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Victor Osimhen has broken his silence on the TikTok video controversy at Napoli by stating his ongoing commitment to the Serie A title holders.

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Striker teased on social mediaLegal action threatenedHoping to bring saga to a closeWHAT HAPPENED?

The Nigeria international striker, who helped to deliver a historic Scudetto success in Naples last season, has seen an imminent transfer speculated on after appearing to be teased on the official social media channels of the club that he represents.

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Napoli posted a TikTok video of Osimhen missing a spot-kick with a high-pitched voice played over the top saying: “Gimme penalty please.” Legal action was threatened at that stage by the Nigerian’s agent, while he deleted all mention of the Partenopei from his Instagram account. The government back in his homeland also addressed the issue, saying that they are “committed to ensuring that our athletes are afforded the respect they deserve and that they are not exposed to injustice, discrimination and unfair teasing”.

WHAT THEY SAID

Osimhen has now delivered a statement of his own, saying on Instagram: “Coming to the City of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me. The People of Napoli have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us. The passion of the People of Naples fuels my fire to always play with my heart and soul, and the love for the badge is unwavering as I wear it with pride. The accusations against People of Naples are untrue. I have a lot of friends that are Napolitans and have become part of my family and everyday life. I appreciate Nigerians and everyone for leading their voices to support and reach out to me. I’m forever grateful. Let’s support unity, respect and understanding. FORZA NAPOLI SEMPRE.”

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Osimhen has figured for Napoli since the social media post saga started, with the 24-year-old frontman netting in back-to-back games against Udinese and Lecce.

Gregg Berhalter's team accomplished their end goal, but it's safe to say it wasn't a convincing process…

In the end, they got there. The United States men's national team is headed to the 2024 Copa America on home soil, which, ultimately, was the big goal of this camp. However, there was no big celebration, no big blowout of champagne or anything like that. The mood, overall, was somewhat somber. Despite defeating Trinidad & Tobago on aggregate, Monday night certainly didn't feel like a win.

That's because it wasn't; it was a 2-1 loss. That defeat left a sour taste after what will, in the end, be seen as a hugely important camp. It's one that will have lasting ramifications, and not just because of the tournament runs it set the U.S. up for.

With the road to the Copa America now officially beginning, everything the U.S. does will now have one eye towards the summer, and it's safe to say that Sergino Dest hasn't started that road off well at all. His boneheaded red card left his team-mates seething, with the defender being scolded for his "immature" and "disrespectful" decision-making.

That leaves his grip right-back spot a bit less tight than it was before, and it raises a huge question: With two red cards in two big games just a few months apart, can the U.S. really trust Dest the most intense of situations?

That'll be one talking point going forward, but there's plenty do discuss. So, with that said, GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from camp…

GettyWINNER: Antonee Robinson

The big winner of the camp, not that Antonee Robinson needed that title, to be fair. Gregg Berhalter called him an "animal" after the second match, and it feels like a good description. Robinson did just about everything asked of him after missing the October window, proving once again why he's so key to this team.

He's been the left-back for quite some time, and despite the emergence of Kristoffer Lund, it doesn't feel like that'll change any time soon. There's no one in the pool quite as complete as Robinson, who brings so much to the team.

With the U.S., he plays a bit more attacking than he does at Fulham, and he seems to enjoy it. In two games this camp, he got two goals, which is always a nice sight from the full-back position.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Sergino Dest

We already discussed what Dest's dismissal meant in the moment, but now it's time to look at the bigger picture. This incident, his second inexcusable red card of the year after that Nations League mess against Mexico, now leads to one big question: Can the USMNT trust Dest to keep his cool?

On the latest evidence, the answer is no. The Mexico incident is one we can kind of excuse, as players sometimes lose their tempers in those sorts of rivalry games. Getting sent off against Trinidad & Tobago with your team up 4-0 on aggregate? That's not passion; it's stupidity.

Do you think South America's top teams won't have seen that? If a relative minnow like Trinidad & Tobago can get in Dest's head, what do you think a team like Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay can do when the heat is turned up much, much higher?

Dest's play style already makes him something of a liability in those big games, but it seems his mentality may do so as well. And, with the Copa America looming, he has a lot of trust to earn back if he's to make an impact in next summer's tournament.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Gio Reyna

All of the prior nonsense feels like it's even more in the past, as Gio Reyna is more important to this team than ever right now. His goal in the first game was a great finish, one that really put the tie out of reach. He combined well with Folarin Balogun during the sequence and has, realistically, been the only USMNT player to unlock any sort of on-field chemistry with the striker so far.

The finish marked Reyna's third goal in two games, which makes it pretty clear that the past is well and truly behind him. Injuries have thrust him into the XI, no doubt, but his presence in midfield is now undeniable. When he came off after Dest's red card on Monday, the U.S. never looked the same, lacking the control and creativity in midfield to do anything but survive in that second half.

Overall, it's safe to say that Reyna, in just a few games, has rebuilt things quite a bit under Berhalter. It'll take a bit more time to truly earn back the trust of some sections of the USMNT fanbase, but it's clear that this past winter's incident isn't hanging over player or coach. All involved have moved on and, at least so far, taken things to another level, which is a credit to the player and person Reyna is as he leaps into this next phase of his USMNT career.

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GettyLOSER: Folarin Balogun

We'll start by saying that, overall, Balogun's return is pretty good so far. The striker has three goals and two assists in about 530 minutes since debuting for the national team. If your striker averages just under one goal contribution-per-90, you'll probably take that, especially if you're the USMNT.

However, these felt like games where Balogun could really assert himself as the USMNT's superstar attacker. Without the injured Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, these felt like games where Balogun could step up, score some goals and carry a team that needed a bit of juice without two star forwards. Instead, we leave camp saying that Balogun is still adjusting to the USMNT, and that the USMNT is still adjusting to Balogun.

His first game wasn't bad, as he did get that assist on Reyna's goal. However, Ricardo Pepi certainly outshined him with his fantastic flicked-on goal to open the scoring off the bencg. The second game? Little more than a cardio session, as Balogun was limited to mainly hold-up play outside of one early chance.

It's clear that the USMNT is still learning how to play with Balogun. He's a different type of striker than any the U.S. has ever had and adjusting to his skillset will take time. His first real games against a lesser CONCACAF team, though, should have been a chance for Balogun to dominate on quality alone, and he never really did that throughout the two matches.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has asserted that his side can win a trophy before the end of the season.

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Reigning Pichichi winner highlighted "ideal moment to change"Barcelona out of Copa del Rey, off the pace in La LigaFace Napoli in Champions League knockouts next weekWHAT HAPPENED?

Barca have endured a turbulent season, and nine months after claiming a first league title in four years, face a strong possibility of going a full campaign without any silverware. Despite their struggles, Lewandowski has insisted that his side can win a trophy.

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In a conversation picked up by Spanish publication , the Polish striker asserted that the beleaguered Blaugrana can turn their season around: "We are in the ideal moment to change, to play better. First in Vigo and then the Champions League arrives… It is difficult to explain what is happening, because we conceded three goals against Granada, for example. We have had a long week to work and, as I said, we are in the perfect moment to change. I am sure that we are going to win many games and at the end of the season we are going to win something."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lewandowski has endured a tricky season of his own. After finishing last season as the league's top scorer, his form has tailed off. The veteran forward has scored 10 and assisted five in domestic play so far.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Blaugrana face Celta Vigo this Saturday, and could pull within seven points of league leaders Real Madrid with a win. After that, they travel to the Diego Maradona stadium to face Napoli in the Champions League.

With the World T20 less than two weeks away, there is a possibility that Australia and South Africa may not get much practice in the shortest format

The Preview by Firdose Moonda11-Mar-2014Match factsMarch 12, 2014, Kingsmead, DurbanStart time 1800 (1600GMT)Big Picture There is less than two weeks to go before both these sides play their first match at the World T20, and they are facing the possibility of going into the tournament without much practice in the shortest format. The first match of the series was washed out and the forecast does not look promising for the next two.That will leave both Australia and South Africa short of match-time ahead of a tournament neither have won, something which will concern South Africa more. Given the expectation thrust on them to bring home an ICC trophy, South Africa are doing all they can to refine their squad to ensure success. They need the time to have a trial run and experiment with some of the newer combinations they may have.Australia may have less reasons to worry, having come off three T20I wins. They would want to have the time to find room for the players they have recalled and to have another opportunity to dent their old foe ahead of a major tournament.Form guide
(completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LWWWL
Australia WWWLL Watch out for Albie Morkel will make a long awaited return to the South African XI after being out in the cold since the end of the 2012 World T20. Albie had a strong domestic season after taking an extended break from the game to rejuvenate himself and seems to have found a new lease on his cricketing life. He will be expected to finish the innings fast and contribute as a fourth seamer. Albie is thought to be South Africa’s trump card as they aim for an ICC trophy.After three centuries in the Test matches David Warner may have thought his South African trip could not get any better. But he has since proposed to Candice Falzon and revealed that they were expecting their first child. Warner will hope the good times keep rolling in. With his usual aggressive, carefree style of batting, he has bullied South Africa’s bowlers all summer and, if the weather allows him to, he will want to do it again, albeit in a different format.Team news Dale Steyn was spotted strolling on the Sea Point promenade in Cape Town on Monday, confirming his unavailability until the final match. South Africa are yet to play a match with their new combinations which include Albie Morkel and Beuran Hendricks. The team will want to field both of them before heading to Bangladesh.South Africa: (possible) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 and 9 Wayne Parnell/Kyle Abbott/Beuran Hendricks, 10 Morne Morkel 10, 11 Imran TahirBrad Hogg may have to wait a little longer before becoming the oldest man to represent Australia since Clarrie Grimmett, because of a hamstring strain. James Faulkner is still being monitored as he makes his return.Australia: (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shane Watson, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 Cameron White/Brad Hodge, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Daniel Christian, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 11 James MuirheadConditionsRain has been sweeping across South Africa and Durban has not been spared. Although Wednesday morning is forecast to be clear, wet weather and strong winds are expected to arrive by the afternoon and continue into the evening, which could mean a curtailed affair. Despite the threat of a wet blanket, over 17,00 tickets have been sold for the match as the Durban public gear up for the last international of the summer.Stats and Trivia Warner and Shane Watson have each raised their bats to 10 half-centuries in T20 cricket, Australia’s most number of fifties in the format. Contrastingly, South Africa have no players with 10 fifties, but JP Duminy (6) and AB de Villiers (4) have 10 between them.The last time Kingsmead was scheduled to host a T20, last March, it was abandoned because of rain. South Africa were due to play Pakistan on that occasion.Quotes “They want me to finish the games with David Miller, AB and JP. The four of us will be looking to bat overs from 10 to 20.””In the T20 format, as a bowler, you’ve only got 24 balls so you’ve got to make sure that you execute perfectly. I like the challenge of opening the bowling. When you’ve only got two fielders out, it’s always tough to bowl when the batsmen are looking to hit you over the top.”

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has refuted claims that Graeme Smith has made any decisions regarding his future at Surrey, following a series of tweets that gave the impression Smith would not be returning to The Oval.

Vithushan Ehantharajah27-May-2014Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has refuted claims that Graeme Smith may be about to retire, following a series of tweets that gave the impression Smith would not be returning to The Oval.Smith is currently in his second year of a three year contract with Surrey but has once again not been able to complete a full season through injury. This year it was a fractured knee, diagnosed earlier in the week, which forced him to return home on Monday night.Smith’s activity on social media seemed to suggest he was packing in entirely; thanking the club and the staff and saying it had been a privilege to be a part of Surrey.But Stewart, who drove back from Surrey’s game at Chelmsford to take Smith and his family to the airport last night, confirmed that the former South Africa captain has “a lot to consider” regarding his future.Upon returning home, Smith will consult with a specialist, who is expected to recommend surgery on the knee. From there, recovery and rehab will determine whether Smith will be able to return for the back end of the 2014 season, something that Stewart, with his “very limited knowledge” on the injury sustained, feels is unlikely.”I had a good chat with him last night,” Stewart told ESPNcricinfo. “Where he is, he’s thoroughly enjoyed his time with Surrey, despite it being two very brief periods over the last two years. He’s still under contract for next year – it’s a three year deal that he has signed.

It's been a privilege to be a part of @surreycricket and thank everyone at the club!

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) May 26, 2014

“After seeing his knee specialist, he will find out exactly what the way forward is and, from there, whether he’ll be out for a matter of weeks or months. As soon as we have more information, from the damage to the knee, we’ll be in a better position to say if he is coming back or not. I would have thought it was doubtful.”Rain ruins third day at Chelmsford

Surrey’s ambitions to press ahead at Chelmsford were ruined by the rain as just 16 overs of play were possible on the third day through a combination of early morning rain and afternoon gloom.
Play commenced at 1.30pm after an early lunch and it was not quite the droll of the second day with 57 runs scored, even if the enthusiasm out in the middle matched the dim surroundings.
There were moments of class from Steve Davies and stand-in captain Gary Wilson; the former square driving his way to a third Championship fifty of the season. Wilson, too, impressed on the front foot, the ball skidding off the damp outfield to the boundary with great ease as he found his touch to take Surrey to another batting point.
Aside from the will of supporters, Davies was the only victim of the day when indecisive footwork saw him trapped in front by a slightly quicker delivery from Monty Panesar.
Surrey have a lead of 33 runs and, at this juncture, are in control of the game in terms of whether day four is anything more than a sodden bore. In truth, Gareth Batty’s first innings eight-for aside, this match should be consigned to a scrap heap.

It was during the second innings at Kent that Smith began feeling some discomfort in his knee. Surrey’s medical team did their best to manage the injury, prescribing painkillers to give Smith some comfort, but when the effects of those wore off, even walking proved a struggle.He batted superbly in the fourth innings of the following game against Gloucestershire, registering his first Championship hundred for Surrey to see them home for a first win of the season and a first victory under Smith. But even here he did not look right, at times hobbling between the wicket on the final day, even requiring medical attention in the middle when he was nearly run out by opening partner Rory Burns.Smith then played Twenty20 matches against Sussex and Somerset before scans confirmed a fracture in his knee and medical attention was required. He may now have played his last game.Without Smith, Surrey are again looking for a replacement captain. Gary Wilson has assumed the role for the current Championship match against Essex. Stewart, while impressed with Wilson’s handling of the responsibility over the last few days – he has also keeping wicket so that Steve Davies can focus on his batting – has stated that there is no certainty that Wilson will be in charge for the rest of the season.

Injuries are always tough especially when you feel job is half done. Sad to be leaving @surreycricket today but wish the club and team well.

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) May 26, 2014

As for Smith’s replacement as overseas player, Hashim Amla has been signed until June 25, which will take him to the end of the Championship game against Leicestershire at The Oval. He will miss the upcoming four day game against Worcestershire as he returns to South Africa to attend a Cricket South Africa awards dinner and could be unveiled as the new South Africa Test captain.Stewart confirmed that Surrey will be in the market for another overseas player but conceded that the international schedule will make things tricky. Every Test nation is involved in one series or another before the end of the county season.”We’ll look at options and decide if there is one that will enhance our squad,” Steward said. “If there isn’t anyone we feel would better the squad, then we won’t sign one. All that will be looked at over the next four weeks.”It remains to be seen just how much Championship cricket Kevin Pietersen will play. He arrives at the club in the next few days from captaining the Dehli Daredevils in the IPL and will line up for Surrey in their NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Middlesex on Friday evening. Primarily on a T20 contract, he has no obligation to play four day or even 50-over cricket, but has the option to make himself available for either of those formats.Pietersen is also set to play in the Caribbean Premier League for the St Lucia Zouks, but Stewart confirmed that Pietersen’s involvement in the competition will not involve missing T20 games for Surrey.

Dean Elgar’s third Test century and an unbeaten 99 from Faf du Plessis put South Africa in a dominant position at the close of day one in Port Elizabeth

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy26-Dec-2014
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:06

Video report: West Indies pay for missed chances

Dean Elgar’s third Test century and an unbeaten 99 from Faf du Plessis put South Africa in a dominant position at the close of day one in Port Elizabeth. On a slow pitch that offered a bit of sideways movement and uneven bounce, both batsmen benefited from missed chances during the second session and powered on in the third to propel South Africa to 270 for 2 at stumps.Kenroy Peters, the debutant left-arm seamer, struck in the 75th over to have Elgar edging behind, but by then he had made his highest Test score and added 179 for the second wicket with du Plessis. At 226 for 2 with the second new ball imminent, West Indies had a small window to force their way back into the game, but du Plessis and Hashim Amla saw the day through without too much bother. They may have been aided in their cause by West Indies only taking the new ball in the 88th and final over of the day.South Africa’s run rate, under three an over through the first two sessions, shot up at the start of the final session as Elgar and du Plessis grew in confidence, and the loose balls grew in frequency. The shots that had been shelved before tea came out of the kitbag, and boundaries flowed as chants of rang out in the crowd, loud enough to be heard above the brass band. Elgar reverse-swept Sulieman Benn past slip and cut him away behind point. Du Plessis clipped Jerome Taylor through midwicket and punched him off the back foot through square cover. Elgar drove Peters through the covers and past mid-on. Six fours had come in the space of four overs, and nothing was going West Indies’ way.The pull was a productive shot for Dean Elgar•AFPIt could so easily have been so different. West Indies chose to bowl first, and their five-man attack bowled well enough for most part to justify that decision. But the fielders simply didn’t back it up. In the fourth over after lunch, du Plessis flashed at a back-of-a-length ball from Jerome Taylor and sliced it to the left of gully. Marlon Samuels only had a short way to fall to his left, and the ball was a good couple of feet above the ground, but he grabbed at it with anxious hands and couldn’t hold on.Nine overs later, du Plessis ran down the track to Benn, and was beaten by dip and turn. Going hard at the ball again, the batsman edged it. This time, it went low and a fair way to the right of Devon Smith, but again he got his hands to the ball and counted as a legitimate chance.Next ball, it was Elgar’s turn to rush out of his crease. He got too close to the pitch of the ball, and yorked himself. Elgar was stranded a long way down the pitch but Denesh Ramdin stood up too early behind the stumps – it did keep a little low, in his defence – and his gloves were nowhere near the ball, which instead thudded into his pads. Rubbing it in a little more, Elgar danced down the track and launched Benn back over his head to bring up his half-century. Benn took his cap and dragged himself away to his position at gully, and even his sunglasses couldn’t hide the wounded look on his face.Later, missed direct hits reprieved Elgar (on 73) and Amla (on 5) when they went for non-existent singles. It can be argued that these were lesser offences, but both times the batsmen were stranded halfway down the pitch and the fielders had plenty of time to aim at the stumps. Instead, they snatched at the opportunities and threw off-balance.For all the help they got, South Africa needed to show plenty of application to score as many runs as they did. Elgar, taking guard on off stump, stayed close to the line of the ball and played the rising ball with soft hands to keep the edges down short of the slips. Shortly after reaching his hundred, this method helped him survive an excellent delivery from Taylor, angling in from around the wicket and jagging away off the pitch.Elgar waited for anything he could work off his pads, and anything he could pull – even the marginally short ball. The slowness of the pitch usually allowed him to do this, but uncertain bounce always lurked around the corner, and he top-edged a hook into his helmet against a Shannon Gabriel lifter when he was on 83. Against Benn he used his feet well, and generally looked to hit down the ground.Du Plessis scratched around when he first came in, and was on 6 off 35 balls at lunch. He remained jittery after the interval, surviving those two drops and sending a leading edge off Taylor flying through the gap between point and gully. But he grew in fluency as his innings progressed, as any batsman of his quality will when given so many lives.The first session was a story of two halves. Taylor and Peters were a little loose at the start, and South Africa’s openers scored 40 in the first ten overs without really looking to score that briskly. West Indies then made a double change, and Gabriel and Jason Holder immediately settled into a rhythm, finding movement from a good-length spot just outside off stump. They bowled 11 overs in tandem, giving away only 17 runs and picking up the wicket of Alviro Petersen.The dismissal was well in keeping with how the morning had gone. It came with the score on 47 – a decent start, not a one. It came off a steeply rising half-tracker wide outside off stump that Petersen could have easily ignored. He reached for it instead and scooped it to the backtracking cover fielder.

Mohammad Hafeez said the Pakistan side achieved their objective of blooding young talent in the two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando14-Dec-20130:00

Middle-order collapse killed chase – Hafeez

Sharjeel Khan earned praise from his captain for his 25-ball 50•Getty ImagesMohammad Hafeez said the Pakistan side achieved their primary objective of blooding young talent in the two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, despite having lost the second match by 24 runs.Pakistan played four young cricketers with fewer than 10 matches’ experience, in both matches, and although only opener Sharjeel Khan made a significant contribution, Hafeez said the series had helped shed light on the state of Pakistan’s resources, as they look ahead to the World Twenty20 in March. Pakistan have no more official Twenty20s scheduled before the world event.”We really got what we wanted to out of the series. It’s a positive sign that the youngsters are coming in and doing good for Pakistan. We wanted to see where the youngsters are standing so we can make the right combination for the mega-event. It will be easier for the selectors.”We wanted to inject some of the youngsters and wanted to see them. I think we got the best out of Sharjeel Khan and Bilawal Bhatti. We tried Usman Khan because we didn’t have Umar Gul – he’s trying really hard to get back into international cricket – and we’re also missing Mohammad Irfan, who is unfit.”Seam bowlers Bhatti and Usman had been wayward in the second match,conceding runs at 16 and 13 runs an over respectively, as Sri Lanka’s batsmen exploited their inexperience. Hafeez affirmed his belief in their ability, however, and lauded Sharjeel’s 25-ball fifty in his third international match.”Bilawal Bhatti and Usman Khan are youngsters – we should not forget that. But still we believe they are good bowlers and they will learn from this. They just came into international team, and it’s not easy.”Really happy as a captain to see the good performance from the youngster Sharjeel Khan, and also Sohail Tanvir chipped in. Shahid Afridi is also playing well, so those are the positives in the series.”Hafeez also said Pakistan might have posed a more daunting threat to 211 for 3, had his team not lost four wickets to spin for four runs, in the 10th and 11th overs.”We leaked some runs as a bowling unit. We were thinking to chase 160-170 on this track, but they played very well. If you have to chase you have to play very well and I think we were very much on the plan, but the four wickets in eight balls in the middle order really made a difference.”Pakistan continued to lose wickets and rarely approached the required run-rate during the chase, but Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal said his team had had nervous moments during Tanvir’s brave 63-run ninth wicket stand with Saeed Ajmal. With Ajmal’s help, Tanvir blasted Pakistan to within 29 runs of victory with two overs remaining, but Lasith Malinga’s 19th over snuffed out the resistance.”I was a little bit scared when Tanvir was batting really well at the end, because as a bowler you couldn’t grip the ball at the end because of the dew – particularly for Malinga,” Chandimal said. “But in the end he came in and dismissed Tanvir. Everyone is in good form now, so we are looking forward to the ODI series.”

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Lewis Morgan has revealed that he turned down offers to play in the English Championship to be reunited with former manager Jack Ross.

The on-loan winger made his debut for Sunderland in the weekend win over Wimbledon and made a favourable impression on the Stadium of Light faithful.

That victory ended a run of three consecutive draws that had frustrated Sunderland’s promotion hopes but after the weekend’s results they are only three points behind second-placed Barnsley with two games in hand on them.

Morgan was expected to start the match on the bench but ended up being called into the starting XI.

And the former Celtic youngster has since revealed he jumped at the chance to join the League One side, snubbing interest from clubs from the division above in the process.

“As soon as the chance came up to come here my mind was made up,” he said, as quoted by The Chronicle.

“I’m working with a coaching staff I’ve got massive respect for, a massive club, it’s something I’m excited about. I never thought about it in terms of the league I’m coming to. It was about the club – great facilities, massive club, that would interest everyone.

“I think it’s well documented that there was interest from the Championship down here and the Premiership up north, but it’s a massive club with great people. I’m very happy to be part of it. It’s an exciting time for the club, challenging at the top end of the table. I’m here to help us push up the table.”

Speaking about being reunited with his old St Mirren boss he added: “Jack and his staff improve every player. The training sessions are great and they give you that licence to express yourself in the final third. As an attacking player that’s what you want.

“Aiden [McGeady] and I are both very direct, we like to take our man on. Hopefully we can both dovetail and keep building on that performance on Saturday.”

On Saturday, Sunderland travel to face relegation threatened Oxford United, before hosting Blackpool in midweek, as they continue their quest to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Graeme Swann proved his fitness for the Ashes with a five-wicket haul to help England to victory over Essex in Chelmsford, but concerns linger over the availability of Stuart Broad

The Report by George Dobell in Chelmsford03-Jul-2013
ScorecardGraeme Swann gave his captain Alastair Cook plenty to smile about in England’s comfortable victory•Getty ImagesGraeme Swann proved his fitness for the Ashes with a five-wicket haul to help England to victory over Essex in Chelmsford, but concerns linger over the availability of Stuart Broad.Swann, who missed all but one of England’s games in the Champions Trophy through back and calf injuries, bowled only nine deliveries in the first innings here after sustaining a blow to his right forearm while batting against Tymal Mills, which Andy Flower admitted caused “great concern”. But, defying a painfully slow pitch and a draining lack of intensity in a downgraded match, Swann worked his way through the Essex batting line-up until it capitulated and looked in decent rhythm going into the Test series.Essex lost their last six wickets for 32 runs in nine overs with Graham Onions, as nagging as ever, claiming 4 for 43 including a spell of three wickets without conceding a run in 11 balls. It meant England won by 228 runs.A doubt remains over the fitness of Broad, however. Broad injured his right shoulder diving to regain his ground while batting in the Champions Trophy final and has had a cortisone injection to reduce the inflammation. Flower expressed himself “pleasantly surprised” by Broad’s first attempt at bowling since the injury, during the tea interval on the final day here, and said “we anticipate him being fit. He could not have played this game, but he should be OK.””We thought Swann might have cracked his ulna,” Flower said. “For a couple of hours we thought he might have been missing [from the first Test], which would have been a serious blow. When he came in after batting I was surprised by how swollen it was.”I was also surprised by how well he played the fast bowler after getting hit that badly. He fought out there and didn’t come off and get it seen to. It’s a good example of his resilience. Because he’s a jokey sort of guy we forget he is a tough competitor as well.”This was an admirably professional performance from England. Despite a pitch that was too slow for purpose and the lack of atmosphere over the last couple of days, they retained their discipline with bat and ball and made the best of the imperfect situation with which they were confronted. With the Champions Trophy finishing only days earlier, there has been no opportunity for the sort of warm-up period from which they benefited in Australia in 2010-11 – they placed great store in performing well in their three first-class warm-up games – but they have at least come together as a squad and played some red-ball cricket.A couple of areas of concern remain. Several chances were squandered in the field – Swann missed Ravi Bopara in the slips off Steven Finn on the final day, while Kevin Pietersen missed two chances in the first innings – and Jonny Bairstow, who has hardly batted since the Leeds Test against New Zealand and was bowled in both innings here – still looks in need of time at the crease. Pietersen, too, has hardly batted but Flower expressed confidence in his form and no concern about any need for further time at the crease before the Tests.”There were a few chances that went down,” Flower admitted. “And taking chances will be very important in this series. But we’re working hard and we’re hoping that hard work will pay off.”We felt Bairstow needed more time in the middle because he has gone three or four weeks without cricket during the Champions Trophy. He’s had what he’s had; there’s nothing more we can do.”Performances in this game – or the game in progress at New Road – are most unlikely to affect selection for the first Test. Flower suggested the identity of the XI that will play at Trent Bridge has been known for some time and this game was more about gaining rhythm and testing potential replacements. In that case Boyd Rankin, who bowled with hostility in spite of the surface, will have done himself no harm, though Nick Compton’s place in the selectors’ thoughts seems to rely upon injury befalling one of the top three. Joe Root will open for the foreseeable future, however; Flower is not the fickle type.”I’ve been very impressed with Rankin,” Flower said, “and thought he bowled especially well. He is very impressive physically and he has the pace and bounce which can trouble international batsmen. He’s quite an exciting prospect.”It’s nice to see and a good reaction from Compton. It’s a really good reaction that he has scored runs consistently and it shows he’s a good tough fighter. Of course, he’s still in the picture. But he is an opening batsman and if there were an injury to someone batting at six it doesn’t necessarily mean that he would be the next cab off the rank. But his best reaction was to score heavy runs and that’s what he’s doing. That’s great.”There were some impressive performances from the Essex players in this game, too. Jaik Mickleburgh, who demonstrated a compact technique and astute shot selection in both innings, belied his lowly average and looked a fine prospect, while Mills’ pace and improving control made a large impression on the England management. “His rate of progress is really exciting for Essex,” Flower said. ” His control has improved and he’s really impressive physically. If he continues he might play for England.”Perhaps Onions might feel a little aggrieved. He scarcely bowled a poor ball in this match but, despite finishing with five wickets and remaining the most consistent bowler in county cricket over the last couple of seasons, it seems he will remain on the periphery of the side.While the likes of Finn, who bowled better than his figures suggests, and now Rankin and Chris Tremlett are preferred for their height, pace and bounce, Onions may be reliant on injury or rotation to Broad or James Anderson to win a further opportunity. In the current England set-up, his qualities – accuracy and consistency – are considered worthy, but less valuable than those offered by his rivals.In some ways this game did not present an overly flattering demonstration of Essex cricket. The pitch was poor and the sight of a 15-year-old substitute fielder – talented though Aaron Beard looks – lent a faint air of ramshackle amateurishness to proceedings. By the time the game ended, they had drafted in three players to replace injured members of their starting XI – Greg Smith replaced the injured Tom Westley on Wednesday – though David Masters made a bizarre reappearance as a batsman on day four despite a hopeless match situation and a pronounced limp that could have been exacerbated by running between the wickets.To their immense credit though, Essex is a club that continues to produce talented young players and, in Mills, Mickleburgh, Reece Topley, Ben Foakes et al, they have several cricketers who could follow the path of Alastair Cook into the England team. And that, after all, is their primary role.

Kings XI Punjab have provided the first major surprise of the new round of team-building by retaining little-known Punjab batsman Manan Vohra. They also retained David Miller

Nagraj Gollapudi and Devashish Fuloria10-Jan-2014Kings XI Punjab have provided the first major surprise of the new round of team-building by retaining little-known Punjab batsman Manan Vohra. The other player they held on to was South Africa batsman David Miller, who shot to fame in the IPL with a blistering century against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013.Vohra, a right-hand batsman, has been retained as an uncapped player, and was hired by the franchise last year as a player for the future. He played 12 matches last season, and had a modest record of 161 runs at 20.12 with a top score of 43.”Obviously, it’s a good feeling because I never thought I would be retained,” Vohra told ESPNcricinfo in Baroda, where he is playing Punjab’s Ranji Trophy quarter-final tie against Jammu & Kashmir. “I did little bit for the team, but now I am excited because I will be playing for the home team.”Vohra’s domestic form this season has been rich as he hit a big century against Jharkhand in Punjab’s final Ranji league game in late December. “I was the highest scorer for Under-25, and got 187 against Jharkhand and they noticed it,” he said. “I just got the news, so excited.”Miller, who was originally picked by Punjab as a replacement player in 2011, was retained for $100,000 in 2012 by the franchise. Although he failed that season, last year Miller finished as Punjab’s leading scorer with 418 runs at a strike-rate of 164.56, including that whirlwind century against Royal Challengers.Miller tweeted: “Really looking forward to this year’s #IPL. So chuffed to be retained from @lionsdenkxip. #punjabi””We are rebuilding the team entirely but both Miller and Vohra were retained since we felt they had done well with us earlier,” a Kings XI official said.According to him, the franchise did not spend much time thinking about retaining any other player. “Miller is a very crucial batsman for us,” the official said. “Apart from Bad Hodge and Kieron Pollard, there are not many like Miller who can turn matches in the lower middle order.”The official also said that Vohra was in the mould of Sanju Samson, the Kerala batsman, who has been retained by Rajasthan Royals. “This season he has been consistent scoring a few hundreds in Under-25 and has got a big century in the Ranji Trophy,” the official said. “The previous team management had a lot of time for Vohra and he is a player we can develop.”