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Australia’s home international schedule for 2018-19 includes maiden Tests at the Perth Stadium and Canberra’s Manuka Oval, and an international debut for Gold Coast

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-2018

India will most likely not play a day-night Test during their 2018-19 tour of Australia. Cricket Australia still hopes the first Test in Adelaide, which is scheduled to start on December 6, will be a pink-ball, day-night game, but ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is not in favour of the idea and has made its position clear to the Australian board.CA announced the schedule of Australia’s home summer on Monday without confirming a start time for the Adelaide Test. Since November 2015, Adelaide has hosted one day-night Test every year.”It is our preference that we play India in a day-night Test match in Adelaide, but we are still working through this detail and hope to have an answer on this in the coming weeks,” chief executive James Sutherland said.Women’s international cricket will bookend the summer, with Australia playing three T20Is against New Zealand in September-October – which leads into the women’s World T20 in the West Indies in November – and then a three-match ODI series against the same opponents in February-March. In between, the Australia men’s team will host a South African limited-overs tour in October-November, and full international tours by India and Sri Lanka that stretch from mid-November to early February.Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Alistair Nicholson welcomed the increased scheduling of women’s cricket.”On the back of last years’ ground-breaking gender equitable MOU which the players fought for, it is right that our female team continues to get the exposure they deserve,” he said.”We have some of the best players in the world and I think the fans will appreciate the opportunity to see them on one of the biggest TV days of the year being AFL Grand Final night. Going forward the players are interested in exploring more long-form cricket opportunities, particularly after such a successful Ashes Test last year.”South Africa will play three ODIs from November 4 to 11, and a one-off T20 on November 17, which is the first ever international game at the Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast.India will begin their Australia tour with a three-match T20 series from November 21 to 25, and then play four Tests in Adelaide (December 6-10), Perth (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7). The newly built Perth Stadium will make its debut as a Test venue when it hosts the second Test.The Tests against India will be followed by three ODIs from January 12 to 18.Brisbane will host first Test against Sri Lanka, a confirmed day-night game, from January 24 to 28, and the Manuka Oval in Canberra – also a first-time Test venue – the second Test from February 1 to 5.CA has yet to confirm the dates of the domestic season, but it is likely to include an expanded Big Bash League season of 43 games. The 16-day gap between the fourth Test against India and the first Test against Sri Lanka – filled by only three ODIs – could give Australia’s international players a window to take part in as many BBL games as possible, while the tournament’s closing stages could be held after the end of the Test season.

West Ham United are eyeing the services of a supremely talented Arsenal youngster…

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, the Irons are one of the several sides who are interested in signing Folarin Balogun this summer.

This outlet reveals that Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Monaco are all also planning a swoop for the striker, with the French club said to be the most advanced in the race for his signature.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The Gunners are reportedly planning to complete £100m worth of sales before the end of the window and value Balogun at around £50m.

The 22-year-old was not named in the squad for the opening two games of the season as he looks destined for an imminent exit.

West Ham may accelerate their interest in the forward after Elye Wahi – who was reportedly a serious target for manager David Moyes – opted to join RC Lens instead.

Would Folarin Balogun be a good signing for West Ham?

It seems that the chance of Balogun staying at the Emirates Stadium beyond the 1st of September is minimal, as the £30k-per-week prodigy is deserving of consistent game time.

Unfortunately, at Arsenal, this doesn’t appear to be a possibility with Mikel Arteta possessing the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard.

But, Arsenal’s loss can be West Ham’s gain, as Balogun has emphatically demonstrated that he is a dangerous and profilic European focal point.

During a stirring breakout season whilst on loan at Reims over 2022 and 2023, Balogun netted 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games meaning he was the division’s fifth-highest scorer.

His impressive contribution was appreciated by Reims manager Will Still, who raved over Balogun’s quality and said:

“He is a super complete striker, he is able to play with his back to goal, in-depth. It is technically very clean. He scores, he is decisive.”

Despite not featuring in the Spaniard’s plans, Arteta has echoed this type of praise, and labelled the American’s time in France as “incredible” and feels he possesses “something special.”

From a West Ham perspective, this coup could the hierarchy quickly forget about their failure to sign Wahi.

The Guardian revealed the 2023 Europa Conference League winners admired the Frenchman’s strength, power, and pace, feeling he had the characteristics to succeed in Moyes’ counter-attacking system.

Coincidentally, Wahi’s style of play is likened to Balogun’s via FBref’s player comparison tool.

The latter outperforms the new Lens star for numerous attacking metrics, including shots per 90 (3.64 vs 2.27), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.3 vs 1.95), progressive passes per 90 (1.47 vs 0.9), and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.90 vs 4.61).

Meanwhile, Wahi narrowly outranks Balogun for progressive carries per 90 (2.19 vs 1.69) and successful take-ons per 90 (1.09 vs 1.02).

This set of statistics indicates there is minimal difference between these two gloriously effervescent players, and the disappointment of missing out on Wahi can be quickly rectified by the signing of Balogun, who is more than capable of leading the line for a Premier League outfit.

Sunderland secured their first three points of the season with a hard-fought victory over Rotherham on the weekend.

But, if the club is to mount another promotion push then they must bolster their attacking options. This campaign, the Wearside Giants have recorded 45 shots in three Championship outings, scoring just four times and losing twice.

Last season, the Black Cats were massively aided by the imperious form of Amad Diallo and seem to desperately miss his prolific nature in offensive sequences. The Ivorian was Sunderland’s top scorer with 14 goals, and they require a new player to replicate these heroics…

What’s the latest Sunderland transfer news?

According to journalist Alan Nixon (via his Patreon site), Sunderland are in the running to sign Crystal Palace’s Jerurun Rak-Sakyi.

There is a hotly contested race for the tricky winger, with league rivals Blackburn Rovers also said to be interested.

Would Jesurun Rak-Sakyi be a good signing for Sunderland?

Last term, the 20-year-old gem emphatically burst into national prominence thanks to a glorious loan spell at Charlton Athletic in League One.

Across 40 starts, Rak-Sakyi registered 15 goals and eight assists, and averaged 1.9 dribbles per game, ranking the highest in the squad for each metric.

Rak-Sakyi's ex-manager Ben Garner was mesmerised by his natural ability and end product, saying:

“He takes everything in his stride and has adapted very quickly to the challenges and physical demands of the game.

“His standout attribute is his wonderful balance and ability to change direction. He can beat people with his body movement. He can go both ways, finish off both feet, but he’s also got his eyes up and has vision. I worked with a lot of players in academy football who were fantastic dribblers but didn’t see movement around them. Jes can carry the ball but he’s got awareness.”

These numbers, coupled with the attacker’s impressive profile, mean he is resoundingly above third-tier level and a move to Sunderland could be perfect, given the limited opportunity he is being afforded at Selhurst Park.

The joyous technician has been at Crystal Palace since 2019 but has only mustered three senior appearances, totalling just 87 minutes. He was an unused substitute in the loss to Arsenal on Monday evening and has been unable to forge any notable game time, despite the injury to Michael Olise.

Therefore, the Stadium of Light could be the perfect destination for Rak-Sakyi, whose right-wing berth is missing the indomitable Diallo, who was magnificent in his brief spell in Wearside.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman was full of adulation for the Manchester United loanee and said:

“Amad's performances in the games – not just with the ball but some of his defensive work, his energy, his pressing – the way he has taken to the supporters, he's absolutely bought in to what we required of him.”

Rak-Sakyi is more than capable of repeating Diallo’s magic and has already shown his glistening potential when awarded with trust.

Meanwile, current Addicks boss Dean Holden has described the 5 foot 10 livewire as a “fantastic” young player, who is “dedicated, professional, and diligent.”

With this mentality and talent, he could be a monumentally useful asset for Sunderland and the driving force of another promotion challenge.

The two boards are yet to confirm the dates and venue of the match, but India are likely to host it before they leave for their tour of Australia in late 2018

Nagraj Gollapudi11-Dec-2017Afghanistan will play their inaugural Test match against India in 2018. Rahul Johri, the BCCI chief executive officer, confirmed that India would host Afghanistan, and that the two boards would work out the venue and the dates shortly.Since being inducted as an ICC Full Member in June, alongside Ireland, Afghanistan have been looking for an opponent to play their maiden Test match against.Ireland have already confirmed that they will play their first Test against Pakistan in May 2018.Afghanistan will become the fourth side to play their first Test against India•ESPNcricinfo LtdInitially, Zimbabwe were scheduled to play Afghanistan in the UAE before travelling to Bangladesh early next year. However, Zimbabwe Cricket informed the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) that it wanted to focus on the World Cup Qualfiers in March and therefore not increase its players’ workload.This October the ACB, led by its chairman Atif Mashal and CEO Shafiqullah Stanikzai, met Johri in Mumbai, requesting India to consider playing against Afghanistan. “The ACB requested us to play their first Test match,” Johri said, after attending the BCCI’s special general meeting in Delhi on Monday. “The BCCI has agreed.”It is understood that both boards will meet in a week’s time in Dubai to finalise the schedule. With India travelling overseas for most of 2018, the Afghanistan Test is likely to be scheduled ahead of India’s trip to Australia in late 2018.For the moment, the ACB is excited. “It will be a historic Test match,” Stanikzai said. “We would like to thank the BCCI for granting this opportunity to us and accepting our request.”

Spanning ten rounds, the Regional Four-Day Championship will have six regional franchises playing each other home and away, and West Indies’ selectors are on the look out for talent

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2017

Consistent batsmen and fast bowlers clocking more than 80mph are on the West Indies selectors’ wish list when the Regional Four-Day Championship begins on October 26.”Finding a few consistent batsmen is important, but what is also key for us is to unearth some young fast bowlers, so that we can add to the pool that we currently have, especially players that can clock in the high 80 to 90 mph range,” Courtney Browne, chairman of the Cricket West Indies selection panel, said. “So this upcoming regional season is key for players. There is an upcoming tour to the Caribbean by the England Lions early next year and such a high-profile ‘A’ Team tour has not happened in a number of years. It is where our players can showcase their talent and we can identify players for selection to our ‘A’ Team.”Spanning ten rounds, the Regional Four-Day Championship will have six regional franchises playing each other home and away. The teams are: Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Windward Islands Volcanoes.Browne urged the players to focus on fitness and consistency in performance, should they harbour hopes of retaining their place, or breaking into, the West Indies side.”We would also like to urge players to work on their fitness and aim at achieving the fitness levels expected as our international teams have ramped up their fitness and conditioning work,” Browne said. “There are cases where players do perform and may not make it into the senior team as quickly as persons expect.”If there are players in the senior team that are already there, they have to be given a full opportunity and the emerging player will have to wait a bit longer than usual, rather than the chopping and changing approach. But we would urge them to continue to strive for consistency and show it over a longer period and not a one-off performance.”The tournament will be played in three phases – from October 26 to January 21 – with all matches starting on a Thursday. Six matches will be played with a pink ball under lights.”As selectors, we are happy with the length of the season,” Browne said. “We believe 10 matches in the #D4Day [the four-day championship] is a good yardstick for the players and for us.”

West Ham United currently have Arsenal's American forward Folarin Balogun on their "radar" this summer and would want to be part of any "conversation" with the Gunners should they wish to sell him, claims journalist Alex Crook.

Is Folarin Balogun joining West Ham United this summer?

The Hammers have had a strange transfer window this summer, as despite making a massive profit on their club captain Declan Rice, thanks to a £105m offer from Arsenal, they are yet to make a single signing in the window.

So far, they have made several bids for players across the country, such as Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, Manchester United's Harry Maguire, and Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, only to see each one rejected in turn.

And they now look likely to lose their Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca – who only arrived last year- to Serie A giants Inter Milan, meaning they'll need to add a new goalscorer onto their shopping list this summer.

Read the latest West Ham United transfer news HERE…

And according to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, they might've identified a new potential target for that position, Arsenal's promising youngster Balogun. However, the issue, as it is for most transfers, is the price, with the Gunners valuing the youngster at £45m and some within the club wanting £50m as a minimum.

That said, while it does look like the New York-born prospect will be moving on this year, there is a chance he remains for a little while longer following the injury to Gabriel Jesus earlier this week, but should the North Londoners press on with a sale, West Ham "want to be a part of that conversation", per Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on TalkSport, with the clip being posted to their YouTube Channel:

"One player we believe is on West Ham's radar is the Arsenal Striker Folarin Balogun. He had such a good season in the French League last year. Will he get the opportunity at Arsenal?

"Well he might you know because Gabriel Jesus is injured for the start of the season but if they are open to offers, West Ham will want to be part of that conversation I'm told."

Would Folarin Balogun be a good signing for West Ham?

While the east Londoners were able to pull themselves out of a potential relegation scrap earlier than the year before last season, they were still in a perilous position for much of the campaign, and one of the reasons for that is their lack of goals.

Across the entire season last year, the club scored just 42 goals, with only seven teams scoring less than them; even the relegated Leeds United and Leicester City found the back of the net more often than David Moyes' side.

Unsurprisingly, the individual scoring statistics aren't much better, with Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma ending the year as the Hammer's league top scorers on a paltry six goals a piece and Michail Antonio following close behind with just five.

From looking at these numbers, it's easy to see just how Balogun could dramatically improve the side's overall attacking performance.

In just 34 Ligue 1 starts for Stade Reims, the 22-year-old "golden" talent, as described by scout Jacek Kulig, scored 21 goals, provided two assists and won four Man-of-the-Match awards, per WhoScored.

If the Irons lose Scamacca, as it looks like they might, Balogun could be the ideal replacement and dramatically improve their attacking output next year.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their efforts to bolster the club's ranks during the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, the Light Blues are one of the clubs interested in signing Sunderland attacker Tom Watson to improve their academy options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Teddy Bears boss Michael Beale is eyeing up a swoop for the 17-year-old marksman alongside a number of unnamed Premier League sides, who have been alerted to the player's contract situation.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

The report claims that the talented starlet is now in the final year of his deal at the Stadium of Light and talks have stalled over an extension with Tony Mowbray's side, which has opened the door for the Gers to move in.

He is yet to put pen to paper on a professional deal with the Black Cats and this means that Beale would be able to sign him for a 'minimal' fee due to it being a cross-border switch.

How many goals did Tom Watson score last season?

The exciting young forward reportedly struck 13 goals at U18 level and chipped in with two goals in seven appearances for Sunderland's U21 outfit as he made the step up towards the end of the campaign.

Watson's impressive progression at such a young age suggests that the dynamo has the potential to be Zak Lovelace 2.0 for the Light Blues.

His compatriot joined the Gers from Championship side Millwall last summer, at the age of just 16, and enjoyed a phenomenal debut campaign in Scotland.

The 17-year-old prodigy plundered 18 goals and ten assists across 36 academy appearances, which earned him a first-team debut against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership in May.

Lovelace showcased his versatility across the frontline during the 2022/23 season as he played at least five matches as a right winger, left winger, and as a centre-forward. This makes his return in front of goal all the more impressive as the prolific finisher maintained consistent form despite being deployed in different areas of the pitch.

Watson, meanwhile, has played in all three of the aforementioned positions for Sunderland's academy over the years and displayed his ability to score and create goals.

The Black Cats teen scored seven goals and assisted nine in 20 league appearances at U18 and U21 level combined last term, which caught Mowbray's eye as the English manager decided to reward him with a first-team bow against Huddersfield in the Championship in April.

These statistics show that the emerging hotshot, who scored eight goals in 19 U18 league matches throughout the 2021/22 campaign, is a versatile attacker who can contribute with goals and assists on a regular basis, like Lovelace.

Watson, who was hailed as "inventive" by journalist Josh Bunting, has clearly shown enough promise to attract interest from Rangers and the Scottish giants must now push to win the race for his signature.

The England U17 international could be Lovelace 2.0 for the Light Blues if he is able to adapt to life in Scotland in the same way that the ex-Lions prodigy did last season, which could leave Beale with two terrific young prospects with the potential to break into his first-team over the years to come.

Kings XI Punjab find themselves in a complex qualification battle; but their fate will depend on how they take charge of the controllable factors

The Preview by Varun Shetty08-May-2017Match factsKings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders
Mohali, May 9, 2017
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)4:18

KKR’s brave strategic punts paying off

Head-to-headOverall: Kolkata Knight Riders command a comprehensive 14-6 lead over Kings XI Punjab. Knight Riders have won eight games in a row against Kings XI since 2014.This season: Sunil Narine’s Powerplay blitz, followed by Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 72, helped Knight Riders chase down 171 with eight wickets in hand and 21 balls to spare.Form guide

Kings XI Punjab (fifth): lost to Gujarat Lions by 6 wickets, defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs, defeated Delhi Daredevils by 10 wickets
Kolkata Knight Riders (second): defeated Royal Challengers by 6 wickets, lost to Rising Pune by 4 wickets, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 48 runs

In the newsKings XI will be without Hashim Amla, who scored his second century of the season on Sunday. Amla and David Miller have left for national duties. Either allrounder Darren Sammy or fast bowler Matt Henry is likely to replace Amla, considering Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis was ruled out of the IPL with a shoulder injury last week.Robin Uthappa is still being monitored by the Knight Riders medical staff. There’s no confirmation on whether fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile will be available for selection either.Qualification scenarioFor Kings XI to make the top four, they will need to win their remaining three games, and then hope that other results go their way. If Sunrisers lose their remaining fixture against Gujarat Lions, then Kings XI will make the cut with 16 points, but Rising Pune could also be pushed out if they lose their remaining two matches and Sunrisers win their last game. Rising Pune have a NRR of -0.060 compared to Kings XI’s 0.242, so any situation that comes down to run rates will clearly favour Kings XI.Knight Riders are tied on 16 points with Rising Pune Supergiant, and are in second place by virtue of a better net run-rate. A win will help them create a two-point gap in the battle for a spot in the first qualifier.The likely XIsKings XI Punjab: 1 Manan Vohra, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Gurkeerat Singh, 6 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 Matt Henry/Darren Sammy, 9 Mohit Sharma, 10 Varun Aaron/T Natarajan, 11 Sandeep SharmaKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 4 Robin Uthappa/Sheldon Jackson (wk), 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Suryakumar Yadav, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Kuldeep YadavStrategy puntGlenn Maxwell might bowl with the new ball if Sunil Narine opens the batting again – he has conceded only 26 runs in 31 balls against the left-hander in previous meetings, and has dismissed him twice.However, when he had brought himself on in the Powerplay against Knight Riders in their last meeting, he was taken for 18 runs. To avoid an encore, Varun Aaron’s pace and bounce could be utilised instead.Stats that matter Wriddhiman Saha (11.25 in eight innings) has the second-worst average among batsmen who’ve played more than five innings in the top seven. He is led and trailed by Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Shane Watson (11.16 in six innings) and Knight Riders’ Colin de Grandhomme (14.33 in six) respectively. Kings XI’s recent success is down to drastic improvements in bowling: in the first six games, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma and Axar Patel had taken 15 wickets at an economy of 8.71 and an average of 38.06. In the last five, they’ve taken 23 wickets with an economy of 7.48 and an average of 16.00. Glenn Maxwell has also chipped in to Kings XI’s improved bowling – he has taken six wickets at an economy of 5.92 in their last five games. Gautam Gambhir has hit Maxwell for 42 runs from 24 balls. Maxwell has been dismissed thrice by Umesh Yadav in 19 balls, and twice by Narine in 31 balls. He scores at less than a run-a-ball against both of them.

Kusal Mendis said the prospect of raising his average from the low 30s, and the goal of being among the world’s best batsmen, provided motivation to hit a big score on the first day in Galle.Like many in the Sri Lanka top order, Mendis endured an awful tour of South Africa in which he struck only one Test fifty and averaged 23.00 across six innings. That series was preceded by a lean run in Zimbabwe, where he averaged 19.75.His first Test knock at home in six months brought more luck. He edged his first ball to the wicketkeeper but was reprieved when the bowler was shown to have overstepped on review. From there, he played a largely chanceless innings and, thanks to being 166 not out at the close, his average has risen to 37.70. It will not drop below 35 even if he gets out first ball on day two.”When I played Australia at home, I had an average of about 42, but then it deteriorated little by little,” Mendis said. “People told me it’s hard to push it back above 30 if it goes below that. After I failed in South Africa, I wanted to get it back above 35, and you need a big innings to do that. People told me that when you get set, make sure you hit a big innings. I want to be among the best ten batsmen in the world, and to get my average to 40 or 45 eventually.”The return to form was not down to a specific technical change, Mendis said, though perhaps the early reprieve did help. In previous innings, Mendis has been out driving loosely, but following that first shot, he was largely watchful through the first session. Only later in the day did he adopt the positive approach that is more familiar to his game.”I practised hard after Zimbabwe and South Africa,” he said. “The coaches, senior players and captains all told me that I can handle this level – they didn’t put much pressure on me despite my failures. I corrected my backlift a bit after watching previous videos, but there weren’t any major changes. Those little things I tried to change.”I must have played a bad shot to get out first ball, but I was keen to stay there for the team after that.”Mendis’ 196-run partnership with Asela Gunaratne was instrumental to Sri Lanka’s strong position in the match. The two had come together with the score on 92 for 3, and batted with freedom over 43 overs to transform the game’s outlook.”Asela’s in really good form after doing well in the Australia series. I had a feeling he’d get a good score, given the way he was playing. When he was at the other end, it became easier for me as well. At one time, he batted well at the other end and took the pressure off me when I was feeling a bit tired. Unfortunately he got out towards the end of the day. It was easy to bat with him.”While Galle can often be a spin-bowling paradise, so far this surface has been as lifeless as any seen at the venue over the past three years. The previous Test here, against Australia, ended in two-and-a-half days, though Mendis was also impressive in that game, top-scoring with 86.”Last year when we played Australia here, the ball really turned,” Mendis said. “This time it’s easier for the batsmen, and it won’t be a big difference tomorrow – maybe late in the day the ball will spin a bit more. The wicket does seem hard though, so it’s hard to predict what will happen.”

ضاعف فريق برشلونة تقدمه أمام نظيره أتلتيكو مدريد، في مباراتهما الجارية حاليًا، في بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويستضيف أتلتيكو مدريد خصمه برشلونة، على ملعب “ميتروبوليتانو” في إطار لقاءات الجولة التاسعة والعشرين من الليجا 2023/24.

ونجح برشلونة في تسجيل الهدف الثاني مع بداية الشوط الثاني، وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 47، عن طريق البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي.

الهدف جاء بعد تمريرة من رافينها، حيث وصلت الكرة إلى ليفاندوفسكي الذي سددها بطريقة أكثر من رائعة في شباك لينو. هدف ليفاندوفسكي أمام أتلتيكو مدريد

كان جواو فيليكس قد تقدم بالهدف الأول لصالح الضيوف، في الدقيقة 38 من الشوط الأول.