The PCB has decided to extend the contracts of batting coach Grant Flower and fitness trainer Grant Luden, on the advice of head coach Mickey Arthur
Umar Farooq11-Jul-20161:28
Grant Flower and Luden’s contracts extended
The PCB has decided to extend the contracts of batting coach Grant Flower and fitness trainer Grant Luden, on the advice of head coach Mickey Arthur. Both Flower and Luden had signed two-year contracts, starting July 2014, and are on three-month extended contracts already. The PCB told ESPNcricinfo that the contracts will be further extended for one more year.There was a possibility of Arthur suggesting a new coaching staff but he endorsed the duo and also brought in a new fielding coach in Steve Rixon from Australia. The entire coaching staff now has one-year contracts other than Azhar Mehmood who will join the Pakistan team as bowling coach only for the limited-overs leg of the England tour. Arthur’s own contract is for one year with a one-year extension subject to performances.Pakistan’s batting had been one of their major weaknesses earlier and the PCB had turned to former captains Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad and Zaheer Abbas to bring about improvements. With Flower’s appointment, Pakistan witnessed considerable improvements in their batsmen. Pakistan’s average runs per wicket was just 28.89 between January 2012 and February 2014. Since Flower’s appointment in July 2014, it rose to 43.82. Under him, Pakistan batsmen have converted 48.43% of half-centuries into centuries – 31 hundreds out of 64 50-plus scores – which is the most among all teams by a distance. South Africa and Australia are next with under 41% conversions.Pakistan had their highest successful Test chase last year in Pallekele when they scored 382 – the sixth-highest successful chase in Tests. Pakistan’s No. 6 have averaged 61 in Tests since July 2014, which is way higher than any other team’s No. 6. Under Flower, Pakistan’s fourth innings average is also the highest among all teams.With Luden in the staff, Pakistan developed an imposing fitness criteria that helped players raise their fitness levels. However, he has been stripped off from his additional responsibility of being the fielding coach with Rixon coming in. Mushtaq Ahmed is travelling with the team as a makeshift bowling coach only for the Tests in England.
Arsenal's search for perfection is one that Mikel Arteta and Edu will be striving for with painstaking detail this summer, as they seek a way to bridge the gap between themselves and Manchester City.
Despite what was a fine showing in the Premier League, defying all expectations by even being in a scrap for the title, in the end quality and experience told, as Pep Guardiola takes one great step towards achieving his treble.
Although a move for Xavi Simons might not offer a solution to the latter, he would certainly provide the former in huge quantities, as a technically proficient attacking midfielder with all the talent in the world.
With an already young squad, bringing in the 20-year-old could mark another key addition to bolster their ranks, hoping to mirror the success of another Dutch maestro who made himself a legend in north London.
What's the latest on Xavi Simons to Arsenal?
According to The Mirror, in what could turn into quite the convoluted transfer saga, the Gunners have been offered the chance to sign the PSV Eindhoven starlet this summer.
Having joined the Dutch club just last summer, leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, the French giants retained a £10m buy-back clause that could prove important should sporting director Edu Gaspar seek to make this deal a reality, especially considering the outstanding year Simons has enjoyed in his home country.
However, his desire to leave Paris gives credence to the suggestion that he might be willing to move elsewhere and reject that return, with the price tag likely to increase for other suitors. Reports in Spain have suggested that €30m (£26m) might be enough to force his exit.
How good is Xavi Simons?
Despite enjoying the bulk of his career at Highbury, playing 416 games for the Gunners, Bergkamp too enjoyed a fine bout of form in Holland just as Simons is now.
He would score 121 goals and assist a further 23 in just 238 games for Ajax, before using his mercurial play style to take over English football. This would merit a further 115 goals and 95 assists, as his game shifted to play provider.
Conversely, Simons was a product of Barcelona's infamous La Masia academy, and in the league this season has scored 16 goals and assisted a further nine, having shone all across the front line but predominantly behind the striker.
Whilst his figures alone are remarkable, it is the grace with which he swans about the field that truly draws comparisons to the legendary 54-year-old who was such an integral figure in various successes at Arsenal.
PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has had his eye caught by Simons, as his performances encouraged him to claim:
"His mentality, his mindset, it’s unprecedented. It’s a boy of only 19 years old, but Xavi is already much further advanced than his age."
Meanwhile, former Tottenham Hotspur maestro Rafael Van der Vaart would supplement this by noting:
"Very few players can do this: in such a small space: accept, turn and shoot the ball on the bar."
This close control in particular draws him ever closer to Bergkamp, who was renowned for his deft touch; best emphasised through his iconic goal against Newcastle United.
dennis-bergkamp-arsenal-xavi-simons
Receiving the ball with his back to goal, it only took one touch around the defender for him to spin the opposite way, gliding through and finishing with ease. It is a strike that has since been voted the best Premier League goal of all time, and it perfectly encapsulates everything that made fans fall in love with the Dutch magician.
Simons seems to have all the raw assets to mimic such a success, and given the exciting environment surrounding the Emirates at the moment, there is no better time for him to join the revolution.
Chelsea will have to face Manchester City this weekend without seven players on Sunday, with Benoit Badiashile the latest to join the injury list.
What is the Chelsea team news?
The Blues have only three games left this season to try and seal a spot in the top half of the Premier League table. Prior to the weekend's fixtures, the Blues were currently sat 11th and need as many points as they can from their remaining three fixtures if they want to break into the top ten. That is still possible but any higher is mathematically out of the equation for the side this season.
It means that Chelsea are set for their lowest league finish since the 1995/96 season. It's been a torrid campaign for the club, which resulted in both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter being relieved of their duties. Frank Lampard has since taken interim charge of the Stamford Bridge outfit until the end of the season, and it is largely expected that Mauricio Pochettino will then be unveiled as their next boss in the summer.
Frank-Lampard
Their next fixture will see them come face-to-face with high-flying Manchester City, who can seal the league title with a victory over the Blues this weekend, provided Arsenal don't lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
However, speaking ahead of the clash, via Absolute Chelsea, Lampard revealed that there are seven players who will miss out on the game. One such name, Kalidou Koulibaly, has made strides and returned to training, but the boss revealed he is still "not really ready" for a fixture such as this one. In addition, there is a fresh name sidelined, with Badiashile, who played last time out against Nottingham Forest, now added to the injury list.
Lampard said:
"Mason [Mount], Reece [James], Chilly [Ben Chilwell], N’Golo [Kante], [Marc] Cucurella not fit. Kouli [Kalidou Koulibaly] has been training this week, but not really ready for a game like this. He’s ahead of schedule to be fair. Benoit [Badiashile] has injured himself in training, so will miss the game."
Who are Chelsea playing in their last three fixtures?
The Blues will have to hope that their fixture against Pep Guardiola's side goes a lot better than it did last time out, with the club suffering a 4-0 defeat in the FA Cup at the Etihad. They also lost 1-0 the last time the two faced in the Premier League. Once they have dealt with City, they then have another tough fixture against Man United and then a final-day clash against Newcastle.
However, in the short term, Lampard will be without Badiashile, labelled as a "complete" defender by a former Monaco coach, so he may need to look towards the likes of Wesley Fofana or Cesar Azpilicueta, both of who were unused substitutes last weekend, or even revert to a back three.
يخوض منتخب نيجيريا مواجهة جديدة في دور الثمانية من كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023 أمام منتخب أنجولا بحثا عن بطاقة التأهل لدور نصف النهائي من عمر المسابقة القارية.
وتقام المباراة بين نيجيريا وأنجولا في دور الـ16 ويلتقي الفائز من اللقاء في نصف النهائي مع الفائز من مواجهة الرأس الأخضر وجنوب إفريقيا.
طالع.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة نيجيريا وأنجولا في كأس أمم إفريقيا.. إعلان التشكيلين
وكان منتخب نيجيريا تأهل لدور الثمانية بالفوز على الكاميرون بثنائية نظيفة بينما فاز منتخب أنجولا على المنتخب الناميبي بنتيجة ثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل. موعد مباراة نيجيريا وأنجولا اليوم في كأس أمم إفريقيا
تقام المباراة اليوم الجمعة، 2 فبراير 2024، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الثامنة مساء بتوقيت السعودية على إستاد ” فيليكس أفوي بوانيي” بكوت ديفوار. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة نيجيريا وأنجولا اليوم في كأس أمم إفريقيا
تنقل المواجهة عبر beIN Sports HD 1 Max الناقل الحصري لمباريات كأس أمم إفريقيا في الشرق الأوسط.
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Jimmy Adams led a safety-first approach by Hampshire in a final-day stalemate against Durham at Chester-le-Street
ECB Reporters Network06-Jul-2016 ScorecardJimmy Adams led a safety-first approach by Hampshire•Getty Images
The arrival of rain in mid-afternoon confirmed the inevitable draw in the Specsavers County Championship match between Durham and Hampshire at Chester-le-Street.After resuming 60 ahead on nine without loss, the visitors opted for safety as Jimmy Adams took 171 balls to score 49.They were 174 for four, leading by 225, when rain ended play, leaving Hampshire still at the foot of division one.Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein said: “All the batsmen are looking in good touch and from my time here at Durham I know that to score 472 is pretty rare.”It was also probably the best we have been in the field this season, although Tino was not at his best and losing Ryan McLaren didn’t help. If we had had a hundred lead we might have had a chance of winning.”For the last few games we have been doing the basics right and giving 100 per cent, which hasn’t always been the case.”Staying in division one is a massive priority but we don’t produce bowlers and it’s the best bowling sides who tend to finish at the top.”They were not so desperate for a win that they were prepared to take risks, scoring 85 in the morning session for the loss of two wickets.Graham Onions improved on his first innings efforts but had to be content with the wicket of Will Smith halfway through his one-hour testing spell.The acting captain fell for ten when he pushed forward and edged behind, but while Jimmy Adams contined to dig in Tom Alsop played fluently for 34.On 14 he edged Keaton Jennings’ fourth ball just wide of the slips, but it was a surprise that Jennings was on before Scott Borthwick.The leg-spinner had plenty of rough to bowl into outside the left-handers’ off stump and in his third over Alsop left one which turned sharply to bowl him.Hampshire were 200 ahead with seven wickets standing and 42 overs left when Adams edged a drive off Paul Coughlin for Ben Stokes to take the catch at slip.Michael Carberry made 55 before a shooter from Barry McCarthy bowled him shortly before the rain arrived.
Manchester United will host Fulham at Old Trafford this afternoon in their final game of the season and Erik ten Hag will be going into the game full of confidence.
The Red Devils secured their spot in the Champions League for next season over bitter rivals Liverpool when they beat Chelsea 4-1 earlier this week, so today’s game could be an opportunity for Ten Hag to rotate his squad.
Although the Premier League campaign is coming to an end, Man United still have an important game to play in the FA Cup final against Manchester City next weekend, so the former Ajax boss will likely be mindful in his team selection today.
In terms of injuries, the Dutch coach already has a number of issues to contend with as Lisandro Martinez, Marcel Sabitzer and Antony are all first-team players who will be unavailable for selection, whilst Luke Shaw will be subjected to a late fitness test.
Having said that, the blow to Antony could be a huge opportunity for Jadon Sancho to step up and prove himself in the forward line against Fulham today.
Will Jadon Sancho start vs Fulham?
The 23-year-old winger hasn’t had the explosive impact on the Red Devils that supporters would’ve been hoping for when he made his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund back in 2021, having scored just 11 goals in 77 games to date.
His inconsistency in the Man United team over the last two seasons combined with the arrival of Brazilian winger Antony has sparked reports that Sancho’s future at the club could be under threat this summer.
The £350k-per-week gem – dubbed “flamboyant” by former England youth coach Dan Micciche – has started in the last three league games, and it is no coincidence that the side have been unbeaten in all three, with Sancho playing a key role in their latest clash with Chelsea.
Over his 90-minute performance, the England international delivered the assist for Anthony Martial’s goal, made five key passes, created three big chances and tallied up an 82% pass completion rate.
jadon-sancho-manchester-united-premier-league
Now with Antony out of the picture, Sancho has a huge opportunity to prove to his manager that he can comfortably compete for a position in the attacking threat and needs to make the impact that keeps him in the plans of the manager next season when the club competes on the elite European stage.
With that being said, there is no doubt that Ten Hag will make changes to his team ahead of the FA Cup final to limit the risk of injury, and it will be interesting to see whether Sancho will be given the nod.
New Zealand have 90 overs to take seven wickets after they set Zimbabwe a target of 387 runs in the Bulawayo Test
The Report by Firdose Moonda09-Aug-2016 Scorecard and ball-by-ball details 0:58
Taylor-Williamson continue their run-fest
New Zealand have 90 overs to take seven wickets after they set Zimbabwe a target of 387 runs in a contest that bears an uncanny resemblance to the one these teams tussled in five years ago at the same venue.Then, Zimbabwe went into the final day having lost two wickets. This time, they are another man down and without Brendan Taylor or Tatenda Taibu. Worse, the men who will bat in their places are both carrying niggles. Craig Ervine was hit on the knee during his first innings 146 while Prince Masvaure sprained his ankle during Tuesday morning’s warm-ups. Masvaure may not bat but Ervine should be able to.Tim Southee and Trent Boult managed to get late movement and prey on the less experienced batsmen but Ervine has showed he has the ability to front up to them. He took Zimbabwe close to avoiding the follow-on in their first innings. His carefully crafted, career-best score had its most impressive moments on the third day but he did his best to marshall the tail on the fourth morning. He did not have much support and Zimbabwe lost their last four wickets for 43 runs to concede a deficit of 220, but Kane Williamson decided New Zealand would extend the lead.With a license to attack, Tom Latham and Martin Guptill began aggressively but both fell on their swords early on. Donald Tiripano found Latham’s edge in the sixth over to give wicketkeeper Peter Moor his first Test catch. Guptill cut Michael Chinoiya to John Nyumbu in the gully. New Zealand were 26 for 2 and Zimbabwe had bought themselves some time. Only eight runs came in the next seven overs as Williamson and Ross Taylor treated the opening bowlers with respect.New Zealand upped the ante against Chamu Chibhabha and Graeme Cremer. Williamson brought up his third fifty-plus score in the series and cut loose after tea. The pair smashed 48 runs in four overs and Taylor, with his unbeaten 67, now has 364 runs in the series without being dismissed.Williamson’s declaration 25 minutes into the third session left New Zealand with 116 overs to bowl Zimbabwe out. They would have thought that was enough when in the third over Chamu Chibhabha had a nibble at a ball that moved away late and edged it. The bowler Southee looked his second slip Guptill, who had to reach to his right but could not hold on.Chibhabha was a mixture of feistiness and trepidation. He had a life in the third over, pulled and drove the aggrieved bowler Southee fours and went fishing in the off-stump corridor against Boult.As was the case in the first Test, Neil Wagner troubled Zimbabwe most. His short-ball strategy from around the wicket tested Tino Mawoyo’s defences. The batsman eventually grew comfortable with that line of attack, forcing Wagner to go back over the stumps and he had a close shout for caught-behind.Mitchell Santner, brought on in the 10th over, found turn and drift to leave Chibhabha particularly puzzled but it was Wagner who got the reward. He got one to move away and take the edge to Guptill at second slip.Stumps was nine overs away, Southee and Boult returned for their final bursts and Zimbabwe grew tense. Mawoyo held out until the penultimate over, when an inswinger from Boult had him lbw Two balls later, Southee trapped Raza with a similar delivery to end the batsman’s first Test at No.3 with just three runs to his name.Zimbabwe lasted 108.1 overs in 2011 against the same team, at the same venue and very nearly beat them. They’d dream of going a step further tonight, while New Zealand would prefer a less nerve-wracking experience on the final day.
استأنف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك تدريباته، اليوم الثلاثاء، على ملعب عبد اللطيف أبو رجيلة، بمقر القلعة البيضاء بميت عقبة، استعدادًا لمواجهة الإسماعيلي.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الزمالك والإسماعيلي يوم الإثنين الموافق 19 فبراير الجاري، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر لمسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز. جوميز يجتمع باللاعبين
عقد البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز، المدير الفني الجديد لنادي الزمالك، جلسة مع اللاعبين قبل انطلاق التدريبات، وطالبهم بمواصلة التدريب بكل تركيز وقوة وتنفيذ المطلوب استعداداً للفترة المٌقبلة.
وشدد المدير الفني على ضرورة بذل المزيد من الجهد، حتى يكون الجميع على أتم جاهزية للمشاركات والارتباطات القادمة.
طالع أيضًا | وكيله: موتيابا “حريف” وقوي.. وكان قريبًا من الدوري الجورجي قبل الزمالك مشاركة إيشو
وشهدت الزمالك مشاركة أحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو” لاعب فريق 2003، وفقا لقرار البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز، خاصة وأن اللاعب سبق وتواجد من قبل في تدريبات الفريق الأول.
وشارك إيشو في الجزء البدني بجانب الفقرة الخططية، وحرص المدير الفني على الحديث معه، خاصة أنه اللقاء الأول بينهما، وطالبه بالعمل والتركيز وتقديم أفضل ما لديه.
يذكر، أن مجلس إدارة الزمالك أعلن أمس الإثنين، تجديد عقد أحمد عبد الرحيم “إيشو” الذي كان ينتهي بنهاية الموسم الجاري. فقرة تدريبات خططية
أدى لاعبو الزمالك فقرة تدريبات خططية خاصة تحت قيادة جوزيه جوميز، وتم التركيز خلالها على جانب خططي خاص بالضغط على المنافس بأكثر من طريقة.
وشهدت الفقرة مشاركة جميع اللاعبين بما فيهم حراس المرمى، وقام المدرب البرتغالي بعقد أكثر من محاضرة فنية داخل أرضية الملعب نقل فيها التعليمات للاعبين وحرص على تصحيح الأخطاء. تعليمات خاصة لثنائي الفريق
منح جوميز تعليمات خاصة للثنائي ياسر حمد ومحمد شحاتة، على هامش المران، وعد المدرب حلسة مع الثنائي خلال التدريبات، نقل لهما العديد من التعليمات الفنية ومنحهما بعض المهام الخططية لتنفيذها استعدادًا للفترة المقبلة.
وقام المدير الفني للفريق بمتابعة الثنائي أثناء التقسيمة الفنية، وتنفيذ المطلوب منهما وأشاد بتنفيذهما للتعليمات المطلوبة.
Manchester United have done what they set out to do this season by securing qualification for the 2023/24 edition of the Champions League in what has been an impressive debut campaign in charge for Erik Ten Hag.
The Dutchman has also achieved Carabao Cup glory this term. He will have the chance to bag a second piece of silverware this weekend when the Red Devils take on bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Once the dust settles following a long season for Manchester United, their attention will turn towards sizing up potential additions in the summer transfer window.
As per 90min, Manchester United were keen on bringing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong to Old Trafford and even made an offer to try and secure his services.
Mundo Deportivo via The Daily Express have given the Red Devils some fresh hope of reviving their interest in the Netherlands international, detailing that Barcelona may try to renegotiate De Jong's terms at Spotify Camp Nou amid rumours that the Catalan giants may have to recoup £176 million in the off-season before being able to sanction their transfer business.
Why is Frenkie De Jong so highly rated and should Manchester United pursue him?
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones thinks that De Jong would be a sensible signing from Manchester United that would fit Ten Hag's vision at the club more than someone like Neymar, who the Red Devils have been linked with recently.
Jones told FFC: "De Jong is a better signing than Neymar for Manchester United because he fits with the ethos of what and how he's actually trying to build. If you sign Neymar, it's not fixing any of the problems that you've got and it's also changing the dynamic of the dressing room in a way that might end up being negative."
ESPN reported earlier this year that Manchester United are not completely closed off to 'reigniting their interest' in De Jong and shared quotes from manager Ten Hag praising the player, as the 53-year-old stated: "Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality. "If you can get him in the squad your team will be stronger. In Spain he became even better. He's a fantastic player, plays out from the back, he always has time and it was a pleasure to work with him."
frenkie-de-jong-barcelona-manchester-united
In 2022/23, the 26-year-old has made 42 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona and managed to register two goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.
There is an argument to say that De Jong could be a perfect partner in crime for Casemiro, potentially playing in a double-pivot style system with Bruno Fernandes helping to support attacking phases of play slightly higher up in either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 variation, which can sometimes be Ten Hag's go to, as per SPORF.
WhoScored shows that by comparing Casemiro and De Jong not to see who is better but rather looking at how they have both become consistent assets for their respective sides, you will find that they have achieved the exact same average match rating of 7.17 this term for their exploits on the pitch.
De Jong, who could cost around £63 million, ranks highly in his pass success rate, standing at 91.3%, which could bring some added composure in midfield and let Casemiro deal with winning duels. On the ground, the Brazil international who earns £350k-a-week at the Red Devils has snapped into 3.2 tackles per match across the campaign.
FBRef illustrates that De Jong is also a competent figure when it comes to providing chances to his teammates, having successfully carried out 109 shot-creating actions in La Liga in total.
Cited by Barca TV via The Manchester Evening News, Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo heaped praise on the former Ajax man in an interview, stating: "Here is the best midfielder in the world, Frenkie de Jong!"
With Manchester United known to be in the market for several additions this summer, bringing in £622k-a-week earner De Jong would be a masterstroke by Ten Hag and would potentially create a dynamite duo by fielding him beside Casemiro at Old Trafford.