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Russell Domingo has been given the safety of a contract extension until the end of South Africa’s England tour next August

Firdose Moonda26-Oct-20161:44

Firdose: Domingo gets another crack at an ICC event

From having his position as head coach under scrutiny seven months ago, Russell Domingo has now been given the safety of a contract extension until the end of South Africa’s England tour next August. Domingo, whose contract was due to expire at the end of April 2017, will be in charge for the next 13 Test matches and the Champions Trophy in June 2017. Team manager Mohammed Moosajee has been given the same extension.”As part of the domestic cricket review, we are currently evaluating the entire coaching framework in South Africa and the Board believed the best approach at present was to extend the tenure of Mr Domingo until the end of the England tour in 2017,” Haroon Lorgat, the CSA CEO said.”Naturally the performances of the Proteas was a key factor in the Board’s unanimous decision. The recent 1-0 Sunfoil Test Series win against New Zealand and the impressive 5-0 win in the Momentum ODI Series against world champions Australia, resulting in us being the first nation to achieve a clean sweep against them, were noted. In addition, the excellent Proteas discipline and the positive culture throughout the coaching team, the player leadership group and the rest of the players were viewed as exemplary.”The domestic review is separate from the abandoned but soon-to-be resurrected national team review, which was due to take place after South Africa’s World T20 exit. Former national rugby captain Francois Pienaar was the highest-profile person on the four-man panel that was due to begin work in May. When they failed to agree terms with CSA, the committee disbanded and the review was abandoned. However, another process is now underway, which will review the performances of all national teams, which is unconnected from the domestic review that was concluded earlier in the year.Among the domestic review’s recommendations was the formation of an eight-team T20 premier league to revamp the format in the country but, if that suggestion is implemented, it will only happen in the 2017-18 season. It was not known that Domingo’s position was also part of the domestic review panel’s scope; however, there was a pressing need for certainty over Domingo’s future because of the timing of the Champions Trophy.If Domingo’s contract was not going to be renewed at the end of April, South Africa’s new coach would not have enjoyed any game time with the team ahead of the ICC event in England. South Africa do not have any fixtures scheduled between the end of March, when they tour New Zealand, and the England tour in May. As a result, a decision on Domingo had to be made at the earliest opportunity and after South Africa failed to make the final of the Caribbean triangular tournament in June, it was being speculated his time was up.However, Domingo enjoyed the support of Test and ODI captain AB de Villiers and was given the chance to redeem himself in the home series against New Zealand and Australia. A team culture camp preceded those series in which South Africa plotted what they call a new path.Stand-in captain Faf du Plessis also revealed that the coaching staff had been a major part of the discussions over changing the direction and credited them with South Africa’s turnaround. Although they have only climbed to No. 5 on the Test rankings from slumping to No.7 at the end of last summer, they are up to No. 2 in ODIs and have managed that without de Villiers, who is out injured. Importantly, Domingo has embraced the transformation targets and South Africa have unearthed some depth, which has seen them get back on track and earned Domingo a contract extension.

Inzamam ul-Haq has agreed to continue as head coach of Afghanistan till 2017 following the team’s recent success in Zimbabwe, where they clinched both the ODIs and T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Nov-2015Inzamam ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain who had originally agreed to coach Afghanistan on a temporary basis, is believed to have agreed to a new two-year deal period following the team’s recent success in Zimbabwe, where they clinched both the ODIs and T20Is – their first series win against a Test playing nation.”I spoke to Inzamam and he has accepted a two-year contract with the Afghanistan team which will do them a lot of good,” Kabir Khan, the former Afghanistan coach, told PTI. “Inzamam is satisfied with what he saw in Zimbabwe and believes that the Afghanistan team has good cricket talent and can move ahead.”Kabir, who is now a national selector in Pakistan, said Inzamam was happy with his first stint with the team, and that his experience and cricketing acumen will help improve the team’s batting standards. “Inzamam is a cricket great and he can do a lot to improve their batting standards,” Kabir said. “And his calibre and stature is such he will remain above any petty politics which have hurt Afghanistan cricket.”Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 388 ODIs in a career that spanned over a decade and a half, was offered a similar position by the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2013, which he declined.

Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh batsman, has said the biggest inspiration for his century was his Test opening partner, Jahurul Islam

Mohammad Isam in Hambantota23-Mar-2013Tamim Iqbal had a long talk with Jahurul Islam on the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. In the discussion between one batsman who hasn’t scored an international hundred for nearly two years and another who is known to possess a perceptive mind, the dominant topic had to be the hundred that wasn’t coming for Tamim.When it finally came in the form of 112 runs that gave Bangladesh a genuine chance to win the first ODI, Tamim was quick to thank his opening partner from the Colombo Test and someone he has known for a long time.”The biggest inspiration for this hundred was Jahurul Islam,” Tamim told ESPNcricinfo. “We stayed up till 11.30 last night and discussed some important points. It really worked for me.”I was talking to myself every ball after reaching 50. I wanted to keep my process in shape but then after I had hit a boundary, a current passed through my body. I gave a catch but it got dropped. Riyad told me to go to the 70s and then think clearly. Nasir helped out too.”Jahurul’s advice wasn’t just from outside the field. When he would walk in with the drinks as one of the substitutes, there were more words of encouragement for Tamim. “He reminded me of what he had talked about last night. He told me to that if I try to bat for 40 overs, I can score a hundred. So I would like to thank him. Jahurul is a big part of this century.”He also said that if a batsman makes 30, he starts thinking of a 50. So when you will reach 70 or 80, you will automatically start thinking of a 100. There was a gap for a long time, but I hope it won’t be a longer gap next time.”Tamim hadn’t scored an international hundred since June 2010, and no ODI hundreds since February 2010. In the meantime, he had scored 18 fifties in all formats, and eleven in ODIs and his batting average during the hundred-less period has actually been better than his career averages.His first three hundreds came in 74 games, but the fourth one has taken him another 45. He has often batted at a high strike-rate, but hasn’t played the long innings often enough. There was no serious criticism of his inability to convert half-centuries into hundreds but it was a concern for him and he had mentioned it a few times over the past year.He took his time on Saturday, moving from 80 to 100 in 41 deliveries and moved from nine to ten boundaries in 45 balls. Before and after however, he was at his best. He brought out some excellent shots, and though he survived an easy drop by Angelo Mathews on 54, he didn’t want to look back or give it away again.”I got a hundred after two and a half years. Someone asked me if I have the passion to be one of the best players in the world. That stuck on my mind and I continued to think about it.”I was sharing with [Jahurul Islam] Omi last night the wrong things I have been doing or what I should do. I was a bit lucky today, I got a life on 54. I think I batted brilliantly after that.”On the day that he ended his century drought, Tamim suffered a hairline fracture while fielding which will sideline him for the next four-six weeks.

Toby Radford, the former Middlesex and Sussex batsman, has been named West Indies assistant coach in place of David Williams

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2012Toby Radford, the former Middlesex and Sussex batsman, has been named West Indies assistant coach in place of David Williams.Radford has previously been in charge of the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Barbados and will now work with the senior team, which is coached by Ottis Gibson, on a tour-by-tour basis beginning with the home series against Australia which starts this month.After a brief playing career which amounted to 14 first-class matches, Radford was made Middlesex coach in 2007 before moving to the Caribbean in 2010.Williams, the former West Indies wicketkeeper who played 11 Tests and 36 one-day internationals between 1992 and 1998, said he still hoped play a role in the future of Caribbean cricket.”I am disappointed, but these things happen in life and you have to pick up the slack and move on,” Williams told the . “Just a couple of days ago they called me about the position. They wanted a coach to work with the younger batters.”I enjoyed my time. It was really a great experience and I want to thank the West Indies Cricket Board for that experience. It is not the end of the road. I hope the West Indies Cricket Board knows that I still have a lot to offer West Indies cricket.”Edited by Andrew McGlashan

Imran Tahir, South Africa’s Pakistan-born legspinner, has been advised ten days’ rest to deal with a fractured left thumb

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2011Imran Tahir, South Africa’s Pakistan-born legspinner, will require ten days of rest after sustaining a chip fracture on his left thumb. He remains available for South Africa’s match against India on Saturday and could start his recovery after that.”The selection committee will decide whether that 10-day period will start before or after the game,” Mohammed Moosajee, the team manger said. “He will still be a part of the World Cup going forward.” Moosajee could not confirm when a final call will be taken on Tahir, saying that it may be “on the morning of the game.”Tahir sustained the injury during last Sunday’s six-run defeat to England, when he took a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Stuart Broad. His thumb has been immobilised, is in a splint, and he was X-rayed on Wednesday in Nagpur. The scans were sent back to South Africa, to hand specialist Dr Mike Solomons, who recommended the 10-day rest period.The fracture is not on Tahir’s bowling hand and he was able to bowl in the nets on Thursday, an indication that he may be considered for the match against India. Tahir was part of South Africa’s squad that defeated India 3-2 in January, but did not play a game because he was being preserved as a secret weapon for the World Cup. He has since impressed, with 11 wickets in three matches, and is the leading wicket-taker in the team.
In the ten-day period after the India game, South Africa play Ireland and Bangladesh – a possible opportunity to rest Tahir – before the knockout stage. Johan Botha is in line to replace Tahir when his rest period begins.Tahir is not South Africa’s only injury concern. AB de Villiers has been unable to keep wicket in the last two matches because of a stiff back but was seen practicing specific drills to test his flexibility on Thursday.

West Zone turned in an allround effort that totally outclassed Central Zone in an exceedingly one-sided 216-run victory , at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara

Cricinfo staff08-Mar-2010
Scorecard
West Zone turned in an all-round effort that totally outclassed Central Zone in an exceedingly one-sided 216-run victory, at the Moti Bagh Stadium.Central won the toss and little else, on a day when they were dominated almost from the outset. Chirag Pathak’s early dismissal gave them a handy start after they decided to field first, but Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara weighed in with classy knocks that easily nullified the early loss. Rahane dropped anchor and kept one end up while Pujara unleashed an attractive array of strokes. Both batsmen hit a couple of sixes each and a handful of boundaries, but were unable to go on to three figures. Pankaj Singh stalled West’s progress, picking three quick wickets after the 154-run partnership, to finish with creditable figures of 4 for 38. However, Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja changed the complexion of the game completely in the last ten overs, off which West plundered 126 runs. Both the India allrounders took a liking to the length-offerings from Sudeep Tyagi and RP Singh, as well as Suresh Raina’s part-time offspin. Yusuf raced to a 24-ball 59, while Jadeja was unbeaten on 42 off 18 balls.The stuffing had been knocked out of Central and their token effort at chasing the mammoth 336 never took off. Despite early drops from Rohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni, the top-order could not capitalize, and wickets fell at regular intervals. Munaf Patel was unlucky not to be rewarded in his tight spell, but Dhawal Kulkarni and Jayesh Odedra chipped in with two scalps apiece. Central were in deep trouble when the in-form Mohammad Kaif fell to a leading edge after closing the face of his bat too soon against Kulkarni. When Suresh Raina dragged his foot out of the crease, in front of an alert Parthiv Patel, the chase was practically over. Jadeja hastened the end with his incisive brand of left-arm spin, as West marched into the final to be played tomorrow, where they will face North Zone, at the same venue.

عبر وليد سليمان لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي عن سعادته بتتويج فريقه بلقب السوبر الأفريقي، موجهًا الشكر للجماهير على دعمها.

ونجح الأهلي في التتويج بلقب السوبر الإفريقي للمرة السابعة في تاريخه، وذلك على حساب نهضة بركان بهدفين سجلهما محمد شريف وصلاح محسن.

طالع أيضًا.. فيديو | الأهلي يبرز لحظة سجود الخطيب بعد التتويج بالسوبر الإفريقي

وقال وليد سليمان في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “الأهلي”: “الذي يلعب في الأهلي يدفع ضريبة تحقيق البطولة والتفكير في البطولة التالية”.

وتابع: “أشكر جماهير الأهلي على دعمهم الكبير لي، اليوم هذه البطولة رقم 20 لي مع الأهلي وكأس السوبر الثالث لي”.

وعن لقطة اهداء الميداليات للخطيب رئيس النادي، قال: “نحن لا نعرف ماذا نفعل مع الخطيب، هو دائما معنا في السفر ويدعمنا، لن أقول إن هذا تكريم لأنه يستحق أكثر من ذلك، كنا نريد أن نفعل أكثر من ذلك ولكن هذا ما استطعنا فعله، وجميعا نحبه”.

واختتم: “شرف لي التواجد في الأهلي، وأحمد ربنا على ذلك، منذ صغري وأحلم بالتواجد في هذا الكيان وأكون جزءًا من تاريخ النادي، أشكر جميع زملائي على مدار مسيرتي وللجماهير”.

A total of 997 players have represented the England national team at least once over 999 matches in almost 150 years of English international football history, from that first match in Scotland in 1872 to the 100th against Montenegro later this week.

Some of them are legends and some are mere mortals.

Down the years we’ve seen humble local lads shine at Wembley alongside global football superstars and many of those in between.

We’ve seen star strikers bang in the goals with the three lions on their shirts, masters of clean sheets on the international stage and midfield maestros.

We’ve seen pioneers on and off the field, men that have lifted a FIFA World Cup for England and plenty that have come so close to glory.

But who will make it into our list of the top 15 stars to have ever worn the Three Lions shirt?

15. Sir Geoff Hurst

Copyright: MirrorPix

Coming in at 15 is the only ever player to have scored a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup final, bringing Sir Alf Ramsey’s team victory over West Germany in 1966, Sir Geoff Hurst.

The former West Ham United man would earn his place on our list for that achievement alone, it’s just a bonus that he recorded a further 48 appearances and 21 goals with the three lions on his chest.

14. Michael Owen

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From one lethal England goalscorer to another and ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United hitman Michael Owen, holder of 89 caps and 40 goals for his nation.

The striker’s international record places him in fourth in the list of the Three Lions’ top goalscorers behind only Jimmy Greaves, Sir Bobby Charlton, leader Wayne Rooney and our next legendary England man.

13. Gary Lineker

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No countdown of England’s top 15 players of all time would be complete without the Three Lions’ highest scorer in major tournaments, Gary Lineker.

The English football icon, who ranks third on the overall goals list, has 10 in World Cups and UEFA European Championships and is also in possession of the Golden Boot from Mexico ’86 – nowadays he’s a regular on the television screens of the nation, mostly on Match of the Day.

12. John Barnes

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Midfield dynamo John Barnes was in every sense an England pioneer both on and off the pitch, overcoming the horrid racist abuse of his time to become the Three Lions’ highest cap holding black player before being surpassed by Ashley Cole.

Barnes was famous for his fearsome shots and free-kicks and Italia ’90 rap, racking up close to a century of appearances and going to four major tournaments, a true English football legend.

11. Paul Scholes

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The man known as the best midfielder of his generation by Pep Guardiola and “the phenomenon” by Brazilian Ronaldo, Man United icon Paul Scholes narrowly misses out on a place in the top ten.

There can be little doubt that the footballing genius should have been capped more than 66 times for his country and should have been the man to lead the Three Lions to that elusive second major tournament triumph but a number of factors prevented that from ever happening.

10. Ashley Cole

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For any outfield player, especially an all-action full-back, to rack up an incredible 107 caps for his nation is a ridiculous achievement.

Only Bobby Moore, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Peter Shilton have more as Ashley Cole was the mainstay of his country’s left-back position for a remarkable 13 years – the only thing that will perhaps bug him about his international career is that he never scored for England despite notching 19 times domestically.

9. Gordon Banks

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The goalkeeper for English sport’s finest hour at Wembley in 1966, the late great Gordon Banks is often considered his nation’s best ever goalkeeper.

True, he did pull off probably the greatest save in the history of the game from a powerful Pele header at the 1970 World Cup but he also started between the sticks on the international stage 23 times and remained the optimisation of a humble, nice guy right up until his sad death in early 2019.

8. David Beckham

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Known throughout the world for the global celebrity he became throughout his career and after his retirement, it’s often forgotten that David Beckham featured 115 times for England and 523 times for his various clubs.

Perhaps the stylish midfielder’s greatest moment in a Three Lions jersey came against Greece at home ground Old Trafford where he struck a last-gasp free-kick to secure qualification for the 2002 World Cup. Although, like many of the golden generation, he failed to properly live up to his potential on the international stage.

7. Steven Gerrard

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Speaking of seminal English midfielders who captained their national team, number seven is England’s fourth highest appearance holder (one behind Beckham), Steven Gerrard.

When he began his 14-year and six-major tournaments Three Lions career in 2000, Gerrard was following a long line of great Liverpool and England players and became the best of them all. However, his generation will always be synonymous with failure and the 2005 UEFA Champions League-winning skipper always seemed to save his best form for his club.

6. Frank Lampard

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One of the eternal debates of early 21st century English international football will always be about who was better, Gerrard or Frank Lampard and that discussion looks set to carry on into their respective management careers.

In this case, we’ve gone for the latter by placing him at number six on this list of the 15 greatest England internationals of all time. He may have marginally fewer caps than his Scouse counterpart but always seemed to shine that little bit brighter for club and country.

It seemed fitting when they both bowed out of international football at the 2014 World Cup.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by the club’s official website, Manchester United star Anthony Martial has delivered an encouraging insight into his progress as a central striker.

What did he say?

The France international started the current campaign on fire, registering two goals and an assist in his opening three Premier League games. However, the forward suffered an injury that kept him out of action for the best part of two months, but has since made a goal-scoring return to the first-team.

And now, the 23-year-old has provided an insight into how he is continuing to develop as a starting striker for the club, and insisted his attitude and commitment to the craft is the key to success.

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He said: “Frankly, playing as striker, you’re not there to make blinding passes or massive runs. I’ve come to understand that to score, you have to be obsessed, to be fixated on just that, scoring goals. That’s how you enjoy yourself as a striker. That’s not a choice – that’s how it has to be.

“It’s all about scoring goals for me. That’s my number one aim. It has to be. These days I am very focused on my central striker role, getting my scoring stats up and helping the team that way. It’s important to keep learning new things, new elements that can widen your range of options and make you more efficient as a player when you’re out there on the pitch.”

Encouraging

Make no mistake about it, Martial’s insight into how he is looking to improve his skills as a striker is great news for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his side. The departure of Romelu Lukaku earlier in the summer – a man who scored 113 goals in the Premier League – robbed the Red Devils of a proven marksman.

And with no replacement being signed, the burden of scoring the bulk of the side’s goals has been firmly placed on the shoulders of Martial and Marcus Rashford. The former struck twice in successive games against Partizan Belgrade and Norwich in his come back from injury, and if he continues to hone his craft in the way he has revealed, then there is no reason why the Frenchman cannot be the long-term successor to Lukaku.

كشف بيب جوارديولا خطته لإيقاف نيمار وكيليان مبابي، في المباراة التي ستجمع بين مانشستر سيتي وباريس سان جيرمان غدًا الثلاثاء.

ويحل مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا على باريس سان جيرمان غدًا الأربعاء، في ذهاب دور نصف النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع أيضًا.. محرز: لا نفكر في نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.. وجوارديولا يستحق الثناء

وقال جوارديولا في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بالمباراة: “أعتقد دائمًا أن نوعية اللاعبين مثل مبابي ونيمار، لا توجد استراتيجيات دفاعية لإيقافهم، إنهم جيدون للغاية”.

وأضاف: “نيمار من اللاعبين الذين لا يمكنك أن تكلف لاعب واحد لرقابته، لكن الحل المثالي لإيقاف خطورته هو ومبابي، هي حرمانهما من الكرة”.

وأشار: “سنحاول منعهما من الحصول على الكرة، نتدرب جيدًا كفريق على هذه الخطط، نريد أن نلعب لعبنا ونستمر في السيطرة على الكرة وفرض أسلوبنا أمام باريس سان جيرمان”.

وشدد: “ضد هؤلاء اللاعبين، يمكنك تعديل بعض الأشياء، خاصة وأننا وصلنا إلى هنا بعد حرب طويلة في السنوات العديدة”.

وأوضح: “تعديل بعض الأشياء يعني أن كل هذا حسب سير المباراة، مثلما عدلنا ضد توتنهام، ونتكيف مع زاها ضد كريستال بالاس الأسبوع المقبل، هذا أمر طبيعي، نظرًا لظروف كل مباراة”.

وأكمل: “أفضل توازن أمام باريس سان جيرمان، هو أن تكون لديك الكرة طوال الوقت، إذا دافعت بعمق فإنهم يتمتعون بالجودة التي تتمثل في مبابي ودي ماريا ونيمار، كذلك فيراتي وباريديس، وفي الدفاع لديهم ماركينيوس، باريس يمتلك العديد من الأسلحة”.

واستشهد: “ليون هزمنا الموسم الماضي بسبب الهجوم المضاد، ارتكبنا خطأين أو ثلاثة، لكننا حاولنا فرض أسلوبنا، وأحيانًا لا يكون ذلك ممكنًا، لقد تعلمت من تجربتي في هذه المسابقة، أنه بقدر ما تكون قريبًا من الكرة، يجب عليك استغلالها”.

وواصل: “لقد واجهنا دورتموند مع هالاند، مهاجم لا يصدق، وكذلك ماركو ريوس، ولم يلعب جادون سانشو لكن لديهم مهارات عديدة في الفريق”.

واختتم: “الفريق يكون متوازنًا ليس لأننا ندافع أكثر أو أعمق، هذا ليس صحيحًا، لكن عندما نلعب بطريقتنا ونستحوذ على الكرة، وهذا ما سنحاول القيام به غدًا”.