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The selection committee meets on Wednesday to pick the team for the four ODIs against West Indies

Sidharth Monga16-Jun-2009If India’s cricketers have a challenge on hand in motivating themselves for an ill-timed series of four matches in a format fighting for its existence, the selectors have a similar task in picking the personnel for those games. The selection committee meets on Wednesday to pick the team for the four ODIs in the West Indies and is faced with fatigue and injuries.Coach Gary Kirsten said he worked with a tired team in England and there is merit in that comment. Virender Sehwag is out with the shoulder injury while Zaheer Khan didn’t look like he had recovered fully from his. While the former is not available, there is every chance the selectors will not send the latter either, which should pave the way back for RP Singh, and Munaf Patel should retain his ODI place.And then there’s the Sachin Tendulkar situation. Reports suggest he wants to be rested for the tour though one selector contacted by Cricinfo said he was yet to receive any official advice on the matter. If this is the case, India will need a new opener. They could go the World Twenty20 way, where Rohit Sharma didn’t do too badly in compensating for Sehwag’s loss at the top – though what was not readily observed was that there was no one to make up for Rohit’s loss in the middle order.If Tendulkar doesn’t go, there are two batting places up for grabs, one of which should go to Ravindra Jadeja, his last Twenty20 innings notwithstanding. There is a variety of names to choose from, for various reasons: Manish Pandey (his IPL exploits), M Vijay (opener in a more conventional sense, and the third-best opener in Tests), Dinesh Karthik (can be the back-up wicketkeeper and was in good batting form in the IPL) and Virat Kohli (his form in domestic one-dayers, 534 runs at an average of 89 and strike-rate of 108.53). Although Karthik was part of the 16-member squad in New Zealand, only 15 should go to the West Indies and Karthik will have to take an absentee’s place if he is to make it.There could be a surprise or two in the selection, given that India are unlikely to risk major injuries to any other player who could be fatigued. In any case, MS Dhoni might not get a break in the absence of vice-captain Sehwag.

New South Wales could fork out US$250,000 to secure Brendon McCullum for October’s Champions League Twenty20 after his New Zealand domestic team, Otago, also qualified

Cricinfo staff26-May-2009New South Wales could fork out US$250,000 to secure Brendon McCullum for October’s Champions Twenty20 League after his New Zealand domestic team, Otago, were announced as one of the extra sides in the expanded tournament. The Blues are likely to lose David Warner to his IPL franchise, Delhi Daredevils, for the two-week event and would view McCullum as a strong replacement.McCullum made a controversial fly-in appearance for New South Wales in the Twenty20 final against Victoria in January so he could qualify for the Blues. McCullum and Warner are among a group of players who have reached the Champions League through two teams and must therefore decide which side to represent.Should Warner choose Delhi Daredevils, the franchise would need to pay New South Wales compensation, as would the Blues to Otago if they signed McCullum. David Gilbert, the chief executive of Cricket New South Wales, said if they received money for Warner they would consider making Otago an offer.”There is no doubt having Brendon McCullum in your team increases your chances of a win, that is an undeniable fact,” Gilbert told the . “It’s about ensuring we have got all the bases covered. It is certainly something we will consider. It is a cost-neutral exercise.”It could have been a three-way race for McCullum’s services had his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders, not had such a dismal tournament. Earlier in the year McCullum said it would be his preference to play for Otago, although a hefty cash injection could tempt them to accept an offer from New South Wales.”Given the fact he has played for them in the last 12 months, I think it could happen,” Ross Dykes, the Otago chief executive, said. “You can’t ignore figures like that. But on the other hand, you have loyalty reasons for which you wouldn’t want to do it. Brendon would have to be involved in these discussions.”Craig Cumming, the Otago captain, said that he was keen to retain McCullum. “We get first dibs on him [McCullum] now that Kolkata didn’t get through,” Cumming told . “Someone would have to have a pretty strong argument to get him out of the team that I’m playing for. [For guys like Brendon], they play for New Zealand and the franchises in the IPL but this is unique in that you’re representing your province on a world stage. This is a real opportunity for him to do something a little bit different from what he normally does because it is for his province. It’s a unique chance.”Other players with decisions to make include Dirk Nannes (Victoria and Delhi Daredevils), Andrew McDonald (Victoria and Delhi Daredevils), Cameron White (Victoria and Royal Challengers Bangalore), Nathan Bracken (New South Wales and Royal Challengers Bangalore), Herschelle Gibbs (Cape Cobras and Deccan Chargers) and Farveez Maharoof (Wayamba and Delhi Daredevils).Victoria’s coach Greg Shipperd is also in an unusual position having been in charge of the Delhi Daredevils, who qualified by virtue of finishing on top of the IPL table. However, Shipperd has previously stated that Victoria would be his first priority should both his teams reach the Champions League.

Aston Villa will be looking to start Steven Gerrard’s tenure with back-to-back victories when they travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Villans secured all three points against Brighton and Hove Albion last time out thanks to two late goals from Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins, but Gerrard’s charges are set for another tricky test when they come up against an in-form Palace side currently enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run.

Under Patrick Vieira, the south London outfit have already seen off the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City this season, and they’ll be confident of sealing another positive result on home territory. However, Villa will have a potentially lethal weapon in their armoury when they take on the Eagles.

Summer signing Danny Ings has settled well into life at Villa Park following his £25m move from Southampton, and he brings with him an enviable goalscoring record against Palace.

In his last 10 outings when facing the Eagles, Ings has notched up an impressive five goals, showcasing his ability to get the better of Vicente Guaita and co on a regular basis.

The £19.8m-rated striker put in a disappointing display in Gerrard’s first game in charge, though, and was replaced by Leon Bailey after just 66 minutes of action.

However, with the Jamaica international still settling into his new surroundings, becoming accustomed to his new teammates and getting back to full fitness, he may be best suited to a place on the substitutes’ bench once again.

On his day, Ings can be an unstoppable force in the Premier League. His remarkable 22-goal haul in the 2019/20 campaign was evidence of that, leading to talkSPORT pundit Clinton Morrison calling him “first class”.

A return of three goals and two assists in his first 10 games for Villa is further evidence of the diminutive forward’s clinical nature, and Gerrard must keep faith in the 29-year-old’s ability.

Ings is a predator who can win a game in an instant, and the 41-year-old tactician would be wise to allow his fellow Englishman another opportunity to showcase his true potential against Palace, especially considering his previous form when facing the Eagles.

In other news… Gerrard could be heading for his first AVFC disaster over £31.5m-rated “absolute joy” 

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson believes that Celtic have pulled off an “amazing bit of recruitment” following the arrival of striker Giorgios Giakoumakis from VVV-Venlo.

The Lowdown: Giakoumakis arrives with a big reputation

Playing his part in an outstanding 2020/21 campaign, the Greece international earned headlines after finishing as top scorer in the Eredivisie with 26 goals [The Scotsman].

After completing a move to Glasgow on deadline day, former Tottenham goalkeeper Robinson believes that the Hoops have landed a bargain in the 26-year-old as they seek to reclaim the Premiership title.

The Latest: Robinson hails ‘amazing bit of recruitment’

It appears that Celtic may have brought in the forward for a fraction of his former club’s valuation, too.

Speaking to The Celtic Exchange Podcast, journalist Anthony Joseph detailed that Giakoumakis would likely have cost £8.6m to bring to Parkhead if VVV-Venlo had managed to avoid relegation from the Dutch top flight.

Eventually acquiring him for around £2.5m [The Scottish Sun], Robinson believes that Celtic have pulled off a wonderful capture.

In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, the 41-year-old claimed: “It was an incredible achievement to finish top scorer in a relegated side. It shows that he is a very good striker.

“For the price that they’ve paid it looks like an amazing bit of recruitment.

“Of course, there is a different level of expectation and pressure at Celtic though. It will be a big test for him, playing in front of those fans.

“From Celtic’s point of view though, it is not a risk because the fee is very reasonable.”

The Verdict: Giakoumakis has the requisite qualities to succeed at Celtic

Despite his goalscoring exploits in mainland Europe, Robinson correctly points out the high standards that Giakoumakis will need to meet on a weekly basis at Celtic.

However, the 6 foot 1 ace looks more than equipped to make a solid start to life in Scotland. He brings a bustling physical presence to the attack, illustrated in his average aerial duel success rate of four per game last season [WhoScored].

Perhaps most importantly, the Greek also offers a potent goal threat. In 2020/21, he managed to constantly provide an attacking threat for a poor VVV-Venlo outfit, registering 3.2 shots on average per game.

Currently getting up to speed fitness wise, Hoops supporters will hope he can hit the ground running in the east end of Glasgow.

In other news, a prominent Celtic journalist has issued a behind-the-scenes update. Find out more here.

Joe Aribo travelled to join up with the Nigeria squad recently and his manager has dropped a worrying claim about his future at Rangers.

The Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr claimed that the Rangers midfielder was involved in transfer talks at the end of the window, which was his reason for being late for international duty.

He said:

“We are ready, we are still missing two players or three (Aribo, Onuachu, Awaziem), they will arrive tonight or tomorrow.

“These players were concerned by transfer problems so they could not be here with us since yesterday (Tuesday).”

Although the former Charlton Athletic man obviously didn’t leave Ibrox before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, Rangers fans may well be concerned to hear that he was involved in transfer negotiations.

Since joining on a free transfer from the Addicks in 2019, the midfielder has established himself as a key player in Steven Gerrard’s side, making 99 appearances, in which he has contributed 18 goals and 16 assists.

[freshpress-quiz id=“593776”]

At just 25, the £5.85m-rated man still has plenty of time to improve his game and his attributes suggest that he could certainly make it in the Premier League, so it is no surprise to see him attracting interest from abroad.

However, Gerrard was clearly keen to keep hold of his best players in the transfer window as the Teddy Bears look to retain their Premiership title, and if Rangers did have any negotiations regarding Aribo, they clearly didn’t amount to much.

The 41-year-old manager is certainly a big fan of the Nigeria international, as he sang his praises last season, saying:

“He was fantastic today, not just the goal but his running power, his quick feet and the way he outplays people. He is a fantastic kid, you can’t get him off the training pitch, he’s always working on his game.”

Therefore, whilst Rangers were able to keep him in this transfer window, fans may well be worried about the prospect of him leaving in January after Rohr’s transfer claim.

And, in other news… £3.15m-rated Rangers ace may have played his last Ibrox game

Speaking to Football Insider, talkSPORT pundit Danny Mills has praised chairman Daniel Levy amid the ‘absolute mess’ at Tottenham Hotspur surrounding the Harry Kane transfer saga fall out.

The Lowdown: Kane fails to secure move away…

Since the beginning of the summer, Spurs star Kane was heavily linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City and their manager Pep Guardiola even confirmed interest in him.

The 28-year-old reiterated his desire to leave Tottenham in May as he presumably contemplated the prime of his career and the clock ticking away when it comes to shots at winning silverware.

However, after an exit failed to materialise, Kane then announced he was staying in north London as pundit Mills drops a claim on the fall out of this transfer saga.

The Latest: Mills praises Levy…

Following the end of Kane’s exit links which seemed to drone on for months, Mills has now praised chairman Levy for sticking to his guns and refusing to budge on asking price.

Meanwhile, he has also criticised the Tottenham star’s PR team and their handling of the rumoured gentleman’s agreement.

“The relationship is going to be a little bit strained,” he told Football Insider when asked about Kane’s situation.

“Fair play to Daniel Levy, he’s stuck to his guns and said – ‘Unless we get a ridiculous fee, you’re staying’.

“We’ve had all this speculation about a gentleman’s agreement, about coming back from training on time, and more.

“None of this has come from Levy. It’s all been started by Harry Kane and the interview with Gary Neville.

“Tottenham just kept their powder dry, the way it has been dealt with by Kane and his PR team is an absolute shambles.

“Why not come out and reveal this gentleman’s agreement? Harry Kane has not come out looking good in this, it’s an absolute mess.”

The Verdict: Interesting times ahead…

Over these next few months, it will certainly be interesting to see how the England international restores his reputation with supporters after his attempt to engineer an N17 exit.

You could argue, with Kane slowly approaching the twilight phase of his career, that his desire to win silverware is natural but fans will also be overjoyed that their most crucial player looks to to be with them for the foreseeable future.

Nuno Espirito Santo can now build his team around the forward who clinched a sensational 2020/2021 Golden Boot last season.

In other news: Spurs chiefs left seething over N17 exit gaffe as Gold drops behind the scenes reveal, find out more here.

Tottenham Hotspur have made Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic their top target for next year, as news emerges from Italy, after failing to land the 6 foot 3 colossus this summer.

The Lowdown: Linked previously to Spurs

Vlahovic, 21, was heavily linked with a transfer to the Premier League this summer with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that Spurs were willing to fork out £60million to sign the striker.

The striker has scored 34 times in 88 appearances for the Italian side since arriving from FK Partizan Belgrade and he has got the 2021/22 campaign off to the perfect start with three goals in three games – including two in the recent 2-1 away win at Atalanta.

Vlahovic, who is valued at £36million, also attracted interest from La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.

The Latest: Spurs remain keen

According to CalcioMercato, Vlahovic is Fabio Paratici and Spurs’ number one target next summer after their interest was made known for the forward already.

Fabrizio Romano claimed that Tottenham didn’t actually submit a formal bid for the striker in the summer, but it is now alleged that they will re-visit the situation at the end of the season.

Fiorentina were desperate to retain the services of their striker in the previous transfer window but could face an uphill battle to keep him if Spurs or Atletico come back in for him.

The Verdict: Massive potential

The signing of Vlahovic would be a massive step forward for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, whether that be to replace Harry Kane or to provide competition for the club’s record goalscorer.

One of Spurs’ main problems in recent years is having no back-up to Kane, with Vinicius Junior struggling last season, so Vlahovic, who has been hailed ‘incredible’ by Serie A expert Conor Clancy, could provide exactly this and eventually be a replacement in the future.

Bringing Vlahovic in at such a young age and then nurturing him to be the clubs leading man in attack – when Kane is either sold or retires – looks to be a smart strategy from Paratici and co. The 21 year-old gets better every season.

In other news, Paul Scholes has made a claim about Spurs man following Palace defeat. Find out more here.

Liverpool could secure their ideal heir to Gini Wijnaldum this summer after being linked with a move for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.

What’s the story?

The Reds have been credited with an interest in the technically gifted 23-year-old throughout the current transfer window and received a boost in their pursuit of the Frenchman on Tuesday.

According to RMC Sport (as relayed by Get French Football News), multiple Lyon players could be on their way out of the Ligue 1 club as director of sport Juninho looks to resolve an attitude problem within the dressing room.

Aouar was named amongst those potentially heading for the exit door, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp should take advantage of the sudden change in circumstances, thus solving his engine room conundrum.

Heir to Gini Wijnaldum

Despite his tender years, Aouar has been around for quite a while and has already cultivated a reputation as an extremely gifted dribbler, capable of splitting open a defence with a precise pass or finishing off a flowing move with a well-placed shot.

In 172 appearances for his boyhood club, the sought-after star has scored 32 goals, laying on a further 31 assists for his teammates, but his underlying numbers are arguably just as impressive. As per WhoScored, Aouar recorded an average of 2.3 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game last season, highlighting his outstanding ability with the ball at his feet.

Compared to Wijnaldum’s respective tallies of 0.8 shots per game, 0.6 key passes and 0.9 dribbles, Aouar appears to be a big upgrade on the Dutch international, although those figures are heavily influenced by the tactical restrictions placed upon him by Klopp.

However, the comparison does illustrate how the Lyon ace has a different skillset to Wijnaldum, meaning that his arrival on Merseyside would represent an evolution in Liverpool’s midfield options rather than being a direct replacement.

Aouar’s unique set of attributes first caught the attention of an English audience when he came up against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League back in 2018, with the Spanish tactician lauding his performance after the final whistle.

“Houssem Aouar is a very good player. He is incredible,” said Guardiola.

“We talk a lot about (Tanguy) Ndombele, but Aouar is also excellent. He’s always very calm with the ball at his feet, with an excellent technical quality.”

Therefore, Liverpool’s director of football Michael Edwards must sanction a move for the £37.8m-rated maestro, plugging a Wijnaldum-shaped hole in Liverpool’s team.

In other news… Fabrizio Romano drops fresh Liverpool claim which will leave fans very worried 

Crystal Palace are in the market for a new forward player before the current window closes, but they’ll have to move onto another target after missing out on PSV Eindhoven star Noni Madueke.

What’s the story?

The Eagles were one of several Premier League clubs believed to be keen on securing the 19-year-old’s services this summer, but PSV have confirmed the teenager has signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2025.

Director of Football Affairs John de Jong expressed his delight that Madueke will stay longer in Eindhoven, saying: “There was a lot of interest from foreign clubs in Noni, but we wanted to connect Noni to PSV even longer.

“After good talks with Noni and his family, he succeeded in extending his contract until 2025. We as a club are very happy that Noni will stay, and we look forward to a successful collaboration.”

Patrick Vieira will be gutted

Madueke’s decision to remain at the Philips Stadion is likely to leave new Palace manager Patrick Vieira feeling gutted.

The capital club have failed to win even score a goal in the opening three games of the Frenchman’s reign and scoring goals is something the England Under-21 international has excelled at since arriving in Dutch football.

In 45 appearances for Roger Schmidt’s charges, Madueke has bagged 15 goals and laid on a further nine assists for his teammates, earning praise from several impressed onlookers, including former PSV ace Tommie van de Leegte.

“He’s fast and has the capability to trick his opponent. He brings creativity and is very explosive in his actions,” said Van de Leegte (via Goal).

With Andros Townsend departing Selhurst Park over the summer, Vieira is currently lacking a natural right-winger in his first-team squad, an issue he admitted he wants to solve before August 31st.

“When you look at the squad, we are maybe a little bit more light on numbers, and we are working hard to improve the squad [with] the window are still open. We will try to bring players that can improve our squad,” Vieira revealed in a pre-match press conference.

“I think where we are maybe a little bit more short is upfront and in the midfield, I think it would be good to reinforce those positions.”

However, the former Nice boss will have to set his sights on other options after Madueke committed his future to PSV, leaving him short on time to secure another forward’s signature.

And, in other news…Parish must sanction Crystal Palace move for £10.8m-rated gem, Vieira needs him 

A round-up from the opening matches in the MTN Domestic Championship

Cricinfo staff17-Nov-2008
Gulam Bodi hit a brisk 35 to guide the Titans to back-to-back victories © Cricinfo Ltd
Martin van Jaarsveld and Faf du Plessis plundered the Eagles with a 229-run stand in 24 overs, to power the Titans to a successful run-chase as they pursued a massive 335 at Bloemfontein. The pair butchered the Eagles attack with du Plessis smashing 15 fours and two sixes in a 72-ball 114. van Jaarsveld wasn’t far behind as he cracked nine fours and three sixes, finishing on 132 from 96 balls. Such was the dominance of their display that the Titans eased home in their chase with 26 balls to spare. It was a tough match for the bowlers throughout as 670 runs came in 85 overs after the Eagles also cut loose during their innings. The top four all passed fifty and Boeta Dippenaar sped to 71 off 45 deliveries, but that paled into insignificance once du Plessis and van Jaarsveld got going.The Lions piled up even more runs at Potchefstroom with Jean Symes and Vaughn van Jaarsveld both hitting centuries to set up a 116-run victory against the Dolphins. van Jaarsveld’s hundred was the fastest in South African domestic one-day cricket, coming from just 56 balls, and propelled the Lions to 344. The innings had been set up by Symes’ controlled 138-ball 146 after he was given a life on 24 off Jon Kent. The pair added 146 in 15 overs for the third wicket, before van Jaarsveld’s power finished the innings in style. The Dolphins lost their top three for 38, including Sanath Jayasuriya for 6, and were never in the hunt as Cliff Deacon finished with 5 for 38.The Titans made it two wins from two with a seven-wicket success in a rain-effected clash against the Warriors at Centurion Park. They cruised home with more than 10 overs to spare after Gulam Bodi clubbed 35 off 25 balls. It was the Titans attack that set up victory, dismantling the visitors for 127 in under 34 overs. Seven wickets fell to left-arm spin with Paul Harris collecting three and Roelof van der Merwe picking up 4 for 28. It was a busy innings for Heino Kuhn behind the stumps as he snapped up six dismissals.Player of the week – Vaughn van JaarsveldIt took a while for Vaughn van Jaarsveld to decide where he wanted to commit his cricketing future. He signed a contract with Warwickshire two years ago, but went back on his deal after deciding he didn’t want to leave South Africa behind. He has since earned A-team representation and with innings like he played this week full honours aren’t out of the question. His unbeaten 100 against the Dolphins was the quickest in the domestic game and showed the talent that first got people talking.

Titans 22 0 0 0 9 +1.595425/57.0 422/72.0 Lions 1 10 0 0 5 +2.578 344/45.0228/45.0 Eagles 1 0 10 0 0 -0.840 334/45.0 336/40.4 Warriors 1 0 1 00 0 -2.190 88/27.0 89/16.2Dolphins 1 0 1 0 00 -2.578 228/45.0 344/45.0