India A 196 (Karthik 75, Sharma 56) beat UAE 70 (RP Singh 5-30, VR Singh 5-38) by 126 runs ScorecardIndia A romped to a 126-run victory over UAE in the EurAsia Series in Abu Dhabi.After a stuttering batting performance to post a modest 196, the Indians hit back to blow away UAE in only 15.1 overs. Rudra Pratap Singh returned figures of 5 for 30 while Vikram Singh bagged 5 for 38.Only three UAE batsmen reached double figures, and 18 extras, including five no balls and 11 wides, were the highest contributors to the UAE card.However, the Man of the Match was wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who top scored with 75. He had good support from Rohit Sharma, who made a composed 56. The pair added 123 runs for the fourth wicket to lift the team from a sorry 20 for 3. “Rohit batted really well,” Kaarthick said. “He rotated the strike and came up with some boundaries that eased the pressure a bit.”The lower order, however, failed to consolidate the good work by Karthick and Sharma. The last seven Indian wickets fell for 56 runs as they collapsed from 143 for 3.The Indians first struggle to cope with the gentle medium swing of Ali Asad to lose their top order cheaply. Asad did the early damage, picking up 3 for 30 in an unchanged opening spell. Zahid Shah was the other useful bowler, claiming 2 for 34, while Khurram Khan picked two lower wickets.
Marcus Trescothick celebrated his 100th one-day international appearance with an effortless 76-ball century, and Andrew Strauss marked his return to the top of the order with a composed 82, as England cantered to a ten-wicket victory inside 25 overs in the first match of the NatWest Series. The result was England’s second ten-wicket victory in one-day international history, and Trescothick has been involved in both – the first, against West Indies in 2000, came in his debut series.By the end of the game, England were in such control that the pair were more concerned with engineering a three-figure score for Trescothick than winning in haste. He and Strauss exchanged singles in the final over to bring up his hundred, then Strauss followed up with a eased drive for four to complete the formalities.Towards the end, Trescothick had been in showboater mode, and pulled off two cheeky ramped fours over the wicketkeeper’s head to further dent Khaled Mahmud’s figures, whose first over had gone for 21. Trescothick’s hundred was his ninth in one-day matches for England, and took him clear of Graham Gooch as England’s leading centurymaker.It was a consummate performance from England, and for Trescothick it took his summer’s tally against Bangladesh to a monstrous 445 runs in three innings. The team’s only wobble came with the ball when, having reduced Bangladesh to 76 for 6, Aftab Ahmed and Mohammad Rafique came out all guns blazing, to exactly double the total in a spirited seventh-wicket stand. The tenth-wicket pair of Mashrafe Mortaza and Nazmul Hossain then added 31 in similar fashion to set England a respectable target of 190, but in the event they were never remotely stretched.The day began as it finished, with England in total control. Last week, Jon Lewis vowed not to have his hair cut until the dream start to his England career had come to an end. By the time he had picked up the first three Bangladeshi wickets to fall, it seemed he would soon be sporting a mullet to rival Jason Gillespie’s. Steve Harmison then weighed in with a trio of his own, and another mismatch appeared to be taking shape.Rafique and Aftab had other ideas and after the second break for rain, they began to tee off. Each has demonstrated this ability before in their careers – Rafique with a thrilling century against West Indies last year, and Aftab with his 82 not out at Durham in this month’s second Test – and they were at their improvisatory best as England’s eagerness to wrap up a quick finish backfired on them. The usually economical Andrew Flintoff proved particularly expensive, as his nine wicketless overs went for 46, and it required a tight run-out call to end Aftab’s knock, as he finished on 51 from 58 balls with four fours and two sixes.Darren Gough eventually ended the stand, as Rafique connected well with a slower ball but picked out Harmison on the fine leg boundary, and Harmison returned to take his fourth wicket, when Mahmud shovelled his first delivery to leg gully. But Bangladesh were unbowed, and Mashrafe and Nazmul carried on the carefree attitude to ensure that England, with a crunch match approaching on Sunday, couldn’t start thinking too far ahead of themselves just then.But if Bangladesh’s best efforts restored their pride with the bat, Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss were more than capable of bettering them. The first stumbling-block of the NatWest Series had been negotiated with barely a stubbed toe, and England now travel to Bristol for the showdown against Australia with their spirits as high as can possibly be.
Day 3 Gauteng 286 and 73 for 2 require another 385 runs to beat Easterns 405 for 4 dec and 338 for 9 dec (Z de Bruyn 88, Toyana 63, Cullinan 65, Mathebula 5-56) v ScorecardEasterns extended their lead to 457 before declaring their second innings on 338 for 9, with Zander de Bruyn following his century in the first innings with 88 in the second. In the process, he became the only batsman to exceed 1,000 runs for the season. Daryll Cullinan’s 65 also moved him into the second spot behind de Bruyn with 839 runs for the campaign. Brian Mathebula, in only his second first-class match, recorded his first five-for after bowling with far more discipline than he did in the first innings. At the close, Gauteng had reached 73 for 2.Eastern Province 432 lead Boland 324 by 108 runs ScorecardNo play due to rain.
The Pakistan team dished out an appalling performance at Cape Town, casting gloom over an entire nation of passionate cricket. It was not just the defeat, but rather the manner in which it came about that has infuriated all and sundry. The batting line-up failed yet again, proving their incompetency against the swinging ball, something that has been highlighted over the past couple of years. There is no point in making excuses this time, by blaming the conditions under lights at Cape Town. It would be fair to say that batting became a bit tougher under lights, but certainly not difficult enough to warrant the display put up by the Pakistan batting line-up. At the same time full marks to the England bowlers who kept a tight line and deservingly used the conditions to their advantage.Pakistan is a team that consistently throws itself at the mercy of the toss, with a chance of victory only culminating in the event of batting first. The batsmen can only be described as “paper tigers”, simply resting on the laurels of their past achievements. The decision to persist with Shahid Afridi was mind-boggling.In the past six months there has hardly been an occasion where he has crossed the 30 run threshold while starting off the innings. Of greater surprise is that the decision was made at the expense of Saleem Elahi, the only batsman to have showed any proficiency with the bat in the tournament so far. The team management must answer one critical question: is Afridi worth being included for just his bowling capabilities? I believe that he is not a good enough batsman, and picking him as a specialist sixth bowler is ludicrous.The news regarding Inzamam in the media, prior to this match, was even more shocking, where it was announced that he refused to participate in practice as that would make him “more hungry for runs” in the matches, a theory credited to Imran Khan. It was said he tried that on batsmen who were out of form on the field but fine in the nets and the stories say it worked.Surely, if something is going wrong, the net sessions are the ideal place to iron it out, not the match! Saeed Anwar looked scratchy all through, falling over consistently, and was lucky not to have been bowled behind his legs or found leg before much earlier. Youhana got out to a magical delivery, but one fails to understand why he was looking to play his first delivery through mid-wicket, under such evidently bowler friendly conditions? The only thing that brought a smile to the faces of Pakistani fans was the lusty hitting by Shoaib Akhtar at the end, but the match was all over by then.The performance in the field, could be described as two extremes, swinging from brilliance to total disarray. Shoaib Akhtar may have finally proven to the world that he is capable of breaching the 100 mile an hour barrier, but it came at the expense of a wayward and indisciplined spell. His famous yorker was nowhere to be seen, something that has brought him much glory in the past.There are no complaints regarding captaincy on the field though, Waqar kept ringing in the changes and it worked most of the time. Restricting the opposition to 246 on a placid pitch was a reasonable effort, though the bowlers could have wrapped up the innings for under 200 had they shown some urgency. However, in view of the batting performance that may have not been enough anyway.After this crushing defeat Pakistan have nowhere to hide, they must win all their remaining matches (by good margins too), pray for rain to stay away and basically hope for a miracle. The net run rate has been badly damaged by this performance, and in the event of a tie in the points column, Pakistan are likely to suffer either way. If Australia forfeit their match against Zimbabwe, that might deal the killer blow to any remaining chances that Pakistan has.The management needs to re-think their policy yet again. The opening slot requires two genuine batsmen, and at the moment Saleem Elahi is badly needed. Anwar may look in some sort of form, but we have limited options, so they will have to stick with him. The decision to drop Inzamam will be a hard one, but it is time to make this tough call, maybe he will be hungrier to bat well again?I consider it pointless to pick individuals on past reputation as it doesn’t get the team anywhere in the present situation. If Pakistan somehow manage to squeeze their way to the Super Six, maybe Inzamam might be geared up for the challenge at that point. That leaves Taufeeq Umer as the only option, and the team will have to figure out where to slot him in the batting order. Youhana needs to get in at three, and there are no two ways about it!At this point in time its hard to have a positive outlook on future games, but there is a lot to play for, and pride is right at the top of that agenda!Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor
Justin Langer is racing against time to be fit for the Australians’ final warm-up game before the First Test at Edgbaston next Thursday.Batsman Langer was hit on the wrist while fielding in the tour game against the MCC at Arundel yesterday.The wrist is now swollen and it is doubtful whether he will even be able to hold a bat before tomorrow when the Australians take on Essex at Chelmsford.Langer will be desperate to play following a meagre return of four runs in two innings at Arundel.Team physiotherapist Errol Alcott decided an X-ray was unnecessary for Langer and is confident the Western Australian will be fit.”The wrist is very swollen but it has a good range of movement,” saidAlcott. “He will survive.”The swelling has actually gone down a little and he’s got the colour back inhis face – he was a bit pale for a while.”It’s moving very well. It’s one of those impact injuries when the softtissues get squeezed by the ball.”It will be pretty sore today and we will have to work on it solid for him tofeel comfortable.”The decision on whether Langer plays will depend on how much discomfort he feels when gripping the handle.”I think we will have to wait until the morning of the game to see aboutthat,” added Alcott. “I am confident about it, put it that way.”Openers Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden will also search for form againstEssex while Adam Gilchrist, who will captain the side, Mark Waugh, RickyPonting, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee are all likely to return.
It’s been a tough season for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United, who have been unable to establish the kind of fluency and form that has been a staple across the past four years.
Technical director Ross Wilson is ready to enforce action on the transfer front, with Newcastle’s recent draw against Chelsea in the Premier League underlining the problems Howe is beset with.
No side in the English top flight have dropped more points from winning positions – 13 – than the Magpies this year, and this tells of issues in intensity and mentality.
Newcastle are also embroiled in a defensive injury crisis, but the backline isn’t the only area of the pitch that Howe and Wilson and co plan to improve.
How Newcastle plan to strengthen midfield
In Burno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, Newcastle have two of the best midfielders in Europe. But Howe could do with another elite option to serve as a counterpoint, especially with Joelinton drifting at times this term and with Jacob Ramsey yet to prove himself after moving to Tyneside from Aston Villa for £42.5m in the summer.
You get a sense that Newcastle will pounce on a full-back this January should the right opportunity arise, but a top-class centre-midfielder could go a long way toward firing the St. James’ Park side back into the ascendancy.
The interest in academy graduate Elliot Anderson should offer an insight into Howe’s plans, and where he feels Newcastle need reinforcement to reach the next stage in their development.
Should the £100m-rated Anderson prove out of reach, Al-Hilal’s Ruben Neves has been earmarked as a potential alternative. According to Caught Offside, the £410k-per-week Portugal star has expressed a desire to return to the Premier League this winter, and Newcastle are at the front of the pack.
The Toon face stiff competition from Manchester United.
What Ruben Neves would bring to Newcastle
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers star Neves, 28, has Premier League experience and a completeness of style that would align with the way Howe has sculpted his United midfield.
He might not have as high a ceiling as Anderson, but a deal would be far more doable, and he would be ready to provide for Howe’s side for the remainder of the campaign. The prospect of prising Anderson away from the City Ground next month is negligible.
Neves, moreover, has much to give. He has been in fine fettle during his several-year stay in the Saudi Pro League, having been hailed by analyst Raj Chohan as perhaps being the “most underrated player in world football” in recent years, with Wolves’ downfall a by-product of the Portuguese midfielder’s £47m sale in 2023.
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There’s no question that Anderson is the talk of the town this season, but when you look at how he ranks against Neves’ own performance for the Old Gold during the 2022/23 campaign, you see why the latter could be the perfect addition to drive Newcastle back to top form.
Prem Comparison – Ruben Neves vs Elliot Anderson
Stats (*per game)
Neves (22/23)
Anderson (25/26)
Matches (starts)
35 (33)
17 (17)
Goals
6
1
Assists
1
1
Touches*
73.5
92.2
Accurate passes*
48.8 (84%)
58.9 (86%)
Chances created*
0.9
1.6
Succ. dribbles*
0.5 (68%)
1.2 (53%)
Ball recoveries*
7.1
8.3
Tackles + interceptions*
3.7
3.5
Duels (won)*
4.0 (53%)
7.4 (54%)
Data via Sofascore
And two years in Saudi don’t appear to have dulled Neves’ technical sharpness, his senses. In fact, he remains an important part of Roberto Martinez’s Portugal set-up, so combative and cultured and crafty.
Newcastle could do a lot worse than beat Man United to his signature this January. In fact, the Iberian ace would be the perfect complement to Tonali and Guimaraes in the engine room.
Will they win the race? Well, Neves is set to push for a return to English shores this summer. It might just happen for the Magpies.
Huge Anthony Elanga upgrade: Newcastle ready to bid for £100m "superstar"
Newcastle need to strengthen their frontline, having struggled for sharpness at the season’s midpoint.
Andrew Flintoff is heading to India with Lancashire’s academy in late-February, as he steps up his rehabilitation from ankle surgery, and hopes to join his county colleagues in a tournament in the UAE in March if he manages to prove his fitness.Flintoff hasn’t played for England since the World Twenty20 in South Africa last September, having undergone his fourth ankle operation over the winter. He was originally earmarked for the England Lions tour to India, which gets underway on Thursday, but an ECB spokesman said his absence from that trip was not a cause for concern.”It was never definitely decided that Andrew was going to join up with the Lions squad, it was only ever a possibility,” the spokesman told BBC Sport. “The medical team have decided that it would be in his best interests to continue his progress, which is going very well, with Lancashire.”Lancashire’s cricket manager, Mike Watkinson, reiterated the ECB’s faith in Flintoff’s progress. “Lancashire’s pre-season training camp is in Dubai in mid-March, and if everything continues as planned Freddie will be part of that,” he told BBC Sport.The 14-man Lions squad has undergone several changes since it was originally picked last month. Essex’s wicketkeeper James Foster, Gloucestershire’s fast bowler Steve Kirby and the Nottinghamshire seamer Charlie Shreck were called up on Tuesday because of injuries to the Worcestershire pairing of Steven Davies and Kabir Ali. The squad also includes Monty Panesar, who will link up with the senior squad at the end of February for the Tests in New Zealand.
Sussex, the champion county, will face a strong MCC side in the traditional season-opener at Lord’s starting on April 13.The MCC bowling will be spearheaded by Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, while 19-year-old Adil Rashid, who made an immediate impression for Yorkshire last summer, is also given an outing. The batting is almost as strong, with Alastair Cook, who leads the side, and Owais Shah the two England players.MCC have announced that the gates will open at 10.00am on all four days, with play beginning at 11.00am. Ground admission prices, for members’ guests and the general public, are £12 for adults and £6 for juveniles (under 16 years of age) and over-65s.MCC squad Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Will Jefferson (Nottinghamshire), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Nick Compton (Middlesex), Zoheb Sharif (MCC Universities & Cambridge), Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire), Steve Davies (Worcestershire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Steve Harmison (Durham), Graham Onions (Durham), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire).
Sri Lanka’s cricket authorities are hopeful the tsunami-hit Galle International Stadium will be ready to host a Test match against South Africa in August.”We have received a clearance from the government to rebuild the stadium,” said K. Mathivanan, a member of Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee. “We plan to finish construction by August and that will allow us to play one Test there when South Africa come.”South Africa, scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in August for two Tests, were the last team to play a Test at Galle before the tsunami struck in December 26 2004. The stadium’s main pavilion, including the dressing-rooms, and the indoor nets were severely affected.Shane Warne, the Australian leg-spinner, Steve Waugh, the former Australian captain and Ian Botham, former England all-rounder, visited the stadium after the disaster and pledged their support to rebuild it.Galle is a happy hunting ground for Sri Lanka, with six victories in their 11 Tests at the venue.
Hampshire amassed their highest ever National League score against Middlesex as Kevin Pietersen put the disappointment of missing out on a place in the Test squad behind him with 80 off 50 balls. Pietersen cleared the ropes six times but wasn’t the only Hampshire batsman to race along. Simon Katich sped to 85 from 63 and Dimitri Mascarenhas smashed 50 from 26 balls to round off the innings. Middlesex were never in the hunt, despite flaying the bat, and finished 105 runs short.Lancashire cruised past Northants by seven wickets thanks to a powerful display from their top order. Stuart Law hit 54 from 37 balls to launch Lancashire’s pursuit of 216. Mal Loye anchored the innings with 94 from 108 balls with three sixes while Andrew Flintoff chipped in with a rapid 40. Northants had started positively but only David Sales (57) reached a half-century.Worcestershire sealed a hard fought 16-run win over Nottinghamshire at New Road. Ray Price took 4 for 21 to strangle the Notts batting, while Chaminda Vaas chipped in with three wickets, as the required rate climbed. Zander de Bruyn (62) boosted Worcestershire’s total to 190 with help from Gareth Batty (44). Andy Harris cleaned up the tail to finish with 4 for 41 despite suffering a hand injury in the field.A career-best 96 from Ravinder Bopara guided Essex to a five-wicket win over defending champions Glamorgan. A stand of 122 with James Middlebrook (46) rescued Essex from 31 for 4. Glamorgan were given a good start by Robert Croft and Ian Thomas, who added 72 for the first wicket, but the middle-order struggled and it was left to David Hemp (62 not out) to boost the total to 216.
Division Two
A brilliant allround performance from Dinesh Mongia propelled Leicestershire to a 60-run win against Surrey. Mongia marshalled the Leicestershire innings with 67 from 86 balls then snapped up 4 for 15, with his left-arm spin, including Mark Ramprakash who top-scored with 34.Durham completed a comfortable 51-run win against Yorkshire after a consistent effort from their top-order. Mike Hussey (66) and Nicky Peng (60) provided the base and Phil Mustard rounded off the innings by striking 53 from 26 balls – his first limited overs half-century. Yorkshire struggled from the start of their innings and when Michael Vaughan fell for 31, Paul Collingwood and Gareth Breese mopped up the tail.