All posts by h716a5.icu

Hampshire’s attempts to pull off Great Escape 2 started well as they moved towards a formidable first-innings score on a sandy pitch at the Ageas Bowl

Will Macpherson at the Ageas Bowl20-Sep-2016
ScorecardJames Vince found form at the right time•Getty ImagesHampshire’s pursuit of the 22 points they began this game needing to guarantee safety, and a second consecutive Great Escape, could barely have started better. By day’s end, on a pitch already turning with some venom, four of those points were in the bag. A fifth – they need 30 runs in 13 overs – seems there for the taking. Events at Edgbaston are going their way.There was, it seems, a masterplan in place. The players have been agonising over this pitch since their last game, against Surrey at the Oval, finished in a draw 11 days ago. Then James Vince, the captain, had hinted that they wanted, perhaps needed, the ball to turn and that Mason Crane, Liam Dawson and even Will Smith would have substantial roles to play with the ball. Spin-bowling, as Hampshire had suspected and Vince subsequently proved in his fine hand of 92, is not Durham’s forte.Smith, who made 90, seemed pleased with Hampshire’s day. “It’s a wicket where we don’t think it’s going to get any better so getting as many runs as we can first up is great,” he said. “To be 370 on day one is great, with some bonus points – get that final one and we have done well.”Paul Collingwood looked up (on a cold, cloudy morning), not down (at a dry, straw-coloured surface with a small ridge running down it that apparently had umpire Nick Cook smiling before play), and invited Hampshire to bat without so much as the flick of a coin.In trying to play to his strengths – seam and swing, he was unwittingly playing his part in the masterplan. Hampshire wanted to bat first, bat big, and then let the pitch disintegrate under Crane and Dawson’s watch. The sight of Ryan Pringle’s off-breaks coming on – and immediately finding turn – to try and break in the game’s 12th over reaffirmed this.Pringle would bowl 31 overs by the end of the day and take three wickets – the first and third, left-handers Tom Alsop and Ryan McLaren, both lbw, with notable turn – but at the significant cost of a daddy ton of runs. The other wicket, Sean Ervine caught behind trying to cut a ball too close to him, came a ball after the batsman reached 50 (his fifth in six innings), just as he was looking to cut loose.There was plenty of spin, but even more loose balls. “We have played the turn well,” said Smith, “trying to put pressure onto their spinners. It will be interesting what happens once we bowl because it should turn consistently and more and more as the game goes on.””It was a disappointing day,” said Collingwood, “the amount it is turning on day one you would expect to take more wickets. I knew it was going to turn for day one, there is a lot of sand on that wicket which is the same tactic Somerset seem to be using as well. But we didn’t quite get it right and to only get six wickets on day one is pretty disappointing.”Vince, particularly, mauled Pringle, to the tune of 52 from 45 balls. Having walked to the crease a ball after lunch, he instantly looked at ease, exploiting the vast gaps for twos and threes from dabbed sweeps and late cuts. There was that cover-drive, which felt so much safer to the spinners but was played with control to the seamers too, while a single Pringle over yielded two swept fours and a skip down for six over long-on. In the blink of an eye he had a 48-ball 50, brought up with his first false stroke, an edge over the keeper as Ben Stokes found pace and bounce.By tea he had 89, having added the backfoot drive and pull to the repertoire, but he was run out by Ervine shortly after the break. The left-hander pushed to cover point, and called Vince through, failing to note the presence of Stokes. Vince hesitated, and Stokes had the wherewithal to forgo the direct hit, knowing the keeper had time to finish the job. Despite the careless ending, this was the Vince the selectors picked – achingly elegant and, as in last season’s Great Escape, doing it in a jam, too.Jimmy Adams and Smith, with whom Vince shared 102 before the opener skewed to point, had laid the foundations for Vince’s knock. They put on 111 for the first wicket until Adams chopped on to Scott Borthwick’s second over, his eighth half-century of the season curtailed before a first ton was reached. Nevermind, it had been a punchy, platform-building innings full of pleasant off-drives and dainty cuts. Survival would mean more to Adams than most; he is as Hampshire as the hills around the Ageas Bowl and, in 2016, it is odd to think he played a full season with Robin Smith all those years ago.Will Smith ploughed on, sweeping the spinners and cover-driving Hampshire into a fine position against the county he captained to the title (and won two others with) before his abrupt release. He knows better than anyone, however, that games are not won on day one. “There is so much ebb and flow to come,” he said. “Sure, we are ahead, but Durham are a side who have fought back incredibly well in games like this. We will have to be incredibly wary of that.”

Darren Bravo’s resolute 87 and Marlon Samuels’ attacking 76 led West Indies’ resistance, but Pakistan’s bowlers were able to maintain control and ultimately leave West Indies at 315 for 6 by stumps

The Report by Sirish Raghavan15-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:23

‘We played Test cricket today’ – Samuels

Having enjoyed the first two days of their 400th Test, piling on the runs on another Dubai featherbed, Pakistan were made to toil for their gains for much of the third day. Those gains came gradually in the first two sessions, before a hostile spell from Wahab Riaz after dinner helped Pakistan make quick inroads into West Indies’ middle order. Darren Bravo’s resolute 87 and Marlon Samuels’ attacking 76 led the resistance, but Pakistan’s bowlers were able to maintain control and ultimately leave West Indies on 315 for 6 by stumps, trailing by 264 runs.Starting the day on 14, Bravo was content to proceed at a stately pace, exhibiting patience, determination and a very solid defensive game. He brought up his fifty off 176 balls and showed no inclination to accelerate thereafter. His concern was in occupying the crease as long as possible. While he occasionally took his eye off the bouncer and edged a full-blooded cut shot past first slip off Yasir Shah, Bravo’s knock was largely chanceless. He provided a fine counterpoint to Samuels and was barely ruffled by the fall of wickets either side of the dinner break. It was only within half an hour of stumps that Bravo’s long vigil ended, when debutant Mohammad Nawaz had him caught at short-leg to claim his maiden Test wicket.Samuels, for his part, was not quite as convincing as Bravo, but played the dominant role in the pair’s 113-run third-wicket partnership. Having announced his arrival with consecutive fours off Yasir, he continued to pepper the off-side boundary with excellent cuts and drives. He hit 13 fours in all, the best of which was probably an exquisitely timed on drive after skipping to the pitch of a ball from left-arm spinner Nawaz.But Samuels’ habit of staying leg side of the ball and his general lack of foot movement caused him occasional problems and ultimately led to his downfall. He had an early slice of luck when an outside edge off Mohammad Amir’s bowling fell short of Babar Azam at second slip. In the second session, he played a loose drive against Wahab, throwing his hands at the ball, and was lucky the edge did not carry to the wicketkeeper. Eventually Sohail Khan bowled an indipper that wrapped Samuels on the pads in front of middle; he was rooted in the crease and falling over. It was the first wicket by a fast bowler in the Test match.After the dinner break, bowling with the second new ball, Wahab cracked the game open for Pakistan with a venomous short-ball barrage. Jermaine Blackwood was given an intense working over, before he gloved an attempted pull to Sarfraz Ahmed behind the stumps. In Wahab’s next over, Roston Chase fended a well-directed bouncer to Azam, who had just been moved to leg slip. West Indies were 266 for 5 at this stage and suddenly looked vulnerable once again. The late wicket of Bravo, just after West Indies brought up 300, capped off a good day for Pakistan.That said, they might have anticipated an easier day when Yasir dismissed Brathwaite in just the second over. He got a flighted delivery to drift into middle stump before turning away slightly to beat the outside edge and hit off stump. While it was a good ball, it was made to look even better by the batsman, who lunged forward and played down the wrong line.Thereafter, Samuels and Bravo frustrated the bowlers with their third-wicket stand for 43.3 overs. Pakistan’s concerns were exacerbated when Nawaz was warned twice for following through in the danger area shortly after tea. They grew even further in the next over when Samuels drilled the ball back at Azhar Ali, who took a blow to his right hand and had to go off for treatment.But Sohail broke the century stand, Wahab inflicted further damage after dinner, Azhar came back to take up his position at short leg and Nawaz went on to take a crucial late wicket. Pakistan ended up with most boxes ticked.

Tottenham Hotspur may 'have the edge' in the hunt to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi because they will be able to offer him first-team football ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Marc Guehi?

According to FootballTransfers, Tottenham are interested in bringing in Guehi this summer to bolster their defence, though they may have to pay a pretty penny to land the England international.

Speaking to the outlet, journalist Steve Kay said: "Spurs are interested in signing Marc Guehi in the summer. Palace want £65m. Spurs apparently won't pay that – they're looking at paying around £45m."

The Daily Mail also confirm that Spurs are keen on the 22-year-old; however, they also detail that Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are monitoring his situation.

Crystal Palace won't make a decision on the future of the £50k-a-week ace among other players in their squad until a new manager is appointed at Selhurst Park.

ESPN claim that Tottenham and West Ham United have been offered the chance to sign Harry Maguire, which could also be an avenue Spurs go down as they look to bolster their backline.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Guehi will be a serious option this summer at Tottenham alongside Maguire as Ange Postecoglou looks to get to work on potential additions.

Jones said: “The Harry Maguire interest is of course going to make headlines because of who he is and where his reputation is right now, but he is not the only option out there by any means. One of the other Premier League ones we should expect them to thoroughly look into is that of Marc Guehi.

"He is also admired by Arsenal, but Spurs might have the edge on them in terms of being able to offer regular first-team football, which is going to be vital in a season that leads into the European Championship as he will aim to be part of that England squad.”

Who would be a better signing for Spurs out of Harry Maguire and Marc Guehi?

Factoring in age, profile and long-term thinking, Guehi would appear to be a better fit for Tottenham as they look to improve on their disastrous 2022/23 showing.

This term, Guehi, who has been lauded as an "absolute tank" by England U21 teammate Joe Bursik, made 40 appearances in all competitions for Crystal Palace and scored a solitary goal in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Guehi completes 3.6 clearances on average per match in the Premier League this season, demonstrating his acute awareness to dangerous situations.

Furthermore, FBRef take into account that Guehi has also won 61.9% of challenges entered into across the campaign, indicating that he is a domineering presence in the backline.

Moving forward, bringing in Guehi would excite the Tottenham faithful and help Postecoglou to get off to a flying start in north London.

Pat Cummins continued his outstanding return from injury with four wickets, Doug Bollinger ended a difficult week with three, and Josh Hazlewood made a strong comeback from a break with two as New South Wales earned a bonus-point win over Queensland at Dr

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2016
ScorecardPat Cummins picked up 4 for 26•Getty ImagesPat Cummins continued his outstanding return from injury with four wickets, Doug Bollinger ended a difficult week with three, and Josh Hazlewood made a strong comeback from a break with two as New South Wales earned a bonus-point win over Queensland at Drummoyne Oval.Set 173 for victory, the Blues reached their target in the 40th over with four wickets in hand, gaining the bonus point by the small margin of five deliveries. Ben Rohrer, batting at No.8 after sustaining an injury earlier in the day, struck the winning six off Michael Neser as New South Wales kept their tournament alive.Ed Cowan had set up the successful chase with 51 at the top of the order before he became one of three wickets for Ben Cutting, and captain Moises Henriques contributed 35 to the innings. Queensland’s bowlers simply had too few runs to defend after the earlier dominant display from the New South Wales fast bowlers.Bollinger, who on Monday had appeared at the coronial inquest into the death of Phillip Hughes, picked up 3 for 38 including two wickets at the top of the order to set New South Wales on the winning path.Cummins had struck in the second over of the game and ended up with 4 for 26, putting him equal top of the tournament wicket tally after a long lay-off due to stress fractures of the back. And Hazlewood, who was playing his first game after being rested following Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, showed no signs of rust in collecting 2 for 30 from his 10 overs.Neser top scored for the Bulls with 47 and there were also contributions from captain Jason Floros and Nathan Reardon, who each made 36, but Queensland were dismissed in the 48th over for 172.

Arsenal continue to be linked with a Premier League maestro, as their pursuit for further progression extends into this transfer window.

What's the latest on Ilkay Gundogan to Arsenal?

The latest reports come from German outlet Kicker, who note that the Gunners remain in discussions over a move for Manchester City magician Ilkay Gundogan.

With Granit Xhaka closing in on an Emirates exit, it seems rumours are now switching to who might replace him in north London, with the Germany international representing great value given his £140k-per-week deal expires this summer.

Despite being engaged in conversation with the Gunners, they will likely wait until after his Champions League final on Sunday before truly pushing for his signature.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has admitted his desire to retain the 32-year-old, whose brace helped them complete the second success on their road to the treble last week.

How good is Ilkay Gundogan?

The ageing maestro seems to just get better and better with each passing term, as his athleticism remains whilst his experience only grows. As such, this campaign has seen him post some of his best creative numbers in the Premier League, popping up at key moments with vital goals.

However, it is his role as a facilitator within the Citizens' system that truly deserves praise, as he quietly knits together the play to ensure things remain running smoothly.

Without his presence, Rodri would not have as much cover, therefore making the back line less secure. In turn, Kevin De Bruyne would not be afforded nearly as much space given Gundogan also poses another offensive threat, which allows Erling Haaland the opportunities to score as many as he does.

Should the former Borussia Dortmund maestro opt to move to Arsenal, perhaps he could occupy a similar position in Mikel Arteta's midfield and help push Gabriel Jesus closer to the levels of the Norwegian goal machine, who has 52 goals in all competitions thus far.

After all, the two did play with one another for some time in Manchester, hitting his goalscoring peak with this technically-gifted superstar behind him.

However, since leaving the Etihad and establishing himself as more of a focal point in this squad, perhaps that newfound confidence alongside someone who would hand him more space could prove deadly, bolstering both his 11 goals and seven assists from what has been an injury-hit debut year.

Also, the creativity of the Brazil international could allow his link-up with Gundogan to be legendary, given he has notched 11 goals of his own in all competitions this term.

Patrick Vieira even highlighted the relationship the midfielder shares with the striker despite featuring from deep, emphasised because he is such an intelligent operator:

"That is just showing his palette on the free-kick – the quality, the technical ability – to just put the ball where he wants to. He highlighted it quite well, defenders are so concentrated on Haaland and that gives him and the offensive midfielders the opportunity to get inside the box and to score those goals. He’s really smart, timing his runs to get inside the box. He is one of the best in the league."

In moving to north London, he could prove to be that final piece in the puzzle that propels them above Guardiola's side and takes Jesus to new heights.

According to Lancs Live, Burnley are interested in making a move for Leeds United full-back Cody Drameh this summer.

Who is Cody Drameh?

Spending last season on loan at Luton Town, Drameh played a key part in Rob Edwards' side as they defeated Coventry City in the Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Drameh made 16 appearances in the Championship after completing the loan move to Kenilworth Road in January.

The young full-back started the play-off final, as the Hatters battled to eventually defeat Coventry on penalties. After a frustrating first half of the campaign with little game time at Elland Road, Drameh ended on a high at Wembley.

Foreseeing the success that Drameh would have at Luton after the deal was completed, Edwards told Luton Today:

“There was not much doubt really, all the attributes were there.

“A really good mentality, technically he’s a really good footballer and physically fantastic as well.

"They’re pretty good attributes to have, especially in this modern game now, so there wasn’t too much doubt from my point of view.”

Will Burnley sign Cody Drameh?

As reported by Lancs Live, Drameh is on the list of Vincent Kompany's Burnley targets this summer.

The Clarets boss may not make the deal his highest priority, however, given the form of right-back Connor Robers throughout a successful title-winning campaign last season. With that, Roberts would likely enter the season as first choice.

But how do Drameh and Roberts compare?

As per FBref, whilst Drameh made more interceptions per-90 last season, Roberts outperformed his younger counterpart in progressive passes, goals and assists per-90.

Defensively, however, Drameh stands out, having made more interceptions as mentioned plus more blocks, and tackles than Roberts. Although it must be said, this could partly be down to Burnley's possession-based playing style, rather than Roberts' defensive capability.

So, if Drameh did make the move to Burnley, he would likely go in as a deputy, rather than a starter.

The Leeds gem is not short on options, though, with Luton Town interested in turning their loan move permanent this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The two interested parties leaves Drameh with a big decision to make this summer, added onto the fact that he could yet opt to stay at Leeds for next season.

Drameh's current Leeds contract expires this time next year, which will allow the 21-year-old to leave on a free deal.

This means that, if the Yorkshire club want to cash in, it must be soon.

Firdose Moonda in Melbourne21-Nov-2016For the next week, the South African squad will not be enjoying romantic sunsets with their other halves. Instead, at twilight, they want to be on the cricket field, preparing for their first day-night Test in the time frame they have identified as the trickiest to play with the pink ball.As the natural light fades and artificial ones take over, the pink ball becomes what JP Duminy called “gloomy” and, so, more difficult to see. Duminy admitted the South African players, who have limited experience with the pink ball, don’t really understand whether the colouration of ball or the changing hues from the environment affect visibility but confirmed the contrast is significant. “It’s definitely a difference that you see, but I can’t give you the scientific reason why that is. We’ve still got to work that out.”At dusk, the pink ball also starts to move a little more and so, for batsmen, survival in that period is key. “You’ve just got to fight through that phase,” Duminy said. “It’s obviously new to us, pink-ball cricket and day-night Test cricket. We’ve got to get used to it. And that’s why we wanted to bat as much as possible in that period during the warm-up game.”For their warm-up match at the MCG on Saturday night, South Africa chose to bowl first to give their batsmen time in the middle when things got tough. The sun only set around 8pm – which will be the same as Adelaide – so the first hour of the final session is the most crucial. The second hour of that session takes place in complete darkness when Duminy said it actually becomes “a little bit easier” to see the ball.Hashim Amla batted through that twilight period and it became clear that his scoring slowed and the only chance he gave away, a catch to slip, came then. Both Duminy and Faf du Plessis were dismissed then too. With net sessions scheduled for that time, Duminy is hopeful they can tighten up. “I don’t know if it’s a danger, maybe it’s just something we need to be wary of. The more we can spend time in that light… it’s the same sort of thing in the practice nets as well. The more we can spend time under that sort of light, the easier it will be for us.”The converse of all that is South Africa could end up in the field at that time, when their bowlers will come into play in a big way. After Steven Smith lamented Australia’s inability against the seaming, swinging or spinning ball, it may transpire that they too have problems against the pink ball, even though they are more experienced with it.Kyle Abbott and Tabraiz Shamsi were the most economical and effective bowlers at the MCG, but Duminy believes South Africa’s entire attack would prove useful with pink ball in hand. “KG [Kagiso Rabada] has been pretty effective too, he swings the ball a little bit,” Duminy said. “The main thing is that most the guys are in good form, which is great for us, and it’s not determined by the colour of the ball in terms the areas you want to hit, the lengths you want to it, it stays the same no matter what the colour of the ball.”Twilight is also a tricky time for close-in fielders, so drills will be an important part of this week’s practises. “In certain positions, it becomes a little more challenging. It’s all about preparation; how much time you can spend in that light, catching balls, fielding,” Duminy said.”If you think about any sort of sport – if you think about a golfer, for example, he needs to be on the practise range to get better. That’s the sort of approach we are taking.”Because South Africa had not any time on the range, so to speak, before this tour, they were hesitant about playing a pink-ball Test when it was first proposed. Their major worry was that the series would be riding on the match and they would be at a disadvantage. The opposite has happened.As a contest, the series is over and this fixture is a dead-rubber, albeit with a difference: it’s Australia’s chance for redemption and South Africa’s to rally around a captain with a cloud hanging over him. Still, Duminy believes they hold the advantage. “We are probably sitting in the pound seats in terms of the concerns around the pink-ball Test but that doesn’t change the motivation and the desire to win the game,” Duminy said. “The goal was always to win the series, however that came about; now we sit with an opportunity to win 3-0, so that’s the new goal.”

After the sizeable blow of losing manager Ange Postecoglou last week, Scottish champions Celtic have moved quality to acquire a quality replacement for the treble-winning coach, with former Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers looking set to secure a surprise return to Parkhead.

The Northern Irishman had appeared to have somewhat burned his bridges with the Old Firm outfit after ending his first spell at the club abruptly back in February 2019, although the indication is that the 50-year-old is looking to pick up where he left off just over four years ago, having previously claimed seven domestic honours during his prior stint in Glasgow.

When the former Leicester City man does ultimately sign on the dotted line with the Scottish Premiership giants, the first major issue will be to acquire suitable new recruits with the summer transfer window having now commenced, with the Carnlough native potentially set to be forced to replace some of the current squad who could depart ahead of next season.

There will no doubt be fears among Celtic supporters that new Tottenham Hotspur boss, Postecoglou may return to poach Japanese marksman, Kyogo Furuhashi, with The Sun having only recently reported that the 28-year-old – who bagged 34 goals in all competitions last season – is a possible £30m target for the Lilywhites.

Amid the possible need to replace Kyogo this summer, Football Scotland previously reported that the Bhoys are interested in a deal for Slovenian striker, Zan Vipotnik, with it claimed that the Maribor starlet could be available for a fee of around £3.5m.

A more recent report from Sky Sports Germany has also noted that interest from those at Celtic Park, among other suitors, with there a possibility that the 21-year-old could be a first statement signing of Rodgers' second spell in charge.

Who is Zan Vipotnik?

The promising centre-forward has caught the eye after enjoying a "fantastic season" in his homeland, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, having scored 23 goals in 38 games in all competitions in 2022/23, including 20 goals in just 30 league outings.

The 6 foot 1 dynamo – who also bagged ten goals in just 14 games during a loan spell at Triglav Kranj last year – is evidently something of a prolific and clinical presence in attack, having also scored one in just two appearances for his country at senior level.

That devastating finishing prowess could ensure that Rodgers is able to find his next Jamie Vardy with the signing of the youngster, with the veteran Englishman having led the line superbly under the incoming Celtic boss at Leicester.

That working relationship proved particularly fruitful as Vardy scored 70 goals and laid on a further 30 assists in just 157 games in all competitions during Rodgers' time at the club, with the pair notably winning the FA Cup back in 2021.

The one-time Liverpool boss evidently has huge admiration for the Premier League title winner having hailed him as "world class" in the past, hence the interest in potentially snapping up his heir apparent this summer.

The likeness between the two strikers can be shown by their devastating brilliance inside the penalty area, with Vipotnik having been hailed as a "poacher" by Kulig, while Vardy also comes alive at the tail-end of the pitch, notably scoring all 15 of his league goals in the 2021/22 season inside the opposition box.

Equally, Kulig has also noted Vipotnik's "movement" as one of his key assets, with that a trait that is undoubtedly shared by the Foxes legend, having been described in the past as being "ridiculously good" at stretching a defence, in the words of pundit Trevor Sinclair.

Add in the fact that the Maribor man is also a real goalscoring weapon, and it is clear to see that Rodgers could potentially be able to acquire his next Vardy this summer.

For all his white-ball exploits in 2016, David Warner has endured one of his poorest years in Test cricket but is confident the tide will turn

Brydon Coverdale in Melbourne24-Dec-20162:07

I’m hitting them well in the nets – Warner

It’s been a big year for David Warner.In January, he won the Allan Border Medal for the first time. Also in January he became a father for the second time, with the birth of his daughter Indi Rae.In August, he captained Australia for the first time, leading them to ODI and T20 series wins over Sri Lanka. Also in August, he was named Australia’s Sporting Father of the Year.In September, he smashed two ODI hundreds in South Africa, and in December he plundered back-to-back centuries against New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee Series. In all, 2016 has been a stunning year for Warner in ODIs: 1388 runs at 63.09 and seven hundreds. Only Sachin Tendulkar has made more ODI centuries in a year (nine in 1998).Along the way, Warner has earned a new nickname from his team-mates. Once, he was the Bull, but they believe the Bull has been tamed somewhat by the responsibilities of vice-captaincy and fatherhood. He is now The Reverend.And yet for all the white-ball runs that Warner has made in 2016, for all the personal highlights along the way, there is one considerable caveat: 2016 has been Warner’s worst year in Test cricket. With just one Test left in the year, he has managed just 604 runs at 35.52; prior to 2016, his lowest yearly tally was 788, scored in 2012, which was his first full year as a Test cricketer.Warner’s only Test hundred of 2016 so far came in the first Test of the year, the washed-out SCG Test against West Indies in January. There, he blasted a quick unbeaten 122, but it was an innings of no value, for it came on day five as Australia batted for the first time in a match that was utterly ruined by rain. In 18 innings, he has only two half-centuries and that one hundred.”It’s just a little bit of a cycle, I think,” Warner said on Saturday. “I go out there every time I go out to bat, trying to put as many runs as I can on the board. Same mindset, same sort of process I go through with training.”At the moment I’m hitting them well enough in the nets and not making them in the middle. The tide will change. Many players before have experienced the same thing. I’ve just got to keep a level head, cool head and make sure that I watch every ball as hard and as closely as I can.”One of Warner’s more surprising failures in 2016 came in his most recent innings, when he was beaten for pace by Mohammad Amir and pulled a catch on 12. It was the second innings at the Gabba and Australia already had a lead of nearly 300. Warner had license to look for quick runs to build a big target, precisely the sort of innings in which he has often thrived before.”In the nets I’m hitting them well. But you’ve got to try and take that out on the field,” he said. “Sometimes you see a ball there that might be to hit, like the other day. Probably in white-ball cricket I wouldn’t think twice about pulling that ball, and the other day he beat me for pace.”They’re just the little things that come into your mind, going ‘okay, we’ve got some runs on the board, I want to up the ante a little bit’. You can afford to do that. It’s just about execution, and the other day was a bit of poor execution. I’ve got to keep going out there and backing myself.”And while Warner would love nothing more than to finish the year with a bang, history suggests it will be tough. Not only has 2016 been his least productive Test year, the MCG is his least productive Test venue. It is the only Test ground in Australia at which Warner has not scored a century, and the only one where he averages less than 50. His MCG average? 24.22.Warner has so far played in five Boxing Day Tests and has managed only one half-century – he made 62 against Sri Lanka at the MCG four years ago. Last year, he made starts in both innings against West Indies but then fell playing his shots against short deliveries. Perhaps Warner would do well to heed the words MCG curator David Sandurski.”Melbourne isn’t the sort of wicket where you can’t just go blasting off from ball one,” Sandurski said on Saturday. “You’ve got to take your time and get used to the conditions, because the weather here can be so inconsistent that it is hard to get a wicket spot-on. It’s a pretty good idea for a batsman to be cautious early before he gets going.”A good idea in theory, maybe. But good luck preaching caution to this Reverend.

Lancashire have pulled off a double Kolpak deal which sees Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dane Vilas shore up the batting ranks at Old Trafford

David Hopps27-Jan-2017Lancashire have become the latest county to raid South African cricket by signing Dane Vilas, the wicketkeeper-batsman, in a double Kolpak swoop which has also seen them shore up their batting strength by signing the veteran West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul.Vilas flew 600 miles to Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth as a late substitute in a Test against England at the start of 2016. Roughly a year later, at 31, he will fly around 5,000 miles to Manchester on a two-year Kolpak deal which realistically will bring his brief South Africa career to an end.He is the seventh South African player to take that option as expectations grow that Brexit might bring an end to the arrangement which exists under EU employment law.Kyle Abbott (Hampshire), Hardus Viljoen (Derbyshire), Simon Harmer (Essex), Rilee Rossouw (Hampshire) and David Wiese and Stiaan van Zyl (Sussex) have also signed Kolpak deals, although opening batsmen Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook have stayed loyal to South Africa by signing overseas player deals with Somerset and Durham respectively.Not many 42-year-olds would win a county cricket deal, even in a winter when Kolpak signings have again flooded into the game, but Chanderpaul retains an appetite for batting and has a pragmatic, safety-conscious style which might have been designed to offset the passage of time.Any burst of regional pride which met Glen Chapple’s progress through the ranks to become Lancashire’s head coach earlier this month will be tempered, for a while at least, by the decision to stock up with overseas reinforcements in an attempt to safeguard their future in Division One of the County Championship.Lancashire only became sure of safety on the final day of the season when results went their way after they had suffered a heavy defeat against Warwickshire.*Reeling from the enforced retirement of Tom Smith, they will plead that they have also had to contend with the loss in recent seasons of two further South African batsmen, Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince. Luis Reece has also been allowed to join Derbyshire.Their batting is likely to be further compromised by the loss of one of their homegrown products, Haseeb Hameed, to England for the second half of the summer. Hameed is the first England opening batsman produced by Lancashire since Michael Atherton but it is possible that, after only 23 first-class matches, any further benefits accrued at county level will be strictly limited.Ashley Giles, Lancashire’s former director of cricket, supervised a successful progression from the Old Trafford academy before returning to Warwickshire to take up a similar role. Four players made their first-class debut in 2016. Liam Livingstone and Rob Jones both went on to hit maiden first-class centuries, with Livingstone earning England Lions selection. The legspinner Matthew Parkinson took a five-for on debut against Warwickshire and England Under-19 fast bowler Saqib Mahmood made his first-class debut against Hampshire as well as breaking into the NatWest Blast side.Lancashire were at pains to point out that 19 players in the squad have come through the system. The Old Trafford academy, recently audited by the ECB, was ranked second, only to Durham, for producing young homegrown players who went on to make appearances for the club in the Championship in 2016.”This evidences the club’s ongoing commitment to developing young players to go on and play for England,” a Lancashire media release stated.Chanderpaul renews acquaintances with Lancashire after a spell at the county in 2010. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis have played more Tests than Chanderpaul, who joins Lancashire on a one-year contract.Chapple said: “He knows what it takes to be successful and there is no doubt that he will have a positive effect on our squad. The talented squad at Lancashire is very young and Shivnarine will bring a healthy level of experience to help guide them.”Whilst Shivnarine will undoubtedly have an important role to play on the field, his role off the field will be of huge importance to our young players. He’s one of the most experienced international cricketers in the history of the game and it will be a fantastic opportunity for our players to learn from him, in all aspects of the game.”Vilas can be expected to make more of an impact in the limited-overs formats, with Chanderpaul unlikely to figure often in T20.Chapple said: “Signing a player of Dane’s undoubted calibre and experience is a great boost. His aggressive batting style will see him as an important part of our T20 and one-day sides in 2017, as well as in four-day cricket.”*January 27, 1600GMT: This story was corrected to amend Lancashire’s result