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Australia allrounder keen to don London Spirit colours after pulling out of last year’s competition

Vithushan Ehantharajah03-Aug-2022On Thursday evening, playing against Oval Invincibles at the Kia Oval, Glenn Maxwell will finally add London Spirit to the list of teams he has graced on the lucrative short-form circuit.It has been a long time coming, or perhaps not long at all if you’re on Maxwell’s “tick follows tock” schedule of franchise tournament into international duty and back into franchise tournament again, where time moves that little bit quicker. He was one of the most sought-after names ahead of the original draft at the end of the 2019 summer, then one of the many overseas withdrawals for the inaugural season in 2021.But as the £100,000-man sits on the pavilion benches at Lord’s, looking out on the historic ground he will call home for four games before returning to Australia for their white-ball series with Zimbabwe, he appreciates where he is in this moment. “I’m not sure you get a better venue for an interview, do you? This is as good as it gets.”Related

• Southern Brave have 'no excuses' after Will Smeed, Will Jacks centuries leave title defence on line

• Glenn Maxwell still hungry to succeed in Test cricket

• Last summer, it was all fun and frolics – now comes the real test for the Hundred

• 'Going to keep seniors on toes' – Moeen cherishes pressure of intense competition

• Bairstow out of the Hundred after opting for rest

Amid the excitement of his first taste of the Hundred, there is a tinge of sadness that the man who brought him here is no longer around. Prior to the draft three years ago, Shane Warne had been buttering up Maxwell – not that the 33-year-old needed much convincing to spend a few weeks of the summer in the capital.”When the draft happened, I wasn’t sure who I was going to go to, but as soon as I was picked up to London I was basically on the phone to Warnie pretty much nonstop,” Maxwell says. “Trying to work out the team and all that sort of stuff. Different combinations.”Warne, who died suddenly in March, had a rough time as Spirit head coach last summer, ruled out of a chunk of games after contracting Covid-19 at the start. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm remained undimmed. Warne had spent the winter planning on springing a surprise on the rest after finishing bottom in the regular season, with Maxwell central to his plans to make amends.”He said it was an amazing tournament to be a part of and all he was talking about after last year was ‘oh next year we’re going to get it right, it’s fine, you’ll be coming over’. The excitement in his voice, he spoke really passionately about it and, yeah, he loves this team.”He loved being able to almost brag about coaching the team playing at Lord’s, which was always quite funny. Being in the heart of London suited his lifestyle, he absolutely loved it here.”Much like Rajasthan Royals in this year’s IPL, then Hampshire in the Vitality Blast, the legendary Australian will be in Spirit’s thoughts as they go through their second campaign under new head coach Trevor Bayliss. Maxwell also hopes Warne will be able to have family representation at the odd game: “I got to see Jackson [Warne’s oldest child] the other day. It’s nice to see him over here and hopefully he can get to a game and see the boys play. I know he [Shane] would have loved to have been here.”Perhaps the surprising element to all this is the emotional attachment to a team he hasn’t even played for. Most of that is Warne, of course: the pair were thick as thieves, with plenty in common beyond being avid St Kilda supporters. But part of being Glenn Maxwell is knowing you need to be Glenn Maxwell when a tournament of this billing comes calling.

“I’ve got a long nine months on the road so it’s about getting my body right. Being able to be injury free for all that time is going to be key. Especially the wrong side of 30, you have to do all the right things”

There is little doubt the Hundred needs Maxwell more than he needs it, particularly with high-profile England Test players such as Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow resting from season two. But the challenge of a new environment, conditions and an altogether different format is exactly what he’s after as he begins his step-up in preparations for the home Twenty20 World Cup awaiting him in October. In turn, the competition, even for those four rounds, should benefit.”I think me personally, I’m trying to get my own preparation done for the World Cup. That’s my whole game at the moment, is gearing towards that T20 World Cup. I’ll use these conditions and the quality of teams and players in all those teams to hopefully get myself prepared. I know I’m only here for a short period of time but I’m going to be training with a goal in mind to be ready for that T20 World Cup.”I still think this is an exciting new tournament that I wanted to be involved in anyway. Even if there wasn’t a World Cup I’m still going to approach the game as I do every other game. It’s more the off-field stuff, I’m starting to prepare longer down the road.”A best-ever Big Bash League season, with 468 runs at an average of 42.54 for Melbourne Stars, was followed by a middling IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore (301 across 13 innings and just one half-century), though his wedding during the early stages of the competition puts that in perspective. Then came a tour of Sri Lanka where, following ODI and T20I series, he came agonisingly close to a first Test cap since September 2017.And yet it is what lies ahead that Maxwell regards as a tougher period. Hence why the Hundred will be the start of his tuning up with a packed home summer on the horizon.”I’ve got a long nine months on the road so it’s about getting my body right. Being able to be injury free for all that time is going to be key. Especially the wrong side of 30, you have to do all the right things around your training and it’s certainly one of the things I’ve been working really hard at, to keep that consistency of training going and consistency of gym work to make sure I do stay injury free. And I know that’ll help in the back end of my career as well.”The card for all short-format cricketers is only growing, with the lucrative new UAE T20 league and South Africa’s own big-money offering, which are due to sandwich the BBL. As a contracted player with Cricket Australia – for the time being – organising his calendar is that little bit easier given they are his primary employer. But he has sympathy for those now spoilt for choice but having to sort their own path during what is both an exciting time for T20 cricketers but more precarious for those with irons in the fire elsewhere.”For the domestic player, there are so many opportunities all over the place,” he says. “Trying to organise your own schedule and pick and choose what you do left right and centre, that’ll be a nightmare. I’m probably going to be retiring at the right time in a few years – there are going to be T20 tournaments everywhere.”Maxwell is gearing his preparation towards Australia’s T20 World Cup defence•AFP/Getty ImagesThese next weeks in England should set him right. The lack of Covid-19 restrictions make it the best touring destination at the moment, a far cry from when Maxwell was last here at the end of the 2020 summer when he had and his Australia team-mates were kept to the bio-secure confines of the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford for their white-ball tour. When he arrived for this stint, he grabbed a beer and dinner with Bayliss, something he did not take for granted. “I remember a couple of years ago, you’d be silly to think ‘oh it’s an amazing effort to get to the pub and just have a drink and a meal.’ But it just felt like you were normal again.”As for getting down to business, he is armed with some ideas on the Hundred, fuelled by his own observations and what he has learned from conversations with other cricketers. All underpinned by a pretty crucial love for someone in his line of work – mathematics.”Well, one of the things that they did say [to look out for] was the countdown,” he says of runs required and balls remaining ticking down in the chase – a quirk that caught some off-guard.”I think that’s a good way of trying to do it because saying you need 12 an over and saying you need two a ball, it’s the same thing. But sometimes it can sort of mess with the batter’s head a little bit and they said they struggled with that last year and it’s something that you’ve gotta get used to. But that’s why maths is something that you have to learn.”Marnus [Labuschange] isn’t that good at maths and, as a cricket nuffie, it has to be one of those things that you just know. I used to work on my maths just by net run rates watching Australia play England in a one-dayer, and I’d be working it out on the screen before it came up anywhere. And that’s how you get better, that’s how you work on things, but to be able to look at the scoreboard and just go okay, I need this, saves you so much stress and time. Marnus is there like trying to carry the one…”Interestingly, one prospect he is unsure of is bowling 10 deliveries straight. Last season, captains left the same bowler on around 10% of the time, with spinners bowling 69% of the 10-ball sets. As an off spinner with street smarts and a quick turnaround, Maxwell is an ideal candidate for that tactic.”I prefer to get five and just get out of the way. Whenever I bowl an over, even in the Big Bash, I bowl my sixth ball and I run. I’m like, I’ve got away with that. So I’m not sure about bowling 10 balls in a row. I think, unless you get the match-up right and we can keep them on strike, as a standard offspinner with not too many tricks it’s going to be hard to get away with 10 balls in a row. If you can get five and then come back on another five balls later that might work but I just think you need that break as a standard spinner.”Perhaps at some point over these first four games his skipper Eoin Morgan will be able to convince him otherwise, especially as Spirit used the 10-ball option more than any other team. One thing is for sure, Maxwell’s presence in the Hundred will enhance both its intrigue and cache.

This account of the 13 years it took to become No. 1 – from Fletcher to Flower – is a must-read for fans of English cricket

Sam Collins09-Jun-2012For those with a royalist bent, much of this English week has been all about celebrating the past and looking to the future, so it seems appropriate to be discussing a book that is essentially a modern history of the men ruling English cricket. Steve James’ takes the reader through the 13 years it took England to rise from the bottom to the top of the world Test rankings between 1999 and 2011, while profiling the coaches, captains and administrators who effected the transformation. is most concerned with.James is a former Glamorgan (and briefly England) opening batsman who succeeded Michael Atherton as columnist for the . Ex-pros can be the subject of lazy generalisations when they move into the press box, but James’ quiet excellence, uncomplicated style and informed perspective make his Sunday column a “don’t-miss”, as one respected ex-correspondent put it to me. is more of the same.He was certainly in a unique position to write this book, having played under Fletcher at Glamorgan and ghosted two books for him, and been a friend of the Flower family for over 20 years. The author declares his hand at the start. Is the potential bias a problem? No – as befits a batsman with close to 50 first-class centuries, he is (almost) unerringly balanced. James is present throughout, breaking up the history lesson with his own memories and experiences of those involved. This is his story and he makes it compelling. I don’t fish, and I don’t think James does either, but I could imagine it being told over several easy afternoons on the river bank.Given the scope, James’ achievement is to make a 13-year summation digestible. He manages not to get drawn into the cricketing politics of the wider world, and was deliberately selective with those he interviewed (neither Fletcher nor Flower among those spoken to). The result is an unashamedly England-centric book that feels informed but never flooded. Running chronologically from the appointment of Fletcher and Nasser Hussain back in that miserable summer of ’99, through the periods of Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff, Peter Moores, and on to Andrew Strauss and Flower, very little is left untouched in James’ thorough analysis. He is at pains to be fair – never better illustrated than by his excellent dissection of Moores’ unfortunate time in charge.Amid the Diamond Jubilee hype, Moores stands as proof that successions are not always ideal, and with Flower and Strauss unlikely to last 60 years (James himself cannot see Flower lasting much longer) stage three of “The Plan” – if Fletcher was stage one and Flower stage two – could yet be the most important for the legacy. James observes how England have struggled to make the most of players in the last third of their international careers, and with an ageing core (Strauss 35, Swann 33, Pietersen 32 this month, Trott 31, Prior 30, Anderson 30 next month) it serves notice that the next few years will have to be handled carefully. Mick Newell of Nottinghamshire and Andy Hurry of Somerset are among those being monitored as Flower’s successor, but much depends on whether the Moores experience has scarred the board from appointing within the English system.There will be other pressures too. If , and one final word. James was the man handed Justin Langer’s Ashes dossier in 2009, and in scolding himself for his initial indifference to a genuine scoop, he neatly sums up what is a major strength of his own book. “What I was forgetting here was the thrill for the members of the public of being on the inside, however fleetingly; of suddenly being privy to thoughts and observations that are usually out of their reach. Every fan craves to be inside the dressing room”. Let James take you there.The Plan: How Fletcher and Flower Transformed English Cricket
by Steve James
Bantam Press

وجه مصطفى شوبير حارس مرمى فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي رسالة لزميله السابق بيرسي تاو بعد انتقاله إلى صفوف نادي قطر خلال الانتقالات الشتوية الجارية.

وانضم بيرسي تاو إلى صفوف نادي قطر، خلال الانتقالات الشتوية الجارية، بعد استمراره مع الأهلي لعدة مواسم محققًا 12 بطولة بقميص القلعة الحمراء.

وانضم بيرسي تاو إلى النادي الأهلي في بداية موسم 2021 قادمًا من نادي برايتون الإنجليزي، وخلال فترة تواجده مع الفريق، ساهم بشكل كبير في تحقيق العديد من الألقاب.

طالع | بيرسي تاو يوجه رسالة لجماهير الأهلي بعد رحيله رسميًا

وقال مصطفى شوبير عبر حسابه الشخصي على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “أنستجرام”: “عزيزي بيرسي تاو، أرغب أن أشكرك على كل شيء وكان شرفًا لي اللعب بجوار لاعب عظيم مثلك”.

وأكمل: “سأظل ممتنًا للنصائح التي قدمتها لي، وأتمنى لك كل التوفيق بخطوتك المقبلة وستظل دائمًا صديقاً وأخًا لي”.

ظهر هانز فليك، المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة، في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم استعدادًا لمباراة الأربعاء ضد أتلتيك بلباو في بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني.

ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات نصف نهائي كأس السوبر الإسباني 2025، البطولة التي ستُقام في المملكة العربية السعودية.

وقال فليك، في مؤتمر نشرته صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “اللعب ضد أتلتيك بلباو هو أمر صعب دائمًا، إنهم فريق جيد، لديهم لاعبون جيدون وفلسفة رائعة”.

وأضاف: “لمن دواعي سروري رؤيتهم يلعبون، لديهم لاعبون سريعون للغاية ويقومون بعمل جيد للغاية، ستكون مباراة جيدة، معنى التتويج بكأس السوبر بالنسبة لنا؟ نحن نركز على الطريقة التي نلعب بها، يجب أن نتحلى بالثقة، الجميع جاهزون”.

وأكد: “نحن نركز على مباراة الغد، للفوز بها، إذا فزنا بالألقاب فسيكون ذلك مهمًا للغاية بالنسبة لنا، نحن مستعدون لإظهار أننا جيدين”.

وفيما يخص أزمة الثنائي داني أولمو وباو فيكتور وفشل برشلونة في تسجيلهما حتى الآن، قال: “لا أتوقع مشاركتهما غدًا، علينا الانتظار ورؤية ما سيحدث”.

واسترسل: “الوضع ليس سهلاً بالنسبة لنا، عدم وجودهما أمر صعب لأنهما لاعبان مهمان، نعلم أن أولمو لاعب ممتاز وبالطبع نفتقده كثيرًا، لكن علينا أن المضي قدمًا، الأمر سيؤثر علينا بكل تأكيد ولكننا نتحد كفريق”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رافينها: نمتلك مشجعين رائعين في السعودية.. ويوضح حالة أولمو وفيكتور بعد أزمة التسجيل

وعن تصريحات رافينها كون وضع برشلونة الحالي قد يؤثر على التعاقدات المستقبلية، رد: “لا أعرف ما إذا كان ذلك سيؤثر على المستقبل، أنا أحب كل شيء في برشلونة، أود أن أقول لهم (للاعبين الأندية الأخرى) تعالوا ووقعوا العقد، العمل في برشلونة أمر لا يصدق”.

وعن إمكانية مشاركة لامين يامال، بعد غيابه عدة مباريات بسبب الإصابة، قال: “لقد تدرب 3 أو 4 مرات، يمكنه اللعب غدًا”.

وعندما سُئل عن رأيه تجاه غياب نيكو ويليامز، نجم أتلتيك بلباو عن مباراة الغد للإصابة، قال: “لم أكن أعلم أنه لم يتدرب، شكرًا على المعلومة، الأمر كله يتعلق بمواجهة الفريق، وليس لاعبًا واحدًا فقط”.

وعن السعودية التي تستضيف البطولة، قال: “لم يكن لدي الوقت للتعرف على أي شيء، لقد تناولت العشاء وبقيت في الفندق طوال اليوم، لكن يمكنني أن أقول إن الناس هنا يحبون كرة القدم”.

Aston Villa have exceeded all expectations this season, and their 3-2 win over Burnley last weekend was their 13th in 20 Premier League matches.

That result puts Unai Emery’s side second in the table, three points off Liverpool in first.

20

13

6

1

45

25

20

13

3

4

42

16

19

12

4

3

40

24

20

12

4

4

40

17

Despite the successes so far, the Spaniard wants to bolster his squad in January, with a new right back targeted.

Aston Villa transfers latest – Jeremie Frimpong

According to The Athletic, Aston Villa are interested in signing a new right back, with Jeremie Frimpong among those heavily linked.

The Bayer Leveruksen star, who has been labelled “one of the best wing-backs in Europe” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, reportedly has a £34m release clause in his contract.

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The large fee makes the move difficult to complete in January, as Leverkusen will also not want to sell the defender in the middle of a title charge.

How Jeremie Frimpong compares to Matty Cash

Matty Cash started the season as the first-choice right-back for Aston Villa, but over time, Emery has shown his willingness to field the Poland international as a right midfielder in his 4-4-2 variant.

This gives us a glimpse into the future, as Ezri Konsa has often filled in at right back when this is the case. However, if Frimpong were to join, he would make that right midfield role his own, just like he has at Leverkusen this campaign.

With Konsa looking like the long-term solution at right-back and Frimpong ultimately taking Cash’s role further forward, it would make the ex-Nottingham Forest star second choice in both positions, which could put an end to his Villa career.

Nonetheless, let’s look at how Cash compares to his potential replacement based on stats from their respective leagues this season.

Goals

0.14

0.34

Assists

0.07

0.41

Key passes

0.50

1.92

Shot-creating actions

1.71

3.08

Progressive carries

2.63

6.10

Succesful take-ons

0.50

1.78

Tackles

2.56

0.89

Due to Frimpong’s low defensive stats and lack of defensive responsibility in Xabi Alonso’s three-back formation, it is clear that he is much more of an attacking player than Cash, who is a balanced defender who likes to win the ball.

If Emery was to acquire the Dutch star, he would field him in that attacking 4-4-2 role, which means the more defensive Konsa at right-back, who is a centre-half by trade, will provide cover.

Frimpong is one of the most dangerous attacking wingbacks in the world, and as a result, he would form an excellent relationship with Ollie Watkins.

The 23-year-old uses his immense speed and quick feet to weave his way past defenders, and he is also incredible at carrying the ball forward. This is highlighted by his successful take-on statistics and progressive carries, for which he ranks in the top 5% and 1%, respectively, for fullbacks in the Bundesliga.

Not only does he provide endless creativity, but he has the output to back it up. Frimpong has scored seven goals and registered ten assists in just 22 games this season, which shows he has the ability to take Villa’s attack to the next level. He possesses twice as much threat going forward as Cash, who is clearly a more reserved full-back.

As such, the potential signing of Frimpong would be a huge upgrade for Cash, especially in that attacking role. The Netherlands ace would fit into that position and Emery’s system like a glove, and Villa have proved that they can fight off competition to sign a Leverkusen star already this season, in the form of Moussa Diaby. Frimpong would be worth every penny of his valuation.

Southampton have now extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to 13 matches, despite picking up successive draws away from home to stop a lengthy winning streak.

Russell Martin's Saints have won six of their last ten matches in the division, putting themselves firmly in the promotion reckoning as a result.

Blackburn Rovers are the visitors to the south coast this Saturday, with Martin's men keen to add another win to their season tally at the expense of Jon Dahl Tomasson's entertaining Riversiders.

The Southampton boss could reshuffle his side slightly for the task of overcoming Dahl Tomasson's men from Lancashire, with Che Adams one of a number of first-teamers potentially facing the chop.

Here's how the Saints could line up for the game tomorrow…

1 GK – Gavin Bazunu

Gavin Bazunu should retain his spot in between the sticks for the home game, the Irish shot-stopper signed from Manchester City in the summer keeping back-to-back clean sheets at St Mary's before his side picked up two subsequent away draws.

2 RB – Kyle Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters will also start versus Blackburn, the Saints right-back has barely put a foot wrong all season which has meant he's been everpresent in Martin's side in the Championship.

3 CB – Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Taylor Harwood-Bellis' reputation in the game continues to increase with the Saints, the Man City loanee excelling in the second tier once again after a promising loan switch to Burnley last campaign.

The 21-year-old's display in the away draw at Watford was particularly impressive, winning all but one of his duels in the 1-1 contest, as per Sofascore.

4 CB – Jan Bednarek

Southampton's more experienced centre-back option will also start the Blackburn game, the ever-reliable Jan Bednarek a colossus in the second tier to date.

The Polish defender was a standout performer at the back versus Coventry last game, accurate with 96% of his passes in a calm display.

5 LB – Ryan Manning

Ryan Manning should be the final part of an unchanged defence for Martin, the ex-Swansea City defender important for the Saints this campaign.

Manning's threat from down the channels stood out against the Sky Blues at the CBS Arena, accurate with two crosses in the game in an attempt to assist a Saints forward to gain a win.

6 CM – Joe Aribo

The first switch in personnel Martin will ponder over is axing Shea Charles from his lineup potentially, the Saints splashing the cash on the former Man City man in the summer by paying £15m to land his services.

He was below-par away at Coventry mid-week however – only winning three of his eight duels – and so could be sacrificed for Aribo to be pushed back into a more comfortable central midfield slot.

Aribo played behind Adam Armstrong in an advanced role against Mark Robins' men, but is far more suited to a deeper central midfield role – scoring 11 times from this position when playing for Rangers before switching to the Saints.

7 CM – Will Smallbone

Martin will toy with the idea of starting Flynn Downes for this contest – Downes missing from the Coventry match owing to illness – but risking a star player feels unnecessarily risky when you have Will Smallbone to fall back on.

Smallbone was excellent in Southampton's last second-tier match in mid-week, 100% successful with his ground duels.

Therefore, Martin might not need to bring Downes back into the starting lineup immediately especially if the West Ham United loanee isn't at full freshness just yet.

8 CM – Stuart Armstrong

The creativity potentially lacking from the side with Downes out won't be as noticeable with Stuart Armstrong present in the starting eleven, the ex-Dundee United man enjoying a fine season to date at St Mary's.

The ageing Scotsman wasn't at his free-flowing best away at Coventry – losing possession 20 times – but he's done more than enough in other games this campaign to make that third central midfield spot his own.

Creating four big chances this campaign dictating play in the middle, Martin will hope Armstrong can be at his creative best up against tricky opponents in Blackburn tomorrow.

9 AM – Carlos Alcaraz

In place of Aribo being moved back, Carlos Alcaraz could be given a start by Martin for the home game against the Riversiders.

The Argentine attacker hasn't really gotten into his groove in the second tier for the Saints this season – only helping himself to a single goal in league action – but he was impressive nonetheless when substituted on against Coventry.

Winning three out of three ground duels from a rowdy eight minutes on the pitch, Alcaraz could be the aggressive and forward-thinking figure Martin wants to get his team firing again and beating teams with ease instead of settling for draws.

10 AM – Samuel Edozie

In the other attacking midfielder spot, Martin could axe Adams for Samuel Edozie who made even more of an impact last game than Alcaraz when introduced.

Edozie would ensure the Saints travelled back to the South Coast with a share of the spoils, hammering home an effort after an Adam Armstrong nod-on found him ready to fiercely fire a strike.

Edozie's skilful reputation in the game has even seen him branded with the label of being an "eye-catcher" according to football pundit Adrian Clarke on What the EFL?! Podcast, who hyped up the youngster at the start of August before the season had properly got underway.

Adams will be sacrificed to make way for Edozie to come in, the ex-Birmingham City man not even registering one shot on goal before Edozie was substituted on.

Tottenham Hotspur have been flying this season but have now fallen to successive defeats in the Premier League after going ten matches without losing in the opening phase under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

Despite this, it's fair to say that there has been a resounding turnaround given the malaise that had crept in last season, with Antonio Conte's dismissal in March preceding a lumber to eighth place and the summer departure of Harry Kane, the club's record goalscorer.

Postecoglou has put a clear emphasis on bringing talented academy players to the fore – also a clear trend from his Celtic days -and given that Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are among the raft of absentees at present due to injury and suspension respectively, teen titan Alfie Dorrington might now be deserving of a chance, with Eric Dier not cutting the mustard.

Eric Dier's statistics this season

Since Postecoglou's Tottenham squad started competing in the Premier League this season, it's been perfectly clear that Dier is not in the 58-year-old's plans, having failed to earn a single minute before disaster struck against Chelsea.

The £85k-per-week defender's contract is also up for expiry at the end of the season, and while he has been called upon of late, it is unlikely that terms will be agreed for renewal.

That being said, he did perform admirably off the bench against Chelsea – who had a two-man advantage but failed to break down the compact Spurs defence until the later stage of the match-winning 100% of his duels, making three clearances and one interception, as per Sofascore.

The home loss against Chelsea was followed up by a defeat at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers, having led for most of the match before a late double sank the visitors and piled on more misery.

While Dier wasn't objectively bad in that game, he didn't assert himself or slot into Postecoglou's system as neatly as Van de Ven or Romero.

Writing in his post-match ratings, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick did note one excellent piece of defensive play, but lamented Dier's fault for the Old Gold goals, handing him a 5/10 match score and saying: 'Made a crucial tackle on Matheus Cunha as the midfielder prepared to shoot from close-range but both goals came from midfield runners not being tracked.'

As such, Dorrington, who is aged only 18, must now be provided with his senior debut in a golden opportunity to prove his worth among the seniors, continuing the transformation.

How Alfie Dorrington compares to Eric Dier

Dorrington has now completed 74 matches for the Lilywhites' respective youth sides and will have built much experience at the heart of a successful youth crop in preparation for a time such as this, when injuries might call for his involvement.

Dorrington might only be 18-years-old but he is considered one of the finest defensive prospects of his age group and has even been described as a "real talent" by football.london's Alasdair Gold.

Not only is Dier not the ball-playing presence at the back to fit Postecoglou's system, but he is also not the most robust and reliable in the backline, ranking among the bottom 14% of centre-halfs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the bottom 20% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

Given that Tottenham shipped 63 goals in the Premier League last season – a tally bettering only the relegated trio and newly-promoted teams Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest – Dier's output is hardly the stuff of solidity to have stemmed the flow.

And having started 31 matches in the Premier League last year, it's safe to say that he had ample opportunity to pump some resilience into the leaky backline.

He had even been branded a "liability" by writer Mitch Fretton, and while he has been something of a stalwart for the Lilywhites since signing from Sporting Lisbon for £4m in 2014, making 362 appearances, it certainly seems that his ship has now sailed.

Dorrington, in comparison, has been labelled a 'commanding' defender by Spurs' official website, having performed with composure and strength in age-belying style, and is now likely to make his senior debut in the coming months after earning a place on the bench against Wolves.

Last season, it was said that Dier was "nowhere near the required level", now, Postecoglou has instilled confidence and cohesion into the side, and Dier must now be ditched, opening the door for Dorrington to start earning his stripes.

Newcastle United are back in Premier League action this weekend, and Eddie Howe has hinted at a surprise selection in his starting lineup.

Sandro Tonali ban updates

The Magpies have gone almost two weeks since their last game, with the latest international break getting in the way of the domestic season in frustrating fashion.

Howe's side were in fine form prior to the break, and while a late equaliser for West Ham robbed them of all three points at the London Stadium in their last outing, things are still largely going in the right direction, as highlighted by a stunning 4-1 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

On Saturday afternoon, Newcastle welcome Crystal Palace to St James' Park, in the type of game that the Magpies must be looking to win if they want to secure back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League.

That being said, preparations for the match have been impacted negatively by the potential Sandro Tonali ban reports, with the 23-year-old looking likely to spend a lengthy spell out of the game after breaching betting rules during his time at AC Milan.

It is a massive blow for Howe and anyone associated with the club, considering what a high-profile summer signing the Italian was from Milan, and it would be a surprise if Newcastle didn't delve into the transfer market in the January window.

Newcastle vs Palace team news

Despite the rumours swirling around his summer signing, Howe could apparently surprise everyone and go ahead and start the Italian regardless on Saturday, as Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie shared the latest team news:

"Eddie Howe says Sandro Tonali has trained twice this week and is available for selection tomorrow. Howe admits he has a call to make on the midfielder though, admitting that it’s been an emotional couple of weeks for him."

This would certainly be a decision that splits opinion among the Newcastle fanbase, should Howe make the decision to name Tonali in his starting XI.

There have to be question marks over whether he is in the right frame of mind to be starting a big Premier League game, considering everything that has gone on this week, so the manager should only pick him if he has complete faith in him being fully focused on the job at hand.

On the flip side, Tonali is available for selection and his boss may feel that he wants to get every last ounce out of him while he can, before potentially losing him for the remainder of the season. This is a player who cost huge money and who has made an immediate impact at St James', being hailed as "magnificent" by Eddie Howe.

The decision will only be made to look correct or not depending on the eventual result against Palace, but it is a tough call for the manager, and one where it is easy to see both sides of the argument.

If this is to be Tonali's swansong before being banned for a significant amount of time, the hope is that he manages to bow out in style, inspiring Newcastle to a vital three points in their quest for more Champions League football.

Duanne Olivier roused Derbyshire’s spirits after their Royal London Cup trouncing in the East Midlands derby

ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2018
ScorecardDerbyshire hold a 79-run lead after 18 wickets fell on day one of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match against Durham at Emirates Riverside.Duanne Olivier produced a fine performance with the ball to bowl the home side out for 96. The 26-year-old claimed figures of 5-20 to put Derbyshire on the front foot. Durham responded as Chris Rushworth, Nathan Rimmington, Josh Coughlin and Matt Salisbury all claimed two wickets apiece, but they could not stop the visitors edging day one, ending the final session 175 for 8.Olivier said of his first Derbyshire five-wicket haul: “I was very excited that I contributed towards the team. Obviously the wicket was a bit bowler friendly, but we put ourselves in a good position to win the game. We could see there was a lot of grass on the wicket. So the key was just to keep it as a simple as possible and bowl it in the right areas. That’s what happened for us.”Other wickets before were good grafting wickets. I think as a bowling unit over the course of the previous games we put in the hard work. In this game it’s paid off. An 80-run lead is like a 150-200-run lead on this wicket.”The home side were inserted in overcast conditions and the Derbyshire seamers were able to capitalise. Olivier made the initial breakthrough as he removed stand-in skipper Cameron Steel for one. Tom Latham did not last long at the other end as fell lbw to Hardus Viljoen, while Michael Jones and Will Smith were next to depart, leaving the north-east outfit 26-4.Graham Clark and Gareth Harte offered resistance to guide their side past fifty, but both batsmen fell just before the lunch as Alfie Gleadall claimed his maiden first-class wicket to remove Harte, with Tony Palladino dismissing Clark for 19. Derbyshire’s onslaught continued after the break as Olivier returned to the attack. The South African notched his five-wicket haul, sending Ryan Davies, Rimmington and Salisbury back to the pavilion. Viljoen ended the Durham innings by bowling Coughlin, ending with figures of 3-20.Rushworth struck back immediately for the home side, bowling Billy Godleman for two. However, Ben Slater and Wayne Madsen settled into a rhythm and saw the shine off the new ball to make inroads into the home side’s total. Slater was looking composed, but then played a loose hook shot off Rimmington and was caught behind by Davies.Salisbury got into the action after the tea break from the Finchale End. He notched his first wicket for Durham as he broke through Alex Hughes’ defences to bowl the batsman for four. Rushworth managed to find enough movement off the wicket to pin Madsen in front of his stumps for 36.Matt Critchley looked in good touch at the crease and Durham spurned a glorious opportunity when he was dropped on 24 by Latham. Salisbury was the unfortunate bowler, but Latham atoned for his error by snagging Callum Brodrick two balls later at second slip. The New Zealander was alert in the slip cordon once again to dismiss Daryn Smith as Rimmington notched his second scalp.Josh Coughlin claimed his County Championship wicket as he stopped Critchley’s progress for 38. He did not have long to wait for his second as a full delivery was too good for Viljoen. Palladino added important runs late in the day in a partnership with Gleadall to take the visitors’ lead to 79 at the close.

The former allrounder has worked with the team in the past after his retirement and has also coached many of New Zealand’s elite women cricketers

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2018New Zealand women have roped in former allrounder Jacob Oram as their bowling coach. Oram has accepted an 18-month contract, which will see him join the team for incoming and outgoing tours as well as training camps.Oram has worked with the team in the past after his retirement and has also coached many of New Zealand’s elite women cricketers.”I’m really excited to come on board with the White Ferns and join Haidee Tiffen’s coaching team,” Oram said. “There’s an immense amount of talent and potential in the team and I’m looking forward to working with the bowlers in particular, and seeing what improvements we can make.”Oram represented New Zealand from 2001 to 2012 and played in 229 international matches. He was one of the three shortlisted candidates for the interview and head coach Tiffen said he was appointed because of his experience with some of the present players.”Jake’s a great guy and builds strong relationships,” she said. “We’ve seen what he can do through his work with Hannah Rowe at the Central Hinds and we’re looking forward to having him with us on a full-time touring basis.”Matthew Bell, the side’s batting coach, has extended his contract until the middle of next year.”Matt’s been working with the White Ferns since 2014 and always brings great energy and knowledge to the group,” Tiffen said. “I know the batting group, especially, will be excited to see him stay on in his role.”The team currently holds a 1-0 lead in the home ODI series against West Indies in the latest round of the Women’s Championship. They are also expected to tour England later this year before the World T20 in November.”I’m really keen to spend some time with the players in camp and get an idea of how we can all improve,” Oram said. “To go to any world tournament is a real buzz and I think it will be just as exciting as a coach.”