All posts by h716a5.icu

Sunderland have gone continental in their search for another new striker as Tony Mowbray looks to further add to a squad capable of challenging for Premier League promotion once again.

What are the latest Sunderland transfer rumours?

The Black Cats suffered a disappointing playoff semi-final loss to Luton Town a little over a month ago, but since then they have moved to bring in Nectarios Triantis, Jobe Bellingham and Luis 'Hemir' Semedo.

Semedo impressed for Benfica B last season but is still a relative rookie, having yet to play any senior football, and that could mean Mowbray spreading his proverbial net further out in search for an unpolished gem.

French outlet Le Parisien reports that Rennes forward Matthis Abline may be just the player, with the Black Cats said to be keeping an eye on his situation.

Who is Rennes forward Matthis Abline?

Abline has already played 38 times in Ligue 1 and also has four Europa League appearances to his name, which includes a goal in Rennes' 1-1 group-stage draw with Larnaca last season.

With that strike, he overtook El-Hadji Diouf as Rennes' youngest scorer in European competition, earning praise from football reporter Tom Maston as "another top talent" to emerge through the club's academy.

That was one of just four senior goals the youngster has netted, suggesting he is hardly the 15-goal-plus attacker many Championship clubs crave, but 22 of his 30 league appearances with Rennes and loan side Auxerre came as a substitute last season.

The 20-year-old is also attracting interest from French sides Strasbourg and Lorient, while Rennes value him at €8m (£7m), so he clearly has something about him.

Indeed, while there is definitely room for improvement in terms of his goal return, FBref ranks Abline in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 minutes (1.96) in comparison to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, and top 14% for both successful take-ons (1.20) and touches in the opposition penalty box (5.81).

To give those numbers some context, at a lower level last season, the highly-regarded Ellis Simms registered 1.92 progressive carries per 90 minutes for Sunderland, 0.48 successful take-ons and 4.64 touches in the opposition box.

Abline also stands out in terms of various defensive metrics such as interceptions (0.34 per 90 minutes) and blocks (0.77) – putting him in the top 16% and 18% respectively among his peers – which shows he is capable of doing both sides of the game.

With Amad Diallo back at Manchester United and Jack Clarke continually linked with a move away, it might well be that France U21 international Abline is considered an ideal option to partner the returning Ross Stewart.

Stewart's 1.12 goals and assists per 90 last season was the third-best return of any Championship players to have played 10 games or more, meaning he is capable of taking care of that side of things.

If Abline can add some goals to his game, the data shows he can be an upgrade on Simms at the Stadium of Light, which will in turn only benefit Stewart when he is fully back up to speed.

David de Gea wants to stay at Manchester United but his future looks far from certain, journalist David Ornstein has claimed.

What's the latest on David De Gea?

The Spaniard's £375k-per-week contract is set to expire this summer, but whilst an extension previously looked to be on the cards, there is currently no resolution and he could depart for free.

The 32-year-old has come in for criticism following some glaring errors this season, and Erik ten Hag could look to move on from United's longest serving player.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Ornstein outlined that whilst De Gea is still keen to extend his deal and remain at Old Trafford, he could depart if United choose to replace him.

"It's a huge decision for Manchester United. I think De Gea wants to stay, he intends to report back after the summer break, at which point he'll be out of contract as things stand," he stated.

"Manchester United are not seeing the 30th June as a hard deadline, so they presumably think they could still come to an agreement with him. There were reports recently that the agreement was there, but it doesn't seem that it's there in full and so it presents Manchester United with a massive decision.

"Do they renew him on reduced wages, but still really significant, when he's not the sort of player that Ten Hag is looking for from his goalkeeper, or do they go for somebody else and let him go as a free agent and go for Andre Onana for example, he has been linked or one of a number of keepers that will be gettable.

"So this is a pretty seismic moment for Manchester United and De Gea, and it's gone this far, it looks like he may well leave."

Should Man United keep De Gea?

Although he previously operated at a world-class level for United over the years, it is clear that Ten Hag needs to upgrade on his number one goalkeeper.

De Gea's poor ability on the ball and in the air, which sees him ranked in the bottom 10% of European keepers for both goal kicks and crosses claimed via FBref, fails to help United in possession.

Ten Hag's style, which saw Andre Onana play the ball out from the back at Ajax, may require a more modern keeper than De Gea, and given that the former Spain international could depart for free and make space on United's wage bill, now seems to be the ideal time to move on and find a replacement.

A look back at the week that was in the WBBL, ahead of the week that will be the final leg of the tournament

Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins19-Jan-2017Yes, ties, plural. We’re misquoting on purpose here. Each season has one game more memorable than the rest, and January 14 was probably it. The two Sydney sides make you think of close matches, after last year’s thrilling final, but it doesn’t get any closer than two ties in the same match. Once in regulation play, again after the Super Over.And how the pendulum swung throughout. First the Sixers lost their powerful openers cheaply, then surged back through Ash Gardner’s hitting with Sarah McGlashan in support. Thunder’s experienced heads kept being influential, Rene Farrell and Stafanie Taylor with the early wickets, Erin Osborne getting McGlashan, then captain Alex Blackwell proving she can do anything, stumping Gardner off Taylor as a makeshift wicketkeeper.Twenty-three off the last three overs was below-par given the platform, and Thunder should have chased it easily thanks to Taylor’s 68 from 51 balls. She was out in the second-last over leaving 11 required from ten balls, but Osborne and Naomi Stalenberg couldn’t find the boundary, a succession of singles bringing them level.Enter Kim Garth, the Irish seamer occupying the Sixers’ international rookie spot. She hadn’t been near the playing XI until the previous day, but with Marizanne Kapp absent due to South Africa duties, the 20-year-old was being thrown the ball by Ellyse Perry for the highest-pressure job.She did it with distinction – four singles and a couple of twos. And when Alyssa Healy charged Farrell first ball for a lofted four, that should have been it. But her calamitous running undid that work. Healy drove straight to the bowler and ran blindly; Perry was hesitant, and then, expecting the gathered deflection to be thrown to the struggling Perry’s end, Healy didn’t bother to extend her bat into the non-striker’s ground and was instead run-out herself at point-blank range.Perry carved two through cover to reduce the target to three, then holed out next ball to long-on. Why the cool head of McGlashan wasn’t employed is a mystery, but Angela Reakes skewed a single and was run-out reneging on an impossible second. With one ball to face and two runs needed, Gardner could only slam a single to cover, Farrell standing over the stumps with ball in hand to render the second impossible. Fourteen boundaries to 16 was the countback – thanks largely to Taylor’s nine – and Thunder won on that technicality.The ties that defineThe thrill for the Thunder only lasted two days, before they stumbled against Hobart Hurricanes and again undermined their bid for the top four. And so it is down to the frenetic final weekend, a format we have become accustomed to in WBBL.Eight of 55 games remain in the regular season, and teams pair off to play the same opponent twice over consecutive days on Friday and Saturday. There are four likely candidates to make the finals, though other sides could yet force their way in.The Sixers are guaranteed a spot even with two losses. Brisbane Heat sit fifth, but can force their way well into considerations with two home games against the bottom-placed Adelaide Strikers.Perth’s Scorchers will finish top-two if they win twice against the inconsistent Thunder, but could be jumped if they lose once and Hobart Hurricanes win twice.Hobart is indeed where the main action will be, given the Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars are currently third and fourth, and their mid-table clash will dictate fate for so many teams beyond their own.Hobart is where the action will be heading for the final round•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesThe sides that are boundEarthbound, that is. Those who have struggled to lift off, and now look to snatch the trailing rope of a rising hot-air balloon for a last miracle ascent – Thunder and Renegades.In short, if the Stars and Hurricanes split their contest one game each, neither of those two sides can pass them. But if either loses twice, and Brisbane loses once, the Thunder can still sneak in by beating Perth twice.The Renegades would need to beat the Sixers twice while relying on the Thunder to lose one, Brisbane to lose both, and one of the Stars-Hurricanes double to lose both. Tough gig.Adelaide Strikers cannot make the finals, and are left to work out what went wrong this season and address it for next time.The side left behindAs for the Melbourne Stars, it’s all a bit too familiar. Still in the top four, but after a torrid run of form since Christmas, they’re back in the same position as last season: a sudden death last round to qualify for the finals, with no momentum behind them. Last year it didn’t end well.In the penultimate weekend of group games they finished off the Strikers for the second time in a week, Jess Cameron’s 42 pushing the required chase above six an over before Adelaide again collapsed.But the fixture that mattered came later against Perth. It started well – they knocked over the international trio of Elyse Villani, Nicole Bolton and Suzie Bates inside six overs. Then the cavalry came in the form of Lauren Ebsary, unbeaten on 45, and Katherine Brunt’s fast 32.Sure enough, after Meg Lanning was removed early by Brunt, the Stars couldn’t rally and were held to a meek 97 in 20 overs. That made four losses in six starts. Melbourne’s early-season wins mean their destiny remains in their own hands. Just.The Stars’ destiny remains in their own hands•Getty ImagesThe sides that flyLast year the Scorchers underperformed relative to their strength on paper. Second time up they’ve earned their progress. The Stars limping run chase was in no small part due to Brunt and her England partner Anya Shrubsole pairing off with the new ball for Perth. Duos don’t come more frugal or effective.Perth didn’t miss out on more points against the Strikers either, led by impressive 20-year-old Heather Graham, a consistent contributor with bat and ball throughout WBBL02. Her 39 not out in 30 balls steered her side home.Brisbane’s Heat have found form at the right time, coinciding with Beth Mooney doing likewise at the top of the list. Her 45 was enough for an easy win over the Renegades, combining for another half-century stand with Kirby Short.They lost the reverse fixture due to a Duckworth-Lewis chase, but that wouldn’t have cost them much sleep. What will is that Indian signing Smriti Mandhana has torn an ACL, ends her WBBL and potentially a lot more cricket in 2017. A blow for a talented young player.Meanwhile, the Hurricanes keep on doing what they do best – finding new ways to win. After the Sixers knocked them off to begin the weekend, courtesy of Perry clocking yet another match-winning innings, the pressure was on when they returned home to face Thunder.Julie Hunter got superstar Staf Taylor for zero, before Kiwi international Amy Satterthwaite reinforced why she is one of the form players on the planet with 5 for 17. The Canes’ chase of 116 was never in doubt, and the team is never to be underestimated.

The ultimate dream as an academy player must be reaching the first team with your closest friends, your teammates for years – those who have had the exact same journey.Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah lived that dream at Chelsea.It was not one with a fairytale ending, however, with Mount reportedly set to complete a move to Old Trafford, ending 18 years at the London club, where he became the player that managed to attract interest from Manchester United in the first place.With the news of his pending exit, Chalobah shared his emotional goodbye on social media.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount?

Amid a disappointing Premier League season last time out, finishing in the bottom half at Chelsea, Mount reportedly rejected the Blues’ contract offers and looked set to leave on a free next summer. And that’s when United swooped in.

Despite negotiations going back and forth, the Red Devils finally reached an agreement with the London club on a deal worth £60m, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Fans won’t like to admit it, but Chelsea will likely miss Mount next season. As per Opta, since the 2019/20 campaign, he has arguably been their best player, leading the way in appearances, chances created, goals and assists. The fact is, he was a crucial part of the squad at Stamford Bridge.

It’s a shame for the academy, too, having seen Mount make it all the way to the first team, before becoming a central figure for the Blues. With the potential to replicate the likes of Frank Lampard as a club icon, however, the England international moves on to the Red Devils.

For context of how unlikely an exit once seemed, if you told us that Mount would be heading to Manchester United a year ago, we’d have assumed a late-season fixture was taking place, rather than a transfer…

What did Trevoh Chalobah say to Mason Mount?

An emotional Chalobah seemed to issue a heartfelt goodbye to Mount – who he came through the academy with – saying on Twitter: “My boy.” – he also added a crying emoji and a broken heart.

Reaching the first-team, like Mount, the defender has since enjoyed many moments to remember, and will only be looking to add to his memories under new manager Mauricio Pochettino next season.

A fresh start under a new boss could see 23-year-old Chalobah establish a starting place for the Blues once more, amid the usual competition for places.

Pre-season will certainly be an important one, as Chelsea look to turn things around, even without Mount, to make a return to the Champions League places in the coming campaign.

On Sunday, BCB’s operations committee chairman, said Joshi would join the team for the Sri Lanka series

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2017BCB president Nazmul Hassan has said that the board is in talks with former India spinner Sunil Joshi for a role as the Bangladesh team’s spin consultant for their series against Sri Lanka next month. On Sunday, BCB’s operations committee chairman, said Joshi would join the team for the Sri Lanka series, and former South Africa batsman Jonty Rhodes is also in the mix for the series as fielding consultant.*”At least for now, we are getting Joshi for the Sri Lanka series,” Akram said. “We have held talks with him. We will decide whether to keep him for a longer period after seeing his work. Jonty [Rhodes] is also nearly confirmed.”Joshi, who played 15 Tests and 69 ODIs for India between 1996 and 2001, is currently coach of the Assam side in India’s domestic circuit and also had a stint as Oman’s spin-bowling coach during the 2016 World T20.*09.25GMT, February 12: This article was updated after Akram Khan spoke.

Chelsea are keeping tabs on Emiliano Martinez this summer, according to a report from Football Transfers.

How many games has Emiliano Martinez played for Aston Villa?

The 30-year-old has become a first-team regular for Aston Villa since his switch to the Premier League outfit back in 2020/21, having struggled to get frequent minutes at former club Arsenal. He missed only two games in the entirety of the 2022/23 season, playing 36 games for the Villans and conceding only 38 along the way. It meant he had a rate of just 1.09 goals against per 90 – his best ever in a full season.

Martinez then is currently at the top of his game it seems – and that is why bigger clubs are now sniffing around the shot-stopper. According to a report from Football Transfers, there is indeed interest in his services this summer, with Chelsea set to battle Man United to try and snap up the goalkeeper.

With Mauricio Pochettino now in charge at Stamford Bridge, it has led to the player being placed on the side's transfer radar as the former Spurs boss is believed to be a personal admirer of the player. The Premier League side though are yet to launch an official offer – United have not done so either as of yet.

It's unclear just how much a potential deal for Martinez might cost. There is no fee mentioned in the report and with no official bid lodged yet, there is no estimation as to how much a transfer may set one of the interested parties back. Transfermarkt suggest that his value is currently around the 28 million Euro mark (or £24m), which wouldn't be a huge amount if that was the case, but would still represent a profit on the player for Villa.

What has been said about Emiliano Martinez?

Considering how much he may cost, it may be worth Chelsea actually launching a bid for his services soon. Football journalist Josh Bunting called him "incredible" because of his performances for Argentina and added that he always "delivers" in "real pressure" moments.

Martinez is clearly a leader who thrives on the biggest stage then and that would suit the Blues down to the ground, as they look to try and push on and become the trophy-winning force they have so often been in the 21st century.

Steve O’Keefe took 12 wickets and Steven Smith scored a remarkable century as Australia completed a 333-run win over India in the first Test in Pune

The Report by Brydon Coverdale25-Feb-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:54

Chappell: India should have used feet against O’Keefe

Fortress India has been sacked. Or should that be SOKed? Not since 2012 had India lost a Test at home, and rarely in that stretch of 20 matches had they even been held to a draw. Last time Australia toured India for Tests they were crushed 4-0. They entered this match having lost their past nine Tests in Asia. Not since 2004 and the days of Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne had Australia won a Test in India. Not even Nostradamus could have seen this result coming.Australia not only beat India, they thrashed them. Humiliated them. On a dry, turning pitch that should have suited India’s spinners, Steven Smith scored the only hundred of the match and Steve O’Keefe took as many wickets as R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined. So many, in fact, that his 12 for 70 were the best figures ever by a visiting spinner in a Test on Indian soil. India were humbled for 105 and 107; never had they scored so few in a home Test loss.The match was over inside three days, Australia the victors by 333 runs. The series is still alive, of course, but India have much to ponder over the next week, ahead of the Bangalore Test. It would be easy to look at the pitch and suggest the toss played a significant role, but that would be unfair to Australia, who outplayed India in all facets of the game, and more than doubled their totals in both innings. In any case, Australia had won all four tosses back in 2013.No, this a was a victory based on outstanding left-arm spin from O’Keefe, whose accuracy and ability to turn some deliveries but not others made him a constant threat; on a remarkable 109 from Smith in the second innings, which some observers said was the best hundred they had seen; on fielding that was not quite flawless but not far off it. And, yes, on what looked from the outside like a mental capitulation from India’s batsmen in both innings.This was the 10th home Test of India’s summer. It would be natural that they might show signs of fatigue, but there are three more Tests in this series. They must find a way to perk up quickly. If they are searching for positives, at least they have two extra days of recuperation ahead of the second Test. They can take little else from this result, their first loss in a home Test since England prevailed in Kolkata in December 2012.That too was a win that featured a defining hundred from the visiting captain, on that occasion Alastair Cook. In Pune, Smith’s 109 – more than the entire India team scored in either of their innings – helped to ensure Australia’s victory. It was his 18th Test hundred, his fifth in consecutive Tests against India, and his first on Indian soil. And, given the pitch and the quality of India’s bowlers, surely his best.He made the most of his luck – dropped three times on the second day – and resumed on the third morning on 59, with Australia’s lead already standing at 298. Already enough, the way India batted. But Smith made sure of it, scored freely on both sides of the wicket, using his feet to India’s spinners, and forging partnerships of consequence with several men in the middle and lower order. When he was finally lbw trying to pull Jadeja, his job was done.Some late slogging from Mitchell Starc, who hit three sixes in his 30 off 31 balls, helped lift Australia to 285 and set India 441 for victory. They would have to break the all-time record for the highest successful chase in Test history in order to keep their unbeaten home streak alive. They never looked like getting close. Within six overs they had lost both their openers and both their reviews, and all of their hope.O’Keefe broke through in his first over when he skidded one on to trap Vijay lbw, and in the next over Nathan Lyon spun one in to strike KL Rahul in line and another lbw was given. Both openers asked for reviews, but neither were successful. It mattered little, for the procession of wickets that followed were all straightforward enough that no reviews would have saved India.The wicket of Virat Kohli embodied India’s uncertainty against O’Keefe: he shouldered arms, confident that the ball would turn away from him, and failed to detect that this one was going on with the arm. Kohli lost his off stump. Ajinkya Rahane followed by driving a catch to cover off O’Keefe, and Ashwin was lbw on review when he pressed forward to O’Keefe and the ball struck pad fractionally before bat.Wriddhiman Saha came and went, also lbw to an O’Keefe skidder, and straight after tea the last remaining top-six batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara, fell in more or less the same way. India kept playing for turn, O’Keefe kept rapping them in front with straight balls. Of course, that is oversimplifying things: he turned enough deliveries to varying degrees that the straight ones became the danger, when the batsmen expected turn that didn’t come.By this stage, O’Keefe had 12 wickets for the match and a realistic chance of overtaking Ian Botham’s 13 as the best bowling by any visiting player in India. Instead, Lyon ran through the remaining three wickets: Jadeja was bowled trying to cut, Ishant Sharma was caught at leg gully, and Jayant Yadav gloved a catch to Matthew Wade to make the result official. A result that nobody saw coming three days earlier.

Leeds United have been keeping tabs on AZ Alkmaar defender Milos Kerkez ahead of a potential move to the Championship, according to reports.

Who is Milos Kerkez?

Kerkez is primarily a left-back who currently plies his trade at the AFAS Stadium having moved there from AC Milan’s U19s back in January 2022. He’s since gone on to become a regular feature of the first-team having made 33 starts out of 34 Eredivisie matches last season.

The Hungary international’s contract isn’t set to expire for another three years, but after emerging as Pascal Jansen’s fourth best-performing defensive player during the previous term, he’s caught the eye of the 49ers, and not for the first time.

Back in April, Portuguese outlet Record reported that the Whites were applying pressure to sign the 19-year-old ahead of the ongoing window, and with Daniel Farke now in charge, it seems that they are still continuing to pursue a deal for their target.

In Yorkshire, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo and Leo Hjelde are the boss’ current options at left-back but it’s currently unknown as to which players will be departing over the coming weeks following relegation, so reinforcements may well be needed, which is where the teenager comes into play.

Are Leeds signing Kerkez?

According to The Daily Mail, Leeds have “checked on” Kerkez “over the past year” ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United, fellow second-tier rivals Leicester City and Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund are also keeping tabs, but it’s Bournemouth who are the first club to have “opened discussions”.

The Cherries are “in talks” regarding a deal for the defender, who is valued at “over” £20m by AZ Alkmaar, so the Whites hierarchy will have to act fast should they want to beat their competitors in the race for his signature.

Could Kerkez be a good addition for Farke?

Leeds will know that Kerkez would be more of a signing for the long-term future of the club being just 19 years of age, but having been hailed a “high-quality” left-back by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he would be a promising acquisition for Farke to have at his disposal.

Sponsored by Adidas, the left-footed gem won 32 out of his 54 tackles made last season which was the second-highest success rate throughout the whole of his squad, as per FBRef, whilst also averaging 1.5 clearances each outing, so he’s obviously strong in the natural aspect of his game.

The youngster however equally contributed to efforts in the final third having ranked in the 92nd percentile for attacking touches in the opposition’s area by players in his position, which resulted in him clocking up 12 goal contributions (seven assists and five goals) across all competitions, showing his desire to burst down the flank.

Finally, Kerkez would provide the manager with some great versatility with his ability to operate slightly higher up on the left side of the midfield and even on the opposite wing at right-back alongside his usual role in the defensive backline which is yet another attribute that the hierarchy will be attracted to.

South Africa spinner Dane Piedt, who joined the squad on Sunday, has said he was surprised by the New Zealand conditions and their tactic to not back their seamers

Firdose Moonda in Wellington20-Mar-2017New Zealand have done themselves a disservice by not trusting their seam strength, according to Dane Piedt. The South African offspinner joined the squad on Sunday, as a reinforcement in the spin department for the Hamilton Test, and said he was surprised by New Zealand conditions.”I think they have shot themselves in the foot. They didn’t back their seamers to do the job, and I thought their seamers bowled pretty well in South Africa. They bowled us out for 263 in Durban on quite a sporting deck,” Piedt said. “I didn’t expect that New Zealand would play two spinners in the first Test and when they left Tim Southee out I was also surprised. Just the fact that two series before that, Bangladesh and Pakistan were here and they played on surfaces that were quite sporting for the seamers. I expected it to be the same, but obviously with the type of seam attack we have they thought they would be under pressure.”In the four home Tests before this series, in which New Zealand were victorious in every one, their quicks contributed heavily to their success. They bowled Pakistan out four times out of four – twice under 180, twice under 240 – and bowled Bangladesh out three times out of four – twice under 180. In the Pakistan series, Tim Southee topped the wicket charts, followed by Colin de Grandhomme and Neil Wagner. In the Bangladesh rubber, Trent Boult topped the bowlers’ list, with Southee and Wagner next.Piedt can’t be blamed for expecting conditions to be prepared to favour those players but a combination of wet weather and slower venues have prevented New Zealand from tapping into that. Instead, they have gone the other way and two of the three surfaces for this series – Dunedin and Hamilton – are the complete opposite of seamer-friendly. Still, it was in Wellington, the greenest and bounciest of the tracks, that New Zealand succumbed to a spin threat they may have underestimated, which didn’t even include Piedt.They lost a dozen wickets to Keshav Maharaj and JP Duminy which selector Gavin Larsen called the “most disappointing thing” about their eight-wicket defeat. “You couldn’t call that Basin deck a raging, turning deck. Maharaj, to his credit, bowled nicely with control and put the ball in the right areas but I don’t think it was overly threatening. To allow a spinner like him to take 6 for 40 is unacceptable,” Larsen said. “When you come to a deck that might turn a little bit more, you might argue it’s going to present even more challenges.”Will South Africa change a winning combination to include Dane Piedt?•Getty ImagesThat would be Hamilton, where Faf du Plessis expects a “dustbowl” and although Larsen clarified that New Zealand have not specifically asked for one, it may be what they get. “The history would suggest that this season, in particular, it has turned up there. If you’re asking if we’ve ordered the pitch to turn, no we haven’t,” he said. “The reality is that that’s the way it has been panning out in Hamilton and we’ve picked our team accordingly, similar to Dunedin where we thought it would be dry.”And so, Piedt has his best chance of making a Test comeback after being discarded following the home series against New Zealand last August. Although Piedt had not done much wrong, the South African selectors felt they needed someone with a little more control and Maharaj provided that. In previous interviews, Piedt admitted to his ability taking a knock but he has nothing but praise for the man who ousted him.”He’s shown that he’s in unbelievable form and he’s done that in domestic cricket so I can only be happy for him. I spoke to him last night and I told him how impressive it’s been to watch him bowl on the international stage. It’s never hard feelings. It’s about spin bowlers coming through and being able to show their skill to the rest of the world,” Piedt said. “His changes of pace and the angles he bowls at are impressive. The shape of his ball is really good as well. If you’re bowling consistently in the same sort of area you’re always going to be rewarded, like he has. He’s quite a patient guy so he does it for long periods of time.”While Maharaj, a left-arm spinner, “doesn’t need a lot of tricks” according to Piedt, who cited Rangana Herath and Ravindra Jadeja as examples, Piedt has been working on a few variations that he may bring out if selected. “There’s always something I’m trying in the nets. I’m bowling to the old dogs like Andrew Puttick and Dane Vilas, and I’m trying new things all the time,” he said.But will South Africa tinker with a winning combination that Piedt himself believes is “the superior team at the moment”? Perhaps not.”I had just got onto the plane and I saw JP had taken four wickets, and I told myself even if I don’t play at least I’m getting recognised again. I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “I’ve had quite an up-and-down Test career. I made my debut in 2014, had a freak shoulder injury and came back from that. So there’s been a lot of frustration and thinking will I ever play for South Africa again. Just to be here again is a privilege.”

Bangladesh have recalled Shafiul Islam to their 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy

Mohammad Isam20-Apr-2017Bangladesh have recalled Shafiul Islam to their 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy. There was no place for wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, pace bowler Subashis Roy and allrounder Shuvagata Hom, who were all part of Bangladesh’s most recent ODI series in Sri Lanka.Nurul and Subashis, however, have been included in the preliminary squad that will undergo a training camp in Sussex from April 26 to May 6 and also play in a triangular ODI series in Ireland that begins in mid-May. Shuvagata is the only player to miss out on both squads. Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said his omission was due to English conditions requiring fewer spinners.Shafiul, the 27-year old fast bowler, last played an ODI against England in October 2016, after which he suffered a hamstring injury during the Bangladesh Premier League. He has taken 63 wickets at 36.41 in his 56 ODIs. Minhajul said that Shafiul was always part of the selectors’ plans but had to be sidelined due to the injury.Bangladesh squad for Sussex camp and Ireland tri-series

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy, Sunzamul Islam, Nurul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Shafiul Islam

Nurul and Subashis didn’t play any ODIs in Sri Lanka, with both having played during Bangladesh’s previous series in New Zealand.Apart from Subashis and Nurul, the middle-order batsman Nasir Hossain has also been included in the squad for the Ireland tri-series. Nasir had last played for Bangladesh against England in October last year, after which he missed out on tours to New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka. He had recently been part of the BCB’s Emerging squad, and made a hundred in the Dhaka Premier League.Shakib Al Hasan, who is currently playing the IPL in India, will join the squad on May 4. ESPNcricinfo understands, meanwhile, that Mustafizur Rahman will return to Bangladesh on April 25 and join his team-mates in Sussex thereafter.