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Wolves played a blinder with Ruben Neves

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Wolves perhaps always knew they were onto a good thing when they signed Ruben Neves from Porto in a record transfer for the Championship in 2017.

The midfielder joined the Old Gold in a deal worth £15.8m and has been a mainstay at Molineux ever since, making 219 appearances in all competitions, in which he has contributed 25 goals and 12 assists.

After helping Wolves to promotion in his first season with the club, he has established himself as one of the top midfielders outside of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ and recently earned a promotion of his own, stepping up as Conor Coady’s replacement as captain in Bruno Lage’s side.

It is somewhat of a surprise that he remained with the club this summer, as he implied at the end of last season that it may be time for a change, while top Premier League clubs were linked with his signing.

However, Lage suggested that Wolves value the Portugal international at £100m; and had they sold him for that price, it would have been a 633% increase on the fee that they paid in 2017, which certainly represents good business by the club to get him in for the amount that they did.

Neves is currently ranked as the top performer in Wolves’ squad after averaging an impressive 7.37 rating from WhoScored for his Premier League performances, which emphasises how important he is in Lage’s team.

His one goal this season, one of just three scored by the Old Gold in the top flight, was a trademark screamer from outside the penalty box, something that Wolves fans have become well accustomed to seeing during his time at the club.

With comments which still ring true today, Darren Bent was full of praise for Neves in 2019 when he said: “He’s been good, he has scored some world-class goals that people will never forget.

“It’s a testament to Wolves that they’ve managed to hold onto him as there were times when he was one of the best midfield players in the country, he was playing at such a high level, and the fact they have managed to hold onto him and that he is still putting in good performances week-in-week-out, it’s brilliant for them.”

Keeping Neves for the foreseeable future might prove difficult if he maintains his current level of performance, but considering his huge rise in value since signing for Wolves five years ago, there can be no doubt that the club’s former manager Nuno Espirito Santo played a blinder by bringing him to Molineux.

Nathan Lyon braces for bogey team at happy-hunting Brisbane

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pakistan have traditionally had the wood over Lyon, but his record at the Gabba is impressive

Daniel Brettig16-Nov-2019If Nathan Lyon knows what it is like to bowl to a batsman “I’ve got the wood over”, then he will also know that of all Test nations, Pakistan is the one to have developed a very strong record of succeeding against him.In an otherwise outstanding ledger for Australia over 91 Tests dating back to 2011, Lyon has struggled notably against Pakistan across seven Tests and three series between 2014 and 2018. His 26 wickets have come at a cost of 50.34, the greatest expense of any of Lyon’s international opponents, and his economy rate and strike rates of 3.31 and 91.1 against Pakistan are also his worst.There is some mitigation in the fact that Lyon was monstered in his first series against Pakistan, in the UAE in 2014 and improved in two subsequent series at home and away since. But the fact remains that he is yet to claim a five-wicket haul against Pakistan and New Zealand, the two opponents he will face this summer – albeit within a much stronger overall record against New Zealand.A key to Pakistan’s success against Lyon has been to look for scoring avenues at every opportunity, not giving him too much of a chance to settle. Occasionally, as on the final day of the Boxing Day Test in 2016 when Lyon claimed 3 for 33 to break out of a rough wicket-taking patch, this instinct to attack has played into the offspinner’s favour. But more often, Pakistan’s batsmen have been able to prosper while also putting Lyon off-balance.The tourists’ treatment of admittedly lesser spin bowlers in Travis Head, Lloyd Pope and Tom O’Connell – the trio have collected the combined figures of 6 for 317 from 63.5 overs at an economy rate of 4.99 across the two tour matches – is a fair indication that Lyon will be attacked once more.And in what is again likely to be a four-man bowling attack during the summer, as Lyon shares billing with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and one of Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson, the need for Australia’s No. 1 spin bowler to be able to put a clamp on the scoring when he is not taking wickets will be critical.Lyon was asked on Saturday about dealing with adversity through the prism of David Warner’s struggles in England, and gave an answer that was revealing as much in terms of how he may view the looming contest against Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq and company as how he reflected on his state and Test match team-mate.”When you’re competing against some of the best players in the world, and I know when I’m bowling to someone who I’ve got the wood over, it can play on their mind, so no doubt Davey would have felt the pressure,” Lyon said. “But it’s one of those things where you need to accept the challenge, move on and try to get better. Davey’s a world-class player, I know that, you know that, I’m expecting him to come out here and play exceptionally well.”No doubt he’d be down about the Ashes he had, but still part of the side to go over there and retain the Ashes, which is pretty bloody special if you ask me. From our experiences over in England it’s been absolutely incredible. To gel as we have over there, the summer over there, our winter here, it’s been absolutely exceptional. The squad’s pretty well the same squad, those guys have been performing extremely well over there and to be part of it and retain the Ashes.”Would’ve been great to win it obviously, unfortunately weren’t able to do that, but we take a lot of momentum from that experience over there, it’s that hard to win away from home, so it’s crucial we come here and prepare the way we need to prepare before the first Test match and if we bat or bowl morning of day one, that we go in 100% and we keep the foot on where we took it off.”Nathan Lyon looks dejected ater fumbling the ball and missing a chance to run out Jack Leach•Getty ImagesUndoubtedly Lyon will benefit from different climes in which to bowl, having been hounded through the latter part of the Ashes series with taunting related to the feverish conclusion of the Headingley Test. But the greatest source of encouragement for Lyon is bound to come from the chance to bowl on the Gabba, a surface where he has excelled a good deal while scooping 33 victims at 27.69 over eight matches.”We tend to play an extremely exciting brand of cricket here at the Gabba, so I’m very happy, it’s one of my favourite places to play, it’s great that we’ve got the first Test here, fingers crossed it’s a decent crowd that rolls out for us,” Lyon said. “The wicket, I reckon it’s a good contest between bat and ball, personally I find I get a fair amount of bounce and a bit of spin over the last couple of years as well.”I love playing cricket here, for the last nine years I’ve been playing Test cricket here, everyone’s been talking about playing four quicks every time, so it’s all part of it and I’m not really concerned what Pakistan do to be honest, it’s about us as the Australian cricket team, making sure we’re preparing the absolute house down and making sure we’re doing everything in our control to make sure we’re right to go.”Even then, though, Lyon’s one meeting with Pakistan in Brisbane returned the match figures of 2 for 139 as Shafiq took the visitors far closer to their fourth innings target than any Australia would have preferred. The wood, at this stage, is very much with Pakistan.

'Great batting, moderate bowling, abominable catching'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The reactions on Twitter to West Indies’ incredible win at Headingley

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Aug-2017

Rahul's batting sizzles, keeping fizzles

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A costly missed stumping off a rampaging Andre Russell turned KL Rahul’s third consecutive half-century into a distant memory and hastened another defeat for Royal Challengers

Deivarayan Muthu in Bangalore02-May-2016KL Rahul was beaming after his third successive half-century lifted Royal Challengers Bangalore from their worst Powerplay score this season – 40 for 1 – to 185 for 7. About two hours later, he was disappointed as Royal Challengers lurched to their fifth defeat in seven matches, in part because of one big error Rahul made behind the stumps. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s night summed up the cruel nature of T20 cricket.Legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal had Andre Russell five feet down the pitch and beat him with lack of turn in the 14th over of the Kolkata Knight Riders chase. But Rahul was also beaten and the ball snuck away for four byes. He sank to his knees and put his hands on his head. Two balls later, Rahul failed to gather a flat fizzer down the leg side and the ball hurried away for five wides. Russell, whose reprieve came on 13, slapped 39 off 24 balls and went on to claim the Man-of-the-Match award in Knight Riders’ five-wicket victory.The win, which was achieved with five balls to spare, was later termed an “easy” one by Yusuf Pathan, who added 45 in a rapid 96-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Russell. Rahul’s lapses had decisively scuppered his team’s defence.”Nothing much to say,” Royal Challengers captain Virat Kohli said after the game. “I think we needed to take our chances. Getting to 100 for 4 and then getting it to go away. Couple of chances came our way and guys like Russell will make you pay.”The M Chinnaswamy Stadium surface had offered extra zip and bounce to the seamers. This meant that Rahul was tested with the keeping gloves as well. He leapt and collected bouncers from S Aravind and Varun Aaron before fumbling against the spinners.Rahul is only a part-time keeper. He has kept wicket in only 14 of 118 domestic games. Kedar Jadhav was Royal Challengers’ first-choice keeper at the start of the season but Rahul has been given the responsibility to improve the team’s balance. He is still finding his feet.Rahul, in fact, is still finding his footing as a batsman in T20s. Prior to this season, he had only 653 runs in 39 matches. He began IPL 2016 with slogs and ramps and was even hit on the helmet by Mitchell McClenaghan after losing his shape at the Wankhede. In his second match, against Rising Pune Supergiants, Rahul attempted a wild slog and skewed the ball to third man. He may appear flashy with his man bun, but his batting is geeky, and that is his strength.He relies on technique, balance, and timing. Chris Gayle, who returned to the Royal Challengers XI, was bounced out for 7 in the second over. Russell and Morne Morkel ran in hard and hit the deck harder. Even Kohli was pinned down. Rahul, who was promoted to the top following fifties against Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad, was under more pressure.He sussed out the spongy bounce provided by the pitch early and rose on top of it to blunt the fast bowlers. He then used the pace of Russell and Morkel, guiding the ball in the V behind the wicket. Having moved to 11 off 11 balls, Rahul attacked Sunil Narine. The offspinner had lost his bite, having reworked his action. Narine, with a more pronounced side-arm action, looped an overpitched ball outside off, and Rahul eased forward to cream a drive through the covers. The next ball was also too full and Rahul nailed a sweep through backward square leg.Rahul accelerated by hitting Narine for two more boundaries, in the 11th over, but holed out to sweeper cover in the next over, from Piyush Chawla. Unfortunately for him, he undid his sparkling knock by fluffing the stumping chance against Russell.Rahul is no stranger to bounce backs, though. He returned from a horror debut in the Boxing Day Test of 2014, in which he managed four runs. He dropped a sitter early in the next Test in Sydney, before scoring a resilient 110 in that match.How quickly Rahul rebounds from this latest setback could be crucial to Royal Challengers’ chances of reviving their campaign.

The 'magic wand' behind India's turnaround

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

It has helped that India have a captain who has lasted as long as he has due to his approach of treating cricket for what it is: a game

Abhishek Purohit in Perth25-Feb-2015It is a 15-minute leisurely walk along the Swan riverfront in Perth to a restaurant serving simple south Indian meals near the jetty. A couple of India players and a member of the support staff strolled along to the place last evening to enjoy a relaxed dinner. It was a busy time at the restaurant, but no one disturbed the players while they ate, barring a single fan who also patiently agreed to wait for a photograph till they had finished.Personal space in public places is a luxury for Indian cricketers back home, and they enjoy whatever precious leeway they get while touring. They have to come to value this space so much that they guard it zealously from all outside interference. They like to exist in their own cocoon – just the players and the support staff. Come occasions with still greater scrutiny than their usual high levels such as the World Cup, the cocoon enveloping the squad only gets thicker, shutting them from the world as much as possible.It becomes even more critical then that the inner space around the squad remains free of negatives, and an enabling atmosphere is created. Especially when you have been on the road for three months, and are expected to do so for another month. Especially when you have won nothing in those three months leading into a world tournament where you are the defending champions.You go right away into the two big games in your group, against arch-rivals Pakistan, and South Africa, a side you have never beaten previously in a World Cup. Watchers are expecting you to beat the weaker sides in the group and scrape to the knockouts riding on the predictability of the format. And you come up with two thumping victories in matches you were widely expected to lose. The team management, the support staff, the captain and the players face flak when the side does not do well. They also deserve credit for delivering such a sensational start to their World Cup title defence.MS Dhoni was asked what magic wand had he used to engineer this turnaround. He put it down to the squad having faith in each other and keeping together during tough times previously on the tour.”I think it’s the belief and trust that we have in each other,” Dhoni said. “What’s very important is to have that belief and that magic wand actually is the support staff and the 15 players because irrespective of what others think, what really matters is what 15 people who are part of the team are thinking and how the management is working. If we are moving in one direction and we are together, there are more chances of us making a strong comeback.”As always, it has helped that they have a captain who has lasted as long as he has due to his approach of treating cricket for what it is: a game. “It’s not the end of the world, and that’s how I feel any sport needs to be taken,” Dhoni had said when asked how the side had dealt with their winless months in Australia.It is how Dhoni had approached the Pakistan game as well, saying that no matter who the opposition was, you were going to earn the same number of points for a win. Although he had admitted it was not a normal game, he promised his players would try to treat it as that. Which is what they managed to do.Living in the present might sound a cliché but that is what India have had to do in Australia. They had no option but to put away the losses where they belonged: in the past. There is already enough pressure of expectations in the present, according to Dhoni, for the players to entangle themselves in thoughts of past defeats.Whatever Dhoni wanted from his squad in the build-up to the tournament could not be achieved if the spirits sank in the dressing room, highly probable when the wins are not coming.”Well, that’s really the job of the leader,” Dhoni said. “What we wanted to do from a management point of view was to keep the morale high. It is very crucial because if the morale is down then it becomes more difficult to come back. Everybody is smiling, and even going through a lot of difficulties and problems, and if you turn up every day to improve yourself as a cricketer, you know the result will follow.”India have ensured the players get to totally switch off from the game on the days they are not training. Recreational activities and outings have been organised to try and keep some freshness intact amid the jadedness that can easily set in on such an extended trip.On the other hand, India have also tried to get the most out of training sessions. They have often requested for centre-wicket nets. Practice has been intense and focused.As Dhoni said after the South Africa win, India have invested too much effort into this core set of players over the past few years to not have them ready to fire come the World Cup. The players have responded superbly in the first two big ones, and have earned themselves a more relaxed setting for the remainder of their group engagements.

Worth the wait for Chris Rogers

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The opener was on verge of Victoria axe in 2012 but a phonecall from John Inverarity gave him hope and now he is on an Ashes tour

Daniel Brettig24-Apr-2013About a year ago, Chris Rogers sat on the Lord’s balcony and pondered his future in Australia. More to the point, he pondered whether there was one. Told he was unlikely to gain a Victoria contract at the age of 34, Rogers began considering options in other states and even overseas: South Africa or New Zealand loomed as possible destinations to prolong his undersung first-class career.Rogers had long given up serious thoughts of an Australia recall. His one Test, against India in January 2008, receded half a decade into the distance. Though prolific as ever for Middlesex, he was now contemplating the end of his days walking out to bat in his home country. As Rogers put it, “There’s been such a strong push for youth for a period of time that I felt like I was being pushed out the back door a little bit.”But then a strange thing happened. He received word that the national selector John Inverarity, in England for Australia’s ODI tour, wanted to talk to him. A phonecall and a meeting followed. Cricket in England was discussed, and Australia. Thoughts were shared on various players, numerous trends.It was the first time Rogers had heard from a member of the national selection panel since the brief call five years ago telling him he would debut in Perth as an injury replacement. The conversation with Inverarity wasn’t a call-up, or even the promise of one. But it was contact. For the first time in years, Rogers dared to hope again. Victoria soon came calling with a contract offer; pastures new could wait.”The chat with John was one of the moments I think that made me pause,” Rogers told ESPNcricinfo. “Particularly at that time, because I got told around then I was unlikely to get a contract for the Vics, so that made me stop and think that I still had something to offer.”Then when my name wasn’t really bandied about this year I started to wonder again, but when Invers named the Australian contracted squad but then mentioned my name, that was a moment I thought ‘I am quite a chance here, I don’t see why he’d mention me otherwise’. From then until now I’ve been pretty hopeful. I was starting to chew the nails a little bit but the phone call came through so it was very nice.”Rogers’ hope, and another summer of unobtrusive, consistent run-making for the Bushrangers, has now reaped the sort of genuine opportunity he has sought ever since his Sheffield Shield debut: an Ashes tour. To win a place, all Rogers needs to do is continue following the sound fundamentals that have pushed him to 19,107 first-class runs at 50.01.

“I’ve been here for the last two Ashes series and it’s taken the country by storm. To be a part of it is something I’ll cherish forever”Chris Rogers

Save for Michael Clarke, no-one in the squad knows more about building a score, and even the captain would defer to Rogers’ English experience, which amounts to more runs at a better average than England’s vaunted leader and opening batsman Alastair Cook. This is not to say Rogers is coveting an opening spot. Having waited this long, he will bat anywhere.”I got hinted that a part of the experience I bring is my knowledge of the conditions over here and players and those kinds of things,” Rogers said. “It might help along the way, so it would be nice to be a part of that, have a bit of a voice and hopefully I can offer everyone something at different times. I’m sure quite a few of the guys have played a bit over here, but I’ve been lucky enough to play more than the rest. I don’t think people understand that conditions in England are quite foreign to Australia.”I’m not going to be turning down opportunities at this stage of my career, and the chance to play for Australia, I’d do anything. I’d like to be up the top, I think it fits me better, but I’d naturally bat anywhere and do a role the team asks me to do. I just have to wait and see how that all pans out.”An oddity of Rogers’ selection is that despite being the oldest member of the squad, he has played the least international cricket – even James Faulkner, uncapped in Tests, has a collection of limited-overs appearances. “It’s an interesting one,” Rogers said. “In one respect I am bringing a lot of experience to the side but in another I haven’t been on that stage, apart from one game, so it might take me a little bit of time to get used to the hype and the support and all those things that go with it.”It is no surprise, then, that something which enthuses Rogers about the Ashes is the chance to spend more than one crowded week around the Australian team. He has never toured before, never been 12th man, never witnessed the ebbs and flows of a full series. His one previous appearance was the convoluted match that followed the acrimonious, “Monkeygate” Sydney Test. Amid all the behind-the-scenes discussions that were had about Andrew Symonds, Harbhajan Singh and the team’s triumphalist aggression at the SCG, Rogers could not recall even having a team meeting. This will be different.Rogers will bring a wealth of experience in English conditions to Australia’s Ashes campaign•Getty Images”I look back at it and it was just a bit of a whirlwind week,” Rogers said. “I don’t remember a lot about it, and it almost happened in the blink of an eye and then that was it. I’ve never been on an Australia tour or been around the squad for a period of time, so that’s going to be nice, just to be a part of that and just take the opportunity to enjoy it rather than just be blown away by it all really.”Most of all though, there will be a sense of fulfilment. Rogers’ every net session, every Shield or county match, every wandering commute from ground to ground, now feels more purposeful in retrospect. It has all been worth it.”I guess as you get older, you know the end’s near and you don’t take anything for granted. As an Australian and the person I am, I tend to fight for everything I can get. Over this last period it’s been a case where anything that comes my way, I try and take it.”I look back and think there were moments when I got quite dispirited and had given up all hope, but it’s such a relief to be a part of a squad that’s going to be touring England. Just the determination to keep going and play well and enjoy my cricket has been rewarded. I’ve been here for the last two Ashes series and it’s taken the country by storm … to be a part of it is something I’ll cherish forever.”

Pakistan let it slip through their fingers, literally

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pakistan may have overcome severe lapses in the field to win games in the past, but to expect to get away after handing four reprieves to Sachin Tendulkar is to expect a miracle

Osman Samiuddin at the PCA Stadium31-Mar-2011At some point over the next couple of days, Pakistan will come to understand just how close they actually got – with this side whom few gave a chance – to getting to a World Cup final. The margin of defeat looks comfortable enough but there wasn’t a whole lot between them and India, ultimately, other than a safe pair of hands somewhere, anywhere in the field.There are many frustrating ways to lose a game, let alone one as big as this, but few gnaw away at reason and rationality quite like those lost to dropped catches. In this age of the instant vent and search for a (criminal of the match), Misbah-ul-Haq’s innings is already being pilloried in Pakistan for its poor pacing. The reaction is misplaced and overdone, for the pitch wasn’t given to fluent strokeplay, particularly after the ball softened, and there had already been some momentum-losing poor shots earlier from the openers.Blaming the batting in any case misses the point. Pakistan are never comfortable chasers and 261, in a World Cup semi-final, at the home of the opposition is an entirely different kind of 261 from the ones they might chase down in a bilateral series in the UAE. The point is, they shouldn’t have been chasing that much in the first place.There are some truisms in cricket that Pakistan quite brazenly and joyously ignore; leading among them are those to do with catching. They win matches? Yes, but not as much as scoring runs and taking wickets,
thank you. They once dropped Graeme Smith five times as he ground out 65 in an ODI in Lahore, and still won the match comfortably. They dropped seven catches in an innings in New Zealand in 2009-10 and won the Test
comfortably. These are to recall just two examples from a sizeable sample.But there are some rules in life you cannot defy, some batsmen you really cannot give a chance to. And if you give Sachin Tendulkar four chances – not one but four! Tendulkar! – you cannot expect to win a game, no matter
what else you do. It was one of Tendulkar’s least fluent recent innings as well, but in the drops of Misbah, Younis Khan – their two best catchers -Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal, went the game. It is as simple as that.It wasn’t – as it never is – just the runs that came after the drops, though Tendulkar did add 58 runs after the first chance went down. It was the mood that was lost each time. The first spill, with Tendulkar on 27, came as Pakistan were beginning to regain their senses after Virender Sehwag’s early blast. Tendulkar had just survived two torrid overs from Saeed Ajmal and a seminal moment was at hand.The second, on 45, came the over after Gautam Gambhir had gone. Momentum again was at stake. The third came a few overs after Wahab Riaz’s two-wicket over left India in a position of real danger. All chances, incidentally, were created by the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, the man to whom Pakistan look for inspiration, for breakthroughs, for controlling the middle overs of the game, their captain, a man who thrives on taking precisely such wickets, Shahid Afridi.The effects of this on a game cannot possibly be calculated, except to say the obvious, that it changes everything and goes beyond runs alone. Who knows what target Pakistan could have been chasing? There was another,
less important, miss later, on 81, but a miss nonetheless and none of the outfield catches were difficult.”We made some big mistakes in fielding, we dropped some catches, and catches for Sachin,” Afridi said. He then quipped, referring to his much-discussed phantom statement in the build-up of trying to prevent a
100th international Tendulkar hundred, “I told you he wouldn’t score a hundred.” It was gallows humour.It is sad – but also predictable – that ultimately it came down to Pakistan’s fielding, for that is the one area they have really worked hard on in training and actually thought about methodically, making sure for once of placing the right fielders in the right places. Younger players have come in who genuinely enjoy fielding, a couple of older ones have led the way.They have been very sharp as they were against Australia but also still capable of sudden, unexpected tragi-comedy as against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa in the second half of the hosts’ chase and today. Overall, they
have been considerably better than before, in particular with the energy they have brought on to the field. But there is much, much more to be done.If they are skilled and contrary enough to get away with it against most sides and players, to expect to do so against the game’s greatest modern-day batsman, in such a setting, is to expect miracles.

Twenty quick numbers

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Twenty quick numbers for the ICC World Twenty20

25-Sep-20070 – The number of teams that remained unbeaten in the tournament. India lost once, as did South Africa. It’s also the score on which Kenya’s Maurice Ouma was dismissed twice, leading to a round figure for his total aggregate as well.1 – The number of hundreds scored in the tournament – and also in all 46 Twenty20 internationals thus far. A downer that no one else could achieve what Chris Gayle did taking first strike in the opening match. Also the number of hat-tricks in Twenty20 internationals, Brett Lee doing the needful against Bangladesh.5 – The highest number of no-balls bowled in an innings, by Australia against Bangladesh. 7.99 – The average run-rate through the tournament. At that rate, 400 would be a par score in ODIs, and 650 the best if we take into account Sri Lanka’s 13 per over against Kenya.9 – Century partnerships in the ICC World Twenty20, with two involving Australia’s Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.10 – The number of four-fors in the tournament, a fair indication that Twenty20 is not a batsman’s game after all. Also the most sixes in an innings, hit by Gayle in his knock of 117, nearly equalling the record of 11 in ODIs.12 – The number of balls taken by Yuvraj Singh to score his fifty against England, the fastest in international cricket. Yuvraj also became the second batsman to hit six sixes in an over in 2007, a feat that has happened only four times in top-level cricket.13 – The number of matches won by the team batting second, with one tie with the side chasing (Pakistan) losing in the bowl-out and one No Result in the 27 matches played. And there was talk that putting the opposition in was the right way to go in Twenty20.15 – Maidens bowled. The World Cup in the Caribbean had 274 maidens in 51 50-over matches, so batsmen have evidently realised the need to stop wasting deliveries in the 20-over format. 19.2 – The average number of balls taken by bowlers to take a wicket in the tournament. RP Singh, Stuart Clark and Lasith Malinga needed only 12.36.52 – The percentage of dot balls among all deliveries bowled in the tournament.64 – Most runs conceded by a bowler in one match. Poor Sanath Jayasuriya was the victim as the Pakistan batsmen carted him all over the park in Johannesburg, equalling the most expensive figures in a Twenty20 game.91 – The number of runs scored off free hits (39).124.03 – The average runs scored per hundred balls by the batsmen. In other words, the batting strike rate197.82 Shahid Afridi’s strike rate, the highest in the tournament for anyone facing a minimum of 25 deliveries260 – The highest total in a Twenty20 international, made by Sri Lanka against a hapless Kenya, who could muster only 161 in their two outings in the tournament.265 – The number of sixes hit in the ICC World Twenty20, with Craig McMillan topping the charts with 13. The corresponding figure for the World Cup in the West Indies was 373, in 51 matches and of course 50-over games.269 – The runs scored off 207 wide balls bowled during the tournament, with West Indies squandering away 23 runs against South Africa in the opening match.418 The most runs scored in a single match (and a record for Twenty20 internationals); this was from the England-India match in Durban. 659 – The number of fours hit during the tournament. Add to that the 265 sixes and 348
wickets, and you’d guess the dancers at the grounds had a pretty busy time!

Headingley security to be increased in wake of 'Just Stop Oil' protests

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Yorkshire will employ “sprinter stewards” to help prevent damage to pitch for third Test

Matt Roller03-Jul-2023

Lord’s security personnel tackle a ‘Just Stop Oil’ pitch invader•Getty Images

Yorkshire will ramp up security levels for the third men’s Ashes Test at Headingley this week, following a pitch invasion by Just Stop Oil protesters during the second Test at Lord’s.Three people were charged with aggravated trespass on the first day of the Lord’s Test. Two of them – Daniel Knorr, 21 and Jacob Bourne, 26 – ran onto the pitch carrying orange powder paint while a third – Judit Murray, 69 – was stopped by security before reaching the playing surface.Players ignored the ECB’s security briefings and physically prevented the protesters reaching the pitch and disrupting the match by covering it with powder, with David Warner, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow all intervening.Related

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Stokes, Cummins expect fiery Lord's atmosphere to spill over to Headingley

Stokes, and the miracle that wasn't

Knorr, Bourne and Murray were released on bail and will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on July 31.Just Stop Oil, a coalition of environmental action groups, have disrupted several high-profile sporting events in the UK over the past 18 months including Premier League football matches, the final of rugby union’s Premiership and the World Snooker Championship.In a statement, the group criticised Lord’s for its sponsorship deal with JP Morgan Chase, the financial services provider, which it described as “the world’s worst ‘fossil bank'”, citing the 2021 report ‘Banking on Climate Chaos’.The Times reported that a team of “sprinter stewards” have been hired by Yorkshire for their speed and agility and will be tasked with preventing damage to the pitch if protesters make it past the initial perimeter security.A Yorkshire spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo: “The Ashes is a truly special occasion, and we want everybody visiting Headingley to have an incredible time watching first-class cricket at our iconic venue.”The wellbeing of players, officials and spectators is paramount, and we are implementing appropriate measures to do everything within our control to keep everyone safe. Clearly, some incidents at Lord’s have heightened the interest and exposure of the third Test.”We will continue to work closely with both the ECB and West Yorkshire Police to ensure our safety measures are proportionate for this fixture.”Stokes, England’s captain, and his Australian counterpart Pat Cummins are both anticipating a boisterous atmosphere at Headingley for the third Test, which starts on Thursday – not least after Bairstow was controversially stumped by Alex Carey at Lord’s.Headingley’s Western Terrace carries a similar reputation to the Eric Hollies Stand at Edgbaston. “I definitely think it’s going to be ramped up,” Stokes said. “We get it in Australia: 90,000 Australians at the MCG all cursing at you.” Tickets have sold out for all five days of the Leeds Test.Cummins has previously voiced his support for action against climate change and helping the sport become carbon neutral, launching the campaign group Cricket for Climate last year. When asked about the Just Stop Oil protest, Cummins said: “I think there’s better ways to go about it.”

'We weren’t expecting the red card' – Javier Morales reveals Inter Miami didn’t know about Javier Mascherano’s red card until halftime

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The Argentine was seen giving instructions to his assistants from the stands.

  • Inter Miami beat Tigres 2-1
  • They will face Orlando City next
  • The Herons will play at home

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    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Javier Mascherano’s fiery touchline demeanor caught up with him on Tuesday, as the Inter Miami manager was sent off at halftime of the Herons’ Leagues Cup win over Tigres. Reminiscent of his playing days as Liverpool and Barcelona’s enforcer, Mascherano was seen in the stands just 20 feet from the bench, furiously barking instructions on his phone while assistant coach Lucas Rodríguez Pagano relayed them to the sideline.

    After the match, assistant Javier Morales, who handled the postgame press conference, admitted even the coaching staff was caught off guard by the dismissal. 

    “It wasn’t clear what happened. The referee added six minutes, we complained about the time, and I think the referee just showed the red card, but we didn’t get much more information,” Morales said. 

    He added that Mascherano only learned of the sending-off when the second half began: “We didn’t expect it. We came out for the second half and they told Javier he had been sent off. To be honest, we weren’t expecting the red card.”

    Morales declined to elaborate on Mascherano’s frantic instructions from the stands, though cameras caught the coach visibly communicating on the phone and his assistant coach also speaking on the phone at the same time – especially after Tigres equalized in the 67th minute through Ángel Correa.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Mascherano was forced to watch from the sidelines for the entire second half after receiving a red card, while Jordi Alba had to be substituted early following an accidental collision with Telasco Segovia. On top of that, Lionel Messi was absent due to injury.

    Despite Correa leveling the score in the 67th minute and the chaos on the sidelines, the Herons never backed down. They continued to push forward, and a second penalty, conceded by Javier Aquino, allowed Luis Suárez to complete his brace, securing a hard-fought 2-1 win over one of Liga MX’s strongest sides.

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    DID YOU KNOW?

    will host Orlando City in the semifinals, thanks to finishing higher in the group stage standings.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

    The Herons visit D.C. United this Saturday in MLS action.

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