench. During the Euros, as a regular sub, Toone registered a goal or an assist every 80 minutes. Since that tournament, as a regular starter, she has recorded a direct goal involvement every 155 minutes.

In truth, it seems unlikely that Wiegman reverts the midfielder back to being a sub now that Kirby is out. She contributes a lot to the team in other ways and has the ability to be decisive.

Perhaps the bigger question is who steps in to take her place when a change is needed during the World Cup, just as she did with Kirby in the Euros.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesGeorgia Stanway

Admittedly, it's unlikely – but one other option for Wiegman to start in the more advanced midfield role is a player who is already key to her XI: Georgia Stanway.

The Bayern Munich maestro often shone in a No.10 role as she was coming through with England and Manchester City, her technical ability, creativity and deadly shot from range making her a stand-out playmaker.

She's since dropped back into a more box-to-box role and assumed a great partnership with Keira Walsh in the deeper areas of the Lionesses' midfield. However, her versatility would likely mean she'd have no problem pushing further forward if desired.

There are a few reasons this is unlikely: Stanway's good relationship with Walsh in her current position is one, with there alternatives that could be chosen without breaking that up. Plus, Wiegman would then have to choose someone to play the role she does and that feels a lot more difficult to do.

It would be a lot of fun to see Stanway in a freer, more attacking role again, though.

GettyJordan Nobbs

Sadly, injuries have limited Jordan Nobbs' ability to have a real impact on the England team selection in recent years but that doesn't mean her chance to do so ahead of a major tournament has passed.

The Aston Villa midfielder remains one of the Lionesses' most naturally talented players and her form since she left Arsenal to move to the Midlands in January has backed that up.

Capable of playing in a deep-lying role, box-to-box or in a more advanced position, Nobbs can do it all, and she brings a level of experience that none in the midfield pool can match.

She hasn't had too many opportunities to force her way into Wiegman's thinking, but could Kirby's absence change that?

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyLaura Coombs

Before her recall to the squad in February, Laura Coombs' last England cap came back in 2015. But that drought was ended when she was brought in for the Arnold Clark Cup and replaced Stanway from the bench in the 4-0 win over South Korea.

The Manchester City star isn't really a No.10. She's more of a No.8, a player that arrives late into the box and finds the back of the net. Maybe, then, she is the type of player that Wiegman can bring into the team to push Stanway further up.

Or, alternatively, perhaps she can utilise those qualities in a different role. Coombs has adapted at times to play a deeper position for her club. Why couldn't she play a more advanced one? She certainly has the attacking qualities.

A 13-year playoff streak has been met by 13 straight playoff exits and zero MLS Cup appearances.

Any New York Red Bulls fan knows how this goes. And they know the words that come with it.

'That's so Metro'.

Saturday brought the latest moment to encapsulate those three words, as the Red Bulls threw away a lead to fall to FC Cincinnati at home.

It was a match that had it all: a stunning goal, an injury during the ensuing celebration and, ultimately, another Red Bull collapse.

But where did it go wrong for the Red Bulls? Let's take a look:

Getty ImagesOn the day

It seemed to all be going so well for the Red Bulls.

Lewis Morgan had just scored a missile early in the second half, giving the hosts the lead. A big celebration followed, as players mobbed the Scottish star, the team's leading scorer, in corner.

What happened next was a sign of things to come.

Morgan emerged from those celebrations with an injury, calling to the bench to take him out. From there, it was all Cincy. Goals from Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez were just enough to lift the visitors into a date with the Philadelphia Union.

The first goal was entirely preventable, a silly penalty given away by Andres Reyes. The second was just a case of lost individual battles, with both Vazquez and Sergio Santos beating their defenders for pace.

It wasn't a bad performance, but it wasn't a good one and, in the playoffs where margins are slim, the Red Bulls were sent packing.

AdvertisementAndy Marlin / Getty Images SportDefinition of insanity

We all know the saying.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

The Red Bulls have been trying to do the same thing over and over stylistically since Thierry Henry left the club and, by and large, the results have been the same.

Yes, the Red Bulls have a 13-year postseason streak, an impressive feat in MLS. And, of course, the Red Bulls can beat anyone on their day in the regular season, which they've been able to do for years thanks to their pressing system.

The problem is that they can't beat several teams in a row in a playoff format with the way this team plays. The evidence is there for all to see: four straight Round One exits and zero MLS Cup final appearances since this all began.

Teams have essentially figured out the Red Bulls' pressing style, and they figured it out years ago. You simply have to play patient, limit mistakes and don't take the risks that would generally fall right into the Red Bulls' trap. In the postseason, the margins are even finer for a team that lives and dies by other teams' mistakes rather than difference-makers of their own.

It's something you see all over the world. Eventually, teams' styles get figured out, and you have to either evolve that style or find a new one.

As MLS has evolved, the Red Bulls simply haven't. Their team hasn't been strong enough, their style hasn't been successful enough and, ultimately, it hasn't worked in the way the club would hope.

GettyMissing stars

In the early years of this iteration of the Red Bills, it all worked, and that's because of the people involved.

They had a Best XI caliber striker in Bradley Wright-Phillips, Homegrown stars like Tyler Adams and Matt Miazga, MLS stars like Dax McCarty, Sacha Kljestan and Luis Robles all being led by Jesse Marsch.

Those days are long gone. Adams is at Leeds, and players of his caliber rarely come along. Wright-Phillips was absolutely lightning in a bottle, a once-in-a-lifetime type of signing that went from nothing to club legend. And there's a reason Marsch is now managing in the Premier League, and that's because he's a hell of a manager.

The Red Bulls have been unable to replicate that success simply because it's impossible to replicate.

They're still relying on the same formula: homegrown, local talent supplemented by the signing of undervalued, high-potential foreign players. It's something other clubs are doing well, such as the Philadelphia Union, but it's also really hard to have everything line up in the right way.

At the end of the day, in this league, you usually go only as far as your DPs can take you. And the Red Bulls' DPs didn't live up to their billing.

Luquinhas started the season on fire with five goals and three assists by mid-July. He provided zero goals and one assist in the 16 games since.

Patryk Klimala contributed to just eight goals in 28 appearances after scoring or assisting on 15 in 29 games last season.

And then there's Dru Yearwood, who hasn't played since September after booting a ball into the stands and injuring a fan.

Contrast that with Cincinnati, who got goals from two of its stars to win the match.

When your stars go missing in big moments, there's only one result. And when you don't splash the cash to bring in the best players possible, you're going to struggle to compete, more likely than not.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWhat's next?

One big question will hang over this team's offseason: what happens with Aaron Long?

The USMNT center back is a free agent after this season, and there's no guarantee he'll be back. A strong World Cup could ignite European interest, while he'll have no shortage of suitors in MLS should he choose to stay.

He wasn't at his best against Cincy but, make no mistake: Long is important as can be to this Red Bulls team. He is the anchor, the defensive star, and, despite his injury issues, this team is not the same without him.

If he leaves, the Red Bulls are looking at a massive hole in defense. If he stays, that's one less thing to worry about.

Before the season Gerhard Struber complained about the strength of his roster. Those complaints will likely get louder after another first round exit.

The Red Bulls' offseason starts with Long, though, as they'll have to keep hold of their star while bringing in a few new ones to truly reach the level they wish to reach.

Europe's premier club competition heads to Portugal with eight of the continent's biggest sides still in with a chance of lifting the trophy

After its unplanned, coronavirus-enforced hiatus, the Champions League is back.

After the culmination of the last 16 saw heavyweights Juventus and Real Madrid eliminated, the competition is down to its final eight sides.

The quarter-finalists have travelled to Lisbon for the final stages, all of which will be played as one-legged matches rather than the normal double-headers.

With the draw all mapped out, clubs know who their prospective opponents could be all the way through to the final. But who are the favourites, and which teams still have work to do?

Goal has ranked the runners and riders to work out who is in the best shape to lift the famous trophy on August 23…

Getty8Lyon

Despite holding a narrow advantage from the first leg, very few observers believed an undercooked Lyon side would have enough to knock Juventus out in Turin.

Rudi Garcia's side, however, stunned the Bianconeri as they just about held off Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. to seal their place among the quarter-finalists.

There they will face an in-form Manchester City, and as the clear underdogs on their side of the draw, it is difficult to see them progressing much further.

But then we said that before the last round, so…

AdvertisementGetty Images7RB Leipzig

They may not be able to call upon talisman Timo Werner in Portugal after he opted out of playing following his move to Chelsea, but RB Leipzig's chances may actually have improved over recent days.

Their quarter-final opponents, Atletico Madrid, have been thrown into chaos this week after two players tested positive for Covid-19, and Julian Nagelsmann's side will hope they can take advantage in Lisbon on Thursday.

Getty Images6Atalanta

Despite the three-month break from football, Atalanta have shown no signs of slowing down since football's resumption, with the free-scoring Bergamo outfit setting Serie A alight on their way to a third-place finish.

They now return to the Champions League with a quarter-final against PSG awaiting them and a potential path to the final which is far less daunting than what faces more established sides on the opposite side of the draw.

Josip Ilicic, who scored five goals across the two legs of their win over Valencia in the last 16, will miss the mini-tournament due to personal reasons, but Gian Piero Gasperini's side still have plenty of firepower to cause opposition defenders problems.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty5Barcelona

It was far from a vintage performance from Barcelona, but Quique Setien's side got the job done against Napoli to book their place among the final eight.

This is where things get difficult though. A quarter-final meeting with many people's favourites, Bayern Munich, awaits them on Friday in a match some are predicting could get ugly for the Blaugrana.

Manchester City are also in their half of the draw, and thus Lionel Messi will likely have to be at his very best for Barca to even have a chance of reaching the final.

However, if any player can single-handedly drive his team forward through adversity, it is the Argentine magician.

The grand finale of the 2016 Women’s World T20 is between two contrasting sides – one that knows what it takes to win the cup and another for whom the stage is new territory

The Preview by Shashank Kishore02-Apr-2016Match factsApril 3, 2016
Start time 1430 local (0900 GMT)Given their limited talent pool, West Indies would be delighted at having unearthed talents like Britney Cooper, who struck a match-winning 61 in the semi-final•AFPBig PictureThe grand finale of the 2016 Women’s World T20 is between two contrasting sides – one that knows what it takes to win the cup and another for whom the stage is new territory. Australia, barring the mishap against New Zealand, have run roughshod over their opponents, while West Indies have played an entertaining brand of cricket, even if not always of the highest quality.Irrespective of Sunday’s result, that West Indies have finally managed to pass the semi-final barrier in their fifth attempt is a step in the right direction. But try telling that to Stafanie Taylor and her team, who are looking to upset Australia, having fallen short in each of their eight previous meetings. A rare opportunity to make it a treble of titles for West Indies at global tournaments this year – their U-19 team won the World Cup in Bangladesh – should fire them up.Taylor, Deandra Dottin and Merissa Aguilleira have been the torchbearers for West Indies since the tournament’s inception in 2009. Taylor has even been upfront about how their domestic structure lacks depth and they have had to make do with a limited talent pool. Considering those constraints, the team management would be delighted at having unearthed two players for the future in Hayley Matthews and Britney Cooper, who struck a crucial maiden half-century in the semi-final.For Australia, the World T20 is simply a culmination of their summer that began with the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League, which allowed a lot of their players the best possible match preparation leading into the tournament. A T20I series loss against India offered them an opportunity to rectify creaking areas. While the top-order batsmen took their time to find their bearings on slow surfaces in India, disciplined batting efforts against Sri Lanka and Ireland, followed by a combined show of strength spearheaded by their captain Meg Lanning against England in the semi-final, points to a unit brimming with confidence.While the batting of both sides has the X-factor that could take the surface out of the equation, Australia seem well rounded in the bowling department. Ellyse Perry, their spearhead, has not had a campaign to remember, but in Megan Schutt and Rene Farrell, they have pacers, whose incisive deliveries upfront and variations at the death have been tough to get away. In comparison, West Indies have relied often on Taylor and Dottin to bail them out, with the ball too. How successful they are in dismantling the Lanning threat will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the final.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: WWWLW
West Indies: WWLWWIn the spotlightBritney Cooper made her debut in 2009 and had played 44 T20Is without scoring a half-century. While being shunted up and down the batting order may have not helped, that she was presented with opportunities to play was not lost on anyone. In what was seen as a gamble, Cooper was promoted ahead of accomplished batsmen like Dottin and Aguilleira in the semi-final against a New Zealand side on a rampage. She repaid the faith with a 48-ball 61. More than the runs, the manner in which she accrued them showed why power-hitting is West Indies’ stronger suit.That Australia are gunning for their fourth title is as much due to the efforts of Megan Schutt as it is because of Lanning. Three years ago, Schutt, just two ODIs old then, surprised many with her street-smart variations and subtle changes in length to play a key role in Australia’s World Cup triumph. Having been a constant since, she has stepped up every time Australia needed her to; her vital scalps of Tammy Beaumont and Katherine Brunt subdued England’s challenge in a tense semi-final.Teams newsWhile most teams would prefer a horses-for-courses approach, both sides are unlikely to tinker with their winning combinations, considering they have bowlers of all kinds for what is largely expected to be a belter of a surface. Australia (probable) 1 Elyse Villani. 2 Alyssa Healy 3 Meg Lanning 4 Ellyse Perry 5 Alex Blackwell 6 Jess Jonassen 7 Beth Mooney 8 Erin Osborne 9 Megan Schutt 10 Rene Farrell 11 Kristen Beams West Indies (probable) 1 Stafanie Taylor 2 Hayley Matthews 3 Britney Cooper 4 Shaquana Quintyne 5 Deandra Dottin 6 Stacy-Ann King 7 Shemaine Campbelle 8 Merissa Aguilleira 9 Shamilia Connell 10 Afy Fletcher 11 Anisa MohammedPitch and conditionsThe final will be the first women’s game at Eden Gardens this tournament, but if the league stage of the men’s competition is an indicator, there will be turn on offer, although not to the extent that was seen in the game between India and Pakistan. A 2pm start means there will be no dew, and the toss is unlikely to have that big an impact on the result.Stats and trivia The only time both sides have met in the final of a global event was at the 2013 World Cup in Mumbai, where Australia were runaway winners, by 114 runs Australia are unbeaten in T20Is against West Indies, with their head-to-head record an impressive 8-0 Stafanie Taylor is the leading run-getter among the players who will feature in the final. She has made 187 runs in five innings, with scores of 40, 40, 35, 47 and 25. She is also the leading wicket-taker among both sides in this tournament.Quotes”The men’s team has been very successful in the past couple of years. I think they’ve shown in Tests and by winning the World Cup as well. They’ve played some good cricket, but couldn’t quite get over the line. Virat Kohli took it away from us. We’re certainly not competing with them.””We’ll definitely have a ‘Champion’ dance. Dwayne Bravo said to us that we’re not doing it enough. Tomorrow, if we do win, we’re going to do it a lot.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly agreed to a proposal from the England & Wales Cricket Board to implement a points system for their tour of England later this summer

Andrew Miller29-Apr-20163:44

Can a multi-format points system work?

The Pakistan Cricket Board has joined Sri Lanka Cricket in agreeing in principle to a proposal from the England & Wales Cricket Board to implement a points system for their tours of England later this summer.The PCB have given their blessing to the same suggestion that was put to SLC earlier this month, ahead of their own tour of England in May and June. The idea comes in the wake of the successful implementation of a similar system for the last three Women’s Ashes contests.Pakistan are due to play four Tests, five ODIs and a one-off T20I on their two-month tour from July to September, with the suggestion being that four points should be available for each Test victory and two points for the limited-overs contests.That would tally with the weighting given in last summer’s Women’s Ashes, which Australia won by 10 points to six.Initially six points had been on offer for the one-off Test match in the Women’s Ashes, but that figure was reduced to four after the 2013-14 series in Australia, in which England retained the Ashes after winning the Perth Test despite losing both of the limited-overs series 2-1.With a possible 28 points to be made available over the course of the ten fixtures in Pakistan’s tour, but with the Tests due to be played first, a 4-0 clean sweep for either team would be enough to secure 16 points and, with it, the series.The proposal has met with a mixed response from England’s cricketers, particularly those who might expect to play a part in all three formats.”Whatever it is, it’s going to make it extremely competitive and it might bring all three formats together a little bit more,” said Joe Root during an Investec golf day last week.However, his team-mate Ben Stokes was less enamoured, particularly by the suggestion that the idea might eventually be rolled out to the men’s Ashes.”I think it would be rubbish,” he said. “They’ve changed a lot of things, but Ashes is Ashes, it’s a massive series for England and Australia and I don’t see why it should get changed.”People who watch the game and follow the game, especially in the Ashes, would get a little bit like ‘why are we doing this?’ and I’d probably be in the same boat.”An ECB spokesman confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the prospect of a points system was taking shape.”We have received an agreement in principle from the boards of both Sri Lanka and Pakistan and will release further details of the proposal in due course.”4.30pm BST: This article was updated with a response from the ECB

It was a harum-scarum day: cricket straight from the Brendon McCullum school, as the cliché du jour would have it. After 439 runs and 12 wickets it was a little hard what to make of it all.

Tim Wigmore at Guildford16-Jun-2015
ScorecardGraham Wagg led a superb Glamorgan fightback•Getty ImagesRegardless of any restructuring of the County Championship, Surrey have made their commitment to the Woodbridge Road ground at Guildford palpable. 800 permanent seats were put up in the close-season here and the rather ramshackle old pavilion should be next. Surrey hope renovation will be complete by 2017 when, with The Oval hosting five Champions Trophy games, Guildford could even be awarded two first-class matches.As Zafar Ansari compiled his austere 91 on a rather genteel opening day there was copious time to admire Guildford’s protruding sycamore trees. But Ansari’s dismissal to the seventh ball of the second day, trapped on the crease by Michael Hogan, was the prelude to a harum-scarum day: cricket straight from the Brendon McCullum school, as the cliché du jour would have it. After 439 runs and 12 wickets it was a little hard what to make of it all. There was even time for a six because of overthrows.Those runs were gifted rather generously to Graham Wagg. Still, they were well earned for the entertainment he provided spectators at Surrey’s 77th game here. Entering the crease at 106 for 6, perhaps a little perturbed about his demotion in the batting order to grant greater opportunity to Craig Meschede, Wagg arrived brimming with intent. He smited anything short, drove with purpose through the offside and attacked spin with particular relish, striking two emphatic straight sixes off Ansari. The upshot was a chanceless 99-ball century – though Arun Harinath shelled a very sharp return catch a few balls later – as Wagg resurrected Glamorgan’s innings in partnership with Mark Wallace. The two harried the fielders at every turn in their aggressive running between the wickets in adding 152 in 26.3 overs.”It was fantastic. Mark and I tried to take the initiative to the bowlers,” Wagg said. “The game is moving forward and forward and as players we have to adapt to that.”If McCullum was watching in preparation for New Zealand’s next ODI, he would have been proud at the sight of Wallace, showing no regard for the leg slip poised, reverse-sweeping with impunity. Wallace’s innings would have made for a worthy first century of the season, but he fell eight runs shy after playing around a straight one from Tom Curran.Still, the partnership had transformed the complexion of the match after Glamorgan had been in a fine mess at 30 for 4: a position from which Surrey sensed ending their winless run at Guildford, which now extends to 13 years. Curran and Chris Tremlett both bowled with hostility and vim, extracting good lift from a fine wicket: it still provides full value for shots, but now ensures a more even contest between bat and ball. Both opening bowlers got deliveries to hurry onto the batsmen, with devastating effect: Jacques Rudolph, Glamorgan’s captain and talisman, played on against Curran, while Chris Cooke was bowled as the ball bounced down from his bat, raised to leave Tremlett’s delivery alone.Colin Ingram provided an enterprising riposte, driving with ferocity and pulling a flat six off Curran. It must have been enough to remind Surrey of his 91 at The Oval in a T20 game last month, so it was a matter of considerable relief to the hosts when he edged an outswinger from Aneesh Kapil to Vikram Solanki at slip. Still, Ingram had shown his colleagues the way, and Glamorgan only diverged from it in the final hour of the day, as Wagg and Andrew Salter accumulated 13 runs from 13 overs. If everyone was a bit exhausted, they could be forgiven as much on a day that did not end until 6.45pm.Much earlier in the day, Surrey had already contributed plenty of exhilarating hitting of their own. Curran already looks rather too good a player to come in at No. 9, and he was bumped down a further spot because of Surrey’s use of a nightwatchman. After 60 at Grace Road, his maiden first-class half-century, Curran amassed 45 here, including three consecutive boundaries off David Lloyd: an uppercut through point, a drive through extra-cover and a cut along the ground. With Gary Wilson typically resourceful, Chris Tremlett twice harrumphed Salter’s offspin for a huge straight six. As Surrey passed 400, their only regret was their intent had come a little late, so they were restricted to three batting points.Underpinning this frenetic but hugely enjoyable day was a feeling – in the best sense – of how little it all mattered. What was really important was the news that Moises Henriques was discharged from hospital, after Rory Burns had been the previous day. Curran captured the mood: “It was a horrible incident. To have them both all in one piece is really good news.”

Tanwir Afzal named captain as Hong Kong announce squad for 2015-16 season and ICC World T20 qualifiers

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2015Fast-bowling allrounder Tanwir Afzal has been named captain of Hong Kong and allrounder Mark Chapman Afzal’s deputy for the upcoming ICC World T20 qualifiers. Afzal replaced Jamie Atkinson who resigned from the post earlier this month. .Squad for the ICC World T20 qualifiers

Tanwir Afzal (capt), Mark Chapman (vc), Aizaz Khan, Anas Khan, Anshuman Rath, Babar Hayat, Ehsan Nawaz, Haseeb Amjad, Irfan Ahmed, Jamie Atkinson(wk), Kinchit Shah, Nadeem Ahmed, Nizakat Khan, Waqas Barkat, Waqas Khan

“The selectors have had a tough job, however, this would have to be one of the strongest squads we have ever had,” Charlie Burke, the director of Hong Kong cricket, said. “The T20 format best suited us and I’m confident that we will qualify for the World Twenty20 again. The tournament requires us to play our best cricket from the first match, hence we are going to the venues earlier to prepare and get the right balance in the team.””It’s great to have the likes of Anshuman (Rath), Chappy (Mark Chapman) and Kinchit (Shah) back as they are quality batsmen and very good fielders. The focus for the coming weeks will be fielding and game plans.”Hong Kong are drawn in Group A and will play Ireland, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, USA and Jersey. The top four teams in each of the two groups will progress to the quarter finals, and the top six qualify for the group stages of the ICC World Twenty 20 to be held in India in 2016.The HKCA have also announced the full squad for the 2015-16 season and named seven development playersThe full squad: Tanwir Afzal (captain), Adil Mehmood, Aizaz Khan, Ali Skhawat, Anas Khan, Anshuman Rath, Baber Hayat, Ehsan Nawaz, Haseeb Amjad, Irfan Ahmed, Ishtiaq Muhammad, Jamie Atkinson, Kinchit Shah, Manjinder Singh, Mark Chapman, Nadeem Ahmed, Niraj Patwari, Nizakat Khan, Waqas Barkat, Waqas KhanDevelopment squad: Awais Mohammad, Cameron McAulsan, Giacomo Lamplough, Karan Shah, LI Kai Ming, Nick Way, Raag Kapur

A round-up of the latest round of the Logan Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2015A fine all-round performance from Bradley Wadlan helped Mid West Rhinos to a thumping innings win over Mashonaland Eagles. Wadlan, the 26-year-old Welshman, took seven wickets with his low left-armers and also made 47 as his side leapfrogged their opponents into second place in the Logan Cup table.Wadlan began his fine match with three lower-order wickets in Eagles’ first innings, helping fire them out for just 133 having been sent in. Carl Mumba led the attack with 5 for 27 – his first-class best figures. Wadlan then set about quickly establishing a lead for his side by sharing an opening stand of 62 with partner Bothwell Chapungu. Wadlan fell three short of a half-century but he helped provide a solid foundation for Vusi Sibanda to exploit.Sibanda, the Rhinos captain, made his 17th first-class century and, with a good helping hand from Tendai Chisoro who made 66 from No. 8, went through to 173 and a total of 392 that established a 259-run first-innings lead. Wadlan then re-entered the fray with four of the top six wickets in Eagles’ second innings, including Mark Pettini for 82 – the only significant score as Eagles struggled to get back into the match. They were bowled out for 233 to concede an innings defeat inside three days.

From being homeless, Rajasthan Royals have gone winless in no time. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, seem to have started getting it right, with their first-choice eleven finally available for selection

The Preview by Amol Karhadkar02-May-2015Match factsSunday, May 3, 2015
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)2:43

O’Brien: RR seem to have lost it after a good start

Big PictureFrom being homeless, Rajasthan Royals have gone winless in no time. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, seem to have started getting it right, with their first-choice eleven finally available for selection.After winning their first five matches of the season, Royals have failed to win any of their last five. With two of those games washed out, Royals have seen an addition of two points to their kitty. That has helped them retain their top-two standing. But with just four matches remaining, Royals would know they are running out of time to get back to winning ways.Delhi Daredevils have no such problems. After a slowish start, they have started appearing as a more consistent unit and have moved from the bottom of the pile into the Playoffs cut-off. A win against a higher-ranked team would bolster their chances to make the cut.It is supposed to be a home game for the Royals but the Brabourne Stadium will see its first game of the season. Royals may hold the edge, not just because of a strong presence of Mumbai players in their squad, but also due to the fact that they had a pre-tournament camp at Cricket Club of India. Delhi would also be far from alien to the conditions, with Mumbaikars Zaheer Khan, Shreyas Iyer and Pravin Amre being vital cogs in their set-up.Form guideRajasthan Royals LLLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Delhi Daredevils WLWLWWatch out for…It took him seven innings to score his first fifty of the season but Sanju Samson would still be cursing himself for having failed to see his team through against Mumbai Indians on Friday night. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been shuffled in the batting order as much as Steven Smith’s horizontal movement at the crease. Samson appeared comfortable at No. 3 and would look to build on his good form.Zaheer Khan was considered to be more of a bowling coach rather than being a player. But the injury-prone bowler made his presence felt in the first game he played for a year by dismissing Virender Sehwag off his second ball. If Zaheer can keep himself fit, Daredevils would have a lethal pace combo in him and an in-form Nathan Coulter-Nile.Stats and trivia Ajinkya Rahane is six runs shy of becoming the 20th batsman to tally 2000 IPL runs. With 1846 of his 1994 IPL runs having been scored for Royals, Rahane sits behind Shane Watson (2197 runs) in leading scorers for Royals in IPL. Amit Mishra needs one wicket to become the first bowler to earn 50 wickets for Delhi Daredevils in IPL. Rajasthan Royals are one win away from joining Chennai Super Kings (75) and Mumbai Indians (60) to join the 60-win club in IPL.Quotes”In our team even if you don’t do well you can see so many people coming to you and talking positive things to you.””We now have to win 4 out of the remaining 6 games. That’s how we are looking at it.”

Shardul Thakur’s bowling effort kept Mumbai alive in the Ranji Trophy with a thumping 169-run win over Baroda

The Report by Amol Karhadkar in Vadodara 01-Feb-2015
Scorecard Shardul Thakur inspired Mumbai to a win with his fourth five-for of the season•PTI Baroda found no answer to Shardul Thakur’s pace as he helped Mumbai cruise to a 169-run victory on the last day of their must-win Group A match at the Moti Bagh stadium.The six points Mumbai earned kept their Ranji campaign alive.Thakur’s five-for – his fourth of the season – meant Mumbai bowled Baroda out for 238, a little over an hour into the second session and well short of the target of 408.A 20-over old ball did not have much shine but Thakur and Balwinder Sandhu ran in hard when play began. Thakur bowled a couple of bouncers at Deepak Hooda, one of them thudding into the batsman’s chest. In his next over, Thakur beat Hooda for pace and had him caught behind for 32, though the umpire’s decision did not please Hooda.Yusuf Pathan tried an extravagant cut off Sandhu and was caught sharply by Shreyas Iyer at gully. Akshay Girap dismissed Irfan Pathan and Saurabh Wakaskar for 48 to leave Baroda at 116 for 6.Thakur ready for Tests – Mongia

Baroda chief selector Nayan Mongia personally congratulated Shardul Thakur for his effort in the match. So impressed was the former India wicketkeeper that he said Thakur was ready for Test cricket based on current form.
“If I were to be a selector and I was to select a team for a Test match right now, I would include him in the team right away,” Mongia said. “His pace, his attitude, his dedication, his intensity and his discipline convinces me that he is ready.”
All of Thakur’s four five-wicket hauls this season have come playing away from home. Mumbai would be hoping for a similar effort from him at home when they meet Karnataka at Wankhede Stadium.

Kedar Devdhar couldn’t bat any earlier than No. 7 after being hit on the helmet yesterday and going off the field. He showed no signs of the blow though and started playing his trademark drives, but there was always a danger of running out of partners.Thakur was used in short bursts, and in a spell that read 7-2-10-3 he rattled the Baroda lower order. Swapnil Singh, having survived almost an hour going into lunch, was caught behind in the 63rd over, Pinal Shah was bowled in the 67th and Bhargav Bhatt was trapped plumb in front of the wicket in the 69th. The last two dismissals were classic cases of pushing the batsman back with quick short balls before undoing him with the fuller one. Overall, Thakur’s figures read 23-9-39-5Devdhar had been the lone bright spot for Baroda until Munaf Patel took the attack to the Mumbai spinners and gave the home crowd something to cheer about. His second first-class fifty came off just 27 balls and included five sixes. Two of those – lofted on-drives – might well be the biggest seen at Moti Bagh stadium to go with a one-handed six off Harmeet. But Munaf’s fun ended in the 78th over when he was caught at sweeper cover.