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South Africa’s batsmen, led by a typically sublime Jacques Kallis, got in a good day of batting practice ahead of the Test series, on the second and final day of the tour game in Nagpur

Cricinfo staff03-Feb-2010
Scorecard
With the prospects of a result out of the picture, the South African batsmen ensured that they got their eye in, leading up to sterner tests in the Test series•Associated PressThey may have got just two days of warm-up cricket, but the South Africans made the most of it in Nagpur. All their major batsmen got a decent hit, and none of them looked in obvious discomfort in adjusting to the conditions. Jacques Kallis got his tour off to a rollicking start, scoring a fifty in about 40 minutes and drawing the few spectators into generous applause as he walked off, unbeaten, to give the rest of the batsmen a look-in.Kallis acknowledged the cheers with a semi-raise of the bat, but there were no half measures in his batting. Before him, Ashwell Prince, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla took time to settle in. Prince and Amla started off in extremely cautious fashion. Defence, defence, defence first and attack later seemed to be the order of the day, and all three got good scores by going through the routine. Prince looked the least comfortable of the lot, but was never in trouble.Kallis had none of the inhibitions that the top three had, in opening up against a friendly bowling attack. The best quality of his batting – judging the length earlier than most other batsmen do – was on ample display. It was as if he read the length from the bowlers’ minds. When the spinners, R Ashwin and Piyush Chawla, bowled full, he danced down the track and went either straight down the ground or inside out. He didn’t mind the slog-sweep either. The quicker men – Abhimanyu Mithun, R Vinay Kumar, Manpreet Gony and Umesh Yadav – didn’t escape the square-drive, the cut, and the pull. He came in to bat minutes before lunch, and 34 minutes after the interval he had brought up his fifty with a lovely straight lofted six, his third, off Chawla. The next ball he cut away for four, bringing up 50 runs in boundaries alone.Thereafter Kallis tried to change the length and manufacture strokes by walking down the track to fast bowlers, but was beaten on a couple of occasions, attempting pull shots. Satisfied with his day’s work, he walked off, letting his team-mates have their only hit in the middle before the Test that begins on Saturday.Amla, who indulged in his favourite flicks, cover-drives and square-cuts, after a circumspect start, was the next man to retire not out. By then, though, he had overtaken Kallis’ score, and the South Africans had reached 236 for 2. That brought AB de Villiers and JP Duminy to the middle when the spinners were on. It was ideal practice for them as most of the times during the Test series, they will be expected to walk in with spinners in operation. By the same token, the top order got a hit against the quick men, followed by some spin.Chawla, who had missed most of the first session because of fever, and had then been on the wrong side of Kallis, came back well to dismiss de Villiers and Duminy on either side of tea, after they had both looked solid in scoring 27 and 39 respectively. Chawla went on to dismiss Johan Botha and Wayne Parnell in quick succession before Dale Steyn provided further entertainment to the 50-odd people at the ground, who had originally come to see local boy Yadav bowl.Steyn tucked into Ashwin’s innocuous offspin, hitting four sixes, three of them in one over. Going for the fifth, he was caught at long-on by Vinay, and a satisfied Smith chose to declare the innings closed at eight down. Steyn proceeded to hug Vinay and Manish Pandey, both his Royal Challengers Bangalore team-mates, and the South Africans thanked their opponents for a good practice match. Parthiv Patel hung around with Mark Boucher, gleaning some wicketkeeping tips. It was followed by a loud and raucous football match among the South Africans. Their faces were of men who were content with having made as much use as possible of a short warm-up match leading into a tough Test series.

Danish Kaneria has said he is likely to play the second Test against Australia in Sydney after recovering from a finger injury

Cricinfo staff01-Jan-2010Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria has said he is likely to play the second Test against Australia in Sydney after recovering from the finger injury that ruled him out of the Boxing Day Test which Pakistan lost by 170 runs. Kaneria, who is Pakistan’s most experienced bowler, hoped his return would boost the team’s prospects of levelling the three-match series.”I will try my best to do something to help us win in Sydney and try to keep up the expectation from the captain and my team,” Kaneria said. “If I can contribute myself, it will be a very good sign for the team.”Kaneria missed the first Test after injuring his finger during a training session and Pakistan were forced to play the offspinner Saeed Ajmal instead. “The injury was the ring finger of the right hand I got injured 18 months ago in England,” he said. “I fractured it, and playing a domestic game in Pakistan once more I got hit on it. Then in the practice, I got badly hit taking a catch.”The venue for the second Test – the SCG – has traditionally favoured spin and there is a possibility, although a slim one, that Pakistan might play two spinners. Ajmal, however, struggled in Melbourne, taking only a wicket in each innings to finish with 2 for 223.”I haven’t bowled too much with Ajmal, but if I get a chance to bowl with him it will be great for us,” Kaneria said. “It’s all upon me – how do I bowl and how do I perform? It’s a big challenge for me to come back over here to Australia.”I can’t say that Australia don’t play spin that well. Ajmal got only two wickets in Melbourne – one in each innings. I don’t think they play spin badly. They have started to play spin better and more professionally.”Should Kaneria play the Test beginning on January 3, it will be his second appearance at the SCG. He took 8 for 204 in his only Test there in 2005.

West Ham United have been handed a huge injury boost concerning Kurt Zouma.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to a claim made by Claret & Hugh, with the club insiders stating that the 27-year-old centre-back – who suffered a hamstring tendon injury in West Ham’s 3-2 win over Chelsea towards the beginning of the month – is already back in training at Rush Green, and could even make a return to first-team action at the end of January.

In their post, Claret & Hugh said: “Kurt Zouma is also reported to be back on [the] grass and current estimates are that the big summer signing could be involved again by the end of January. The player decided against having surgery and it seems it was a good decision with our source saying he is making much quicker than expected progress.”

Moyes will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Zouma has been since his £29.8m move from Chelsea this summer, the news that the 27-year-old could make a return to action as soon as January will undoubtedly have left David Moyes buzzing.

Indeed, over his 11 Premier League appearances this season, the £28.8m-rated defender has helped his side keep two clean sheets and has scored one goal, as well as making an average of 1.2 interceptions, 0.6 tackles, 5.2 clearances and winning 60% of his duels per game.

These returns have seen the £120k-per-week man average a SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as the Hammers’ joint 10th-best player in the league.

Furthermore, West Ham have won just one of the six fixtures they have played since the France international picked up his injury, drawing one and losing the other four games.

As such, it is clear to see that Moyes’ side are desperately missing the 27-year-old in the heart of their defence, particularly with fellow centre-back Angelo Ogbonna also looking to be ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury of his own, meaning that the latest update concerning Zouma’s ahead of schedule return is sure to come as fantastic news for all involved with the club.

In other news: Moyes can finally axe £61k-p/w West Ham “colossus” by sealing “Van Dijk-like signing”

Manchester United earned their first Premier League point of November with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge over the weekend.

Interim manager Michael Carrick made the bold call to drop five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting lineup, and his decision was arguably justified.

The Red Devils attempted to press in the early stages but soon dropped back behind the ball as the hosts took control of proceedings in a closely-fought encounter.

Chelsea couldn’t find a way through United’s stubborn defence, though, and the game hinged on two pivotal moments.

Jorginho’s miss control from a hoofed clearance allowed Jadon Sancho to race through on goal unchallenged before cooly slotting past Edouard Mendy, before Aaron Wan-Bissaka brought down Thiago Silva in the box, allowing the defensive midfielder to make amends from the penalty spot.

However, things could have been even better for the 20-time English champions if their midfield talisman hadn’t been so sloppy in possession and anonymous in the final third.

Bruno Fernandes had an afternoon to forget in west London, failing to impact proceedings in a positive manner and continuing his recent run of poor form.

As per SofaScore, the Portugal international received a match rating of just 6.3 out of 10, the lowest total awarded to any of his teammates who started the fixture.

And when taking a closer look at his underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why. Fernandes failed to have a single shot on target throughout the 89 minutes he was on the pitch, was unable to play a solitary key pass and lost possession a whopping 15 times.

He also lost nine of his 15 duels (60%), made an error leading to an opposition shot and ended the game with a passing accuracy of just 78%, letting Carrick down in the process.

Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst was equally unimpressed with the 27-year-old’s underwhelming showing, awarding a measly three out of 10.

“Michael Carrick put the wrong Portuguese on the bench. Fernandes’ hoik led to the breakthrough but required assistance from Jorginho,” wrote Luckhurst.

With new manager Ralf Rangnick expected to be formally announced over the coming days, Fernandes will be desperate to return to form as soon as possible, or he could find himself on the sidelines once again over the coming weeks.

And, in other news…Predicted XI: How MUFC may look under Rangnick after potential £196.5m spending spree

Lionel Messi's English skills are "very, very good", according to Inter Miami team-mate Julian Gressel.

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Messi clearly learning EnglishInter Miami team-mate impressedMLS season now underwayWHAT HAPPENED?

Gressel has revealed that Messi has begun speaking to his team-mates in English, instead of his native Spanish, and has been impressed with his command of a new language. He revealed that the Argentina captain made sure to pass on tactical advice to Gressel, in English, during their 4-3 friendly defeat to Al-Hilal.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementWHAT GRESSEL SAID

Speaking on the Player/Manager podcast, he said: “I think it was the first game against Al Hilal and he [Messi] came over to me and said something in English. That was the first time he spoke to me in English.

“'Now, we change. You stay and Jordi runs. Jordi goes more in behind.’ I was like okay, sounds good.”

Gressel added: “He goes, ‘English, pretty good no?’ I was like ‘Yes, very, very good, I understood everything’.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 2024/25 MLS season is now underway and Inter Miami have taken four points from their opening two games. Messi and Co beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 and were held to a 1-1 draw by LA Galaxy.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Inter Miami are next in action on Saturday against Orlando City. They will then face Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions Cup next week.

Despite a push that took the game into the last hour, Somerset couldn’t force a win over Nottinghamshire

Alex Winter at Taunton10-Aug-2012
ScorecardJames Taylor made 46 as Nottinghamshire made sure of a draw at Taunton•Getty ImagesDespite a push that took the game into the last hour, Somerset couldn’t force a win over Nottinghamshire. The game was hindered badly by the weather and, with the ECB launching more consumer research into the domestic game, attention among members turned to the makeup of the fixture list in the future.A healthy crowd was in to enjoy the sunshine, highlighting Somerset’s good membership and the support for Championship cricket. The county also boast a big following for Twenty20 and the balance between all the competitions gives the chief executive, Guy Lavender, plenty to ponder for his wishes of the schedule.”We’re lucky here; we’re extremely well attended for County Championship cricket,” Lavender told ESPNcricinfo as Notts batted out for a draw on the final afternoon. “We’ve got a very strong membership base and we attach importance to the Championship as the premier competition. But there are different views about it around the country so there are certain things we have to do to make the structure more sustainable.”Number one: the fixture list has to be easy to understand; number two, it has to be interesting; and number three, it has to be at a time where people can come and watch the games. If we just descend into ‘how many matches’ or ‘how many counties’, it misses the point. You don’t need detailed debates, we’ve got to say, ‘What works? What type of structure is attractive to the customer?’ That is what drives the game.”When the counties decided more T20 would drive the game there was a general downward trend in overall profit. Somerset were one of few that thrived. They can make more matches work and saw takings fall back this season with the reduction in games.”We’d like to see the number of T20 games increase,” said Lavender, who wasn’t pleased to see the Morgan Report rejected. “As a club we have the capacity to increase the number of fixtures and not only make them pay but make them good experiences for the supporters. We would have a preference for matches to be spread out across the course of the season because it provides the best opportunity for more people to come and watch. If you schedule T20 at the right time – as with CB40 – then people will turn up. It’s not rocket science.”But finding regularity in the calendar is hampered by broadcasting demands, with Sky keen to screen a match every night of the week – reducing the capacity for T20 to be staged on a regular evening and the scope for matches to be spread out.”Of course there are broadcast demands but I don’t think that drives all of the decision-making about the schedule,” Lavender said. “If we want cricket to thrive then we have to give people the best opportunity to come and watch and I think there is recognition from the ECB and Sky that that needs to happen.”With the Gloucestershire T20, because of the rivalry and locality, that match will sell out whenever it is played but others won’t. So we need to provide something that, perhaps as a not-as-keen follower of Somerset, you can go to every other Friday. It creates regularity and it fits into the way people live their lives and I think that’s really important. And that holds true for other formats of the game.”The problem is every county is looking at the structure of the game through their own lens and it’s the responsibility of the ECB to work for the greater good of the game.”That greater good is being worked out through further consumer research. What it should find – given the backlash the proposed cuts received from players and supporters – is that the County Championship is just fine; and at Taunton both teams lost ground to Warwickshire in the title race that has four more rounds to produce another thrilling climax.Nottinghamshire will be the happier of the teams from this draw. They keep Somerset at arm’s length and survived what could have been a tricky afternoon on a pitch that began to show signs of invariable bounce and some turn. Pete Trego was also getting some deliveries to tail into the right-hander – it was an inswinger that ended James Taylor’s attractive 46. He also had Michael Lumb superbly caught one-handed by Jos Buttler – keeping wicket in place of Craig Kieswetter and suggesting Somerset have enough depth to stay the distance in search of a first County Championship success.They have hung on to the title race despite a host of injuries, their squad so depleted they had to cancel a second-XI match earlier this season. But they now have the chance to make another run for a maiden title and three of their remaining four matches are at Taunton, against Sussex, Surrey and Worcestershire.

South Africa A will be bolstered by the presence of spinner Paul Harris for the second unofficial Test against Bangladesh A

Cricinfo staff28-Apr-2010South Africa A will be bolstered by the presence of spinner Paul Harris for the second unofficial Test against Bangladesh A at Savar on Thursday. Though the visitors took the series lead with a crushing victory by an innings and four runs in the first match, their bowlers were made to toil hard in unresponsive conditions.”It was a flat wicket and our bowlers had to work extra hard to get something out of it and they did well to bowl out Bangladesh twice,” said assistant coach Shafiek Abrahams. “Paul will definitely strengthen our attack and help to create more pressure, which is an element that was lacking in our bowling.”The South African batsmen made the most of a flat wicket in the game, racking up a massive first innings total for 676 for 9 – the highest by a South African A side. Three batsmen passed 100, Heino Kuhn top-scoring with 191, and Kuhn and Thami Tsolekile’s sixth wicket partnership of 283 was the highest by a South African A side abroad.”Heino played a brilliant knock, he was probably well on his way to his double hundred but fatigue probably got the better of him under extremely hot and humid conditions, and Thami and Alviro were also fantastic,” added Abrahams. “The batsmen did all of the hard work and our commanding first innings total eased the pressure on our bowlers, who had runs to work with.”

Juan Roman Riquelme was “lucky” enough to play alongside Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, making it inevitable that he will be asked GOAT questions.

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Boca legend started out alongside 1986 World Cup winnerAlso played with eight-time Ballon d'Or winnerFinds it impossible to pick between two icons of the game

WHAT HAPPENED?

The former Argentina international stepped out of the famous youth system at Boca Juniors while 1986 World Cup winner Maradona was still on the club’s books. He would then go on to represent his country alongside eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi when a precocious young talent burst onto the senior scene.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT RIQUELME SAID

While forming part of an exclusive club of players that have been team-mates of both Maradona and Messi, Riquelme is reluctant to pick between the pair when it comes to the greatest of all-time title. He has told when presented with that poser: “Maradona? He’s the greatest I saw on a football pitch when I was a child. Now when I grew up, the greatest is Messi. I was lucky to play with both of them, for me it was a very big dream.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Maradona inspired his country to global glory on Mexican soil, delivering the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal and a remarkable individual strike against England along the way. Messi emulated the efforts of his illustrious countryman when inspiring the Albiceleste to a World Cup crown at Qatar 2022.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

Messi is still going strong at international level, while starring for MLS side Inter Miami domestically, with the iconic 36-year-old rewriting the history books with 180 caps and 106 goals to his name. He will form part of a Copa America title defence in 2024, but it is yet to be determined whether he will grace the 2026 World Cup finals that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A club legend is back at Stamford Bridge, but while the fanbase revel in the appointment, some players have cause for concern…

In a plot twist that only the Premier League is capable of concocting, Frank Lampard SOMEHOW finds himself back in the Chelsea dugout – albeit on an interim basis.

Whether you think it's a brazen PR stunt from joint-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali as they look to appease a disgruntled fanbase, or a shrewd move to see the Blues through to the end of the season, the club legend's return is sure to make for compelling viewing.

The squad Lampard inherits is in stark contrast to the one he left behind when he was dismissed in 2021; trusted regulars of his first stint in charge such as Tammy Abraham and Jorginho have moved on and Chelsea have spent BIG, with their bloated ranks contributing to predecessor Graham Potter's eventual downfall.

There is work to be done and points to prove on and off the pitch.

Here are GOAL's winners and losers of Lampard's return to Stamford Bridge…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Mason Mount

It is remarkable that Mason Mount has gone from Chelsea's best player and a fan favourite to a scapegoat who is highly likely to move on from the club in the summer.

Mount was unfairly labelled the 'teacher's pet' during Lampard's first spell in charge after they struck up a strong rapport during his loan at Derby County, but the England international was a first-team regular back at Chelsea based on merit.

The academy graduate enjoyed a breakout campaign under Lampard in 2019-20, and has been on an upward trajectory since, with his output steadily increasing.

However, things have not gone to plan this season. Though he still has nine goal contributions in all competitions, his form has reflected his team's overall struggles.

He's become a lightning rod for criticism amid uncertainty surrounding his future as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract, with Liverpool sniffing about.

Lampard's timely return coincides with Mount's comeback from an injury layoff, and that could well give him the fresh impetus he needs to rediscover his highest level.

Who knows, he may even be convinced to stay put…

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Kepa Arrizabalaga

Poor old Kepa.

No sooner has he regained his starting place than the man who decided to replace him returns to the club.

It was Lampard who sought an alternative for the struggling Spaniard back in 2020, eventually plumping for Edouard Mendy – a shrewd move given he would go on to help the Blues on their way to winning the 2021 Champions League under his successor Thomas Tuchel.

Kepa reclaimed his first-team place under Potter earlier this season, keeping a solid 12 clean sheets in 29 appearances despite the odd characteristic lapse in concentration, but he will undoubtedly be looking over his shoulder now that Mendy is fit again and Lampard is back in the dugout.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Todd Boehly & Behdad Eghbali

This is a win-win for Chelsea's ownership.

It is difficult to understand exactly why co-owners Boehly and Eghbali have opted to bring Lampard back on a temporary basis, but one of their motivations is pretty transparent.

After what has been a farcical 11 months at the helm so far, reinstalling the club legend is an easy PR victory for a hierarchy that was supposedly stunned by the vociferous uproar in the latter days of Potter's reign.

Within the Chelsea fanbase there has been very little backlash to the appointment, which is perhaps an indictment of Potter's popularity more than anything else.

They have not committed to anything long-term, and they have bought themselves time to make the right appointment to take the club forward and recover their poor start.

Lampard can do no wrong in the fans' eyes, with his status as a club legend as secure as can be. If they are merely riding out the rest of the season, one of their favourite sons will be fully backed – whatever happens.

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GettyLOSER: Marc Cucurella

Marc Cucurella has already faced plenty of adversity in his brief time at Stamford Bridge, and Lampard's appointment will provide another test.

The defender had only just regained the faith of former Brighton boss Potter before he was unceremoniously ditched, and now he faces an uphill battle to convince the interim head coach of his pedigree.

Lampard was in charge when Chelsea signed Ben Chilwell in 2020 and the pair formed a strong bond, with the England international one of his best performers throughout his initial tenure.

A likely switch to the coach's preferred back-four system could well see Cucurella pushed to the periphery.

While the two great No.10s have made history with the Albiceleste, the nation has been blessed with a host of incredible talents over the years

With two World Cup wins and a further three final appearances, Argentina are up there amongst the elite of international football.

Not only that, but players like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and Gabriel Batistuta to name just three have become icons of the game, instantly recognisable the world ever. 

But who is the greatest of all? Here, Goal ranks the top 20 to have ever worn the famous Albiceleste jersey…

ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images20Hernan Crespo

Hernan Crespo was, at one point, the world's most expensive football player, a title that, among his compatriots, only Diego Maradona has held in the modern game.

A striker of impossible elegance and potency, he became a firm favourite thanks to his exploits with Parma, Lazio, Milan, Inter and Chelsea among others.

A veteran of three World Cups, Crespo also became the first man to score in the Champions League with five different teams, while helping Inter to three Scudetti in as many years from 2006 to 2009.

He is sometimes overlooked when putting together lists of football's best strikers but, at his most deadly, few could resist the Argentine when bearing down on goal.

AdvertisementGetty19Ricardo Bochini

You know you are not just another run of the mill player when someone of Diego Maradona's stature insists you are picked for a World Cup.

A living legend at Independiente, Ricardo Bochini was the archetype of the languid, supremely gifted Argentina No.10, playing his entire career at the Avellaneda club and helping them to four Primera titles, five Copas Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cup victories in what proved to be their most successful spell in history.

Bochini's time in the national team was understandably curtailed by the emergence of Maradona, who was nevertheless a great friend to his older team-mate.

“Come over, maestro, we've been waiting for you”, Argentina's captain famously said to him when he entered in the 1986 World Cup against Belgium for the last five minutes, his only experience of football's most-coveted trophy.

18Roberto Ayala

When it comes to Argentine football, the list of heroes is dominated by creative geniuses and prolific forwards. It is testament, then, to Roberto Ayala's supreme abilities that the former Valencia favourite is remembered among the nation's elite.

Ayala was a formidable defender in his day, playing 115 times for his nation in a career that spanned three World Cups.

He was also an integral part of Valencia's all-conquering team of the early 2000s, winning two La Liga titles as well as the UEFA Cup in Los Che's most successful spell since the 1940s.

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Gabriel Rossi17Sergio Aguero

While Sergio Aguero has often been criticised for struggling to replicate his club form on the international stage, there is no doubting his brilliance in front of the net.

Ever since he burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old wonderkid for Independiente great things have been expected from 'El Kun', and he has certainly delivered in England.

With two Premier League titles and more than 200 goals for Manchester City, fans at the Etihad Stadium at least have taken Aguero to their hearts as one of the club's all-time greats.

And, at 30, there is still plenty of time for the striker to show Argentina fans exactly what he can do at the highest level.